Panthers WR Ted Ginn Jr.: More than Just a Return Specialist
@IBiggs15 October 8
When I think of players who had all the physical ability to be great, but never put it together, Ted Ginn is near the top of that list. Ginn is 5’11” and is an absolute blur, running a 4.28 forty-yard dash. Ginn has the physical traits to be a lethal weapon, but has struggled to deliver on his promise due to inconsistencies throughout his career. With injuries and lack of depth at receiver for Carolina, Ginn has the best opportunity of his career to post big numbers in 2015.
Will Ginn ever be someone considered sure handed? To answer that question simply, no. Ginn is in his ninth season in the NFL and through four games he has caught 45.5% of his targets (playerprofiler.com). This sounds like I am about to tell you that Ginn will not sustain the numbers he is putting up, but I am going to do the exact opposite. Throughout Ginn’s career he has never had more than 56 receptions in a season, seemingly limiting his upside. This season, Ginn is on track for 104 targets, and if he can convert on 50% of his targets, he will be on track for 52 receptions. In 2008 Ginn set his career high, with 790 yards. He is averaging more yards per game in 2015, as he is on pace for 824 yards, and could easily surpass that number with the amount of targets he is receiving. Defenses have been all over Greg Olsen this season and Ginn has been rewarded with 6.25 targets per game.
While Ginn is not your typical WR1, he has a knack for finding the end zone. In his nine years of returning kicks and punts Ginn has seven touchdowns. To put this in perspective, Deion Sanders had nine in 14 seasons. Ginn has showed the same ability to get into the end zone this year, scoring three touchdowns in four games. Ginn’s vision is underrated and it helps him break off big plays. In his lowest yardage output of the season, Ginn turned a mediocre stat line into fantasy gold with his two touchdowns, putting his vision on display with a nice catch and run. Ginn is known as a deep threat, but with Kelvin Benjamin out for the season, and Jerricho Cotchery dealing with his own injuries, Ginn has had to run more diverse routes.
Through four games this season, Greg Olsen has 17 receptions, 243 yards, and two touchdowns. Ginn has 12 receptions, 206 yards, and three touchdowns. Olsen is considered one of the top tier tight ends in fantasy, yet Ginn is barely owned in a third of leagues on ESPN. Ginn’s success will be tied to Cam Newton, as we saw last week, but Ginn is outperforming plenty of receivers that are more widely owned. Right now Ginn has more fantasy points than receivers like Stevie Johnson, Eric Decker, Percy Harvin, John Brown, Rueben Randle, Terrance Williams, and Brandin Cooks (PPR scoring). Do not be scared by the name and baggage that comes with it, Ted Ginn can be a solid flex play for teams weak at receiver or dealing with injury/bye week.
Will Ginn ever be someone considered sure handed? To answer that question simply, no. Ginn is in his ninth season in the NFL and through four games he has caught 45.5% of his targets (playerprofiler.com). This sounds like I am about to tell you that Ginn will not sustain the numbers he is putting up, but I am going to do the exact opposite. Throughout Ginn’s career he has never had more than 56 receptions in a season, seemingly limiting his upside. This season, Ginn is on track for 104 targets, and if he can convert on 50% of his targets, he will be on track for 52 receptions. In 2008 Ginn set his career high, with 790 yards. He is averaging more yards per game in 2015, as he is on pace for 824 yards, and could easily surpass that number with the amount of targets he is receiving. Defenses have been all over Greg Olsen this season and Ginn has been rewarded with 6.25 targets per game.
While Ginn is not your typical WR1, he has a knack for finding the end zone. In his nine years of returning kicks and punts Ginn has seven touchdowns. To put this in perspective, Deion Sanders had nine in 14 seasons. Ginn has showed the same ability to get into the end zone this year, scoring three touchdowns in four games. Ginn’s vision is underrated and it helps him break off big plays. In his lowest yardage output of the season, Ginn turned a mediocre stat line into fantasy gold with his two touchdowns, putting his vision on display with a nice catch and run. Ginn is known as a deep threat, but with Kelvin Benjamin out for the season, and Jerricho Cotchery dealing with his own injuries, Ginn has had to run more diverse routes.
Through four games this season, Greg Olsen has 17 receptions, 243 yards, and two touchdowns. Ginn has 12 receptions, 206 yards, and three touchdowns. Olsen is considered one of the top tier tight ends in fantasy, yet Ginn is barely owned in a third of leagues on ESPN. Ginn’s success will be tied to Cam Newton, as we saw last week, but Ginn is outperforming plenty of receivers that are more widely owned. Right now Ginn has more fantasy points than receivers like Stevie Johnson, Eric Decker, Percy Harvin, John Brown, Rueben Randle, Terrance Williams, and Brandin Cooks (PPR scoring). Do not be scared by the name and baggage that comes with it, Ted Ginn can be a solid flex play for teams weak at receiver or dealing with injury/bye week.