Although running backs are the gatekeepers to the success of a fantasy football team, wide receivers do more than just provide window dressing. While having a top shelf wideout is great, depth is the key at this position. Consistency at the position is quite rare, even Randy Moss has had more than his share of down stretches—seven games of less than 50 yards in 2001. Finding a solid No. 2 and No. 3 wideout, in the mold of a Keenan McCardell or Hines Ward will put many teams over the top. Loading up at wide receiver in the middle or late rounds is usually a strong strategy.
1. Randy Moss, Minnesota Don’t look for Moss to disappear for long stretches in 2002. New coach Mike Tice has made it clear the team will look to involve Moss more than perhaps any receiver in NFL history. That alone should be enough to make fantasy owners drool at the thought of taking him as the No. 1 wideout.
2. Terrell Owens, San Francisco Owens is a model of consistency that has more than his share of monster games—four 100-yards games and five multiple-touchdown outings in 2001. Owens is one of the safest fantasy studs around.
3. David Boston, Arizona He buckled down and exploded in his third year, and now has a tight end that could also take some of the defensive heat off. Boston led the NFL with 1,598 receiving yards and had an impressive run of seven 100-yard games during one eight-week stretch.
4. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis With the return of Edgerrin James and the addition of a legitimate No. 2 receiver (Qadry Ismail), in 2002, the ball will actually be spread around in Indianapolis. Throw in Reggie Wayne, and Harrison may be lucky to notch 100 grabs and double-digit scores. Dare we say he falls out of the top five at the position by Week 1?
5. Rod Smith, Denver Injuries curtailed his 2001 campaign to the point where he was not only hobbled but also missed nearly two full games. Yet somehow, he still managed to lead the NFL with 113 catches. He’s Superman in a Denver uniform!
6. Jimmy Smith Jacksonville Often overlooked because he lacks the flair of the top five on this list, Smith is every bit as good from a fantasy perspective. He finished one grab behind Rod Smith (112) and has averaged 106 grabs, 1,407 yards and seven scores over the last three years.
7. Tim Brown, Oakland What can be said about this future Hall of Famer that hasn’t already? How about the fact that he’s had nine straight 1,000-yard campaigns and scored fewer than nine times just twice in the last eight seasons?
8. Joe Horn, New Orleans A prime example of what happens when a seemingly “marginal” receiver gets an opportunity to start. Horn has tallied 177 grabs for 2,605 yards and 17 touchdowns since moving to New Orleans two years ago. He’s making Aaron Brooks’ job look like the Big Easy and will also benefit from the Saints opening up their passing offense.
9. Isaac Bruce, St. Louis Just because Bruce suits up for the Rams every week, don’t assume he’s a sure bet to rack up tons of fantasy points. He had just 64 grabs in 2001, the lowest full-season total of his career, and scored only six times.
10. Keyshawn Johnson, Tampa Bay His one-touchdown nightmare of a year ago was nothing but a statistical anomaly. Prior to the near donut, Keyshawn scored at least eight times in four of the previous five years. Expect a monster bounce back with Jon Gruden aboard. Double-digit touchdowns are to be expected.
11. Darrell Jackson, Seattle Many will have a hard time believing that a wide receiver with Trent Dilfer as his quarterback is on the cusp of stardom. But that’s the case with this former Gator, who’s separated himself from the receiving disappointments out of the University of Florida. He’s already stamped himself as a big-play specialist after grabbing 20 passes for at least 20 yards last year.
12. Torry Holt, St. Louis Looking for a place where some of Bruce’s catches now reside? Go no further than his runningmate, Holt. He finished atop the Rams wide receiver leader board after notching a career-high 81 receptions. While a 100-grab season is out of the question, he could approach 10 scores.
13. Eric Moulds, Buffalo Stability will be a huge reason why Moulds will finally become an elite fantasy receiver. Rob Johnson and Alex Van Pelt combined aren’t even half the quarterback Drew Bledsoe is. Couple that with an improved offensive line, and Moulds will return to a 90-catch form.
14. Troy Brown, New England Brown’s numbers have increased in each of the last three years, with his catches skyrocketing from 36-83-101. The key component to the New England passing offense, Brown may now have a legitimate No. 2 in Donald Hayes to take some of the defensive heat off. Don’t expect much of a dropoff, if any, from his 1,199-yard season of a year ago. His only drawback is his lack of scoring (five touchdowns), but it’s tough to complain about his overall production.
