Fantasy Football Week 13 Rankings: Top 50 Wide Receivers

Let’s continue our look around the league and try to determine which wide receivers are worth playing this week, and who may be better off left on your bench:

1. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – vs. Indianapolis
2. A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals – at San Diego
3. Demaryius Thomas – Denver Broncos – vs. Tampa Bay
4. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Philadelphia
5. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – at Tennessee
6. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – vs. New Orleans
7. Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons – vs. New Orleans
8. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – at Washington
9. Marques Colston – New Orleans – at Atlanta
10. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – at Detroit
11. Victor Cruz – New York Giants – at Washington
12. Vincent Jackson – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Denver
13. Eric Decker – Denver Broncos – vs. Tampa Bay
14. Brandon Marshall – Chicago Bears – vs. Seattle
15. Randall Cobb – Green Bay Packers – vs. Minnesota
16. Cecil Shorts – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Buffalo
17. Pierre Garcon – Washington Redskins – vs. New York Giants
18. Wes Welker – New England Patriots – at Miami
19. Danario Alexander – San Diego Chargers – vs. Cincinnati
20. Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers – vs. Minnesota
21. Steve Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Jacksonville
22. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – at Kansas City
23. T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts – at Detroit
24. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Philadelphia
25. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – at New York Jets
26. Justin Blackmon – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Buffalo
27. Josh Gordon – Cleveland Browns – at Oakland
28. Denarius Moore – Oakland Raiders – vs. Cleveland
29. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at Dallas
30. Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – at Atlanta
31. Torrey Smith – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Pittsburgh
32. Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers – vs. Cincinnati
33. Brian Hartline – Miami Dolphins – vs. New England
34. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Baltimore
35. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – at St. Louis
36. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Carolina
37. Golden Tate – Seattle Seahawks – at Chicago
38. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – vs. New York Giants
39. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Denver
40. Brandon Lafell – Carolina Panthers – at Kansas City
41. Mohamed Sanu – Cincinnati Bengals – at San Diego
42. Julian Edelman – New England Patriots – at Miami
43. Ryan Broyles – Detroit Lions – vs. Indianapolis
44. Danny Amendola – St. Louis Rams – vs. San Francisco
45. Davone Bess – Miami Dolphins – vs. New England
46. James Jones – Green Bay Packers – vs. Minnesota
47. Darrius Heyward-Bey – Oakland Raiders – vs. Cleveland
48. Sidney Rice – Seattle Seahawks – at Chicago
49. Chris Givens – St. Louis Rams – vs. San Francisco
50. Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans – vs. Houston

Thoughts:

• A.J. Green has been the better player overall this season, but Calvin Johnson has come alive over the past four weeks.  In fact, he has outperformed Green with 32 receptions for 619 yards and three touchdowns vs. Green’s 23 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns.  The truth is, picking between the two is really splitting hairs.  At this point, the hotter player deserves to be sitting atop the rankings.
• Would anyone be surprised to see tonight’s Saints-Falcons game breakdown into a shootout?  With the Saints allowing nearly 300 passing yards per game, as well as 22 TD, it’s easy to imagine both Julio Jones and Roddy White posting gaudy numbers.  However, the debate between which will be the better option could suppress both of their values.
• Hakeem Nicks finally appears to be healthy, or at least getting there.  It’s easy to imagine him fully breaking out against the Redskins, isn’t it?
• It has been a good stretch for Brandon Marshall, posting 31 receptions for 342 yards and four touchdowns over his past four games.  The question is, can he find the end zone against a Seahawks defense that has allowed just 10 passing touchdowns this season?  Throw in the fact that they give up little yardage (200.7 yards per game) and there would be cause for concern.  If the Seahawks cornerback duo had been suspended for the game, as originally expected, things would be different.  With the current word being that appeals will keep them on the field, Marshall drops down to WR2 status.
• While Greg Jennings is expected back this week, I wouldn’t suddenly push him up towards the top of the rankings so quickly.  The Packers have numerous other options at their disposal and you would think Jennings would be eased back into the mix.  Think of him more like a WR3, at best, and probably someone best served to have on your bench.
• It didn’t take Pierre Garcon long to look healthy and on point with Robert Griffin III, did it?
• I know Steve Smith hasn’t done too much recently, and has scored just one touchdown this season.  That being said, the Kansas City Chiefs have allowed 22 passing TD on the year and it finally appears like Cam Newton is finding his way.  As a WR2, you have to like Smith’s potential to produce for you this week.
• It’s looking more and more like another week of Charlie Batch quarterbacking for the Steelers (though that could be changing, and quickly).  Mike Wallace owners can all grumble and leave him on their bench unless Ben Roethlisberger ultimately does play.
• Will Danny Amendola be more than a decoy this week?  We’ll have to monitor the news to see, but for now I would be extremely cautious with him.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 13 rankings:

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