Up next in our post-draft dynasty ranking series is the wide receiver position.
With more and more NFL teams leaning on the pass, wide receiver has quickly become the deepest position in fantasy. That goes for dynasty, as well, with the middle tiers full of young talent.
Be sure to also check out our post-draft quarterback and running bank dynasty rankings.
Note: Non-PPR scoring is assumed. Each player age listed is as of September 1, 2014, which falls just prior to Week 1 of the upcoming season. Draft year and round is also shown for each player.
Tier 1
Rk | Player | Tm | Age | Draft-Rd |
1 | DET | 28.9 | 2007-1 | |
2 | DAL | 25.8 | 2010-1 | |
3 | ATL | 25.5 | 2011-1 | |
4 | CIN | 26.0 | 2011-1 | |
5 | DEN | 26.6 | 2010-1 |
No longer is Calvin Johnson a spring chicken, but he’s in his prime at age 28 and remains in position for long-term success in the Lions’ pass-heavy offense. Johnson missed a pair of games in 2013 but still finished No. 3 in fantasy points at the position. He’s now put together three consecutive seasons with 84-plus receptions and 1,489-plus yards. “Megatron” has scored 12 or more touchdowns in a single season four times since 2008. The other wideouts in our top tier are younger, but none are quite as dominant as Johnson. He’s still the man to own at the position.
Fantasy’s No. 5 scorer at wide receiver last season, Dez Bryant may not even be at his peak yet. The 25 year old has put together back to back seasons with at least 92 receptions, 1,249 yards, and 12 touchdowns. With Scott Linehan now calling the team’s plays, it’s expected that Bryant will be even more involved in the team’s pass-heavy gameplan. Bryant always seems to be a bit beat up, but he’s missed just one game over the last three seasons. An elite, young talent in a strong, pass-oriented offense, Bryant is primed for many more huge fantasy seasons.
A foot injury landed Julio Jones on injured reserve after only five games last season. Of course, Jones was dominant when active, racking up 41 receptions, 580 yards, and two touchdowns. If we extrapolate that line over 16 games, Jones would’ve finished 0.2 fantasy points behind Gordon for the top spot. Coming off the injury, 25-year-old Jones is going to be undervalued this offseason. It’s a good time to try and acquire him at a discount.
It’s hard to find more consistent stat lines than those A.J. Green put up over the last two seasons. He caught 97 balls for 1,350 yards and 11 scores in 2012 before racking up a 98-1426-11 line in 2013. Green was fantasy’s No. 4 wide receiver both seasons. Say what you want about Andy Dalton, he gets the ball to his best receiver. The Bengals’ offense scored a ton of points in 2013 and is loaded with young talent. Only 25, the future remains bright for Green.
Peyton Manning’s top target in Denver’s record-setting 2013 offense, Demaryius Thomas hauled in 92 of 142 targets for 1,430 yards and 14 scores. That came one year after he caught 92 of 142 targets for 1,430 yards and 10 scores. How about that for consistency? Thomas won’t always have Manning throwing him passes, but he’s proven that he has the talent to sustain significant fantasy value. Just 26 and a top-five producer at the position each of the last two seasons, Thomas is as strong a player you’ll find for your top wideout slot.
Tier 2
Rk | Player | Tm | Age | Draft-Rd |
6 | CHI | 24.5 | 2012-2 | |
7 | BUF | 21.2 | 2014-1 | |
8 | TB | 21.0 | 2014-1 | |
9 | MIN | 23.4 | 2013-1 | |
10 | SD | 22.3 | 2013-3 | |
11 | CLV | 23.3 | 2012-U | |
12 | GB | 24.0 | 2011-2 |
The 2013 season showed us that Alshon Jeffery is going to be a playmaker in this league for a long time. Following an injury-plagued rookie campaign, Jeffery became a dominant producer opposite Brandon Marshall in 2013. The 2012 second-round pick hauled in 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven scores, while also adding 105 yards on the ground. That was good enough to make him fantasy’s No. 9 wideout. Jeffery is 24 and will have no trouble finding targets, especially near the goal line, in Marc Trestman’s offense.
