WR Ranks

Rankings reflect rest-of-season value and were updated on September 16th


1. Calvin Johnson - Nothing needs to be said other than he is by far the best WR in the game. We are witnessing a once in a generation talent here.
2. Julio Jones - One of my breakout candidates for the year at WR didn't disappoint in Week 1 with 2 touch downs. He is so explosive and it looks like he is on the same page as Matt Ryan. He just needs to stay healthy.
3. Andre Johnson - Talent wise, Andre is definitely one of the top 3 WR's in the league. Injuries have plagued him though, so he remains a risky option. Arian Foster's increased role in the offense the past two seasons will not limit Andre's chances at all. The only thing to worry about is the injury possibility.
4. Larry Fitzgerald - Looks like another year of wasted talent for L-Fitz. The QB situation still looks pretty bad. I think he can average double digit points each week, and his consistency is what his main value will be fantasy wise.
5. Percy Harvin - This is the year that Percy Harvin becomes an elite WR. Christian Ponder has had some experience and a full off-season to work with Harvin so the chemistry should be improved. Also, the Vikings have a much improved O-line which should give Ponder more time to throw. I expect the Vikings to see what they have in Harvin as this is a contract year for him. They will want to find out if he can be their #1 WR for the future and he will want to prove to all of the teams in the NFL that he is worthy of a big pay day. So far, they looked committed to keeping the ball in his hands as much as possible.
6. Roddy White - White will remain the go-to guy for Matt Ryan no matter how explosive Julio Jones is. In the red zone and picking up a big first down is where Ryan looks to White. His consistency cannot go overlooked and he should fall somewhere in the top 10 this year no matter what. Has top 5 potential, but if Julio Jones is healthy I don't think White cracks the top 5.
7. A.J. Green - Great chemistry with fellow 2nd year pro Dalton will propel this duo all season long. Expect Green to build on a very solid rookie season with much of the same. The Bengals don't have much else other than Green to throw to on offense which is both good (he will be guaranteed looks) and bad (opposing defenses can key on him). I expect a slight improvement from last year putting him just outside the top 10, but he does have the upside to move him inside the top 10. In his first game, it was clear that Dalton is committed to getting him plenty of looks.
8. Mike Wallace - I'm still convinced that Wallace is going to have a down year this year. The offense is just not in good shape with so many problems on the O-line. He is risky because the team doesn't need to throw to him; Antonio Brown and Emanuel Sanders are very capable WR's. His value is still high right now, so my suggestion would be to trade him. Set your expectations for a finish between 7th and 15th best WR this year.
9. Hakeem Nicks - Has the talent to be a top 5 WR, its just that Eli Manning tends to spread the ball around to everyone. Nicks has also had his fair share of injuries so that remains a concern as well. I don't expect the Giants to throw the ball as much as they did last year, so I think this represents more of a best case finish for Nicks with the possibility to slide out of the top 10. I think his value is a little overrated this year compared to suitable replacements, and his foot injury still seems to be a problem.
10. Greg Jennings - Jennings is a great player, but his role is not reflective of that. There are just too many guys for Aaron Rodgers to throw to. On top of that he is hurt, so I don't expect a top 10 finish this year for Jennings.
11. Brandon Marshall - The Bears offense looked absolutely terrible against the Packers. They did not make any adjustments in this game as Marshall didn't get a target in the first half. I think he will right the ship this season, but expect some inconsistent play from week to week like this from Marshall.
12. Jeremy Maclin - He was finally healthy...for a game. Injuries keep nagging him and his QB is of to a bad start. I think Vick will turn it around, and Maclin is definitely going to be his top receiver.
13. Wes Welker - He may be outdone by the combo of stud TE's for the Patriots, but that doesn't mean there isn't enough to go around. Week to week consistency may start to be a problem if Lloyd stays involved and they run the ball as much as they did. Don't look into Week 1 too much, Welker will bounce back. The only thing I would take away from Week 1 is that his volatility from week to week increased this year.
14. Victor Cruz - This season is where we will find out Cruz's true value. The huge plays from last year are not sustainable. Regression is imminent, but a lot of Cruz's value will be left up to how healthy Nicks stays this year and the frequency that the Giants throw the ball. Not a great start with all the drops in Week 1, but he will bounce back and should be around the 15th best WR all season.
15. Marques Colston - Drew Brees' most consistent target should deliver again this year. Expect 1,000 yards receiving with a big question mark around TD's. The yards and TD's will come, but we don't know when. It may come in one game or spread over many, but Colston always gets his points. Very reliable with a small risk of injury.
16. Steve Johnson - Consider him a poor man's Roddy White. He will put up consistent numbers each week, but his QB will limit his upside. He should be a great #2 WR for a fantasy team this season because of his consistency. If Ryan Fitzpatrick stays healthy this year, Johnson could crack the top 15 WR's.
17. Eric Decker - If he can catch TD passes from Tim Tebow, he can catch them from Peyton Manning. I expect Decker to be the more consistent option in the Broncos passing attack. Has a great deal of upside since we don't know how things will work out with Manning, and has potential to crack the top 15 if Manning rounds into his old form.
18. Steve Smith - His revival started out great last year, but then came to an abrupt halt. Defenses took away the deep ball, so his value will depend on hauling in some deep passes. I don't see much of a comeback this year. He will have his weeks where he could put up some big numbers, but there is too much inconsistency here. I would rather have Brandon Lafell as a sleeper.
19. Jordy Nelson - Rodgers spreads the ball around a lot, but we know that Nelson has a role in the offense. He was such a surprise last season and we will see if he can follow it up. I am not supporting or completely denying the possibility of a repeat from last year. I think we will see somewhat of a regression in his TD numbers, but he offers the consistency of targets each week in the Packers aerial assault.
