I was trading text messages with Mike Gallagher after the SB Nation Fantasy football league draft the other night, saying the running back position seems thinner than in most seasons. I think maybe it is because there are several guys with question marks as we enter the heavy part of fantasy football draft season.
The same cannot be said for the wide receiver position, mainly due to the fact that the NFL has become a pass-happy league, which is fine by me. Bring back the 41-38 games with aerial attacks leading the way. It makes the game more enjoyable to watch and teams can come back from three touchdowns down in the second half to win games.
Let's take a look at my updated wide receiver rankings, along with some risers and fallers in my rankings:
Risers
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis
Hilton had a pretty good 2012 season, catching 50 balls for 861 yards, with five 100+ yard games and seven scores and I see him breaking out in 2013. Quarterback Andrew Luck has his rookie season under his belt and I see him throwing for 30+ touchdowns this season, with Hilton as a beneficiary. Hilton has looked good in preseason, so draft him with confidence.
Dez Bryant, Dallas
Bryant only moved up one spot from last week, but I think he could be one of the more dominating wide receivers in the game this season. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he led the NFL in touchdowns and receiving yards. It has been reported that Bryant is more focused in camp, so maybe he could push Calvin Johnson as the No. 1 wide receiver in the league.
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
Yeah, I was a bit low on Fitzgerald in last week's rankings, so I moved him up to the No. 7 spot in this week's rankings. He will have an experienced NFL quarterback, Carson Palmer, throwing to him for the first time in over a year, so he should return to his old form after a disappointing 2012 season. I was so confident in him returning to his old ways, I drafted him with my second pick of the SB Nation draft a few nights ago. Coach Bruce Arians apparently will be moving Fitzgerald around in offensive sets this season, making him the focus of the offense. Again.
Wes Welker, Denver
Peyton Manning had one of his best seasons as a pro last year, and now Welker is added to an already potent aerial attack. I think Welker steals targets and touchdowns from Eric Decker this season and he has a chip on his shoulder, it appears, after the Patriots did not sign him.
Fallers
Randall Cobb, Green Bay
I may have had Cobb a bit too high at No. 8 in my rankings last week, so he moves down to the 12 spot this week. I still like him plenty, but wonder how many looks he will see in the red zone. He should still be the recipient of plenty of targets this season, but Rodgers likes to spread the ball around in the Packers' passing attack.
Eric Decker, Denver
See Wes Welker above. Decker may be the third option in the Manning aerial attack this season, so his stats could fall across the board.
Greg Jennings, Minnesota
I think Jennings may be on his last legs as an NFL wide receiver and he goes from catching balls from Aaron Rodgers to catching balls from Christian Ponder. He'll also play in an offense that is centered around running back Adrian Peterson. I would stay away on draft day.
Here's a look at my wide receiver rankings for PPR and Standard leagues:
Standard Leagues |
PPR Leagues |
|
Rank |
Player |
Player |
1 |
Calvin Johnson, DET |
Calvin Johnson, DET |
2 |
Dez Bryant, DAL |
Brandon Marshall, CHI |
3 |
A.J. Green, CIN |
A.J. Green, CIN |
4 |
Demaryius Thomas, DEN |
Dez Bryant, DAL |
5 |
Brandon Marshall, CHI |
Demaryius Thomas, DEN |
6 |
Julio Jones, ATL |
Reggie Wayne, IND |
7 |
Larry Fitzgerald, ARI |
Wes Welker, DEN |
8 |
Andre Johnson, HOU |
Larry Fitzgerald, ARI |
9 |
Vincent Jackson, TB |
Randall Cobb, GB |
10 |
Roddy White, ATL |
Roddy White, ATL |
11 |
Reggie Wayne, IND |
Andre Johnson, HOU |
12 |
Randall Cobb, GB |
Julio Jones, ATL |
13 |
Marques Colston, NO |
Vincent Jackson, TB |
14 |
Victor Cruz, NYG |
Danny Amendola, NE |
15 |
Wes Welker, DEN |
Victor Cruz, NYG |
16 |
Hakeem Nicks, NYG |
Marques Colston, NO |
17 |
James Jones, GB |
Steve Smith, CAR |
18 |
Mike Wallace, MIA |
Eric Decker, DEN |
19 |
Dwayne Bowe, KC |
Hakeem Nicks, NYG |
20 |
Steve Smith, CAR |
Dwayne Bowe, KC |
21 |
T.Y. Hilton, IND |
James Jones, GB |
22 |
Pierre Garcon, WAS |
Pierre Garcon, WAS |
23 |
Cecil Shorts, JAC |
T.Y. Hilton, IND |
24 |
Danny Amendola, NE |
Antonio Brown, PIT |
25 |
Eric Decker, DEN |
Cecil Shorts, JAC |
26 |
Miles Austin, DAL |
Steve Johnson, BUF |
27 |
Steve Johnson, BUF |
Mike Wallace, MIA |
28 |
Antonio Brown, PIT |
Miles Austin, DAL |
29 |
Josh Gordon, CLE |
Anquan Boldin, SF |
30 |
Torrey Smith, BAL |
Josh Gordon, CLE |
31 |
DeSean Jackson, PHI |
Torrey Smith, BAL |
32 |
Anquan Boldin, SF |
DeSean Jackson, PHI |
33 |
Golden Tate, SEA |
Tavon Austin, STL |
34 |
Tavon Austin, STL |
Lance Moore, NO |
35 |
Lance Moore, NO |
Mike Williams, TB |
36 |
Mike Williams, TB |
Chris Givens, STL |
37 |
Andre Roberts, ARI |
Kenny Britt, TEN |
38 |
Chris Givens, STL |
Denarius Moore, OAK |
39 |
Brian Hartline, MIA |
Emmanuel Sanders, PIT |
40 |
Vincent Brown, SD |
Andre Roberts, ARI |
41 |
Greg Jennings, MIN |
Sidney Rice, SEA |
42 |
Denarius Moore, OAK |
Greg Jennings, MIN |
43 |
Sidney Rice, SEA |
Brian Hartline, MIA |
44 |
Emmanuel Sanders, PIT |
Michael Floyd, ARI |
45 |
Kenny Britt, TEN |
Golden Tate, SEA |
46 |
Michael Floyd, ARI |
Ryan Broyles, DET |
47 |
Ryan Broyles, DET |
Kendall Wright, TEN |
48 |
Kendall Wright, TEN |
Alshon Jeffery, CHI |
49 |
Alshon Jeffery, CHI |
Vincent Brown, SD |
50 |
Rueben Randle, NYG |
Rueben Randle, NYG |
More from SB Nation:
• 2013 fantasy football QB rankings
• 2013 fantasy football RB rankings
• 2013 fantasy football WR rankings