One of the top wide receiver prospects to enter the league over the past decade, Sammy Watkins is already Buffalo’s top offensive target. The Bills run the ball a lot under Doug Marrone, but their up-tempo offense allows for a lot of plays. Marginal improvement from EJ Manuel will allow Watkins to flirt with the Top 30 as a rookie. Eventual development and quarterback improvement will help him to long-term WR1 production.
Standing tall at 6'5", Mike Evans joins 6'5" Vincent Jackson to form one of the league’s tallest one-two punches at wideout. With almost zero competition for snaps, Evans is all but locked into a starting gig and a ton of targets right out of the gate. Tampa’s underwhelming quarterback situation will hurt in the short-term, but Evans is a big-time talent. He’ll be in the Top 20 conversation for the next decade.
Despite working as a returner and situational fourth receiver for most of his rookie season, Cordarrelle Patterson scored seven touchdowns, including three on the ground. The do-it-all play-maker was No. 38 in fantasy points at the position. Primed for a much larger role going forward – not to mention an upgrade to Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback – 23-year-old Patterson is one of 2014’s top breakout candidates.
Injuries above him on the depth chart forced Keenan Allen into San Diego’s starting lineup early in his rookie season. He was ready for the promotion. Philip Rivers’ top target hauled in 71 balls for 1,046 yards and eight scores. Including the playoffs, 6’3” Allen scored seven times over the team’s last six games. Amazingly, Allen already had a 1,000-yard season under his belt before he turned 22. He’s the youngest non-rookie in our Top 20. If there’s one concern here, it’s Allen’s dedication to the game. Prior to playing regular snaps, he admitted that he considered quitting football to pursue a music career. There’s no current sign Allen will step away, but it’s worth noting in the event that he or the team face serious adversity in the coming years.
Josh Gordon was suspended for the first two games of 2013. That didn’t stop him from finishing No. 1 in fantasy scoring at the wide receiver position. So why is Gordon, who is nearly seven years younger than Johnson, not ranked No. 1? Two reasons. First of all, there are serious off-the-field/maturity questions surrounding the 23 year old. He’s currently facing a lengthy suspension for another violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. Second, as dominant as Gordon was in 2013, he’s an obvious regression candidate with Norv Turner out and Kyle Shanahan in as play-caller. The Browns will run more as they become more competitive, leaving Gordon without as much of the garbage-time production he racked up in 2013. Gordon is an elite talent, but he has to get his act together before he can be relied on as a top dynasty asset.
A broken leg held Randall Cobb to only six games this past season. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Cobb was as strong a fantasy asset as expected when healthy. He was No. 8 in fantasy points per game when active and scored four times in six regular-season games. With James Jones and Jermichael Finley no longer on the roster, Cobb is guaranteed a feature role in the Packers’ high-scoring offense. Still only 23, Cobb has many years of WR1 production left in the tank.
Tier 3
Rk | Player | Tm | Age | Draft-Rd |
13 | TEN | 24.8 | 2012-1 | |
14 | PIT | 26.1 | 2010-6 | |
15 | ARZ | 24.7 | 2012-1 | |
16 | CHI | 30.4 | 2006-4 | |
17 | GB | 29.2 | 2008-2 | |
18 | SEA | 26.2 | 2009-1 | |
19 | SF | 26.9 | 2009-1 | |
20 | BLT | 25.5 | 2011-2 |
Following impressive, but under-the-radar breakout sophomore seasons, Kendall Wright and Michael Floyd enter 2014 as two of the game’s top young wide receivers. In his first year as a full-time starter opposite Larry Fitzgerald, Floyd caught 66 balls for 1,054 yards and five touchdowns. Wright’s 94 receptions were seventh-most at the position, allowing him 1,079 receiving yards. Wright was only targeted in the end zone once all season, however, which limited him to two touchdowns. Floyd was No. 23 in fantasy points, while Wright was No. 31. Both players are 24 and will be key components in their respective team’s offenses over the next decade.
