Comparing 2016 Player Performances to History: Part Two-Wide Receivers

The 2016 season was nothing special as compared to the history of Fantasy Football.  Because I am a total geek, married with kids, and have nothing better to do, I created a massive spreadsheet that takes into account over 23,000 individual player seasons dating back to 1970.  I use the same statistical values and categories as my Total Insanity Football League so as to compare apples to apples.

The Wide Receiver position was absolutely nothing special in 2016.  Antonio Brown, the points-leader at that position, was, for him, rather pedestrian.  AB scored only 281 points; 67 points off his 2015 season which was the fifth-best season among wide receivers in history.

The top five wide receivers for 2016:

Antonio Brown-Pittsburgh (281)
Jordy Nelson-Green Bay (269)
Mike Evans-Tampa Bay (263)
Odell Beckham-NY Giants (263)
T.Y. Hilton-Indianapolis (237)

Point scoring for the top wideouts in the game fell off dramatically, by comparison, from 2015's top five:

Antonio Brown-Pittsburgh (348)
Julio Jones-Atlanta (337)
Brandon Marshall-NY Jets (315)
DeAndre Hopkins-Houston (301)
Odell Beckham-NY Giants (295)

There are many and varied reasons for this dramatic turn of events.  Julio Jones was hurt a good portion of this season.  He missed two games and had single-digit scores in three others.  He finished at 218; eighth among receivers.  The Jets were a dumpster fire and Marshall got caught up in the smoke.  His 141 points were 47th highest.  But, DeAndre Hopkins may have been the most disappointing receiver in the league.  He finished with just 160 points, 38th overall, after not finding any sort of rhythm with new QB Brock Osweiler.  Even worse, his Total Insanity Football League owner paid $50 for his troubles.  He is under contract for 2017 at an unsightly $56.  Beckham wasn't far off his 2015 season and his troubles were largely his own making.  Still, he remains one of the biggest bargains in the league at just $4 in 2016 and $6 in 2017.

As for the success stories, Mike Evans and Jameis Winston turned in a very nice season together on a Tampa Bay team that is going to cause problems for the NFC South in the coming years.  Jordy Nelson returned from missing all of 2015 to have a huge season.  Nelson, Aaron Rodgers most trusted target, is another bargain at $27 in 2016 and $31 in 2017.  T.Y. Hilton improved 40 points over his 2015 season as Andrew Luck's go-to guy.

New faces also graced the leaderboard this season.  Rounding out the top ten:

6. Doug Baldwin-Seattle (226)
7. Brandin Cooks-New Orleans (222)
8. Julio Jones-Atlanta (218)
9. Michael Crabtree-Oakland (208)
10. Davante Adams-Green Bay (206)

The top rookie receiver, Michael Thomas of New Orleans added 203 points to finish 11th overall.

Later today...Part Three...a look at Tight Ends of 2016.