15. Plaxico Burress, Pittsburgh A bust no more, Burress finally lived up to the hype of a first-round pick by grabbing 66 passes for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns, quite an increase over the 22 balls he caught as a rookie in 2000. With the entire Pittsburgh offense clicking and another 1,000-yard receiver on the opposite side of the field, Burress is a lock to post another strong fantasy campaign. Few defensive backs can handle his 6-5, 228-pound frame.
16. Jerry Rice, Oakland The greatest receiver of all time just doesn’t know when to say when, and that meant nothing but good things for savvy owners who drafted him in 2001. Coming off his best season since 1998, there’s no reason to think that this Rice is finished cooking.
17. Marty Booker, Chicago There’s no doubt that Booker may have had the quietest 100-catch season in NFL history. That said, he’s ranked this low because one has to wonder if his explosion is anything more than a side story to the Bears monster turnaround. Be wary of Booker, who tallied 66 catches in 1999 and 2000 combined, as Jim Miller is far from the steadiest quarterback in the land.
18. Kevin Johnson, Cleveland Johnson is the type of receiver who flies under the fantasy radar, but proves to more valuable than a late-round filler. He’s averaged a solid 69 grabs over his first three years and scored a combined 17 times in 1999 and 2001. Throw out the donut he put on the board in the scoring column in 2000, and Johnson is as consistent as a wide receiver gets.
19. Ed McCaffrey, Denver Easy Ed finally took a hit that did more than knock him woozy and keep him out for just a play. Perhaps the toughest wide receiver in the league, McCaffrey has also been one of the most productive. Before his broken leg, McCaffrey was coming off a career year (101 catches, 1,317 yards and nine touchdowns) in
2000. Bank on something along the lines of an 80-catch,
1,000-yard season.
20. Johnnie Morton, Kansas City Morton never really got his due playing in Detroit where instability wreaked havoc on many a fantasy dream. Playing for the Chiefs, Morton will have a better-than-average signal-caller in Trent Green, and a monster tight end who commands a ton of attention. Pencil him in for at least 80 grabs and seven touchdowns.
21. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh From the “Where the Hell” did he come from file, we offer Ward. He had 61 and 48 grabs in the previous two years and proved he can do more than just block downfield. With the running game likely to take a committee approach, the passing game should continue to be a strength.
22. James Thrash, Philadelphia Thrash gets the stamp of big-play approval, but the only problem is, he doesn’t break them into the end zone on a regular basis. Sure, he had 13 grabs of at least 20 yards, but of his eight scores, six came in three games. With a little consistency, Thrash would really be a steal.
23. Laveranues Coles, N.Y. Jets A star-in-the-making, even the Jets run-oriented offense won’t be enough to hold back this former Seminole. He saved his best for last, grabbing 12 passes for 220 yards in the last two games of 2001 and has the talent to become a legitimate No. 1.
24. Chris Chambers, Miami The Dolphins haven’t been known for their passing prowess since Dan Marino was in his prime. But Chambers proved that he has the size and track-type speed to lead Miami’s new-look offense. The addition of Norv Turner as the offensive coordinator will only give Chambers more opportunities to succeed.
25. Terry Glenn, Green Bay Maybe a change of scenery will be what the doctor ordered for Glenn after the trouble he had in his last few years with the Patriots. Of course, having Brett Favre on the throwing end of the passes will also help as long as Glenn stays healthy. He’s played in all 16 games just once in his six-year career, but with Antonio Freeman now pounding the pavement looking for work Glenn instantly becomes Green Bay’s No. 1.
26. Qadry Ismail, Indianapolis The Missile has landed in Indianapolis, and Ismail will be more than happy to join one of the most talented offenses in the game. Baltimore was rarely a threat to open up the offense, but given the weapons the Colts have, Ismail undoubtedly makes an excellent No. 2 wideout.
27. Keenan McCardell, Free Agent Quick, name the player who finished ninth in the NFL in receptions with 93………It’s none other than McCardell, a newly crowned free agent. He won’t be out of work for long after grabbing a combined 187 passes over the last two years. McCardell is one of the most underrated fantasy receivers out there.
28. Darnay Scott, Cincinnati The jury’s out on Scott, who continues to battle not only his own health but also a young, deep receiving corps in Cincinnati. No receiver may fall faster down the charts than Scott.
29. Curtis Conway, San Diego With Conway ripping off a career year at age 31, one has to wonder if he’ll even come close to repeating it in 2002.
