2012 (Early) Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers (WRs)
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Updated as of Tuesday, May 15th
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Scoring: These rankings are based on standard scoring (one point per 10 rushing yards, six points per rushing
touchdown plus one point per ten receiving yards and six points per receiving touchdown) and are for redraft
leagues only.
For point-per-reception (PPR) rankings, click here.
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Detroit's Calvin Johnson had some (very) good seasons going into the 2011 season.
With elite size (6-5, 235 pounds) and athleticism, however, Megatron seemed capable of even more, especially with improved quarterback play. Not only did Matthew Stafford, the top overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, stay healthy for 16 games, he became one of only four quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 5,000-plus yards.
Meanwhile, Johnson blew away his previous career highs. In 2011 (previous highs in parenthesis), Johnson had 96 receptions (78) for a league-high 1,681 yards (1,331) and 16 touchdowns (12).
Only six players in NFL history had more receiving yards in a single season.
Aside from Megatron, the only other player in NFL history to finish with 1,600-plus yards and 16-plus touchdowns in the same season was Randy Moss (2003).
Johnson had a little bit of dryspell from Weeks 10 to 14 -- no 100-yard games and only one touchdown in those five games.
In his next (and final) four games counting the Lions' playoff loss, however, Megatron had three 200-yard games. During that four-game span, he had 36 receptions for 771 yards and six touchdowns! (As a comparison, Tampa Bay's Mike Williams had 771 yards and three touchdowns in the entire season.)
Hands down, Megatron goes into 2012 season as the clear No. 1 fantasy wide receiver and it's not close.
Based on standard scoring (i.e., not point-per-reception (PPR) scoring), here are our 2012 fantasy football wide receiver rankings:
1. Calvin Johnson, Lions
See above.
2. Andre Johnson, Texans
When healthy, Johnson is still elite. That said, Johnson has played a total of only 20 regular-season games in the past two years and missed a total of nine regular-season games during two stints for a hamstring (and aggravation of the) injury last season. Johnson was playing well before the injury (21 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns in his first three games) and in the postseason (13 receptions for 201 yards and a touchdown in two games).
3. Hakeem Nicks, Giants
Even though he set a career high in receiving yards (1,192), his season was a very mild disappointment for some. In addition to seeing his receptions (76) and touchdowns (seven) drop some, Nicks finished second on the team in all categories behind Victor Cruz (82-1,536-9). That said, Nicks is a more talented receiver than Cruz and was tremendous in the postseason with 28 receptions for 444 yards and four touchdowns over four games.
4. Wes Welker, Patriots
Based on data from Pro Football Reference, a player has reached 110-plus receptions 25 times in NFL history. Over the past five years, Patriots slot receiver Wes Welker has done it four of those 25 times. Welker, who was designated with the team's franchise tag, finished with career highs in yards (1,569) and touchdowns (nine) and his 122 receptions was one shy of his previous career high.
5. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
Imagine if Fitzgerald had better quarterback play and a legitimate weapon on the other side of the offense. Well, he'll have to settle for one out of two as the Cards drafted Michael Floyd in the first round. Even with the Cardinals' lack of strong quarterback play, Fitzgerald posted the fourth 1,400-yard campaign of his career. In other words, he's quarterback-proof.
6. Roddy White, Falcons
White has been a model of consistency and of good health. For five consecutive seasons, White has had 80-plus receptions and 1,100-plus yards. In the past two seasons, White has 100-plus receptions. As impressively, White has yet to miss a game in his seven-year NFL career. With all that said, it would seem logical that the gap in targets between White (181) and Julio Jones (96) diminishes in 2012.
7. A.J. Green, Bengals
Receivers A.J. Green and Julio Jones made big splashes in their rookie seasons despite a lack of an offseason to get acclimated to their respective offenses. Green became the first rookie to finish with at least 1,000 yards since Marques Colston did so in 2006. The sky's the limit for Green.
8. Greg Jennings, Packers
With Jennings missing three games last year, he set four-year lows in receptions (67) and receiving yards (949) last year. Not only was Jennings second on the team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns (nine), but he ranked second on the team in receiving yards per game behind Jordy Nelson.
9. Julio Jones, Falcons
Jones had 54 receptions for 959 yards and eight touchdowns, but he missed three games and would have (almost certainly) finished with more than 1,000 yards had he stayed healthy for all 16 games.
10. Victor Cruz, Giants
After not catching a single pass in 2010, Giants receiver Victor Cruz burst onto the scene in Week 3 and finished the season with 1,536 receiving yards, which ranked him third in the NFL behind Megatron and Welker. In addition, that set a franchise record. As noted above, Cruz had more receptions (82), yards (1,536) and touchdowns (nine) than Nicks (76-1,192-7).
11. Jordy Nelson, Packers
Nelson had a huge performance in Super Bowl XLV and seemed poised to break out in 2011 with the only possible barrier being too many talented passcatchers in the Packers offense. Nelson took the next step forward with career and team highs across the board last year: 68 receptions for 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns.
12. Mike Wallace, Steelers
A couple of spots lower in this update, Wallace and the Steelers can find themselves in a bitter contract situation. If the Steelers and Wallace don't agree to a long-term deal, Wallace would play under a restricted free agent (RFA) tender of less than $3 million, but he has expressed his unwillingness to sign that tender any time soon.
13. Brandon Marshall, Bears
Marshall had a five-year low of 81 receptions in 2011, but he has been reunited with quarterback Jay Cutler. When both were in Denver, Marshall had his only three seasons with 100-plus receptions and his only season with double-digit touchdowns.