Antonio Brown did not disappoint in his first season as Pittsburgh’s top wideout. He ranked second in the league with 110 receptions. The former sixth-round pick nearly reached 1,500 receiving yards and scored eight touchdowns. Only six wideouts scored more fantasy points. Still only 25, Brown is a borderline dynasty WR1…Fantasy’s No. 11 wide receiver in 2013, Jordy Nelson racked up career-highs in targets (127), receptions (85), and yards (1,314). Now 28, Nelson has plenty of years left as one of Aaron Rodgers’ top targets, but the return of Cobb and more of a dedication to the run game will limit his ceiling more than in past years.
Considering that he’s put together seven straight seasons with at least 80 catches and 1,000 yards, Brandon Marshall may seem low as a third-tier wideout. As strong as Marshall has been, he’s now 30 and Jeffery is quickly making a push to take over as Chicago’s franchise wide receiver. Marshall remains a quality short-term WR1, but it’s easier to downgrade older players with the position as deep with young talent as ever before.
It was a lost 2013 season for Percy Harvin. Acquired by Seattle last offseason, hip and concussion issues held Harvin to one target during the entire regular season. Having now missed 22 games over the last two years and at least one game in four of his five NFL seasons, durability is an obvious concern for Harvin. Of course, he’s only 25, the featured receiver in Seattle’s highly-productive offense, and one of the game’s top playmakers. He remains a strong dynasty asset and can probably be had at a discount this offseason.
Not unlike Harvin, Michael Crabtree missed a significant portion of the 2013 season due to injury. A torn Achilles cost him all but five regular season games. Crabtree quickly became Colin Kaepernick’s favorite target back in 2012 en route to an 85-catch, 1105-yard, 9-touchdown season. He was fantasy’s No. 15 wideout. Crabtree’s ceiling will be limited a bit by San Francisco’s run-heavy offense and the presence of ageless Anquan Boldin and touchdown-monster Vernon Davis. Still, he’s 26 and one of the top talents at the position.
Following the departure of Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith took over as Baltimore’s top wideout in 2013. The Ravens’ offensive woes limited the talented 25 year old to only four touchdowns, but he did haul in 65 balls for 1,128 yards. Smith has never missed a game in his career and has put up at least 841 receiving yards in each of his three NFL seasons. With Gary Kubiak now in control of the offense, expect more consistency from Smith going forward.
Tier 4
Rk | Player | Tm | Age | Draft-Rd |
21 | NYG | 21.9 | 2014-1 | |
22 | NO | 20.9 | 2014-1 | |
23 | PHI | 22.1 | 2014-2 | |
24 | WAS | 28.0 | 2008-6 | |
25 | HST | 22.2 | 2013-1 | |
26 | IND | 24.7 | 2012-3 | |
27 | WAS | 27.7 | 2008-2 | |
28 | SL | 23.4 | 2013-1 | |
29 | NYG | 27.8 | 2010-U |
Selected in the first round of May’s draft, Odell Beckham immediately steps in as the favorite for No. 3 duties in New York. Victor Cruz is locked in as the clubs top target (for now), but it won’t take long for the speedy Beckham to take over as Eli Manning’s favorite targets. He’s better than Rueben Randle. Expect a slow start, but Beckham makes for a solid long-term WR2.
Sean Payton likes to rotate receivers and spread the ball around, but there are plenty of fantasy points to be had in New Orleans. First-round pick Brandin Cooks is tiny, but has big-time speed and a good all-around receiver. He’ll be a fixture in the lineup on passing downs and, with Marques Colston’s career winding down, will be Drew Brees’ favorite target sooner rather than later.
Jordan Matthews will start out as Philadelphia’s primary slot receiver. He’s expected to be the club’s long-term No. 1 wideout, however, and will quickly eat away at Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper‘s targets as the year progresses. Considering the high-scoring, Chip Kelly offense he’ll be working out of for years to come, big/quick Matthews has a ton of dynasty upside.
