2018 Fantasy Football Breakout Candidate: Josh Doctson

WR Josh Doctson | Washington Redskins | 3rd Year
2017 Stats: 35 rec., 502 yards, 6 TD

After being drafted 22nd overall in 2016 out of TCU, injuries Josh Doctson played just two games as a rookie due to injury. The departures of Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson in 2017 free agency opened up an opportunity, but Doctson only delivered 35 catches over 16 games in essentially his first NFL season.

The Redskins notably have a new quarterback this year, with the trade acquisition of Alex Smith to replace the inevitable departure of Kirk Cousins. Doctson has suggested he’s finally fully healthy this offseason, and he projected a rise in confidence at Redskins’ OTAs this week.

Redskins head coach Jay Gruden suggested earlier this offseason that Doctson will have more opportunities on “50-50” balls this year. The move to Smith from Cousins doesn’t seem likely to make a major difference in that regard, but more chances to make plays would cater better to Doctson’s ability to use his physical tools on contested catches.

In what looks like a test run as the Redskins’ No. 1 wide receiver, Doctson had 23 targets over the final two games last year. He converted just six of them into catches, for 98 yards and a touchdown, but that kind of target volume is eye-opening heading into 2018.

In current Fantasy Football Calculator mock drafts, Doctson is going off the board at WR53 (pick 12.05, 12-team standard scoring) and WR52 (pick 11.12, 12-team PPR scoring). He’s in the same range (WR55, pick No. 155 overall) in Fantasy Pros’ early ADP data. That’s WR5 territory in 12-team leagues, and if that holds up when draft season ramps up Doctson will have no trouble returning that value. But I’m putting him in line for more than that this year, in a third-year breakout campaign.

Josh Doctson 2018 Projection: 75 receptions, 1,080 yards, 9 TD

Breakout Percentage: 90%

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