Fantasy Football Rankings 2011: Top 40 Wide Receiver Rankings and Projections

Finding top producing wide receivers is essential for success in standard redraft leagues, as it is in any league format, for that matter. That said, just looking to the top producers last season can get you in trouble. In the end, there is usually a handful of great receiving talents to choose from who have established credentials and the ability to play at that level year after year.

In playing this crazy game for over twenty years now, maybe the best advice I can give you is to look at the top five to ten receivers on our rankings and choose the option you believe in the most.

Dwayne Bowe's Ups and Downs From 2010

Just look at Dwayne Bowe's 2010 season as an example of why you need to have faith that a great talent can get the job done. Bowe probably had one of the greatest seven-game stretches I've ever seen from a receiver a year ago, but in that same season he was a no-show in other stretches.

While Bowe's example is extreme, the point I'm trying to get across to you is that even the best receivers may average around five to seven touches per game. This can lead to stretches in a great season where they will frustrate you by not finding the end-zone or only amassing two or three receptions without big plays down the field.

Now in Bowe's case, his value was a No. 2 receiver, but if you didn't believe he could get the job done, you probably didn't hang with him through his early slow stretch. This can drive you nuts when a star talent has ups and downs, and it's even worse when you lose patience with them.

If you have any doubt that your top receiver won't get the job done from the very moment you draft him, he's not the right option for you, at that point in the draft. Furthermore, I would recommend you look to your first three receivers as options you have confidence in and then if you want to speculate later in the draft, those selections will either help you or find the waiver wire, as you acquire a better option.

Jeremy Maclin Still A Top 25 Receiver

First off, I'm happy to hear Jeremy Maclin's health is trending in the right direction, after all the talk about his problems early in camp. That said, while Maclin will be on the field week one, I still have concerns that it will take him some time to be the receiver we watched last season.

Recent ADP trends have Maclin going as the 25th receiver overall in both standard and ppr redraft results.

As the season moves along, we should see Maclin return to performing at a top-20 level and that would make him a clear WR-2 on your squad. If you're willing to ride through the early portion of the season, Maclin is a nice value pick as you can select him around the seventh or eighth round in ten-team leagues.

2011 Player Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST

1	Calvin Johnson
2	Andre Johnson
3	Hakeem Nicks
4	Roddy White
5	Larry Fitzgerald
6	Greg Jennings
7	Vincent Jackson
8	Dwayne Bowe
9	Mike Wallace
10	Miles Austin
11	Reggie Wayne
12	DeSean Jackson
13	Santonio Holmes
14	Dez Bryant
15	Brandon Lloyd
16	Mike Williams (TB)
17	Wes Welker
18	Brandon Marshall
19	Percy Harvin
20	Anquan Boldin
21	Mario Manningham
22	Austin Collie
23	Steve Johnson
24	Jeremy Maclin
25	Santana Moss
26	Lance Moore
27	Lee Evans
28	Kenny Britt
29	Sidney Rice
30	Marques Colston
31	Steve Smith (Car)
32	A.J. Green
33	Nate Burleson
34	Chad Ochocinco
35	Mike Sims-Walker
36	Malcom Floyd
37	Mike Thomas
38	Plaxico Burress
39	Braylon Edwards
40	Robert Meachem

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