2014 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 60 Wide Receivers

While we've already published our Top 60 Wide Receivers in three separate tiers, we thought it was time to update these rankings just a little bit, especially considering all the news out of preseason and the number of position battles we're seeing among wide receivers.  This is not a knee-jerk overreaction based on preseason performances, just some basic accounting for injury news, the opportunities that players are winning or losing and how much they're rising up the depth charts within their teams' receiving corps.  To make things easier for you, our dear RotoBaller reader, we've consolidated all the different tiers into a single massive article. Consider this the only wide receiver rankings you'll need to help formulate your fantasy football draft strategy. This 9,000-word monster has it all: rookie running backs, sleepers and breakouts, overvalued players and potential busts, risers/fallers, PPR player analysis, etc.  So first things first: bookmark this big baby... done? Good.  Now sit back, relax, order up a fat stack of pancakes with some real genuine Grade A dark amber maple syrup, a side of steak and over-easy eggs and a huge 7-11 big gulp sized iced coffee, then lock yourself away for the next 90 minutes and sink your teeth into all of this goodness at once. Enjoy!

 

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - Top 60

These rankings are tiered, and within each tier you can interchange players to your liking. Separate tiers signify where I think there are clear distinctions in value. For example, Tier 1 recognizes the elite at the position, the dominant no-doubt wideouts. Tier 2 has guys I would consider just under the elite guys, but with potential concerns, and so it goes down the list. I'd love to read your comments and disagreements below! Hit me up on twitter at @LopsidedTrades.

 

Tier 1 Wide Receiver Rankings

1. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions

6'5”, 236 lbs
2013 Stats: 84 Rec - 1,492 yards - 12 TD
Coaching Change: Head Coach – Jim Caldwell, Offensive Coordinator – Joe Lombardi

Nothing has changed at the top. Any receptions that Golden Tate may take away from Calvin Johnson should be countered by the fact that the Lions actually have a solid No. 2 that opposing defenses will need to cover. Megatron does have the occasional drop but besides that he really is the perfect WR.

There is a new head coach in Detroit this season but it's safe to say Johnson will remain the focal point of this offense. New head coach Jim Caldwell was previously the head coach in Indianapolis and most recently the offensive coordinator in Baltimore. Baltimore's offense actually struggled as a whole last season, but even if Detroit takes a step back I have no worries about Johnson.

 

2. A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals

6'4”, 207 lbs
2013 Stats: 98 Rec - 1,426 yards - 11 TD
Coaching Change: Offensive Coordinator – Hue Jackson

A.J. Green continues to get better and better. Unfortunately I think until he gets a better quarterback (if ever) his production has probably plateaued. The combination of Green and QB Andy Dalton can get shut down by teams with elite corners like the Browns (they held Green to nine receptions, 58 yards in both games combined last season). Against lesser teams the huge numbers will make up for it. It's worth noting that Green's new offensive coordinator, Hue Jackson, favored the run while he was the offensive coordinator and later the head coach in Oakland. He also never had a receiver nearly as talented as Green, who will be fine.

 

3. Demaryius Thomas – Denver Broncos

6'3”, 229 lbs
2013 Stats: 92 Rec - 1,430 yards - 14 TD
Coaching Change: None

Breaking news: Elite QB + Elite WR = Elite production. Demaryius Thomas is in his prime and should continue to put up great numbers. The Broncos lost Eric Decker but gained Emmanuel Sanders and rookie Cody Latimer, which could cut into Thomas' targets a bit. Its hard to envision the Broncos offense and Thomas doing any better than last year, but expect greatness yet again.

 

4. Brandon Marshall – Chicago Bears

6'4”, 230 lbs
2013 Stats: 100 Rec - 1,295 yards - 12 TD
Coaching Change: None

Some people will probably prefer Alshon Jeffery to Brandon Marshall in the preseason this year. Jeffery is good, but Marshall is clearly the preferred option in this offense. He had more targets, was more consistent, and was the go-to guy in the red zone. Both guys should be great again, but Marshall should be exceptional. Marshall has had 100 receptions or more in five of the last seven years making him a great PPR target. The two seasons in which he had under 100 catches were his two years in Miami.

 

5. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys

6'2”, 222 lbs
2013 Stats: 93 Rec - 1,233 yards - 13 TD
Coaching Change: Passing Game Coordinator – Scott Linehan

Always a good sign: even when Tony Romo missed the last game of the season, it was business as usual for Dez - 8 catches on 13 targets for 99 yards and a TD. Without much experience below him on the depth chart, Dez will get lots of attention from defenders but lots of looks from Romo as well. New coordinator Scott Linehan previously served as offensive coordinator for the Lions in one of the most pass-happy offenses. That certainly bodes well for Bryant.

 

Tier 2 Wide Receiver Rankings

6. Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons

6'3”, 220 lbs
2013 Stats: 41 Rec - 580 yards - 2 TD
Coaching Change: None

The Falcons found out very quickly just how important Julio Jones was to this team. The whole offense struggled without him. When Jones was healthy last year he didn't have a single bad game. He was on his way to a phenomenal season before the foot injury. There is a real concern that the after effects of that foot injury could linger into this season. With a talent like Jones, you have to take the risk because the reward is worth it. It's no guarantee going forward, but he was establishing himself as a great PPR player before the injury so keep that in mind on draft day.

 

7. Alshon Jeffery – Chicago Bears

6'3”, 216 lbs
2013 Stats: 89 Rec - 1,421 yards - 7 TD
Coaching Change: None

As I said before, he is clearly the number two receiver for the Bears. He put up huge numbers last year but also lacked consistency. I would prefer more 100 yard games even if he doesn't give you the huge 200 yard performances.

A little more consistency and a few more TD's sounds like a reasonable projection for Jeffery, who is still developing at just 24 years old.

8. Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers

6'3”, 217 lbs
85 Rec - 1,314 yards - 8 TD
Coaching Change: None

Last year Jordy Nelson saw an increase in production with career highs in receptions and yards. Without Rodgers throwing, Nelson had a harder time getting to the end zone. Seven of his eight TD's were with Rodgers as his QB. If Rodgers can stay healthy it should be a great season. At the same time, the Packers drafted three WRs. Along with the emergence of Jarrett Boykin,  Nelson may see a decrease in targets.

 

Tier 3 Wide Receiver Rankings

9. Victor Cruz – New York Giants

6'0”, 204 lbs
2013 Stats: 73 Rec - 998 yards - 4 TD
Coaching Change: Offensive Coordinator – Ben McAdoo

After a great start to the season,  Victor Cruz ended up having the worst year in his brief career. A lot of things went wrong for the Giants. Cruz wasn't really to blame and I can't see Eli Manning having such a bad season again. Cruz should be a main benefactor if Manning regains his old form. Think of it this way: last year was pretty much a worst-case scenario for the Giants offense, so (assuming health) the 2013 numbers were as bad as it gets and it wasn't all that bad. Ben McAdoo is a first time offensive coordinator, having previously worked as a positional coach in the passing offenses of Green Bay.

UPDATE: The offense has struggled in the preseason so far but I look at last year's numbers and see those as the worst-case scenario. It may take a few games for the offense to really run on all cylinders but when it does Cruz should be a PPR machine, ideally as a better version of Randall Cobb for Ben McAdoo.

 

10. Randall Cobb – Green Bay Packers

5'10”, 192 lbs
31 Rec - 433 yards - 4 TD
Coaching Change: None

Before fracturing his fibula, Randall Cobb was well on his way to a fantastic season with over 90 receptions and well over 1,000 yards. When he came back he was only used sparingly but showed he was healthy with two touchdowns in week 17. Despite the addition of three receivers in the draft and the emergence of Jarrett Boykin, Cobb will remain a top fantasy option opposite Jordy Nelson. One interesting stat: Cobb caught the highest percentage of targets out of any receiver last year. Should he stay healthy this year he will set career highs in every category with definite upside in PPR leagues.

 

11. Vincent Jackson – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

6'5”, 230 lbs
2013 Stats: 78 Rec - 1,224 yards - 7 TD
Coaching Change: Head Coach – Lovie Smith, Offensive Coordinator – Jeff Tedford

Jackson has been an incredibly talented and dependable receiver for several seasons now. The only season he missed more than one game was due to a contract dispute, and not for health reasons. New head coach Lovie Smith is a defensive-minded coach, while offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford has never coached at the NFL level. Tedford has produced several talented receivers at the pro level, including DeSean Jackson and Keenan Allen. Working with Jackson should be no problem.

 

12. Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers

5'10”, 186 lbs
110 Rec - 1,499 yards - 8 TD
Coaching Change: None

Antonio Brown is pretty unique among the best at the wide receiver position because he is considerably smaller than the rest of the group. The diminutive Brown really took it to the next level last year without Mike Wallace, becoming the go-to target for Ben Roethlisberger and in-turn establishing himself as a top-level PPR player. He is a great possession guy who racks up yards after the catch. He's never been a big TD guy but if he can continue to get 100+ catches, he will find his way into the end zone.

 

13. Keenan Allen – San Diego Chargers

6'2”, 211 lbs
2013 Stats: 71 Rec - 1,046 Yards - 8 TD
Coaching Change: OC – Frank Reich

In the first three games of the season Keenan Allen totaled three catches for 31 yards and was well off the fantasy radar. From week four onward, Allen was one of the best fantasy receivers in the game with 1,012 yards and eight TD's in the final 13 games. Should he continue at that pace or even make further progress he has a great chance to establish himself the same way that Alshon Jeffery did in year two. The Chargers new offensive coordinator Frank Reich has never been more than a position coach, so I'll be trusting Mike McCoy to make sure the offense doesn't change too much from last year.

 

14. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans

6'3”, 230 lbs
109 Rec - 1,407 yards - 5 TD
Coaching Change: Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator – Bill O'Brien

Andre Johnson finds himself in a less than ideal situation. His best case scenario as a Texan is having Ryan Fitzpatrick as his QB. There is a chance he could end up being traded, but for now he is the main component of the Texan's offense. He will see a lot of double coverage but in the last five seasons in which he played 16 games, he has recorded 100+ receptions in all of them, a nice bonus for PPR leagues. Whichever QB ends up starting for the Texans, he will lean on Johnson. He also has had just 11 TD in the past three seasons combined and has never hit double digits. New head coach and coordinator Bill O'Brien also called the plays during some of Tom Brady's most successful years. Even without a great quarterback situation, O'Brien should be able to make the most out of it.

 

15. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers

6'1”, 214 lbs
2013 Stats: 19 Rec - 284 yards - 1 TD
Coaching Change: None

While Anquan Boldin was very good at times last year, Michael Crabtree was sorely missed and is undoubtedly the best receiver on this team. When Crabtree came back from his torn achilles tendon at the start December, he looked a little slow.

He appeared to improve markedly over his last few regular season games and then torched Green Bay in the first round of the playoffs. I expect a lot more of that in 2014 when he starts the season fully healthy.

UPDATE: In the second half of 2012, the only time Kaepernick had a fully healthy Michael Crabtree to target, they connected for 665 yards and 6 TD in eight games. Thats a 1300 yard, 12 TD season. Exactly why I am grabbing Crabtree (and Kaep) in as many leagues as I can!

