With every team roughly 10 games in, we have seen enough of each team’s kick returner to tell how consistent they are. In return leagues, whether a player is primarily a returner or a part-time returner who plays offense, consistency will be the most important factor. As you’ll see below, most of the top consistent guys play at least some offense but there are exceptions.
Let’s take a look at which players have been the most reliable on a week-to-week basis to get a better sense of who we can trust in return leagues and who we can’t.
| Consistency Rank |
Player |
# |
# |
Notes |
| 1 | Cordarrelle Patterson |
7 of 10 |
3 of 10 |
Despite disappointing offensive numbers, Patterson has been a Godsend in return leagues, having put up 100+ yards five times and scoring return touchdowns in three different games. He plays a bit of offense but saw an increased role on Sunday with Greg Jennings out. He still only caught three passes but was targeted nine times and could see an even bigger role if he gets to start again. |
| 1a | Ted Ginn Jr. |
7 of 10 |
3 of 10 |
With his role on offense, kick returns, and punt returns, Ginn has one of the highest fantasy floors in return leagues. He has put up at least 75 all-purpose yards in eight of his last nine games and has plenty of potential for a big kick return. |
| 2 | Golden Tate |
7 of 11 |
3 of 11 |
Tate finds himself toward the top of the list but that’s going to change. Percy Harvin is back on offense so Tate will likely see his value limited going forward. |
| 3 | Darren Sproles |
7 of 10 |
2 of 10 |
The numbers are still on Sproles’ side thanks to a unique combination of kick return, punt return, rushing, and receiving yards but his upside has been far lower this season than any other since he arrived in New Orleans. Still, because of his role, we are forced to start him weekly in return leagues. |
| 4 | Josh Cribbs |
3 of 4 |
0 of 4 |
Josh Cribbs has been huge for the Jets since arriving in New York a month ago, putting up over 130 return yards in three straight games. Cribbs has put up 468 return yards and 41 offensive yards in just four games. The Jets defense, though stout against the run, allows plenty of scores, both touchdowns and field goals, so the opportunities for kick returns should be there weekly for Cribbs. |
| 5 | Keshawn Martin |
6 of 10 |
1 of 10 |
After a few quiet weeks, Martin exploded on Sunday with nine returns for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also returned to the offensive picture, catching two passes on five targets for 32 yards. He has now put up seven fantasy relevant games and is very startable if he continues seeing offensive snaps. |
| 5a | Julian Edelman |
6 of 10 |
1 of 10 |
Although Edelman started out hot, he is no longer startable in any leagues. After putting up very solid numbers while Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski recovered from injuries, Edelman has just six catches for 45 yards and five punt returns for 56 yards over his last three games and doesn’t figure to be relevant unless Amendola gets hurt again. |
| 6 | Dwayne Harris |
5 of 10 |
3 of 10 |
Despite seeing minimal offensive snaps, Harris has put up at least 75 all-purpose yards in six of his last seven games and three touchdowns over his last eight games. That’s a solid fantasy floor with plenty of potential for a big game. |
| 7 | Jacquizz Rodgers |
5 of 10 |
2 of 10 |
Rodgers barely factored in against Tampa in Week 11 but he had put up at least 70 total yards in each of his previous three games. His value isn’t what it was when Steven Jackson was out but he has a fairly decent fantasy floor if you need a bye week or injury replacement in a pinch. |
| 7a | Dexter McCluster |
5 of 10 |
2 of 10 |
McCluster put up 86 total yards on Sunday against the Broncos and has now surpassed 85 yards in three of his last four weeks. He has a solid mix of offense and punt return yards which makes him fairly startable on a matchup basis. |
| 7b | Trindon Holliday |
5 of 10 |
2 of 10 |
Holliday is a return-only player and as inconsistent as they get. In his last five games, he has seen yard totals of 45, 109, 47, 139, and 1. He’s too inconsistent to trust. |
| 8 | Brandon Tate |
5 of 9 |
0 of 9 |
Tate was only able to get two punt returns for 12 yards on Sunday against the Browns but it was the first time in five weeks that he hasn’t attained 94 yards. He has been very reliable despite not playing any offense and remains fairly startable. |
| 9 | Devin Hester |
5 of 10 |
1 of 10 |
Like Tate, Hester only got a chance for two returns on Sunday and didn’t do much but it was only second time in seven games that he hasn’t put up at least 73 yards. He had put up at least 100 return yards in three straight before this week and remains startable in most matchups. |
| 10 | LeGarrette Blount |
4 of 10 |
2 of 10 |
Despite the return of Shane Vereen, Blount still saw 10 carries for 49 yards on Monday against a touch Carolina defense but didn’t get a chance to return any kicks. He’ll usually get at least a couple of kick return attempts and it was a good sign to see him get double-digit carries. He also put up at least 92 yards in each of his last three weeks before Monday’s game so he’s surprisingly startable. |
| 11 | Jacoby Jones |
2 of 6 |
1 of 6 |
Jacoby has been disappointing since returning from a knee injury, failing to put up more than 42 receiving yards in any game this season and failing to surpass 45 return yards in three straight weeks so he doesn’t seem very startable at this point. |
| 12 | Tavon Austin |
3 of 10 |
2 of 10 |
Tavon had a huge week against the Colts in Week 10 and has put up at least 80 total yards in three of his last four games. I wouldn’t rush to start him in standard leagues but his new role on kick returns makes him very startable in return leagues. |
