Around the NFL

March 10, 2019

James Washington

Brown trade to Raiders makes 2nd-rounder clear No. 2

Antonio Brown has been traded to the Raiders. It's a big win for Brown, as long as he doesn't care about contending for a playoff spot. He's getting a new contract with a lot more guaranteed money, and he doesn't have to worry about his quarterback calling him out or any other wide receiver challenging him for the No. 1 spot.

On the flipside, the Raiders are definitely the 3rd-best team in the AFC West -- at best. Their defense is terrible, it's not clear if the team actually likes Derek Carr or is hoping to draft a quarterback in the first round, and Brown's stats seem likely to decline. His quarterback won't be as good and the passing game won't be as good. Maybe he's still one of the game's best wideouts, but I wouldn't draft him higher than the late 2nd or maybe the 3rd round. What's his interest level going to be midway through the season when the Raiders are 2-6? Brown won't be on any of my teams.

(By the way, unless the Steelers and Raiders finish in the same spot in their respective divisions this year or next, the teams won't face each other until 2022, so there won't even be a revenge game anytime soon.)

Pittsburgh, meantime, has extra third- and fifth-round picks (not great compensation, obviously), but rest assured they'll use one of those picks on a wide receiver. And the way they've been at picking wideouts, probably that guy will go on to tear up the league. Which brings us to James Washington.

The Steelers drafted Washington in the second round a year ago, which at the time dovetailed with the trade of Martavis Bryant (to Oakland, as it happens). But perhaps they also had an inkling a split with Brown was coming soon. Whatever the case, trading Brown leaves Pittsburgh with a sizable chunk of dead money against the cap, so they're probably not going to be able (or inclined) to sign a noteworthy wide receiver. Washington should get first crack at that No. 2 spot.

He'll need to show a lot more than he did as a rookie. In a couple of late-season games, he caught 3 for 65 against New England and 3 for 64 against Cincinnati. But the overall numbers weren't good. Among all wideouts with at least 30 targets a year ago, only three had a worse catch rate than Washington (and nobody is counting on them to be viable players in 2019).

