Fantasy Football 2013: Why Detriot Lions Calvin Johnson Must Be 1st WR Drafted

Calvin Johnson is Megatron. 

That should be enough to make the superstar the first wide receiver taken off the board in most fantasy football leagues. 

But owners have their suspicions. 

He might be unreliable as he is all hype. It is impossible for the same player to lead all wide receivers in fantasy points in back-to-back seasons.

He is going to get injured. I’d rather draft a younger wideout such as A.J. Green or Dez Bryant. 

Don’t buy into this.

Johnson is far and away the best fantasy receiver in the NFL today. 

Could he get hurt or have a down year? 

Yes, but so could Brandon Marshall or Julio Jones or whichever other player you were thinking of drafting besides the best one available. 

Johnson is the best bet, the safest selection. 

I wouldn’t draft any other wide receiver in the first round. But I would spend a late first-round pick on the Detroit Lion. 

He’s the only wide receiver to hang with the quarterbacks and running backs in fantasy rankings, and he is far and away the best pass-catcher in the entire NFL, real or fantasy. 

Johnson broke the single-season receiving yards record last year. He did it on a terrible team as the Lions went 4-12. He did it with an average quarterback; Matt Stafford had a 79.8 quarterback rating (26th in the NFL). He did it with horrific injuries.  

But the bottom line is that he did it. 

Johnson was far and away the best receiver in fantasy football last season, and he is back to reclaim his throne. 

He is a physical specimen and an absolute bully to opposing defenses. Megatron is 6’5” and 236 pounds. There are very few cornerbacks able to slow him down, let alone fully stop him. 

He’s as tough as they get and only a freak injury will sideline him. The superstar has played in all 16 games for the past three years straight. He is the safest bet at a position where nothing is guaranteed. 

Additionally, the Lions have no running game to speak of. Detroit was 23rd in the NFL in 2012 when it came to rushing yards. The team will feature new addition Reggie Bush, who always is surrounded by question marks, and Mikel Leshoure, who absolutely disappointed last season. It is safe to say that Johnson will get the ball a lot. 

When he has the ball, he is an ultimate force. You would want him on your team. 

If 2012 (or 2011, or 2010) was any indication, then the most dominant player at his position is only going to get better. 

You should definitely consider selecting Calvin Johnson in the first round of your draft. 

After all, he is the best fantasy wide receiver in the league. 

If you want to talk more fantasy or marvel at Megatron, then leave a comment below or follow me @realsovenbery!