Wide receiver rankings are always a work in progress. As they're so reliant on the other 10 guys on the offense to do their jobs correctly, WR output can swing wildly based on injuries, scheme changes, QB battles/injuries, and butterflies flapping their wings in China. The ever-shifting NFL landscape wreaks havoc with their numbers, particularly in the TD category. That's why I'll be updating these rankings often before the season kicks off.
A case in point is Vincent Jackson. I was all set to declare him the ninth-best Fantasy receiver when news comes across the wire that he's suspended for three games. I guess that's why computers have "backspace" keys.
While you're here, be sure to check out my QB and RB rankings.
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Once again, Andre Johson is top dog among Fantasy WRs.
Photo credit: Icon SMI |
1. Andre Johnson, Houston: The only WR that is a no-brainer first-round pick. Two seasons of 1,500-plus receiving yards will put you in that rarified category.
2. Randy Moss, New England: Would anyone even think twice about taking Moss with a late first-round pick? Hell and no. That happens when 1,000 receiving yards and a dozen touchdowns are the baseline numbers, with an unlimited high end.
3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis: There might be sexier second-round picks, but I'll take the practically guaranteed 75 catches, 1,100 yards, and 10 TDs. Fantasy is a game of consistency, after all.
4. Miles Austin, Dallas: Austin has the good fortune to play in an offense with multiple weapons. He doesn't see as many double teams as other elite WRs.
5. Steve Smith, New York Giants: Only Wes Welker had more catches, and his week-to-week consistency is a thing of beauty. The only downside is that he has to compete with Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham for TD receptions.
6. Calvin Johnson, Detroit: As talented as Johnson is, this is a roll of the dice. Will he be able to overcome the suckitude of Matthew Stafford and the offensive line? Upside is white hot, though.
7. Roddy White, Atlanta: He had a career-best 11 TD season, even in the midst of Matt Ryan's sophomore slump. If RB Michael Turner returns to form, White will be able to run wild.
8. Sidney Rice, Minnesota: Never heard so little noise about a WR coming off a season with 83 catches for 1,312 yards and eight TDs. Double-digit TDs are in his immediate future.
9. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona: If I run a real football team, I want Fitzgerald as my WR. However, I run a fake football team, so I have to dock a few draft slots for anyone catching passes from Matt Leinart.
10. Greg Jennings, Green Bay: His inconsistency and four TDs were heart-breakers. However, many Fantasy gurus think Aaron Rodgers will throw for 47,000 yards this year, and Jennings is his No. 1 target. Kidding aside, Jennings will be less volatile this year.
11. Brandon Marshall, Miami: Marshall makes quarterbacks look about three times better than they actually are. He's got his work cut out for him with Chad Henne, though.
12. Marques Colston, New Orleans: If he could stay healthy, he'd be an elite WR. As it stands, Drew Brees' main man is worth taking a risk on.
13. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh: Had his best season in a long time in 2009, and the Steelers will have to lean on him while young WR Mike Wallace gets used to a starting job.
14. Anquan Boldin, Baltimore: He'll miss some games, but I still like him a lot at his new Baltimore address. Say "hi" to McNulty, Daniels and the crew at the Major Case Unit for me, Q.
15. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia: Kevin Kolb doesn't have the same pretty deep ball as Donovan McNabb, so Jackson had better learn something other than a "go" route quickly. Still, dude has skills and will put up at least 1,000 receiving yards and 8-10 TDs.
16. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City: No suspension this year, so the numbers will definitely improve. However, Bowe has to get rid of the dropsies; he led the league in dropped passes with 11.
17. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati: His output is largely dependent on Carson Palmer getting himself right. If that happens, Ochocinco is capable of borderline WR1 numbers.
18. Steve Smith, Carolina: The YMCA is not so fun now, is it, tough guy? Love Smith's talent, but points deducted for breaking his arm playing flag football at the Y. That's just embarrassing.
19. Donald Driver, Green Bay: Ho hum, another season, another 1,000 receiving yards. That makes six in a row. Whatever Driver and Ward use to keep old age at bay, I want some.
20. Santana Moss, Washington: Can't believe I'm talking up Moss, one of my least favorite Fantasy players of all time. McNabb will round him into shape.
21. Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis: He established himself as Peyton Manning's third option behind Wayne and Dallas Clark.
22. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants: It wouldn't surprise me at all if he is this year's Miles Austin/Sidney Rice breakthrough performer.
