Let’s continue our tour around the NFL by looking at the Top 50 wide receivers for the coming week. How will Miles Austin’s impending return change our outlook of the Dallas Cowboys? Has Mike Williams become a good play once again? How should we value Andre Johnson? Let’s look at these questions and all the rest:
- Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – at New Orleans
- Wes Welker – New England Patriots – vs. Indianapolis
- Victor Cruz –New York Giants – vs. Green Bay
- Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers – at New York Giants
- Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – at Houston
- Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – at Tampa Bay
- Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers – at New York Giants
- Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Dallas
- Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – vs. Oakland
- Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Cincinnati
- Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants – vs. Green Bay
- Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – at Arizona
- Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – vs. Detroit
- Brandon Lloyd – St. Louis Rams – at San Francisco
- Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – at Chicago
- Laurent Robinson – Dallas Cowboys – at Arizona
- A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals – at Pittsburgh
- Vincent Jackson – Seattle Seahawks – at Jacksonville
- Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Cincinnati
- Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Denver
- Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – vs. Atlanta
- Stevie Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Tennessee
- DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – at Seattle
- Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – at Cleveland
- Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons – at Houston
- Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Carolina
- Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – at Buffalo
- Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – at New England
- Mile Austin – Dallas Cowboys – at Arizona
- Deion Branch – New England Patriots – vs. Indianapolis
- Eric Decker – Denver Broncos – at Minnesota
- Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – at Washington
- Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – vs. St. Louis
- Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – vs. New York Jets
- Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – vs. Kansas City
- Plaxico Burress – New York Jets – at Washington
- Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – vs. Detroit
- Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – at New England
- Damian Williams – Tennessee Titans – at Buffalo
- James Jones – Green Bay Packers – at New York Giants
- Riley Cooper – Philadelphia Eagles – at Seattle
- Torrey Smith – Baltimore Ravens – at Cleveland
- Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – at New Orleans
- Darius Heyward-Bey – Oakland Raiders – at Miami
- Earl Bennett – Chicago Bears – vs. Kansas City
- Steve Breaston – Kansas City Chiefs – at Chicago
- Jerome Simpson – Cincinnati Bengals – at Pittsburgh
- Jabar Gaffney – Washington Redskins – vs. New York Jets
- Greg Little – Cleveland Browns – vs. Baltimore
- Devin Hester – Chicago Bears – vs. Kansas City
Thoughts:
- After seeing the New Orleans Saints run roughshod over the Giants defense is there any doubt that Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers can follow suit? Both Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson have got to be considered among the best options for the coming week.
- It’s a near foregone conclusion that the Giants are going to be playing from behind and will need to pass the ball in order to keep up with the Packers. Over his past four games Victor Cruz has averaged 115.0 yards per game. Over his past two games he has picked up 285 yards and 3 TD. With Hakeem Nicks generating a lot of attention, Cruz has stepped up and become the main man inNew York. He has to be considered the superior option and one of the elite in the league against a Packers defense allowing 287.8 passing yards per game. As for Nicks, he’s more of a WR2 at this point.
- With Miles Austin expected to return to the lineup this week you have to wonder how it will affect the performances of Dez Bryant and Laurent Robinson. There should be more than enough balls to go around, at least you would think. Plus, you would think that the Cowboys will take the time to workAustinback into the mix. Robinson, who has scored in five consecutive games (seven touchdowns over that span) should still be considered a viable option against a Cardinals defense allowing 250.2 passing yards per game. However, it may not be long before he’s nothing more than a WR3, so keep that in mind.
- How does the latest loss at quarterback hurt the value of Andre Johnson? Who knows, but it’s hard to consider him more than a WR2 with a rookie quarterback throwing him the ball. Hopefully they prove us wrong, but for now you have to be concerned.
- After Stevie Johnson put on a show against Darrelle Revis and the New York Jets (8 receptions for 75 yards and 1 TD) how can you not consider him a WR2 this week? Obviously we don’t want to ignore the previous two weeks (a total of 4 receptions for 24 yards), but we all know he’s better than that.
- Vincent Jackson continues to be all or nothing for fantasy owners. When he’s good he’s unbelievable (four games with at least 100 yards and 1 TD). Unfortunately, in the other seven games his high is 63 yards and he hasn’t scored. He has a tough matchup against a Jaguars defense that is allowing just 183.4 passing yards per game (and just 13 TD), making him more of a low-end WR2.
- DeSean Jackson keeps working against himself, but the Eagles clearly need him to produce. Don’t shy away from him as a low-end WR2, but he clearly has become someone that is tough to trust. If you have more trustworthy options you will want to consider them. He was benched last week and there is no reason to think that Andy Reid won’t sit him down again.
- Over his past two games Mike Williams has posted 13 receptions for 167 yards and 2 TD. Is anyone still ignoring him? It took a long time to get going, but he is finally showing what made him a highly sought after selection heading into the season. He should be considered a borderline WR2 for the coming week, and by the fantasy playoffs could entrench himself as a must play option.
- Welcome back to viability Reggie Wayne! He exploded in Week 12 for 5 receptions, 122 yards and 1 TD. Taking on the porous Patriots pass defense, it’s hard not to like him as a WR3 for the coming week.
