Wide Receivers are so much trickier to predict year in and year out. I find that I have more success drafting the potentials in the middle rounds rather than the top 10. Building a fantasy team is as much luck as it is knowledge when it comes to drafting good receivers. Will the Quarterback be productive? Do they have a good pass blocking O-line? Do they have a running game that the opposing defense must respect? Will the star receiver be double-teamed? And if so, how much will the #2 and #3 guys benefit? Too many things to calculate the actual potential of a receiver. 1. Randy Moss (Minnesota) - I feel like picking Randy as my #1 is almost a cop out, but let's face it, no one in the league can play at his level. Minnesota added Marcus Robinson in the off-season and has a great running game. Culpepper is always a threat to run as well making Moss almost impossible to double-cover every play. The only downside to Moss is his questionable work ethic and the lingering foot injury. I wouldn't stop me from drafting him, but it could certainly cause problems as the season goes on. 2. Marvin Harrison (Indianapolis) - When will this guy have a down year? Or will he just be productive until he retires? He started out a little slow last season, but made up for it in a big way as the season progressed. Harrison isn't as big or as fast as Moss, but runs better routes and has a better repoire with his Quarterback. One of these seasons, he will ruin someone's fantasy team, but it won't be this year. 3. Torry Holt (St. Louis) - Holt finally broke out last season and looked unstoppable. He hadn't had more than 5 TD's previously and ended that streak by scoring over 10 last season. There's only one reason he may not repeat and that would be the inconsisancy of Marc Bulger. But even if Bulger plays poorly, Holt will get his catches and TD's. He's got great speed and soft hands and knows how to get open. Playing Arizona and San Francisco twice won't hurt either. 4. Hines Ward (Pittsburgh) - Hines is the consumate physical receiver. He can block better than any receiver in the league and plays bigger than his 6'1" stature. He's confident and smart on the field and has a great repoire with Tommy Maddox as almost all of Maddox's short yardage conversions were to Hines. Even though Burress had a down year, he's still good enough to keep Ward from being double-covered. Randle El should also help open the passing game up freeing Ward at times. Expect another 100 catch, 1200 yard, 10+ TD season from Ward. 5. Chad Johnson (Cincinnati) - Most early predictions for Johnson this season aren't so great. But I say why not? This guy has all the physical skills to be a great receiver in the NFL for a long time. Carson Palmer may struggle at times, but he'll find Johnson often enough to make him a fantasy star.You can't deny great players from being involved in the offense. Even if the Quarterback doesn't have a great season, the receiver can still be productive. He will be rated a bit high for most of you, but I think he'll be just fine. 6. Terrell Owens (Philadelphia) - Booo! Hissss! I know most of you hate TO with the excption of E4L, DAWK, and nflfan, but he is a very good receiver with an amazing physical presence. I can't imagine Pinkston outshining Owens in this offense. I would be surprised if McNabb isn't throwing the ball to Owens 70% of the time ore maybe even more. Opportunity alone makes Owens a top 10 pick, not to mention his great physical skills. (We'll just leave the fact that he drops too many balls out of the equation.) He should make up for the drops by the amount of sheer opportunities he will have. 7. Joe Horn (New Orleans) - It feels like over the last few seasons, people have been expecting Stallworth to step up and take away from Joe Horn. It hasn't happened yet and I think it will be at least one more season until it does. Joe slipped a bit last season, but I think he returns to form again this year. If you remember, he had some nagging injuries for almost the whole season. A healthy Horn will be a productive Horn. 8. Derrick Mason (Tennessee) - Here's another player that will be forgotten on draft day. He almost always is, but he is usually very consistant and very productive. As Steve McNair's favorite target, it's hard to ignore Mason in the top 10. With Tennessee's running game struggling, Mason could come away with a career year. Let's just say, it will be interesting to see if Calico or Bennett will push Mason for more receptions. 9. Koren Robinson (Seattle) - I guess you could argue that Darrell Jackson deserves to be here over Robinson. But let's face it, Robinson has more potential, is faster, bigger, and younger. His potential is almost unlimited. He won't see double teams this season. Hopefully he'll be over his case of the dropsees.... 10. Laveranues Coles (Washington) - I'm looking for a bounce back year from Coles. Hopefully Brunell will get the passing game on target. I didn't really think it was Ramsey's fault as much as a bad O-line, but either way I'm thinking Coles is due for a big year. The addition of Portis should help take pressure off of the passing game as well.
chad jonson is a good reciever but i dont thjink he should be in the top 10 until he does it all again this year... i wouldve thought people like anquan bolden woukd be on this list.... maybe top 20?
Absolutely. Guys like Bolden, Santana Moss, Rod Smith, and Javon Walker would all make the top 20. It's definitely more of a variation when picking receivers. This is just my take on it.
Chad Johnson was a mighty Kansas City Cougar last year! The only problem I had was that you mentioned Hines Ward's blocking skills. I am a big fan of Wards, but blocking doesn't mean diddly-poo in fantasy football. That being said, I would still have him in the top 10. I would put Harrison at 1 and Moss at 2.
I'll make a bold prediction as well: Marcus Robinson. He is a proven receiver playing opposite of Randy Moss. Look for Robinson to have a huge year.
I thought Robinson's career was over, but he surprised me in Baltimore. With the given doubling on Moss, he should see some decent numbers this year.
yea right dude, joe horn is done. id take boston over horn there, also erick moulds in a bounce back season. maybe evern jerry rice. the last healthy year he had didnt he have like 92 RECs?
