The 2014 NFL preseason games are nearly upon us and fantasy football drafting will be taking place before we know it. Entering into this season, there are some wide receivers we may be on the fence about and there are some who make us wonder if they should even be drafted at all.
New teams, rookie seasons or previous injuries definitely should make one plan carefully when it comes to filling your fantasy roster with a questionable player. Here are five wide receivers to observe who must prove themselves during the preseason in order to ensure they are draft worthy this year.
5. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
A complete no-brainer in fantasy drafts his first two NFL seasons, Jones is worth keeping an eye on during this year’s preseason games. A season-ending foot injury which required two surgeries to repair in 2013, cut Jones’ year short after just five games. If you’re considering drafting Jones as your WR1, hoping for his amazing points he has rewarded in the past, he is worth watching in the preseason, just to be sure his foot, isn’t limiting him.
Mock drafts show Jones being selected as a WR1, however, some folks are a bit leery which is completely warranted for any player who suffered such a serious injury. Jones’ snaps might be limited as the team eases him back into play, so observe Jones carefully to see if he proves worthy of that lofty WR1 draft pick.
4. Eric Decker, New York Jets
Decker put up top-notch fantasy numbers his past two seasons playing under the amazing Peyton Manning. Now that Decker has traded in his orange for green, signing on with the Jets, definitely shines a new light on him leaving us wondering where exactly Decker should be drafted in 2014.
The preseason is the perfect time to watch Decker perform with his new team to see if he proves to be draft-worthy at any level for 2014. With either quarterback Geno Smith or Michael Vick, who are both eons below Manning in skill, passing to Decker, he will definitely be worth monitoring in his preseason games. Likely long-gone are Decker’s top-10 fantasy numbers of the past, so observing him preseason will help us get a feel for exactly how well he performs under less-than-ideal quarterback circumstances.
3. Hakeem Nicks, Indianapolis Colts
Fortunately for Nicks, his situation is unlike Decker’s downgrade in quarterbacks, as Nicks stands to possibly improve with an upgrade in Andrew Luck this year. With that said, Nicks who went scoreless in 2013, has tons to prove in the preseason with his new team.
Thus far, training camp has Nicks looking impressive from his stale 2013 season which is to his credit. However, when he actually hits the field in true preseason competition is where Nicks will need to step things up and prove he is worth drafting at some level in 2014.
Also worth monitoring in Nicks is how the Colts utilize him in a crowded backfield of already capable receivers like Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton. If Nicks seems to take a backseat to these guys in competition, he not make the most ideal option on fantasy rosters.
2. Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings
Patterson is one of my favorite wide receivers to observe as he enters his second season in the NFL. With already a Pro Bowl appearance on the books, Patterson looks to take on even more of the team’s receiving duties in 2014.
What time is better than the preseason for Patterson to prove to his team that he is ready to resume more responsibility? Patterson is already being drafted mock drafts as a WR2, so the general consensus would be people are entrusting him for their fantasy teams in 2014. Definitely monitor Patterson as he heads into his preseason games to see where he lines up and how his chemistry with both Vikings’ quarterbacks Matt Cassel and Teddy Bridgewater is developing.
Patterson has incredible speed as displayed in his rookie year with a 109-yard kick return and two return touchdowns to boast. Hopefully we’ll watch him go wild in the preseason to prove he truly is worthy of that WR2 draft pick.
1, Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills
Definitely worth following during his preseason games is Watkins, the rookie first-round draft pick the Bills managed to secure. How well he plays under his second-year quarterback, E.J. Manuel, during the preseason could make or break his fantasy draft status for 2014. While it’s difficult to trust a rookie wide receiver, as many disappoint their fantasy owners, there are exceptions, for which Watkins could easily become.
Coming off of a stellar college season with 1,464 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns is certainly the type of numbers one would hope to see happen in Watkins’ rookie season. Obviously these numbers would reward fantasy owners WR1 points, but at this point it would be unrealistic to expect this level of production in Watkins’ first NFL year.
Additionally, Watkins’ development with Manuel, who did not exactly dazzle us last year, weighs heavily on his future fantasy potential. Watch Watkins carefully during his preseason games to get a feel of where he should be drafted in 2014.