(Updated) 2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers (WRs)
The NFL pre-season gets underway a month from Thursday (Hall of Fame game between Cowboys and Bengals).
Over the next month, we will release our rankings keeper rankings, point-per-reception (PPR) rankings and our top 150 cheat sheets as well as in-depth player analysis and projections. For now, here is our updated list of the top 50 wide receivers for fantasy football:
1. Andre Johnson, Texans: For me, this is (still) a no-brainer. Johnson, who was the third overall pick in 2003, has posted back-to-back 100-reception, 1,500-yard seasons.
2. Calvin Johnson, Lions: After a stellar sophomore campaign (78-1331-12), MegaTron battled nagging injuries in 2009 and even missed two games. Provided he stays healthy, the sky is the limit for this gifted athlete.
3. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals: Over the past three seasons, Fitzgerald has caught a combined 293 passes for 3,932 yards and 35 touchdowns. But it's an understatement to say Matt Leinart (or Derek Anderson) is a downgrade from Kurt Warner, who retired this off-season.
4. Randy Moss, Patriots: All five of his 100-yard games came in the first nine weeks and his attitude and motivation were questioned by some down the stretch. But he has scored 47 touchdowns over the past three seasons. It's hard to question that production.
5. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins: Marshall has had 100+ receptions and 1,100+ yards for three consecutive seasons. With a fat new contract, the random temper tantrum seems unlikely. For now.
6. Reggie Wayne, Colts: Only three players (two receivers) finished the season with at least 100 receptions, 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. If you own Wayne, hope for a few Colts' early-season losses so Wayne plays more than a half in your fantasy championship game.
7. Roddy White, Falcons: Only Andre Johnson (171) had more targets than did White (165) in 2009. In the past three seasons, White has been consistent: 83, 88 and 85 receptions as well as 1,202, 1,382 and 1,153 yards, respectively. Even better, he set a career-high in TDs (11) in 2009.
8. Miles Austin, Cowboys: The list? Andre Johnson and Wes Welker. The topic? Receivers who had more yards than Austin in 2009. The addition of rookie Dez Bryant, who was drafted by the Cowboys in the first round, will take away some targets for Austin in 2010. If it's any consolation (more so for Austin in real life than for you as his fantasy owner), his new girlfriend is Kim Kardashian.
9. Sidney Rice, Vikings: A waiver-wire pick-up for many last year, Rice had more receiving yards than all but three receivers in 2009. Assuming a Favre return, Rice should have another monster season in 2010.
10. DeSean Jackson, Eagles: Despite his size, Jackson is one of most explosive big-play receivers in the league. He ranked second in yards (18.5) per reception and first in the league in receptions of 40 yards or more (10).
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11. Greg Jennings, Packers: From weeks 4-14, Jennings had only one 100-yard game. In his final four games (counting playoffs), Jennings had three 100-yard games.
12. Marques Colston, Saints: Colston is the best receiver in the league's most explosive offense (31.9 points and 403.8 yards per game). Quarterback Drew Brees spreads the ball around, however, as Colston had less than five receptions in half of his games, which can easily frustrate a fantasy owner.
13. Anquan Boldin, Ravens: The physical receiver should be a perfect fit into his new offense as he settles in as the Ravens' No. 1 receiver.
14. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals: Ochocinco bounced back in 2009 with 72 receptions for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns. However, quarterback Carson Palmer threw for only 1,262 yards, seven TDs and six interceptions in the final eight games of 2010. Ochocinco's splits: 1st half (44-639-5) vs 2nd half (28-408-4). Coincidence?
15. Michael Crabtree, 49ers: Despite being the second receiver drafted in 2009, Crabtree led all rookies in receiving yards (56.8) per game. Plus, he had four (or more) receptions in nine of his 11 games played. Imagine if he had attended training camp and learned the whole offense. He will this off-season.
16. Steve Smith, Panthers: Although Smith had a down year in 2009, he posted better stats with Matt Moore (not Jake Delhomme) under center. Smith, who broke his arm playing flag football, expects to be ready for the start of the season.
17. Steve Smith, Giants: Smith finished fourth in the NFL in targets (157) in 2009 and set career highs in receptions (107), yards (1,220) and TDs (seven). Smith had four (or more) receptions 15 times and at least 40 yards receiving every week.
18. Hines Ward, Steelers: Ward, who said he will retire if he wins a third Super Bowl this year, had 95 receptions (tied for second-most in his career) and 1,167 (second-most) last season.
19. Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars: MSW's strong start (minus a missed game due to a missed curfew for a bootie call) was followed up with an equally weak ending to his second season. In his final six games, Sims-Walker had only 16 receptions for 175 yards and one touchdown (or 3.8 fantasy points per game during that stretch).
20. Hakeem Nicks, Giants: Of rookies, only Michael Crabtree (56.8 yards per game) averaged more receiving yards per game than Nicks (56.4 ypg). Only Austin Collie caught more TDs (seven). And only Mike Wallace had more 40-yard catches (six) than Nicks.
21. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs: Despite a down (suspension-shortened) season, Bowe had 995 and 1,022 in his previous (first) two NFL seasons. Bowe says that "the offense has been clicking like crazy" during off-season workouts.
22. Wes Welker, Patriots: Despite missing two games, Welker led the NFL in receptions (123) and finished second in receiving yards (1,348). Welker's 2010 fantasy value will largely be determined by how quickly and fully he returns from off-season ACL surgery. So far, Welker is "happy" with the progress of his rehab.
23. Vincent Jackson, Chargers: Three-game suspension + Possible holdout through 10 games = Downgrade on list to 23rd. Despite putting up career numbers (68-1167-9), his uncertainty knocks him down (plus Phillip Rivers in the Fantasy QB rankings) and boosts the value of Malcom Floyd.
