Fantasy Football Rankings 2018: Top 20 players at each position

Wide Receiver

1. Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown has proven time and time again he’s the best in the game right now. The connection between him and Ben Roethlisberger is like no other, as the duo show no signs of slowing down in terms of production. Expect another huge year from Brown to keep business boomin.

2. DeAndre Hopkins

Hopkins is not far behind Brown, and with a healthy Deshaun Watson, could surpass Brown in terms of numbers. Hopkins does everything extremely well, all he needed was a capable quarterback. Look for Hopkins to provide big game after big game in 2018.

3. Odell Beckham Jr.

Odell is back and ready to reclaim what’s his. Beckham’s freakish athleticism and raw speed could only be compared to a player like Randy Moss. The Giants couldn’t seem to function in his absence, and now that he’s back, look for a lot of balls to be thrown his way to make up for lost time.

4. Julio Jones

Julio’s “down” season still nets him at No. 4 on this list. Jones is perhaps the most physically gifted receiver in the league, and with the departure of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan a year ago, Jones and the rest of the Falcons are still adjusting. Once quarterback Matt Ryan gets settled in his new offense, look for Julio to return to his dominant form.

5. Keenan Allen

Allen, for the first time in his career, played a full sixteen game schedule. Health has certainly been a problem for Allen in the past, but when he’s on the field, Allen is perhaps the most underrated receiver among football fans. We expect Allen to build off his 2017 campaign and prove he’s a top five receiver in the league.

6. Michael Thomas

It’s simple: Michael Thomas is a grown man among children. Thomas has only improved in the two years he’s in the league, and has yet to hit his prime. Thomas is clear and away Drew Brees’ favorite target. Thomas has carved himself a solid floor as a pass catcher in New Orleans, a role that won’t be lifted anytime in the near future.

7. A.J. Green

A.J. Green was essentially Andy Dalton’s lone target last season, which proved to be good and bad. Many times Green found himself in double coverage, or Dalton simply couldn’t get the ball to him. Green is undoubtedly a top-eight receiver in the league, and with a healthy John Ross to take some pressure off him, should see an improvement in 2018.

8. Davante Adams

Davante Adams is poised to go on a tear this season. Aaron Rodgers is healthy, Jordy Nelson is gone, and the Packers still have a question mark at running back. Adams is a touchdown machine with a healthy Rodgers (who wouldn’t be?) and will look to score double-digit touchdowns for the third straight year.

9. Doug Baldwin

If Keenan Allen isn’t the league’s most underrated receiver, the title would go to Doug Baldwin. I get it, Baldwin isn’t exactly a sexy name to attract fantasy football players. Yet Baldwin has received over 100 targets the last three seasons while scoring no less than 7 touchdowns during that stretch. Jimmy Graham is gone, which only cleans Baldwin’s plate for more receptions.

10. Stefon Diggs

Going into his fourth season, Diggs has failed to hit over 1000 yards. This should change with the new arrival of Kirk Cousins, even with fellow receiver Adam Thielen on the opposite side of the field. Diggs has proven his talents as a number one receiver, and with the freshly paid Cousins, should see his best year to date.

11. T.Y. Hilton

Admittedly so, I’m not T.Y. Hilton’s biggest fan. Yet, his numbers speak for themselves. Hilton failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in five seasons in 2017. With a healthy Andrew Luck and empty depth chart at his position, Hilton figures to see over 100 targets for a sixth straight season.

12. Larry Fitzgerald

To play at the level Fitzgerald is at his age is a testament to the kind of player he has been for the Cardinals through his career. With one of the most reliable pairs of hands the game has ever seen, Larry still finds himself making athletic plays left and right. With only Christian Kirk to remotely challenge for targets and Sam Bradford in the desert, the Fitz train will keep on chugging.

13. Tyreek Hill

Hill is one of the more exciting players in the league when he has the ball in his hands. Hill sees more than his fair share of targets on a wealthy Chiefs offense, with Andy Reid finding creative ways to use his speed in space. However, Hill and the rest of the chess pieces in Kansas City will only go as far as new quarterback Patrick Mahomes will take them.

14. Mike Evans

Evans has hit 1,000 yards in all four of his seasons in Tampa Bay, clearly making his mark as Jameis Winston’s number one target. However, with Winston’s decline in play, Evans has suffered as well. With Winston out of the lineup in the beginning part of the season, it’s hard to expect Evans to live up to his potential. However, Evans’ talent is too hard to ignore, no matter who’s throwing the ball.

15. Adam Thielen

Thielen is coming off his best season to date, and with the new arrival of Cousins, the hope is Thielen will only get better. If Diggs is expected to “break out” like we expect him to, that means a drop in production for Adam. However, Thielen’s floor is considered one of the safest for players around his draft value. Take Thielen with confidence knowing Cousins will take care of him.

16. Allen Robinson

There was a point in time where Allen Robinson looked to be one of the best receivers in fantasy football. Then 2017 saw Robinson tear his ACL after one catch in his first game. Now, in a new system and a young quarterback needing a No. 1 receiver, Robinson is primed to explode back on the fantasy football scene.

17. Golden Tate

Since his arrival in Detroit, Tate has seen no less than 120 targets. Detroit loves throwing the ball, but more importantly, Matthew Stafford loves throwing Tate the ball. Kenny Golladay is sure to take some of Stafford’s attention, yet Tate is still the go-to guy in a receiver friendly offense.

18. Alshon Jeffery

Jeffery may miss some time in the regular season, but once back on the field and healthy, Jeffery should once again be a red-zone target for quarterback Carson Wentz. Jeffery tallied nine touchdowns in 2017 despite catching less than half of his targets. 2018 should see a small bump in production.

19. Josh Gordon

Gordon finds himself on this list simply because his talent, despite his issues off the field. Gordon, as far as the public knows, has stayed clean and is ready to play a full season. If Flash can indeed return to his form, Gordon will be one of the best value picks later in the draft.

20. JuJu Smith-Schuster

JuJu Smith-Schuster burst on the scene last year and never looked back. The young, video-game loving receiver now finds himself in a challenge to better himself entering his second year. Will Smith-Schuster be able to elevate his game to new levels? The opportunity is there for JuJu to build on his impressive rookie year, and we expect he will.