My receivers stink!

Okay, it’s only week one but I’m a little concerned about my wide receivers. (not panic mode yet)

You see, the fact that I don’t have a clear cut starting lineup (we start 3 to 4 receivers) bugs the hell out of me. This translates into the dreaded weekly opponent matchup.

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

Let me share a little secret with you, I hate making weekly decisions with my lineup. Because, when I do, it’s usually the wrong one.

I have had the most success when I could set my lineup and forget it. That’s why I draft my starting lineup before I look at any backups.

So… what can you do to take the guess work out of choosing the right starting wide receivers and fine tuning your roster?

In today’s post I will focus on the primary stat that I use to evaluate those mediocre and lesser known receivers (like the ones on my roster).

Introducing a no BS, common sense stat that is pure gold – The Target

A Target is how many times the QB throws to a receiver or “targets” him. If the quarterback doesn’t throw the ball to the receiver, how can he make any friggin’ plays?

You get the point right? – No BS, just common sense.

This stat alone has paid huge dividends for me in the past. I was able to grab players like: Hines Ward, Chad Johnson, Joe Horn and a few others while they were still flying under the radar.

The Process

First, take the receivers on your roster and then list how many times each one was targeted.

Since most of my receivers are middle tier at best, this is the only effective way to evaluate them. I will rank them first based on targets and then match-ups. (the top 3 will be my starters)

Next, take the short list of un-drafted fantasy football sleepers (the one you created after your draft) and track their targets.

Finally, watch both lists for a couple of weeks to see who jumps out. If one of the lesser players on your roster is lagging behind one of the targeted free agents consider making a move.

Quick Tip: Before you decide to pull the trigger on a player, keep an eye on your league’s waiver wire. People tend to panic and drop good players just for a one week wonder so be careful. Don’t you be that guy.

That’s all for now