2011 Fantasy Football Composite Staff Rankings: Wide Receiver

by mahoney1213 on Aug 10, 2011 3:58 PM EDT in 2011 Fantasy Football Position Rankings

Wide Receiver is a tricky position to rank. Whereas the Running Back controls his own fate, the WR has to rely on his QB to get him the ball as much as possible. Things get tricky if teams are battling in close games and want to grind out the clock with the running game, or if the WR's Stud Quarterback injures himself, thus diminishing the number of targets. We've seen first-hand what happens when a QB goes down: Check out Carolina's Steve Smith's recent decline as evidence. All in all, though, talent simply wins out. The big boys will get their share of targets, double-team or not (Calvin Johnson circa 2010).

As usual, rankings after the jump compiled by the best of the best: TJ Mahoney (mahoney1213), Evan Levine (eklevine), Scott Kaliska (dukeallstar) and Kenny Stein (Humbled Fan).

If you're looking for other rankings, check out Fantasy Rundown, which provides rankings from other sources on the internet.

		TM	EL	SK	KS
1	Andre Johnson, Texans	2	2	1	3
2	Calvin Johnson, Lions	1	3	3	2
3	Roddy White, Falcons	6	1	2	1
4	Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals	3	4	10	4
5	Mike Wallace, Steelers	4	5	5	11
6	Hakeem Nicks, Giants	5	7	4	10
7	Greg Jennings, Packers	12	6	6	7
8	DeSean Jackson, Eagles	9	10	7	9
9	Reggie Wayne, Colts	11	8	8	8
10	Miles Austin, Cowboys	7	9	13	12
11	Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs	14	13	9	5
12	Marques Colston, Saints	15	14	15	13
13	Vincent Jackson, Chargers	8	11	11	30
14	Brandon Lloyd, Broncos	25	17	18	6
15	Santonio Holmes, Jets	13	15	21	18
16	Mike Williams, Bucs	20	19	12	16
17	Jeremy Maclin, Eagles	19	12	17	23
18	Dez Bryant, Cowboys	16	18	19	21
19	Percy Harvin, Vikings	17	25	26	15
20	Steve Johnson, Bills	24	20	25	14
21	Chad Ochocinco, Patriots	21	24	20	19
22	Brandon Marshall, Dolphins	10	16	14	-
23	Wes Welker, Patriots	23	22	24	26
24	Anquan Boldin, Ravens	26	26	27	20
25	Sidney Rice, Seahawks	29	23	23	31
26	Kenny Britt, Titans	18	30	16	-
27	Mario Manningham, Giants	27	21	-	17
28	Austin Collie, Colts	22	29	22	-
29	Santana Moss, Redskins	30	-	31	24
30	Johnny Knox, Bears	-	-	30	22
31	Steve Smith, Panthers	28	27	-	-
32	Braylon Edwards, 49ers	-	31	-	27
33	A.J. Green, Bengals	31	-	-	28
34	Mike Thomas, Jaguars	-	-	-	29
35	Mike Sims-Walker, Rams	32	32	-	-
36	Michael Crabtree, 49ers	-	-	-	25
37	Plaxico Burress, Jets	-	28	-	-
38	Pierre Garcon, Colts	-	-	29	-
39	Julio Jones, Falcons	-	-	-	32
40	Jacoby Ford, Raiders	-	-	32	-

My 2 Cents: This position is where things get tricky. It was a neck and neck battle for supremacy between the two Johnsons. Andre ultimately won out over Calvin, but barely. If Schaub and Stafford stay healthy, then Calvin and Andre will both dominate; however, that is a major IF, especially in Stafford's case. People can argue about Larry Fitz in the top 5, but with Kolb at the helm, Larry will get his. Check out his stats last year with the likes of me and you throwing the ball to him. Roddy White may lose targets to Julio Jones, and Mike Wallace needs to capitalize on his dominant 2010 second half, but otherwise the top 6 looks great. As shown by our own ranks above, you can go in just about any direction from that point on. It seems to be a matter of personal preference.

Even in non-PPR Leagues, it is extremely beneficial to draft a Tier-1 WR. This enables you to build around your reliable WR1 with starters at the other positions, and you can take a flier on the other WR's. It's extremely difficult to pick and choose mid-level WR's as starters weekly because it's tough to determine who will break out any given week. Drafting a top WR eliminates this risk. Helpful RB's fly off the waiver wire each year more so than WR's do.

Love it? Hate it? Let us know in the comments.

Poll

Which WR does NOT belong in the top 40 above?

Johnny Knox, Bears

62 votes

Michael Crabtree, 49ers

42 votes

A.J. Green, Bengals

26 votes

Julio Jones, Falcons

19 votes

149 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Scott

You seem to be the outlier with Fitz, what makes you so down on him? Is Kolb? Losing Breaston? Some combo of those and other things?

by revans on Aug 10, 2011 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

Fitz

I like Fitzgerald but this early in preseason, I have some doubts so bumped him down.

My reasons are a combination of Kolb and losing Breaston. Yes, his QB’s were not as good as Kolb and he still performed quite well last season. We seem to be forgetting though that Kolb has not shown that he can stay healthy and then the Cards let Breaston walk. With him on the other side, the defense had to account for both of them. We need to see what defenses are going to do now that Andre Roberts may be the other starting WR.

It’s early so Fitzgerald may move up higher on my WR rankings

by dukeallstar on Aug 12, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Also

How would the top teir change in a PPR league?

by revans on Aug 10, 2011 4:53 PM EDT reply actions

PPR

I’m assuming you’re talking about this sentence: “Even in non-PPR Leagues, it is extremely beneficial to draft a Tier-1 WR.”

