Fantasy Index

Active Banner
PLAYOFF CHEAT SHEETS ON SALE NOW.
SIGN UP

Factoid

Free agent receivers

Buyer beware for transplanted pass catchers

Davante Adams, Chris Godwin, Allen Robinson, Will Fuller, Mike Williams, Sammy Watkins and Jamison Crowder are among the most notable wide receivers headed for free agency. If form holds, some will land with new teams, but most will fall short of expectations.

That’s the way it typically plays out. More often than not, wide receivers aren’t as effective when transplanted into a new environment – always with a different offense and often with a quarterback who’s not as good at getting them the ball.

Since 2000, 100 wide receivers have put up top-40 numbers, then switched to play for a new team the next year (whether it be by trade or free agency). Of those receivers, only 21 (about 1 in 5) finished with better numbers (using PPR scoring). Only 43 (fewer than half) again put up top-40 numbers.

In the chart below, I’ve got the guys ordered by their production prior to moving. The first player on the list (Muhsin Muhammad) was the most productive receiver in the league in 2004 (using PPR scoring). Three others put up top-5 receiving numbers (DeAndre Hopkins, Jarvis Landry, Antonio Brown).

For the wide receivers who finished with top-20 numbers in their first season with their new team (and there are 22 of them), I’ve got double black dots next to their names. For the guys who at least put up top-40 numbers (and there are 21 of them), they’ve got a single black dots. For the guys with no dots, they finished outside the top 40.

The final column shows the amount the player’s production improved or declined, using PPR scoring. Muhammad, for example, was down 51 percent in his first season with the Bears. Hopkins improved by 8 percent in his first season in Arizona. There are 21 players whose production increased, while the other 79 declined.

For stats, I’m showing catches, yards and touchdowns. I’ll stay away from listing PPR totals because different folks use different scoring systems and I don’t want to make the table too overly complex. But the percentage number at the end gives an indication of how things changed.

