As the NFL trends toward more passing and scoring, the receiver position has become more and more valuable. If you play in a PPR league, receivers are as important and some even more than running backs.
There are a handful of WRs who are worth taking before the big producing quarterbacks (Luck & Rodgers), and one who can be as good as any player in the league. Here’s my Top 40 to help you prepare for your upcoming draft.
1. Antonio Brown, PIT
2014: 1,698 receiving yards, 129 catches, 15 TDs, 319 return yards
Brown is probably the best offensive weapon in football. Incredible speed, always has the ball thrown his way, and he scores from everywhere on the field. Has also proven it 2 years in a row
Pick: Middle-Late 1st Round
2. Odell Beckham Jr, NYG
2014: 1,305 receiving yards, 91 catches, 12 TDs, 171 return
ODB accumulated those numbers playing less games than most starting NFL receivers. Absolute difference maker for fantasy teams and carried some to the playoffs and championship last year.
Pick: Late 1st Round
3. Demaryius Thomas, DEN
2014: 1,619 rec yards, 111 catches, 11 TDs
Manning has a year or two left and he’s going to go out guns blazing. Thomas is his go-to guy with both Julius Thomas and Welker gone. Expect him to get the ball early and often.
Pick: 2nd Round
4. Dez Bryant, DAL
2014: 1,320 rec yards, 88 catches, 16 TDs
Dez is the best in the red zone. Without a designated feature running back, expect Romo to be throwing more than last year and likely throwing to Dez.
Pick 2nd Round
5. Julio Jones, ATL
2014: 1,593 rec yards, 104 catches, 7 TDs
Julio used to have an annual injury that holds him out for significant time but he held his own pretty well last year. One of the fastest guys on the field, even when injured, and Matt Ryan’s favorite target.
Pick 2nd Round
6. Calvin Johnson, DET
2014: 1,077 rec yards, 71 catches, 8 TDs
It’s weird ranking Megatron behind multiple guys, but he is getting older and coming off of an injury plagued season. Healed up, he still has the ability to win games by himself, and I trust him the most on the Lions roster.
Pick: Late 2nd Round
7. AJ Green, CIN
2014: 1,041 rec yards, 69 catches, 6 TDs
Big reason for Andy Dalton’s drop-off was AJ Green’s injury last year. Green is back healthy and will be as solid as ever if Cincinnati sets him up with their running game.
Pick: Late 2nd – Early 3rd
8. Randall Cobb, GB
2014: 1,287 rec yards, 91 catches, 12 TDs, 112 return
Ridiculous how Cobb and Nelson were able to have such high numbers last season, but that’s how it works in the Green Bay system. With Nelson down, Cobb jumps up in value, but by how much? That’ll depend on how the next man up performs?
Pick: 2nd-Early 3rd Round
9. Alshon Jeffery, CHI
2014: 1,133 rec yards, 85 catches, 10 TDs
Alshon has a chance to be a superstar with Brandon Marshall gone. He’ll be expected to play a Demaryius Thomas role in the new Bears system that will be set up by the run. Eddie Royal in the slot will also help get Jeffery open. He’s missed time in the preseason due to injury but is expected to be good to go for Week 1.
Pick: 3rd Round
10. TY Hilton, IND
2014: 1,345 rec yards, 82 catches, 7 TDs
Colts still added a few more weapons for Andrew Luck, but T.Y.’s still the #1 guy. He’s always downfield and, if anything, Andre Johnson will help him get more open.
Pick: 3rd Round
11. Mike Evans, TB
2014: 1,051 rec yards, 68 catches, 12 TDs
Jameis Winston looks okay so far this preseason and is a much better quarterback than Josh McCown. All Mike Evans needs is someone who can throw the ball down field and he’ll go get it.
Pick: 4th Round
12. DeAndre Hopkins, HOU
2014: 1,210 rec yards, 76 catches, 6 TDs
This will be the guy that jumps up people’s draft boards because of Hard Knocks. This time, I think it will be justified because DeAndre is the best player on that offense not named Arian Foster (who is out because of injury). Brian Hoyer was just named the starting QB, and Hopkins should feel better about his consistency.
Pick: 4th Round
13. Emmanuel Sanders, DEN
2014: 1,404 rec yards, 101 catches, 9 TDs
Sanders went under the radar as one of the most productive WRs last year, and he’s going under the radar here too because of the low expectations for Peyton Manning. Just like Randall Cobb a year ago, Sanders gets open when Thomas gets more attention. Could be a really good WR2.
