Super Bowl XLVI Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings

Here are the Lester’s Legends Super Bowl XLVI fantasy football wide receiver rankings.

He wasn’t the main factor last week, but Hakeem Nicks still has been the biggest wide receiver beast of the 2011-12 NFL playoffs with an insane 335 yards and four TDs. He presents one heck of a matchup problem for the Patriots, who have been susceptible to the passing game all year long.

Wes Welker could and probably should have caught 15-20 passes the last time these two teams squared off in the Super Bowl. The Giants had no answer for him. The same scenario played out in Week 9 when Welker caught nine passes for 136 yards and a touchdown. The Giants should focus on Gronk and Hernandez, which would allow Welker to pick them apart with precision.

Victor Cruz is the biggest game-breaker. He had seven games (including playoffs) with at least 119 yards and five with at least 142 yards. He “only” had 91 yards in the first meeting, though Nicks missed that game.

Mario Manningham is the Giants’ version of Aaron Hernandez. You can’t shut down three players so when you focus on Gronk and Welker or Nicks and Cruz, someone (Manningham or Hernandez) becomes a nice target for a smart quarterback that knows to take what the defense gives him. Manningham has scored in all three playoff games.

Deion Branch has Brady’s confidence, but he is often an afterthought. If Gronk is limited or knocked out early, Branch could see more looks.

Julian Edelman is more likely to do damage returning a kick than in the passing game.

Also check out:

• Super Bowl XLVI Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVI Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVI Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVI Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• Super Bowl XLVI  Fantasy Football K Rankings