In our 2nd piece on FFL Rankings we are going to cover the wide receiver position. Once again our fantasy duo of baltiMORON and FILTHadelphia go toe to toe to bring you their perspective for you to weed through.
FILTHadelphia’s WR Rankings
The wide receiver is an interesting position. You always want to pick RB’s o’plenty on draft day early and oftern – but when do you take the plunge and pass up on an Edgerrin James or Donovan McNabb to grab that star wideout? Is it worth it?
My line of thinking is that you can start in round 3 and go to town. Rounds 3-7 are EXTREMELY CRITICAL to getting a nice WR corps and a starting QB…This is of course if you pick QB in rounds 1 and 2…
My rankings:
#1 – Marvin Harrison, IND (30)
Harrison plays on the most potent offense going and is just a fantastic player. While I believe that Randy Moss has the most talent on the planet earth, its Harrison’s total package that makes him the #1 wideout.
Potential: 10
Health: 10
Role: 10
#2 – Randy Moss, Min (29)
Moss is a freak. Complete freak. He’s the Allen Iverson of the NFL and his talent is other-wordly but he’s not a winner. That being said, I believe the Vikes will have a terrific year and Culpepper will find Moss for their best year together ever. That means a ton of points.
Potential: 10
Health: 9
Role: 10
#3 – Terrell Owens, Phi (28)
TO is in a new city, with a new QB and he’s ready to shine. With all that’s been said about him and all that he pushed for…AND ALL THAT THE PHILADELPHIA FAITHFUL HAVE LAVISHED ON HIM TO DATE…He’s going to put up big time numbers. McNabb is in the best shape of his career and is throwing the ball very well in camp this year…Look for he and TO to be right up there with Moss and Culpepper and Manning and Harrison.
Potential: 10
Health: 9
Role: 9
#4 – Torry Holt, Stl (27)
Holt finally made himself “fantasy worthy” last season. Nearly 1,700 yards and 12 TD’s with an offense that was in flux all year is fantastic. With more stability, now that Warner is out of town he should approach career numbers once again.
Potential: 9
Health: 9
Role: 9
#5 – Chad Johnson, Cin (26)
You’d think I am a Bengal diehard fan with my fast rising rankings of Rudi Johnson and Chad Johnson. Well…I actually couldn’t care less about the Bengals. However, I see them as this years Carolina team – not Super Bowl bound – but front runners in the AFC North. The reason? Brother’s Johnson.
Potential: 9
Health: 9
Role: 8
“You see that SC.COM fans? FILTHY has me at #5 this year…I won’t let him down.”
#6 – Joe Horn, NO (25)
I like the Aints this year. No defense and a nice offense should mean shootouts in the Dome…While I think Donte’s inferno will take away from Horn’s productivity he’s still a big time weapon. Pick him up at the end of round 2 or early in round 3 if he’s there.
Potential: 8
Health: 8
Role: 9
#7 – Andre Johnson, Hou (25)
Either this year or next year he will be a top 5 pick as a fantasy wideout. David Carr is getting comfortable and the TEXANS are getting established. Look for Johnson to have some gigantic fantasy games this year but he’ll have some blank weeks too. Still, those weeks when he puts up 35-40 fantasy points from the wide receiver position will be worth a high pick.
Potential: 10
Health: 7
Role: 8
#8 – Hines Ward, Pitt (25)
The diminutive one is a just a methodical, disciplined, hard working pass catcher. He’s got tons of talent too. If only Plexi glass would wake up and follow his lead this would be an incredible duo. Only problem – will Big Ben be the QB too soon and hurt the productivity? Keep an eye on that.
Potential: 8
Health: 9
Role: 8
#9 – L.Coles, Was (25)
I think if Clinton Portis can run run run all year long…that Brunell and/or Ramsey will find Coles running alone a great deal. I believe Washington’s defense will be terrible and that Gibbs will be tossing the ball to Portis and Coles all year long.
Potential: 9
Health: 7
Role: 9
#10 – Eric Moulds, Buf (24)
Consider this a rebound year. I was watching Bledsoe the other night in a preseason game and with the running attack Buffalo is going to bring to the table you may very well see this offense shine. Moulds is a stud at wideout. Bills fans hope he stays healthy.
Potential: 8
Health: 7
Role: 9
Moulds can make the game look real easy. It’s whether his body wants to cooperate.
