It’s not often that an amazing talent like Corey Davis’ fantasy football ramifications primarily better the quarterback, but here we are. Davis draws comparisons to Terrell Owens (thankfully only on the field) and he gives Marcus Mariota the no-doubt #1 target that puts him over the top as a set-and-forget fantasy football option. Corey Davis isn’t going to be a slouch on his own, either.
Last year, Marcus Mariota finished the season as the #13 quarterback in overall fantasy points. This puts him just outside the QB1 ranks. However, we still saw a stretch of peak Mariota last season. In an eight-game run, Mariota had 21 touchdowns, throwing multiple in every game. He also had just three interceptions in the same stretch. He was easily a top-half QB1 in that stretch, but he was inconsistent in the last few games of the season. The Titans turned back towards the running game and away from Mariota, but Mariota had his breakthrough.
The most incredible part about that hot stretch is that Mariota did it without a true #1 NFL receiver. He cobbled together his impressive performances from Tajae Sharpe, Rishard Matthews, Delanie Walker and Kendall Wright. Not exactly a murderers’ row of wide receiver talent there. Add in Corey Davis, a true #1, and Mariota takes off. Mariota is going to be worth the pick unless he’s going in the top six rounds. Adding Davis to his plethora of receivers makes Mariota a no-brainer in rounds seven or later. He’s not being drafted as a top-five QB, but he’s going to end up there. I’m going to have a Mariota and Jameis Winston mix in pretty much all my leagues this year on the strengths of their weaponry after the draft.
On his own, Davis will have mostly Bye week appeal as a floor and top-25 upside. He’s going to be on 100% of my teams if he’s available halfway through the draft (rounds 7-9). His talent and opportunity are unparalleled among rookie wide receivers this year and is likely the only WR worth taking in redraft fantasy football league drafts.
Corey Davis makes Marcus Mariota the backend-with-upside quarterback in your fantasy football drafts this season. He will end the season as a top-five quarterback at the position. Davis, on his own, will be a steal in rounds 7-9. Both are targets for me in the middle of the draft, and they should be for you, too.