Story a few days ago that Martavis Bryant may soon be reinstated from his year-long suspension. That would be huge for fantasy teams, since Bryant put up big numbers in the last 11 games of the 2015 season. But if that doesn't happen, you have the Steelers talking up Sammie Coates.
“I expect him to take another leap,” Mike Tomlin says of Coates. “I think he took a significant leap from Year No. 1 to Year No. 2, one that we expect. He faced some adversity throughout the journey, with injuries and so forth. I expect him to continue to grow, evolve and come with the level of preparedness that he had last year."
Those who drafted Coates last season are well aware of his fade, with broken fingers one of the key factors. Prior to getting hurt, though, he was one of the league's more dynamic big-play wideouts. Among the league's wide receiver with at least 20 receptions, nobody had a higher average, and nobody had more receptions of 40-plus yards.
It might all be moot if Bryant is reinstated, but Coates shouldn't be overlooked if he isn't. Extra value in distance leagues.
| WRS 2016, YARDS PER CATCH | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | No | Yds | Avg | TD | 40+ |
| Sammie Coates, Pitt. | 21 | 435 | 20.7 | 2 | 6 |
| DeSean Jackson, Wash. | 56 | 1,005 | 17.9 | 4 | 5 |
| Chris Hogan, N.E. | 38 | 680 | 17.9 | 4 | 4 |
| Kenny Stills, Mia. | 42 | 726 | 17.3 | 9 | 4 |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 83 | 1,409 | 17.0 | 6 | 5 |
| Marvin Jones, Det. | 55 | 930 | 16.9 | 4 | 4 |
| J.J. Nelson, Ariz. | 34 | 568 | 16.7 | 6 | 4 |
| Taylor Gabriel, Atl. | 35 | 579 | 16.5 | 6 | 3 |
| Devin Funchess, Car. | 23 | 371 | 16.1 | 4 | 1 |
| Aldrick Robinson, Atl. | 20 | 323 | 16.1 | 2 | 1 |
| Phillip Dorsett, Ind. | 33 | 528 | 16.0 | 2 | 4 |
| Dez Bryant, Dall. | 50 | 796 | 15.9 | 8 | 3 |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 91 | 1,448 | 15.9 | 6 | 2 |
| Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 52 | 821 | 15.8 | 2 | 2 |
| Sammy Watkins, Buff. | 28 | 430 | 15.4 | 2 | 2 |
| Tyrell Williams, S.D. | 69 | 1,059 | 15.3 | 7 | 6 |
| Breshad Perriman, Balt. | 33 | 499 | 15.1 | 3 | 3 |
| Brandin Cooks, N.O. | 78 | 1,173 | 15.0 | 8 | 6 |
| Victor Cruz, NYG | 39 | 586 | 15.0 | 1 | 3 |
| Kelvin Benjamin, Car. | 63 | 941 | 14.9 | 7 | 3 |
| Marquise Goodwin, Buff. | 29 | 431 | 14.9 | 3 | 2 |
| Quincy Enunwa, NYJ | 58 | 857 | 14.8 | 4 | 4 |
| Kenny Britt, L.A. | 68 | 1,002 | 14.7 | 5 | 4 |
| A.J. Green, Cin. | 66 | 964 | 14.6 | 4 | 6 |
| Tyler Lockett, Sea. | 41 | 597 | 14.6 | 1 | 3 |
| Rishard Matthews, Tenn. | 65 | 945 | 14.5 | 9 | 4 |
| Travis Benjamin, S.D. | 47 | 677 | 14.4 | 4 | 6 |
| Kendall Wright, Tenn. | 29 | 416 | 14.3 | 3 | 2 |
| Mike Wallace, Balt. | 72 | 1,017 | 14.1 | 4 | 5 |
| Robby Anderson, NYJ | 42 | 587 | 14.0 | 2 | 4 |
| Adam Thielen, Minn. | 69 | 967 | 14.0 | 5 | 2 |
| Dontrelle Inman, S.D. | 58 | 810 | 14.0 | 4 | 2 |
