Fantasy Football WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS PART I

 As each team in a standard league starts 3 wide receivers, it’s necessary to rank many more receivers than any other position in fantasy football.Â

 

As each team in a standard league starts 3 wide receivers, it’s necessary to rank many more receivers than any other position in fantasy football. Therefore, in the interest of creating a readable article, the SpartanNation wide receiver rankings will be split into two parts. Today, the guys who will most likely end up 2nd and 3rd fantasy wide receivers. Keep an eye out for the number 1’s next week!

 

The Number 2’s

           These are the guys who are just outside the top 20 wide outs in fantasy football. They may have the potential to turn into a number one, but right now they’re a safer bet to be the second receiver you take off the draft board.

 

1. Dwayne Bowe, KC: Bowe has the talent to be a number 1 on a fantasy team, but he was a major disappointment last year to fantasy owners. There’s some quarterback instability in KC with fans already calling for Cassel’s head, and that insecurity drops him from a potential number 1 WR to the best of the number 2 receivers.

 

2. Greg Jennings, GB: A lot of fantasy prognosticators will have Jennings as a solid number 1, but I’m not sold. There are just way too many weapons in that Green Bay offense for any one guy to get the consistent production needed to produce at an elite level. Jennings could jump into a number one if age finally catches up with Donald Driver, but as you’ll see soon, I don’t see that happening just yet.

 

3. Mike Sims-Walker, JAC: Sims-Walker seemed to come out of nowhere last year to put up some big numbers. That should usually throw up a red flag that he may not ever put up those numbers again. I think Sims-Walker could repeat his 2009 campaign, but would recommend proceeding with caution and not reaching too high for him.

 

4. Chad Ochocinco, CIN: Cedric Benson just got arrested, so bet on the Bengals having to pass more if, or more likely when, he gets suspended. Ochocinco, although not what he used to be, is still a solid target for Carson Palmer, and would make a great number 2 option for your fantasy team.

 

5. Steve Smith, NYG: Remember when people used to refer to this guy as the “bad” Steve Smith? Boy, were we wrong. He had a break-out year last year, and I expect him to continue putting up solid numbers in New York. He has the potential to be a number 1 if everything falls into place, but for now I think he’s a high-end number 2.

 

6. Percy Harvin, MIN: He’s not the primary option on his team, but he is the team’s big play threat. Harvin is one of the fastest guys in the league, and that will serve him very well on the patented Brett Favre slant routes. On a side note, if your league grants return yardage and TD points to wide receivers that will be a nice bonus to Harvin.

 

7. Michael Crabtree, SF: This guy is a lesson of what a moronic hold-out can do to your fantasy status (like he really cares about his fantasy status). His rookie numbers were nothing spectacular, but in those games he showed flashes of the enormous talent that got him drafted so high. He may be a number 1 candidate right now if he had participated in his rookie training camp, but as it is, he should be avoided until you’ve gotten your number 1 man.

 

8. Hines Ward, PIT: Age could stop Hines in his tracks this year, but we’ve been saying that for 2 years and it hasn’t happened yet. He has great hands, and just seems to find a way to get open. And with Santonio Holmes out of the picture he’s back in his familiar position of the number 1 target in Pittsburgh. This should be another solid year for Hines, and he’s worthy of a second slot.

 

9. Donald Driver, GB: Apparently slots 8 and 9 are reserved for old men. But Driver, like Ward, has showed no signs of slowing down. He went over 1,000 yards again last year, and with Aaron Rodgers slinging it in Green Bay, there should be plenty of catches to go around. I expect a slight dip for Donald from last season, but he should be worthy of a mid-to-lower level 2nd fantasy WR.

 

10. Jeremy Maclin, PHI: He had a break-out season last year, which was somewhat of a surprise, as rookie receivers tend to struggle. However, he also had some bouts with inconsistency, and will likely play second fiddle to DeSean Jackson in Philly. He’s extremely fast, which makes him a big play threat and worthy of being your second receiver.

