Week Eight Rankings: Updated Top 40 WR

Injuries have definitely had an effect on our original wide receiver rankings, so let’s take a look at how things currently stand as we move closer to Sunday:

1. Reggie Wayne - Indianapolis Colts - vs. San Francisco
2. Vincent Jackson - San Diego Chargers - vs. Oakland
3. Marques Colston - New Orleans Saints - vs. Atlanta
4. Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona Cardinals - vs. Carolina
5. Mike Sims-Walker - Jacksonville Jaguars - at Tennessee
6. Calvin Johnson - Detroit Lions - vs. St. Louis
7. Andre Johnson - Houston Texans - at Buffalo
8. Roddy White - Atlanta Falcons - at New Orleans
9. Donald Driver - Green Bay Packers - vs. Minnesota
10. DeSean Jackson - Philadelphia Eagles - vs. New York Giants
11. Miles Austin - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Seattle
12. Brandon Marshall - Denver Broncos - at Baltimore
13. Steve Smith - Carolina Panthers - at Arizona
14. Sidney Rice - Minnesota Vikings - at Green Bay
15. T.J. Houshmandzadeh - Seattle Seahawks - at Dallas
16. Derrick Mason - Baltimore Ravens - vs. Denver
17. Steve Smith - New York Giants - at Philadelphia
18. Anquan Boldin - Arizona Cardinals - vs. Carolina
19. Johnny Knox - Chicago Bears - vs. Cleveland
20. Torry Holt - Jacksonville Jaguars - at Tennessee
21. Greg Jennings - Green Bay Packers - vs. Minnesota
22. Nate Burleson - Seattle Seahawks - at Dallas
23. Braylon Edwards - New York Jets - vs. Miami
24. Austin Collie - Indianapolis Colts - vs. San Francisco
25. Mario Manningham - New York Giants - at Philadelphia
26. Devin Hester - Chicago Bears - vs. Cleveland
27. Donnie Avery - St. Louis Rams - at Detroit
28. Jeremy Maclin - Philadelphia Eagles - vs. New York Giants
29. Lee Evans - Buffalo Bills - vs. Houston
30. Jerricho Cotchery - New York Jets - vs. Miami
31. Steve Breaston - Arizona Cardinals - vs. Carolina
32. Percy Harvin - Minnesota Vikings - at Green Bay
33. Terrell Owens - Buffalo Bills - vs. Houston
34. Mohamed Massaquoi - Cleveland Browns - at Chicago
35. Eddie Royal - Denver Broncos - at Baltimore
36. Kenny Britt - Tennessee Titans - vs. Jacksonville
37. Kevin Walter - Houston Texans - at Buffalo
38. Roy Williams - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Seattle
39. Mark Clayton - Baltimore Ravens - vs. Denver
40. Hakeem Nicks - New York Giants - at Philadelphia

Thoughts

• Jerricho Cotchery is practicing and appears primed to play this week. With the Dolphins starting two rookie cornerbacks now, he is actually a very good play as a WR3 in all formats. Of course, this is barring any type of last minute setback, so make sure to continue to monitor his status.
• Muhsin Muhammad drops off the rankings completely due to missing practice both Wednesday & Thursday with a knee injury. Darin Gantt of The Herald (click here  for the article) has reported that Dwayne Jarrett “looks more likely than ever to get increased opportunities in the passing game, if not the start Sunday at Arizona.”
• The news at this point has Anquan Boldin healthy enough to start and therefore he needs to be moved up above Steve Breston (as well as a few other receivers). He’s among the top receivers in the game when healthy, though that’s stating the obvious. In turn, with Breaston also hurting, he fell quite a few spots as well.
• While Reggie Wayne is expected to play, he is a bit banged up. Throw in Anthony Gonzalez being out and it would appear Austin Collie has an opportunity to have a very big week, moving him up a handful of spots.
• Nate Washington apparently got hit with a quad injury, forcing him to miss practice on Thursday. The news drops him out of the rankings now as his ability to play on Sunday is certainly in doubt. Make sure to monitor the news, but with a group of similar receivers, even if he is out there he is no guarantee to produce.
• Both Kevin Walter and Hakeem Nicks, who were not on the original rankings, have been added to the mix.
• It appears Calvin Johnson is going to play on Sunday, though it is in question as he is banged up. Just monitor the news over the next few days to be sure.

Original Thoughts

• Larry Fitzgerald is the best receiver in the game, but he has a tough match-up with one of the best passing defenses in the game.  That knocks him down a few spots on this week’s rankings.
• The Tennessee Titans are a team that has been burned by the pass quite often, giving up a league leading 17 TDs through the air.  That should make for a strong game for Sims-Walker, who has really emerged as a top wide receiver this season.
• Will Calvin Johnson play?  That’s the only question in determining where his value sits.
• Could this be the week that the Panthers Steve Smith finally steps up and make an impact?  The Cardinals are among the worst defenses in stopping the pass, so if there is ever going to be a week for it, this seems to be the one.
• The injury concerns cause Steve Breaston to be ranked above Anquan Boldin early on this week (despite his performance against the Giants on Sunday night).  If that lasts or not is going to depend on if Boldin appears primed to play.
• A week after racking up six receptions for 176 yards, Sidney Rice picked up 11 catches for 136 yards.  There is no question who Brett Favre’s go to guy is and he should continue to put up strong performances, especially with Bernard Berrian hurting (which has caused him to be excluded from the rankings).
• No matter what Jay Cutler and the Bears receivers have accomplished this season, there are still people who just do not buy into their passing game.  Facing off with the weak passing defense of the Arizona Cardinals should allow Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and the rest to put up a strong showing.
• If Avery is healthy, he’s going to be the main target of Marc Bulger and the Rams offense.  That makes him a good play as a WR3.
• Will Jerricho Cotchery be able to play this week?  Even if he does, you have to be slightly concerned regarding what he’s going to be able to give to you.  He’s still usable as a WR3, depending on your other options, but he clearly is a risky option.  Keep up with the news on him as the week continues.
• Terrell Owens?  Maybe?  Possibly?  Sooner it’s going to happen, so why not against the Texans, a middle of the road passing defense?
• The Titans are a team that appears to not have one go to receiver, with Nate Washington, Kenny Britt and Justin Gage all getting looks.  Washington, however, has scored three TDs, giving him the edge in these rankings over the other two.  The truth, however, is that any of the three could emerge in any given week, but taking on the Jaguars they all have potential upside.

What are your thoughts?  Who was left off the list?  Who should be higher?  Who should be lower?

Other Week Eight Rankings:

• Quarterbacks  (Updated Oct. 30)
• Running Backs  (Updated Oct. 29)
• Tight Ends
• Kickers
• Defenses

This article is also featured on www.rotoprofessor.com/football