WRs Week 4: Unlikely suspects
When I looked at the list of the top fantasy receivers so far this year that I realized where my fantasy football season had gone so terribly wrong.
Where are Randy Moss, Chad Johnson, Tory Holt, Andre Johnson? They’re definitely not at the top. The Patriots’ Wes Welker was that one prized WR available in my keeper league draft. To find him this season, hit page down a couple times. There he is with David Patten and Brandon Stokely.
So, if the elite receivers are not in the top 10 through Week 4, who is?
Continuing Chinstrap Ninjas look into fantasy rankings so far this year, here are the top 10 wide receivers in standard (scoring+performance, no PPR) formats:
| Rank | Player | Team | Statistics (rec-yards-TDs) |
| 1. | Anquan Boldin | Cardinals | 27-366-5 |
| 2. | Greg Jennings | Packers | 25-482-2 |
| 3. | Santana Moss | Redskins | 27-421-3 |
| 4. | Brandon Marshall | Broncos | 31-398-3 |
| 5. | Larry Fitzgerald | Cardinals | 24-415-2 |
| 6. | Laveranues Coles | Jets | 18-257-4 |
| 7. | Eddie Royal | Broncos | 27-298-2 |
| 8. | Terrell Owens | Cowboys | 17-264-4 |
| 9. | DeSean Jackson | Eagles | 22-327-1 |
| 10. | Calvin Johnson | Lions | 17-276-2 |
Factoing in PPR merely shifts around these top 10 players, so this is the cream of the crop.
My thoughts:
- Now, Boldin and Fitzgerald were expected to be here, but I doubt everyone thought they’d both be in the top five. TO is on the list, but if he’s not top 5, he’s not playing like a first-round fantasy WR as I’m sure he was in several leagues this year.
- Meanwhile, two Broncos made it on the list. That team has been scoring points, and Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal have been reaping the benefits with a combined 58 catches and 696 yards and five scores. impressive.
- I think Jennings, Moss and Megatron are all surprises, but they’ve shown flashes of greatness. I think the huge surprises are the return of Laveranues Coles and the arrival of DeSean Jackson.
- Coles, I thought, was washed up. And, I expected Jackson to be the next Freddie Mitchell — PAC-10 receiver, small and speedy, and soon forgotten. I was wrong on both counts. Jackson is a playmaker, plain and simple. He looks like he’s going to be for the future. Favre has rejuvenated Coles’ career.
- Does this chart display a changing of the guard? Many of the huge, fast receivers are being surpassed by smaller, speedier guys. Moss, Jennings, Royal, Coles and Jackson are all listed under six feet tall. Boldin is only 6-1.
- I guess there’s not a lot of advice here, just observation. You want some advice. Find a way to get DeSean Jackson on your team now, before his stock gets any higher, same with Jennings. Jennings may be a better choice in a couple weeks because without Rodgers, his numbers may take a hit. Jackson will be awesome as long as McNabb is under center. If Donovan McNabb gets hurt, Jackson’s value will decline as well.
- Coles is a good receiver, a quarterback like Favre will continue to turn him into a great receiver (Donald Driver?).
- Moss has been a mystery to me for years. He should be dominating in this league. I’m glad coach Zorn and Jason Campbell finally realized this.
- My last bit of advice, don’t give up on the Megatrons, TOs and Brandon Marshalls of the world. The best will always rise to the top, just don’t make a habit of ignoring the little speedsters. The Kevin Walters and Wes Welkers of the world are taking back the spotlight.
What receivers have you contemplating a benching? Which receivers have surprised you and led your team to victory? Let us know in the comments.
Also, this is part three of a Chinstrap Ninja Week 4 series that takes a look at the top 10 fantasy players at each position, the quarterbacks and running backs, have already been spotlighted. Up next are the tight ends, kickers and defenses.
[...] won’t go to another team that gave him the targets he got in 2008, and Orton would make certain they are not good targets in Denver. Receivers need targets to be [...]