3rd Year Wide Receiver Breakout: 1 to Avoid in 2013

This fourth installment of the legend of the 3rd year wide receiver breakout looks at a 3rd year wide receiver to avoid in your fantasy football drafts and auctions this draft season.

We’ve already gone through 15 of the best 3rd year wide receiver seasons of recent memory, highlighted the big three 3rd year wide receivers in 2013 and three 3rd year wide receivers to target.

This 3rd year receiver series will touch on 2013’s top 3rd year wide receiver fantasy options, 3rd year wide receiver breakouts and 3rd year wide receiver busts and we’ll also take a peek back at the 2011 NFL Draft and see if the order those receivers were selected in should be shuffled up a bit in hindsight.

To this point, each article has highlighted a few players, but there is only one 3rd year wide receiver who is on the fantasy football radar that I’m avoiding and that is Denarius Moore. Moore is currently being ranked and drafted as a #3 or #4 fantasy receiver, which based on talent might be a little low, but there are concerns surrounding the Raiders wideout!

2013 Top 3rd Year WRs | 2013 3rd Year WR Breakouts

2013 3rd Year WR Bust | 2011 Draft Revisited

3rd Year Wide Receiver

To Avoid in 2013

Denarius Moore, Oakland Raiders

There is a lot to like about Moore, his skills and ability have been on display for 2 seasons and he is the number one option in Oakland. He has flashed fake football greatness over his first 2 years too, which should make him a prime 3rd year WR breakout candidate.

Unfortunately, Moore’s upside is mirrored with his week-to-week inconsistency. After a strong start to the 2012 season, Moore faded in the 2nd half and especially down the stretch, when it matters most in fantasy football. In Weeks 10-15 Moore only went good for 16 catches, 161 yards and a single score.

Making matters even worse heading into the 2013 season is the uncertainty of the Raiders QB situation, their lack of complimentary options and the reality that Moore should see a lot of double coverage. That’s not to say there isn’t some hope. If Darren McFadden can establish the running game and Matt Flynn is the real deal behind center, Moore may stand to take another step forward.

However, those 2 what ifs are outweighed by the negatives, which makes it difficult to rely on Moore as an every week #3 fantasy wide receiver, let alone anything better than that. He’ll have his weeks, because the talent is there, but with safer options on the board where he is currently being ranked and drafted let someone else drink the Raider’ade.

There are obviously other names to include here, Jermey Kerley, the Leonard Hankerson and Alderick Robinson duo in Washington, for example. But currently, they’re not really on the fantasy radar and will end up on waivers in almost all leagues. Jon Baldwin has been a huge bust to this point in his NFL career, but could be worth keeping an eye on off waivers. Finally, you also might not want to draft Titus Young either, let’s just call that a hunch.

I’m a Loyal Leafs, Cubs, and Cowboys fan for decades. I wear the C for The Fake Hockey, in addition to contributing to The Fake Baseball and The Fake Football in more of a Timmy Try Hard role. You can also find my weekly fantasy baseball preview here at davidgonos.com and can reach me on Twitter @naparker77.