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Now with wide receiver Marvin Jones sidelined at least until Week 5 due to a broken foot, A.J. Green will receive a bump in fantasy football value to start the season.
Even if Jones wasn’t injured, Green is one of the most reliable receivers in the game. The 26-year-old pass catcher has received over 97 receptions in the past two seasons, as well as recorded back-to-back years of 11 touchdown catches. Quarterback Andy Dalton may not finish the 2014 season with the eighth-most passing attempts as he did in 2013, but Green will always be a vital part of the offense and a strong fantasy producer.
With the addition of new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, however, some fantasy players are fearful that Jackson will heavily rely on the rushing attack of Giovani Bernard, Jeremy Hill and if he is on the roster at the start of the season, BenJarvus Green-Ellis. When you take a look at Jackson’s credentials, there should be little fear of Green losing any value for fantasy owners. As the wide receivers coach in 2006 for the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson helped Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh become the first duo of Bengals to each record more than 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. With Jones now sidelined, Jackson will lean on Green even more.
The Bengals will face the Baltimore Ravens‘ 12th ranked pass defense from 2013 in Week 1 and the Tennessee Titans‘ 11th ranked pass defense from 2013 in Week 3, so Green will be relied on to move the chains and convert red zone targets. Aside from two touchdown outliers of 29 and 16 yards, Jones’ average touchdown catches were 10.12 yards. This could mean the tight ends from the Bengals see an increased workload, but Green should be the biggest benefactor during the absence of Jones. Green should see an increase workload the first few weeks of the season, but he is still a reliable option even with the return of his teammate.
Green is generally available at the start of the second round, and fantasy owners looking for a wide receiver early have a perfect option with this fantasy stud.
Jack Delaney is a fantasy football writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @jackbmore13, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
