Good things come to those who wait, and for those who followed my early composite rankings for running back, quarterback and tight end , here is the final chapter of the story … where your favorite wideouts rank in the grand scheme of things.
This early in the offseason, not many sites offer dynasty player rankings, so I had to go with what I could find. Using rankings from fftoolbox.com, rotoworld.com and fantasyfootballmaniacs.com, here is my current composite list of dynasty receivers, including my own ranking in parenthesis before the player’s name (and total composite score in parenthesis after the player’s current squad).
1. (1) Andre Johnson, Houston (4): A really tight race for the top spot between Johnson and Fitzgerald, I base my own rank on the fact that Matt Schaub is lightyears better than Matt Leinart, Derek Anderson or any other QB the Cardinals can find stumping for work.
2. (2) Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona (5): He’s too talented not to produce whatever the circumstance, but the loss of both Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin make Fitzgerald a bit of an unknown in a tight race with Andre Johnson for the top spot.
3. (5) Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis (13): Best receiver on a team with Peyton Manning under center will always get high marks … I’d leave him at three if this was a redraft league, but my personal ranking factors in some small concern with Wayne and Manning’s ages and, more importantly, that the Colts are really starting to spread the ball around more. This is partially why I suggest trading him in dynasty leagues.
4. (3) Calvin Johnson, Detroit (15): His dip in production last year may scare off some buyers, but Calvin is uber-talented, young and has a quality QB in Matthew Stafford under center who will help Calvin return to elite stats over time.
5. (4) Roddy White, Atlanta (18): Just hitting his prime, has a young franchise QB who will get it all together this year and catapult White into the upper echelon of performer at this position.
6. (6) Miles Austin, Dallas (22): A contender in 2009 for fantasy MVP title, Austin came seemingly out of no where to become an elite receiving option. I’d have him ranked higher if he had a larger sample size and if I wasn’t a little skeptical yet of Tony Romo.
7. (8) DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia (24): Finally a legitimate receiving threat for Donovan McNabb, Jackson matured into a solid option. Only question here is what happens over the next year or two at QB in Philly?
8. (7) Greg Jennings, Green Bay (25): Coming off a disappointing season, Jennings may be a good buy-low in dynasty leagues … especially since the experts so far seem to feel that Jennings will bounce back this year. And why not? He’s got a rock-solid QB who loves to fling the pigskin around.
T-9. (11) Randy Moss, New England (28): There is no denying that Randy Moss can still produce when he’s healthy and receives enough targets to make something happen. He isn’t getting any younger, however, and there are plenty of rumors that Moss won’t be with the Patriots beyond 2010. Wait until he has a few banner games in Wes Welker’s absence early this coming season, and then look to deal him while his value is at its highest.
T-9. (10) Vincent Jackson, San Diego (28): The Chargers have abandoned their run game, literally, this offseason and will look to Philip Rivers and the dynamic duo of Jackson and Antonio Gates moving forward. Jackson is a solid option.
11. (15) Marques Colston, New Orleans (32): A favorite of Drew Brees, Colston is an intriguing option for fantasy owners. If the team didn’t spread the wealth so much, I’d be even more bullish on Colston for the long haul.
12. (9) Brandon Marshall, Denver (36): Surprising to me to see him fall this low in composite rankings. Sure he has off-field issues and can be a cancer within the locker-room. Sure his QB situation isn’t stellar. Still, with Kyle Orton at the helm in 2009, Marshall showed that he’s a game-changer both on the field and in fantasy circles. I’d definitely want him over others on this list, regardless of the baggage.
13. (12) Sidney Rice, Minnesota (37): Became a star thanks to Brett Favre’s attention in games, the only concern about Rice is his long-term value in terms of who will be quarterbacking in 2010 and beyond. I’m predicting that Favre will return in 2010, and Rice is too talented to overlook on draft day or via a trade. In fact, he may be a good guy to target at the moment if his current owner is leary of the Favre situation (and if you agree with me that Favre will return for at least one more season).
14. (16) Steve Smith, Carolina (47): His horrific games in 2009 were tied directly to Jake Delhomme. Notice how his fantasy numbers improved dramatically when Matt Moore was under center? With Delhomme in Cleveland now, things are looking bright again for Smith.
15. (13) Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh (48): Continues to make the transition to being the Steelers No. 1 receiver. Pittsburgh has metamorphasized into a passing-friendly team, and with Big Ben throwing around the pigskin, it is likely that Holmes continues to work his way up the rankings when Hines Ward starts to see his skillset decline with age.