23. Vincent Jackson, San Diego: Free-falling. That's what happens when you are suspended for three games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. And if he's not signed to a new contract by early training camp, keep dropping him down the list.
24. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco: After training camp and a full slate of 16 games, I think you'll find Crabtree's numbers to be Rice-a-Roni.
25. Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville: If he can take his game on the road, WR2 numbers are realistic. All of his good games were at home in 2009.
26. Percy Harvin, Minnesota: Had 75 combined touches for 925 yards and six TDs in part-time duty. As a starter now, the sky is the limit for Harvin. Mad, crazy upside.
27. T.J. Houshmandzadeh: Offseason sports hernia surgery makes me leery, but a re-vamped Seattle attack is a positive. 900-1,000 yards and five or six TDs is the verdict.
28. Lee Evans, Buffalo: The Bills have absolutely no one else to throw to, so Evans could be the most targeted WR in the league this year.
29. Jabar Gaffney, Denver: Did alright as Brandon Marshall's running buddy, with 54 catches for 732 yards and two TDs. He's now Kyle Orton's No. 1 WR, for what that's worth (not much).
30. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia: He fits with Kolb's style of play better than DeSean Jackson, so expect a bump in productivity.
31. Steve Breaston, Arizona: A starting job isn't guaranteed, and the Leinart Factor weighs heavily against him. Even so, Larry Fitzgerald tends to draw defenders away from other wideouts.
32. Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh: If Ben Roethlisberger was playing a full season, Wallace would be about 8-10 slots higher. He'll still be a potent deep threat.
33. Santonio Holmes, New York Jets: Suspended for four games, now playing for the run-heavy Jets, and catching passes from Mark "Entourage" Sanchez. Fantasy value, meet cliff.
34. Derrick Mason, Baltimore: Finally able to ease back into a more reasonable No.2 WR role. Look for around 800 yards and five or six TDs.
35. Devery Henderson, New Orleans: Looks like he's locked down a starting job, and is coming off a career-best 51 catches for 804 yards in 2009.
36. Terrell Owens, Free Agent: Who knows where he'll wind up, but it's a given that he'll do better than he did in Buffalo.
37. Robert Meachem, New Orleans: Love that 16.0 YPC and nine TDs, but he can't seem to secure a starting job. Meachem has upside, but is highly volatile.
38. Devin Aromashodu: Finally got a chance to play in the last four games, and racked up 22 catches for 282 yards and four TDs. He's clearly the best the Bears have, and a WR3 performance is within reach.
39. Wes Welker, New England: - Show everyone you've got a pair, hoss. Pull the trigger in round seven or eight if you're feeling good about your WRs. If Welker comes back in time to contribute, you look like a genius.
40. Malcom Floyd, San Diego: Rising due to Vincent Jackson's suspension, and could rise some more as the season nears.
41. Kevin Walter, Houston: Has to improve on his down 2009 season, and a better running game should free up some space for that.
42. Mohamed Massaquoi, Cleveland: I'm in shock as I write that Jake Delhomme represents a big improvement in quality at the QB position in Cleveland. Massaquoi should be far more consistent in his second year.
43. Kenny Britt, Tennessee: He's Tennessee's lead WR, but there are far more downs than ups in catching passes from Vince Young. Once Young took over, Britt averaged just 41.2 receiving yards per game.
44. Devin Hester, Chicago: He's getting better every season, but he's really got to get into the endzone more.
45. Antonio Bryant, Cincinnati: A far better partner for Ochocinco that Laveranues Coles was. If he wasn't so unpredictable, he'd be higher on this list.
46. Nate Burleson, Detroit: He's a step up in class at the No. 2 WR position in Detroit, but his output is all over the map. Burleson is helped immensely by playing across from Calvin Johnson.
47. Braylon Edwards, New York Jets: Edwards and Michael Clayton should co-star in a Lifetime channel original movie, "Remember that One Season When I Was Awesome?". Sorry man, all we remember are the drops.
48. Donnie Avery, St. Louis: Probably the only WR whose Fantasy value actually goes up by playing with a rookie QB. Avery is much better than what the rotating cast of UFL benchwarmers at QB in St. Louis in his first two years were able to offer him.
Mike Gilbert is RotoExperts.com's Senior NFL Editor and a 2010 FSWA award winner. Wake up every morning with RotoExperts on Sirius XM's new Fantasy Sports Radio channel. Listen live starting at 7 am ET as RotoExperts.com covers all Fantasy Sports and takes your calls on Sirius channel 211 and XM channel 147.
