Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – April 2014

Click here for updated dynasty wide receiver rankings.

One 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.

Daily Dynasty Update – February 27th

The Eagles re-signed Riley Cooper, thereby salvaging any dynasty value he had. However, he didn’t clear 50 catches or 900 yards so temper your expectations.
Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was cut by the Browns, freeing him to sign with any team. Jackson is coming off a season with 139 tackles and seven passes defended so he can still bring it wherever he ends up.
The Vikings were not looking at tight ends at the recent combine so Kyle Rudolph should have a clear path to breakout status in 2014. He also has Norv Turner as his offensive coordinator after Turner turned Jordan Cameron into an All-Pro in Cleveland last season.
Expect Jamaal Charles to get less carries next year but still be at the top of dynasty rankings. Acquiring Knile Davis, especially if you’re a Charles owner, isn’t a bad idea.
Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant is expected to get the ‘Megatron’ treatment under new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. Expect Bryant to challenge Johnson for top dynasty receiver in 2014.

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.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees had a very average day, going 20 of 30 for 250 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Brees goes up against Seattle next week. This game does nothing to dispel the notion that Brees can’t put up his usual numbers outside of a dome.
Eagles quarterback Nick Foles had another efficient day, going 23 of 33 for 195 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He’ll be a QB1 in dynasty circles heading in to next season.
Saints running back Mark Ingram picked up the slack with 97 rushing yards and a touchdown. Ingram is eligible to be cut before next season but games like this will help him stick around.
Eagles receiver Riley Cooper led the Eagles with six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. The free agent had quite the year with the racial slur controversy in the beginning but found his groove with Foles. It’ll be interesting to see if Philadelphia brings him back.

First it was Jeremy Maclin then Dennis Pitta. Maclin to a torn ACL and Pitta to a dislocated hip. The dynasty analysis:

Dennis Pitta – Pitta was ranked no later than six in dynasty rankings. With Anquan Boldin traded, Pitta was in line for a ton of targets and receptions. And with the lack of reliable tight end targets around the league, could have even improved his dynasty draft ranking. Now Pitta has a fractured hip which is not all that dissimilar from what Bo Jackson had which ended his career. In fact, two of the eight players with the same type of injury had their careers ended because of it. Needless to say, there’s little reason to draft Pitta unless you have some sort of injured reserve in your leagues. Ed Dickson will improve on his 44th dynasty ranking. He did have a respectable 54/528/5 line in his only season as a starter but that will probably be the ceiling for him.
Jeremy Maclin – Maclin was ranked 25th in dynasty rankings heading into the season (and a contract year) before tearing his ACL. 25th may have been high seeing as Chip Kelly goes run-first and the quarterback question is still up in the air. But showing glimpses of talent, being the #1 target on a team and at just 25 years old, Maclin still made a good investment in dynasty leagues. However, now he’ll have to wait until his age-26 season and find a team willing to take a chance. For the Eagles this year, Riley Cooper will take over. If a player of Maclin’s ability produced no more than 66 yards a game over four years, I don’t know that Cooper can do much more.