Pick 4th Round
14. Brandin Cooks, NO
2014: 550 rec yards, 53 catches, 3 TDs
Cooks started last season as one of the best rookie WRs in a great class…and then got hurt. If Breesus is going to bounce back after an up-and-down season, Cooks will be the key to that. Best athlete on their team.
Pick 4th or 5th Round
15. Jordan Matthews, PHI
2014: 872 rec yards, 67 catches, 8 TDs
Philly is trying to sell people on Matthews being a stud, but the truth is that there is nobody better ahead of him. If Jeremy Maclin’s #1 receiver production a year ago is any indication, the Chip Kelly system may pay off big time for owners.
Pick 5th Round
16. Andre Johnson, IND
2014: 936 rec yards, 86 catches, 3 TDs
Andre dealt with a really bad quarterback situation in Houston the past few years but also wasn’t getting open in the end zone. With so many weapons demanding coverage for Indy, he will have better opportunities to score. Andrew Luck will see to that.
Pick 6th Round
17. Golden Tate, DET
2014: 1,331 rec yards, 99 catches, 4 TDs
Based on last year’s production, Tate should ranked higher. A lot of that was thanks to Megatron either being hurt or drawing coverage away from him. I wouldn’t expect the same catch and yardage numbers, but he would make a solid low end WR2/Flex guy.
Pick 6th Round
18. Julian Edelman, NE
2014: 972 rec yards, 92 catches, 5 TDs, 299 return
Tom Brady’s favorite receiver will have to step it up if #12 misses any time. Not very consistent but gets a lot of catches for PPR and will pick up those random return yards that make you mad if you sat him. (Personal experience)
Pick 6th or 7th Round
19. Brandon Marshall, NYJ
2014: 721 rec yards, 61 catches, 8 TDs
Brandon Marshall’s starting quarterback just got punched in the face and is out 6-10 weeks with a broken jaw. The Jets don’t have any quarterbacks and Marshall isn’t getting any younger either. I would also be worried about his injuries from last season being a sign that he may miss time again. Still has potential to have big TD games, but I wouldn’t depend on him for yardage.
Pick 7th Round
20. Amari Cooper, OAK
Rookie
Definitely the best of the rookies in this year’s class. Could give you great value if he plays to his potential right away. Fast and has knack for getting to the end zone.
Pick 7th Round
21. Keenan Allen, SD
2014: 783 rec yards, 77 catches, 4 TDs
Allen was one of the most targeted players in the league last year but wasn’t making the catches. He settled in later on, but the Chargers seem like a run heavy team going into the season. With Eddie Royal gone, he’ll definitely get more attention from Rivers (Batman-Woo!)
Pick 7th Round
22. DeSean Jackson, WAS
2014: 1,169 rec yards, 56 catches, 6 TDs
I don’t like the Washington offense at all. RG-III is a broken player and that makes DeSean a hit or miss player. He’ll have great games because of speed, but then he’ll be invisible because nobody can get him the ball.
Pick 8th Round
23. Sammy Watkins, BUF
2014: 982 rec yards, 65 catches, 6 TDs
Sammy is clearly the best receiver in Buffalo, but the bad trio of quarterbacks battling for the starting spot make you worried as to how consistent his production will be. They are going to run a lot and that may open things up for Sammy. WR isn’t a very valuable position on Rex Ryan teams.
Pick 8th Round
24. Jarvis Landry, MIA
2014: 758 rec yards, 84 catches, 5 TDs, 1,158 return
Landry was an under-the-radar productive rookie last year and I expect him to play even better in his second year. With Wallace gone, he’ll be much more depended on by Tannehill.
Pick 8th Round
25. Davante Adams, GB
2014: 446 rec yards, 38 catches, 3 TD
Davante just became a lot more valuable with Jordy being lost for the season. Week 1 will be an audition for him to see if he can fill the role opposite Cobb. He had flashes last season but also dropped some important passes. The best bet is to draft him later and take the risk than pass up on Rodgers’s next best WR.
Pick 8th Round
26. Victor Cruz, NYG
2014: 337 yards, 23 catches, 1 TD
With two knee surgeries in as many years and currently a calf injury that is keeping out of the Giants’ 3rd preseason game, Victor Cruz seems like a liability going into the 2015 season. Cruz is confident he’ll be good to go in Week 1 and could put up his old production with defenses paying more attention to Beckham.
Pick 8th Round
27. Eric Decker, NYJ
2014: 962 rec yards, 74 catches, 5 TDs
Oddly, I trust Eric Decker more than I do Brandon Marshall in New York. You can see Marshall getting double-teamed and opening things up over the middle and deep for Decker, which is something that works better for Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback…Marshall is going to hate Fitzpatrick.
