Fantasy football has exploded over the last few years and with it so has the number of formats. Points per reception, 2QB, Super flex and most recently the explosion of daily fantasy. Each has their own rankings and analysis, but there is one format that Iv noticed is always lacking in information, return yard leagues.
Most leagues give points to a player for returning a touchdown, but return yard leagues also award points for the distance that they return the ball. Points awarded can range anywhere from 1 point per 25 yards to 1 per 10. Depending on the scoring system this can greatly increase the value of kick and punt returners.
Now part of the reason that there isn’t as much information on return yard leagues is that the kick/punt depth charts change often. There will be plenty of battles for positions during training camp and throughout the season, so it is important to to pay close attention as the season nears.
Keeping in mind how volatile the position is, here are my top 5 Return specialists to target in 2016.
- Tyler Lockett – WR – Seattle Seahawks: Lockett heads into his sophomore year as a dual threat. Both a kick and punt returner Lockett made his way to the Pro Bowl finishing the 2015 season as the leagues return leader with 1,231 return yards. He has shown himself to be a big playmaker and was one of two players to return both a punt and a kick for a touchdown. Already he is being hyped for his skills as a WR and looks to have an increased role in the Seahawk’s offense. Last year he caught 51 passes for over 600 yards and 6 touchdowns. There aren’t many players who are dual threat returners and have an actual position on an offense. As long as they hype around him doesn’t inflate his ADP too high you can expect him to finish as mid to high WR2 with an incredibly consistent floor.
- Ameer Abdullah – RB – Detroit Lions: Abdullah was the league leader in kick returns last season. He averaged 29.1 yards per attempt and you can expect his return success to continue into 2016. His return position is in no danger and for now it looks as if Abdullah will be the main back for Detroit. Not only has the Lions offensive line looks to have improved since 2015 but they have released Joique Bell leaving only Theo Riddick as competition for passing downs. Depending on your leagues scoring system he goes from low RB2 to a potential RB1 as he will gain 4-6 points a game from returns.
- Darren Sproles – RB – Philidelphia Eagles: Ending the season with 447 return yards and two touchdowns, Sproles was the leagues top punt returner in 2015. He averaged 11.7 yards per return while also being a prominent part of the offense. Sproles finished the season with 705 total yards, 55 receptions and 4 touchdowns. He has already been talked up as a “very good fit” in Doug Pederson’s offense and doesn’t have much in the way of competition. Injury Prone Ryan Mathews will get most early down work and Sproles will be getting most of the passing work. For 2016 you can expect his floor to be near his 2015 numbers but his ceiling could make him a sneaky RB2 in PPR Return leagues.
- Corey Coleman- WR – Cleveland Browns: With previous punt returner Travis Benjamin headed to San Diego, the position in Cleveland is now open and Coleman looks to be a perfect fit for the job. Drafted in the first round, this rookie is poised to make an impact on offense along with special teams. He will enter the season as the Brown’s WR1, giving him plenty of opportunities to show off his incredible athleticism. He goes into the fantasy season as a high upside WR3 but could make a suitable WR2 when taking into his account his 28.4 yard kick return average at Baylor.
- Bruce Ellington – WR – San Fransisco 49ers: Another kick and punt returner, Ellington’s value has come almost fully from his work on special teams. Last year he posted an unimpressive 153 receiving yards but added over 800 more yards returning the ball. Ellington will be going undrafted in nearly all leagues, but with veteran receiver Anquan Boldin leaving the team, Ellington has cemented his place as the 49ers’ WR2. You can expect his usage on offense to increase and he is a potential sleeper candidate in return yard leagues. Depending on your leagues scoring Ellington still might be off the table but for those leagues that favor returns heavily he could be a in the WR3 conversation.
Warning!!! – Players to be cautious of in 2016
- Jarvis Landry – WR – Miami Dolphins: Last year Landry did it all, receiving, rushing, punts and even a kick return a few times. He was fourth in punt returns last year with 356 yards and a touchdown. You can expect Landry to return to 2016 as one of the Dolphins top offensive play makers but don’t make a reach for him based on his return performance. During the off season the Dolphins have added rookie Jakeem Grant to the roster. Grant was a kick returner in college and looks to be added as a special teams only player. For now Landry still looks to have grasp of punt returns but training camps are just starting and Grant may likely end up as the teams full time returner. If Landry does keep his punting role, he has WR1 potential in PPR and will be a good WR2 in standard, just don’t reach for him expecting return yards to be a sure thing.
- David Johnson – RB – Arizona Cardinals: Johnson already has a Round 1 ADP. Most people drafting him will be doing so with or without return yards, but for those of you who were bumping him in your ranking you shouldn’t count on them. Johnson ended 2015 with nearly 600 extra yards from kick returns. Normally that would be something to get incredibly excited for, but now that he claimed the #1 RB spot in Arizona you can expect him to be taken out of the return game. Teammate J.J Nelson looks to be taking on the kick return duties with the plan to lower Johnson’s wear and tear.