2014 Fantasy Football: Top Wide Receivers
With just a few short days until NFL training camps start, it is time to start thinking about one of the best days of the year: Fantasy Football Draft Day. Make sure you're on top of your game come draft day and check out the top 15 wide receivers.
15. Larry Fitzgerald
15. Larry Fitzgerald
2013 Stats: 82 receptions, 954 yards, 10 TDs
It has been two straight under 100-yard seasons for the veteran Fitzgerald, but he remains a top flight receiver with the Cardinals. He scored double digit touchdowns last year for the first time since 2009, proving he can still be productive in the red zone. Year 2 under head coach Bruce Arians should show continued efficiency for Fitzgerald and the Arizona offense.
14. Vincent Jackson
14. Vincent Jackson
2013 Stats: 78 receptions, 1,224 yards, 7 TDs
The Bucs added Texas A&M product Mike Evans to play opposite of Jackson, and veteran QB Josh McCown hopes to continue his late-career resurrection with the monstrous duo. McCown, who threw to another big duo with the Bears last season, is still a playmaker at age 35. Jackson has been great since arriving in Tampa Bay, and will keep that pace going this season.
13. Andre Johnson
13. Andre Johnson
2013 Stats: 109 receptions, 1,407 yards, 5 TDs
Johnson reportedly wants out of Houston, and the Texans' quarterback situation is up in the air, but Johnson's productivity will be there regardless. His red zone targets have never been noteworthy, but he still finds a way to be a featured receiver on fantasy teams. Johnson is 33, and at some point, Father Time will win this battle, but Johnson has what it takes to help your team this season.
12. Keenan Allen
12. Keenan Allen
2013 Stats: 71 receptions, 1,046 yards, 8 TDs
Allen, a second-year player out of Cal, quickly became a Philip Rivers favorite last season. He had 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns. He will be the Chargers' No. 1 receiver next year with a revitalized Rivers, and will put up monster numbers in San Diego.
11. Jordy Nelson
11. Jordy Nelson
2013 Stats: 85 receptions, 1,314 yards, 8 TDs
In the eight full games before Aaron Rodgers went down, Nelson put up 810 yards and seven touchdowns. Along with the rest of the Packers offense, productivity dropped off with the QB’s injury. With a healthy No. 12 back under center, Nelson should return to form and be one of the top fantasy receivers of the season.
10. Alshon Jeffery
10. Alshon Jeffery
2013 Stats: 89 receptions, 1,421 yards, 7 TDs
Jeffery was the breakout star of the year last season and I don't expect much of a dropoff from him this season. He proved to be productive no matter who was throwing him the ball, and the Bears offense looks like it will be elite again this season. Head coach Marc Trestman also likes getting the long-strided receiver involved in the run game via end-arounds and reverses.
9. DeSean Jackson
9. DeSean Jackson
2013 Stats: 82 receptions, 1,332 yards, 9 TDs
One of the most interesting receivers in the league this year, Jackson will be suiting up for the Redskins, a division rival of his former team. Last season, Jackson had a career-high 82 catches for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns with the Eagles, but that was in Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense. Jackson will be productive in D.C., but can he reproduce the career highs of last season?
8. Randall Cobb
8. Randall Cobb
2013 Stats: 31 receptions, 433 yards, 4 TDs
Last year, Cobb would’ve been considered a steal had he stayed healthy. When he did return, he stepped up as one of Aaron Rodgers' favorite targets. He has the best quarterback in football throwing him the ball, those numbers aren’t going anywhere but up.
7. Antonio Brown
7. Antonio Brown
2013 Stats: 110 receptions, 1,499 yards, 8 TDs
Steelers receivers coach Richard Mann told the team website that Antonio Brown is ready to have a career year. "He's very confident. He's matured. He understands the concepts. He's smoother. His body language is different. He's just a different guy. He's matured a lot," Mann said. Brown caught 110 passes for 1,499 yards and eight touchdowns last season, topping that would put him in rare air.
6. Demaryius Thomas
6. Demaryius Thomas
2013 Stats: 92 receptions, 1,430 yards, 14 TDs
Thomas seems to have the perfect blend of size and speed. That paired with Peyton Manning ensures that he is top three fantasy-wise. Denver runs plenty of screens for him, and like to get him in the open field. He is coming off his second straight spectacular season with 92 catches for 1,430 yards and a career-high 14 touchdowns.
5. Julio Jones
5. Julio Jones
2013 Stats: 41 receptions, 580 yards, 2 TDs
Jones would have likely finished as a top three fantasy receiver if he hadn’t gotten injured last season. To some, this may raise a red flag, but that hesitancy could make Jones slip and become a steal for a later pick. His stock may rise as the season gets closer and we learn more about his recovery.
4. Brandon Marshall
4. Brandon Marshall
2013 Stats: 100 receptions, 1,295 yards, 12 TDs
The emergence of Alshon Jeffery did not stop Marshall from putting in a top five fantasy performance in 2013. In games that quarterback Jay Cutler started, Marshall gathered 884 yards and 10 touchdowns compared to Jefferey’s 903 yards and three touchdowns. The Bears should continue to emerge as a top offense, and as long as Cutler stays relatively healthy, Marshall will continue to be The Beast.
3. A.J. Green
3. A.J. Green
2013 Stats: 98 receptions, 1,426 yards, 11 TDs
Green and quarterback Andy Dalton have excellent chemistry both on and off the field -- a great trait for a tandem to have. Green added six pounds in the offseason and said he wants to get more physical so he can beat the jams he faces at the line of scrimmage. The 6-foot-4 WR set career highs with 98 catches for 1,426 yards last season and matched his career best with 11 touchdowns.
2. Dez Bryant
2. Dez Bryant
2013 Stats: 93 receptions, 1,223 yards, 13 TDs
After yet another 1,000+ yard and double digit touchdown season, Bryant seems to be enjoying continued maturity at just the right time. He has taken a better approach, mentally, to playing the position, and that work should bear some juicy fruit for the Cowboys this season.
1. Calvin Johnson
1. Calvin Johnson
2013 Stats: 84 receptions, 1,492 yards, 12 TDs
Detroit will show a more balanced offense this year than in seasons past, but lets be real. It’s Megatron. He has been consistently dominant the past four seasons, and has shown absolutely no sign of slowing down. He is going for his fourth straight season of 1,400+ yards. The NFC North defenses should be improved, but still average to below average. Megatron is a can't miss pick.