30. Amani Toomer, N.Y. Giants In an offense that isn’t known to throw downfield often, Toomer has somehow managed to be a model of consistency, grabbing at least 72 balls in each of the last three years. The dropoff has been minimal, making it safe to expect the usual—70 catches, 1,050 yards.
31. Marcus Robinson, Chicago Robinson has crammed Top 10 talent into the body of an 80-year old. Be wary of taking him any higher than the middle rounds.
32. Derrick Mason, Tennessee Mason’s the No. 1 wide receiver in Tennessee, but he’s not the only legitimate red zone threat even after scoring nine times on 73 catches…
33. Kevin Dyson, Tennessee That’s because Dyson nearly did more (seven scores) with less (54 grabs).
34. Joey Galloway, Dallas Galloway is running out of chances to prove the Cowboys made a wise decision in trading two No. 1 picks to acquire him. Because of injury and ineffective quarterback play, Galloway has been a complete bust in Big D. The pressure’s on, and relying on him to step up is far from a solid proposition.
35. Bill Schroeder, Detroit Schroeder established himself as a big-play threat with Green Bay, but he stands to become more of a possession-type receiver now that he’s in Detroit, given the team’s lack of a No. 1 quarterback at the moment.
36. Rod Gardner, Washington Few players are climbing up the charts as fast as Gardner, who will love playing for Steve Spurrier. If only the ‘Skins could find a legitimate quarterback to take advantage of Gardner’s skills…
37. Jerome Pathon, New Orleans Pathon flashed his potential in the first three games of 2001 (24 catches, 330 yards, 2 touchdowns), now he must prove he can sustain the production and stay healthy.
38. Travis Taylor, Baltimore Like Gardner, Taylor is on the verge of becoming “the man.” And given the likelihood of the Ravens playing from behind, Taylor will post his first 1,000-yard season.
39. Joe Jurevicius, Tampa Bay Remember what happened to McCaffrey when he left the suffocating offense of the Giants? This is round two. Jurevicius will blossom under Gruden in Tampa Bay. He is expected to make a definite move up the charts.
40. Koren Robinson, Seattle Robinson never really had a chance to establish himself because of several nagging injuries (39 catches), but not much will keep him back in 2002 as he gives Dilfer one-half of an excellent tandem.
41. Brian Finneran, Atlanta Sure, many are wondering who the heck this Falcons receiver is. Well, don’t sleep on him. Vick doesn’t have many weapons, but Finneran is hands down the best. He’ll make an excellent late-round pick in some drafts, but we’re bumping him waaaayy up the charts. Why? He averaged 23.1 yards per catch on his 24 grabs, had four for at least 40 yards and stands 6-5. Speed and size? He almost cracks the Top 40!
42. Peerless Price, Buffalo The Price may finally be right with the Buffalo passing game, but one has to wonder if there will be enough leather to go around. Moulds is on the verge of reestablishing himself as an elite receiver and Josh Reed will also be clamoring for some game action. He’s been consistent over the last two years, but his 55 grabs in 2001 may be a ceiling, not a jumping off point.
43. Oronde Gadsden, Miami Gadsden finds himself in a battle with James McKnight for the No. 2 spot, but even if he doesn’t start makes a great investment in scoring leagues. He has 22 scores in the last four years.
44. MarTay Jenkins, Arizona A receiver with 11 of his 32 grabs going for better than 20 yards is definitely worth a long look.
45. Donte’ Stallworth, New Orleans If the Saints open up the offense as promised, Stallworth will be the best rookie wideout on the board and have an instant impact.
46. Peter Warrick, Cincinnati Somehow, Warrick managed to reel in 70 passes last year. Unfortunately, most were of the short-yardage variety. Let someone else deal with the aggravation of his 7-catch, 50-yard weeks.
47. Raghib Ismail, Dallas If the Dallas passing offense can ever get itself in high gear, Ismail could again become a dangerous weapon after grabbing 53 balls for a woeful Dallas scoring unit.
48. David Terrell, Chicago Terrell is one of several second-year receivers who could establish themselves in 2002. With Robinson a question mark and Booker still a relative unknown despite his 100 catches in ’01, Terrell still has a chance to become a significant contributor in Chicago’s passing game.
49. Antonio Freeman, Free Agent Father Time has certainly come calling for Freeman, whose numbers have dropped in each of the last four years. A Top 5 wideout just a few years ago, Freeman will barely be serviceable as a No. 3 no matter where he signs.
