Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings: Top 60 Wide Receivers

Some receivers had huge opening weeks, while others fell flat.  Who will step up and who will continue to struggle?  Let’s take a look at how our wide receiver rankings currently look for Week 2 (these will be updated later in the week if necessary):

1. Andre Johnson - Houston Texans - at Washington
2. Reggie Wayne - Indianapolis Colts - vs. New York Giants
3. Roddy White - Atlanta Falcons - vs. Arizona
4. Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona Cardinals - at Atlanta
5. Miles Austin - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Chicago
6. Brandon Marshall - Miami Dolphins - at Minnesota
7. DeSean Jackson - Philadelphia Eagles - at Detroit
8. Greg Jennings - Green Bay Packers - vs. Buffalo
9. Marques Colston - New Orleans Saints - at San Francisco
10. Chad Ochocinco - Cincinnati Bengals - vs. Baltimore
11. Dwayne Bowe - Kansas City Chiefs - at Cleveland
12. Anquan Boldin - Baltimore Ravens - at Cincinnati
13. Calvin Johnson - Detroit Lions - vs. Philadelphia
14. Steve Smith - Carolina Panthers - vs. Tampa Bay
15. Wes Welker - New England Patriots - at New York Jets
16. Hakeem Nicks - New York Giants - at Indianapolis
17. Randy Moss - New England Patriots - at New York Jets
18. Percy Harvin - Minnesota Vikings - vs. Miami
19. Steve Smith - New York Giants - at Indianapolis
20. Pierre Garcon - Indianapolis Colts - vs. New York Giants
21. Malcolm Floyd - San Diego Chargers - vs. Jacksonville
22. Hines Ward - Pittsburgh Steelers - at Tennessee
23. Terrell Owens - Cincinnati Bengals - vs. Baltimore
24. Michael Crabtree - San Francisco 49ers - vs. New Orleans
25. Donald Driver - Green Bay Packers - vs. Buffalo
26. Mark Clayton - St. Louis Rams - at Oakland
27. Steve Breaston - Arizona Cardinals - at Atlanta
28. Jeremy Maclin - Philadelphia Eagles - at Detroit
29. Braylon Edwards - New York Jets - vs. New England
30. Austin Collie - Indianapolis Colts - vs. New York Giants
31. Mike Wallace - Pittsburgh Steelers - at Tennessee
32. Santana Moss - Washington Redskins - vs. Houston
33. Mohamad Massaquoi - Cleveland Browns - vs. Kansas City
34. Legedu Naanee - San Diego Chargers - vs. Jacksonville
35. Mike Sims-Walker - Jacksonville Jaguars - at San Diego
36. Jacoby Jones - Houston Texans - at Washington
37. Dez Bryant - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Chicago
38. Mike Williams - Seattle Seahawks - at Denver
39. Eddie Royal - Denver Broncos - vs. Seattle
40. Mario Manningham - New York Giants - at Indianapolis
41. Bernard Berrian - Minnesota Vikings - vs. Miami
42. Robert Meachem - New Orleans Saints - at San Francisco
43. Louis Murphy - Oakland Raiders - vs. St. Louis
44. Devin Aromashodu - Chicago Bears - at Dallas
45. Brandon Lloyd - Denver Broncos - vs. Seattle
46. Jerricho Cotchery - New York Jets - vs. New England
47. Chris Chambers - Kansas City Chiefs - at Cleveland
48. Lee Evans - Buffalo Bills - at Green Bay
49. Mike Williams - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - at Carolina
50. Johnny Knox - Chicago Bears - at Dallas
51. Derrick Mason - Baltimore Ravens - at Cincinnati
52. Jabar Gaffney - Denver Broncos - vs. Seattle
53. Nate Washington - Tennessee Titans - vs. Pittsburgh
54. Laurent Robinson - St. Louis Rams - at Oakland
55. Davone Bess - Miami Dolphins - at Minnesota
56. Nate Burleson - Detroit Lions - vs. Philadelphia
57. Kevin Walter - Houston Texans - at Washington
58. Roy Williams - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Chicago
59. Mike Thomas - Jacksonville Jaguars - at San Diego
60. Devery Henderson - New Orleans Saints - at San Francisco

Thoughts:

• Who is the Giants top receiver?  Is it still Steve Smith?  After his three touchdown day in Week 1, it certainly appears that Hakeem Nicks has made up considerable ground.  Both players should have value in all formats, but Nicks’ ability for the big play could make him the better fantasy option.
• There were concerns with Larry Fitzgerald entering the year and his performance in Week 1 didn’t do much to dispel them.  He’s too good to downgrade too far, but a lengthy struggle could lead to a significant drop.  You would think that he and Derek Anderson work this week to improve on their issues (Fitzgerald had three catches despite being targeted 15 times).
• The Cardinals didn’t do a good job of stopping Sam Bradford and now face Roddy White, who opened the year by torching a good Steelers defense for 13 catches and 111 yards.  White certainly seems like a top five option this week, doesn’t he?
• Randy Moss vs. Darrelle Revis…It hurts when your top receiver faces a shutdown corner, doesn’t it?  Considering Wes Welker actually led the Patriots in receptions (eight), yards (64), and touchdowns (two), I would consider him the best Patriots option for this week.
• Matthew Stafford’s injury hurts Calvin Johnson’s potential just a little bit.  He’s still a WR1, but a low-end one for the time being.
• Tampa Bay allowed a weaker passing offense in the Cleveland Browns to throw for 236 yards, including a 41 yard touchdown to Mohamad Massaquoi.  Even with the question marks surrounding the Panthers quarterback play, you have to think that Steve Smith is in line for a solid afternoon in Week 2.
• The entire Vikings offense seemed off in the opening week, perhaps due to a lack of practice time together.  You have to think that the rapport between Percy Harvin and Brett Favre will develop, in time, but for now Harvin is a mid-level WR2.
• The Patriots secondary looked weak, as expected, in Week 1.  However, do you trust Mark Sanchez to exploit it in Week 2?  Unfortunately, I’m not so sure about that, which keeps Jets receivers to third wide receiver status, at best.
• Alex Smith put the ball in the air 45 times, yet Michael Crabtree had just two receptions for 12 yards.  Really?  That certainly is going to dial down all of the hype surrounding him, at least for now.
• After seeing the Broncos passing attack break down the Jaguars passing defense, you have to like the chances of Malcolm Floyd having a big day.
• Michael Sims-Walker was held without a catch in Week 1.  What?!?!  He remains the Jaguars’ top wide receiver, but we’ve said all along that you need to proceed with caution.  He’s a third wide receiver at best until he proves otherwise.
• It certainly didn’t take long for Mark Clayton to gain a rapport with Sam Bradford, picking up 10 catches for 119 yards.  He should continue to be the top receiver for the Rams.
• The Rams allowed Derek Anderson to throw for 297 yards, including 132 to Steve Breaston.  Could a Raiders receiver actually step up and produce in Week 2?  It seems like a long shot, I know, but Louis Murphy would likely be that option.

Make sure to check out the rest of our Week 2 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 20 Tight Ends 
• Top 15 Kickers (coming soon)
• Top 15 Defenses (coming soon)

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