RADIO
RotoBaller's new series of ranking NFL teams by their receiving corps continues with a look at the NFC East. To recap how this works, we're starting by ranking each division based on how their wide receivers line up for fantasy. From there it'll switch over to conferences before concluding with a full ranking of each team, from #1-32. That should keep the fantasy chatter up until draft time in August.
Not so different than it's AFC counterpart, the NFC East has a plethora of wide receivers to discuss. In fact, one team in particular is one of the front runners for the top spot overall across the entire NFL.
As always, these rankings may fluctuate based on what happens over the Spring and Summer but for now we have a pretty good sense on how things should look.
NFC East Receiver Ranks
4. Dallas Cowboys
Depth Chart
1) Dez Bryant
2) Terrance Williams
3) Cole Beasley
4) Brice Butler
The Dallas Cowboys are one of those teams that boasts three star fantasy contributors with a serious lack of depth beyond the heavy hitters. They're a top-heavy team with quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott, and wide receiver Dez Bryant. Unfortunately, Bryant hasn't been the superstar he once was due to some injury woes. Still, he's locked in as a top-10, sometimes even top-five player at the position. His 796 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016 weren't enough to net him that strong of a season but he should still be drafted as such in the upcoming year.
Beyond that, the Cowboys really aren't that fantasy relevant after Dez. Terrance Williams is one of those warm bodies who can provide enough production to maintain his No. 2 status in real life NFL football. When it comes to fantasy, however, Williams has always had more talk than substance. Even if Dez were to go down, Williams wouldn't be much more than a waiver add with flex-worthy upside. Cole Beasley is thought of as a good value in PPR, but he is consistently mediocre. Brice Butler is a young player with some speed, but hasn't shown reliable hands yet.
3. Washington Redskins
Depth Chart
1) Terrelle Pryor
2) Jamison Crowder
3) Josh Doctson
4) Brian Quick
After the losses of both DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, Terrelle Pryor steps in as a suitable replacement. Pryor far exceeded expectations in Cleveland where he faced enormous quarterback issues. Kirk Cousins serves as a massive upgrade, putting Pryor in the WR2 conversation. Given the depth at the position, Pryor still has some heavy names to surpass in order to truly live up to that status. Think Golden Tate or Jarvis Landry for where Pryor will be ranked and drafted come August. The Redskins shouldn't see a dip in productivity by replacing D-Jax and Garcon with Pryor.
Jamison Crowder is on track to being one of the most polarizing players in fantasy for 2017. His 847 yards and seven touchdowns earned him legit WR3/flex consideration at various points in the 2016 season. Some will look to Crowder and expect a bump up in production with another under his belt while others will look at him as a one hit wonder. Whichever side of the fence you land on, Crowder's numbers are enough to put the Redskins at third in their division based on talent. He should once again be a WR3/flex worthy choice in the upcoming season.
As far as Josh Doctson is concerned, an Achilles injury derailed his rookie campaign. It'll be interesting to see if Doctson can overtake Crowder within the depth chart. The fact that that's even a conversation is a testament to Washington's wide receiver resources. Doctson has some work to do before he can be considered a fantasy option. Either way, having three names worth talking about is great news for owners looking for some fliers.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Depth Chart
1) Alshon Jeffery
2) Jordan Matthews
3) Torrey Smith
4) Nelson Agholor
Alshon Jeffery signing with the Philadelphia Eagles gives the team a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver. Jeffery's last two seasons were halted by a series of ailments that kept him off the field. 821 yards in 12 games is nothing to sneeze at but he'll have to do more than that to regain the low-end WR1/high-end WR2 status he used to have in Chicago. The Eagles, a team desperate for added firepower, are a solid landing spot provided Jeffery can stay healthy.
Jordan Matthews is a roller coaster type of player who takes a back seat to Alshon. Still, Matthews is very much in the WR3/flex conversation. He's likely to be undervalued in most drafts, giving him some serious upside. That said, Torrey Smith is a real threat to Matthews' production. Smith's most successful years came when he was the lone target in Baltimore but has struggled in other scenarios. I suspect Matthews and Smith will volley productive outings back and forth with Matthews getting the better of Smith. And speaking of competition, Nelson Algholor and Dorial Green-Beckham will have a battle of their own for the fourth man on the rotation. Early reports have DGB on the roster bubble so look for Agholor to get the edge there.
Based on talent, depth, and opportunity, the Eagles boast one of the better wide receiver trios in the NFL.
1. New York Giants
Depth Chart
1) Odell Beckham Jr.
2) Brandon Marshall
3) Sterling Shepard
4) Roger Lewis
Now here we have ourselves one of the top-five units in all of football. The combination of Odell Beckham, Brandon Marshall, and Sterling Shepard will be a force to be reckoned with in New York. If quarterback Eli Manning is able to get any semblance of protection from his offensive line, we could be looking at three legit starting wide receivers for fantasy.
I don't need to tell you that OBJ is locked into a top-three spot at the position. His only competition in terms of draft value are the likes of Antonio Brown and Julio Jones. Elite company indeed. As for Brandon Marshall, his move from one New York team to another is a huge upgrade. Marshall's strong first year with the Jets was followed up by a dud due to dreadful quarterback play. Eli Manning is a huge boost from the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty. Marshall should have absolutely no issues regaining WR2 status, especially with his ability to score touchdowns at will. Look for him to live up to his draft day value, perhaps even exceed it.
That leaves us with Sterling Shepard, a promising sophomore who had an impressive rookie campaign. If not for Marshall, we'd be looking at Shepard as a potential WR2 in his own right. Unfortunately, the roster move bumps him down to a WR3/flex with upside. It's not a bad spot to be in and he could end up being a steal in deeper leagues. Besides, for as positive as we all feel about Brandon Marshall, there's no guarantee that the 33-year old will automatically vault back into fantasy stardom. There's always a chance Shepard can overtake the veteran by proving himself on the field.
This combination of OBJ's explosiveness, Brandon Marshall's track record, and Sterling Shepard's upside give the Giants one of the most potent groups in the league.
Be sure to keep up with the rest of this series to see how our rankings shake out, starting with the AFC East.
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.
