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Ranking Fantasy Football's Best Wide Receivers
Authored by Andrew Perna - 15th July, 2009 - 4:57 pm
There’s a difference between a favorite and a lock. When up against a team with playoff-level talent, it’s rare that the team with the better record ever appears in the second category.
Braylon Edwards will join Jericho Cotchery to form an elite wideout tandem, at least on paper.
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In the fourth installment of a seven-part series, RealGM will help you prepare for your upcoming fantasy draft by ranking the best wide receivers.
Stocking your team with a solid group of wide receivers is vital to your success. Some analysts have begun touting pass-catchers as equal to running backs in terms of importance and production, but we aren’t ready to go that far just yet.
With that said, there are definitely instances when taking a wide receiver in the first round makes sense, especially if you are competing in a league that starts three wide outs against just two running backs.
Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne and Anquan Boldin are all marquee names, and it’s unlikely that they will be available by the third round of any draft this summer.
Let’s not waste any more time as we begin sorting through the locks, sleepers and lead balloons.
1. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
He has entered in super-stardom. Don’t miss the boat on 100 catches, 1,400-plus yards and more than 10 touchdowns.
2. Andre Johnson, Houston
If he stays healthy, he’s a lock for Fitzgerald-like numbers with fewer touchdowns.
3. Randy Moss, New England
Moss had 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns with Matt Cassel quarterbacking the Patriots last season. Look for him to approach his 2007 numbers with Tom Brady back.
4. Calvin Johnson, Detroit
We are begging for a stable quarterback situation in Detroit, if only for Johnson’s well-being and fantasy value.
5. Anquan Boldin, Arizona
No matter where if plays, he’ll produce consistently. He missed four games in 2008, but caught just seven fewer passes than Fitzgerald.
6. Greg Jennings, Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers was better than expected last season, leading to the receiver’s career-best effort. He had seven games of 90 yards or more, but also had five games with three or fewer catches.
7. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
Wayne actually saw his production go down in 2008, the beginning of the end for Marvin Harrison with the Colts.
8. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City
Bowe is an emerging star, and new head coach Todd Haley will give him every opportunity to succeed in the team’s new offense.
9. Steve Smith, Carolina
Steady is the best way to describe Smith. He has posted more than 1,000 yards in five of the last six seasons. The only season he didn’t, in 2004, he broke his leg in Week One.
10. Marques Colston, New Orleans
If he can stay on the field, he’ll post more than 1,000 yards and grab 10 touchdowns without much effort. New Orleans loves to throw the ball, and Colston is the team’s best option.
11. Wes Welker, New England
If you compete in a league that counts receptions, Welker is your man. He has 223 catches in the last two seasons.
12. Roddy White, Atlanta
White has the luxury of growing up alongside Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
13. Terrell Owens, Buffalo
What can we say? He’s always a model citizen and teammate in Year One of any stay. With that said, he’ll be 36 this December.
14. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seattle
For the first time in his career, T.J. will be a lead receiver. He’s no spring chicken, but has posted more than 90 catches and 900 yards in each of the last three seasons.
15. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati
Call us crazy, but we’re pretty high on both Carson Palmer and Ochocinco this year. There is no way he’ll do worse than the 53 catches, 540 yards and four touchdowns he posted in 2008.
16. Brandon Marshall, Denver
If Jay Cutler remained with the Broncos, Marshall would have easily been a top-eight option at the position. There are simply too many risks involved to make him your No. 1 receiver.
17. Lee Evans, Buffalo
Evans has been on the cusp of elite status in recent years, but he’s no longer the top option in Buffalo. However, playing alongside T.O. will lessen the attention he receives from defenses.
18. Roy Williams, Dallas
OK, we’re prepared to take a beating on this one. He looked downright awful in Dallas at the end of last season, but he’ll be in camp and more familiar with the club in 2009.
19. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh
He caught the game-winning touchdown in February’s Super Bowl, but he’s not going to win anyone a fantasy title just yet. However, his receptions are increasing …he’s a decent No. 2 option.
20. Vincent Jackson, San Diego
Jackson quietly had 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008. He’ll probably be the “cheapest” 1,000-yard receiver you’ll have the chance to draft. A lot of people will rank him lower than we have.
21. Braylon Edwards, Cleveland 22. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh 23. Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis 24. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia
He had some bad moments (MNF against the Cowboys, anyone?), but 62 catches for 912 yards isn’t bad for a rookie receiver. Donovan McNabb will trust him more in 2009.
25. Donald Driver, Green Bay 26. Torry Holt, Jacksonville 27. Jerricho Cotchery, N.Y. Jets 28. Bernard Berrian, Minnesota
Berrian is a perfect bye-week replacement. He had four games with more than 100 yards, but also posted 30 yards or fewer on five occasions in 2008. He’s essentially a home run hitter with a high strikeout rate.
29. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 30. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay 31. Kevin Walter, Houston 32. Santana Moss, Washington 33. Devin Hester, Chicago
Hester has one last chance to become a viable wide receiver, especially with Cutler throwing the ball in Chicago. He could be a breakout performer this fall.
34. Domenik Hixon, N.Y. Giants 35. Eddie Royal, Denver 36. Ted Ginn Jr., Miami 37. Donnie Avery, St. Louis 38. Laveranues Coles, Cincinnati
If the Bengals are able to reverse their fortunes this season, Coles will be the benefit of all the attention Ochocinco receives. He isn’t the type of receiver that Houshmandzadeh is, but he could have similar success.
39. Chris Chambers, San Diego 40. Steve Breaston, Arizona 41. Patrick Crayton, Dallas 42. Lance Moore, New Orleans
Any receiver is dangerous with Brees throwing the ball around, but Moore is any injury concern. Don’t make him more than your fourth option.
43. Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia 44. Bobby Engram, Kansas City 45. Mark Clayton, Baltimore
Clayton has a chance to fulfill expectations with Derrick Mason’s shocking retirement. He jumps to No. 1 on the club’s depth chart.
46. Joey Galloway, New England 47. Michael Jenkins, Atlanta
A lot of the attention on offense will focus on Michael Turner, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, but Jenkins is a nice option in deep leagues.
48. Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina 49. Percy Harvin, Minnesota 50. Justin Gage, Tennessee 51. Josh Morgan, San Francisco 52. Devery Henderson, New Orleans
See No. 42. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
53. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia 54. Hakeem Nicks, N.Y. Giants 55. Kenny Britt, Tennessee 56. Brian Robiskie, Cleveland 57. Deion Branch, Seattle 58. Nate Washington, Tennessee 59. Greg Camarillo, Miami 60. Isaac Bruce, San Francisco 61. Steve Smith, N.Y. Giants 62. Miles Austin, Dallas 63. Nate Burleson, Seattle 64. Mark Bradley, Kansas City 65. Jason Avant, Philadelphia 66. Sidney Rice, Minnesota