16. (17) Steve Smith, NY Giants (49): Became the go-to guy for Eli Manning in the Big Apple, and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with. The Giants do have a slew of decent talent at the position in Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden.
17. (18) Wes Welker, New England (50): There is no denying that Welker is a force, especially in PPR formats. However, people are tempering expectations based on season-ending knee ligament tears. He’s a guy who thrives on shiftiness and changing direction at a moment’s notice, and one wonders how that will be affected by the injury, that will keep him out at least a couple weeks of the regular season in 2010.
18. (14) Anquan Boldin, Baltimore (51): Finally away from Arizona, Boldin finds himself on a team desperate for help at receiver. His new QB is young, gritty and able to get the ball into open space. The return of Derrick Mason gives Boldin a legitimate threat on the opposite side of the field to keep defenses honest. And, he’ll be looking to prove to the Cardinals and the world that he has plenty of gas left in the tank.
19. (19) Michael Crabtree, San Francisco (57): Young and uber-talented, Crabtree will be much more ahead of the curve this year since he’s not missing the entire preseason of preparation. Alex Smith has become an under-rated threat at QB and Crabtree will continue to become a known fantasy quantity in 2010.
T-20. (21) Hakeem Nicks, NY Giants (61): Talented and a potential No. 1 receiver for the Giants in the not-too-distant future depending on how the receiver carousel works this year for New York, Nicks is a guy you want stashed away on your team.
T-20. (30) Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh (61): Did very well as a rookie last season and will continue to grow in an offense that has learned to appreciate the pass lately. Still has two solid options ahead of him on the depth chart, though, so he’s more of a long-term buy at the moment.
22. (37) Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati (62): Aging player on a team with a QB who has questionable loss of arm strength and who signed Antonio Bryant to compete with Ochocinco for the most looks.
23. (20) Percy Harvin, Minnesota (65): The Vikings continue to tinker with new ways to get Harvin involved in the offense, and he showed last season as a rookie that he’ll capitalize on opportunities.
24. (35) Robert Meachem, New Orleans (67)
25. (22) Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville (71)
26. (28) Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia (76)
27. (29) Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City (77)
28. (24) Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis (86)
29. (23) Kenny Britt, Tennessee (90)
30. (32) Braylon Edwards, NY Jets (93)
31. (38) Hines Ward, Pittsburgh (94)
32. Donald Driver, Green Bay (96)
33. (34) Steve Breaston, Arizona (105)
T-34. Jerricho Cotchery, NY Jets (107)
T-34. (37) Derrick Mason, Baltimore (107)
T-36. Lee Evans, Buffalo (109)
T-36. (33) T.J. Houshmanzadeh, Seattle (109)
38. (25) Devin Aromashodu, Chicago (110): If the Bears had a first or second-round pick, I’d be worried about them trading for Brandon Marshall … but that isn’t the case and Aromashodu looks to be the No. 1 receiver there in 2010. In a Mike Martz offense, that is definitely appealing.
39. Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis (111)
40. (40) Austin Collie, Indianapolis (112)
Intriguing receivers that missed the composite cut: (26) Julian Edelman, (27) Donnie Avery, (36) Mohammed Massaquoi, (39) Joshua Cribbs
How do you see the 2010 receiver rankings for dynasty and keeper leagues? We’d love to hear your comment in the space provided below.
Alright, I’m in a ppr keeper league. I asked this question on a different post. Which receiver should I keep for the 2010 season? Mike Wallace, Robert Meachem, or Kenny Britt. It seemed unanamous Kenny Britt was the pick. Now in this post you have him below both Wallace and Meachem. Did something change since then or should I still stay with Britt over the other two?
I still like Britt, even though I’m not as sold on Vince Young as many others as a guy who can make Britt a legitimate elite receiver.
These rankings are based on composites from three other sites: fftoday.com, fanasyfootballmaniacs.com and rotoworld.com. However, my personal rankings are in parethesis before each player’s name.
Looking at my personal rankings above, I have Kenny Britt ranked 23rd, Mike Wallace 30th and Robert Meachem 35th.
Out of the three, Britt has the clearest path to his team’s No.1 role. Meachem plays in a high-octane Saints offense, but Brees is good at spreading the ball around. I wouldn’t feel comfortable on a week-to-week basis on starting him in fantasy circles. Wallace was nice surprise for the Steelers last season, but is still behind Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward on the depth chart and has previous fan-favorite Antwaan Randle-El back in black as competition.
I’d easily want Britt on my fantasy team over these other two.
@Guest:
I second Kenny Britt on that one. He has the best chance to be the number 1 target in an offense of the three. And that’s what ppr is about targets.