The rest…
#11 – L Fitzgerald, ARI (8-8-7-23)
#12 – D Mason, TEN (7-8-8-23)
#13 – P Price, ATL (8-6-9-23)
#14 – C Rogers, DET (9-5-9-23)
#15 – S Moss, NYJ (7-8-7-22)
Santana can be an elite receiver if he and Pennington stay healthy
#16 – D Jackson, SEA (8-7-7-22)
#17 – J Walker, GB (7-8-7-22)
#18 – A Toomer, NYG (7-8-7-22)
#19 – P Burress, PIT (9-6-7-22)
#20 – R Williams, JAC (7-8-7-22)
#21 – D Northcutt, CLE (7-8-7-22)
#22 – D Stallworth, NO (9-5-7-21)
#23 – S Smith, CAR (7-7-7-21)
#24 – D Boston, MIA (9-3-9-21)
#25 – B Lloyd, SF (7-7-7-21)
#26 – K Robinson, SEA (8-6-7-21)
#27 – C Chambers, MIA (6-7-7-20)
#28 – R Williams, DET (7-7-6-20)
#29 – J McCareins, NYJ (6-7-7-20)
#30 – T Calico, TEN (7-6-7-20)
#31 – D Branch, NE (6-7-6-19)
#32 – J Smith, JAC (8-5-6-19)
#33 – J Porter, OAK (8-4-6-18)
I picked Porter way too high last year. This may be way too low for him. But I’ve been burned before…Caveat Emptor…
#34 – D Givens, NE (6-7-5-18)
#35 – A Lelie, DEN (7-4-7-18)
#36 – M Muhammad, CAR (6-5-7-18)
#37 – J Rice, OAK (5-8-5-18)
#38 – R Wayne, IND (7-5-6-18)
#39 – K Johnson, DAL (4-7-6-17)
#40 – K McCardell, TB (6-5-6-17)
#41 – I Bruce, STL (5-5-7-17)
Hey didn’t I use to be one of the top receivers in fantasy football? I’m too old you say? Fair enough…
#42 – K Johnson, BAL (4-6-7-17)
#43 – D Bennett, TEN (5-6-6-17)
#44 – I Hilliard, NYG (6-4-7-17)
#45 – E Kennison, KC (6-5-6-17)
#46 – J Reed, BUF (6-5-6-17)
#47 – D Driver, GB (6-3-7-16)
#48 – T Taylor, BAL (3-6-7-16)
#49 – D Patten, NE (6-4-6-16)
#50 – R Gardner, WAS (4-6-5-15)
#51 – A Davis, CLE (7-4-4-15)
#52 – R Smith, DEN (6-4-5-15)
#53 – Q Morgan, CLE (5-5-5-15)
#54 – T Streets, DET (5-6-4-15)
#55 – B Engram, SEA (4-6-5-15)
#56 – M Booker, CHI (5-2-7-14)
#57 – P Warrick, CIN (4-5-5-14)
#58 – J Galloway, TB (5-3-6-14)
#59 – T Glenn, DAL (5-4-5-14)
#60 – T Brown, NE (5-5-4-14)
#61 – N Burleson, MIN (4-6-4-14)
#62 – K Dyson, SD (4-4-5-13)
#63 – C Bradford, HOU (4-5-4-13)
#64 – J Morton, KC (4-2-4-10)
#65 – A Boldin, ARI (9-0-0-9)
NOTE: Tim Brown was removed prior to signing with Tampa Bay. He should be a solid #3 receiver this season
baltiMORON
WR Analysis
Okay here’s my rankings: Take the big four before anyone else and just throw everyone else into a hat and see what happens. Please don’t take me seriously but sometimes that’s what it feels like.
When trying to scout WR’s I look for level of rapore with the QB before anything else; I got Antonio Freeman in his breakout year off waivers because I noticed Favre was throwing away from Robert Brooks. Freeman didn’t have the catches but it told me something and the two of them had a nice career together.
It’s also important to check that out near the goalline; I don’t disagree with Philthy’s ranking of Calico over Bennett but think his overall standing is slightly inflated. That being said, McNair trusts him near the end zone.
After that I think it comes down to a lot of factors–teams’defense, player’s role, player’s competition on the team, role of the running game, etc…so sometimes you just go on feel.
1. Harrison–Top QB, high-octane offense, solid running game, average defense; What’s not to like? Plus the clamps on DB’s this year should yield more results for the smaller, quicker guys like Harrison.
2. Moss–He’s just too good and is in the same situation as Harrison only his ego and emotions will cost him here and there
3. Holt–Again see Harrison only I think his QB stinks but his head coach likes to play football Sega-style when he’s not starring in CSI.
