Week 15 at Buffalo Bills
Before leaving last Sunday’s game with a sore hamstring, Bruce Ellington collected four grabs for 17 yards. Even if he’s able to play this week, Ellington and the Lions aerial game have a tough matchup against the top-rated Buffalo pass defense.
Week 14 at Arizona Cardinals
With Matthew Stafford throwing 33 passes last Sunday, Bruce Ellington led the team with 10 targets and seven grabs. However, in the loss to the Rams, he finished with just 35 yards, an average of five yards per catch. In his three games since joining the Lions, Ellington has received 26 looks, leading to 19 receptions, but he’s averaging only 39 total yards per contest and has not been in the end zone. Arizona has limited opponents to 220 passing yards per game, so Ellington is a WR3/flex play.
Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Filling in for Marvin Jones once again on Thanksgiving, Bruce Ellington snagged six passes for 28 yards in the loss to Chicago last Thursday. In the past two weeks, Ellington has been targeted 16 times by Matthew Stafford but has totaled just 80 yards on his 12 receptions. Now that Jones has been placed on I.R., Ellington will remain a vital part of the Lions passing attack. However, he makes for only a WR3/flex start at Ford Field versus an average Rams pass defense.
Week 12 vs. Chicago Bears
With Marvin Jones out due to a sore knee last week versus the Panthers, Bruce Ellington saw nine targets from Matthew Stafford, resulting in six grabs for 52 yards. It's a short week with the Lions playing on Thanksgiving, so Jones is going to miss this week's game too. Still, Ellington is a risky start versus a strong Bears defense.
Week 2 at Tennessee Titans
With Will Fuller missing Week 1 at New England due to a sore hamstring, Bruce Ellington got the start and posted decent numbers. On eight targets, he caught four passes for 37 yards and a TD. If Fuller is out again, Ellington could be used as a flex option versus a Tennessee defense that had trouble versus the Dolphins passing attack in the opener.
Fantasy Upside
Ellington played the role of return man and slot receiver last season, though, as Bleacher Report suggested, he received little attention while flanked by DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller. Still, Ellington is a veteran talent who coming off a 2017 season in which he had career highs with 29 receptions, 330 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. B/R added: "[Ellington is] fine in zone with solid hands and toughness after the catch." Given all that, he heads into training camp with an edge over oft-injured third-year man Braxton Miller and rookie Keke Coutee. Miller’s production has been underwhelming since being drafted in 2016. In just two seasons, the converted QB has only 34 receptions and a pair of touchdowns.
Fantasy Downside
Also per B/R, when Ellington was the primary target last season, he struggled to beat man coverage and come through as needed. He leans and gives away his routes very early, and defenders often run his routes for him. In addition, Coutee opens his first NFL training camp boasting high-end speed, great hands and the ability to make plays after the catch. Coutee could pose a threat to Ellington and Miller if he progresses quickly.
2018 Bottom Line
Fantasy managers would be hard-pressed to find a reason to draft a Texans receiver beyond Hopkins and Fuller. That said, Deshaun Watson's upside will make whoever the next man up is appealing should either of the front-line wideouts suffer an injury.
Week 14 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Even with Will Fuller out again last week at Tennessee, Bruce Ellington finished with just a 7-yard grab. He was targeted only twice by Tom Savage in the loss, which was a bit of a surprise, considering the QB threw the ball 49 times. Sadly, Ellington's season is now over after the team put the receiver on injured reserve.
Week 13 at Tennessee Titans
Starting for the injured Will Fuller last Monday at the Ravens, Bruce Ellington was thrown to 8 times by Tom Savage, leading to 3 catches for 29 yards. In the past two weeks, with Fuller out, Ellington has 9 grabs for 92 yards and could be a sneaky start against a Tennessee defense that’s had trouble stopping opponents’ passing attacks. If Fuller is out again, DeAndre Hopkins will remain Savage’s top target, but don’t be surprised if Ellington post solid numbers in single coverage.
Week 11 vs. Arizona Cardinals
In the loss to the Rams last Sunday, Bruce Ellington snagged 4 passes for 41 yards and scored his second TD of the season—his first since Week 3. With fellow WR Will Fuller battling a rib injury, it looks like Ellington will get the start this week at home versus Arizona. Head coach Bill O'Brien said Ellington “needs to get the ball more,” but with Tom Savage at QB and DeAndre Hopkins lined up on the other side of the field, it'll be interesting to see if that happens. The Cardinals have struggled to slow down opponents' passing attacks, making Ellington a WR3/flex option.
2016 Fantasy Outlook
After catching just 13 passes last season, Ellington should get a big bump this season. He's just 5-9, but at 197 pounds, he's built more like a running back than a receiver. As a starting receiver, you can't forget about Ellington on draft day, but you also shouldn't overbuy on him. He might not be a big scoring option because of his size, but working opposite deep threat Torrey Smith, he could be the chain mover and lead the team in receptions. Ellington will likely be more valuable in PPR leagues in Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense.
