Fantasy Football: Wide-Receiver Rankings

That covers the top of the top. You can see value here through the top-15 or 20. As far as drafting early, it all depends on how your draft is working and if there happens to be a run on a position. With wide receivers, it’s entirely possible to snag better ones early and still be able to fill in with solid time-share backs that can be played based on matchups.

1. Chad Johnson
2. Torry Holt
3. Anquan Boldin
4. Greg Jennings
5. Santonio Holmes

Immediately, you can see the types of names that exist just on the other side of the top 10. Boldin missed four games last season, but didn’t miss a beat on his return. He’ll only help Leinart and Fitzgerald.

Chad Johnson may not be the top guy on his own team, but he produces. Holt will be here until he decides to hang it up. You can’t beat his consistency.

Jennings’ rank largely depends on quarterback. He’s still the primary target from anyone in Green Bay. Santonio Holmes emerged last season, so don’t think he’ll turn back now.

1. Roy Williams
2. Wes Welker
3. Brandon Marshall
4. Hines Ward
5. Roddy White

Many boards will have White higher. I don’t trust Matt Ryan to get him the football. Roy Williams has been ranked behind Wes Welker, and we don’t buy that for a second. Brandon Marshall needs to stay out of trouble.

Welker will be hard-pressed to duplicate last season’s results, but is the secondary target to Moss and a great underneath receiver. Hines Ward is Hines Ward. He’s like Torry Holt, he just produces.

1. Dwayne Bowe
2. Lee Evans
3. Calvin Johnson
4. Santana Moss
5. Laveranues Coles

Dwayne Bowe is going to be a stud. Mark it down. Lee Evans is the only/best target in Buffalo, and the addition of James Hardy will help him see more balls. Johnson proved last season that his college numbers were no fluke.

Moss and Coles start to get to the point where you’re pushing it on numbers. Neither is really justified in being more than a mid-round selection.

1. Marvin Harrison
2. Chris Chambers
3. Donald Driver
4. Kevin Curtis
5. D.J. Hackett

Hackett will see more balls thrown his way with Steve Smith on the other side. Marvin Harrison’s knees and legal problems are a concern, and you have to account for them. Chris Chambers shows glimpses every year of being a top receiver. He just has to put it together.

Kevin Curtis will have a couple huge games, some really bad ones, and the rest will be ok. Donald Driver, even as the older guy, still can catch passes. He’s not as consistent as Holt or Ward, though.

The ‘Table came up with a few other pieces of useful information on receivers that might help you.

• Notice how there are no rookies in the top-30 receivers on this list. Rookie receivers are a gamble. Always remember that and carry it with you in drafts. James Hardy has the potential to be the best of the bunch. Our Rookie Rundown gave those we feel have the most keeper value and value this season.
• We don’t believe in Reggie Brown. Period. He’s talked about every year as being the big-play threat that they hope to have in Philly, and every year something happens. Stop buying it until he proves he can do it. And that means more than one game.
• Donte Stallworth will do well in Cleveland. Understood, he’s been given a myriad of chances, but this seems to be a good fit in a young, but improving, offense.
• These receivers could emerge as big fantasy surprises: Anthony Gonzalez, Vincent Jackson, Bernard Berrian, Jerry Porter (especially with Matt Jones’...ahem…legal issues), James Hardy, and Robert Meachem.
• We don’t trust: Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson, Sidney Rice, Javon Walker, Derrick Mason, and anyone catching passes in Miami.

We’ll be back with more positional breakdowns.

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