Jeremy Butler

Newly signed WR Jeremy Butler was forced to leave the game early after suffering an ankle injury on his lone target. He finished the game with five total receiving yards.

Fantasy Impact

The Chargers are absolutely snake-bitten when it comes to injuries. However, even when healthy there are far too many pass-catching bodies in San Diego to make Butler an attractive fantasy option in any format.

Despite having a productive preseason and appearing to be a viable depth player in Baltimore's questionable receiving core, Jeremy Butler was released by the Ravens this afternoon.

Fantasy Impact

This is a somewhat surprising move by Baltimore's front office, as the aging Steve Smith is returning from injury and former first-round pick Breshad Perriman remains an unknown quantity. It appears, however, that the front office and coaching staff have faith that those two players, along with Kamar Aiken, can effectively shoulder the receiving burden in Baltimore.

After two weeks of diminishing returns, Jeremy Butler found his stride against the Bengals, managing 57 yards on six catches.

Fantasy Impact

Butler has primarily acted as a complement to Kamar Aiken and the TEs in Baltimore's passing game and has been relatively effective in that role, chipping in 40 or more yards receiving in five of his eight appearances this season. It's unlikely he'll be a hot fantasy prospect come 2016, however, due to the emergence of Aiken and the return of Steve Smith.

Jeremy Butler caught three of his six targets against the Steelers on Sunday for 38 yards, his second consecutive week with a decline in receiving yards from the previous game. Butler has 25 receptions for 306 yards this season and has had three or more receptions in six consecutive games.

Fantasy Impact

A telltale reasoning for Butler's decline in yards and receptions is his drop in percentage of targets caught. After catching 79% of his targets (19-of-24) to open the season, he has only caught 54% of his targets over the past two weeks (6-of-11). Butler's season will end against the Bengals' 7th-ranked defense against WR and Butler was not targeted earlier this season against Cincinnati.

Jeremy Butler caught three passes for 60 yards, including a 41-yard pass, his second straight week where he was a notable fantasy player. Butler has 268 yards for the season, with 132 yards coming over the last two games.

Fantasy Impact

Butler has had a 20-yard catch in five of his last six games and has averaged 12.2 yards per catch thiss season. Most of his productivity has come over the last two games and he has caught 75.9% of his targets this season. The Ravens go against the Steelers' 26th-ranked defense against WR in Week 16, giving fantasy owners a sleeper for the fantasy championship.