TOP-40 WIDE RECEIVERS MOVING TO NEW TEAMS
YearPlayerTeamsOld statsNew statsChange
2005• Muhsin MuhammadCar. to Chi.93-1405-1664-750-4-51%
2020•• DeAndre HopkinsHou. to Ariz.104-1165-7115-1407-68%
2018•• Jarvis LandryMia. to Cle.112-987-981-976-5-17%
2019Antonio BrownPitt. to N.E.104-1297-154-56-1-95%
2003• Peerless PriceBuff. to Atl.94-1252-964-838-3-39%
2013• Wes WelkerN.E. to Den.118-1354-673-778-10-28%
2010• Brandon MarshallDen. to Mia.101-1120-1086-1014-3-26%
2004Keenan McCardellT.B. to S.D.84-1174-931-393-1-70%
2014• Eric DeckerDen. to NYJ87-1288-1174-962-5-29%
2015•• Jeremy MaclinPhil. to K.C.85-1318-1087-1088-8-11%
2017•• Brandin CooksN.O. to N.E.78-1173-865-1082-7-10%
2005•• Derrick MasonTen. to Balt.96-1168-786-1073-3-17%
2004•• Terrell OwensS.F. to Phil.80-1102-977-1200-1415%
2012•• Brandon MarshallMia. to Chi.81-1214-6118-1508-1140%
2009• Terrell OwensDall. to Buff.69-1052-1055-829-6-25%
2014• DeSean JacksonPhil. to Was.82-1332-956-1169-6-22%
2003•• Laveranues ColesNYJ to Was.89-1264-582-1204-6-4%
2012•• Vincent JacksonS.D. to T.B.60-1106-972-1384-813%
2010• Santonio HolmesPitt. to NYJ79-1248-552-746-6-30%
2002Keenan McCardellJac. to T.B.93-1110-661-670-6-32%
2019• Odell BeckhamNYG to Cle.77-1052-674-1035-4-13%
2018•• Brandin CooksN.E. to LAR65-1082-780-1204-610%
2004David BostonS.D. to Mia.70-880-74-80-0-94%
2021• Marvin JonesDet. to Jac.76-978-973-832-4-21%
2007Darrell JacksonSea. to S.F.63-956-1046-497-3-48%
2010• Anquan BoldinAriz. to Balt.84-1024-564-837-7-13%
2002Qadry IsmailBalt. to Ind.74-1059-744-462-3-52%
2015Mike WallaceMia. to Min.67-862-1039-473-2-54%
2017Terrelle PryorCle. to Was.77-1007-520-240-1-77%
2012Laurent RobinsonDall. to Jac.54-858-1124-252-0-76%
2020•• Stefon DiggsMin. to Buff.63-1130-6127-1535-851%
2009• T.J. HoushmandzadehCin. to Sea.92-904-479-911-3-9%
2002Johnnie MortonDet. to K.C.77-1154-429-397-1-60%
2006• Deion BranchN.E. to Sea.78-998-553-725-4-27%
2012Pierre GarconInd. to Was.70-947-644-633-5-32%
2006Donte StallworthN.O. to Phil.70-945-738-725-5-32%
2001•• Jerry RiceS.F. to Oak.75-805-783-1139-927%
2021Curtis SamuelCar. to Was.77-851-56-27-0-95%
2017Pierre GarconWas. to S.F.79-1041-340-500-0-55%
2009Laveranues ColesNYJ to Cin.70-850-743-514-5-37%
2013• Mike WallacePitt. to Mia.64-836-873-930-52%
2019Adam HumphriesT.B. to Ten.76-816-537-374-2-54%
2018Dez BryantDall. to Balt.69-838-66-47-2-88%
2004• Justin McCareinsTen. to NYJ47-813-856-770-4-12%
2005•• Randy MossMin. to Oak.49-767-1360-1005-81%
2008• Bernard BerrianChi. to Min.71-951-548-964-8-1%
2013Brandon LloydN.E. to S.F.74-911-514-294-1-75%
2006Antonio BryantCle. to S.F.69-1009-440-733-3-32%
2010T.J. HoushmandzadehSea. to Balt.79-911-330-398-3-53%
2006• Keyshawn JohnsonDall. to Car.71-839-670-815-5-6%
2012Jabar GaffneyWas. to Mia.68-947-54-68-0-94%
2002Bill SchroederG.B. to Det.53-918-936-595-5-36%
2003Curtis ConwayS.D. to NYJ57-852-746-640-2-36%
2011Braylon EdwardsNYJ to S.F.53-904-715-181-0-82%
2010•• Terrell OwensBuff. to Cin.55-829-672-983-925%
2016Travis BenjaminCle. to S.D.68-966-647-677-4-31%
2015Andre JohnsonHou. to Ind.85-936-341-503-4-41%
2006Eric MouldsBuff. to Hou.81-816-457-557-1-36%
2002Cris CarterMin. to Mia.73-871-68-66-1-90%
2021Corey DavisTen. to NYJ65-984-534-492-4-45%
2015Torrey SmithBalt. to S.F.49-767-1133-663-4-35%
2006Joe JureviciusSea. to Cle.55-694-1040-495-3-42%
2005• Laveranues ColesWas. to NYJ90-950-173-845-5-2%
2014•• Golden TateSea. to Det.64-898-599-1331-439%
2013•• Anquan BoldinBalt. to S.F.65-921-485-1179-734%
2018Michael CrabtreeOak. to Balt.58-618-854-607-3-23%
2015Eddie RoyalS.D. to Chi.62-778-737-238-1-64%
2001Sean DawkinsSea. to Jac.63-731-520-234-0-74%
2021Will FullerHou. to Mia.53-879-84-26-0-95%
2014•• Emmanuel SandersPitt. to Den.67-740-6101-1404-966%
2001Charles JohnsonPhil. to N.E.56-642-714-111-1-81%
2021Nelson AgholorL.V. to N.E.48-896-837-473-3-44%
2015•• Brandon MarshallChi. to NYJ61-721-8109-1502-1490%
2011Chad JohnsonCin. to N.E.67-831-415-276-1-72%
2002Antonio FreemanG.B. to Phil.52-818-646-600-4-24%
2005David PattenN.E. to Was.44-800-722-217-0-74%
2007Reche CaldwellN.E. to Was.61-760-415-141-0-82%
2010• Nate BurlesonSea. to Det.63-812-355-625-6-1%
2013Percy HarvinMin. to Sea.62-677-51-17-0-98%
2009Torry HoltSt.L. to Jac.64-796-351-722-0-24%
2016Marvin JonesCin. to Det.65-816-455-930-4-1%
2014Jerricho CotcheryPitt. to Car.46-602-1048-580-1-31%
2006•• Terrell OwensPhil. to Dall.47-763-685-1180-1377%
2011• Jabar GaffneyDen. to Was.65-875-268-947-517%
2014•• Steve Smith Sr.Car. to Balt.64-745-479-1065-636%
2017Cameron MeredithChi. to N.O.66-888-49-114-1-86%
2015• James JonesOak. to G.B.73-666-650-890-89%
2005•• Santana MossNYJ to Was.45-838-584-1483-978%
2018Mike WallaceBalt. to Phil.52-748-40-0-0-100%
2015Kenny StillsN.O. to Mia.63-931-327-440-3-49%
2005Johnnie MortonK.C. to S.F.55-795-321-288-0-68%
2001James McKnightDall. to Mia.52-926-255-684-3-6%
2006Brandon LloydS.F. to Was.48-733-523-365-0-61%
2018Paul RichardsonSea. to Was.44-703-620-262-2-61%
2016Anquan BoldinS.F. to Det.69-789-467-584-81%
2020•• Robby AndersonNYJ to Car.52-779-595-1096-339%
2001Dedric WardNYJ to Mia.54-801-321-209-0-72%
2012Plaxico BurressNYJ to Pitt.45-612-83-42-1-91%
2002Darnay ScottCin. to Dall.57-819-222-218-1-66%
2004Tai StreetsS.F. to Det.47-595-728-260-1-58%

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index