 

11. Anquan Boldin, BAL: As I’m sure you can see, I’m not nearly as high on Boldin as most everybody else on the planet. He has a big body, and has proven over the years that he’s capable of a big game. But now he doesn’t have Larry Fitzgerald to eat up the double coverage, and he plays in a more run-heavy offense than the aerial bonanza that was the Cardinals’ offense. Look for him to see fewer targets and fewer favorable coverages which will translate to second tier production.

 

12. Hakeem Nicks, NYG: Nix was the guy everyone assumed would be the #1 receiver in New York last season, but a slow start due to injury allowed Steve Smith to take that title away from him.  Nix showed some flashes of his talent late in the year, but never got the targets his fantasy owners would have liked. He’s more talented than Mario Manningham and I fully expect Nix to take some of Manningham’s targets away from him this season and step right into the Giants’ #2 slot.

 

13. Pierre Garcon, IND: Garcon’s stats for last year really don’t jump off the page at anybody. However, his play in the AFC playoffs certainly does. Snagging 11 balls in the AFC title game is especially eye-popping. Garcon is the second most talented WR on the Colts, and with Manning throwing the ball around he should have no trouble exceeding his numbers from last season.

 

14. Mike Wallace, PIT: 200 lbs and runs a 4.3 40 yard dash? Where do I sign up? Not to mention he averaged over 19 yards per catch last season and really showed he could be a dominant force in this league with impressive outings in his last three games of the season. Wallace may slip down in the draft because he hasn’t produced for a full season, but if you are a risk taker go ahead and fill a few other positions and snag Wallace as your second receiver.

 

15. Santonio Holmes, NYJ: This one was borderline. The suspension means you’ll have to sit on him and play lesser talented guys for the first few weeks. However, he has the talent of a number 1 fantasy receiver, and will undoubtedly fall in drafts in much the same way Brandon Marshall did last year. Don’t expect Marshall-like production, but Holmes could be a huge difference maker for your team as a #2 WR.

 

The Number 3’s

           These are the guys who have the potential to fill your final WR roster spot. Usually this is left for guys who are either streaky, or sleeper picks. One mistake that I often see owners make is trying to play “match-ups” with their 3rd slot. I wouldn’t recommend this, as that is an extremely inexact science, and can be extremely frustrating if the guy you decided to bench ends up having a career day. So for your own mental health, I’d recommend finding a guy and sticking with him.

 

1. Santana Moss, WAS: I think he’ll be the biggest beneficiary of having Donovan McNabb in DC. Moss is a decently talented receiver and is certainly capable of a few big plays this year. McNabb should have an easier time finding him than Jason Campbell did last year. I expect a bounce-back year for Moss.

 

2. Lee Evans, BUF: Evans should carry a sign with him at all times that reads: “Frustrating Fantasy Owners Since 2004.” He has immense talent, but never seems to put it all together. A lot of that blame goes to the substandard quarterback play that has plagued the Bills since Jim Kelly retired. It doesn’t look too much better this year, so don’t expect career numbers from Evans, but he’ll make for a respectable 3rd option in all fantasy leagues.

 

3. Robert Meachem, NO: Meachem is the biggest target Drew Brees has. I think that he’ll be able to assert himself as the #2 option behind Colston in that offense. Even if he ends up the Saints 3rd WR there are enough passes being thrown around in that offense to make fantasy owners happy.

 

4. Steve Breaston, ARI: Breaston will now become the second option in Arizona. He has tons of speed and has accounted for some big plays while with the Cardinals. I just don’t see him being able to catch balls in traffic the way that Anquan Boldin did, and without Kurt Warner’s precision passing, I think Breaston is only worth a 3rd starting spot.

 

5. Antonio Bryant, CIN: Bryant was bothered by knee problems all last year. I think his ’08 numbers were an aberration, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a talented receiver. He can stretch the field, and will provide a nice second option for Carson Palmer. He’s a sold 3rd wide receiver with the potential for big weeks.

