Week 15 vs. New York Jets
Albert Wilson is an interesting play in Week 15. In the last two games before the Dolphins' bye week, Wilson saw 14 targets. Wilson was already starting to get more involved in Miami's offense, and with Jaylen Waddle out this week (COVID), it wouldn't be crazy to see Wilson pick up some of Waddle's usage. Unfortunately, New York may not give up many catches as they've given up the second-fewest receptions to wide receivers this year. But Wilson has a chance to be a bit of a sneaky play, although he obviously carries some risk. Even though he's been a bit more involved, he's still only had more than 30 receiving yards in a game once this year. He'll be a desperation WR5 in Week 15.
Week 12 vs. Carolina Panthers
The Dolphins have started incorporating Albert Wilson into the lineup the past two weeks. In the past two games he's had two passing opportunities (which resulted in a sack and an incomplete pass), he's had three rushing attempts (for 16 yards) and seen nine targets, which he's turned into 7-105-0. He even had a two-yard kick return. But while he's been more involved, he hasn't been overly productive aside from one play where there was a blown coverage. He's not really on the fantasy radar in Week 12, especially in a tough matchup vs. the Panthers.
Week 16 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Dolphins have had some success from receivers not named DeVante Parker throughout the season, but none of them have been overly reliable. Albert Wilson was OK last week, finishing 5-59, but didn't have more than 40 yards in any other game this season. There should be better options available in Week 16.
Week 1 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Albert Wilson is entering his sixth season in the league and does so as a projected starter in Miami. The Dolphins were already thin at receiver heading into the year, and then traded away Kenny Stills a week before the season started. This means Wilson gets an expanded role, and he could be promising. He was averaging 55 yards per game a year ago before being sidelined with an injury. But Week 1 may not be the week he shows off his skills as he draws a tough matchup against Baltimore. He's not much more than a WR4 option.
Fantasy Upside
Albert Wilson was on pace for a fairly big season before being placed on injured reserve in 2018. If we take out his Week 7 performance where he left early, Wilson was averaging 3.8-59.8-0.6. If we convert that to a full season, that puts him at a pace of 61 receptions, 957 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Fantasy Downside
Wilson enters 2019 with a new offensive system and a new quarterback, so it’s hard to know whether he can keep up the pace he had a season ago. Also, a six-game sample size is very different from a full 16 game season. Miami also has a lot of similar talent in its receiving corps, so it’s hard to know exactly what role each player will have.
2019 Bottom Line
Wilson showed a lot of promise before his injury in 2018. That alone makes him an interesting late-round flier. His ADP is really low, so you can get him late in deeper leagues. He obviously carries some risk since his role is somewhat unknown, but if he can have production similar to what he had at the start of 2018 then he’s worth a stash.
Week 7 vs. Detroit Lions
Reasons why we are not buying into Albert Wilson's breakout game last week as a sustainable performance: most of the yards came in the form of run after the catch, he only played 64 percent of snaps, and he needed a full overtime game to reach nine targets when his previous season high was six. We need to see more consistent usage week-to-week from Wilson to trust him in fantasy lineups, especially with Brock Osweiler at quarterback, who we all know has a long history of playing poorly. No Dolphins WR is averaging 5.5 targets this season. That's just hard to rely on in re-draft leagues each week.
Week 6 vs. Chicago Bears
The Dolphins are 31st in the NFL in plays per game and face the Bears strong defense in Week 6 with an implied team total of less than 20 points. It's not as if any Dolphins receiver would be worth playing, even if this was a good match-up. It's impossible to project who will have a good game in a pass-catching core where nobody is averaging five targets per game. That includes Albert Wilson.
Week 5 at Cincinnati Bengals
The Dolphins had the most predictable of blowout losses in Week 4, and Miami has a bottom-seven implied team total in Week 5 of just 21.25 points. Here's the problem for Albert Wilson and the rest of the Dolphins receivers: this team only has 99 total targets on the season. No receiver is even averaging five targets per game. Hard pass on these options if you're looking for a sleeper WR for Week 5. You know what's worse than a running back by commitee for fantasy? A wide receiver by commitee.
Week 4 at Tennessee Titans
With the Patriots ranked only 23rd in aFPA to WRs and an above-average total of 48.5 points, there are reasons to like Dolphins receivers in Week 4. However, this continues to be a committee, as Ryan Tannehill is spreading the ball around. That means low-percentage splash plays or touchdowns are essential to prove valuable in starting lineups. The large target hole left by Jarvis Landry is not going to any one particular receiver. Through three weeks, five different Dolphins have double-digit targets and none have more than 14 (Jakeem Grant). DeVante Parker was also added back to the mix last week but only for three targets. It's just hard to rely on any Dolphins pass-catcher week in and week out, as Adam Gase appears to be deploying them with game-specific strategies in mind. That includes Albert Wilson, who saw his snaps cut in half last week.
Week 3 at Miami Dolphins
The Raiders defense has started top-15 in PPR points allowed to WRs. Albert Wilson has played fewer than 60 percent of snaps. He's seen fewer than six targets the first two weeks. That's not a recipe for fantasy success. This is a wide receiver by committee situation in Miami.
