2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers

These 2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings will be updated often throughout the summer, so make sure you check back from time to time. Also, be sure to check out my other 2018 Fantasy Football articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2018 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

1. Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers. Bye: 7.
   Antonio Brown has now gone five consecutive years with 100 receptions or more. He caught 101 balls for 1,533 yards and nine touchdowns in 2017 despite missing the final two-and-a-half games. Brown will continue to be the top receiver in fantasy and real life.
   
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Stats: 121 catches. 1,630 yards. 12 total TDs.
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Points: 250.
   Projected 2018 PPR Fantasy Points: 371.
   
   
2. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans. Bye: 10.
   It's amazing that DeAndre Hopkins was able to be so productive despite Tom Savage and T.J. Yates throwing the ball to him in the second half of the season. Hopkins caught 96 passes for 1,378 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games. Imagine how much better he'll be with Deshaun Watson in 2018!
   
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Stats: 108 catches. 1,520 yards. 13 total TDs.
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Points: 245.
   Projected 2018 PPR Fantasy Points: 353.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Odell Beckham, WR, Giants. Bye: 9.
   Odell Beckham Jr. registered at least 1,300 yards in each of his first three seasons. Unfortunately for him, 2017 was a nightmare. He suffered multiple injuries, including a broken ankle that knocked him out for the season in Week 5. Beckham should bounce back next year, and he could post his best stats ever, considering that teams will now have to focus on stopping Saquon Barkley.
   
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Stats: 104 catches. 1,510 yards. 13 total TD.
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Points: 244.
   Projected 2018 PPR Fantasy Points: 348.
   
   
4. Julio Jones, WR, Falcons. Bye: 8.
   JULY 28 UPDATE: Julio Jones will report to training camp on time, thanks to a contract adjustment made on July 25. Crisis averted. Jones was in danger of struggling this season had he missed most or all of training camp, but he won't have any such issues.
   
   JULY 24 UPDATE: Julio Jones won't report to Falcons training camp because he wants a new contract. This is not a big deal right now, but it will be if Jones continues to hold out for several weeks. There's a dubious history for players who don't attend training camp, so Jones could have an injury-plagued 2018 campaign, or at least get off to a slow start like Le'Veon Bell did last year. This is a situation to monitor, but Jones could be someone to avoid during your fantasy draft if his holdout lasts a long time.
   
   Julio Jones scored three touchdowns in 2017, which ruined his fantasy season; he caught 88 balls for 1,444 yards otherwise. Jones was thrown to in the end zone 18 times this past season, so this result was a bit fluky. Then again, I can't exactly have faith in the incompetent Steve Sarkisian turning things around for Jones, but he's still a WR1, obviously.
   
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Stats: 87 catches. 1,440 yards. 6 total TDs.
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Points: 205.
   Projected 2018 PPR Fantasy Points: 294.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Michael Thomas, WR, Saints. Bye: 6.
   JUNE 8 UPDATE: Michael Thomas has been looking like a "freak" in OTAs, according to Nick Underhill of the Advocate. This isn't a surprise by any means, but it's a great sign that Thomas has been taking his career seriously, unlike some other very talented players. Thomas should be one of the top fantasy receivers this season.
   
   Despite Drew Brees' declining stats, Michael Thomas still had a prolific year, catching 104 passes for 1,245 yards and five touchdowns. His scoring figure was down from nine in 2016, so that could correct itself potentially. Thomas should continue to be a WR1.
   
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Stats: 99 catches. 1,310 yards. 8 total TDs.
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Points: 204.
   Projected 2018 PPR Fantasy Points: 303.
   
   
6. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers. Bye: 8.
   Keenan Allen got off to a slow start this past season, but exploded down the stretch. He caught at least five passes every single game beginning in Week 11. Finally able to stay healthy, Allen showed that he can be a dominant receiver in the NFL. He'll be a top wideout again if he can avoid injuries once again.
   