Pierre Garcon led the NFL with 113 receptions last season. Force-fed the ball by Robert Griffin III for a majority of the season, Garcon put up 1,346 yards and scored five times. He was fantasy’s No. 13 wide receiver. Although he’s never scored more than six times in a single season, Garcon is in his prime at 28 years old and has a clear path to a significant offensive role… Forced into an expanded role with Reggie Wayne on injured reserve, T.Y. Hilton reached 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career last season. Of course, targets will be harder to find going forward with Wayne and Dwayne Allen back from injury, and Hakeem Nicks and Donte Moncrief now in the picture. Hilton is only 24 and locked into Indianapolis’ improving starting lineup, however, which makes him a strong WR3 in dynasty.
DeAndre Hopkins and Tavon Austin disappointed a bit as rookies, but both have youth, talent, and opportunity on their side. Hopkins showed flashes of his enormous talent early on in 2013 before struggling along with the Houston offense down the stretch. Still only 21, Hopkins is certain to become a more featured option in the Texans’ offense with Bill O’Brien now in control and Andre Johnson about to turn 33. Austin scored six times as a rookie, including five on 49 offensive touches. Standing at 5’8/176, Austin will struggle to find targets near the end zone, but has the quickness and talent to generate big plays. The Rams’ offense is headed in the right direction and the 23-year-old Austin will be a bigger part of the gameplan going forward.
DeSean Jackson was fantasy’s No. 10 wide receiver last season, but he was certainly helped by the high-scoring Eagles offense. Now with Washington, Jackson is second in line for targets in a less effective offense. He’s still one of the game’s top playmakers at age 27, however, which locks him in as a top-30 dynasty wideout…Cruz struggled along with the rest of the Giants’ offense last season. He missed two games and scored only four times (three of which came in Week 1) after putting up a total of 19 during the previous two seasons. He’s in his prime at 27 and is New York’s top wideout with Nicks gone. It’s not a bad time to try and buy low.
Tier 5
Rk | Player | Tm | Age | Draft-Rd |
31 | CAR | 23.5 | 2014-1 | |
32 | NYJ | 27.4 | 2010-3 | |
33 | PHI | 26.3 | 2009-1 | |
34 | ARZ | 31.0 | 2004-1 | |
34 | TB | 31.6 | 2005-2 | |
35 | JAX | 22.7 | 2014-2 | |
36 | HST | 33.1 | 2003-1 | |
37 | TEN | 23.2 | 2013-2 | |
38 | DAL | 24.9 | 2013-3 | |
39 | JAX | 21.0 | 2014-2 | |
40 | NYG | 23.3 | 2012-2 | |
41 | JAX | 24.6 | 2012-1 | |
42 | JAX | 26.6 | 2011-4 | |
43 | DEN | 21.8 | 2014-2 | |
44 | GB | 21.6 | 2014-2 | |
45 | IND | 21.0 | 2014-3 |
Selected in the first round of May’s draft, Benjamin immediately slots in as the Panthers top wideout. Carolina runs a lot, but Benjamin will play enough to see a high volume of work. And, build like a tight end at 6'5/240, he’ll surely see plenty of targets near the end zone. At 23, Benjamin is a little older than his fellow rookies, but he’s in good position as Cam Newton’s top wideout… Cody Latimer was selected in the second round of May’s draft and is already competing for a prominent role in the league’s top offense. He’ll struggle for targets behind Thomas, Wes Welker, Julius Thomas, and Emmanuel Sanders in the short term, but there’s massive upside as long as Peyton Manning is around. With great hands at his disposal, Latimer will stick around for a long time as a quality possession receiver.
