Fast, cocky, arrogant, and full of themselves are ways to best describe most NFL wide receivers today. Gone, are the days of guys like Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Steve Largent, Lance Alworth and Art Monk. Today, it's all about making the big play, scoring a touchdown and having the right celebration dance. These might not be the type of players you want on your team, but they're the kind of players you need on your fantasy team. Last year, I was fortunate enough to draft both Terrell Owens and Randy Moss, neither of which I'm fond of, but they were invaluable members of my team. WR's are not critical to succeed in fantasy football, but having good ones can make things a lot easier for you. These are the guys that step up when your running back gets hurt or your QB has a bad game. Here are the Fantasy Factors top 15 wide receivers.
1. Terrell Owens - Since 2000, Owens has been the most consistent producer of fantasy points out of the wide receiver position. Each season, he racks up over 1000 yards and scores over 10 TD's. He's big, he's physical, he's fast, he wants the ball all the time and he actually seems to be pretty happy in Dallas. Owens and Romo have great chemistry and it will continue through this year. With other targets like Patrick Crayton and Jason Witten, plus the fact that they're going to take the leash off Marion Barber this year, this offense appears to be setup for a big year and Owens will be one of the players benefiting the most. Fantasy Factor Projection: 90 catches, 1400 yards, 15 TD's
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
2. Randy Moss - "The Freak" had one of the best seasons in the history of the NFL last year. 98 receptions for 1493 yards and a record setting 23 TD receptions. After having such a great season, there's really only one way to go... down. With Donte Stallworth gone, there will be more attention on Moss this year and he'll see a lot of double coverage. However, even being double covered Moss should still see the ball plenty of times and get his fair share of TD's. So unless his post season was a precursor of things to come... Fantasy Factor Projection: 88 catches, 1300 yards, 13 TD's
3. Larry Fitzgerald - The best wide receiver to ever come out of Pitt, may one day be the best wide receiver in the history of the NFL. In two of his first 4 years in the league, Fitzgerald had over 100 receptions and double digits in TD's. To be that good, that fast, on a mediocre team, is astonishing. From Week Two through Week 14, Fitzgerald had at least 70 yards receiving. In that time he went over 120 yards three times and scored at least one TD in 7 of those games. His average receiving yards per game was above 90. Teams have been trying, since his years at Pitt, to figure out a way to stop him and have been unsuccessful. The only question mark surrounding him is which quarterback will be throwing him passes this year, Matt Leinart or Kurt Warner. I don't think it will really matter. As long as he stays healthy, he'll have another big year. Fantasy Factor Projection: 101 catches, 1500 yards, 14 TD's
4. Marques Colston - After having a stellar rookie season in 2006, Colston got off to a slow start in 2007. He only caught 26 passes in the first 7 weeks of the season, failed to reach the 100 yard mark in any of those games and scored a total of 2 TD's. Then came Week 8 against San Francisco and he was back to form faster than you could say "flash in the pan". Colston caught three touchdowns that week and his season really took off. He had over 90 yards receiving in 7 of his last 10 games and scored at least one touchdown in 5 of them. Needless to say, the man was a catching machine in the second half of the season. This year is shaping up to be a good one for Colston with addition of Jeremy Shockey that should really add to the Saints already potent offense. Fantasy Factor Projection: 102 catches, 1400 yards, 12 TD's
5. Steve Smith - No, not the wide out on the New York Giants. Or the guy down the hall from me in the finance department. I'm talking about the speedy, uncoverable wide receiver of the Carolina Panthers who punched his own teammate in practice. It wasn't one of his better moments and neither was the 2007 season. After starting quarterback Jake the Snake Delhomme was lost for the season, Smith's season went downhill. Aside from a couple big reception / yardage games, Smith only scored 7 TD's and barely reached the 1000 yard mark (1002 yards). He won't score any TD's in his first two games this year either due to suspension. However, there is reason to be optimistic for Smith this year. Delhomme is back from his injury and ready to go, old teammate Muhsin Muhammad is back and the Panthers offense is looking very sharp so far this year. In 2005, he caught over 100 passes and scored 12 TD's and that was during a season when Smith was the only target in the offense. As long as he doesn't go punching any more teammates... Fantasy Factor Projection: 85 catches, 1200 yards, 8 TD's (14 games)
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
6. T.J. Houshmandzadeh - With Chad Johnson hogging the spotlight every chance he gets, the man with the last name that sounds like a question about someone's mother, quietly led the Bengals in receptions and TD's. Each year in the NFL, Houshmandzadeh has gotten better and better and shows no signs of slowing down. Maybe its because they don't want to see Johnson do some outlandish touchdown celebration, but TJ has caught more TD passes in the each of the last two years. Houshmandzadeh is a better receiver, period. If you're faced with the choice between the two, go with the better receiver, not with the better talker. Fantasy Factor Projection: 110 catches, 1300 yards, 15 TD's
7. Andre Johnson - One of the NFL's best kept secrets plays in the black hole known as the Houston Texans franchise. Last season, Johnson caught 60 passes for 851 yards and 8 TD's. That sounds respectable until you see that he only played in 9 games. Playing in the tough AFC South division though, Johnson will get matched up against pretty good teams but as ridiculous as it sounds, that could be a good thing. The Texans will get behind in games and be forced to throw the ball a lot. Johnson could really clean up then. Fantasy Factor Projection: 95 catches, 1400 yards, 12 TD's
