2013 Fantasy Football Draft Value: Pierre Garcon
NFL Training Camps are now underway, and many fantasy owners are continuing their own preparations for upcoming fantasy football drafts. This provides an excellent opportunity to scrutinize where players are being selected during the voluminous amount of drafts that have already taken place, in the form of their Average Draft Positions (ADPs). This knowledge supplies critical insight into how your next drafts could easily unfold. Including the WR position, which delivers a unique level of intrigue this season. It definitely contains more depth than you will find at RB, yet will not allow you the luxury of remaining patient when choosing the elite receivers, as opposed to what you will encounter when selecting your QBs. Various approaches are being employed by owners as they consider which wideouts to target. And this breakdown of Pierre Garcon is just one element within a series of articles that will construct a roadmap toward knowing where to slot WRs during the fantasy football draft process.
In Garcon’s case, he is currently being undervalued both in fantasy football mock drafts, and in the actual drafts that have already taken place. Garcon was certainly unproven as a WR1 when the Redskins signed him in 2012, even though his targets steadily increased during four previous years with Indianapolis. But he demonstrated the ability and the mentality to adeptly handle that role last season. Both in terms of his performance, and his willingness to remain in the lineup as an active producer despite a painful foot injury. That occurred on opening day, as Garcon was in the process of generating 109 yards and a TD. The issue lingered throughout the season, and limited his output until Week 11. From that point forward, he amassed 33 receptions for 475 yards, while averaging 15 YPC. During that impressive stretch, he stayed on the field despite the troublesome foot, and was Washington's most targeted receiver.
Now, he is fully cleared to practice, and all conditions are favorable for him to accrue massive numbers this season. However, owners are selecting 23 WRs before Garcon. As a result, he is currently being drafted in Round 6, with an ADP of 61. That makes him an absolute steal for anyone who seizes him at that point in the process. Not only does his combination of strength, speed and route running prowess, enable him to consistently gain separation, but it enables him to generate significant yardage after the catch. Garcon’s importance to the Redskin offense is underscored by the team’s 9-1 record last season, when he was in the lineup. And even though Washington’s offense will obviously be more proficient if RG3 is in the lineup, any concerns about the signal caller’s status should not create massive consternation about selecting Garcon. Remember that he resides on a roster with Josh Morgan, Leonard Hankerson, Devery Henderson, Aldrick Robinson and 34-year old Santana Moss comprising the other WR slots. Therefore, it is unfathomable that Garçon would not be the primary weapon in Washington's aerial attack by a sizable margin, regardless of which QB is under center. Garcon captured a season high 12 targets when Kirk Cousins made his lone start of the 2012 season (Week 15), while also collecting six receptions for 65 yards.
Plus, there should be no further concerns about his toughness, since he remained productive during last year’s troublesome injury. When Garcon performed during all 16 regular season contests in 2011, he accumulated 134 targets. And there is an excellent chance that he will establish a new career high in that category this year. If that occurs, Garcon should easily surpass his career bests in receptions (70), yardage (947) and TDs (six). I highly recommend that you actively target him on draft day, just as the Redskins will throughout the year.