The No. 90 overall pick in May’s draft, Moncrief has an extremely high ceiling, but he’s only 20 and is buried for the time being in Indianapolis. Barring injuries to those above him on the depth chart, Moncrief won’t be fantasy relevant until 2015. He’s very fast and explosive and has enough size to evolve into Andrew Luck’s No. 1 target. He’s worth stashing…Davante Adams was selected in the second round of May’s draft and gets a slight boost because of his landing spot. Drawing comparisons to Hakeem Nicks and Michael Crabtree, Adams is a possession receiver who can do damage with the ball in his hands. Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Jarrett Boykin are all entering a contract year, setting up Adams for a significant workload in Aaron Rodgers’ offense in 2015 and beyond.
With Justin Blackmon (suspended) seemingly done in Jacksonville, the club selected Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson in the second round of May’s draft. With only Cecil Shorts ahead of them on the depth chart, both will play a lot as rookies. Lee was once a top prospect, but struggled with injuries and drops at USC last season. Robinson projects as a solid possession receiver who is good with the ball in his hands. Considering the Jaguars’ underwhelming offense, neither player is particularly intriguing in 2013. But both have long-term WR2 upside.
Speaking of Blackmon and Shorts, both find themselves in our fifth tier. Only 24 and one of the most physically-gifted wide receivers in the league, Blackmon would be much higher on this list if not for serious off-the-field concerns. After missing the first four games of 2013 due to suspension, Blackmon was sat down indefinitely for another violation of the league’s substance abuse policy in November. He’s expected to be out the entire 2014 season and may never play another down in Jacksonville…Shorts has been the main benefactor of Blackmon missing time, but has now missed five games due to injury over the last two seasons. Following a breakout 2012, Shorts was targeted more often in 2013, but saw his yards-per-reception mark drop by six yards and his touchdowns falls from seven to three. Shorts is 26 and will continue to be featured in an improving Jacksonville offense.
Entering his third NFL season, Randle is finally in position to play every down for New York. With Hakeem Nicks in Indianapolis, 23-year-old Randle is expected to start opposite Victor Cruz. Of course, the Giants’ selection of Beckham in the first round of May’s draft suggests they don’t trust Randle as a long-term starter. Randle is definitely a breakout candidate, but it appears he’ll settle in as a WR4 as long as he’s in New York…Eric Decker has been a hot topic for debate this offseason. Was his success in Denver a product of Tim Tebow’s propensity for long, play-action passes and Peyton Manning’s elite ability, or is Decker a legit No. 1 or 2 NFL receiver? Regardless of which side you’re on, 6’3” Decker’s ability to find paydirt is undeniable. The 27 year old has scored eight or more touchdowns in three straight seasons, including a total of 24 over the last two years. Fresh of back-to-back seasons with 85 catches and 1,000 yards, Decker’s fantasy upside took a major hit when he landed with the run-heavy Jets, but he’s good enough to warrant WR3 consideration in both dynasty and redraft formats.
Larry Fitzgerald and Vincent Jackson have, for the most part, been mainstays in the WR1 conversation for nearly a decade. Both, however, are headed for a decline as they enter 2014 at age 31. Fitzgerald hasn’t reached 1,000 receiving yards since 2011, but did catch 82 balls and scored 10 touchdowns last season. Floyd is emerging in Arizona and some third-year progression could get him atop the depth chart by 2015. Jackson now has five 1,000-yard and five seven-plus touchdown seasons under his belt. He remains the clear-cut No. 1 wideout in Tampa Bay, but it won’t be long until Evans takes over as lead dog. Both players finished in the Top 16 at wide receiver last season and remain solid short-term options.
A torn ACL cost Jeremy Maclin the entire 2013 season. A WR2 producer from 2010 through 2012 in Andy Reid’s pass-heavy offense, Maclin has missed at least one game in four of his five NFL seasons. Now 26, Maclin is playing on a one-year deal in the Chip Kelly offense. He’s settled in as a quality possession receiver, but his ceiling is that of a back-end WR2…Andre Johnson was No. 12 in fantasy points at wide receiver last season despite Houston’s offensive woes. He now has eight 1,000-yard seasons on his resume. Set to enter 2014 at age-33, Johnson is past his prime, but still the Texans’ best offensive player. He just doesn’t have much value past this upcoming season or two.