24. Donald Driver, Packers: Although he just turned 35 in February, Driver had his sixth consecutive season with at least 70 receptions and 1,000 yards in 2009.
25. Santonio Holmes, Jets: After a breakout campaign (79-1248-5) in 2009, Holmes will serve a four-game suspension in 2010 and moves to a run-first offense with a second-year (but developing) quarterback.
26. Derrick Mason, Ravens: With Boldin in the mix, it's hard to envision Mason finishing 13th in the league in targets (like he did in 2009). But he finished with 1,000+ yards for the third consecutive year and for the eighth time in the past nine seasons.
27. Percy Harvin, Vikings: Harvin, the Vikings' first-round pick in 2009, led rookie receivers in receiving yards (790) and was tied for second in touchdowns (six).
28. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles: After a solid rookie campaign (55-762-4), Maclin should continue to develop in 2010.
29. Mike Wallace, Steelers: Wallace, a big-play receiver who led the NFL in yards (19.4) per reception, will see an expanded role within the offense now that Santonio Holmes is now playing football in Jersey.
30. Pierre Garcon, Colts: Garcon led NFL receivers with 21 post-season receptions for 251 yards and two touchdowns.
31. Devin Aromashodu, Bears: In the final five games of the season, Aromashodu ranked 15th in the NFL in targets (41). And he caught 22 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns in the final four games of the season. Even though Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are the named starters, I expect Aromashodu to be the most productive.
32. Nate Burleson, Lions: As the Lions' No. 2 receiver across from MegaTron, Burleson will mostly see single coverage. In 13 games last year, he finished with 812 yards and 62.5 yards per game average would have projected to 1,000 yards flat over a 16-game season.
33. Robert Meachem, Saints: Meachem needs to be more consistent, but the former first-round pick had a second-half split of 32-426-6 despite disappearing in the post-season (4-25-0).
34. Steve Breaston, Cardinals: With Anquan Boldin out for a few games in 2008, Breaston finished that season with 77 receptions for 1,006 yards. Although Breaston will have an expanded role in 2010, the team lost Kurt Warner to retirement.
35. Santana Moss, Redskins: In the past two seasons with Jason Campbell as quarterback, Moss has caught 149 passes for 1,946 yards. With the off-season upgrade at quarterback, the fourth 1,000-yard season of his career is within his reach.
36. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seahawks: Although he finished with 79 receptions (tied for 13th in the NFL), Houshmandzadeh finished with only 911 yards and three touchdowns. He has set a "minimum" goal of catching 100 passes in 2010.
37. Dez Bryant, Cowboys: Although Roy Williams says there "ain't no such thing as me sitting on the bench," Bryant will be the team's second-most productive fantasy receiver. Even cornerback Mike Jenkins says that he will be a "big-time receiver" someday.
38. Malcom Floyd, Chargers: Floyd had his best game of the season in his last one (nine catches for 140 yards) and his second half (32 catches for 496 yards) was considerably better than his first half (13 catches for 280 yards). With the suspesion (and possible holdout) of Vincent Jackson, Floyd should see a bump in targets.
39. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos: Due to his alma mater, size and athleticism, Thomas has been compared to Calvin Johnson. While that may be an unfair comparison, the first-receiver drafted should begin his NFL career as his team's No. 1 receiver.
40. Kenny Britt, Titans: Britt is a big (6-foot-3, 218 pounds), athletic receiver and should continue to improve in his second season. But his off-season of dropping passes and showing to the Titans' workout program out of shape has earned him the nickname "Question Mark."
41. Austin Collie, Colts: Collie tied Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin for the lead among rookies in receptions (60) and no rookie receiver had more touchdowns (seven) than Collie.
42. Braylon Edwards, Jets: In 2007, Edwards had a breakout year (80-1289-16). In the two seasons since then, Edwards has combined stats of only 100 receptions for 1,553 yards and seven touchdowns.
43. Antonio Bryant, Bengals: Injuries set back Bryant in 2009 (39-600-4 in 13 games) after a career-year (83-1,248-7) in 2008.
44. Chris Chambers, Chiefs: In the final eight games of the season, Chambers finished with 33 receptions for 538 yards and two touchdowns. While Chambers had a 119-yard game while Dwayne Bowe was suspended, he also had a 114-yard game when Bowe returned from suspension.
45. Davone Bess, Dolphins: As the "anti-Lee Evans," Bess caught three (or more) passes in every single game. That said, Bess only scored two touchdowns in 2009. Bess could see less targets in 2010 with the addition of Brandon Marshall as he competes with Greg Camarillo and Brian Hartline for reps.
46. Lee Evans, Bills: In half of his games, Evans had two or less receptions. In half of his games, Evans had 35 yards or less. No thanks. You can have him.
47. Jerricho Cotchery, Jets: Cotchery was the favorite target of Mark Sanchez in 2009. That's likely to change when Santonio Holmes comes off suspension. In either case, Cotchery posted four-year lows in receptions (57) and yards (821) in 2009.
48. Julian Edelman, Patriots: In the three games that Welker missed (counting the last game when he tore his ACL), Edelman had 21 receptions for 221 yards.
49. Roy Williams, Cowboys: Despite his seven touchdowns, 68 receivers had more receptions and 55 receivers had more yards than Williams. Then again, he's shown us a 1,310-yard season (2006), too.
50. Johnny Knox, Bears: Mike Martz likes fast receivers. Knox, who has been one of the starters (with Devin Hester) in the off-season, is a very fast receiver. In other words, there is the potential for a significant bump from his rookie numbers (45-527-5).
Also, check out our other 2010 Fantasy Football rankings: Top 25 QBs | Top 40 RBs | Top 20 TEs
