Trashman’s Top 5 Fantasy Wide Receivers

These are my receiver picks to end the season in the top 5, barring calamitous injury of course.

Michael Thomas, Saints: Thomas’ floor is other receivers’ ceiling. Only one of the top 40 single game performances in 2019 was Thomas’, yet he still had the most fantasy points per game for any receiver. He’s the safest pass-catcher in the league, especially in PPR leagues.

Davante Adams, Packers: Adams was a top 5 fantasy receiver in 2018, before missing 4 games the following year. Even after missing a quarter of the games in 2019, he still ended up 14th in targets, and the Packers haven’t done a thing to bolster their passing game in the off season. Expect Adams to be a major ball hog this season.

Julio Jones, Falcons: You have to go back 7 seasons to find a year when Jones didn’t finish as a top 10 receiver, and that was only due to injury. There wasn’t a less TD-dependent top 5 finisher in 2019. His consistency + upside, as can be easily seen on the Busts and Monsters Tool (PRO members), is among the elite of the elite.

Tyreek Hill, Chiefs: Hill is not the model of consistency, but he’s Patrick Mahomes‘ no.1 option, and that makes him fantasy gold. He leads all receivers in TDs over the last 4 years(41), and was the top WR in fantasy in 2018 with a league leading 15.1 PPG.

Kenny Golladay, Lions: Golladay still ended up WR3 on the year in 2019 (in standard leagues), even with Matt Stafford going down with injury in Week 9 and leaving the QB position in absolute dregs. He did it on only 65 receptions. That’s 21 fewer than the next lowest reception total in the top 5 – Chris Godwin‘s 86. Golladay could actually end up fantasy’s No.1 receiver with a full season with Stafford. That’s the way he’s performing.

Honarable Mentions:

DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals: It will be interesting to see how, if at all, Hopkins’ output changes once he steps on the field as a Cardinal. Kyler Murray isn’t Deshaun Watson in the air, but don’t forget that Hop had a monster 111 catch, 1,521 yard, 11 TD year in 2015 when his QBs were Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden, T.J. Yates, and Ryan Mallett. The Cards will also run more plays at a higher pace than the Texans ever did, upping Hopkins’ viability to go bananas via PPR scoring.

Chris Godwin, Buccaneers: Fantasy’s no.2 WR in 2019, but there’s no gunslinger Jameis Winston under center and Rob Gronkowski‘s connection with Tom Brady can’t be ignored.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers: Big Ben is back and JuJu is returning to the slot, where he was a top 10 finisher with Antonio Brown on the team in 2018.

Allen Robinson, Bears: Nothing sexy about him, but the Bears live and die by his production. He’ll produce regardless of who’s under center. He always has.

Adam Thielen, Vikings: He’s Kirk Cousins‘ safety blanket with no Stefon Diggs around. Thielen could become even more of a crutch if Dalvin Cook decides to sit out any games.