The fantasy football trade deadline is nearly here, and your margin for error is now even slimmer. Make sure your lineup is ready to roll with The Wolf’s PPR Rankings.
Note – Jeremy Maclin (groin) and Allen Hurns (concussion) are not expected to play, and the rankings are adjusted accordingly
Tier 1 – Potential Top Scorers
1) Mike Evans (TB) vs. CHI – Evans remains in the concussion protocol as of Wednesday, but playing last Thursday and having 10 days of rest lends hope he’ll face the worst team versus wideouts. He was unstoppable before this juicy matchup, and is on pace for 206 targets. 11/10 Update: Evans is out of concussion protocol and is good to go for Sunday.
2) Antonio Brown (PIT) vs. DAL
3) Julio Jones (ATL) @ PHI
4) A.J. Green (CIN) @ NYG
5) Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG) vs. CIN
Tier 2 – Remaining WR1s
6) Jordy Nelson (GB) @ TEN – Exactly 94 yards and a TD in two straight, he should top these numbers again.
7) Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) vs. SF
8) Alshon Jeffery (CHI) @ TB – This defense has surrendered 850 yards and 8 TDs in the past TWO WEEKS! Fire Alshon up as a true WR1, especially with his boy Smokin’ Jay back.2
9) DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) @ JAC – One of the biggest flops of the 2016 season, Hopkins has the matchup to springboard for a redemption tour (of sorts) this week versus Jacksonville.
10) Dez Bryant (DAL) @ PIT
Tier 2.5
11) Kelvin Benjamin (CAR) vs. KC – The Chiefs surrendering the 4th most points to WRS, which sets Benjamin up for his first truly massive game since Week 2.
12) Demaryius Thomas (DEN) @ NO – New Orleans is surprisingly the 14th hardest matchup for WRs, instead bleeding points to TEs and RBs. Still, Thomas will rip something big off.
13) Brandon Marshall (NYJ) vs. LA
14) Terrelle Pryor (CLE) @ BAL – Why is he being viewed as a boom-or-bust WR2 in the Rotosphere? At worst, Pryor’s proven to be a low-end WR1.
Tier 3 – Quality WR2s
15) Emmanuel Sanders (DEN) @ NO
16) Allen Robinson (JAC) vs. HOU
17) Stefon Diggs (MIN) @ WAS – Under new OC Pat Shurmur (a historical dip-and-dunker), Diggs was a target vacuum in Week 9. While he’ll see some heavy doses of Josh Norman, Diggs moves all over the lineup and should be a fair bet for another double-digit reception game.
18) Doug Baldwin (SEA) @ NE
19) Jordan Matthews (PHI) vs. ATL
20) Davante Adams (GB) @ TEN
21) Jarvis Landry (MIA) @ SD – Ajayi’s rise has anchored Landry into WR3 status. He could break out at any minute, but why would Miami change the run-heavy philosophy with two straight wins?
22) Mike Wallace (BAL) vs. CLE – Seems like a lock for a deep bomb TD
23) Michael Thomas (NO) vs. DEN
24) Randall Cobb (GB) @ TEN
25) Brandin Cooks (NO) vs. DEN
Tier 4 – Quality WR3s
26) Tyrell Williams (SD) vs. MIA – One of the best buy-low targets, Williams has the second easiest schedule among WRs to finish 2016, and the best in the fantasy playoffs. He’s Rivers’ true #1 with Travis Benjamin banged up, and should begin a strong second half this week versus Miami.
27) Julian Edelman (NE) vs. SEA – Woods just toasted them in a similar role, but Edelman has been, at best, a third option in this offense. Now Dion Lewis is projected to return. A once unstoppably consistent PPR dynamo, Edelman hasn’t topped 15 PPR points yet, and has been under double digits in 50% of the weeks.
28) Ty Montgomery (GB) @ TEN
Tier 4.5
29) Corey Coleman (CLE) @ BAL – Hue Jackson has hinted at a larger role for Coleman in his second game back, and I’m not ruling out the chance he overtakes Pryor as the #1 at some point…possibly as early as this week against Baltimore.
30) Kenny Britt (LA) @ NYJ
31) Steve Smith (BAL) vs. CLE
Tier 5 – Flex Options
32) Jamison Crowder (WAS) vs. MIN
33) Rishard Matthews (TEN) vs. GB
34) Sterling Shepard (NYG) vs. CIN
35) J.J. Nelson (ARI) vs. SF
36) John Brown (ARI) vs. SF
37) Will Fuller (HOU) @ JAC – Hitting the rookie wall would be an understatement, but hopefully Fuller has healed up post-bye.
38) Mohamed Sanu (ATL) @ PHI
Tier 5.5
39) Tavon Austin (LA) @ NYJ
40) Cole Beasley (DAL) @ PIT
41) Sammie Coates (PIT) vs. DAL
42) Quincy Enunwa (NYJ) vs. LA
43) DeSean Jackson (WAS) vs. MIN
44) Adam Humphries (TB) vs. CHI – Here’s a desperation flex play that could pan out huge, especially if somehow Mike Evans misses time. Similar to a Dujuan Harris “stash-and-see” for last week, Humphries should be owned just in case Evans is out.
45) Cameron Meredith (CHI) vs TB – See Jeffrey, Alshon but minus the chemistry with Smokin’ Jay. Eddie Royal’s impending return does put a damper on his upside, and monitoring how Cutler distributes the ball will be important.
46) Dontrelle Inman (SD) vs. MIA
47) Kendall Wright (TEN) vs. GB
48) Eddie Royal (CHI) @ TB – Here’s a guy who could bury Cameron Meredith once and for all. Royal was tearing it up, even beyond Alshon’s numbers, before his injury, and has long been a favorite of Smokin’ Jay. While
49) Willie Snead (NO) vs. DEN – Was an afterthought already… and now faces the #1 defense versus WRs. Pass.
50) Tyreek Hill and 51) Albert Wilson (KC) @ CAR – I like both Chiefs WRs as desperation flex options should Maclin sit. The team will likely be playing from behind, and Carolina, while very formidable versus the run, surrenders the second most points to WRs.
Tier 6 – Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
52) Cordarrelle Patterson (MIN) @ WAS – Gut feeling he rips off a big play, especially if Norman is shadowing Diggs all day.
53) Chris Hogan (NE) vs. SEA
54) Eli Rogers (PIT) vs. DAL
55) Marquise Lee (JAC) vs. HOU
56) Brandon LaFell (CIN) @ NYG
57) Devante Parker (MIA) @ SD
58) Tyler Lockett (SEA) @ NE
59) Kenny Stills (MIA) @ SD
60) Brian Quick (LA) @ NYJ
