Who belongs as the top receiver overall? Has A.J. Green emerged as a WR1? Where do sleepers like Demaryius Thomas fall on the rankings? Let’s answer these questions and all the rest as we look at the Top 50 fantasy receivers for the coming season:
- Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions
- Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals
- Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons
- Andre Johnson – Houston Texans
- Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers
- Wes Welker – New England Patriots
- Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants
- A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals
- Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons
- Victor Cruz – New York Giants
- Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers
- Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers
- Brandon Marshall – Chicago Bears
- Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers
- Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys
- Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints
- Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings
- Demaryius Thomas – Denver Broncos
- Vincent Jackson – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans
- Miles Austin – Dallas Cowbys
- DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles
- Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs
- Stevie Johnson – Buffalo Bills
- Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles
- Robert Meachem – San Diego Chargers
- Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers
- Brandon Lloyd – New England Patriots
- Torrey Smith – Baltimore Ravens
- Pierre Garcon – Washington Redskins
- Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts
- Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens
- Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Darrius Heyward-Bey – Oakland Raiders
- Justin Blackmon – Jacksonville Jaguars
- Eric Decker – Denver Broncos
- Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers
- Denarius Moore – Oakland Raiders
- Titus Young – Detroit Lions
- Greg Little – Cleveland Browns
- Sidney Rice – Seattle Seahawks
- Santonio Holmes – New York Jets
- Laurent Robinson – Jacksonville Jaguars
- Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers
- Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints
- Michael Floyd – Arizona Cardinals
- Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans
- Randy Moss – San Francisco 49ers
- Mario Manningham – San Francisco 49ers
- Kendall Wright – Tennessee Titans
Thoughts:
- I love Wes Welker as much as the next guy, but can we ever be sure how many opportunities he’s going to get in a given game? The Patriots have so many other options and appear so intent on getting the ball to their tight ends, it really has to be questioned and pushes him back just a handful of spots (though he’s still an obvious WR1).
- Which Giants’ receiver should be drafted first, Hakeem Nicks or Victor Cruz? Obviously I’d go Nicks, but that’s a debate that we are going to look at in detail in the coming days.
- In his rookie season A.J. Green posted 65 receptions for 1,057 yards and 7 TD. Impressive numbers, and I would fully expect him to be able to improve upon them in 2012. It gets even better when you realize he converted those numbers on just 116 targets (tied for 24th in the league). With experience and more opportunities, Green should perform like a Top 10 option.
- Brandon Marshall is going to be reunited with quarterback Jay Cutler in Chicago this season. Obviously he had continued to produce in Miami, as he’s posted over 1,000 yards in five consecutive seasons, though he’s been doing it with fewer receptions. From 2007-2009 with the Broncos, Marshall posted over 100 receptions and at least 6 TD (including a 10 TD season in 2009). While only ’08 & ’09 came with Cutler at the helm, the fact is that he’s going to have a much better QB throwing him the ball.
- We’ve talked about the Broncos’ wide receiving corps (click here to view) and why I think Demaryius Thomas has the potential to have a monster 2012 campaign with Peyton Manning throwing him the ball. He’s obviously a risk, but when I’d happily take.
- Is Kenny Britt healthy? Can he stay on the field for a full season? Obviously, his health is currently a major question and will have a major impact on his ranking. For now I’m going to leave him, but if it appears he’s not going to be ready for the start of the season (whether it is due to injury or his latest run in with the law) he is going to drop quickly. Consider his spot on these ranking tenuous at best.
- Robert Meachem left New Orleans for San Diego, where he will likely operate as the team’s top receiver. He’s a gamble, because he’s never managed more than 45 receptions or 722 yards (both coming in 2009), but he was also always buried on the depth chart. Things should be much different this season. I wouldn’t take him as more than a WR3, but he has upside for much more.
- Will Reggie Wayne be able to produce with Andrew Luck at the helm? Throw in his age and he’s a WR3 and nothing more.
- Will this be the season that Michael Crabtree finally realizes his potential and emerges as a viable option? It’s hard to predict, especially considering the system, the emergence of Vernon Davis in the playoffs and the additions of Mario Manningham & Randy Moss. That said, the potential is still there so as one of my top reserves I’d be willing to roll the dice.
Make sure to check out our 2012 fantasy football rankings:
I think your rankings are pretty solid, but if there are any players I feel you might be undervaluing, they’d be Jeremy Maclin and Eric Decker.
That’s fair, can’t please everybody :-p
Decker still has a lot to prove, and I’m thinking Demaryius Thomas is the guy to own in Denver. For me, Decker is a low-end WR3 no matter what.
With Maclin, it’s tough. If DeSean Jackson decides to show up, he is going to be the clear top receiver. If not, Maclin could definitely post a monster season.
I would absolutely love to get M. Austin as the 21st WR off the board. That is highway robbery. I have been targeting him in many mocks so far. Needless to say he is way higher on my board. He is still the #1 WR in Dallas in my book.
Sleeper Alert on a WR that did not make the top 50 list above…Jonathan Baldwin K.C. doesn’t exactly have Joe Montana throwing him the rock…getting looks as #1 wideout with Bowe out!