James Washington
Verdict: Sit ‘Em
James Washington really came into his own last year despite playing in a lackluster offense. He is an untraditional deep threat given his lack of pure speed, but his body control and hands have turned him into a consistent weapon for the Steelers last year despite mediocre QB play. Given he should have a better player throwing him the ball in 2020, he should on paper have more scoring opportunities.
The problem is he is entering a loaded offense, and while his role as a deep threat is important, it will likely lead to him receiving the least amount of looks of the trio of receivers. Given his yards per reception average though, he could make the most of those receptions and if he finds a way to score, he could have a strong fantasy output for week one.
While Washington could easily average 15 yards per catch, if he only has three catches, he won’t be close to a starting fantasy option. He would have to have one of those catches end with a score, but considering his lack of top-end speed, he isn’t likely to burn past DB’s. In the red zone, it isn’t unthinkable that Washington is phased out of that in favor of bigger targets like Claypool or Ebron. While Washington could see a big catch or two, his scoring ability will keep his fantasy scores low. Look for a different WR in week one.