Bucs Nation 2019 Fantasy Outlook: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

David and I are back to help qualm your fantasy worries, whether they are big or small.

This week, we are diving into wide receivers and tight ends. We will follow the same format as last week and we will also use Fantasy Pros as our ground to stand on.

We are going to swap up when it comes to the positions. David may take wide receiver for one question, while I take tight end, and vice-versa.

If you missed last week’s quarterback preview, you can check it out here.

Who will finish the season as the No. 1 WR/TE?

David: Travis Kelce, Chiefs

While I like Zach Ertz a lot, Kelce is the choice here.

Much of this love has to do with the fact that Patrick Mahomes is his quarterback, but I’m not trying to take anything way from Kelce. He is a big, athletic tight end that can dominate the middle of the field, which is a big plus when playing with a young quarterback.

Evan: Julio Jones, Falcons

Obviously, since David took the tight end in this situation, I’ll be selecting the top wideout and that award goes to Jones.

I’m probably pissing a lot of fans of after selecting Matt Ryan as my top quarterback last week, but something tells me this is going to be a big year for both players.

Assuming Jones stays healthy - he’s been dealing with injury all preseason - he will be the top receiver in 2019. His only double-digit touchdown season came in Dirk Koetter’s first year as offensive coordinator (10 TDs in 2012) and I expect that to happen this year, which has been Jones’ Achilles Heel over the past couple of seasons.

Who is currently being drafted too high?

David: Evan Engram, Giants

My biggest concern is that there simply isn’t enough weapons on the Giants for Engram to justify his current draft status.

Fantasy Pros has him as the fifth tight end off the board. While Engram has the ability to become a top-5 player, I don’t know think he has the supporting cast around him - outside of Saquon Barkley - to make it happen.

Defenses will stack the box to stop Barkley, which will really hamper Engram’s opportunities, as well.

I just need to see what this Giants offense looks like as a whole before I take a chance on Engram.

Evan: Mike Evans, Bucs

If fans weren’t pissed before, they’re REALLY pissed now.

Evans is currently ranked as the eighth-best receiver in fantasy. He had a career year last year, but it appears that this offense will be tailored around decision-making rather than forcing the issue.

The sixth-year receiver has been a target monster during his career, but a lot of that is because of the offense that he was in. Koetter ran a columned, vertical-style offense and Evans was considered the go-to-guy, for good reason.

But the ball will spread around more in this offense and players like O.J. Howard and Chris Godwin will make their living over the middle, which is where Jameis Winston excels when it comes to passing the ball, anyway.

I love Mike, but he won’t finish as a top-10 wideout (fantasy-wise) in 2019.

Which receiver/tight end is being slept on the most when it comes to ADP and overall selection?

David: Marvin Jones Jr., Lions

Right now Jones Jr. is being drafted as the WR38, otherwise known as the 97th overall pick. To me, that’s a steal for a player that has a very good chance of finishing as a top-24 receiver.

There’s a thought out there that Jones Jr. may have a better year than Kenny Golladay, who is the favorite to land the lead receiver job in Detroit. If that happens, then you better believe Jones Jr. will be among the WR2 spots in 2019.

Evan: Delanie Walker, Titans

This one is easy.

A lot of people will point to Walker’s devastating 2018 injury and the fact that he’s 35 years old, but in all honesty, the guy gets better every year. There’s not much reason to think that will change in 2019.

Before he was hurt last year, Walker finished as the second-, fifth- and fourth-best tight end from 2015-2017, according to Fantasy Pros. Right now, he’s considered the 12th-best tight end and is getting drafted with the 129th pick.

The guy is a stud and can get it done in multiple ways. He has an excellent rapport with Marcus Mariota and that showed during last Saturday’s preseason game against the New England Patriots.

Walker is back and is ready for a big year.

I’m not taking this guy, even with a gun to my head:

David: Antonio Brown, Raiders

Do I really need to explain? There are so many factors involved with Brown in 2019.

If he’s there late in the fourth or something like that, then sure, I’ll take a flier on him. Outside of that scenario, it ain’t happening.

Evan: Austin Hooper, Falcons

I don’t know where the love for Austin Hooper is coming from. Maybe I’m just a hater, but I can’t see him finishing as a top-11 tight end this year.

He finished the 2018 season as the sixth-best tight end with 71 catches for 660 yards and four touchdowns.

But don’t let those numbers fool you.

Half of Hooper’s yardage and three of his four touchdowns came in five games. He had eight games with 37 yards receiving or less, including a big goose egg against Arizona in Week 15. PPR owners would have suffered as well - he averaged just 2.75 receptions during those eight games.

That’s way too much inconsistency. Avoid Hooper like the plague.

Wanna check out the entire conversation? Check out the link below!