Fantasy Football Week 14 Rankings: Top 60 Wide Receivers

How do we react to players coming up empty at the most critical time of the season?  Do we trust players who have struggled or are returning from injuries?  Let’s take a look at how the rankings currently look:

1. Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers – at Detroit
2. DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – at Dallas
3. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – at Tennessee
4. Brandon Lloyd – Denver Broncos – at Arizona
5. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – at Houston
6. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – at Carolina
7. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – at San Diego
8. Terrell Owens – Cincinnati Bengals – at Pittsburgh
9. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – vs. Baltimore
10. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – vs. St. Louis
11. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Denver
12. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at Dallas
13. Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – vs. Miami
14. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – vs. Green Bay
15. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Philadelphia
16. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Cincinnati
17. Steve Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Cleveland
18. Mario Manningham – New York Giants – at Minnesota
19. Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – at Tennessee
20. Sidney Rice – Minnesota Vikings – vs. New York Giants
21. Wes Welker – New England Patriots – at Chicago
22. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Seattle
23. Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Cincinnati
24. Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – vs. New England
25. Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals – at Pittsburgh
26. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Washington
27. Donald Driver – Green Bay Packers – at Detroit
28. Steve Breaston – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Denver
29. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – vs. Tampa Bay
30. Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – vs. Green Bay
31. Deion Branch – New England Patriots – at Chicago
32. Braylon Edwards – New York Jets – vs. Miami
33. Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers – vs. Kansas City
34. Ben Obomanu – Seattle Seahawks – at San Francisco
35. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – vs. New York Giants
36. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – vs. Atlanta
37. Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens – at Houston
38. Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – at New York Jets
39. Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans – vs. Indianapolis
40. Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos – at Arizona
41. Mike Thomas – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Oakland
42. Earl Bennett – Chicago Bears – vs. New England
43. Blair White – Indianapolis Colts – at Tennessee
44. Danny Woodhead – New England Patriots – at Chicago
45. Jabar Gaffney – Denver Broncos – at Arizona
46. Roy Williams – Dallas Cowboys – vs. Philadelphia
47. Robert Meachem – New Orleans Saints – vs. St. Louis
48. Jacoby Ford – Oakland Raiders – at Jacksonville
49. Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Oakland
50. Davone Bess – Miami Dolphins – at New York Jets
51. Anthony Armstrong – Washington Redskins – vs. Tampa Bay
52. Randy Moss – Tennessee Titans – vs. Indianapolis
53. James Jones – Green Bay Packers – at Detroit
54. Lee Evans – Buffalo Bills – vs. Cleveland
55. Jordan Shipley – Cincinnati Bengals – at Pittsburgh
56. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Baltimore Ravens – at Houston
57. Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns – at Buffalo
58. Derek Hagan – New York Giants – at Minnesota
59. Danario Alexander – St. Louis Rams – at New Orleans
60. Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – vs. St. Louis

 Thoughts:

• Dwayne Bowe posted a big, fat goose egg right when fantasy owners needed him most.  Not a good way to endear oneself, is it?  Obviously, don’t write him off.  He was unbelievable the previous seven weeks and was bound to hit a bump in the road sooner or later (though, you wish it wasn’t as big of a bump).  Look for him to rebound this week.
• In a game where fantasy owners did not expect much, Anquan Boldin finally woke up and delivered five receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Now he draws the Houston Texans who have the worst passing defense in the league both by yards (287.4/game) and touchdowns (27).  You have to consider him one of the best options for the coming week.
• While Marques Colston is the top receiver in New Orleans, you certainly would feel a lot better about him if they didn’t have so much depth.  He’s a WR1 against the Rams, but you unfortunately have to temper expectations a bit.
• Until we know if Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith are returning to the Giants lineup, they are going to be left off the rankings.  Check the news to see if anything changes.
• Calvin Johnson versus a Green Bay defense that has allowed just 11 passing TDs on the year…Not a matchup owners have to be pleased with.  He gets downgraded to a WR2, especially with Drew Stanton under center.
• The Jets may have looked bad against the Patriots, but at least Santonio Holmes still managed seven receptions for 72 yards.  He certainly appears to be a great play at this point with at least five receptions in five consecutive games.
• The Dallas Cowboys are not a good passing defense, meaning the Philly tandem of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin could combine for a big day.  Dallas has allowed 25 passing touchdowns, look for Michael Vick to target his receivers early and often.  It actually wouldn’t be a surprise to see this game break down into a shootout (at least Dallas trying to keep up), meaning Miles Austin should benefit greatly with Dez Bryant out with an injury.
• Will Austin Collie return this week?  At this point it doesn’t appear to be so.  That certainly gives Pierre Garcon a bit of a boost once again.
• I know how bad Michael Crabtree has been this season, but with Alex Smith returning to QB and a favorable matchup against the Seahawks, you have to like his chances of putting up a big day.  I’d consider him a WR2 this week and hope for the best.
• John Skelton is rumored to be taking over the Cardinals QB spot, so I would look for him to target Larry Fitzgerald early and often.  He needs to go to the player who can actually make plays, right?
• Kenny Britt is another wide receiver with the potential to return this week.  Unfortunately, until we know for sure it is tough to depend on him.  Even if he plays, would you trust him?  It’s been a while since he played and we just don’t know what to expect from him.  Just keep monitoring the news, just in case something changes.  The sad thing is, I’d rather roll the dice with Britt over playing Randy Moss at this point.
• Brandon Marshall was expected to return in Week 13, but didn’t.  He’s a WR3, at best, this week until he proves otherwise.
• The Panthers Steve Smith has had 54 yards or less in each of the past five games.  Only twice has he had at least five receptions.  It’s a shame that his team has struggled so mightily at the QB position, since it becomes extremely difficult to trust him.  He does have a favorable matchup, so there’s hope, but I’d still rather go with a WR that has earned my fantasy trust.

What are your thoughts on these rankings?  Who's too high?  Who's too low?

Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 14 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Waiver Worthy
• Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM/FOOTBALL