Category Archives: Wide Receivers

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – April 2014

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Click here for updated dynasty wide receiver rankings. 

  • sandersOne change in the top five as Julio Jones enters the top five. Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, and Josh Gordon precede Jones.
  • Big risers this month include new Bronco Emmanuel Sanders to 45th from 55th thanks to having Peyton Manning as his quarterback; Eagles receiver Riley Cooper moves to 52nd from 60th thanks to the trade of DeSean Jackson; and finally Packers receiver Jarrett Boykin to 58th from 68th thanks to James Jones’ departure.
  • The big drops this month include Saints receiver Marques Colston from 42nd to 50th thanks to the Saints more balanced offensive approach; the Vikings’ Greg Jennings drops from 43rd to 51st; finally Steve Smith drops from 58th to 70th thanks to his probably reduced role in Baltimore.

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – March 2014

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Click here for complete dynasty wide receiving rankings, now with rankings from Rotoworld. 

  • Top five remains the same with Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Josh Gordon, and Demaryius Thomas in the same positions as last month.
  • Big risers this month include Michael Crabtree, who will have a full pre-season to perform; the Cardinals Michael Floyd, who should be taking more targets from Larry Fitzgerald; the Titans Kendall Wright, who caught almost 100 balls with over 1,000 yards despite shoddy quarterback play; and the Patriots Julian Edelman, who re-signed with New England where his dynasty value will never be higher.
  • The drops this month include Larry Fitzgerald, who at 31, is a year older and has a steadily falling dynasty value; recently signed Eric Decker, who had his value drop once he left Denver; the Texans Andre Johnson, also a victim of time; and the Patriots Danny Amendola who just can’t seem to stay healthy.
  • New to the rankings are the Seahawks Doug Baldwin, who should see more targets now that Golden Tate is out-of-town; the Giants Jerrel Jernigan, who should see more targets now that Hakeem Nicks is out of New York; and Jarrett Boykin who should see more looks now that James Jones is out-of-town.

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – February 2014

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Click here for the complete dynasty wide receiver rankings. 

  • No changes to the top five with Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Josh Gordon, and Demaryius Thomas. Nothing should change this group of top-tier receivers any time soon.
  • A big drop includes Giants receiver Victor Cruz, still recovering from a knee scope. The drop is nothing to worry about as Cruz will be the top receiver in New York now that Hakeem Nicks is a free agent. Another drop is Baltimore’s Torrey Smith. Luckily for Smith, he has Gary Kubiak as a new offensive coordinator who oversaw big seasons from his own #1 receiver, Andre Johnson. However, with Dennis Pitta and the Ravens far apart on contract talks, the lack of support in the Ravens passing game can only hinder Smith.
  • Rising this month is Cowboys receiver Terrance Williams. With current second receiver Miles Austin on his way out, it will be Williams jobs to lose. Some others include newcomers to the list, Colts receiver Da’Rick Rogers and Eagles free agent Riley Cooper. Of  the two, Rogers has more potential as he has an elite talent throwing him the ball and, hopefully, a more pass-oriented offense. Cooper, meanwhile, is a free agent and it’s anybody’s guess as to where he ends up.

Your Dynasty Questions Answered, Part IV

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Another question, this time about the value of a pick in dynasty rookie drafts against a proven commodity. Don’t forget to send your questions to dynastyfantasyfootballcentral(at)gmail.com. Chris says:
“Unique format – 1 QB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE, 3 FLEX. 12-team full point PPR. To me this format is all about having quality WR depth. Would you give up the #3 pick in this years rookie draft for Torrey Smith? I have a roster that is able to win now and in favor of making the deal but would like another opinion.”
That is a tough call. Just going off of that information, I’d be inclined to do that trade as well. While this draft has a ton of depth at nearly every position, there are no slam dunk prospects such as Andrew Luck a few years ago. You’ll still be able to get quality talent in later rounds even at the receiver position. Rotoworld recently had a great piece on the second-tier of receivers in this years draft who all will most likely be available in the second and third rounds.
For Smith, he’s still just 25 so it’s not as if you’re trading for a 30-something receiver. He set career highs with 65 catches and over 1,100 yards this year while being the only effective Baltimore offensive weapon which, subsequently, forced defenses to focus more on covering him. Should Baltimore upgrade at the opposite receiver position or along the offensive line so they allow less than three sacks a game, Smith’s value with only increase.
At the end of the day, built to win or not, getting Torrey Smith for the third overall is worth it.

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – January 2014, 2.0

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Click here for updated dynasty wide receiver rankings.

