Fantasy Rankings 2008: Wide Receivers

Again, this will shock some people, my rankings always do, but then again, they’re also the reason I take home first place every year haha.

1. Terrell Owens, Cowboys – Owens is first on my list because of the coverages and down year I predict Randy Moss to face and have. The Cowboys still have the most overall talent and balance on offense and, with all the weapons, Owens should still put up huge numbers. Together, Witten and Owens are one of the scariest receiving tandems to try and defend, not to mention their two-headed monster at RB, and Romo’s ability to throw multiple TD passes a game. The opposing defenses having to worry about the run and Jason Witten, Owens will have plenty of opportunity to rack up catches, yards and touchdowns all season.
2. Braylon Edwards, Browns – If last year was any indication of what the Browns’ offense is capable of, add WR Donte Stallworth to the mix and there should certainly be no drop off. With a solid running game, TE Kellen Winslow and WR’s Stallworth and Jurevicius on the other side, Edwards should have a great year. QB Derek Anderson showed that he has arrived and can put up fantasy numbers that rank him among the QB leaders. Edwards is also just a beast, period.
3. Randy Moss, Patriots – Moss will see plenty of bump-and-run coverage with a safety over the top this year. Not to say he didn’t face that last year, because he did, but I think defenses figured out how to perfect covering Moss in the playoffs, and I expect that to continue. However, regardless of the possible drop in catches and yards that I predict for him this season, he still should have a ton of touchdowns. He will always be able to go up and grab that jump ball in the end-zone, no matter how many people will be covering him. I expect his numbers between the 20 yard lines to drop off, but his TD’s to still be there.
4. Reggie Wayne, Colts – With Harrison coming off his injury, and his age, Wayne might actually become the number one threat that opposing defenses try to stop this season. They might double him, and see if Marvin has anything left in the tank to beat them on the other side. However, that doesn’t scare me enough from drafting Wayne. I expect Harrison to be back, a good balance on offense with Addai and Rhodes, TE Dallas Clark to be huge again, and, well, Peyton Manning is still his quarterback.
5. Wes Welker, Patriots – I’ve ranked Welker ahead of Andre Johnson, Steve Smith, Larry Fitzgerald and others because I feel as though Welker is the safest bet out of that bunch to put up similar numbers as last year. I have to rank Moss ahead of Welker because of the possibility that he could put up numbers like last year, but, I actually think Welker will have better stats at the end of the year. You’ve got to take Moss first because of the potential he has, but don’t sleep on Welker. I think he will be the hardest for defenses to try and take away. There just doesn’t seem to be any CB or LB in this league that is shifty enough to stay with Welker in tight spaces. I expect many catches, reasonable yardage, and many touchdowns from Welker this year. As a defense, you’ve got to take away Moss first, which leaves… Wes Welker.

Best of the rest :

·        Andre Johnson, Texans

·        Steve Smith, Panthers

·        Calvin Johnson, Lions

·        Brandon Marshall, Broncos

·        Marvin Harrison, Colts

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