Fantasy Football: 5 Bounce-Back Candidates for 2018

Jordan Reed, TE, Washington

If talent alone were enough, then Jordan Reed would already be spoken of as one of the best tight ends in all of football. However, availability and durability are often cited as two of the best abilities to have, and Reed hasn't shown that he has much of either in recent years.

When fit and healthy, Reed has shown how effective a performer he can be for the Washington Redskins. His combined numbers for 2015 and 2016 place him at or near the top of his position.

By numberFire metrics, Reed was simply outstanding in 2015. His 0.54 Target NEP per target was second-best among tight ends (minimum of 75 targets), while only three players had a higher Reception NEP per target than Reed's 0.73. He finished the season as the TE3 in PPR scoring, but in points per game, he was the best of the bunch. The same was true in 2016, where his 14.0 PPR points per game paced the position, though he finished as TE9.

In 2017, he played in only six games and never truly looked himself. Of his 60.1 total PPR points, 26.4 of them came in a single game, and he averaged a paltry 7.8 yards per reception.

But Reed is one of the most intriguing bounce-back candidates in the NFL, given the fact that he has been productive in the past and that he seems to be getting back toward something resembling full health. A change at the quarterback spot might benefit him, as well.

Alex Smith has never been shy about using his tight end, especially during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. Only four teams targeted their tight ends more times than the Chiefs between 2013 and 2017. These factors make Reed an intriguing selection, but his current 8.04 ADP doesn't seem to adequately bake in the risk involved when selecting Reed. Still, if he can conquer his health concerns, he could certainly finish among the leaders at his position in 2018.