Sophomores Justin Hunter and Terrance Williams enter 2014 in position to play a much larger role in their respective offense. Hunter – a second-round pick - will compete with Nate Washington to work as Tennessee’s down-field compliment to Wright. Tall and lanky, Hunter will be a threat for plenty of work near the end zone. Despite losing Miles Austin to Cleveland, Dallas’ only significant offseason addition at wide receiver was fifth-round pick Devin Street. That means Williams is all but guaranteed a starting gig opposite Bryant. The ex-third round pick showed well as a rookie and has WR2 upside in Dallas’ strong, pass-heavy offense.
Tier 6
Rk | Player | Tm | Age | Draft-Rd |
46 | MIA | 21.7 | 2014-2 | |
47 | SEA | 22.3 | 2014-2 | |
48 | NE | 23.1 | 2013-2 | |
49 | MIA | 28.0 | 2009-3 | |
50 | CIN | 24.4 | 2012-5 | |
51 | NO | 22.3 | 2013-5 | |
52 | IND | 26.6 | 2009-1 | |
53 | DET | 26.0 | 2010-2 | |
54 | BUF | 22.3 | 2013-2 | |
55 | PIT | 22.6 | 2014-4 | |
56 | PHI | 26.9 | 2010-5 | |
57 | NE | 28.2 | 2009-7 | |
58 | ATL | 32.8 | 2005-1 | |
59 | DEN | 27.4 | 2010-3 | |
60 | KC | 29.9 | 2007-1 | |
61 | PIT | 23.5 | 2013-3 | |
62 | DEN | 33.3 | 2004-U | |
63 | NO | 31.2 | 2006-7 | |
64 | MIN | 30.9 | 2006-2 | |
65 | SF | 33.9 | 2003-2 |
Jarvis Landry (second round), Paul Richardson (second), and Martavis Bryant (fourth) were all selected in May’s draft. Landry is on the small side, but is the youngest of the trio. He’ll settle in as a possession receiver and should move past Brandon Gibson by midseason. A burner, Richardson is buried in Seattle for the short-term, but with Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, and Jermaine Kearse ticketed for free agency next offseason, he’ll have a shot at a full-time gig as a soon as 2015. A 6'4” deep threat, Martavis Bryant’s only competition for a rookie-year starting gig is Marcus Wheaton and Lance Moore. The talent and opportunity add up to short and long term WR3 production.
Aaron Dobson, Robert Woods, Kenny Stills, and Markus Wheaton are in a similar boat. All four receivers were drafted in 2013 (all but Stills in the second or third round) and are in position to start as sophomores. Dobson was volatile and dealt with rookie-season injuries, but easily could be New England’s top wideout in 2014. Woods will reprise his rookie-season role as Buffalo’s No. 2 receiver (now behind Sammy Watkins). Stills was outstanding as a rookie, but will need to fend of Cooks to start opposite Marques Colston in New Orleans. Wheaton barely played as a rookie, but the departure of Emmanuel Sanders opens up the No. 2 job in Pittsburgh.
Nicks has struggled mightily over the last two seasons. He scored a total of three times during that span, mostly due to the fact that he’s failed to catch a single end zone target. Nicks has never played 16 games in a single season. Although he seemed to have lost a step in New York, he’s one of the better physical wideouts in the game and still has age (26) on his side. It’s reasonable to think a fresh start in Indianapolis will rejuvenate Nicks’ career.
Roddy White, Wes Welker, and Anquan Boldin are or will turn 33 this year. White had a 2013 season to forget, dealing with injuries and Atlanta’s team struggles. He failed to reach 1,000 yards and six scores for the first time since 2006. Welker has significant short-term value as a near-every-down player in Denver. He scored on 10 of his 73 receptions last season. Boldin re-upped with San Francisco for two more years, but Crabtree is back to full health and will be Colin Kaepernick’s top target. At their age, durability is a serious concern for this trio, but all are on the short-term WR2/3 radar.