WIDE RECEIVER CATCH RATES, 2018
Player	Tm	Tgt	Rec	Ctch%	Yds	TD
Michael Thomas	NOR	147	125	85.0%	1405	9
Ryan Switzer	PIT	44	36	81.8%	253	1
Tyler Lockett	SEA	70	57	81.4%	965	10
Phillip Dorsett	NWE	42	32	76.2%	290	3
Cole Beasley	DAL	87	65	74.7%	672	3
Danny Amendola	MIA	79	59	74.7%	575	1
Albert Wilson	MIA	35	26	74.3%	391	4
Adam Thielen	MIN	153	113	73.9%	1373	9
Chester Rogers	IND	72	53	73.6%	485	2
Rashard Higgins	CLE	53	39	73.6%	572	4
Jarius Wright	CAR	59	43	72.9%	447	1
Cooper Kupp	LAR	55	40	72.7%	566	6
Sammy Watkins	KAN	55	40	72.7%	519	3
Adam Humphries	TAM	105	76	72.4%	816	5
Emmanuel Sanders	DEN	98	71	72.4%	868	4
Taylor Gabriel	CHI	93	67	72.0%	688	2
Dontrelle Inman	IND	39	28	71.8%	304	3
Jordy Nelson	OAK	88	63	71.6%	739	3
Keenan Allen	LAC	136	97	71.3%	1196	6
Will Fuller	HOU	45	32	71.1%	503	4
Alshon Jeffery	PHI	92	65	70.7%	843	6
DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	163	115	70.6%	1572	11
Tyler Boyd	CIN	108	76	70.4%	1028	7
Seth Roberts	OAK	64	45	70.3%	494	2
Mohamed Sanu	ATL	94	66	70.2%	838	4
Amari Cooper	2TM	107	75	70.1%	1005	7
Calvin Ridley	ATL	92	64	69.6%	821	10
Stefon Diggs	MIN	149	102	68.5%	1021	9
Julian Edelman	NWE	108	74	68.5%	850	6
Doug Baldwin	SEA	73	50	68.5%	618	5
Brandin Cooks	LAR	117	80	68.4%	1204	5
Keke Coutee	HOU	41	28	68.3%	287	1
Ryan Grant	IND	52	35	67.3%	334	1
D.J. Moore	CAR	82	55	67.1%	788	2
JuJu Smith-Schuster	PIT	166	111	66.9%	1426	7
DaeSean Hamilton	DEN	45	30	66.7%	243	2
Demarcus Robinson	KAN	33	22	66.7%	288	4
Geronimo Allison	GNB	30	20	66.7%	303	2
Julio Jones	ATL	170	113	66.5%	1677	8
Demaryius Thomas	2TM	89	59	66.3%	677	5
Robert Woods	LAR	130	86	66.2%	1219	6
Taywan Taylor	TEN	56	37	66.1%	466	1
Nelson Agholor	PHI	97	64	66.0%	736	4
Laquon Treadwell	MIN	53	35	66.0%	302	1
Davante Adams	GNB	169	111	65.7%	1386	13
Golden Tate	2TM	113	74	65.5%	795	4
Dede Westbrook	JAX	101	66	65.3%	717	5
Willie Snead	BAL	95	62	65.3%	651	1
Mike Williams	LAC	66	43	65.2%	664	10
Kendrick Bourne	SFO	66	42	63.6%	487	4
Chris Hogan	NWE	55	35	63.6%	532	3
Tre'Quan Smith	NOR	44	28	63.6%	427	5
Tyreek Hill	KAN	137	87	63.5%	1479	12
Trent Taylor	SFO	41	26	63.4%	215	1
T.Y. Hilton	IND	120	76	63.3%	1270	6
Christian Kirk	ARI	68	43	63.2%	590	3
Tyrell Williams	LAC	65	41	63.1%	653	5
Mike Evans	TAM	138	86	62.3%	1524	8
Randall Cobb	GNB	61	38	62.3%	383	2
Odell Beckham	NYG	124	77	62.1%	1052	6
Chris Godwin	TAM	95	59	62.1%	842	7
Antonio Brown	PIT	168	104	61.9%	1297	15
Jakeem Grant	MIA	34	21	61.8%	268	2
Sterling Shepard	NYG	107	66	61.7%	872	4
Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	112	69	61.6%	734	6
Chris Conley	KAN	52	32	61.5%	334	5
Robert Foster	BUF	44	27	61.4%	541	3
Anthony Miller	CHI	54	33	61.1%	423	7
Curtis Samuel	CAR	65	39	60.0%	494	5
Dante Pettis	SFO	45	27	60.0%	467	5
Isaiah McKenzie	2TM	30	18	60.0%	179	0
A.J. Green	CIN	77	46	59.7%	694	6
Maurice Harris	WAS	47	28	59.6%	304	0
Jamison Crowder	WAS	49	29	59.2%	388	2
Kenny Golladay	DET	119	70	58.8%	1063	5
Zach Pascal	IND	46	27	58.7%	268	2
Allen Robinson	CHI	94	55	58.5%	754	4
Equanimeous St. Brown	GNB	36	21	58.3%	328	0
Corey Davis	TEN	112	65	58.0%	891	4
Kenny Stills	MIA	64	37	57.8%	553	6
Josh Gordon	2TM	71	41	57.7%	737	4
Allen Hurns	DAL	35	20	57.1%	295	2
Paul Richardson	WAS	35	20	57.1%	262	2
Ted Ginn	NOR	30	17	56.7%	209	2
Deonte Thompson	2TM	30	17	56.7%	161	0
Marvin Jones	DET	62	35	56.5%	508	5
Josh Doctson	WAS	78	44	56.4%	532	2
Tim Patrick	DEN	41	23	56.1%	315	1
Quincy Enunwa	NYJ	68	38	55.9%	449	1
Devin Funchess	CAR	79	44	55.7%	549	4
DeSean Jackson	TAM	74	41	55.4%	774	4
Tajae Sharpe	TEN	47	26	55.3%	316	2
Zay Jones	BUF	102	56	54.9%	652	7
Torrey Smith	CAR	31	17	54.8%	190	2
Josh Reynolds	LAR	53	29	54.7%	402	5
Jarvis Landry	CLE	149	81	54.4%	976	4
Antonio Callaway	CLE	79	43	54.4%	586	5
Keelan Cole	JAX	70	38	54.3%	491	1
Michael Crabtree	BAL	100	54	54.0%	607	3
Donte Moncrief	JAX	89	48	53.9%	668	3
Marquise Goodwin	SFO	43	23	53.5%	395	4
Terrelle Pryor	2TM	30	16	53.3%	252	2
Robby Anderson	NYJ	94	50	53.2%	752	6
Pierre Garcon	SFO	46	24	52.2%	286	1
Marquez Valdes-Scantling	GNB	73	38	52.1%	581	2
DeVante Parker	MIA	47	24	51.1%	309	1
Courtland Sutton	DEN	84	42	50.0%	704	4
David Moore	SEA	53	26	49.1%	445	5
Jermaine Kearse	NYJ	76	37	48.7%	371	1
Aldrick Robinson	MIN	35	17	48.6%	231	5
Michael Gallup	DAL	68	33	48.5%	507	2
Marcell Ateman	OAK	31	15	48.4%	154	1
DJ Chark	JAX	32	14	43.8%	174	0
John Brown	BAL	97	42	43.3%	715	5
James Washington	PIT	38	16	42.1%	217	1
Kelvin Benjamin	2TM	67	25	37.3%	380	1
Chad Williams	ARI	46	17	37.0%	171	1
John Ross	CIN	58	21	36.2%	210	7

Rookie wideouts not doing much isn't a big deal; Brown himself didn't do much when he was a rookie in Pittsburgh. Washington will get a crash course in the preseason, so maybe. He's working with a great quarterback and there's a great No. 1 wideout across the field to take attention away from him.

But you're definitely going pretty much sight unseen if you select Washington and hope you're getting a viable fantasy starter.

--Andy Richardson

Antonio Brown James Washington

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

Around the NFL

James Washington

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