2012 Fantasy Football Rankings Wide Receivers: Whom to Target?

Sometimes when you are drafting it is better to take a player who is ranked a bit lower overall because of the upside or reliability at the position.  There are obvious "no-brainer" picks that should be selected.

Let's start with wide receivers that I will be targeting in my drafts for the 2012 season.

No-brainer selections (in no particular order): Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Roddy White.

Wide receivers to target in the top 25 WR's (in no particular order)

A.J. Green (CIN)

Need reassurance?

In his rookie year he posted 1,000-plus yards and seven TDs while missing some games due to injury. He should stay healthy this year and have no problem posting 1,000-plus yards and near-double-digit TDs.

 I love this pick in dynasty leagues and redraft leagues.  He is a top target for 2012.

Jordy Nelson (GB)

Greg Jennings is coming off a major injury and Nelson showed he is a reliable fantasy option every week.  He will not have as many TDs as last year, but he is an easy fantasy player to produce 1,000-plus yards and double-digit TDs.

Hakeem Nicks (NYG)

If Nicks can stay healthy for the entire year, he will have 1,000-plus yards and near-double-digit touchdowns.  Nicks is an amazing athlete and is easy to draft in 2012.

Wide receivers to target in the bottom WRs (in no particular order)

Torrey Smith (BAL)

He showed what he is capable of at WR last year, becoming Joe Flacco's long-range target.  He had more than 750 yards and seven TDs in 2012.  

He is going to have a huge sophomore year.  I would not doubt that he posts 1,000-plus yards and nearly-double-digit TDs, and he can be drafted much later in your fantasy drafts.

Eric Decker (DEN)

If he can post eight TDs with Tim Tebow, how many more will he have with Peyton Manning?

If you are in a TD-only league and looking for a later-round pick, give Decker a chance and expect him to put up nearly-double-digit TDs while staying healthy all year.

Antonio Brown (PIT)

Brown is a PPR league owner's WR to draft in the later rounds of your draft.  He has explosive after-the-catch ability, and don't be surprised if he outproduces Mike Wallace in PPR leagues.  

His downside is that he doesn't find the end zone as much as I would like.

Need assistance with your 2012 fantasy football drafts?  Check out the Hatty Waiver Wire Guru Draft Guide.