Jamison Crowder appears to be raising the floor of his 2017 fantasy potential at the receiver position. Especially in .5 PPR leagues, the large number of receptions and looks should make him the more safe option to own from the Redskins receiving core.
Terrelle Pryor takes a slight hit here, as he looks to be more of the big play receiver. Pryor could very well still lead the team in yards, but will be subject to more down field plays, with a less than consistent basis. Fewer opportunities in the passing game are sure to take a hit on Pryor’s stock, but nothing too drastic.
A couple months ago, we interviewed Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan to talk about the Redskins offense and what he expected in 2017. His thoughts and beliefs seem to be lining up with what Rich Tandler had to say above regarding receiver Jamison Crowder. As noted before, Crowder’s skill set and playing style are the best fit for QB Kirk Cousins in the offense. Crowder operates primarily between the numbers for higher percentage throws that Cousins can easily make. Crowder has plenty of opportunity to take on some of the balls left behind by both DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon.
Paulsen previously predicted a stat line of 97-1,150-5 for Crowder, which would be phenomenal for .5 PPR formats. The high quantity of targets he’s likely to see should make him more valuable as your draft draws nearer knowing how much the Redskins rely on the passing game. With Terrelle Pryor focusing outside the numbers and deeper routes, he’ll get his sexy games with high yardage totals. But with high ceilings come low floors, and Crowder’s floor is consistently trending upwards. A receiver who is a real threat to catch 100 balls in 2017 while having an equally as good chance to go over 1,000 yards is nothing to ignore.
Obviously, owners need to be wary of all-pro tight end Jordan Reed lingering around and dominating in the offense. As good as both Crowder and Pryor are, Reed is the superior talent when healthy and a real game changer. Reed’s role should also expand with the departure of the two former receivers, but Crowder’s stock has taken the biggest jump. Reed and Pryor should dominate in the touchdown department, while Crowder racks up the points more consistently from the receptions and yardage categories. Compared to Pryor using our Stock Formula, Crowder is the better play from the risk side, compared to their true raw skill. Due to his high upside, Pryor is currently listed as our WR19, while Crowder sits at WR27 — albeit with a much higher floor.
Crowder has the opportunity this year to solidify a WR2 spot in fantasy owner’s lineups. The young up and coming receiver definitely has the eye of his QB, along with the necessary skills and style to be a big play maker for the team. Keep an eye on Crowder as he continues to sneak up draft boards, becoming more and more valuable as this offense begins to figure itself out.
We are the ‘Watchers on the RotoWall,’ and indeed, the RotoWorld Blurbs can be dark and full of terrors (re: nonsense on backup right guards and their contract disputes). Instead, bookmark our Fantasy Football Stock Watch, and let us sift through the nonsense to bring you the blurbs that actually matter, with the in-depth analysis we’re known for. A Fantasy Wolf doesn’t miss a single stock market move, so don’t be a sheep.