I think you misconstrued the words as I’m saying in standard leagues, I think it’s a huge advantage over your opponents if you draft a # 1 WR. This way you’re not reaching for points at the WR Position hoping for a huge week out of questionable players.

In PPR Leagues, Wide Receivers as a whole move up in rankings since there’s some sort of scoring for each reception, whether it be 1/2 point or 1 point.

In both leagues, it’s almost necessary to draft a stud WR. At least I will be doing so in 2011.

Thomas J. Mahoney
RVJ for Life
Follow Me! @TJMFakeTeams

by mahoney1213 on Aug 10, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn't mean in that sentance

I meant that I think that for me WR rankings are different for PPR leagues and standard leagues, so how would the best recievers rank for you for PPR leagues (would Calvin Johnson’s relatively few receptions hurt him enought to knock him from his current spot?, does PPR make Nicks more valuable compared to other recievers, etc)

by revans on Aug 10, 2011 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I rank with PPR in mind. I think all good leagues should be PPR.

I won my league last year with Roddy White, Calvin Johnson as my core.

It’s a big difference.

follow @casetines

by Kenneth Arthur on Aug 10, 2011 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I apologize

PPR leagues see guys like Davone Bess and Wes Welker ranked much higher because they catch a lot of balls but may not score much.
I wouldn’t knock Megatron in PPR because he caught those balls from 3 different QBs last year. The sky is the limit if Stafford stays heAlthy.

Thomas J. Mahoney
RVJ for Life
Follow Me! @TJMFakeTeams

by mahoney1213 on Aug 10, 2011 8:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

PPR Top Tier

It would probably look like this, as Mike Wallace gets a slight downgrade (until he shows that he is not a D-Jax Clone), while Larry Fitz gets a huge bump:

1. AJ
2. Fitzgerald
3. Calvin Johnson
4. Roddy White
5. Hakeem Nicks

Followed by
6. Brandon Marshall
7. Reggie Wayne
8. Mike Wallace
9. Miles Austin
10. Wes Welker / Greg Jennings

Welker receives a HUGE bump in PPR Formats as he’s a PPR Monster when healthy. Otherwise the top WR’s move up or down slightly.

Thomas J. Mahoney
RVJ for Life
Follow Me! @TJMFakeTeams

by mahoney1213 on Aug 11, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Wow

Interesting with Marshall at 6. Do you think he’s going to wind up with a better QB situation?

by revans on Aug 11, 2011 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

When Ranking PPR Receivers, I base a lot on Targets

Marshall finished 5th in the league in Targets last year behind Roddy White, LArry Fitz, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Lloyd.

Marshall has been a target hound in 2007-2009, finishing 1st, 1st, and 5th, respectively in each of those seasons. People keep forgetting he had over 100 receptions in those seasons. I understand Chad Henne is a downgrade from Jay Cutler, but he has a new Offensive Coordinator this season that is catering to Henne’s strengths.

I LOVE Marshall this season, especially in PPR.

Thomas J. Mahoney
RVJ for Life
Follow Me! @TJMFakeTeams

by mahoney1213 on Aug 12, 2011 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions

AJ green is going to be a dud.

The Jruth shall be told.

by packimop on Aug 10, 2011 5:51 PM EDT reply actions

Long term, I love his chances. Not this year.

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room!

by KeepItCopacetic on Aug 14, 2011 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Green

easy. I’m not certain on him to begin with, but the qb situation is a killer.

by PrincetonCubs on Aug 10, 2011 5:52 PM EDT reply actions

33 is not that high to begin with. Talent-wise, I would have him in the top 30. But with Andy Dalton and company, and this being his rookie season, I just have him as a "really good late flier"

But I wouldn’t overpay for him either. A decent WR3, but a much more solid WR4.

follow @casetines

by Kenneth Arthur on Aug 10, 2011 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Hope the lions do better this year.

Just think this is a young and up coming team. Like stafford and Johnson and pettigrew. Drafted well with D this year so look for them to do better this year if stafford can stay healthy,

by Jt Malley on Aug 10, 2011 7:50 PM EDT reply actions

Dane Sazenbacher

is looking to take Johnny Knox’s job.

by bezeerk on Aug 11, 2011 3:49 AM EDT reply actions

I saw that yesterday.

That’s part of the reason why I threw Knox on that poll.

I can;t believe the Bears think Roy WIlliams is a better option than Johnny Knox.

Thomas J. Mahoney
RVJ for Life
Follow Me! @TJMFakeTeams

by mahoney1213 on Aug 11, 2011 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Marques Colston

I hate to say this as he is one of my favorite players in the NFL, but Colston is headed for a disappointing year.

I didn’t want to move him down the ranks, but this knee issue is really becoming a big problem for him. He hasn’t practiced all week. It’s the same issue (microfracture surgery) that new Eagle Steve Smith has, and he’s probably not going to play until mid-season.

I think it’s time to move him out of the top 20.

Thomas J. Mahoney
RVJ for Life
Follow Me! @TJMFakeTeams

by mahoney1213 on Aug 11, 2011 8:50 AM EDT reply actions

Totally Agree

Way too much risk. He’s just outside the top 30 for me.

Wayne is another guy I’m significantly down on compared to others. He looked to have lost a step last year and Peyton’s injury is starting to scare me. Too much risk to be a top 10 WR.

by YouthofToday on Aug 11, 2011 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions