Top 100 Wide Receivers

Running backs rule fantasy football. This is a well known fact that most people keep in the back of their minds on draft night, and for the most part, it’s true. Running backs traditionally receive more touches than wide receivers and therefore can usually be counted on to score points more consistently. But this doesn’t mean your first pick has to be a running back. There are plenty of wide receivers in the mix this year that I would consider drafting in the first round, with one of them, for me, cracking the Top 5. With a good quarterback throwing to them, wide receivers are capable of either breaking one deep at any time or short-gaining a defense to death. So keep that in the back of your mind on draft night this year, and don’t be afraid to drift from traditional fantasy ways.

1. Andre Johnson HOU
Andre Johnson is only the second player in NFL history to lead the league in receiving two years in a row (Jerry Rice). Last year’s receiving total of 1,569 from Johnson was 221 yards more than the No. 2 receiver in the league. He also was targeted more than any other receiver in ’09, and with the league’s passing yards leader Matt Schaub throwing to AJ, he should continue on his tear for years to come.

2. Randy Moss NE
Tom Brady is angry. Not only did the Patriots lose in the first round of the NFL playoffs last year, but Brady just watched No. 1 pick Sam Bradford receive 50 million dollars guaranteed from his new contract without ever stepping onto an NFL field. This bodes well for Randy Moss owners in fantasy leagues. With Brady fully recovered from his knee injury and Moss trying to prove he deserves one more big contract, the tandem should put up some hefty 2010 numbers. Last year, Moss scored the second most points for fantasy receivers with 1,264 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. You can expect the same, if not better, this year.

3. Reggie Wayne IND
Wayne was untouchable through the first 10 games of the ’09 season. His final six games were just OK, but he was hampered by a knee injury and the Colts hardly played their starters in Weeks 16 and 17. Wayne will be an elite receiver until Peyton Manning’s arm falls off, and you can count on another rock solid year from the Indy go-to receiver.

4. Larry Fitzgerald ARI
Sure Kurt Warner’s retirement hurts Fitzgerald’s value, but he is still a pure talent and Top 5 receiver. Fitzgerald and QB Matt Leinart have played together before, hooking up for five touchdowns in 13 games, but most of that came in 2006 and 2007 when Fitz wasn’t yet an elite receiver and Leinart was still young. Also, Anquan Boldin’s departure will allow for more targets in Fitzgerald’s direction. Hopefully, Leinart learned a thing or two from Warner’s stay in Arizona so that he and Fitzgerald can improve on their numbers together.

Not only did Miles Austin bag Kim Kardashian, but he also cracked the Top 5 wide receivers for the 2010 fantasy football season.

5. Miles Austin DAL
Raise your hand if you saw Austin’s 2009 production coming. OK, now put your hand down because you’re lying. Austin broke out in a big, check that, HUGE way in ’09 by finishing third in the NFL in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. All of that came after he hardly played in the Cowboys’ first four games of the season. Opposing teams will be more aware of Austin in 2010, but that shouldn’t scare you away from picking him as a Top 5 receiver. Tony Romo will be a happy quarterback this season with Austin and rookie Dez Bryant as big targets.

6. Brandon Marshall MIA
I don’t know if a player who caught over 20 passes in a single game has ever been traded at the conclusion of the same season before, but Marshall made it happen with his uncooperative behavior with the Denver Broncos last year. The star receiver made a mockery of himself before the season began by kicking a ball away from a ball boy in training camp, and he was suspended from the Broncos’ final game for supposedly exaggerating a hamstring injury. But while a team has to deal with his obscure behavior, they get a remarkable receiver in return. Marshall caught 101 passes for 1,120 yards and 10 touchdowns. You can expect the same production with the Miami Dolphins, to go along with his bad behavior, of course.

7. Roddy White ATL
White had an interesting 2009 season in Atlanta. We’re used to him being a big play threat, but last season, White’s yards per target went down from 9.3 to 7.0. But, he was second in the league in targets (career high 165) and also set a career high in receiving touchdowns with 11. White’s lack of the big play may have been in part because QB Matt Ryan had somewhat of a sophomore slump season, but I wouldn’t worry too much about that as White still had a very productive year. Expect the same consistency from him as well as more of the big plays we are used to in 2010.

8. DeSean Jackson PHI
Yes, this is the same guy that celebrated too early and flipped the ball before crossing the touchdown line. But that minor hiccup in DeSean Jackson’s career is long past and he showed that with a stellar ’09 season. Jackson is built with one thing. Pure. Speed. This blazing speed scares the living bejesus out of opposing defenses, and he will use it to make huge plays. Jackson had a league leading 10 receptions of 40-plus yards in 2009, with seven of them being for touchdowns. He also returned two punts for TDs. His big play ability makes his production feast or famine, but it’s worth it to take Jackson as a Top 10 receiver.

9. Marques Colston NO
There is one problem with picking Colston as your top fantasy receiver. The Saints offense is too good. The fact that Colston lines up with Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem may hurt him fantasy wise rather than help him. Those two receivers take away many of his targets, therefore making Colston somewhat inconsistent. But he is still a very good receiver and he gets many red zone targets from Drew Brees as well. Last year, Colston eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving and tallied nine receiving touchdowns. Expect the same production from both the Saints’ offense and Colston this year.

10. Calvin Johnson DET
There’s something that makes me want to avoid drafting Calvin Johnson as a top fantasy receiver. Oh yeah, it’s the Lions’ dismal offense. That may have been the ultimate reason Johnson had such a disappointing ’09 season. Because the Lions were not able to muster up much else on offense, defenses were able to suffocate Johnson. But that did not stop the Lions from trying to go his way as Matthew Stafford sent 137 passes his way in 14 games. It will help this year having Nate Burleson as a threat opposite Johnson, and Stafford has the arm to connect with Johnson if he gets the chance. But something tells me to steer clear of any Detroit players.

11. Sidney Rice MIN
Sidney Rice has kept his fingers crossed since the Vikings’ season ended. This of course is because he was wishing Brett Favre will come back for another run with the Vikings in 2010. Rice was the Minnesota receiver that benefited most from Favre’s presence on the team last year, and now that Favre is officially back, Rice will produce the same numbers he did in ’09. Last year. Rice put up 1,312 receiving yards for a 15.8 yards per catch average to go along with eight touchdowns. Keep crossing those fingers, Sidney, and hope that Brett stays healthy because us fantasy owners are going to need him so that you still maintain such high value.

12. Greg Jennings GB
Although QB Aaron Rodgers had a huge season for the Green Bay Packers in 2009, top receiver Greg Jennings didn’t have the year that many thought he would, catching only four touchdown passes for the season. Jennings’ season turned for the better in the second half, and I think he will bounce back with a better effort in the 2010 season. As long as Rodgers gets better protection from his offensive line, Jennings should return to top receiver form.

13. Steve Smith NYG
Steve Smith of the Panthers will… oh wait a second… this is Steve Smith of the Giants? Huh, I guess the changing of roles for the Steve Smiths of the NFL caught me by surprise. But it is finally time for the Giants S-squared to be the best Steve Smith in the league. Smith broke the Giants’ single-season receptions record in ’09 and became the team’s first pro-bowler at wideout since 1968. The Giants were a pass heavy team last year and will be again this season. Look for a steady campaign from Smith.

14. Chad Ochocinco CIN
Ochocinco may have been being polite (if you can believe that) or he was just flat out lying. But when he said that he would call Terrell Owens the No. 1 receiver on the Bengals team, he raised a few eyebrows. First of all, since when does Ochocinco give way to anyone, especially another cocky attention seeker? Is this when two wrongs make a right? Secondly, he was extremely wrong. T.O will not be the top receiver on this team because number 85 put a dismal 2008 season behind him last year to get back to his superstar form. With newly acquired Antonio Bryant stretching the field deep, Ochocinco will benefit greatly and produce big time next to T.O.

15. Anquan Boldin BAL
Anquan Boldin will get his chance to be a No. 1 wide receiver again with the Baltimore Ravens in 2010. After being the second option behind Larry Fitzgerald for the past few seasons in Arizona, Boldin will have his shot as a No. 1 with big-armed Joe Flacco throwing to him. He may have timed the move well, leaving Arizona right when Kurt Warner retired, but the problem for Boldin is that Baltimore not as pass-oriented as the Cardinals were. Also, the Ravens re-signed Derrick Mason who will surely take away targets from Boldin throughout the year. So basically it all becomes a wash and Boldin will probably come out with the same numbers that he has had for the last few years.

Carolina's Steve Smith may not be dancing too much now that he's the second best Steve Smith in fantasy football.

16. Steve Smith CAR
The reason Steve Smith of the Panthers is only the second best Steve Smith in the league is the uncertainty at the quarterback position for the Carolina Panthers. Smith has more talent than a monkey riding a unicycle, but that doesn’t matter when his quarterback can’t hit the broad side of a barn. That was the case last year with the aging Jake Delhomme, and I don’t see it getting any better with either Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen this year. Sorry Steve, but now you will see how it feels to be “the other Steve Smith” for a change.

17. Percy Harvin MIN
Harvin is just one more player that was hoping Brett Favre comes back to the game, and he might have just been some other guy if Favre didn’t. But, Favre is back and Harvin should build off of his Offensive Rookie of the Year 2009 season. Harvin can beat teams in many ways. He is a slot receiver, but also can line up in the backfield and return kickoffs with the best of them. He will get his share of red zone targets and carries. Watch out for Harvin to make a big splash in 2010, assuming he can put this little bout of injury bug in the preseason behind him.

18. Michael Crabtree SF
Who knows what kind of rookie season Crabtree could have had if he hadn’t held out for the first five games of the season. As it is, his numbers were not very impressive and he still has a lot of work to do to become the Pro Bowler that many expect him to be. With that being said, Crabtree has a tremendous upside and did a lot of good things in ’09. He is a big receiver with electrifying ball skills and instincts. Crabtree would have been better with those five extra games under his belt, but look for him to put that behind him and really break out in 2010.

19. Mike Sims-Walker JAC
Sims-Walker came up with some big games at home, but he struggled terribly on the road last season. He and QB David Garrard showed some signs of a connection throughout the year, so that bodes well for his chances in 2010. Don’t put too much stock into him for this year because of his inconsistencies, but he has a chance to be a good No. 2 receiver in fantasy.

20. Vincent Jackson SD
You might remember Jackson being fantasy’s best receiver throughout the first half of last season. But you also might remember him giving his owners headaches over the final half of the season. Even more troubling might be his second DUI in as many winters to give him a three-game suspension to start the 2010 season. Although it hurts to lose him for three games, he still is one of the best deep threats in the league with Philip Rivers slinging him bombs. He can still be a top fantasy receiver, but make sure to draft accordingly due to his suspension.

21. Hines Ward PIT
Ward has become the Steelers’ most reliable target because of Santonio Holmes’ departure to the New York Jets. Ward came out with his second-best yardage season along with the second most receptions in his career in 2009, and although Ben Roethlisberger will miss the first six games of the season, you can still expect Ward to be his steady self this year. Look for a consistent receptions total week in and week out and 6-8 touchdowns.

22. Dwayne Bowe KC
Dwayne Bowe could turn out to be the biggest bust in the draft (hence his 22 ranking). But he could also turn out to be a steal for some lucky dude who either is very risky or just likes the name Dwayne. Bowe is a Top 10 wide receiver talent, but he carries a lot of baggage with him. Last year, he came to training camp overweight, led the league in dropped passes and was suspended four games for using a banned substance. But Bowe is insanely athletic, and Charlie Weis is the new offensive coordinator in Kansas City. Weis will try to transform Bowe from undisciplined to unstoppable. Good luck, Charlie.

