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.
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