Fantasy Football 2012 Week 2 Rankings: Top 50 Wide Receivers

There are a few injury concerns (like Jeremy Maclin and Greg Jennings) that need to be balanced.  What about how Kenny Britt should be valued in his return to the lineup.  You also have to consider how the Week 1 disappointments are able to rebound this week.

Let’s try to put it all together for our Week 2 rankings:

1. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – at San Francisco
2. Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Denver
3. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – at Jacksonville
4. Brandon Marshall – Chicago Bears – at Green Bay
5. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – at New England
6. Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers – vs. Chicago
7. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – vs. New Orleans
8. Victor Cruz – New York Giants – vs. Tampa Bay
9. A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. Cleveland
10. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Denver
11. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – at Indianapolis
12. Demaryius Thomas – Denver Broncos – at Atlanta
13. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – vs. Tampa Bay
14. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – at Seattle
15. Pierre Garcon – Washington Nationals – at St. Louis
16. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Minnesota
17. Stevie Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Kansas City
18. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. New York Jets
19. Wes Welker – New England Patriots – vs. Arizona
20. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – at Carolina
21. Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. New York Jets
22. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – at Seattle
23. Brandon Lloyd – New England Patriots – vs. Arizona
24. Torrey Smith – Baltimore Ravens – at Philadelphia
25. DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Baltimore
26. Eric Decker – Denver Broncos – at Atlanta
27. Vincent Jackson – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at New York Giants
28. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – at Buffalo
29. Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers – vs. Tennessee
30. Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – at Carolina
31. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Baltimore
32. James Jones – Green Bay Packers – vs. Chicago
33. Danny Amendola – St. Louis Rams – vs. Washington
34. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – at Philadelphia
35. Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – at San Diego
36. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Detroit
37. Darrius Heyward-Bey – Oakland Raiders – at Miami
38. Justin Blackmon – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Houston
39. Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – at Pittsburgh
40. Kevin Ogletree – Dallas Cowboys – at Seattle
41. Brandon LaFell – Carolina Panthers – vs. New Orleans
42. Randy Moss – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Detroit
43. Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans – at San Diego
44. Alshon Jeffery – Chicago Bears – at Green Bay
45. Greg Little – Cleveland Browns – at Cincinnati
46. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at New York Giants
47. Sidney Rice – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Dallas
48. Stephen Hill – New York Jets – at Pittsburgh
49. Randall Cobb – Green Bay Packers – vs. Chicago
50. Titus Young – Detroit Lions – at San Francisco

Thoughts:

• Will today’s Bears-Packers game turn into a shootout?  Whether it does or it doesn’t, we all know that Brandon Marshall is going to get ample opportunities to produce.  While the Packers only allowed 191 passing yards in Week 1, they allowed 191 yards to Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers…The Bears are a much more potent passing team, and Marshall has to be considered a top-5 option for Week 2.
• The Giants passing attack was not what we expected in Week 1.  Taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I wouldn’t expect a repeat in Week 2.  While Victor Cruz gets the slight edge in the rankings due to the injury concerns of Hakeem Nicks, both are must-use options in all formats (barring a change in the news).  I would expect them to both have big bounce back performances.
• A.J. Green had a lot of hype heading into the season, so you know many owners were disappointed when he “only” had 5 receptions for 70 yards in the opening game.  Don’t get discouraged, he should be in for a good performance against the Browns.
• Assuming Pierre Garcon is healthy, how could we not consider him nearly a WR1 for the coming week?  His rapport with Robert Griffin III was obvious and there is no reason to think the Rams, who allowed 346 passing yards in Week 1, will be able to slow down the duo.
• Reggie Wayne was targeted 18 times last week.  While he’s not going to be targeted quite that many times on a weekly basis, there’s no reason to think that he’s going to have ample opportunities to produce.  He’s not the player he once was, but he still is a solid WR2.
• While a matchup with the Jets is normally a reason to avoid a wide receiver, what happens if Darrelle Revis doesn’t play?  There’s a very real possibility that happens, thanks to Revis’ concussion.  That makes both Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown highly recommended options.
• I know I recently said that I would consider selling high on Wes Welker (click here for the article).  I also know that Brandon Lloyd received more targets in Week 1 and that Welker was an extreme disappointment.  That said, would it really surprise anyone if Tom Brady went out and made a concerted effort to get Welker involved early and often?  I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a huge game.
• With Jeremy Maclin hurting DeSean Jackson should be the focus of the passing game this week.  While it is a tough draw, and he needs Michael Vick to right the ship, I certainly wouldn’t shy away from Jackson (or Maclin for that matter, if healthy) in three receiver formats.
• Fantasy owners are going to want to be cautious with Kenny Britt, as he is going to be eased back into the offense.  However, this will likely be the last week that he’s only a questionable option.
• While Kevin Ogletree wasn’t a well-known name entering the year, he broke out in prime time in Week 1.  Can we really expect him to match that type of performance?  Of course not, but while there are numerous other options in the offense we all saw Laurent Robinson flourish in the role last season.  As a third receiver, he’s well worth considering.
• Greg Little should be the top receiver in Cleveland, but until he develops a rapport with Brandon Weeden and avoids the drops, it is impossible to trust him.

Make sure to check out our Week 2 rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 25 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Defenses