 

Tier 4 Wide Receiver Rankings

16. Michael Floyd – Arizona Cardinals

6'2”, 220 lbs
2013 Stats: 65 Rec – 1,041 Yards – 5 TD
Coaching Change: None

Floyd serves as a great reminder that many rookie receivers tend to struggle in year one even if they are talented. With a big upgrade at QB and some experience we got a flash of what could be a great player for many years to come.

As I mentioned with Fitzgerald, a much improved offensive line should help the whole offense. If he continues to improve there is a lot of upside here.

UPDATE: I have grown more optimistic on this offense as a whole. I am expecting 4500 yards for Carson Palmer and Floyd should be the biggest benefactor of that.

 

17. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals 

6'3”, 218 lbs
2013 Stats: 82 Rec – 954 Yards – 10 TD
Coaching Change: None

After a frustrating 2012 season,  Larry Fitzgerald rebounded nicely last year. His 10 touchdowns were the most since the Kurt Warner days. The impressive stat you may not know: he had just one dropped pass on 129 targets. No one else in the top 40 in targets had fewer than three dropped passes. One other reason to be optimistic about the passing game as a whole: the Cardinals will be getting back 2013 first round pick Jonathan Cooper who missed his entire rookie season with an injury, and they also signed Jared Veldheer both of whom should provide major upgrades to an offensive line that struggled last season.

 

18. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons

6'0”, 211 lbs
2013 Stats: 63 Rec – 711 Yards – 3 TD
Coaching Change: None

Looking at the consensus rankings, I seem to be essentially opposite on Colston/White from most people and I am not sure why. Which of the two is bigger, younger, had more TD, had more receptions per game, more yards per catch, and is in the far better passing offense? The answer to all of those is Colston. So why do most people like Roddy (at least early in the year for now)? Well he put up some huge numbers late in the year against the Bills, 49ers and Panthers. Two of those of course were pretty solid defenses. We also have to remember that Julio is the main guy here now. While that should help Roddy be more consistent, it will keep him from having huge games. Don't get me wrong, I think he'll be solid but I think it will be a middle ground between 2013 and 2012.

UPDATE: I was down on Roddy early on this year, but he looks fully healthy in the preseason and I like him more and more. I still don't think he returns to 2012 levels, but 1200 yards and 6-8 TD seems more than reasonable.

 

19. Pierre Garcon – Washington Redskins

6'0”, 212 lbs
2013 Stats: 113 Rec - 1,346 yards - 5 TD
Coaching Change: Head Coach – Jay Gruden, Offensive Coordinator – Sean McVay

Pierre Garcon is pretty similar to Brown in play style and actually led the NFL in receptions last year. He also finished second in yards after the catch. The Redskins now have DeSean Jackson, but he's always been more of a burner. The two should mix nicely without affecting much of Garcon's production.

Garcon had 174 targets last year which was second in the league. Under new head coach Jay Gruden's Bengal offense last year, A.J. Green was one of just three receivers to see more than 160 targets which is reason to believe Garcon should continue to see plenty of action. In PPR leagues, I wouldn't pay for 110+ catches again but he will still provide extra value.

UPDATE: I've come down quite a bit on both Garcon and Desean Jackson. I'm still not sure which receiver will be the primary option and that is hurting both of them.

20. DeSean Jackson – Washington Redskins

5'10”, 175 lbs
2013 Stats: 82 Rec - 1,332 yards - 9 TD
Coaching Change: Head Coach – Jay Gruden, Offensive Coordinator – Sean McVay

DeSean Jackson is a bit of a wildcard. After having a career year in Chip Kelly's offense in Philadelphia things fell apart this off-season. A quick release resulted in Jackson playing for a main rival. In a new offense I would tend to expect numbers similar to his years prior to 2013. That is still a very good receiver. New coach Jay Gruden loves to pass and there should be plenty of yards to go around for both Garcon and Jackson. There are risks here including Jackson's potential personal issues and the health of his QB, but he is a phenomenal talent.

 

Tier 4 Wide Receiver Rankings

21. Torrey Smith – Baltimore Ravens

6'0”, 205 lbs
2013 Stats: 65 Rec – 1,128 Yards – 4 TD
Coaching Change: Offensive Coordinator – Gary Kubiak

Torrey Smith was one guy I was really excited about early on in the season. Through five games his lowest yardage total was 85 and he also torched the Bills for 166 yards and a TD in week four. After week five he would exceed 85 yards just once as the Ravens offense struggled as a whole. New offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak should be a big positive for the passing game. Yes the Texans were atrocious this past year, but they had been very good in the years prior. I also like the fact that the Ravens will have a reliable receiver with a veteran presence opposite Torrey Smith in Steve Smith. These factors combine to make me fairly optimistic that Torrey Smith will have a nice year in 2014.

 

22. Kendall Wright – Tennessee Titans

5'10”, 191 lbs
2013 Stats: 94 Rec – 1,079 yards - 2 TD
Coaching Change: Head Coach – Ken Whisenhunt, Offensive Coordinator – Jason Michael

Kendall Wright had an excellent sophomore season and really took a big step forward showing why he was a first round draft pick. Despite lacking a great QB, Wright finished seventh in receptions as well as eleventh in percentage of targets caught. He had only two touchdowns but if he gets to 1,000 yards again, he will find himself in the end zone more often. One big reason I am optimistic about Wright is the addition of Ken Whisenhunt as offensive coordinator. He revitalized Philip Rivers' career and turned San Diego into a great passing offense. If he can do the same in Tennessee, Wright has a great shot to beat his ranking here, especially in PPR leagues where he could eclipse 100 receptions.

 

23. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints

6'4”, 225 lbs
2013 Stats: 75 Rec – 943 Yards – 5 TD
Coaching Change: None

Colston had one four game stretch in the middle of the season where never totaled more than 18 yards, culminating in him sitting out vs the Jets in week nine. Taking out those four games he averaged 75 yards a game which would put him right at what you would expect in any other year for Colston. The Saints did of course add Brandin Cooks in the first round, but the small speedy receiver will act more as a complement in the slot and could even be a benefit to Colston.

