2011 NFL Fantasy Football Week 17: Wide Receivers (WR) Rankings and Projections

Victor Cruz vs. Cowboys

While fellow top receivers like Calvin Johnson, Jordy Nelson and Roddy White could fall victim to a short workweek because their teams are headed for the playoffs, second-year standout Victor Cruz and the Giants will be fighting for their playoff lives on Sunday night against the Cowboys.

While Cruz had a couple of average games against the Cowboys and Redskins in recent weeks, he came back with a huge performance against the Jets totaling 164 yards and a touchdown on a mere three receptions.

Once again, Cruz helped in creating his own luck, as he flashed his trademark reflexes after catching a routine first-down reception, and quickly turned his head and hips up field, positioning himself to break tackles and run down the sideline for a 99-yard touchdown.

As I’ve pointed out repeatedly this year, Cruz’s quick movements can get him in trouble at times as he will turn his body up field (mainly taking his eyes off the football) before he’s hauled the football to his chest. However, the upside of this is his 99-yard touchdown or his first big score of the year against the Eagles in Week 3.

While I’m concerned with some of Cruz’s comments to the media at times, he’s clearly one of the bright young playmakers in football and is a possible low-end WR-1 next summer, if he should secure a starting job opposite Hakeem Nicks.

As for this week, Cruz is a must-start WR-1 and is capable of going off for a huge game at any time. With everything on the line, don’t expect the Giants to take their foot off the peddle until the victory is official.

Please Note – ** means player could receive early rest on final week.

1	Victor Cruz	Cowboys
2	Larry Fitzgerald	Seahawks
3	Mike Wallace	at Browns
4	Steve Smith	at Saints
5	A.J. Green	Ravens
6	Hakeem Nicks	Cowboys
7	Wes Welker	Bills
8	Calvin Johnson**	at Packers
9	Roddy White**	Buccaneers
10	Jordy Nelson**	Lions
11	Brandon Marshall	Jets
12	Julio Jones**	Buccaneers
13	Antonio Brown	at Browns
14	Percy Harvin	Bears
15	Demaryius Thomas	Chiefs
16	Jeremy Maclin	Redskins
17	Torrey Smith	at Bengals
18	Laurent Robinson	at Giants
19	Dez Bryant	at Giants
20	Miles Austin	at Giants
21	Marques Colston**	Panthers
22	Malcom Floyd	at Raiders
23	Dwayne Bowe	at Broncos
24	DeSean Jackson	Redskins
25	Reggie Wayne	at Jaguars
26	Michael Crabtree**	at Rams
27	Darrius Heyward-Bey	Chargers
28	Denarius Moore	Chargers
29	Steve Johnson (I)	at Patriots
30	Mario Manningham (I)	Cowboys
31	Santana Moss	at Eagles
32	Jabar Gaffney	at Eagles
33	Anquan Boldin	at Bengals
34	Nate Washington	at Texans
35	Brandon Lloyd	49ers
36	Santonio Holmes	at Dolphins
37	Plaxico Burress	at Dolphins
38	Vincent Jackson (I)	at Raiders
39	Nate Burleson**	at Packers
40	Early Doucet	Seahawks
41	James Jones	Lions
42	Titus Young	at Packers
43	Donald Driver**	Lions

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