Fantasy Football 2012: Unproven WRs to Watch in Week 1

Unproven can mean a lot of different things as the 2012 NFL season approaches.

It's a word that can apply to a rookie who has yet to prove his worth in a regular season game. It also can apply to players who haven't yet proven themselves on new teams, or players returning from injuries, or players who haven't quite lived up to expectations in their careers.

Here's a look at some of the unproven wide receivers you should keep an eye on in Week 1, just in case they explode.

Brandon Lloyd (New England)
vs. Titans

The Patriots' group of wide receivers left a lot to be desired toward the end of last season, as evidenced by their lackluster performance in the Super Bowl.

Enter Brandon Lloyd. The Patriots signed him to a three-year, $12 million deal in March, marking the most significant move New England would make in the offseason.

Last year, tight end Rob Gronkowski became one of Tom Brady's primary targets, but other than he and Wes Welker, the Patriots don't have a lot veteran talent to make Brady look good. Especially now that the Patriots have parted ways with Deion Branch, Donte Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney, Welker and Lloyd figure to be the top two guys.

As a member of the Broncos, Lloyd proved to be a game-changer. Let's see if he can do the same thing with the Patriots, right off the bat.

Justin Blackmon (Jacksonville)
vs. Atlanta

Blackmon was the most highly-touted receiver in this year's draft, and on Sunday against the Falcons, he'll have his first opportunity to show us why.

There's no doubt that Blackmon was a standout at Oklahoma State. In the last two years, he compiled 3,304 yards and 38 touchdowns and, unlike many of the other wide receiver prospects on this year's draft board, he showcased the speed and the hands to suggest he has what it takes to be successful at the next level.

Without Maurice Jones-Drew fully back in the mix, the wideouts figure to play a big part in Jacksonville's season opener—or at least bigger than usual. Blackmon, who's listed first on the Jaguars' depth chart, has a chance to open with a big statement. 

Randy Moss (San Francisco)
vs. Green Bay

Moss has proven plenty throughout the course of his career, and nobody can possibly say that he wasn't, at various points, one of the top receivers in the league.

What we don't know is how missing the entire 2011 season is going to affect him as 2012 begins.

Moss is now 35 years old, and it's hard to believe he's as fast or as agile was he once was. But he still can create huge matchup problems for opposing defenses because of his height, and even at his slowest, he's still fast enough to compete.

There are a lot of variables that will factor into Moss' success (or lack thereof) with the 49ers, including his commitment to the team and his relationship with Alex Smith. Sunday should be a good indicator of where he stands, and of what kind of numbers he's capable of putting up this season.