Week 6 vs. Carolina Panther
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Jamison Crowder is out Week 6.
Week 5 at New Orleans Saints
Washington comes off its early bye week and heads to New Orleans for a game that's tied for the second-highest over/under of Week 5's Sunday and Monday slate. The Saints rank dead last in aFPA to WRs. Target share is the issue here though. No Washington receiver is even averaging five targets per game. Chris Thompson and Jordan Reed are taking the lead in this offense with what appears to be pre-Tyreek Hill Alex Smith running the show at quarterback. Remember when Smith went an entire season without a touchdown to a wide receiver? Yeah, don't play a Washington receiver unless you're desperate. You just don't know which will pop in any given week.
Week 3 vs. Green Bay Packers
Our preseason fears have been realized for this group of Washington WRs with Alex Smith at quarterback and Jordan Reed healthy. Here are the target totals for Redskins pass-catchers this season: RB Chris Thompson-21, TE Jordan Reed-13, Paul Richardson-12, Josh Doctson-10, Jamison Crowder-8, RB Adrian Peterson-6, TE Vernon Davis-2. The ball is being spread around and no Washington wide receiver is fantasy relevant in Week 3. The production just isn't there through two weeks.
Week 2 vs. Indianapolis Colts
In Las Vegas this week, only the Steelers, Saints and Rams have a higher implied team total than the Redskins, illustrating confidence in this offense against a poor Colts defense (25th in aFPA to WRs last year). The Colts allowed two touchdowns to receivers last week. However, a healthy Jordan Reed makes it hard for Washington receivers to break out in fantasy. Only 13 of Alex Smith's 29 passes went to receivers last week—four to Crowder. Crowder only saw 4.8 targets per game in weeks Jordan Reed played a full game last year. For these reasons, Crowder can't be considered a starting option, except in deep PPR leagues.
Week 1 at Arizona Cardinals
This game is expected to be competitive in Las Vegas but also low scoring. It has the sixth-lowest over/under in Vegas for Week 1. Crowder's splits when Jordan Reed is healthy also present a stark contrast. Crowder was WR51 in the weeks Reed played last season for PPR leagues but WR33 in games Reed missed. A reported rapport with new QB Alex Smith could help, as well as a matchup with Arizona, as Patrick Peterson rarely ventures into the slot. It all evens out to make Crowder a low-upside FLEX option for Week 1.
Fantasy Upside
Jay Gruden’s offense is a high-volume passing attack. They also appear very confident in QB Alex Smith this season. There have been some reports that Crowder has built a report with Smith, which could mean more targets funneled to him in the slot.
Fantasy Downside
Jordan Reed appears to be healthy this preseason and when he's healthy Crowder does not see nearly as many targets in this offense. Crowder saw 4.8 targets in the games Reed was healthy last season, compared to 7.9 in the games Reed did not play.
2018 Bottom Line
Crowder’s ADP is reasonable on most sites if you are playing in a PPR league; however, his lack of yardage upside makes him one to avoid in standard leagues. As mentioned earlier, the splits with Reed healthy are extremely concerning to Crowder's upside.
Week 17 at New York Giants
Washington will look to finish the season on a high note, with most starters playing in Week 17, unless injured. Jamison Crowder posted a monster game in his earlier meeting this year against the Giants. Consider him a WR2 in Week 17, against a defense that is just 31st in aFPA to WRs.
Week 16 vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos are the toughest defense in the league against WRs, based on aFPA. Plus, Crowder has been inconsistent week-to-week this season. Yes, he was useful last week but that was after two straight weeks of single digit PPR points. It's a tough spot in Week 16 for him. At best, he's a FLEX. At worst, he has a very low floor. How lucky do you feel?
Week 15 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Jamison Crowder has disappointed the past two weeks after getting heavily targeted the few weeks before that. He should avoid Patrick Peterson in this matchup, working primarily in the slot, but he should get Tyrann Mathieu most of the time. That should help his chances this week, but it's a big gamble to start a guy at this point that has been as inconsistent as Crowder. He's a high risk FLEX option in Week 15.
Week 14 at Los Angeles Chargers
Washington has a below average implied team total in Vegas this week of 20.25 points. The Chargers have also allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to receivers over the past four weeks. However, Jamison Crowder should at least avoid Casey Hayward, as Crowder primarily plays in the slot. Crowder is averaging 9 targets in the four games since Washington's bye week. This makes him a solid WR2 option in all formats.