 24. Cordarrelle Patterson – Minnesota Vikings

6'2”, 220 lbs
2013 Stats: 45 Rec – 469 Yards – 4 TD / 12 Rush Att – 158 Yards – 3 TD
Coaching Change: HC – Mike Zimmer, OC – Mike Zimmer

On the surface, Patterson's receiving numbers don't look too special. Then you notice I included rushing numbers here as well. Patterson is going to be the best multi-purpose receiver in the NFL and that is including the higher ranked Harvin who has been injury prone, I expect him to stick more to receiving this year.

It was just twelve rush attempts, but he averaged 13.2 YPC, a number that far exceeds Harvin's greatest totals. With new Head Coach Mike Zimmer focusing on the defense, Patterson will be Norv Turner's toy to play with. Norv turned the Browns into the heaviest passing team last season and helped turn Josh Gordon into one of the best in the game. There is a lot to get excited about here. Just remember: this is all what could happen and not what has happened so don't overpay on draft day for Patterson.

 

25. Percy Harvin – Seattle Seahawks

5'11”, 184 lbs
2013 Stats: 1 Rec – 17 Yards – 0 TD
Coaching Change: None

I'll admit that Harvin is one of the guys I am most conflicted about. He is very injury prone, playing a full season just once and he has played in just 10 regular season games the past two years combined. But if you planned on writing him off he reminded us just why he is highly thought of in the first place with a 30 yard rush and an 87 yard kickoff return TD in the Super Bowl. Percy Harvin is a special talent and offers tremendous potential in this Russell Wilson led offense. There is a lot of risk here health-wise coupled with the fact that we haven't seen a ton of Harvin in this system, but he could easily end up being one of the biggest steals of the draft.

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Tier 5 Wide Receiver Rankings

26. Julian Edelman – New England Patriots

5'10”, 198 lbs
2013 Stats: 105 Rec – 1,056 Yards – 6 TD
Coaching Change: None

When Edelman had his first big game, a 13 catch 78 yard performance, many chose to write him off as a mere replacement for Amendola. For awhile this appeared to be the case as Amendola came back and outscored Edelman. Starting in week 12 that all changed. From that game against the Broncos onward, Edelman outscored Amendola in every single game including the two playoff games. Better yet for Edelman, the Patriots waited until the 7th round to draft a receiver. Edelman should be Brady's most trusted receiver this year. He also makes for a great PPR option. In the final eight games (including playoffs) he caught at least six balls in every single game.

UPDATE: I'm starting to think one of Dobson/Thompkins actually breaks through in a big way this year, which would end up hurting Edelman a bit. He still remains one the most consistent receivers on this team.

 

27. Mike Wallace – Miami Dolphins

6'0”, 195 lbs
2013 Stats: 73 Rec – 930 Yards – 5 TD
Coaching Change: OC – Bill Lazor

It was a year of ups and downs for Mike Wallace in his first year as a Miami Dolphin. In week two he had a great game with nine catches for 115 yards and a TD. Despite the early promise, he then went through an eight game stretch with no touchdowns and just one game over one hundred yards. One reason to be optimistic? Wallace had four touchdowns in his final six games, hopefully a sign of better things to come. Bill Lazor is a first time offensive coordinator at the pro level, but he received rave reviews for his work with Nick Foles and is supposedly bringing some of that up-tempo offense to Miami. It did wonders for DeSean Jackson so there is certainly a lot of upside with Wallace.

 

28. Eric Decker – New York Jets

6'3”, 214 lbs
2013 Stats: 87 Rec – 1,288 Yards – 11 TD
Coaching Change: None

On one hand Eric Decker is finally the no-doubt top receiver on a team. The downside is that it is the New York Jets, where the leading receiver's yardage total for the past two years combined (Jeremy Kerley) hardly exceeded Decker's 2013 total (1,350 to 1,288 yards).

Decker is a good deal better than Kerley, but with Geno Smith likely throwing to him it's hard to project another big year. He should have a good year but there are too many question marks to feel confident in that.

UPDATE: Geno Smith might not play pretty, but he does get the ball to his receivers. My thinking in bringing Decker up nine spots is that he is just so much better than every other receiver on this team that he might not be as efficient as he used to be, but an uptick in targets will keep him very relevant.

 

29. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts

6'0”, 200 lbs
2013 Stats: 38 Rec – 508 Yards – 2 TD
Coaching change: None

First thing to note – Reggie Wayne will be the oldest receiver in the first five tiers and it is not particularly close. He will be turning 36 during the season and is coming off a torn ACL. There is a lot to dislike here. So what are the positives? He was on his way to another 1000 yard season with plenty of catches, and Andrew Luck has used him as a security blanket opposite the inconsistent T.Y. Hilton. A lot of people tend to stay away from older guys, but if you believe Wayne can come back healthy and productive, you will have a steal on draft day. He gets a nice boost in PPR leagues as well.

 

30. Wes Welker – Denver Broncos

5'9”, 185 lbs
2013 Stats: 73 Rec – 778 Yards – 10 TD
Coaching Change: None

Welker got off to an amazing start with eight touchdowns in his first six games with Peyton Manning and the Broncos. He cooled down after that and missed some time but was still useful, especially in PPR leagues. He is now 33 years old and coming off concussion problems but he has the best quarterback throwing to him and he doesn't require a lot of the skills that go away with age such as top speed. He can still be counted on and will continue to be extra valuable in PPR leagues.

