Fantasy Football: Ranking Each NFL Team's Number-Two Receiver

Ranking 26-32: Digging Deep

32) John Ross - Cincinnati Bengals

John Ross was a highly-coveted player in 2017 as the ninth overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals. However, lingering injuries and an early fumble put him in coach Marvin Lewis' doghouse. He caught zero passes and had one rush for 12 yards. That's it! While Ross maintains a strong upside profile given his draft equity, he falls on a very damning list of first-round wide receivers to see fewer than 50 targets in Year 1. If he could overcome injuries, role confusion, and a mediocre-looking offense, it would be a major surprise.

31) Zay Jones - Buffalo Bills

Zay Jones was a prolific college receiver who gobbled up everything in his zip code. However, in 2017 with the Buffalo Bills, Jones posted a 36 percent catch rate, which ranked dead last among all players to see at least 50 targets. Off-field issues, a run-heavy offense, and a quarterback carousel all spell out that Jones is best left undrafted for fantasy football.

30) Mike Williams - Los Angeles Chargers

Mike Williams has capped upside for many of the same reasons John Ross does. His poor rookie year (mostly due to injury) is still a strong predictor of his future outcomes. While the Los Angeles Chargers' offense should be stout in 2018, Tyrell Williams is a great late-round pick and is actually my favorite play among the wideouts behind Keenan Allen in this attack. Both Ross and Mike Williams each had questionable college production profiles entering the draft. It will be interesting to see how much leash their draft equity continues to provide for them.

29) Terrelle Pryor - New York Jets

Terrelle Pryor was a third-round pick in fantasy drafts in 2017 and fell face flat in Washington. Now with the Jets, Pryor could struggle to find targets. He will be competing with Jermaine Kearse and Quincy Enunwa for looks behind Robby Anderson, and I believe Pryor could actually be fourth on that list. We may have seen his ceiling during his time in Cleveland, but a low-upside offense with lots of competition screams stay away.

28) Calvin Ridley - Atlanta Falcons

Calvin Ridley was the second wide receiver taken in the 2018 NFL Draft, where he will be the understudy to Julio Jones. For now, though, he will be competing with Mohamed Sanu for targets in the Falcons' offense. While Ridley enters as one of the older rookie receivers we've seen, he will likely take his lumps on the depth chart before being given his chance to shine in a featured role. Mark Ridley as a mid-season "buy" candidate, for now.

27) Christian Kirk - Arizona Cardinals

Christian Kirk was taken in the middle of the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, who are hurting for receiver depth. Behind ironman Larry Fitzgerald, there is not a lot of stiff competition for targets. Brice Butler, J.J. Nelson, and Chad Williams round out the depth chart, but Kirk figures to get the first crack at playing Robin to Fitz's Batman. Unfortunately for Kirk, his home position of slot receiver is firmly occupied by Fitzgerald, with second-year tight end and former college teammate Ricky Seals-Jones also operating on the inside. Kirk will have to prove versatility to thrive in 2018.

26) Willie Snead - Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens did Ryan Grant dirty this year, and as a result, they have a new ace wide receiver in Michael Crabtree. Willie Snead will battle John Brown for secondary duties. However, they are very different types of players. After a pair of successful campaigns in New Orleans, Snead will look to reestablish himself in Baltimore. The heat is on for Joe Flacco, so no matter what, Snead could see some decent quarterback play this year -- whether it comes from Flacco or rookie Lamar Jackson, I'm buying the Ravens' offense to be improved in 2018. Snead has limited upside but has shown us that an 800-yard season is something he can do.