We have kicked around Mike Evans some the past few days. I have let the cat out of the bag that I’m not super high on him for this year. As much as I would like to elevate him above Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones (receivers I also am leery of), I just don’t see it.
While Tampa Bay’s offense appears to be growing nicely, I fear it’s also becoming more diverse. We saw this with the chart I posted a couple of days ago, with Evans being the No. 1 receiver in the first half of last year (first eight games), but just 13th in the second half of the season.
Lots of new weapons in Tampa Bay. It’s a better, more well-rounded receiving group now, and I think the days of forcing everything to Evans are over.
I can also point out that he drops more balls than he should – concentration drops. He dropped 11 balls in 2015, and 7 last year. Not a deal killer, but of the 43 wide receiver who’ve seen at least 100 catchable balls over the last two years, he’s one of only three who’s dropped over 9 percent of them.
Not that Evans is a poison pick kind of guy. I’ve still got him as the 6th-best receiver on my board. But not a player I will be selecting. There are other receivers who’ll put up similar numbers that I think will come at far more favorable prices. Michael Thomas and T.Y. Hilton, for example.
| WIDE RECEIVER DROPS (2015-16) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Rec | Drop | Pct |
| Pierre Garcon, Wash. | 151 | 2 | 1.3% |
| Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 242 | 4 | 1.6% |
| Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 172 | 3 | 1.7% |
| Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 216 | 4 | 1.8% |
| Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 155 | 3 | 1.9% |
| Stefon Diggs, Minn. | 136 | 3 | 2.2% |
| Jeremy Maclin, K.C. | 131 | 3 | 2.2% |
| Jamison Crowder, Wash. | 126 | 3 | 2.3% |
| Willie Snead, N.O. | 141 | 4 | 2.8% |
| Brandin Cooks, N.O. | 162 | 5 | 3.0% |
| Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 204 | 7 | 3.3% |
| Steve Smith Sr., Balt. | 116 | 4 | 3.3% |
| DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 189 | 7 | 3.6% |
| Kamar Aiken, Balt. | 104 | 4 | 3.7% |
| Golden Tate, Det. | 181 | 7 | 3.7% |
| Cole Beasley, Dall. | 127 | 5 | 3.8% |
| A.J. Green, Cin. | 152 | 6 | 3.8% |
| Robert Woods, Buff. | 98 | 4 | 3.9% |
| Julio Jones, Atl. | 219 | 9 | 3.9% |
| Terrance Williams, Dall. | 96 | 4 | 4.0% |
| Randall Cobb, G.B. | 139 | 6 | 4.1% |
| T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 160 | 7 | 4.2% |
| Anquan Boldin, S.F.-Det. | 136 | 6 | 4.2% |
| Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 106 | 5 | 4.5% |
| Allen Robinson, Jac. | 153 | 8 | 5.0% |
| Mike Wallace, Min.-Bal. | 111 | 6 | 5.1% |
| Odell Beckham Jr., NYG | 197 | 11 | 5.3% |
| Kenny Britt, Rams | 104 | 6 | 5.5% |
| John Brown, Ariz. | 104 | 6 | 5.5% |
| Travis Benjamin, Cle.-S.D. | 115 | 7 | 5.7% |
| Rishard Matthews, Mia.-Ten. | 108 | 7 | 6.1% |
| Brandon LaFell, N.E.-Cin. | 101 | 7 | 6.5% |
| Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 158 | 11 | 6.5% |
| Allen Hurns, Jac. | 99 | 8 | 7.5% |
| Julian Edelman, N.E. | 159 | 13 | 7.6% |
| Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 195 | 16 | 7.6% |
| Amari Cooper, Oak. | 155 | 13 | 7.7% |
| Davante Adams, G.B. | 125 | 11 | 8.1% |
| Tavon Austin, Rams | 110 | 10 | 8.3% |
| Michael Crabtree, Oak. | 174 | 17 | 8.9% |
| Mike Evans, T.B. | 170 | 18 | 9.6% |
| Brandon Marshall, NYJ | 168 | 18 | 9.7% |
| Ted Ginn Jr., Car. | 98 | 15 | 13.3% |
—Ian Allan