 

31. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles

6'0”, 198 lbs
2013 Stats: Did Not Play – Injured
Coaching Change: None (First year healthy under Chip Kelly)

Maclin has become a bit of a forgotten part of the Eagles offense after tearing his ACL and missing all of 2013. How quickly we forget that heading into 2013 Maclin was 25 coming off three seasons where he averaged 7 TD and 900 yards. We saw what Chip Kelly's offense did for DeSean Jackson, it can push Maclin to the next level as well. This is another case where it would be unwise to actually pay for that price on draft day because of his injury, but the upside as the Eagles top receiver is too much to pass up at this point.

 

32. Terrance Williams – Dallas Cowboys

6'2”, 200 lbs
2013 Stats: 44 Rec – 736 Yards – 5 TD
Coaching Change: Passing Game Coordinator – Scott Linehan

Terrance Williams is the one second year receiver I don't think gets enough attention. He has good size and speed and had decent numbers in his rookie season. With Miles Austin gone he is the undisputed number two in Dallas.

As mentioned with Dez in the 1-20 rankings, the addition of Linehan means lots of passing and good things for the receivers. I see Terrance Williams with breakout written all over him.

 

33. Golden Tate – Detroit Lions

5'10”, 202 lbs
2013 Stats: 64 Rec – 898 Yards – 5 TD
Coaching Change: HC – Jim Caldwell, OC – Joe Lombardi

Golden Tate is the player who most benefited from a change of teams this offseason. He goes from the team that ranked 31st in passing attempts to the team that was 5th. While it's true that Scott Linehan is no longer the offensive coordinator in Detroit, this team is built to throw. Tate led the Seahawks in targets but still ranked 40th in the league. That will certainly rise now. One very promising stat on Golden Tate: he ranked first in missed tackles and yards after catch per reception. Give this guy 15-20 more receptions and the yards will easily pile on.

 

34. T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts

5'9”, 178 lbs
2013 Stats: 82 Rec – 1,083 Yards – 5 TD
Coaching Change: None

In year two Hilton made a lot of progress but ask most owners and they will tell you it was a frustrating year. Following the injury to Reggie Wayne, Hilton became a hot commodity. After putting up huge numbers in the next two games he was on track to end the season as a top receiver. The rest of the season was a major letdown as he would not score another touchdown in the final seven games, nor would he surpass 100 yards until week 17. When you include the postseason he averaged 160 yards in his final three games leaving us all wondering, exactly how good is T.Y. Hilton? With the return of Wayne and the addition of Hakeem Nicks he is probably capable of some long catches but I can't see him consistently getting ten or more targets a game. With his speed he remains a solid player to own.

 

Tier 6 Wide Receiver Rankings

35. Emmanuel Sanders – Denver Broncos

5'11”, 180 lbs
2013 Stats: 67 Rec – 740 Yards – 6 TD
Coaching Change: None

Now with the Denver Broncos, Sanders will be expected at least in part to fill the hole Eric Decker left behind. He didn't put up huge numbers last year, but it was solid and it's not hard to imagine the jump from the Steelers offense into the Broncos passing game will boost him up a few tiers. Don't expect Sanders to replicate Decker's numbers – that would be a best case scenario – but even three quarters of Decker's production would be pretty solid.

 

36. Cecil Shorts – Jacksonville Jaguars

6'0”, 202 lbs
2013 Stats: 66 Rec – 777 Yards – 3 TD
Coaching Change: None

I was skeptical of Shorts following his breakout 2012 season in which he ranked second among all receivers in yards per reception. He was solid in 2013 but also a totally different player. He went from averaging fewer than four receptions a game to 5.5 per game. On the other hand, his yards per catch fell more than five yards and he had fewer touchdowns. This different Cecil Shorts was reliable and consistent, good for at least 60 yards almost every week. While that's not exciting, over a full season he should total 1,000 yards. There are new receivers in town, but as long as Chad Henne remains the projected starter Shorts remains a fantasy asset, having received double digit targets in nine games last year.

 

37. Justin Hunter – Tennessee Titans

6'4” 203 lbs
18 Rec – 354 Yards – 4 TD
Coaching Change: HC - Ken Whisenhunt, OC- Jason Michael

Hunter's last five games of the season really sum up the talent and the frustrating inconsistencies of a player still learning and developing. First he surpassed 100 receiving yards for the first time in his career and added a touchdown as well with a career high six receptions. This was followed up by a one catch game for nine yards. Next it was another 100 yard performance and another touchdown followed by zero catches in the final two games. Each time you thought he was gaining a bigger role in the offense he made sure to make you think twice. He has great size and a blazing fast 40 time (4.36) and showed enough to make me think he will be very good opposite Kendall Wright soon. I am also pretty sure he has a bit more developing to do before he gets there. I do like Ken Whisenhunt coming over, he was a big part of Keenan Allen's success, but I wouldn't reach for him this year. If the QB situation improves in 2015 Hunter should be making big contributions.

UPDATE: Justin Hunter rises way up on my rankings. He's been a popular sleeper this preseason and I guess you can say I've caught the fever. Hunter has caught two touchdowns this preseason after catching 4 TD in 18 receptions last season. Bring that reception total up to 60 and who knows how many touchdowns Hunter can get? It could be fool's gold but its worth the late draft pick to find out.

 

38. Riley Cooper – Philadelphia Eagles

6'3” 222lbs
47 Rec – 835 Yards – 8 TD
Coaching Change: None

Riley Cooper started out the season looking like he would continue to be fantasy irrelevant, with less than 100 total yards through the first five games. With the arrival of Foles in the final eleven games of the season he would average 67 yards a game with seven of his eight touchdowns. A lot of that was piled into three games but he was still being targeted a lot by Nick Foles nonetheless. He did have a boom or bust tendency which keeps him from being higher but Cooper is a guy that can tear up weaker defenses.