 

6. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, SEA: Houshmandzadeh wasn’t as good as people had anticipated he’d be last year in Seattle. He really was always a possession receiver though, and Matt Hasselbeck was starting to lose his touch. Expect possession receiver type numbers out of T.J. and make sure not to draft him just because his name sounds cool.

 

7. Wes Welker, NE: I really wanted to rank him higher, but I just couldn’t. If he’s recovered 100% he’ll grab tons of balls, and will probably see a fair number of scores as well. But I’m not convinced that he’ll be able to come back from that injury so quickly. If he looks healthy in training camp and the preseason (and your league hasn’t drafted yet), move him up to a high number 2 caliber receiver.

 

8. Devin Aromashodu, CHI: This guy may be one of the best sleepers of the season. He showed some serious big play potential at the end of 2009, and with Mike Martz in town I expect Chicago to take plenty of shots down the field. So long as Jay Cutler is throwing the ball to his own receivers this year I expect Aromashodu to have quite a few big plays this year.

 

9. Kenny Britt, TEN: Britt has all the talent to be a solid receiver in the NFL, he just has to prove it to us. I would have ranked him higher, but I’m not a fan of Vince Young. He has issues with the deep ball, meaning Britt isn’t likely to see too many big plays. That keeps him in the realm of the third wide receivers.

 

10. Derrick Mason, BAL: This former Spartan has seemed like an ageless wonder thus far in his career. I think that age will finally catch up to him slightly this season. But fantasy prognosticators have been saying that for the last 3 years, so discount Mason at your own risk.

 

11. Johnny Knox, CHI: I’m not super high on Knox, but he was one of Cutler’s top targets last season, so he should see some looks again this year in Mike Martz’s pass happy offense. He’s ultra-fast, so if he breaks one tackle he could take it to the house. Expect boom or bust production from Knox, but he’s worthy of a look at 3rd receiver.

 

12. Devery Henderson, NO: He’s a talented WR in the Saints offense, need I say more?

 

13. Chaz Schilens, OAK: He’s big, fast, and in limited time last year flashed some good hands. He appears to have the potential to break-out this year, but he still plays for the Raiders, and that isn’t good. Expect a step forward for Schilens, but not a full break-out yet.

 

14. Kevin Walter, HOU: It’s amazing to me that Walter performed so weakly last year in that Texans offense. However, he apparently had a nagging hamstring injury all last year, and that could have caused his decline. If he’s 100% this year I think he’ll see increased production and be worthy of a starting slot on your team.

 

15. Arrelious Benn, TB: Tampa’s receivers aren’t so great, so unless he holds out Benn should be a week 1 starter. I really think Josh Freeman has what it takes to succeed in this league, and will be able to get the ball to Benn on a semi-regular basis. While he won’t single-handedly win you any games he could be a nice sleeper pick.

 

The “Don’t Start Me’s”

           These are the guys I just don’t like, even though a lot of other people do.

 

Devin Hester, CHI: I just don’t like him. I think his talent as a receiver has been inflated due to his talent as a return man. I think he’ll be lost in the shuffle in Chicago with guys like Aromashodu and Knox getting the bulk of the catches.

 

Golden Tate, SEA: He was overrated in college, and whaddaya know? He’s overrated again as a rookie in the NFL. Steer clear unless he proves himself in the regular season.

 

Early Doucet, ARI: He’s going to be the 3rd receiver on a team being helmed by Matt Leinart. Does that sound ugly to anyone else?

 

Braylon Edwards & Jericho Cotchery, NYJ: The Jets are being wildly overrated coming into this season. Edwards can’t hang on to the ball, and Cotchery is too slow to pose any real big play threat. Neither is going to help your team enough to warrant anything more than a bye week replacement selection.

 

Mario Manningham, NYG: I expect a step backward this year for Manningham. He made way too many mental errors, had too many drops last year, and that isn’t going to fly with Tom Coughlin if that continues. If he doesn’t improve those two aspects of his game he’ll start to see his looks decrease. 

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