14. Vincent Jackson, Bucs
In any given week, Jackson can give fantasy owners 30 fantasy points. Or three points. Jackson, who signed with Tampa Bay in the offseason, had four great games last year and 12 less-great games. During his four best games, Jackson had 27 receptions for 586 yards and seven touchdowns. In his other 12 games, he had 33 receptions for 520 yards and two touchdowns.
15. Dez Bryant, Cowboys
From a physical standpoint, Bryant has the tools to be a top-five receiver in the league. On the other hand, he has yet to demonstrate the maturity or mental makeup to make us believe that his path to that lofty status, if he gets there, will be smooth. Fortunately, there is not a lockout this offseason and let's hope he spends more time at Valley Ranch than the NorthPark Center Mall.
16. Percy Harvin, Vikings
Harvin set career highs in receptions (87) and receiving yards (967) and tied his career high in receiving touchdowns (six) last year. Harvin was much better after the bye (56-633-6) than he was before it (31-334-0). From Week 10 to 17, only Atlanta's Roddy White (57) and Welker (56) had as many receptions as Harvin (56). In addition to his receiving stats, Harvin carried the ball 56 times for 345 yards and two touchdowns as well. Depending on the status of Adrian Peterson, who expects to play Week 1, the Vikings offense may rely more heavily on Harvin than usual.
17. Marques Colston, Saints
Assuming that Drew Brees is signed for the start of the season, Colston landed in (returned to) the perfect situation for his fantasy outlook. While it looked likely that he and the Saints would part ways in free agency, Colston's fantasy value is highest within the Saints offense. With the exception of 2008 when he missed five games, Colston has had 1,000-plus yards every season.
18. Miles Austin, Cowboys
Before an injury prevented him from getting into a groove last season, Austin started the season on fire: 14 receptions for 233 yards and four touchdowns against the Jets and 49ers in Weeks 1 and 2.
19. Steve Smith, Panthers
Smith had a bounce-back year and finished with 840 yards more than he had last year. Smith finished the season with 79 receptions for 1,394 yards and seven touchdowns. That said, Smith was much more productive in the eight games before the bye (46-918-4) than he was in the eight games after the bye (33-476-3).
20. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos
In the seven games starting with Week 13, Thomas had 75-plus yards in six games including a 204-yard performance in the playoffs. During that seven-game span, Thomas had 35 receptions for 745 yards and four touchdowns. And that was with Tim Tebow throwing him the ball ...
21. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
When it comes to Eagles receivers, I prefer Maclin over DeSean Jackson. While Jackson has a greater likelihood for a 20-point game, he also has a greater likelihood of having a two-point performance.
22. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
Over the past two seasons, Bowe has had some incredible stretches -- three 100-yard games in a four-game span last year and a more impressive 13 touchdowns in a seven-game span in 2010. Although his touchdown total dropped considerably to five last year, Bowe had 81 receptions for 1,159 yards, both of which were the second-highest totals of his career. Bowe was consistent last year and had 12 games with 60-plus receiving yards. Only Megatron had more (13).
23. Antonio Brown, Steelers
Brown, the team's sixth-round pick in 2010, had a breakout season: 69 receptions for 1,108 yards but only two (receiving) touchdowns. If your league awards points for return yards, Brown ranked fifth in the NFL in kick return average (27.3 yards) and 10th in punt return average (10.8).
24. Kenny Britt, Titans
Before tearing his ACL and MCL in the third game of the season, Britt had back-to-back 100-yard games to begin the year. In those two games, Britt totaled 14 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Although Britt is expected to be ready for the start of the season, he may need to have a second (but minor) procedure on the knee. That said, it usually takes a full season before a player returns back to pre-injury levels, if he does. [See Welker, Wes.]
25. Steve Johnson, Bills
For the second straight season, Johnson ranked in the top 10 in targets and went over the 1,000-yard milestone (although barely this year). Johnson finished the season with 76 receptions, 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns.
Here are the next 45 receivers:
26. DeSean Jackson, Eagles
27. Robert Meachem, Chargers
28. Eric Decker, Broncos
29. Michael Crabtree, 49ers
30. Sidney Rice, Seahawks
31. Malcom Floyd, Chargers
32. Reggie Wayne, Colts
33. Torrey Smith, Ravens
34. Anquan Boldin, Ravens
35. Mike Williams, Buccaneers
36. Denarius Moore, Raiders
37. Pierre Garcon, Redskins
38. Brandon Lloyd, Patriots
39. Santonio Holmes, Jets
40. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders
41. Justin Blackmon, Jaguars
42. Santana Moss, Redskins
43. Laurent Robinson, Jaguars
44. Lance Moore, Saints
45. Titus Young, Lions
46. James Jones, Packers
47. Mario Manningham, 49ers
48. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks
49. Michael Floyd, Cardinals
50. Reuben Randle, Giants
51. Danny Amendola, Rams
52. Nate Burleson, Lions
53. Kendall Wright, Titans
54. Golden Tate, Seahawks
55. Jacoby Ford, Raiders
56. Greg Little, Browns
57. Nate Washington, Titans
58. Randy Moss, 49ers
59. Leonard Hankerson, Redskins
60. Randall Cobb, Packers
61. Deion Branch, Patriots
62. Vincent Brown, Chargers
63. Austin Collie, Colts
64. Earl Bennett, Bears
65. Alshon Jeffery, Bears
66. Brian Quick, Rams
67. David Nelson, Bills
68. Jon Baldwin, Chiefs
69. Jabar Gaffney, Patriots
70. Brandon LaFell, Panthers
More 2012 Rankings: QBs - RBs - TEs
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