Pick: 8th Round
28. Jeremy Maclin, KC
2014: 1,318 rec yards, 85 catches, 10 TDs
Maclin was one of the best receivers in the league last year. Unfortunately, Alex Smith is his quarterback now. Kansas City WRs didn’t catch a TD pass until the backend of the season. Maclin may improve those numbers reuniting with Andy Reid, so he could be steal here.
Pick 8th Round
29. Roddy White, ATL
2014: 921 rec yards, 80 catches, 7 TDs
Roddy is a pass catching machine and sometimes gets to the end zone. His issue in recent years is staying healthy, but should benefit from Julio getting most of the attention.
Pick 9th Round
30. Mike Wallace, MIN
2014: 862 rec yards, 67 catches, 10 TD
Wallace is very good at finding the end zone and is the most proven among the Vikings receivers. As Teddy Bridgewater gets more comfortable as an NFL quarterback, I would trust Wallace the most in the group.
Pick 9th Round
31. Steve Smith Sr., BAL
2014: 1,065 rec yards, 79 catches, 6 TD
I expect Steve Smith to go way too early in drafts because he’s a name people know. It’s his last season, so he’s going to try to ball out, but that’s only going to work if Joe Flacco can get him the ball. The WR group in Baltimore is pretty thin so if Flacco is playing well, so will Smith Sr.
Pick 9th round
32. Anquan Boldin, SF
2014: 1,062 rec yards, 83 catches, 5 TDs
Boldin is a badass and he has good chemistry with Kaepernick. You can expect, the Niners to play a lot of catchup this season because their defense is so depleted, which means Boldin will be getting a lot of targets.
Pick 9th Round
33. John Brown, AZ
2014: 696 rec yards, 48 catches, 5 TDs
Among the Cardinals receivers, John Brown is the Home Run player for Carson Palmer to throw to downfield. May be boom or bust if Michael Floyd returns and stays healthy. Theoretically can be open a lot if Larry Fitzgerald and Floyd draw most of the coverage.
Pick 10th Round
34. Vincent Jackson, TB
2014: 1002 rec yards, 70 catches, 2 TDs
I always feel like VJax would be a better player on a different team, but he makes due with the quarterbacks throwing to him. If Jameis Winston is able to read defenses quickly, VJax will benefit from it. Mike Evans will be the first option, but the floor isn’t very low on VJax either.
Pick 10th Round
35. Allen Robinson, JAX
2014: 548 rec yards, 48 catches, 2 TDs
It’s easier to trust Jacksonville RBs than their WRs, but Allen Robinson can be a stud. His problem is staying healthy, as he broke his foot last year after heating up. Blake Bortles can sling it though, so keep an eye on A-Rob late.
Pick 10th Round
36. Eddie Royal, CHI
2014: 778 rec yards, 62 catches, 7 TDs
I think Eddie Royal is going to surprise a lot of people this year with the Bears. He’s reunited with Jay Cutler, and both players had their best statistical seasons playing together. Royal provides something Cutler hasn’t had in years, which is a true slot receiver. So as Alshon Jeffery is getting covered deep and Martellus Bennett is drawing attention, Royal will be open in the middle.
Pick 10th Round
37. Kendall Wright, TEN
2014: 715 rec yards, 57 catches, 6 TDs
Kendall Wright has been inconsistent for a long time, and part of that is thanks to bad quarterbacks being in Tennessee. Early reviews though, are that he’s playing well in practice with Marcus Mariota and that’s encouraging. If Mariota transitions well, he should be able to extend plays with his feet and that helps Wright downfield a lot.
Pick 11th Round
38. Stevie Johnson, SD
2014: 435 rec yards, 35 catches, 3 TD
Stevie was in a bad situation with San Francisco, as that offense turned out to be a mess. In San Diego, he’ll be depended on a lot more especially with Antonio Gates out for the first 4 weeks. Coaches say that he can average 7+ catches, which could make him a steal this far back.
Pick 11th Round or later
39. Nelson Agholor, PHI
Rookie
Agholor is expected to do big things for the Eagles as they selected him in the first round. He’s now taking 1st team reps, and should be a starter Week 1. If Chip Kelly’s weird offense works, Agholor could be big if Jordan Matthews is getting the attention most people expect him to.
Pick 11th round or later
40. Michael Floyd, AZ
2014: 841 rec yards, 47 catches, 6 TD
Floyd is returning from a dislocated finger injury but is on track to be ready for Week 1. If he can stay on the field, Floyd can do big things as John Brown takes the top off opposing defenses. Potential steal late in your draft.
Draft 11th Round or later.
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