8. Braylon Edwards - Last year, Edwards, like a lot of Brownies, had a breakout year last year. The former third overall pick from Michigan is starting to live up to his potential and is doing it in a big way. Last year, Edwards finished second in touchdown receptions with 16. This past off season, the Browns acquired another target for Anderson in Donte Stallworth but I believe he'll stick with his go to guy. Fantasy Factor Projection: 80 catches, 1300 yards, 11 TD's
9. Reggie Wayne - As the future Hall of Famer, Marvin Harrison, slows down, teammate Reggie Wayne has gotten faster and better. With Harrison on the shelf for most of last year, Wayne became Peyton's go to guy. He recorded career highs in receptions, yards and TD's (104, 1510, 10). This year though, with Harrison and Dallas Clark healthy again and Joseph Addai and Anthony Gonzalez in the passing mix, Wayne figures to be getting the ball less. Fantasy Factor Projection: 90 catches, 1200 yards, 11 TD's
10. Jerricho Cotchery - Another ripple effect from the Brett Favre trade is Jerricho Cotchery. Over the past couple years, Jerricho has posted some good numbers despite not really having a good quarterback to throw him the ball. With Favre behind center, he figures to have a career year and in my opinion is a great sleeper. This year, Cotchery will give all his Jerricholics a season they will never EEEEEEEVER forget a-gain! Fantasy Factor Projection: 95 catches, 1400 yards, 10 TD's
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
11. Chad Johnson - Ocho Cinco has been one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL since 2003. He's caught more than 86 passes every year since 2003 and scored between 7-10 TD's in each of those seasons. Johnson has always been a good receiver, but nobody, except himself, has considered him to be a great receiver. CJ may not be one of the best, but he would make a great fit on anyone's fantasy team. Don't listen to the hype though, draft based on numbers and performance, not hype and trash talk. Johnson is a third round pick at best. Fantasy Factor Projection: 90 catches, 1200 yards, 9 TD's
12. Plaxico Burress - Love him or hate him, this past February, everyone outside the Boston area was a BIG Plaxico Burress fan. Plax, unlike a lot of the big name receivers isn't known for catching a lot of passes. In fact, the most receptions he's had in a year is only 78. Plax's ability to make big plays is what makes him so valuable. He's reached around 1000 yards and scored double digit TD's in each of the last two years. Eli and Plax have had great chemistry since they arrived in New York. Burress shouldn't be your first WR, but if he's your second or third you'll be in great shape. Fantasy Factor Projection: 75 catches, 1100 yards, 12 TD's
13. Torry Holt - Despite being part of the Greatest Show on Turf, it wasn't until after those years that Holt really excelled. Every year since 2002, Holt has caught over 90 passes and usually scored around 7-12 TD's. Holt has been slowing down, but not by much. Even without quarterback Marc Bulger for 4 games, Holt still put up nice numbers (93 rec, 1189 yds and 7 TD's). With Steven Action Jackson holding out, its really unclear how the Rams offense will fair this season, but one thing that is for sure, is that Holt will have another solid year and put up good fantasy numbers. Fantasy Factor Projection: 88 catches, 1100 yards, 8 TD's
14. Santonio Holmes - Like Plaxico, Holmes relies on big plays to get the big numbers. Holmes led the NFL in average yards per reception in 2007, but even with the Steelers opening up the offense, he only pulled down 52 passes. If the Steelers continue to open up the offense and let Ben throw more, Holmes could benefit in a big way, which makes him somewhat of a sleeper pick. Odds are the Steelers will run Parker and Mendenhall until their legs fall off, but even if that is the case Holmes still has pretty good fantasy value. Fantasy Factor Projection: 75 catches, 1200 yards, 10 TD's
15. Chris Chambers / Vincent Jackson - After how strong the Chargers passing game finished the postseason, one of these two receivers will have a big year. The question is, which one? Chambers, who was acquired in a trade mid season, didn't get into the flow of the Charger offense until the playoffs. A full year in this offense will be a big boost to his fantasy numbers. Vincent Jackson on the other hand did just as well in the playoffs and is said to be having a great camp. Its really tough to pick just one, but if I had my choice I'd go with Chambers. He's a little more proven than Jackson (82 rec, 1118 yds, 11 TD's in 05) and gets a lot of end zone looks from Rivers. Fantasy Factor Projection: Chambers 80 rec, 1000 yards, 13 TD's, Jackson 65 rec, 900 yards, 7 TD's.
X-Factors:
Brandon Marshall - This Pittsburgh native, finished the 2007 as the hottest receiver in football catching over 10 passes in 3 of his last 4 games with 3 TD's. Big things were expected of Marshall this year, but he showed up to camp looking out of shape and will miss the first three games of the season due to suspension. He has all the physical tools to be a great receiver someday, but his antics make him a risky pick.
(Photo by David Zalubowski)
Marvin Harrison - Typically Marvin would be found in the top 5 of wide receiver rankings, but at age 36 and coming off surgery to both knees, his value is up the in air. With a quarterback like Peyton Manning its hard to imagine Harrison not having, at the very least, a good season. But I wouldn't reach for him in drafts. He'd be great in the third receiver spot and risky in the second.
Anquan Boldin - Like his partner in crime, Larry Fitzgerald, Boldin benefited a lot from the change in quarterback from Leinart to Warner. With the quarterback situation up in the air again and Boldin is unhappy about not getting the contract extension he wanted, his value is really in question right now. If Warner is behind center and Boldin plays hard all season, he should have another great season.
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Posted
Aug 13 2008, 11:22 AM
by
Nick Fruscello