- Who is actually the better Jets receiving option? Plaxico Burress has 34 receptions for 479 yards and 7 TD vs. Santonio Holmes’ 37 receptions for 494 yards and 5 TD. Its close, but neither should really be getting you excited. Consider them nothing more than WR3s, at best.
***** Attention Fantasy Baseball Players! Pre-order the Rotoprofessor 2012 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, complete with updates from January through the start of the season, for just $6! To place your order click here. *****
Make sure to check out all of our Week 13 articles:
Professor,
A short preface: This is my first season doing fantasy football (and overall just paying attention to the sport), so I’m VERY unfamiliar with many of the players. That being said:
Why is Doug Baldwin not ranked? On ESPN he is projected for 19 points, while Earl Bennett (the player I dropped for Baldwin) was at around 11 points.
PPR league, btw.
Thanks, my sport is baseball, but I’m proud of my 7-6 record in football!
Eddy
Confused?? You have David Nelson in your waiver worthy but then not listed in your top 50? Also: I have Cruz, Marshall, Robinson, Wallace, Nelson- pick 3. Also on waivers is Damien Williams, Reggie Wayne, Gaffney, Little- any worthy??
David nelson should get more respect.
he puts up solid safe numbers every week.
Adn seems to find a way to score most often than not. He is much safer than reggie wayne, nate wash. and others in top 35.
It’s time to admit that the Dez Bryant experiment has failed. Bryant couldn’t even capitalize on Miles Austin being out, Romo doesn’t even trust Bryant to run the right routes, and keeps going to Laurent Robinson.
Why are you putting Laurent Robinson so low on the list. And why is he lower than Bryant, when he has outplayed him (and outscored him) at every instance?
Please don’t tell me once Austin comes back, Robinson will be stuck on the bench. That’s false, Romo has learned to trust him more than either Bryant or Miles.
is it time to drop Super Mario? I could use the spot to handcuff Rice with Williams. Manningham is my fifth wr as I have V. Jax,Harvin,Antonio Brown and Santana Moss. I do use a wr as flex so most times I need 3. since this is a 12 team money league Waivers are slim pickings.being in first hurts my waiver pickup chances…
Thanks
still – would rather be in first than have first waivers….
OK, let’s take these one at a time:
Eddy – With Sidney Rice now officially out for the season, I could see Baldwin coming in these rankings, but he’s not going to be a top option. The Seahawks have inconsistent QB play and while the Eagles’ defense isn’t at full strength, it’s far from a given Baldwin excels. I wouldn’t consider him more than a WR3. (btw, I’d be proud also and make sure to also check out the ongoing baseball coverage!)
Cara – Will wrote the Waiver Worthy, so there is always the chance for a little difference of opinion. You are stocked at WR, so it doesn’t really affect you anyways though! Cruz & Marshall are locks for the Top 2 spots. As of now, I’d go with Wallace as the third (depending on what happens in Dallas).
Hill – It is a fair point and Robinson’s targets have been up the past two weeks. I wouldn’t have a problem if you wanted to switch Robinson and Bryant’s spots on the rankings. Especially with the news that came out that Bryant would be returning punts, that probably makes a lot of sense (plus Austin not yet practicing). Still, Austin’s return does run the risk of diminishing Robinson’s value. It’s something we will look at even closer as Sunday approaches.
Muddy Cleats – I could see dropping Manningham, especially since I don’t see him jumping over three of the receivers you have in any given week. It is a risk, though, but having a handcuff at this time of year is not a bad option.
Riley Cooper as a flex play over McKnight/D Brown/D Baldwin?
I could see going with Brown, but it really is a toss up. Cooper scares me a little bit (which I will touch on in much more detail in the morning), which is why I’d lean towards the RB.
Need help with 2nd RB and flex this week (again) … non-ppr – need 1 rb and 1 flex from the following: Darren Sproles/Brandon Jacobs/Antonio Brown … Thanks
Sproles and Brown. There’s still a chance Bradshaw plays and, even if he doesn’t, Jacobs hasn’t shown nearly enough to justify using him.
Beanie or reggie bush, non PPR league….?
I’d go with Bush this week
Do you think Julio Jones is good start this week?..I have Lance moore starting over him right now just cause of the weeks he has had. I’m in first place and I don’t want to miss out if JJ has a big week. My starters at WR are Lance Moore, Nate Washington and Plaxico. What should I do?
I got Wallace, Holmes, williams (ten), Baldwin, heyward bey, and little
PPR league 10 point bonus for 100 yards… Which two should I play???
BLC – I actually think Jones is the best option you have for the coming week (though all four players you have are extremely close). I’d probably go with Jones, Washington & Plaxico, though. I’m going to be posting a Quick Hit on Moore later today, but he just doesn’t get enough opportunities to produce, making him a major risk on a weekly basis.
Austin D – I would go Wallace & either Holmes or Williams (they are extremely close). I am probably leaning slightly towards Holmes, but Williams is quickly gaining steam (I am actually posting a piece on him this afternoon as well).