20. Dez Bryant - Injuries and character questions have plagued the young WR's career so far. The talent is there and this is the year that Bryant will show it. Things started out great, and the only concern is how the ball can be spread around in the Cowboys offense which will cause some inconsistency.
21. Antonio Brown - He will be heavily involved week-to-week. I think he is a great trade target right now since he didn't score in Week 1. I am still sticking to my call that Brown will have a statistical season as good or better than Mike Wallace.
22. Demaryius Thomas - Looks to have good potential because of the QB change. The only thing hindering him from becoming a productive fantasy player is his injury risk. Don't expect him to play 16 games, but he will be productive when he plays.
23. Dwayne Bowe - Finally signed to his 1 year deal, Bowe is ready to play. Expect Bowe to increase his totals from last season if Matt Cassel is able to stay healthy. I would rank his floor at 25 and ceiling at cracking the top 10 in the WR rankings this season. His stock is pretty volatile, but his potential reward is greater than the risk.
24. Vincent Jackson - One of the ultimate boom or bust fantasy options at WR. He is very frustrating to own because he can come up with a 30 point or 3 point week every time he steps onto the field. There is considerable downside taking Jackson because of Josh Freeman's struggles as well as the Buc's having a run first identity. I think there are better options at the #2 WR level and wouldn't recommend V-Jax this season.
25. DeSean Jackson - I'm buying into the comeback. Jackson's receiving yards weren't down too much last year, but his TD count suffered. His value does hinge a bit on Vick's health and effectiveness, so there is room for concern. He is a huge boom or bust WR this year as always. His talent is a top 15 WR, but I would draft him lower than that because of the injury risk to himself and his QB.
26. Pierre Garcon - Will come up with some big plays, but working with a young QB brings inconsistency. There isn't really anyone else to throw to, so expect a 1,000 yard season for Garcon.
27. Torrey Smith - Smith is a great trade target right now. I expect big things from him, and a quite Week 1 makes him attainable at a reasonable price. He is the unquestioned #1 WR because Anquan Boldin has settled into a possession receiver role and won't have great yards totals. Smith should evolve into a complete receiver, becoming more than just a deep threat.
28. Miles Austin - Injuries have limited Austin's value in the past, and it looks like 2012 is starting out the same way. If he can stay healthy, he will be Romo's most trusted target with Witten and Bryant battling injuries. It seems his hamstring issues will linger though, and I wouldn't expect 16 games out of Austin.
29. Brandon Lloyd - His value is very much unknown this year even after the first week. I expect the Patriots to change their game plan each week and get everyone involved. That will cause him to have some very inconsistent weeks.
30. Malcom Floyd - Is a very injury prone receiver, but has some great talent. When healthy he has posted solid numbers for the Chargers. With Vincent Jackson gone, he gets to takeover the lead role. Expect improved yardage, but Antonio Gates will always be the #1 red zone option when healthy. Could finish among the top 20, but I'm not buying it because of the injury risk.
31. Reggie Wayne - The old standout finally gets some relief by being able to play with Andrew Luck this year. He had 18 targets in Week 1, and I fully expect him to remain the #1 option in the offense all season.
32. Lance Moore - Should receive more targets with Meachem moving on to San Diego. In the past, TD's have been his big source of points. This year, as we saw in Week 1, he has decent upside because the opportunity for yards to accompany the TD's is there.
33. Robert Meachem - Could be a decent sleeper pick this year in San Diego. He hasn't been given a chance to have a large role in an offense because he has only played in New Orleans. Injury prone teammates in San Diego should help make Meachem a frequent target by default even if he doesn't earn many targets due to his skill.
34. Darrius Heyward-Bey - Very strong upside pick this year after he finished the season so strong last year. They have shifted his route running to shorter routes since he was having trouble tracking deep balls. This looks like a good move, and I would consider him to have the upside of a WR #2 this year.
35. Michael Crabtree - His skills as a wide out are starting to emerge and he will be the top option for Alex Smith. He does have a decent amount of risk though because I don't see Alex Smith becoming a QB that throws 40 times a game, so consistency will be a problem.
36. Denarius Moore - I expect Carson Palmer to have a great year, and Moore looks like his favorite target. Injuries were a big problem for Moore last season so that has to be considered when assessing his risk. Expect some big games, but overall inconsistency.
37. Anquan Boldin - The transition to Baltimore hasn't been to great for Boldin. Joe Flacco just doesn't throw the ball enough to make Boldin a great option in fantasy football. Should be selected as a bench WR and a fill in for bye weeks.
38. Kenny Britt - Very big risk and reward here. He exploded last season, and has the talent to do so again. The risk of injury and suspension limit him though. Lets see what he does in his first week back.
39. Brandon LaFell - I think he is a great sleeper option this year. He is running the short routes which should be a great check down for Newton if Steve Smith isn't open deep.
40. Santonio Holmes - Talent is definitely there, but look who is throwing to him: Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. Ugh, no thanks.
41. Titus Young - I really like his upside this year, but he really has temper issues. He needs to improve his character before he can become a star on the field.
42. Kendall Wright - So far has looked great in the pre-season. He and Jake Locker seem to have a great chemistry. He might have to take a back seat for now though with Kenny Britt returning.
43. Justin Blackmon - The best rookie WR this year better get his off-field issues straightened out. He has the potential to become a great WR in this league. A rookie learning curve and slow learning QB should keep him from making a big splash this year.
44. Randy Moss - He was involved heavily in the red zone in Week 1, so if that is his role this season he could put up healthy TD totals and become a good flex option.
45. Greg Little - Someone on the Browns has to catch a pass right?