NFL Fantasy Football: Highly Targeted, Underachieving Wide Receivers

There are plenty of receivers that came into the season with high expectations. While the following receivers have not been productive, it’s not because they aren’t on their quarterbacks radar. When you’re being ignored in the passing game, you have a problem. When you are getting your looks, there is hope. Here are some players to be patient with if you own them, or try to trade for them if you don’t.


Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals:  Fitz is third in league in the league with 35 targets. Sure, he’s only caught 12 passes, but you have to at least be encouraged by the effort Arizona is making to get him the ball. This may be lowest his stock is all year. Be aggressive if you want to get him. Make them overwhelm you if you own him.


Terrell Owens, Cincinnati Bengals:  T.O. probably isn’t happy with his 14 catches on the year, but he can’t have a gripe the 33 targets he’s received, which is just one short of Ocho’s. He has yet to score a TD this year, but is a good bet to score No. 145 this weekend against Cleveland.


Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions:  Megatron has caught half of his 28 targets this year. He has just 151 yards and has just 1 TD, though most would argue he should have two. Losing Matthew Stafford didn’t help matters, but he should be returning soon. He hasn’t topped 56 yards in a game this year. Get him while he’s low.


Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders:  DHB didn’t come into the season with a lot of expectations, but he has been thrown to plenty. He is tied for 17th with 26 targets. He has caught just ten of those passes, but has been decent the past two weeks with nine catches for 129 yards. He doesn’t have a bye until week ten so he makes a decent fill-in play.


Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers:  One of two things is going to happen. Either Jimmy Clausen will start playing like an NFL quarterback or Matt Moore will get his job back. Steve Smith has caught half of his 22 passes.

Despite the instability at QB he scored in the first two weeks. He struggled against a tough Cincinnati team last week, but he won’t see that caliber of defense until Week 11 when they face Baltimore. If there is ever a time to buy low for Steve Smith, now is the time.