UPDATE: I've come down a bit on Maclin and risen on Cooper. I don't think there is a clear #1 on this team and both guys should have some big games.

 

39. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs

6'2”, 221 lbs
2013 Stats: 57 Rec – 673 Yards – 5 TD
Coaching Change: None

It was arguably Bowe's worst season in his seven year career. He had fewer yards and touchdowns in 2009 but also played in four fewer games. For whatever reason, he and Alex Smith never appeared to quite get it together. They did have one great game but it was in the playoffs – not much help to his fantasy owners. This ranking is a reflection of my belief that things have to get better. There isn't much room for it to be worse than last year. Unless you think one of the other receivers on the Chiefs can take over as #1 (Donnie Avery? AJ Jenkins? I don't think so) there is a lot of room for improvement between Alex Smith and Dwayne Bowe.

 

(NEW) 40. Rueben Randle - New York Giants

6'2", 208 lbs

2013 Stats: 41 Rec - 611 Yards - 6 TD

Coaching Change: OC- Ben McAdoo

I was initially really down on Randle with the drafting of Odell Beckham Jr. and the emergence of Jerrel Jernigan last year. So far this preseason, OBJ has been hurt and disappointing while Jernigan has done alright but is not in competition for the #2 spot. Randle is someone they are going to give every chance for one simple reason: size. He was a horrible route runner last year which led to him being among the worst in % of targets caught and also was among the leaders in interceptions on targets to a specific receiver. Fortunately those things can be improved upon. Randle is certainly talented and probably the best red zone weapon in this offense.

 

41. Anquan Boldin – San Francisco 49ers

6'1”, 220 lbs
2013 Stats: 85 Rec – 1,179 Yards – 7 TD
Coaching Change: None

I had a feeling that Boldin would struggle with basically no one else to cover at wide receiver. After the monster first game (208 yards, 1 TD) he did have some struggles. He then finished strong down the stretch and the return of Crabtree played a big part. With another receiver for the defense to worry about, Boldin had nine or more fantasy points in four of the final five games and two of three postseason games as well. He is getting on in years, but he should be able to contribute again this year. I think the addition of Stevie Johnson could actually help him.

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Tier 7 Wide Receiver Rankings

42. DeAndre Hopkins – Houston Texans

6'1”, 218 lbs
2013 Stats: 52 Rec – 802 Yards – 2 TD
Coaching Change: HC/OC: Bill O'Brien

All things considered, Hopkins did really well despite the disaster of a season for the Texans. In his second year with O'Brien as the new coach I am pretty intrigued. While Gronk was O'Brien's greatest success in New England, he got a few amazing years out of Wes Welker as well. O'Brien should be very good for Houston and get the most out of this offense despite lacking a good quarterback. That said, I can't get too excited for Hopkins while Fitzpatrick and Keenum are the top guys to throw to him. He is likely at least a year away from possibly being very good, but he can still take a step forward this year.

43. Brian Hartline – Miami Dolphins

6'2” 199 lbs
76 Rec – 1,016 Yards – 4 TD
Coaching Change: OC – Bill Lazor

Hartline has put up just about the quietest back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons as anyone could. 2012 was easy enough to write off – he had just one touchdown which came in a ridiculous 253 yard outlier of a game. Last year his touchdowns were still lower than ideal at just four, but he was extremely consistent. He had at least 50 yards in all but four games while going over 100 yards just twice. While that doesn't lead to a super attractive option on draft day, he did outscore many of the names above him on this list and makes for a great fill-in receiver with bye weeks or injuries. Plus, if Tannehill continues to develop, Hartline could improve as well.

 

44. Stevie Johnson – San Francisco 49ers

6'2” 207 lbs (Formerly Buffalo Bills)
52 Rec – 597 Yards – 3 TD
Coaching Change: None

Let me preface this by saying I love the situation that Stevie has landed himself in. On the surface it seems a bit crowded with Crabtree, Boldin and Vernon Davis all firmly entrenched as top targets. I happen to be very optimistic on Colin Kaepernick, believing that the reason he and the 49ers passing game struggled was a lack of a true #2 receiver while Crabtree was out. In the final three games of the regular season where Crabtree was back and looking fully healthy, Boldin was still receiving 7+ targets a game. Its clear there were plenty of passes to go around. Are there enough for three wide receivers? It remains to be seen, but Johnson had put up three straight 1,000 yard seasons prior to last year. He has the talent and is worth drafting in the middle rounds.

 

45. Kelvin Benjamin - Carolina Panthers

6'5" 235 lbs (Drafted via Florida State Seminoles)
College Stats: 54 Rec - 1011 Yards - 11 TD
Coaching change: None

Kelvin Benjamin is massive with a size comparable to Megatron and Vincent Jackson. Of course size isn't the only component, or 6'6" Ramses Barden would be a household name (who?). That said it's not often that receivers come around with this size and skills worthy of a first round pick. Cam Newton will love him and it is easy to imagine Benjamin ending up much higher on this list. The downside is that he has a lot to learn and will likely be very mistake prone early on. It doesn't help that besides Jerricho Cotchery (no superstar himself) the most recognizable receivers on this team are Jason Avant and Tiquan Underwood who have had careers as mediocre backups. Even if Benjamin does do well he will likely see a lot of defensive attention limiting just how much pain he can inflict on opposing teams.

UPDATE: Benjamin has vaulted up to my top ranked rookie. He may be raw but he is a huge target and Jason Avant/Jerricho Cotchery aren't special. He is the only rookie with 10 TD upside

 

46. Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

6'5” 225 lbs (Drafted Via Texas A&M Aggies)
College: 69 Rec – 1,394 Yards – 12 TD
Coaching Change: HC – Lovie Smith, OC – Jeff Tedford

The first important note is Evans' size. There are very few receivers at 6'4” or taller on that list and all of those above Evans have been very successful. That said, Evans is very young and has a lot of developing to do. He will be a force in coming years. Right now its hard to know what to expect, but we saw how Josh McCown was able to put the ball up for Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, Evans will have his share of opportunities as well.