Mike Wallace, Dwayne Bowe, and Julian Edelman are approaching age 30, but the trio enters 2014 with a starting gig in hand. Wallace struggled to develop chemistry with Ryan Tannehill in the battery’s first year together, but he does have three eight-plus touchdown seasons on his resume. Bowe was a fantasy bust during the first half of 2013, but was better down the stretch and is back in the WR3 mix going forward. Edelman caught 105 balls for New England in 2013, but will take a step back going forward with Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski healthy, and the team’s young wide receivers emerging.
Drafted in 2010, Golden Tate and Emmanuel Sanders found new homes this past offseason. Both enjoy a boost in their fantasy value as a result. Tate showed signs that he’s an impact player in Seattle over the past four seasons, but his ceiling was limited by the team’s run-heavy philosophy. That won’t be an issue as the No. 2 wideout in pass-heavy Detroit. Sanders has been inconsistent, but scored six times in a complimentary role to Brown in 2013. He’ll benefit greatly from Peyton Manning in Denver the next few years. Both players produced WR3 numbers this past year and will flirt with the Top 25 in 2014.
A 2013 mid-season touchdown explosion was all Marvin Jones needed to finish No. 21 in fantasy points among wideouts. Despite playing a part-time role for most of the year, Jones hauled in 10 touchdowns on 51 receptions. Jones is only 24 and ticketed for a bigger role going forward, but those touchdowns are guaranteed to regress…The Eagles’ release of DeSean Jackson all but locks Riley Cooper in as a major piece of their passing game. Fresh off a breakout season, he’s in his prime at 26 and just signed a four-year extension. Matthews is this team’s long-term No. 1 wideout, but Cooper will produce WR3 numbers if he hangs on to the No. 2 gig.
Colston remains a solid short-term WR3, but he’s now 31 and will always be limited by the Saints spread-it-around attack. The emergence of Stills and acquisition of Cooks will mean lesser reliance on the veteran going forward…Jennings is fading in the pecking order in Minnesota with Patterson and Kyle Rudolph on the rise. Unless Teddy Bridgewater explodes onto the scene this year, Jennings will wind down his career as a borderline WR3.
Tier 7
Rk | Player | Tm | Age | Draft-Rd |
66 | SL | 25.9 | 2009-1 | |
67 | MIA | 27.7 | 2009-4 | |
68 | NE | 28.8 | 2008-U | |
69 | BUF | 27.2 | 2010-4 | |
70 | GB | 24.8 | 2012-U | |
71 | ARZ | 24.4 | 2014-3 | |
72 | PHI | 22.8 | 2014-3 | |
73 | BUF | 23.7 | 2013-3 | |
74 | CHI | 21.9 | 2013-7 | |
75 | SEA | 25.9 | 2011-U | |
76 | GB | 23.7 | 2014-5 | |
77 | SEA | 24.9 | 2014-4 | |
78 | NE | 24.5 | 2014-7 | |
79 | DAL | 23.4 | 2014-5 | |
80 | SF | 23.0 | 2014-4 | |
81 | NYJ | 23.4 | 2014-4 | |
82 | NYJ | 21.9 | 2014-4 | |
83 | GB | 23.2 | 2014-7 | |
84 | DET | 22.1 | 2014-6 | |
85 | BLT | 23.3 | 2013-U | |
86 | OAK | 30.4 | 2007-3 | |
87 | Steve Johnson | SF | 28.1 | 2008-7 |
88 | WAS | 23.7 | 2014-5 | |
89 | SL | 23.8 | 2013-3 | |
90 | IND | 35.7 | 2001-1 |
Brian Hartline has now put together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, but he only has 10 career touchdowns in five seasons. His dynasty value is on the decline after Miami added Landry in May’s draft…Kenny Britt has been a headache off-the-field but he’s only 25 and has big-time skills. He’ll look to rejuvenate his career in St. Louis…One of the most consistent and productive fantasy assets of the past decade, Reggie Wayne is now 35, coming off a torn ACL and has a lot of competition for reps in Indianapolis…Stevie Johnson was traded to San Francisco where he goes from a heavily-targeted No. 1 wideout to a part-time No. 3 option in a run-heavy offense. He’s only 27 but his value took a major hit this offseason.
