Higher or Lower: WR Edition
Continuing with my Higher or Lower pieces, here is my WR edition, which I completed last year as well, which can be seen here. I hit on most of the predictions, going an impressive 8/10 but still missed on the DaVante Parker TD prediction and the lofty Antonio Brown reception projection. However, I was correct on TY Hilton's high receiving yard total and Mike Evans' bounce-back TD total. Neverthless here I am one year later trying to correctly predict the stats of this year's best WRs. Hope you enjoy.
Mike Evans Receptions: 90
Lower:
Evans came out of nowhere last year in the catch department, racking up 96 catches after two seasons of just 68 and 74 receptions, respectively. Evans is a big-bodied receiver who became more of just a touchdown-dependent wideout by accumulating one of the most first downs by any receiver in the NFL. He legitimately became more of a possession-receiver rather than just a home-run wideout which proved vital for his fantasy importance. However, thanks to the offseason acquisitions OJ Howard and DeSean Jackson, Evans' volume numbers may take a hit. I see Evans closer to 75-80 catches rather than his 96 from a season ago.
Amari Cooper Receiving Yards: 1,250
Higher:
This may be a bit of a bold statement pegging Amari Cooper for more than 1,250 yards since he has yet to total more than 1,153 in a season which he gained last season. But hear me it, Cooper is heading into the well-known third year, which is a popular time for wideouts to truly break out. Cooper has shown very early on that he has the talent and patience to become one of the league's premier receivers and I believe he shows that in 2017. With Carr returning from injury and becoming the highest paid player in the NFL, the Raiders are going to want to use him. And who's going to benefit from the passing attack? Amari Cooper. Cooper can hit 1275-1350 yards this year and entrench himself as a top 10 receiver.
Terrelle Pryor Receiving Yards: 1,100
Lower:
I'm really close to giving Pryor the 'higher' for 1,100 but am hesitant mostly because the Redskins have a bunch of weapons to throw to. Also, I feel like Cousins is going to be hard-pressed to replicate his 4,900 yard season (in which no wideout posted higher than Pierre Garcon's 1,041 yards). So, if Cousins' passing yards falls by 400 or even 500 yards, Pryor may find it difficult to get to 1,100 yards with Jamison Crowder, Jordan Reed, Josh Doctson, and Chris Thompson all garnering a healthy amount of passes. But don't get me wrong, I think Pryor gets to 1,000 for sure and might come within 20-30 yards to 1,100.
Davante Adams Receiving Touchdowns: 9
Lower:
This one is an easy one for me. After posting a ridiculous 12 touchdown after totaling just 1 in 13 games the year before and 4 total touchdowns in his first two seasons in the league. So, if you look at it from a career standpoint, Adams scored 4 touchdowns in his first 29 games before going for 12 in the next 16 games. Therefore, I believe this pace is unsustainable, even in an Aaron Rodgers led offense. Do I think he'll fall off a cliff this year? No, simply because Adams became a better receiver last year and since Rodgers is the best passer in the game right now. I think Adams breaks 1,000 yards this year but falls to around 7-8 touchdowns in 2017.
Dez Bryant Receiving Touchdowns: 10
Higher:
Dez might be the premier touchdown threat in the NFL (maybe just behind Rob Gronkowski) but it is very close. Many have since forgotten that Dez had a stretch of seasons with 9, 12, 13, and 16 touchdowns, by far most in that stretch. And I get it, Tony Romo isn't here anymore, instead the conservative Dak Prescott is under center for the Cowboys. But, Prescott still threw 23 TD passes last season, which was tied for 15th most in the NFL, as a rookie. I believe that Dak only has up to go in that department and the connection between him and Dez towards the end of last season was getting stronger and stronger: 778 yards and 9 TDs from week 8 through the playoffs in games in which he garnered more than 1 target, an average of 77.8 yards and 0.9 TDs per game. Dez, if healthy, will get to double-digits and might even lead the league in touchdowns. I have him getting 11 TDs.