23. Donald Driver GB
The question with guys like Donald Driver is not whether they have been reliable but when their bodies will stop allowing them to be reliable. Driver is now 35, but he has kept trucking along season after season with steady production. In 2009, he amassed 1,000 yards for the sixth straight year, and he was a top fantasy receiver. It’s easy to be high on Driver when he has Aaron Rodgers throwing to him, but his race against the clock is making it harder every year to have faith in him. James Jones is breathing down Driver’s neck and it’ll be interesting to see the two compete for the second receiver spot in Green Bay.

Pierre Garcon turned in a great postseason in 2009 and will use that to catapult his status on draft boards across the country for '10.

24. Hakeem Nicks NYG
Hakeem Nicks has the big play ability as a receiver for the Giants, and look for him to have a breakout year in 2010. Five of his 47 catches in ’09 went for 40-plus yards, and he averaged 16.8 yards per catch. With concerns about the Giants running game, quarterback Eli Manning will have to throw the ball a lot and that could bode well for Nicks.

25. Pierre Garcon IND
The 2009 postseason may have helped Pierre Garcon’s draft status for 2010 more than his entire regular season. In the AFC title game, Garcon snatched 11 passes from Peyton Manning, and the two also hooked up for a touchdown in the Super Bowl. The Colts have a lot of receiving options, but Garcon is by far the fastest, which could result in some big plays throughout the season. Manning will do his job in spreading the ball around, and you can look for him to target Garcon consistently.