Mike Williams and Danny Amendola are each facing a bit of adversity this offseason. Both received hefty contracts last spring before disappointing over the past 12 months. Williams landed on injured reserve after a slow start to the 2013 season and off-the-field and dedication questions have surfaced. He’s now stuck competing for a No. 2 job in Buffalo. Amendola has now missed 24 games over the last three seasons due to injury. Both can be impact players, but have work to do in order to earn significant snaps going forward.
Jarrett Boykin showed he can be an impact player when filling in for Cobb last season, but his long-term appeal took a hit when the Packers drafted Adams…Marquise Goodwin has big-time speed, but Buffalo’s acquisitions of Watkins and Williams buries him on the depth chart…Marquess Wilson has breakout appeal as the No. 3 wideout in Chicago…Doug Baldwin’s ceiling is low in run-heavy Seattle…Marlon Brown won’t see a ton of work as the No. 3 wide receiver in Gary Kubiak’s offense…James Jones is 30 and took a major value hit when he moved from Green Bay to Oakland…Stedman Bailey may have blown his opportunity in St. Louis (four-game suspension), but he’s good enough to warrant a roster stash.
John Brown, Josh Huff, Jared Abbrederis, Kevin Norwood, Jeremy Gallon, Devin Street, Bruce Ellington, Shaq Evans, Jalen Saunders, Jeff Janis, T.J. Jones, and Ryan Grant represent a massive chunk of the wideouts selected in the mid-to-late rounds of May’s draft. All are worthy fliers.
Tier 8
Rk | Player | Tm | Age | Draft-Rd |
91 | NYG | 25.2 | 2011-3 | |
92 | SD | 23.6 | 2014-7 | |
93 | NE | 23.3 | 2013-4 | |
94 | NYJ | 25.7 | 2011-5 | |
95 | OAK | 25.7 | 2011-5 | |
96 | OAK | 26.5 | 2012-U | |
97 | CLV | 28.4 | 2011-U | |
98 | ATL | 29.9 | 2008-3 | |
99 | WAS | 26.6 | 2010-3 | |
100 | SEA | 24.5 | 2012-U | |
101 | MIA | 22.0 | 2014-6 | |
102 | TB | 22.3 | 2014-6 | |
103 | ARZ | 22.7 | 2014-6 | |
104 | NYJ | 22.3 | 2014-6 | |
105 | CIN | 22.6 | 2014-7 | |
106 | SF | 24.0 | 2013-4 | |
107 | SL | 24.7 | 2012-4 | |
108 | JAX | 22.8 | 2013-4 | |
109 | IND | 23.2 | 2013-U | |
110 | NE | 26.0 | 2013-U | |
111 | NYJ | 23.3 | 2012-2 | |
112 | NE | 27.8 | 2010-3 | |
113 | BLT | 35.3 | 2001-3 | |
114 | ATL | 23.5 | 2013-U | |
115 | MIA | 24.8 | 2012-7 | |
116 | KC | 23.8 | 2012-1 | |
117 | OAK | 26.2 | 2011-U | |
118 | DET | 26.3 | 2012-2 | |
119 | WAS | 26.3 | 2011-3 | |
120 | NO | 26.4 | 2011-U | |
121 | SEA | 28.0 | 2007-2 | |
122 | TEN | 31.0 | 2005-U | |
123 | MIA | 27.0 | 2009-6 | |
124 | IND | 25.4 | 2012-6 | |
125 | MIN | 24.7 | 2012-4 | |
126 | CIN | 25.0 | 2012-3 | |
127 | BLT | 24.6 | 2013-7 | |
128 | OAK | 24.5 | 2013-7 | |
129 | SD | 25.6 | 2011-3 | |
130 | CLV | 27.4 | 2008-3 |