50. Ike Hilliard, N.Y. Giants After offseason toe surgery, Hilliard may not be at full speed by Week 1. His catches and yardage have declined in each of the last three years, plus he’s been at odds with the Giants coaching staff. Three strikes and you’re out!
51. Derrick Alexander, Free Agent Depending on where he signs and if he stays healthy, Alexander is a legitimate Top 30 receiver with big-play potential and a nose for the end zone.
52. Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina Because of injury and an ineffective quarterback, Muhammad’s production was cut from 102 grabs to 50. Don’t expect much more than that in 2002, especially with the departure of Hayes and addition of a defensive-minded coach on the sidelines.
53. Az-Zahir Hakim, Detroit This is Hakim’s chance to show the NFL what he can do as a No. 1 receiver, and not a glorified kick returner brought in on third downs. The real question, however, is who will be able to get him the ball? He’ll set career highs across the board, but one has to wonder how consistent he’ll be.
54. J.J. Stokes, San Francisco Stokes has been nothing more than a disappointment throughout his career, and that also translates into the fantasy realm. He’s never had more than 63 catches or 770 yards in any season.
55. Wayne Chrebet, N.Y. Jets Chrebet’s fantasy worth has risen and fallen more than the stock market, and with the emergence of Coles, and continued develop of Santana Moss, Chrebet could fall to No. 3 on the depth chart.
56. Santana Moss, N.Y. Jets Moss brings the following to the Jets: Speed, speed and more speed. However, with an aging Vinny Testaverde throwing balls, Moss is a shaky play for owners wanting consistency.
57. Michael Westbrook, Washington Nearly two years removed from a torn ACL, Westbrook could be on the verge of regaining his 65-catch form of 2000 should he remain with the ‘Skins.
58. Todd Pinkston, Philadelphia Freddie Mitchell may bump Pinkston down a few notches by the time the season rolls around, so keep an eye on training camp.
59. Donald Hayes, New England Hayes will never be a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL, but with 118 grabs over the last two years he has proven to be effective in a supporting role. Grab him late, as the Patriots are looking for someone to become a reliable running mate for Troy Brown.
60. Brandon Stokley, Baltimore A solid but unspectacular receiver, Stokley has yet to have an impact in the Ravens gameplan.
61. Marvin “Snoop” Minnis, Kansas City Minnis was a starter by name, but with just 33 catches, he didn’t exactly endear himself to fantasy owners. With Gonzalez and the addition of Morton, Minnis may find some running room but don’t consider him a breakout candidate.
62. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Wayne was hobbled by an ankle injury as a rookie, which also increased his learning curve. There aren’t enough footballs to go around, although Wayne is an excellent pick in keeper leagues.
63. Ricky Proehl, St. Louis Is there a better role player in the NFL? All Proehl does is come in for the NFL’s scoring machine and provide a strong veteran presence. He makes for a nice late-round pick in touchdown leagues thanks to a combined nine scored over the last two years.
64. Ashley Lelie, Denver His hamstring woes around draft time cast a shadow of doubt, and Lelie doesn’t exactly have NFL size. But you can’t hit what you can’t catch and he will have Brian Griese throwing him long-range bombs.
65. Josh Reed, Buffalo Reed couldn’t be going to a better situation. Playing behind two experience receivers, he won’t have much pressure to become a key cog off the bat. And as an added bonus, he’ll have a potential Hall of Famer throwing him passes. A great keeper league pick, Reed will finish with 50-55 grabs.
66. Corey Bradford, Houston Bradford has more experience than Gaffney, obviously, but running down balls from a rookie quarterback doesn’t often translate into fantasy success.
67. Jabar Gaffney, Houston Will Gaffney follow in Darrell Jackson’s footsteps or those of Jacquez Green and Reidel Anthony? Bet on the former.
68. Javon Walker, Green Bay With so many receivers gone in Green Bay, it’s likely Walker will get a chance to make an impact. After all, Green Bay didn’t trade up in the first round of the draft to keep him on the sidelines.
69. Tim Dwight, San Diego The Chargers gave Dwight a truckload of money during the off-season, despite the reduction in his reception total from 32-26-25 over the last three years. Some investigations are better left for the X-Files!
70. Bobby Engram, Seattle A proven veteran on a Seahawks team with plenty of youth split wide, Engram will not be forgotten by Dilfer.
Steve Siniski is the managing editor of Football Forecast and a senior editor for College & Pro Football Newsweekly.