My top 6 is almost identical except I flip flop T.O. & Ward. After these 6 I think it's a real crap shoot. But, I also agree WR is the most erratic position of all in fantasy football. Take Randy Moss in '03 for example; week 2 he only had 27 yards & no TDs the following week I believe he had over 200 yards & 2 TDs. Consistency is not a word used often when referring to WRs. However, the following players are the closest to a sure thing that you will find at their position: 1) Randy Moss ? He has leap frogged T.O. & Harrison for the top spot of fantasy WRs in 2004. His total TDs (17) equals his total for the 2 previous seasons combined. No reason to think he can't put up similar #s. 2) Marvin Harrison ? He had close to 50 receptions & 500 yards less than a year ago, yet at 32 he is still a top tier fantasy WR. Oh & don't forget this is Marvin's contract year. $$$ 3) Torry Holt ? After several years of great potential, last year that potential finally translated into greatness. Torry has consistently put up great yardage. But last year not only did he easily surpass his career yards total, he also went over double digits in TDs for the 1st time. 4) Terrell Owens ? His career took the exact opposite direction of Holt. He had only 80 receptions & was under 10 TDs for the first time in several years. Now T.O. will be calling Philly home. The recent history of WRs changing teams is not too bright. And coupled with McNabb who battled his own struggles last year, it could make for an ugly situation. 5) Chad Johnson ? This up & coming star has high aspirations. If he can match the numbers from last year who can blame him? Among all WRs with over 80 receptions last year Chad?s the only one to average over 15 yards per catch. 6) Hines Ward ? After back-to-back seasons of 10+ TDs it?s safe to say this guy is not a fluke. However, with an unstable QB situation & the potential of Burress overtaking the #1 spot, Hines is at the bottom of my elite group of WRs. Others given serious consideration that fell short: Anquan Boldin Laveranues Coles Joe Horn
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vikingfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>I'll make a bold prediction as well: Marcus Robinson. He is a proven receiver playing opposite of Randy Moss. Look for Robinson to have a huge year.</div> I dunno. I thought Derrick Alexander was a good pickup for them. So much for that.... I still agree with you that Robinson will be a good #2 receiver for them....I just hope I don't jinx him too.
hey i havta put amani's name up. i beleive 5 straight 1000 yard seasons with a crappy line and an ok QB
I hope Marcus Robingson has such a good season he takes balls away from the receiver I will not have on my Fantasy team in randy moss. I hate having one of the top 3 receivers because usually you don't have two top RB's unless it is a short bus league ( and even "the bus" doens't get drafted in those leagues). I'm just not a big fan of drafting receivers high.
1.Marvin Harrison-Peyton and Harrison are becoming Montana and Rice 2.Randy Moss-Love to put him at #1 but remember he only plays when he wants to 3.Torry Holt-Still impresses me every year 4.Anquan Boldin-yep i did it, untill Fitzgerald matures into NFL status who else are they going to throw to? Emmitt. Ha 5.Chad Johnson-very good clutch reciever 6.Derrick Mason-Looking for a big year 7.Joe Horn-little less yap and more play, he'll do alright 8.Terrell Owens-McNabb will love to throw to this guy 9.Roy Williams-A ROOKIE? Just watch 10.Hines Ward-very consistant reciever, i like that others L. Coles, S. Smith, D. Boston, S. Moss, K. Johnson
Welcome, Roy Williams 8 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I believe that charles rogers will have a better season
You can't rank a rookie in the top ten...well at least I hope you don't draft that way come fantasy time. Roy should be a fine recevier but Streets will start in front of him for at least half the season. I like the rect of your picks though i rank Hines higher than Horn,mason,owens,boldin, and right behind Johnson. Boldin is awesome but he has a guy throwing to him that I haven't seen to much of and the QB he had in Jeff Blake is the type that locks on to a guy and just keeps going to him and thats what happend with boldin last season. Blake just makes whoever his number one guy is a star. And as for the Joe Horn is done comment I think thats highly unlikely. He will have double digit TD's again and if healthy the whole season could have huge yards cus Pathon is average at best and Stallworth has to find some consistency if horns numbers are to drop.
Javon Walker is going to catapault himself into the top ten this year... Just read this on ESPN: After an exhausting offseason training regiment, Javon Walker believes he's ready to surpass Donald Driver and Robert Ferguson as the Packers' No. 1 receiver. Phoenix trainer Brett Fischer had Walker run routes and sprints wearing a 30-pound vest. He also caught passes while standing on one leg and while wearing elastic bands that extended from his waist to his wrists. The result: Walker was virtually unstoppable against the Packers' cornerbacks in minicamp.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pack Attack)</div><div class='quotemain'>Javon Walker is going to catapault himself into the top ten this year... Just read this on ESPN: After an exhausting offseason training regiment, Javon Walker believes he's ready to surpass Donald Driver and Robert Ferguson as the Packers' No. 1 receiver. Phoenix trainer Brett Fischer had Walker run routes and sprints wearing a 30-pound vest. He also caught passes while standing on one leg and while wearing elastic bands that extended from his waist to his wrists. The result: Walker was virtually unstoppable against the Packers' cornerbacks in minicamp.</div> I hope this means Walker has made some impressive progress...however, it could also mean our DBs just plain suck.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LSUpackfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>I hope this means Walker has made some impressive progress...however, it could also mean our DBs just plain suck.</div> Unfortunately for Favre, the receivers on the Packers have always been a bit weak. I am sure Walker will improve, but a lot of players improve during the offseason. It'll be interesting to see if he really makes a big impact this year.
