3 Wide Receivers Primed to Make the Jump in Fantasy Football This Season

Charles Johnson, Minnesota Vikings

And to round out my obvious affinity for #TeamBigWR, we move next to Charles Johnson.

A favorite among the metrics crowd, including Green Bay GM and wide receiver whisperer Ted Thompson, Johnson saw his first meaningful playing time of his short two-year career last season, posting a 31/475/2 line. And while this statistical total seems small, Johnson didn’t see a snaps played percentage above 50% until Week 11.

From Weeks 12 to 17, Johnson saw at least 90% of Minnesota’s offensive snaps in every game, accumulating 69% of his receiving yards and both his touchdowns. Once he found substantial playing time, Johnson took advantage.

Johnson was another NEP All-Star in 2014, finishing as the seventh best wide receiver in both Reception NEP and Reception NEP per target among the 32 players that saw between 40 and 70 targets.

And maybe most importantly, Vikings’ offensive coordinator Norv Turner seems to believe in Johnson’s ability as well:

“He's got great work ethic, and he's a big, strong guy. He's a 218-pound receiver that can run. He's got everything you need to be a productive player in this league.”

Even with the addition of Mike Wallace in the offseason and the return of Adrian Peterson, Johnson has the physical tools and past efficiency to make a strong push for the mid to high-WR2 tier for fantasy purposes. And at his current WR34 ADP, he offers legitimate home run upside for fantasy football owners.