Factoid

March 19, 2018

Underrated Rishard Matthews

Veteran looks like sleeper receiver

If you want to try look under the radar, I kind of like Rishard Matthews. Every year he tends to be lightly regarded as a former seventh-round pick, and every year he effectively does his job.

Matthews has good hands, and he’s got the size to come up with contested catches. He doesn’t drop the ball. He was effective in Miami, and he’s been good in his two years in Tennessee (though he tailed off late last year after a hamstring injury).

Bottom line, quarterbacks (mostly Ryan Tannehill and Marcus Mariota) have thrown him 256 passes in the last three years, and those plays have resulted in 161 catches and 2,402 yards. That’s 9.4 yards per pass play.

Over the last three years, 62 other wide receivers have seen at least 200 pass attempts. Only four of them have been more effective (per play) than Matthews.

The Titans selected Corey Davis with the 5th pick of the draft, and no doubt every effort will be made to get Davis going. He’s talented, and it’s reasonable to make him the first Tennessee pass catcher selected. Davis caught a couple of touchdowns in the playoff loss at Foxborough, and one of them was really impressive – a one-hander, with Malcolm Butler hanging all over him.

But at the end of the year, we might all be wondering why we chose to ignore the considerable data in front of us. Davis was remarkably bad in the regular season last year, averaging only 5.8 yards on his plays. Some chance that Matthews is again Tennessee’s best wide receiver.

WIDE RECEIVERS, YARDS PER TARGET (2015-)
Rk	Player	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Yd/Tgt
1.	Julio Jones, Atl.	480	307	4,724	15.4	17	9.8
2.	Sammy Watkins, tms	218	127	2,070	16.3	19	9.5
3.	Adam Thielen, Minn.	252	172	2,387	13.9	9	9.5
4.	Brandin Cooks, tms	360	227	3,393	14.9	24	9.4
5.	Rishard Matthews, tms	256	161	2,402	14.9	17	9.4
6.	Doug Baldwin, Sea.	344	247	3,188	12.9	29	9.3
7.	DeSean Jackson, tms	239	136	2,201	16.2	11	9.2
8.	Antonio Brown, Pitt.	510	343	4,651	13.6	31	9.1
9.	Marvin Jones, tms	313	181	2,847	15.7	17	9.1
10.	Willie Snead, N.O.	221	149	1,971	13.2	7	8.9
11.	A.J. Green, Cin.	375	227	3,339	14.7	22	8.9
12.	T.Y. Hilton, Ind.	398	217	3,538	16.3	15	8.9
13.	Michael Thomas, N.O.	270	196	2,382	12.2	14	8.8
14.	Tyler Lockett, Sea.	206	137	1,816	13.3	9	8.8
15.	Ted Ginn, tms	262	151	2,278	15.1	18	8.7
16.	Terrance Williams, Dall.	232	149	2,002	13.4	7	8.6
17.	Kenny Britt, tms	226	124	1,939	15.6	10	8.6
18.	Keenan Allen, LAC	255	175	2,181	12.5	10	8.6
19.	Stefon Diggs, Minn.	291	200	2,472	12.4	15	8.5
20.	Odell Beckham, NYG	368	222	3,119	14.0	26	8.5
21.	Travis Benjamin, tms	262	149	2,210	14.8	13	8.4
22.	Allen Hurns, Jac.	237	138	1,992	14.4	15	8.4
23.	DeVante Parker, Mia.	233	139	1,908	13.7	8	8.2
24.	Amari Cooper, Oak.	358	203	2,903	14.3	18	8.1
25.	Kenny Stills, Mia.	249	127	2,013	15.9	18	8.1
26.	Robert Woods, tms	241	154	1,946	12.6	9	8.1
27.	Dontrelle Inman, tms	204	118	1,639	13.9	8	8.0
28.	Jamison Crowder, Wash.	280	192	2,240	11.7	12	8.0
29.	Mike Wallace, tms	280	163	2,238	13.7	10	8.0
30.	John Brown, Ariz.	229	125	1,819	14.6	12	7.9
31.	Pierre Garcon, tms	292	191	2,318	12.1	9	7.9
32.	Alshon Jeffery, tms	308	163	2,417	14.8	15	7.8
33.	Mohamed Sanu, tms	226	159	1,750	11.0	9	7.7
34.	Jermaine Kearse, tms	259	155	2,005	12.9	11	7.7
35.	Mike Evans, T.B.	457	241	3,528	14.6	20	7.7
36.	Danny Amendola, N.E.	202	149	1,550	10.4	9	7.7
37.	Allen Robinson, Jac.	303	154	2,300	14.9	20	7.6
38.	Jeremy Maclin, tms	272	171	2,064	12.1	13	7.6
39.	Eric Decker, tms	236	143	1,784	12.5	15	7.6
40.	Golden Tate, Det.	383	273	2,893	10.6	15	7.6
41.	Marqise Lee, Jac.	233	134	1,744	13.0	7	7.5
42.	Jordan Matthews, tms	279	183	2,083	11.4	12	7.5
43.	Emmanuel Sanders, Den.	365	202	2,722	13.5	13	7.5
44.	DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.	517	285	3,853	13.5	28	7.5
45.	Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.	456	325	3,394	10.4	21	7.4
46.	Adam Humphries, T.B.	206	143	1,513	10.6	4	7.3
47.	Brandon Marshall, tms	334	186	2,444	13.1	17	7.3
48.	Julian Edelman, N.E.	247	159	1,798	11.3	10	7.3
49.	Devin Funchess, Car.	232	117	1,684	14.4	17	7.3
50.	Jordy Nelson, G.B.	240	150	1,739	11.6	20	7.2
51.	Demaryius Thomas, Den.	461	278	3,336	12.0	16	7.2
52.	Jarvis Landry, Mia.	458	316	3,280	10.4	17	7.2
53.	Cole Beasley, Dall.	236	163	1,683	10.3	14	7.1
54.	Brandon LaFell, tms	270	153	1,925	12.6	9	7.1
55.	Davante Adams, G.B.	332	199	2,365	11.9	23	7.1
56.	Donte Moncrief, Ind.	208	120	1,431	11.9	15	6.9
57.	Randall Cobb, G.B.	305	205	2,092	10.2	14	6.9
58.	Nelson Agholor, Phil.	208	121	1,416	11.7	11	6.8
59.	Dez Bryant, Dall.	300	150	2,035	13.6	17	6.8
60.	Anquan Boldin, tms	206	136	1,373	10.1	12	6.7
61.	Michael Crabtree, Oak.	392	232	2,543	11.0	25	6.5
62.	Kamar Aiken, tms	221	119	1,405	11.8	6	6.4
63.	Tavon Austin, LAR	215	123	1,029	8.4	8	4.8