UPDATE: I love big receivers because they make excellent red zone targets. However I've lowered Evans a bit as I start to think he may be a year away from breaking out. The Bucs offensive line looks pretty awful and it will likely take Josh McCown some time to get fully acquainted with the offense. Still worth a late pick with his upside but I am growing concerned.

 

 47. Sammy Watkins – Buffalo Bills

6'1”, 205 lbs (Rookie via Clemson Tigers)
2013 Stats: College: 101 Rec – 1464 Yards – 12 TD
Coaching Change: None

We arrive at the first rookie in the rankings and he is a special one. There are many reasons to be wary of rookie receivers, as Tavon Austin reminded us last year. Sammy Watkins is on another level though. He has received hype and reputation that very few receivers have in the past few years. In fact, dating back to Calvin Johnson being taken 2nd Overall in 2007, these are the WRs that have been as highly thought of: AJ Green, Julio Jones, Justin Blackmon. Including Calvin, the first three are much bigger, but all undoubtedly very successful. Blackmon is the most comparable in size and speed. Blackmon is immensely talented with a number of character issues. Watkins could be more talented without the off-field problems to give you an idea. His QB isn't the best, but we've seen other young receivers get by with below average quarterbacks (Johnson, Green and Blackmon for starters). He put up huge numbers in college. There are some risks but even in his rookie year there is a lot of upside here.

UPDATE: I have very little confidence in this offense. In year one, I think he might have the lowest upside of any of the first round rookie receivers. I'm passing on draft day.

 

48. Kenny Stills – New Orleans Saints

6'0” 194 lbs
32 Rec – 641 Yards – 5 TD
Coaching Change: None

The Saints love to have a deep option at receiver and rookie Kenny Stills was it last year. He is one of the fastest receivers in the league. Among players with 30+ receptions, Stills led the league with a 20.0 yards per reception. Just for reference, that is the highest average of anyone in the past three seasons (DeSean Jackson and Mike Wallace were both higher in 2010) so you can see why Stills is an intriguing option. On the other hand, that makes him a fairly frustrating option for fantasy owners. If Stills doesn't catch the deep ball, he has probably wasted a spot in your lineup. So with that I do urge some caution, but Stills is just 22 years old and still developing. In this offense there is a lot of upside.

 

Tier 8 Wide Receiver Rankings

49. Greg Jennings – Minnesota Vikings

6'0” 195 lbs
68 Rec – 804 Yards – 4 TD
Coaching Change: HC – Mike Zimmer, OC – Norv Turner

Jennings is on the downside of his career with a less than ideal quarterback situation, but he still remains the top pure receiver option for the Vikings. Unfortunately there isn't much positive I can say here. Perhaps Norv Turner can squeeze the last drops of greatness out of him, or perhaps Teddy Bridgewater is immediately fantastic. Other than that, Jennings can be a good backup on your bench but you don't want to rely on him.

 

50. Brandin Cooks - New Orleans Saints

5'10" 186 lbs (Drafted via Oregon State Beavers)
College Stats: 128 Rec - 1730 Yards - 16 TD
Coaching Change:

Brandin Cooks was the first round receiver that landed in the best situation and he should be able to have an immediate impact as the replacement for Lance Moore. As you can see in his senior stats at Oregon State he is a possession receiver that should be extra valuable in PPR formats. With Drew Brees throwing to him its not hard to imagine Cooks ending up as the top scoring rookie receiver this season although touchdowns may be harder to come by with big guys like Graham and Colston to target. He is super speedy (fastest 40 time for a receiver) which should allow him to quickly get open for short passes from Brees. In most other situations he would be just another promising rookie. Instead he is a guy you should be considering late in the draft.

UPDATE: A lot of people are really high on Cooks in the New Orleans offense and its hard to blame them.  However he is still one of many good targets on that team. I think he can be a PPR great in the future but in year one, he should take a backseat to Stills, Colston, Pierre Thomas, and of course Jimmy Graham.

 

51. Steve Smith - Baltimore Ravens

5'9" 175 lbs (Formerly: Carolina Panthers)
64 Rec - 745 Yards - 4 TD
Coaching Change: OC - Gary Kubiak

A once-great receiver, Smith is now 35 and coming off his second-worst season. This time it wasn't due to Jimmy Clausen being the leading passer either. On the positive side he was far and away the top receiver for the Panthers, forcing a lot of double coverage that made it tough for him to get open. He will now be opposite Torrey Smith with a solid pass-catching running back and a pair of decent tight ends as well. That is reason enough to believe he can at least match last year's production. If there is one thing I've learned, it is to never count out Steve Smith.

 

(NEW) 52. Markus Wheaton - Pittsburgh Steelers

5'11" 182 lbs

6 Rec - 64 Yards - 0 TD

Coaching Change: None

I am a little unsure what to make of Markus Wheaton, who did almost nothing as a 3rd round rookie last year. With Emmanuel Sanders gone, Wheaton is expected to step into the WR2 role. With Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery gone there is ample opportunity for someone to come in and be very fantasy relevant. Wheaton will get the first crack but with veteran Lance Moore and rookie Martavis Bryant around its no sure thing he will last as the #2. He is worth taking late with his potential but I have yet to see any reason to think of him as a big upside receiver.

