Obviously, nothing is set in stone, but as we start to research new coaching staff, quarterback relationships with team members, and off-season workout programs, there are clues that can lead to interesting observations.
With that in mind, let's look at five wide receivers whose stock, in our opinions, has been going up as of late.
Pierre Garcon (San Francisco 49ers)
2016 Stats
Targets: 116
Receptions: 79
Catch Percentage: 68%
Reception Yards: 1,041
Yards Per Catch: 13.2
Receiving Touchdowns: 3
PFF Grade/Rank: 85.8 (8th among qualifying WR's)
If you're scoffing at Garcon making this list, you're not alone.
The 49ers are in rebuilding mode, have big questions at the quarterback position, and generally are not regarded as a fantasy football goldmine.
Also, Garcon will be 31 years old this year (in his 10th season in the league) with a new team, and has only surpassed 1,000 reception yards twice in his career.
Nonetheless, there is reason for optimism: during both the 2012 and 2013 NFL seasons, Kyle Shanahan (the 49ers new head coach) was the Redskins' offensive coordinator, and Garcon was the Redskins WR1.
Though he was injured in 2012 and only played in 10 games (some with injuries), he was on his way to over 1,000 yards, and accomplished that feat in 2013 with his best statistical season to date (184 targets, 113 receptions, 1,346 yards).
Shanahan has also had success with other WR1's who play in his schemes (see: Andre Johnson, Santana Moss, Jabar Gaffney, Andrew Hawkins, Julio Jones), and given those players' general statistical success when he was their coordinator/coach, hope for a good season from Garcon isn't so farfetched.
Oh, and in case you're curious which quarterbacks started games for him during those seasons, they included Matt Shaub, Sage Rosenfels, Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman, John Beck, Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, Brian Hoyer, Johnny Manziel, Connor Shaw, and Matt Ryan.
It does indeed look like Shanahan can pull off another great statistical season with Garcon, no matter who plays under center.
J.J. Nelson (Arizona Cardinals)
2016 Stats
Targets: 74
Receptions: 34
Catch Rate: 46%
Reception Yards: 568
Yards Per Catch: 16.7
Receiving Touchdowns: 6
PFF Grade/Rank: 69.1 (73rd among qualifying WR's)
Nelson is not as recognizable as many other wide receivers, and will likely be overlooked, which is where his potential value comes in.
Last year, while John Brown (the other young and talented Cardinals wideout) regressed from his 1,003 receiving yards in 2015 (in large part due to health issues), Nelson was targeted nearly three times as much and almost doubled his total yards from the previous season.
His catch rate doesn't look good, but when we let the stats speak for themselves, we discover that his yards per reception ranks among the top-10 in the league among qualifying receivers, and his deep-threat status will likely relegate him to a lower catch rate than most wideouts in future seasons as well.
That shouldn't be worrisome when the rest of his teammates are considered: Larry Fitzgerald, the future HOF receiver, had a lower catch rate than his previous season, averaged the lowest YPC of his career, and will turn 34 this year.
John Brown, as previously mentioned, regressed severely last season (from 1,003 receiving yards in 2015 to 517 receiving yards in 2016), and may continue to struggle with health issues.
Jaron Brown isn't much of a breakout candidate either, considering that he has never surpassed 250 yards in a season over his four seasons with the team.
In other words, outside of force-feeding the ball to David Johnson (which they will definitely do), the Cardinals actual receiving options are limited, and Nelson may be the most immediate option to step up and fit the bill.
Cameron Meredith (Chicago Bears)
2016 Stats
Targets: 96
Receptions: 66
Catch Rate: 69%
Reception Yards: 888
Yards Per Catch: 13.5
Receiving Touchdowns: 4
PFF Grade/Rank: 74.5 (53rd among qualifying WR's)
Meredith is a great feel-good story: a college quarterback-turned-wideout, he had a good senior year, but went undrafted anyways.
Then, as a part of the Chicago Bears, he led all players in receiving yards during the 2016 season, despite the quarterback carousel throwing the ball to him (Cutler, Barkley, and Hoyer).
Meredith looks to be something special: he has the size (6'3, 207 lbs) to succeed as a WR1, is only 24 years old, and has a year of success despite playing on one of the worst rosters in the NFL.
His competition this year includes all kinds of big names who need to prove themselves:
-Kevin White, the former Bears' 1st-round pick who has only played in four NFL games.
-Kendall Wright, the former Titans' 1st-round pick who hasn't played a full season since 2013.
-Victor Cruz, the former Giants' star wideout who hasn't played a full season since 2012.
-Markus Wheaton, the former troubled-but-talented Steelers' receiver.
-Rueben Randle, the former talented-but-inconsistent Giants' wideout.
This roster may have gone from one of the least talented in the NFL to one of the most talented, at least at the skill-positions, but it is full of injury concerns and unrealized potential.
Meredith is the only one who has recently been on the up-and-up, while also being one of the few remaining skill position players from last year: it's time to take a flyer on him.
Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints)
2016 Stats
Targets: 122
Receptions: 92
Catch Rate: 75%
Reception Yards: 1,137
Yards Per Catch: 12.4
Receiving Touchdowns: 9
PFF Grade/Rank: 87.1 (6th among qualifying WR's)
Michael Thomas was the Saints' 2nd round draft pick last year, and immediately became their leader in receptions, which means he was a pleasant surprise in fantasy football.
Now, with Brandin Cooks traded to the New England Patriots, the team retains Thomas (as its presumed WR1), Willie Snead (likely as the leading slot receiver), and Brandon Coleman (mostly as a red-zone threat at 6'6 and 225 lbs).
Considering that the Saints didn't draft any wideouts, that will most likely be their three-headed trio of wide receivers, while they utilize Adrian Peterson and Mark Ingram at running back.
Coby Fleener is their big name at tight end, and though he is often known more for unfortunate drops, he has had another year in the system, and should play better.
Why is all of this information crucial to Thomas' success this year in fantasy football?
Well, though opposing teams will focus their efforts on stopping the Brees-Thomas connection early and often, there are enough other threats on this team to stop them from double or triple-teaming him during games.
That being said, Drew Brees is a master at connecting with his leading wideouts, and Thomas should be more productive than the majority of players this year.
Terrelle Pryor (Washington Redskins)
2016 Stats
Targets: 140
Receptions: 77
Catch Rate: 55%
Reception Yards: 1,007
Yards Per Catch: 13.1
Receiving Touchdowns: 4
PFF Grade/Rank: 78.6 (tied for 31st among qualifying WR's)
Pryor has had one of the most odd trips through the NFL to get to this point: originally drafted in 2012 in the supplemental draft, he entered the league as a mobile quarterback, before eventually converting to wide receiver and thriving during the 2016 season with the Cleveland Browns.
The Redskins just lost DeSean Jackson, but have multiple playmakers at the skill positions who people may know: Jamison Crowder, Josh Doctson, and Brian Quick make up the wide receivers, while guys like Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, and Niles Paul create one of the most threatening groups of tight ends in the league.
Pryor comes in with a few things to his benefit: WR1 size (6'4, 223 lbs), a great season last year (despite playing for a terrible roster and team), natural athletic ability, and experience at multiple positions.
Now he gets Kirk Cousins as his quarterback, who excels at throwing the ball in the intermediate range, a place where Pryor should be able to work the sidelines and out-jump most defenders on the field.