—Ian Allan

Rishard Matthews Corey Davis

Older

Newer

My dad and I have subscribed since I was 10 years old and I am 38 now. We canʼt go a season without it.

Trevor T. Sparks, Nev.

You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)

Michael B. St. Charles, Mo.

I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!

Paul L. Mequon, Wisc.

The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!

Glenn S. Olympia, Wash.

Hi, received my copy over the weekend and I think it's the best work you guys have done (I've been reading your publication since 1988). The writing is terrific and full of good humor, along with more substance than anybody else has.

Keep up the great work!

John L. Madison, Wis.

I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.

Henry G. Bartlett, Ill.

Thanks for another great season of Fantasy Index, you avoid group-think and form your own opinions, and always have. I've been using your products since 1992, and you've always been a cut above the rest.

Rob D. Wellington, Fla.

Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.

Jason C. Tulsa, Okla.

A little feedback from a long time customer.

Our fantasy pool is entering its 25^th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.

I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4^th.

Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.

Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!

Peter M. London, Ontario, Canada

I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!

Trey C. Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you for all the updates etc. In the last 14 or 15 years, we have placed in the top three 9 times winning it all 4 times. I have been a customer of yours for many years. Our success is partially due to luck, but I think your magazine with all of the good stuff has been a real contributing factor. Keep up the good work. Will be a customer until the time I can't read anymore.

Richard M. Imperial, Neb.

I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.

You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…

From the bottom of a champion's heart,

Dave M. Elma, N.Y.

I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!

The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!

I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.

All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.

I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!

I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.

Thanks again to you and your staff,

Darrell W. Holt, Mich.

I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.

Ryan M. Lynnwood, Wash.

You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.

John W. Aylett, Va.

And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17^th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.

Thanks again,

Todd S. Grand Junction, Colo.

This is my ninth year competing with my two very savey adult children and their 11 regulars to make it a 14 team draft with a $200 bid limit. Your SuperFanatic package has put me into the 6 team play- offs 4 out of the 8 years and there is no way I could compete with these guys without my cheat sheets! They still have no idea how I can be so lucky every year :-) Cheaters do prosper!!!!

Robert A.

I wanted to thank you for such an amazing product and your customer service. I ordered the wrong date for my update and called to correct the mistake. Your customer service person was very kind, helpful and took care of the issue immediately.

I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.

In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.

By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!

David R. Queen Creek, Ariz.

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Factoid

Underrated Rishard Matthews

Today's Trivia

Mailbag

Member updates

Follow

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

Quick hits

Your Stuff

In-Depth

Resources

All Products

Help & Support

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Customer Service