Fantasy Football Rankings 2012: Low-Profile WRs Worth a Draft Day Investment

The wide receiver position is arguably the deepest it's been in years heading into 2012; which is exactly why fantasy football owners shouldn't invest early in the biggest names.

Guys like Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson are in a class all their own at WR, that is true. However, it's much better strategy to grab your stud quarterback and running back before turning attention to the pass-catchers.

Here's a look at some names owners won't have to burn early-round picks on, but can still produce quality numbers for their team.

1. Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys

Austin is coming off a 2011 season where he was on and off the sideline with injuries and posted his lowest receiving yards total since 2008. While last year's fantasy owners must remember the frustration he caused them quite well, because of that down season he's now available at a discounted price.

In Yahoo leagues, Austin is currently being drafted around the 38th-39th pick, which is just a few spots ahead of a far less proven receiver in Demaryius Thomas. The Dallas receiver should be ready to go by Week 1 against the New York Giants and his chemistry with quarterback Tony Romo is well documented.

Before the disappointing and injury-plagued season, Austin had two straight years with over 1,000 receiving yards and has posted 18 touchdowns over that time span. He even managed to score seven touchdowns last year despite playing in just 10 games.

Don't be scared away from Austin based on 2011 and enjoy the benefits of that decision.

2. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are not exactly the Saints when it comes to their passing game, but it's no secret running back Adrian Peterson is hurt and Harvin is their best receiver.

The bad news with being the only receiving threat for opposing defenses to worry about is the whole double-coverage thing, but the Vikes will throw the ball and he's their best option to catch it.

With Christian Ponder as his quarterback in 2011, Harvin posted the best NFL season of his career. His six touchdowns tied his career-best in 2009 and the 967 yards marked the first time Harvin reached the 900 mark during his three years in the NFL.

Another thing to consider is that Minnesota plays the Bears, Packers and Lions twice each. No offense to Vikings fans, but that means this team is going to be behind more often than not and thus will have to abandon the running game quite a few times.

Garbage-time touchdowns and receptions might not make Harvin himself happy, but his owners will enjoy them.

3. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs

This low ranking maybe due to the fact Bowe recently signed his franchise tender on Aug. 17, but ESPN's ranking of the Chiefs' No. 1 receiver among players at his position is just too low.

Players such as Marques Colston and Brandon Lloyd received higher rankings, while Yahoo users are selecting him on average 11 picks after Thomas.

He has posted two straight seasons of over 1,000 receiving yards and had 15 touchdowns back in 2010.

Now 2011 saw the TDs dwindle down to just five, but that could be due to the heart of the Kansas City offense and Jamaal Charles' injury that kept him out almost all of that season.

Charles has now had a full year to recover from his injury however and the Chiefs got him an insurance policy in Peyton Hills during the offseason. That one-two punch at running back could be deadly if both rushers return to their old form.

That result could lessen the amount of throws by quarterback Matt Cassel, but it also takes pressure off the passing game. With defenses forced to key in on Charles and Hillis, Bowe should be able to return to his old form as well.