Paul

Richardson Jr.

There’s an ongoing competition for the No. 3 receiver spot behind Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Richardson is out of the race for now, especially with Josh Gordon re-signed. He was a bust in Washington after a few quality seasons in Seattle a few years ago. Richardson is only a depth option moving forward.

It’s a homecoming for Richardson, who played his first four years in Seattle. Richardson knows the Seahawks’ offense but needs to get in game shape after going unsigned since February. It’s not a lock Richardson is active Week 1.

He’s expected to undergo COVID-19 testing and possibly sign later this week. Richardson, 28, the Seahawks’ former second round draft pick, was released by Washington in February after catching 48 passes in 17 games for the Football Team. Richardson’s best season was 2017, when he saw 80 targets from Russell Wilson and finished as fantasy’s 39th highest scoring wideout. The signing would bring the Seahawks some depth to a position lacking it, though there’s no clear path to fantasy relevance for Richardson.

This comes mere hours after the Redskins cut the cord on perennial underachiever Josh Norman. Pink-slipping Richardson was an easy call, costing Washington just $2 million against the cap. Had the Redskins kept him, P-Rich would have been due a $6.5 million salary in 2020. Richardson had a tough go of it in Washington, compiling a lackluster 48-507-4 receiving line over 17 appearances after joining the team on a five-year contract in 2018. Injuries and erratic quarterback play were at least partially to blame for the 27-year-old’s ineffectiveness and Richardson should benefit from a change of scenery. Perhaps he’d be a possibility for Seattle, where P-Rich spent his first four seasons before defecting to Washington in free agency.

The Redskins just saved over $12 million in cap space by releasing free-agent disappointment Josh Norman and can shed another $6 million by cutting the cord on Richardson, who is probably a goner unless he accepts a substantial pay cut. Injuries and poor quarterback play have limited Richardson’s effectiveness since joining the Redskins on a five-year, free-agent contract in 2018. An intriguing, albeit undersized (6'0"/180) field-stretcher when healthy, the 27-year-old could be a nice addition for a team in need of a vertical threat.

Per Keim, $2 million of Richardson’s $6 million salary will become guaranteed if he’s still on the team after the fifth day of the new league year. According to a source “familiar” with the Redskins, new coach Ron Rivera plans to pursue a veteran to pair with Terry McLaurin this offseason, which would pave the way for Richardson’s inevitable release. Richardson offers field-stretching ability when healthy, though that’s been a rare occurrence for him in Washington as injuries have limited the 27-year-old to just 17 games the past two seasons.

Richardson’s best game of the season came in Week 3 when he caught 8-of-9 targets for 83 yards and a score against the Bears. He scored one other touchdown the rest of the season while also failing to surpass 50 receiving yards in his other nine games. Coming off career-low marks in virtually every receiving metric, Richardson will likely need to impress in the offseason to warrant a featured role in 2020.

Terry McLaurin is the only fantasy-viable option in this Redskins’ passing game. McLaurin F1 found the end zone for the first time since Week 6 during the Redskins’ 20-15 loss to the Packers in Week 14. Up next is an Eagles Defense that has allowed nine different WRs to surpass 100 yards this season. Treat McLaurin as an upside WR3 in this prime spot.

This would obviously be a downgrade for Richardson, who got in limited sessions on both Wednesday and Thursday. Already down slot receiver Trey Quinn (concussion), Kelvin Harmon and Steven Sims could be in line for heavy snaps against the Eagles in Week 15. Neither are worthy of fantasy consideration.

Coming off consecutive absences, Richardson looks poised to return Sunday when the Redskins host division-rival Philadelphia at FedEx Field. With Washington leaning run-heavy under interim coach Bill Callahan (Dwayne Haskins’ insertion into the lineup has shifted the balance even further in that direction), Richardson has largely been a non-factor, securing a combined 13 catches for 110 scoreless yards over his last seven appearances (15.7 yards per game). That’s not going to cut it in fantasy.