26. Jeremy Maclin PHI -- Inconsistent in rookie season, but he can make defenses pay.
27. Robert Meachem NO — If he snatches No. 2 receiver job from Devery Henderson, he could be dangerous.
28. Mike Wallace PIT — Led NFL in yards per catch (19.4)
29. T.J. Houshmandzadeh SEA — Seattle’s improved offense will help, but lack of QB won’t.
30. Santana Moss WAS — Improvement at QB with McNabb will help, but Moss is still hit or miss every week.
31. Lee Evans BUF — T.O. is finally gone, but unfortunately Trent Edwards isn’t.
32. Braylon Edwards NYJ — Too many dropped passes to make big impact anymore.
33. Steve Breaston ARI — Will attempt to take advantage of Boldin’s departure.
34. Santonio Holmes NYJ — Will miss first four games for violation of NFL’s drug policy.
35. Dez Bryant DAL — Character shmaracter. Bryant will prove critics wrong, but it will take time.
36. Early Doucet ARI — Will battle with Breaston for No. 2 receiver.
37-39. Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu CHI — Offensive coordinator Mike Martz will find a steady receiver for Jay Cutler to throw to. It just depends on which one of these three will step up to the challenge.
40. Kenny Britt TEN — Very young, upside is high.
41. Jerricho Cotchery NYJ — More reliable than Edwards, but not as much big play ability.
42. Chaz Schilens OAK — Great hands, 6-foot-4 guy who runs a 4.38 forty.
43. Derrick Mason BAL — Boldin will take targets away, but still will get some looks.
44. Terrell Owens CIN — Lost a step or two, but if nothing else, should be interesting to watch with Ochocinco.
45. Devery Henderson NO — 2009 playoff performance will help status for 2010.
46. Wes Welker NE — Torn ACL and MCL will cause decline in production.
47. Bernard Berrian MIN — Not a guaranteed amount of passes coming his way.
48. Josh Morgan SF — Crabtree will take many Morgan receptions away.
49. Austin Collie IND — Will battle Anthony Gonzalez for targets.
50. Nate Burleson DET — Injury prone, but could do well beside Calvin Johnson if he stays healthy.
51. Kevin Walter HOU — Behind Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels.
52. Eddie Royal DEN — Not sure if Kyle Orton can throw far enough to suit Royal.
53. Golden Tate SEA — With a reliable QB, he could be an impact rookie. Problem is, he doesn’t have one.
54. Louis Murphy OAK — Could be Oakland’s deep threat.
55. Mario Manningham NYG — Will have to win back No. 2 receiver spot from Hakeem Nicks.
56. Mohamed Massaquoi CLE — 18.4 yards per catch, but Cleveland QBs will hardly give him a chance.
57. Malcolm Floyd SD — Chris Chambers’ departure helped Floyd, but he’s behind Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates.
58. Antonio Bryant CIN — Will anyone notice him behind Ochocinco and T.O.?
59. Arrelious Benn TB — Athletic with big play ability.
60. Chris Chambers KC — Overrated for much of his career, Chambers has found a second (or third?) chance with Kansas City.
61. Demaryius Thomas DEN — Won’t replace Brandon Marshall.
62. Donnie Avery STL — Don’t know if 2009 was his fault or Marc Bulger’s.
63. Jacoby Jones HOU — Last two games in ’09 could give hope for solid 2010 season.
64. Julian Edelman NE — Will he fill Welker’s role?
65. Lance Moore NO — 10 touchdowns two seasons ago leaves the question, where did he go?
66. Laurent Robinson STL — More potential than any other Rams receiver, but two straight seasons cut short by injury.
67. Dexter McCluster KC — Could produce big plays with speed.
68. Mike Williams TB — Needs to mature to make impact in NFL.
69. Devin Thomas WAS — Should start opposite Santana Moss.
70. Nate Washington TEN — Big play potential but inconsistent.
71. Roy E. Williams DAL — Rookie Dez Bryant could take Williams’ job.
72. James Jones GB — Jennings and Driver stunt Jones’ growth.
73. Antwaan Randle El PIT — Chance to be slot receiver with the Steelers.
74. Legedu Naanee SD — Easily the coolest name on list.
75. Anthony Gonzalez IND — Biggest advantage for Gonzalez owners: he has Peyton Manning as a QB.
76. Earl Bennett CHI — Knee surgery in winter could slow him down.
77. Justin Gage TEN — Injury cost him starting job in ’09.
78. Jabar Gaffney DEN — 14 catches for 213 yards in week 17, but Royal and Thomas will see more looks.
79. Josh Cribbs CLE — If return yards count in your league, Cribbs should be drafted higher.
80. Darrius Heyward-Bey OAK — Nine catches in eight games… ‘nuff said.
81. Davone Bess MIA — Point per reception leagues should draft Bess higher.
82. Jason Avant PHI — Kevin Kolb will slow down all of Philly’s production, but Avant will get his.
83. Brandon Gibson STL — Will have to compete with others for targets, mainly rookie Mardy Gilyard.
84. Donte’ Stallworth BAL — “Insert DUI joke here.”
85. Michael Jenkins ATL — Not meshing well with Matt Ryan.
86. Greg Camarillo MIA — Most receptions without a drop in the NFL last year.
87. Troy Williamson JAC – Former first round pick has been a bust thus far.
88. Torry Holt NE — I wonder if Holt will be allowed to play with a wheelchair.
89. Dwayne Jarrett CAR — Might start… might not.
90.Taylor Price NE — Could contribute in rookie year thanks to Welker injury.
91. Brian Hartline MIA — Potential outside threat.
92. Mike Thomas JAC — Playmaking ability and good hands.
93. James Hardy BUF — Chance to start with T.O. and Josh Reed gone.
94. Andre Caldwell CIN — Good for a change of pace option only for Cincinnati.
95. Steve Johnson BUF — Hardly made it onto the field in 2009.
96. Jordy Nelson GB — Stuck behind Jennings, Driver and Jones.
97. Marko Mitchell MIN — Breakout possibility, but behind many other receivers.
98. Brandon LaFell CAR — Good red-zone threat in college.
99. Marcus Easley BUF — Could one day breakout but not this year.
100.Sammie Stroughter TB — Seventh round pick played well enough last year to stick around.