We continue our rankings with wide receivers. These rankings are for 12-team leagues, and a scoring system consisting of 6 pts per receiving TD, 1 point per 10 receiving yards and .5 points per reception. We combined our own individual rankings into one unified cheatsheet. Our personal player rankings are listed after each name.
Dalton = The first number listed after each name
Jeff = The second number listed
Robby = The last number listed
1. Steve Smith (1, 2, 1)
2. Terrell Owens (3, 1, 3)
3. Torry Holt (2, 5, 2)
4. Chad Johnson (4, 4, 4)
5. Randy Moss (7, 3, 6)
6. Larry Fitzgerald (6, 7, 5)
7. Marvin Harrison (8, 6,8)
8. Anquan Boldin (5, 8, 10)
9. Chris Chambers (10, 9, 7)
10. Reggie Wayne (9, 13, 9)
11. Darrell Jackson (11, 10, 16)
12. Roy Williams (12, 11, 14)
13. Plaxico Burress (13, 12, 13)
14. Hines Ward (14, 15, 11)
15. Santana Moss (16, 16, 12)
16. Donald Driver (17, 14, 15)
17. Andre Johnson (15, 18, 18)
18. Joey Galloway (20, 19, 17)
19. TJ Houshmandzadeh (19, 20, 19)
20. Derrick Mason (23, 17, 20)
21. Deion Branch (21, 21, 21)
22. Javon Walker (22, 24, 22)
23. Lee Evans (29, 22, 26)
24. Nate Burleson (26, 31, 24)
25. Reggie Brown (35, 23, 25)
26. Jerry Porter (30, 30, 23)
27. Joe Horn (18, 32, 36)
28. Laveranues Coles (25, 28, 35)
29. Koren Robinson (28, 27, 34)
30. Donte’ Stallworth (32, 29, 29)
31. Matt Jones (36, 25, 32)
32. Drew Bennett (27, NR, 28)
33. Michael Clayton (24, 33, NR)
34. Muhsin Muhammad (31, 34, 37)
35. David Givens (38, 37, 27)
36. Rod Smith (35, 35, 33)
37. Eddie Kennison (37, 40, 30)
38. Mark Clayton (NR, 26, NR)
39. Antonio Bryant (34, 38, 39)
40. Terry Glenn (NR, 39, 31)
41. Roddy White (40, 36, NR)
42. Kevin Curtis (39, NR, 40)
43. Chad Jackson (NR, NR, 38)
Dalton Says: Anquan Boldin is a stud. The guy was targeted more than any wide receiver in all of football last year while missing two games. Over the last seven games of the season, all he did was catch 63 balls for 786 yards.
Roy Williams is a tough call this year. While he’s clearly prone to injuries, he’s also shown flashes of brilliance, is entering his third season (read: breakthrough candidate) and now calls Mike Martz his offense coordinator (read: jackpot). Although his QB will remain ho-hum, Williams could easily end the year as a top five wideout.
I actually don’t plan on drafting Joe Horn in any of my leagues this year, but one-year removed from a 1400 yard, 11 TD campaign, he can’t be completely ignored. As far as aging vets go, I’d certainly take him over Derrick Mason.
I don’t think Terry Glenn is a very good pick this year. Sure, she led the league in yards per catch last year, but remember, the most yards a receiver starting opposite Terrell Owens has ever got in a season is 805.
I like Michael Clayton’s value this year, as it looks like he could be had for dirt-cheap. He had an awful season last year, but that can be blamed mostly on injuries. His rookie campaign, however, was one of the most impressive first year’s ever. Joey Galloway is 34 and coming off a career year. Gruden’s offense is made for big receiving numbers. Don’t forget about Clayton.
Maybe in hindsight I am underrating Reggie Brown a tad. But the recent track record of sophomore receivers is nothing short of terrible.
Jeff must know something about Mark Clayton that I don’t. Don’t keep the secret all to yourself Jeff. Are you sure you’re not getting his first name confused with Michael?
Jeff Says: For the first time since his early ‘Niner days, Terrell Owens has a legitimate WR opposite of him. With all of the weapons surrounding him in Dallas, Owens will have a honeymoon season.
I like Randy Moss to rebound from is 2005 totals. He was lights out in the first four games of last season before getting cracked in the pelvis against San Diego. Aaron Brooks can buy Moss the time that Cocktail Kerry could not provide, so expect plenty of nine routes. An improved O-Line won’t hurt his cause either.
Without a second established receiver in GB, I like Donald Driver to rack up over 100 catches this year, as Favre tends to lock in on one receiver.
I’m not big on Reggie Brown at all. He is young and talented, but has he improved enough over his second offseason to be a number one receiver?
Mark Clayton will work well out of single coverage opposite perennial McNair target, Derrick Mason. Although he must compete with Mason and Todd Heap for receptions, Clayton will be the target of many underneath crossing routes, as he is a perfect weapon for the West Coast offense. Part of keeping McNair healthy will be getting the ball out of his hands quicker on three step drops. Clayton will pull in 65 receptions for 850 yards and 7 TDs.
If you load up on running backs the first three rounds, give Deion Branch a look for a receiver spot. I don’t think his contract disputes will carry into the season.
With Jimmy Smith retired, Matt Jones will have plenty of opportunities in 2006. At worst he will be a money red zone target.
Robby Says: I think there are appreciable dropoffs in talent after the top six and the top sixteen receivers.
TO very well could have the biggest numbers of all receivers, but the inherent risk allows Holt to slip in ahead of him. Same thing goes for Fitzgerald passing up Moss for the number five spot.
Marvin Harrison was yet again the top dog in Indianapolis last year, but Wayne is going to overtake him one of these days. This year is pretty much a coin flip in my book.
The whole NFL is abuzz over the reunification of Volek to Bennett, the most explosive pass-and-catch combination since Beuerlein to Jeffers. Bennett burnt me last year, but I’m still putting him in my top-30.
I think that Fitzgerald and Boldin will both be hurt by the arrival of Edge James. That said, I still have them ranked fifth and tenth, go figure.
Javon Walker is probably the biggest question mark on this list and is someone to watch closely during the preseason.
I’m not too high on the Baltimore offense or Steve McNair, but he should certainly help Derrick Mason eclipse his modest totals from last year.
I want to have Matt Jones’ kids. I don’t think he’s a top-30 receiver just yet though.
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