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If you were considering drafting a wide receiver from the Chicago Bears in 2014, you will have to start making your pros and cons list now for Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery.
If you drafted either of these stars in your fantasy football league last year, you were a happy player. Marshall finished as the fifth-highest scoring receiver in standard leagues last season, and second-year player Jeffery finished the year as the ninth-highest scoring receiver. With both of these players being hot commodities this year, fantasy players will have a difficult time deciding between these two stars.
If you look at targets, Marshall was the leader with 163 compared to the 150 times Jeffery was looked at. You can’t read too heavily into that statistic though, as Jeffery not only finished the year with 1,421 receiving yards compared to to Marshall’s 1,295, but Jeffery also outperformed the veteran with 432 yards after the catch compared to Marshall’s 307. So even though the 24-year-old Jeffery received less targets, he was able to do more with the opportunities that he was given.
If you are leaning towards drafting the younger receiver, don’t get too comfortable with your decision. Out of the 16 games Marshall played, he didn’t record a touchdown reception in six of those games. On the other hand, Jeffery went without a touchdown catch in 10 of the 16 games that he played in. Not only was he more consistent with his weekly touchdown production, but Marshall finished the year with 12 receiving touchdowns compared to the seven of his young teammate.
Aside from Marshall having a few more pounds on Jeffery, it is hard to separate these two talented receivers. It is hard not to like what Jeffery can do after he receives the ball, but the touchdown production is what allowed Marshall to score more fantasy football points than his counterpart. Age is the only real advantage that Jeffery has, but Marshall is in great shape and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
Choosing whether to draft Marshall or Jeffery is a personal preference at this point, but you can’t go wrong with either of these players on your team.
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