  • A new entry in the top five with Josh Gordon at #4. Gordon did a lot with little to work with on offense so anything should be an upgrade in 2014.
  • You can certainly see a trend in the biggest risers: the Bears Alshon Jeffery is up to 9th from 15th; Steeler Antonio Brown is up to 11th from 14th; Chargers rookie Keenan Allen makes the biggest leap to 15th from 24th; and the Vikings Cordarrelle Patterson to 17th from 21st. All are under the age of 26.
  • Drops include the Seahawks Percy Harvin from 9th to 12th primarily because he can’t seem to get on the field; Bucs Vincent Jackson goes from 20th to 26th since Lovie Smith was hired as coach; the enigma Hakeem Nicks drops from 23rd to 29th and could fall further depending on where he signs.  

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – January 2014

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Be sure to check out the updated dynasty wide receiver rankings here. 

  • Top five stays the same with Calvin, AJ, Dez, Demaryius, and Julio in order.
  • A couple of NFC North receivers make big leaps with Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery moving up to 15th from 22nd. Vikings receiver Cordarrelle Patterson moved up to 21st from 26th. Fellow rookie receiver Keenan Allen also moved up five spots from 29th to 24th.
  • Dropping this month is Ravens receiver Torrey Smith drops from 12th to 16th. Bigger drops include Broncos receiver Wes Welker dropping from 23rd to 27th and Dolphins receiver Mike Wallace from 24th to 30th. Welker has been dealing with a concussion this season while Wallace has been toiling away in Miami. The hiring of a new offensive coordinator could help.

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – December

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Be sure to check out the latest dynasty wide receiver rankings here. 

  • No changes at the top as the top seven stay the same: Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Julio Jones, Brandon Marshall, and Randall Cobb all stay the same.
  • The big risers include Josh Gordon (8), Antonio Brown (14), and Alshon Jeffery (22). All had the skill it was just a matter of putting it together. There should be no doubt heading in to 2014.
  • The only real drop was Marques Colston (47) which primarily is age. Any receiver in New Orleans is bound to be limited by the in-house competition.

Dynasty Rookie Wide Receivers – Part IV

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Let’s look at the receivers drafted in the 4th round:

  • Ace Sanders (JAC) – Drafted 101st overall out of South Carolina, Sanders is hoping to be a poor man’s Tavon Austin. He had pedestrian stats in the receiving game (45/531/9) in college but showed promise on the return game with 15 yards per return. He’s been working out of the slot with the first team. But Sanders stands at just 5′ 7″ and still has the quarterback issue to deal with. Without Justin Blackmon starting the first four games, Sanders will have an opportunity but needs the supporting cast and hasn’t showing anything to show he’s something special. I’d stay away.
  • Josh Boyce (NE) – Drafted 102nd overall, Boyce stands at a respectable 5′ 11″ and 200 pounds and ran a 4.4 at the combine. He did start camp with a foot problem but has overcome that. With lack of receiving options anymore in New England, Boyce and Dobson have been running with the first team at times. Boyce is a guy to keep on later in dynasty drafts.
  • Chris Harper (SEA) – Drafted 123rd out of Kansas State, Harper didn’t get to flash much of his skill in K-State’s run-first offense. A physical specimen at 6′ 4″ at 229, he projects as an X-receiver in Seattle’s offense and physically resembles Sterling Sharpe. He’s not particularly quick but does have a clear path to the starting lineup with Golden Tate a free agent after this year. Seattle doesn’t figure to pass a lot but if they do, Harper is intriguing.
  • Quinton Patton (SF) – Standing 6′ 2″ with a 4.4 40-time, Patton has the size to be a quality NFL starter. His positives include good hands and control. He started off slow but Coach Harbaugh claims he’s all caught up. The receivers in front of Patton wouldn’t appear to be an issue but there are several including Kyle Wiliams, AJ Jenkins, Anquan Boldin, not to mention, Michael Crabtree. Patton will really have to elevate his game to even see snaps on the field his rookie year. Long-term, the current regime uses a run-heavy scheme with multiple two-tight end sets. It’s hard to imagine an offense where Patton could carve out a niche.

For Part I, click here. For Part II, click here. For Part III, click here.

Dynasty Rookie Wide Receivers – Part III

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Part three of our look at dynasty rookie wide receivers includes those drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. These would be true sleepers in any format.

