Week 9 at Tampa Bay
Mohamed Sanu had his best game of the season in Week 8, catching nine-of-10 targets for 84 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons win over the Packers. The targets and yardage were season-highs for Sanu, who has now caught two touchdown passes in his last three games. With Julio Jones dealing with double coverage and a knee injury, Matt Ryan started to work the ball to Sanu, who had a monster final drive to help lead the Falcons to a come-from-behind victory. Sanu made a nice adjustment in the back of the end zone to catch the game-winning score for the Falcons in the closing minute.
Despite the big game last Sunday, Sanu ranks as our WR35 for Week 9 and should be viewed as a WR4 only. He has a great matchup versus the Bucs, and if Jones is banged up again, Sanu could emerge as Ryan's favorite target for the second straight game. But if Jones is torching the Bucs' leaky secondary, Sanu could produce a dud performance and leave fantasy owners high and dry. Start him at your own risk.
Week 8 vs. Green Bay
Mohamed Sanu turned four targets into two catches for 16 yards in the Falcons Week 7 loss to the Chargers. Sanu hasn’t topped 50 yards since his Week 1 performance against the Bucs and remains a non-factor in fantasy leagues. Rather predictably, Sanu hasn’t lived up to the big contract the Falcons gave him this offseason and the team could have received similar production from a mid-round pick had they saved coin and rolled the dice in the draft. Sanu ranks as our WR45 in Week 8 and despite a great matchup versus the Packers, he should be avoided in all formats.
Week 7 vs. San Diego
Mohamed Sanu caught five-of-10 targets for 47 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons Week 6 loss to the Seahawks. The 10 targets were a team-high, as Sanu was targeted once more than Julio Jones. Playing through a shoulder injury, Sanu has been an okay complement to Jones in the Falcons explosive passing game but he's not putting up consistent enough numbers on a weekly basis to be trusted in fantasy. Ranked as our WR48 for Week 7, view Sanu as a WR4/5 for the Falcons home game against the Chargers on Sunday.
Week 5 at Denver
Mohamed Sanu caught two-of-three targets for 22 yards in the Falcons' Week 4 win over the Panthers. Sanu is currently playing through a shoulder injury and remains an afterthought in Atlanta's explosive offense. He's off the fantasy radar for now and ranks as our WR65 for Week 5. Avoid him on Sunday versus the Broncos.
Week 4 vs. Carolina
Mohamed Sanu caught three-of-four targets for 31 yards in the Falcons' 45-36 dismantling of the Saints on Monday night. Sanu left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury and never returned, otherwise it looked like he was headed for a big game (especially considering the Saints sold out to stop Julio Jones and let other position players for the Falcons do whatever they wanted).
Sanu was limited in practice on Thursday but should play Sunday when the Falcons host the Panthers. Thus far, the high-priced free agent has shown flashes of potential in this offense but injuries have derailed his progress. Ranked as our WR58 for Week 4, view Sanu is a WR4/5.
Week 3 at New Orleans
Following a big Week 1 performance against the Bucs, Mohamed Sanu had a quiet Week 2 in which he caught 3-of-5 targets for 19 yards in the Falcons’ victory over the Raiders. Atlanta rushed for 4.8 yards per carry and with Matt Ryan using the middle of the field to target Jacob Tamme eight times, Sanu became an afterthought in the Falcons’ offense. (He finished behind Tamme and tied with Julio Jones for targets.)
Sanu was also held out of practice on Thursday due to an ankle injury and was limited on Friday. He should be fine ahead of Monday night’s game in New Orleans, where the Falcons will visit a Saints team that ranks as fantasy’s No. 27 defense against wide receivers. Ranked as our WR36 for Week 3, view Sanu as a flex option only, although he could become a sneaky start if Julio Jones (ankle, calf) winds up re-tweaking one of his multiple injuries during the game.
Week 2 at Oakland
Mohamed Sanu had a nice debut for Atlanta last Sunday, racking up 80 yards on 5-of-8 targets for one touchdown in the Falcons’ Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers. He also added a two-point conversation to put Atlanta within a touchdown in the fourth quarter, although the Falcons’ comeback effort eventually fell short.
Sanu was seen limping heavily in the locker room following the game and was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. That said, Dan Quinn indicated that Sanu should be a full participant in practice on Friday and if he does suit up on Sunday, view the former Bengal as a sneaky WR3/FLEX option against an Oakland defense that surrendered 424 yards and four touchdowns to Drew Brees last Sunday. Sanu ranks as our WR40 for Week 2.
Week 1 vs. Tampa Bay
Mohamed Sanu signed a five-year, $32.5 million contract with the Falcons this offseason. It's a bad contract for a player that took a backseat to A.J. Green and Marvin Jones in Cincinnati, but the Falcons believe that Sanu can be a solid complement to Julio Jones in Kyle Shanahan's offense. Sanu struggled with drops in Cincinnati and didn't impress with the Falcons this preseason. He should see 100 targets, but he'll likely be nothing more than a WR4 or WR5 in Atlanta. Avoid starting him in Week 1.
Fantasy Upside
Following the release of Leonard Hankerson during the season and Roddy White at the conclusion of 2015, the Falcons decided to invest $32.5 million in free agent Mohamad Sanu this offseason. Sanu immediately becomes the No. 2 receiver behind Julio Jones in Atlanta, and if he can step into the same role Jacob Tamme held following the release of Hankerson last season, fantasy owners might stumble onto a sleeper in the late rounds. After Jones, the next target in Ryan’s progression last year was often Tamme, so there’s a possibility Sanu could rack up 70 receptions for between 800-850 yards and 5-8 touchdowns. Given he’s not even being drafted in some 10-team leagues, that kind of production would offer excellent value.
Fantasy Downside
Ankle and foot injuries prevented Marvin Jones from playing any games for the Bengals in 2014 and Sanu benefited from being thrust into a major role. Despite playing opposite A.J. Green in Cincinnati’s offense, Sanu finished with just 56 receptions for 790 yards, while leading the NFL in drops. Optimists say Sanu will thrive after being relegated to the No. 3 role a year ago behind Green and Jones. But if Sanu is so good, why didn’t he earn more playing time a year ago? He’ll face plenty of one-on-one coverage playing opposite Jones in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, but he didn’t do much with the one-on-one opportunities playing opposites A.J. Green in 2014. Granted, his targets should double now that he’ll be a full-time starter again, but betting that his production will also spike is a bit of a gamble.
2016 Bottom Line
Sanu ranks as our WR50 in standard formats and has an ADP of 13.09 in 12-team leagues. The Falcons didn’t sink over $32 million in Sanu not to use him, but while his opportunities will increase, his ceiling is that of a WR3 unless Jones suffers a significant injury. View Sanu as a WR4/5 for 2016.
Fantasy Upside
Mohamed Sanu had 103 catches over the past two seasons and put together some big games for the Bengals. Sanu teased fantasy owners with two 100-plus yard receiving games in a three week stretch during the middle of the last season, but quickly came back down to Earth.
Fantasy Downside
Marvin Jones is healthy, which relegates Sanu back to the third WR spot. He will have problems replicating his recent numbers (which were average, at best). The Bengals are more of a running team, so there just aren't enough balls to go around when they do pass and most of those opportunities go to A.J. Green anyway.
Bottom Line
Sanu is not a good option because of who he plays for, but mostly because of the limited amount of snaps he will see. Unless someone ahead of him gets hurt, he is only good in deep leagues where you have six or seven receivers on your roster.
