Week 1: Green vs Ravens
If you are looking for one of the best wide receivers in football, A.J. Green is right at top of the list. He has been a fantasy stud the past several seasons and that is not expected to change any time soon.
Green gets all the numbers: targets, catches, receiving yards, touchdowns. He is going to help you one way or another each week.
His matchup with Baltimore has gone both ways for him in the past. He lit up the Ravens in November, but was average in the last meeting. However, He did have touchdown receptions in both games. For this year, he is still a solid WR1 although he might be on the outside of the top 5 overall WR for Week 1.
Fantasy Upside
There is no doubt that A.J. Green has been a fantasy stud the past two years. He has averaged 98 catches, 1,388 yards and 11 touchdowns. That puts him at the top of the wide receiver class. Statistically, he was a top 5 fantasy WR in almost every category and Green is really just entering his prime. Although his speed and size have carried him, he is becoming more of a polished receiver and that will help him when his physical skills start the digress, which is not happening any time soon.
Fantasy Downside
The Bengals have changed offensive coordinators and the new boss, Hue Jackson, tends to run the ball more than his predecessor Jay Gruden. The passing game could be affected, especially early in the season. It's hard to say anything really negative about Green who has been reliable and effective for the Bengals since his rookie season. Maybe some red zone improvement between him and Andy Dalton might produce more touchdowns.
Bottom Line
A.J. Green is still one of the top fantasy wide receivers in the NFL for 2014. However, his value might be slightly overrated. Yes, he is still a No. 1 but he is clearly not in the top 3 this year. Plus his ADP of 10 shows people jump on him quickly because of his reputation. But really, he should not be taken until the second round, even in PPR leagues and if someone wants to jump on him early, there are comparable picks like Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall, Julio Jones and Jordy Nelson you can get in that area of the draft.