4. Owens–Uh, you won’t McNabb over Garcia? I guess he likes balls thrown at his feet more than in his chest. Still, he’s a monster on the field and the Walrus Jr. (Holmgrenn=Walrus; Reid=Walrus Jr.) will keep him in line
TO Spurned my beloved Baltimore Ravens…but he’s still sick…
5. Coles–There are rumors about his foot which he declined to have surgery on; I can’t tell how much of that is sports talk radio boredom. If untrue, he should finally earn his $13 million bonus (funny how that’s small by today’s standards)
6. Ward–Quincy Carter should have taken this former Bulldog’s lead and converted to WR too…or laid off the pipe.
7. Santana Moss–I lost him in the expansion draft of my keeper league and that’s one soul sacrifice that hurts. Oyo coma va! He’s got the all-important rapore with the QB and a healthy Chad means more to come
8. Chad Johnson–He tops our list of “Johnsons” at WR; I believe Marvin wouldn’t got with Palmer if it would hurt his chances; remember he benched Dillon in favor of Rudi. However Warrick and Washington are good WR’s that can take a couple catches away.
9. Steve Smith–I’m not sure why this guy had the year he had; much like Randy Moss’s opposing defenses I ask “Why are you quadruple covered in all passing downs?!?!?” Jake the Homo–er Delhomme–seems to like him a lot and he just flat out makes plays
10. Andre Johnson–why was Rodgers rated so high above him last year? Carr is 3 times better than Wolfgang Amadeus Harrington who needs to spend less time off the keys and more into the film room.
11. Joe Horn–Insert stupid cell phone joke here; fact is its Donte’s peak this year.
12. Moulds–In Mularkey we trust (see RB and QB ratings)
13. D. Jackson–The Walrus likes to pass the ball and the `Hawks are getting better and better.
14. Chambers–despite no help on the other side and the supposedly weak QB situation still managed 11 TD’s; he’s very underrated but the rough off-season of the Dolphins has him slipping and slipping.
15. Price–A healthy Vick and some talent around him; The Price is Right this year but need more Barker’s Beauties.
Watch out now. Mike Vick to Peerless Price…Nizzice
16. Fitzgerald–Luckily I got to write this after Boldin and Shipp went down; talk about a ship going down; the Cardinals are looking at a 5 win season (oh, I forgot that’s good for them). Someone’s gotta score
17. Plexiglass–Two words: contract year. And he’s the kind of player where that matters to him
18. A. Lelie–Hopefully Danny Kanell doesn’t see the field and this guy finally proves his potential
19. Stallworth–All reports say he took care of his hammy in the off-season; didn’t they say that last year?
20. McCareins–a reach you say? I can’t imagine a better situation than the Jets for WR’s. Talent around them on offense and a cruddy defense that needs them to score
21. Mason–Sure he’s McNair’s favorite target but he doesn’t have the explosiveness or size to score a lot. Tell that to the Texans (circa 2003)
22. Rodgers–Longest healing time of a collarbone break from a non-skateboarder.
23. Wayne–a Harrison owner’s biggest nightmare. They spend so much time focusing on Marvin they leave this guy alone; but he’s really good too.
24. K Robinson–Please catch the f’ing ball
25. Walker–The biggest statement on Favre is how well the team stepped up on Irv Favre memorial Night; this guy included. I’m just not sure if the ball we be spread too far around.
26. McCardell–Gruden might punish him for the holdout by agreeing to pay him only if he never shows up; can I have a job with this company?
27. Porter–the only bright spot of a horrible Super Bowl performance
28. Branch–Classic break-out third-year WR who fits the small and quick build that’ll thrive this year
29. Toomer–“It’s notta Toomah!” should have been the campaign slogan
30. R. Williams–Have I said I like Jacksonville yet? Put the money on them in Vegas
31. Driver, GB
32. Kennison, KC
33. Roy Williams, Det
34. Glenn, Dal
35. J. Smith, Jax.
36. Taylor, Bal
37. Galloway, TB
38. Meshawn, Dal
ME-Shawn thinks he can play still…but he can’t.
39. Warrick, Cin
40. M. Robinson, Minn
41. Calico, Tenn
42. Bruce, Stl
43. A. Davis, Cle
44. Engram, Sea
45. R. Smith, Den
46. Bradford, Hou
47. Lloyd, SF
48. Northcutt, Cle
49. Evans, Buf
50. McCants, Was
51. Dyson, SD
52. Booker, Chi
53. Morton, KC
54. Hilliard, NYG
55. Kv. Johnson, Bal
56. Gardner, Was
57. B. Johnson, Az
58. Bryant, Dal
59. Morgan, Cle
60. Bennett, Tenn
I’m throwing darts at this point. Stay on top of the WR competition for the Patriots (not sure if Troy has any left in the tank), Packers (Ferguson wasn’t listed but could very well jump into the top 25), and Browns. If either pro-bowl QB picks a favorite target they are far more valuable than the lower half of this list.
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Complete rankings spreadsheet:
Wide Receiver Rankings.xls
Other Rankings:
Quarterbacks
Running Backs