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Stats: 107 catches. 1,410 yards. 7 total TDs.
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Points: 203.
   Projected 2018 PPR Fantasy Points: 310.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Davante Adams, WR, Packers. Bye: 7.
   Davante Adams has emerged as Green Bay's No. 1 receiver. Proving that he's not just a byproduct of Aaron Rodgers, Adams was a big-time producer even when Brett Hundley started. Now with Rodgers back, and also Jordy Nelson gone, the sky is the limit for Adams' 2018 potential.
   
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Stats: 86 catches. 1,150 yards. 12 total TDs.
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Points: 199.
   Projected 2018 PPR Fantasy Points: 285.
   
   
8. A.J. Green, WR, Bengals. Bye: 9.
   AUG. 27 UPDATE: A.J. Green caught four of his five targets for 50 yards and a touchdown in the dress rehearsal. Green didn't perform up to his high standards last year, so he has re-dedicated himself, and it shows. Furthermore, Cincinnati's offensive line will allow Andy Dalton to perform on a higher level. Green is being drafted later than he should be.
   
   A.J. Green hasn't eclipsed 1,100 receiving yards or double-digit touchdowns in the past two years. Injuries in 2016 and horrible blocking in 2017 were responsible for Green's regression. The Bengals have improved their offensive line a bit, so Green could go back to his old self in 2018.
   
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Stats: 87 catches. 1,240 yards. 9 total TDs.
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Points: 198.
   Projected 2018 PPR Fantasy Points: 285.
   
   
9. Stefon Diggs, WR, Vikings. Bye: 10.
   AUG. 25 UPDATE: Stefon Diggs seems like he's going to take the next step and become an elite receiver. He and Kirk Cousins have a great rapport, and Cousins targeted Diggs more times (8) than any other receiver. In fact, that number would've been greater had Diggs not missed close to 10 plays when he got dinged up late in the second quarter. Diggs, who caught four of his targets for 51 yards, made a great spin move in the opening frame to pick up a third-and-10. Diggs then hauled in a ridiculous back-shoulder catch, and he followed that up by drawing a defensive holding penalty. I'm going to try to get Diggs on most of my fantasy teams this summer.
   
   AUG. 12 UPDATE: We only saw one drive from the Minnesota offense, but it looked like Kirk Cousins and Stefon Diggs were on the same page in the preseason opener. Diggs caught all three of the passes thrown to him, including a 28-yarder where he made a ridiculous catch. I like Diggs more than Adam Thielen this year; Diggs is more talented, and Cousins and Thielen may not have the same chemistry that Case Keenum and Thielen possessed.
   
   Thanks to Minnesota's defense and run-heavy offense, Stefon Diggs saw his reception total drop from 84 to 64. However, his touchdown totals rose from three to eight because the Vikings' scoring unit was better as a whole. Diggs will continue to be a borderline WR2 in fantasy, though much of his outlook will hinge on his chemistry with Kirk Cousins.
   
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Stats: 86 catches. 1,190 yards. 9 total TDs.
   Projected 2018 Fantasy Points: 189.
   Projected 2018 PPR Fantasy Points: 275.
   
   
10. Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs. Bye: 12.
    AUG. 26 UPDATE: Tyreek Hill seems like he's going to have a tremendous year. Hill saw eight targets from Patrick Mahomes in the dress rehearsal, and he snatched all eight for 88 yards. He and Mahomes have a tremendous rapport.
    
    Tyreek Hill was mostly a gadget player as a rookie, but he took off in 2017. Emerging as a dynamic, big-play threat, Hill caught 75 passes for 1,183 yards and seven touchdowns. His potential will be greater now that the talented Patrick Mahomes has replaced Alex Smith at quarterback.
    
    Projected 2018 Fantasy Stats: 84 catches. 1,210 yards. 8 total TDs.
    Projected 2018 Fantasy Points: 179.
    Projected 2018 PPR Fantasy Points: 265.
    
    

	Injured/injury risk		Potential bust		Potential sleeper
	Rank higher in touchdown leagues		Rank lower in touchdown leagues
	Rank higher in PPR (points per reception) leagues		Rank lower in PPR leagues

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