 

53. Hakeem Nicks - Indianapolis Colts 

6'1" 208 lbs
Stats: 56 Rec - 896 Yards - 0 TD
Coaching change: None

Nicks frustrated tons of fantasy owners and coaches last year by not being able to get open for the big play, dropping close balls, and generally not putting up points. It's been reported that he was just trying to stay healthy for a nice pay day, and he's on a 1 year contract this year so his health and tentativeness is enough to give you a lo of pause before drafting him in 2014.  That said, he has an enormous amount of talent, and he is playing with a dynamic receiving corps and quarterback in Andrew Luck who has significantly more talent than Eli Manning. Nicks could be a nice sleeper play but we wouldn't advise spending too much on him on draft day.

 

54. Danny Amendola - New England Patriots

5'11" 195 lbs
Stats: 54 Rec - 633 Yards - 2 TD
Coaching change: None

The problem with an Amendola is a simple one - injuries. He has played 24 of a possible 48 games the past three seasons. Even more concerning than that is how often he plays with smaller injuries that clearly hurt his in-game performance. There were several instances last season where it was clear that Amendola was not at 100%. For comparison, Julian Edelman played in all sixteen games and ended up essentially taking over the role Amendola was intended for; he was on the field for over 50 snaps in 14 of 16 games. Amendola eclipsed this mark just 4 of 12 games. So while Amendola is another case of a guy with talent and upside far down on this list, he is more likely to be a headache inducer and someone I would pass altogether on draft day.

 

(NEW) 55. Jordan Matthews - Philadelphia Eagles (Drafted via Vanderbilt Commodores)

6'3" 212 lbs

2013 College Stats: 112 Rec - 1,477 Yards - 7 TD

Coaching Change: None

After a huge college season, the Eagles grabbed Matthews in the second round. I like him a lot but for year one he is the WR3 behind Maclin and Cooper while also dealing with McCoy, Sproles and the expected breakout of Zach Ertz. He could easily pass one of the receivers ahead of him but most likely he breaks out in 2015.  Still, with his size and athleticism in this offense, definitely worth a flier late in the draft.

 

Tier 9 Wide Receiver Rankings

56. Rod Streater – Oakland Raiders

6'3” 200 lbs
60 Rec – 888 Yards – 4 TD
Coaching Change: None

I like Streater quite a bit, but admittedly it is hard to project big numbers at this point with the quarterback options and uncertainty of the pecking order amongst the receivers. He was doing okay when Terrelle Pryor was quarterback but really stepped it up with Matt McGloin at the helm and ended up leading the Raiders in targets, receptions and yards. It is unclear if he can remain a favorite under Schaub or Carr so that is something to keep an eye on. If he is one of the top guys he could put up surprisingly decent numbers.

 

(NEW) 57. Kenny Britt - St. Louis Rams (Previously Tennessee Titans)

6'3" 223 lbs

11 Rec - 96 Yards - 0 TD

Coaching Change: None

After overstaying his welcome in Tennessee, Britt signed with the coach that gave him his first shot as a first round draft pick. That of course being Jeff Fisher, current coach for the Rams. It was an interesting signing and I didn't think much of it at the time. Britt was having major problems fully recovering from a torn ACL a few years ago and looked truly horrible last year. His 96 yards on 11 receptions and 35 targets was incredibly inefficient. Yet here he is managing to find himself in my top 60 with a great shot to be the Rams #1 this year. He's had flashes of brilliance in his career including 9 touchdowns in 2010. He'll still be just 26 this year and is supposedly acting like a leader to the young receiving group!? Hard to believe for a guy that his dealt with so many issues, but hey, Brandon Marshall went through a transition as well. Nothing more than an intriguing end of draft player for now, but Britt should be on your radar.

 

58. Robert Woods - Buffalo Bills

6'0 190 lbs
40 Rec - 587 Yards - 3 TD
Coaching change: None

It wasn't a great season for Woods but the young rookie finished just ten yards behind Stevie Johnson despite fewer targets and catches. This ranking might seem like a stretch to some but if you believe in EJ Manuel as at least a middle tier option along with the continued development of Woods (just 22 this season) there is a lot to like as a backup receiver. Sammy Watkins should immediately be the #1 option, but that might actually free up Woods and allow him to excel.

 

(NEW) 59. Marqise Lee - Jacksonville Jaguars (Drafted via USC Trojans)

6'0" 192 lbs

2013 College Stats: 57 Rec - 791 Yards - 4 TD

Coaching Change: None

When the Jaguars drafted Lee and Allen Robinson in the 2nd round, the depth chart was a bit uncertain. Now that Ace Sanders is out for awhile and Allen Robinson has been sidelined for most of the preseason with hamstring issues, Lee has the opportunity to become a very nice WR2 behind Cecil Shorts. It remains to be seen whether Lee will be fantasy-relevant but he is extremely talented. His 2013 numbers are not impressive but he had a massive 2012 for the Trojans (118-1721-14).  If he does start for the Jaguars, and it looks like he will, I expect him to have a really nice rookie season. Probably not someone you are drafting, but keep an eye on him.

 

60. Marvin Jones – Cincinnati Bengals

6'2” 195 lbs
51 Rec – 712 Yards – 10 TD
Coaching Change: Hue Jackson - OC

Jones burst onto the scene with a four touchdown performance in week 8 of last season which also capped off six touchdowns in a three game period. It wasn't hard to find an expert telling you regression was coming – and it did. But he also finished the season strong with three more touchdowns in his final four games. While it's possible he could repeat last season's performance, of the 21 wide receivers with seven or more touchdowns only a third of them had under 1,000 yards. It's something that is unlikely to happen twice. It is possible that his yardage can increase, but for that to happen you have to believe in Andy Dalton and I can't say that I do, especially with the loss of Jay Gruden, who has been replaced by Hue Jackson.

UPDATE: Jones broke a bone in his foot and is out at least four weeks. It could be longer. That makes him undraftable to me. He could still be a decent pickup a few weeks into the season if you need WR depth.

 

Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.