| Ted Ginn, Car. | 54 | 752 | 13.9 | 4 | 4 |
| Amari Cooper, Oak. | 83 | 1,153 | 13.9 | 5 | 2 |
| Brian Quick, L.A. | 41 | 564 | 13.8 | 3 | 3 |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 96 | 1,321 | 13.8 | 12 | 1 |
| Allen Hurns, Jac. | 35 | 477 | 13.6 | 3 | 1 |
| Odell Beckham, NYG | 101 | 1,367 | 13.5 | 10 | 6 |
| Brandon LaFell, Cin. | 64 | 862 | 13.5 | 6 | 4 |
| Terrance Williams, Dall. | 44 | 594 | 13.5 | 4 | 2 |
| Cameron Meredith, Chi. | 66 | 888 | 13.5 | 4 | 1 |
| Marqise Lee, Jac. | 63 | 851 | 13.5 | 3 | 1 |
| Will Fuller, Hou. | 47 | 635 | 13.5 | 2 | 1 |
| Brandon Marshall, NYJ | 59 | 788 | 13.4 | 3 | 1 |
| Torrey Smith, S.F. | 20 | 267 | 13.4 | 3 | 1 |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 75 | 997 | 13.3 | 12 | 4 |
| DeVante Parker, Mia. | 56 | 744 | 13.3 | 4 | 4 |
| Pierre Garcon, Wash. | 79 | 1,041 | 13.2 | 3 | 3 |
| Terrelle Pryor, Clev. | 77 | 1,007 | 13.1 | 4 | 4 |
| Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 79 | 1,032 | 13.1 | 5 | 2 |
| Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 97 | 1,257 | 13.0 | 14 | 4 |
| Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 67 | 847 | 12.6 | 7 | 3 |
| Corey Coleman, Clev. | 33 | 413 | 12.5 | 3 | 2 |
| Malcolm Mitchell, N.E. | 32 | 401 | 12.5 | 4 | 1 |
| Willie Snead, N.O. | 72 | 895 | 12.4 | 4 | 2 |
| Michael Thomas, N.O. | 92 | 1,137 | 12.4 | 9 | 1 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 78 | 954 | 12.2 | 4 | 2 |
| Jeremy Maclin, K.C. | 44 | 536 | 12.2 | 2 | 1 |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 106 | 1,284 | 12.1 | 12 | 3 |
| Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 94 | 1,136 | 12.1 | 4 | 3 |
| Allen Robinson, Jac. | 73 | 883 | 12.1 | 6 | 1 |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 94 | 1,128 | 12.0 | 7 | 5 |
| Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 90 | 1,083 | 12.0 | 5 | 3 |
| Golden Tate, Det. | 91 | 1,077 | 11.8 | 4 | 4 |
| Charles Johnson, Minn. | 20 | 232 | 11.6 | 0 | 1 |
| Steve Smith, Balt. | 70 | 799 | 11.4 | 5 | 2 |
| Michael Crabtree, Oak. | 89 | 1,003 | 11.3 | 8 | 3 |
| Adam Humphries, T.B. | 55 | 622 | 11.3 | 2 | 2 |
| Julian Edelman, N.E. | 98 | 1,106 | 11.3 | 3 | 1 |
| Eddie Royal, Chi. | 33 | 369 | 11.2 | 2 | 1 |
| Cole Beasley, Dall. | 75 | 833 | 11.1 | 5 | 1 |
| Mohamed Sanu, Atl. | 59 | 653 | 11.1 | 4 | 1 |
| Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 73 | 804 | 11.0 | 3 | 1 |
| Quinton Patton, S.F. | 37 | 408 | 11.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 84 | 903 | 10.8 | 3 | 3 |
| Seth Roberts, Oak. | 38 | 397 | 10.4 | 5 | 1 |
| Randall Cobb, G.B. | 60 | 610 | 10.2 | 4 | 1 |
| Nelson Agholor, Phil. | 36 | 365 | 10.1 | 2 | 1 |
| Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 61 | 593 | 9.7 | 6 | 2 |
| Albert Wilson, K.C. | 31 | 279 | 9.0 | 2 | 1 |
| Tavon Austin, L.A. | 58 | 509 | 8.8 | 3 | 1 |
--Andy Richardson