Playing the Slots: Outlooks for Slot Receivers in 2018 – AFC East

Slot receivers often go overlooked until it’s too late in the season to really utilize their potential. Here, I take a look at the prospects of the starting middle men for your fantasy consideration…

 

Jeremy Kerley, Bills: Kerley is a tried and true journeyman in the NFL. He’s a guy everyone who plays fantasy is aware of but almost never utilizes anymore. Those days may be over, as he’s been running as the number 2 out of the slot behind Kelvin Benjamin in Bills camp thus far. Second year WR Zay Jones has all the talent in the world, but there’s no certainty that he can put things together his sophomore year, potentially leaving Kerley to soak up targets. The 29 year-old Kerley is only a couple of seasons removed from a 64 catch year with the 49ers, mind you. He has a real chance of being a consistent contributor in PPR formats this season.

 

Albert Wilson/Danny Amendola, Dolphins: Wilson has been lighting up Miami OTAs, playing on the outside and out of the backfield – in addition to the slot. He — along with fellow free-agent acquisition Danny Amendola — has got some big, at least figuratively, shoes to fill now that Jarvis Landry is in Cleveland, and the Dolphins seem intent on giving them the opportunity to thrive. The question will be whether the two cannibalize each other’s usage. QB Ryan Tannehill has always preferred to go short if he has the option, and rookie TE Mike Gesicki has struggled some throughout OTAs – it’s rare for a first year TE to flourish anyway. I put my money on Wilson to be the guy if one does emerge as a reliable fantasy option in 2018. Wilson always had evident potential as a Chief, but Alex Smith was not the kind of guy to get creative or spread the wealth much. If Wilson can haul in even half the balls Landry did in a season, that’s a PPR win when compared with his previous precedent.

 

Julian Edelman/Jordan Matthews, Patriots: Edelman is facing a 4 game ban for PED use, though if anybody has a chance to get it overturned it’s Edelman. The NFL still hasn’t been able to determine what substance actually made Edelman’s test come back positive, so that bodes in his favor. The league brass always has a grudge to bear against the Pat’s though, so I wouldn’t say he’s in the clear yet. Should he start the year, he’ll be the PPR mainstay he’s always been. A more intriguing case is that of Jordan Matthews. He did little to nothing in Buffalo last season, with only 24 catches in 10 games, but prior to that he was averaging about 75 receptions and 6 TDs a season when he was in Philly. Tom Brady is a better QB than anyone he’s had to work with, and apparently Matthews has been impressing his team in camp, showing up early and leaving late. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but if he fails it’s not for lack of effort. The Patriots’ WR corps is wide open after Chris Hogan and Edelman, so don’t be surprised if Matthews finds a way to stick around and pay dividends.

 

Quincy Enunwa, Jets: Enunwa is a deceiving 6’2”, 225 lbs, so he’s often thought of as some sort of TE/WR hybrid. He fancies himself a receiver though, and to be honest I never realized his size watching him on the field. He led the Jets in receiving his last active season in 2016 with 857 yards and 4 TDs, before succumbing to a neck injury that kept him out all of last year. Robby Anderson is always a solid bet on the outside, but Jermaine Kearse isn’t a lock to stick around and that would possibly leave the always unreliable Terrelle Pryor to play opposite Anderson. In any case, there will be more than enough action for Enunwa if he can stay healthy.