Week 13 vs. Bengals
Mike Williams drew eight targets against the Broncos last week, his most looks in a game since Week 5. However, he was held to 39 scoreless yards on four receptions, continuing a dismal run that many hoped had ended after a strong Week 11. Williams posted 5.9 Half PPR points, "good" for a WR26 finish.
The Bengals rank 14th in aFPA to wide receivers this season. But Williams has shown himself to be too volatile to be trusted to fully deliver the goods. He's a low-end WR2/high-end WR3 option in Week 13.
Week 12 vs. Broncos
Mike Williams made a welcome return to form in Week 11 against the Steelers with his best game in over a month. Williams caught five of his six targets for 97 yards, scoring his first touchdown since Week 5. Williams finished with 18.2 Half PPR points last week, good for a WR8 finish. Despite his recent lean spell, Williams still averages 13.8 fantasy points per game, the 13th most among all wide receivers.
While we would all like Williams to build on last week's success, we should perhaps temper our expectations somewhat. The Broncos rank 17th in aFPA allowed to the wide receiver position, and Williams has shown himself to be a volatile weekly proposition so far this season. He projects to be a low-end WR2 but obviously has the potential to be much more.
Week 11 vs. Steelers
Mike Williams's struggles continued in Week 10, despite his catching four passes, his best haul since Week 5. These grabs only brought him 33 yards, his third-lowest output of the season. Williams scored a mere 5.3 fantasy points, and since averaging 20.1 points per game over the first five weeks of the season, his last four outings have seen him average just 4.7.
On paper, this would appear to be something of a get-right spot for Williams against the Steelers in Week 11. The Steelers currently rank 22nd in aFPA and will be without star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. But Williams is tough to trust on current form, regardless of the opponent. He's a backend WR2 option this week.
Week 10 vs. Vikings
Week 9 was another stinker for Mike Williams, his third blob in a row. He saw five targets for the third game in succession, and for the third game in succession, he caught just two of them. He did manage 58 yards this time out, but his tally of 6.8 fantasy points means he has 13.4 combined over his last three outings.
He could get back on track against the Vikings in Week 10. The Vikings have been incredibly welcoming to wide receivers in 2021, ranking 26th in aFPA to the position. But in current form, it's hard to trust him as anything more than a low-end WR2.
Week 9 vs. Eagles
Mike Williams got off to a blistering start to the 2021 season. Through five games, he was averaging 6.6 receptions, 94.2 yards, a touchdown and more than 20 half-PPR points per contest. Over his last two games, these numbers have cratered to two receptions for 23 yards, with Williams held out of the endzone both games. He provided his fantasy managers with 3.3 fantasy points per game over this span.
Williams may not bounce back to his old self this week against the Eagles, with the Birds one of the tougher wide receiver matchups in the NFL, The only team ranking ahead of the Eagles in aFPA to wide receivers are the Chargers. We have Williams ranked as a very low-end WR1 this week.
Week 8 vs. Patriots
Even after a quiet Week 6, in which he was clearly hampered, and a Week 7 bye, Mike Williams remains on the top-scoring players in fantasy terms at the wide receiver position. He sits 9th in total points and is the WR5 in points per game in half-PPR formats. Williams has 33 receptions for 498 yards and six touchdowns this season. He has seven or receptions for at least 90 yards and a touchdown in two of his last three home games.
With an extra week to rest up and get over his injury, Williams can be trusted as a high-end WR2 against the Patriots this week. The Patriots are 20th in aFPA allowed to the wide receiver spot this season. They've allowed one or fewer receiving scores in four of their games so far this season.
Week 6 vs. Ravens
The Mike Williams breakout season continues unabated after five weeks of 2021. Williams was an absolute wrecker against the Browns in Week 5, reeling in eight of his 16 targets for 165 yards and two touchdowns. After five weeks, Williams has 31 receptions for 471 yards and six touchdowns. His career-best for catches in a single season prior to this year was 49. He is currently the WR1 in half-PPR formats.
The Ravens have been fairly stingy towards fantasy wide receivers in 2021, ranking 10th in aFPA. They've allowed the ninth-fewest receptions to the position (58), while only ten teams have given up fewer receiving yards (803). A fully fit Williams would still be an automatic start given his current form. But Williams has not practised all week, and is a game time decision for Week 6. If able to play, Williams fantasy managers should temper their expectations.
Week 5 vs. Browns
Mike Williams's explosive start to the season hit a major roadblock on Monday Night Football in Week 4. Versus the Raiders, Williams drew just two targets after at least nine in his previous three games. He caught one for 11 yards and was held out of the end zone for the first time this season. Still, Williams has 23 receptions for 306 yards and four scores through Week 4, deeds which see him sitting proudly as the WR5.
Williams and the Chargers should face a stern test this week against the Browns. Cleveland is fourth in aFPA to the WR position, allowing just 23.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers through four weeks. Williams may find himself seeing a lot of Greedy Williams this week, PFF's 3rd highest-graded cornerback this season. Williams has only allowed five of the nine passes sent his way to be completed, with one pass breakup and an interception to his name. We project Williams to be a mid-level WR2 this week.
Week 4 vs. Raiders
2021 is looking like being a true breakout season for Mike Williams. After three games, he has seen 31 targets (fourth-most among all wide receivers), which he has converted into 22 receptions (fifth) for 295 yards (sixth) while scoring four touchdowns (tied for second). He is averaging 25.8 fantasy points per game, with only Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams scoring more. The Raiders have allowed the sixth-most receptions to wide receivers this season with 48, although they are only 17th in receiving yards allowed with 507. The Raiders have only allowed one wide receiver to find the end zone, and are 24th in aFPA to the position. Williams may see a lot of cornerback Casey Hayward this week, who is PFF's third-ranked cornerback in 2021. Williams can join an elite group of players in NFL history this week, as 80 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Raiders will make him one of only four players in NFL history to manage these stats in each of a team's first four games of a season.
Week 2 vs. Chiefs
No one should be crowning Mike Williams the king of the Chargers passing game just yet, but through two games he is setting the pace for his unit. Williams is tied for second place among all wide receivers across the league with 22 targets and has the fourth most receptions with 15. He's 12th in yards with 173 but has scored a touchdown in both games so far. Going back to last season, Williams has a touchdown reception in three consecutive games. He has never managed scores in four straight games. Williams is doing most of his work outside the numbers, lining up wide on 85.55 of his snaps. Nine of the 19 receptions the Chiefs have allowed have come to outside receivers, but 180 of the 301 yards have been allowed out there.