  • Terrance Williams (DAL) – Drafted 74th overall out of Baylor, Williams was expected to compete for the third receiver position in Dallas. At 6′ 2″ and 208 pounds, Williams was billed as a Mike Wallace-type vertical threat. However, Williams has had issues doing the most basic receiving duties like, you know, receiving. Williams seems to be another in the revolving door of third receivers the Cowboys have had over the years. He’s a late round prospect in dynasty leagues and a must-own for any Miles Austin owners, even if it’s for the taxi squad. But don’t spend too high of a pick.
  • Keenan Allen (SD) – Allen was drafted two picks after Williams at 76 to San Diego. Allen was Cal’s all-time leading receiver after just three seasons. He excels in route running and receiving but ran a disappointing 4.7 before the draft. However, the Chargers think it should have been closer to a 4.5 since Allen was coming off a PCL tear. Even so, he currently sits 4th on the Chargers depth chart behind Danario Alexander, Malcom Floyd, and Vincent Brown. Plus, Philip Rivers continues to trend downwards with less zip on his ball than ever before. His talent outweighs his situation so there is hope. Allen currently sits at 46 in dynasty rankings.
  • Marquise Goodwin (BUF) – Drafted two picks after Allen, Goodwin went 78th to Buffalo out of Texas. With a 4.27 40-time, Goodwin set the third fastest 40-time since the combine went digital in1999.  Hopefully, his 5′ 9″ stature doesn’t prevent the Bills from using him on the outside where he, literally, had to slow down on a couple deep bombs. As with the other Bills position players, their long-term success will hinge on E.J. Manual. Hopefully, Manual will learn to get Goodwin the ball. He’s the first prospect from this list that I can get excited about.
  • Markus Wheaton (PIT) –  Drafted 79th by Pittsburgh, Wheaton was brought in to presumably, be groomed for Mike Wallace’s old spot. According to former scout Daniel Jeremiah, Wheaton “fits the new mold they’ve got there, guys who can win one-on-ones with quickness, but he’s also got big-play ability with top speed and feisty toughness.” Wheaton enters a stable quarterback situation, a clear path to the #3 receiving spot immediately and an offense coaching staff responsible for 3,700 passing yards last year. Hopefully Wheaton can carve out a piece of that early and often.
  • Stedman Bailey (STL) – Drafted 92nd overall by the Rams, Bailey is buried behind Brian Quick, Chris Givens, and West Virginia teammate Tavon Austin, even though Bailey led the Mountaineers in receiving yards and had an amazing 25 touchdowns. Pre-combine he was reported to look impressive with good routes and catching everything in sight. He only slipped thanks to sub-par 40 times and other combine stats. Bailey is at the mercy of Brian Schottenheimer’s offense but would be a great pick on most other teams with less competition. As it is, he’s worth nothing more than a taxi squad pick at this point.

For Part I click here. For Part II click here. For Part IV click here.

Dynasty Rookie Wide Receivers – Part II

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Previously, we looked at the  three receivers drafted in the first round of the NFL draft and what kind of impact to expect from them in dynasty leagues. Part II will look at those receivers drafted in the second round. Typically, they can provide more value as you’ll be drafting them later.

  • Justin Hunter (TEN) – Before the draft, Greg Cosell called Hunter the most physically gifted receiver among those that were eligible. After his 6′ 4″ frame ran a 4.4 40-time in the combine, Hunter was drafted 34th overall by Tennessee. Hunter has the tools but will he have the opportunity to be successful? Hunter joins Kenny Britt and Kendall Wright in the Tennessee rotation and is coming off a hamstring injury in OTA’s. Perhaps most damning is that Jake Locker is still the Tennessee quarterback. There’s a lot to overcome so it might be wise to use a taxi-squad spot for Hunter initially. Plus, there’s other receiver that were drafted later than Hunter that have a better opportunity to make an immediate impact. Hunter currently sits at 49 in average dynasty rankings.
  • Robert Woods (BUF) – Woods was drafted 41st overall from USC after posting a 74/849/11 line his junior year. Of course this was after his sophomore season of 111/1,292/15.  Physically, Woods has a pedestrian build at 6′ 0″ and 190 pounds but is considered the most NFL-ready of any receiver thanks to a quick grasp of the playbook and good route-running. He is walking into a good situation with Buffalo hitting the reset button in the off-season. With a new coach and quarterback, who he’s already hitting it off with, Woods has time to prove he belongs. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be starting opposite Steve Johnson in the Fall. Definitely worth a mid-level draft pick in dynasty circles. Woods is 51 in combined dynasty rankings.
  • Aaron Dobson (NE) –  My personal favorite of the second round picks, Dobson is walking into an ideal situation. Drafted 59th overall out of Marshall, the 6′ 3″ Dobson is just one of the many new faces in the New England receiving corps. which means everyone is  starting fresh. Additionally, last year’s New England team was fourth in the league in pass attempts. Drafted to provide some height, Dobson was compared by Cosell to Larry FItzgerald in terms of size and hands. If he can keep up with Tom Brady and the playbook, there’s nothing stopping Dobson from being successful early and often in dynasty leagues. And with Belichick, supposedly, gushing about him while praising his basketball background (hello, Jimmy Graham), Dobson is set up for big things now and in the future. With the uncertainty in New England about who’s going to catch the ball, it might not be a bad idea to grab Dobson early in dynasty drafts.  Expect his current 59th spot in our dynasty ranks to improve.

Part I click here. For Part III click here. For Part IV click here.