Dropped from this year’s top-10 rankings are veterans such as Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens and Steve Smith of the Panthers, while newcomers such as Miles Austin and DeSean Jackson are on board where they are expected to remain for years to come. Here’s a look at the top-10 wide outs — a mix of rising talents and veteran mainstays — entering this fantasy football season.
1) Andre Johnson, Texans
There is no other wide receiver in the same ballpark as Andre Johnson these days. While Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, and Randy Moss have lost a step and Roddy White and Reggie Wayne have plateaued, Johnson has elevated his game to the penthouse of fantasy stardom. Johnson had 200 more yards than the closest wide receiver and has now surpassed 1550 yards in back-to-back seasons. At 29-years old, Johnson should be in his prime and with a healthy Matt Schaub under center there should be plenty of receptions coming his way for the next few seasons.
2) Randy Moss, Patriots
As good as Andre Johnson may be, he likely will never be as good as Randy Moss was. It was just a few seasons ago that Moss and Tom Brady made history with 1493 yards and 23 touchdowns. Moss has racked up a season total of at least 13 touchdowns on six occasions, most recently last year. Better yet, Moss has plenty of incentive to perform at a high level this season, as he becomes a free agent soon after. Of course, such an incentive usually plays a large role for Moss, and even at the age of 33, he can rank as one of the elite wide outs in the NFL.
3) Miles Austin, Cowboys
Even though he ranked third in the NFL for receiving yards and touchdowns in 2009, there is reason to believe that Miles Austin can be even better this season. The Cowboys lead receiver stumbled out of the gate with just 81 yards through the first four games. It wasn’t until the Week 5 match-up against the Chiefs that he broke through with 10 grabs for 250 yards including two touchdowns. From that game forward, Austin scored 12 touchdowns and racked up 1239 yards in just 11 games. He returns as the Cowboys top target this season.
4) Reggie Wayne, Colts
Steady Reggie Wayne has now gone six straight seasons with greater than 1050 yards and 75 receptions. The 31-year-old seems to be getting targeted more often now than ever before, having reached the century mark in receptions last year for just the second time in his career. Such dependence on Wayne in the Colts offense adds value for the veteran in fantasy leagues that award points per reception. Wayne has not fumbled over the last two years and has not missed a game since his rookie season making him one of the safest bets in this year’s fantasy drafts.
5) Calvin Johnson, Lions
The second-overall pick of the 2007 draft, Calvin Johnson has already delivered on much of his promise but there remains a lot to be seen. Despite playing without a top quarterback throughout his three seasons in the NFL, Johnson has averaged greater than 1000 yards per season with seven touchdowns scored. Last season Johnson missed two games, leaving him at 984 yards on the season. However, the good news is he has formed a rapport with his long-term quarterback, 2009 No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford. This season, both players should improve making 1400 receiving yards a realistic possibility.
6) DeSean Jackson, Eagles
With some help from DeSean Jackson’s special teams prowess and his ability to accumulate rushing yards on the ground, Jackson ranked as the fourth most valuable wide receiver in fantasy football. After scoring just three total touchdowns the previous season, Jackson scored a dozen in 2009. This season, the Eagles will continue to rely on a pass-dominated offense, though it will be Kevin Kolb replacing Donovan McNabb. Jackson racked up 250 yards and two touchdowns in Kolb’s two starts last season, perhaps a sign of what’s to come.
7) Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
This should be Larry Fitzgerald’s most trying season. He loses veteran quarterback Kurt Warner to retirement, and his All-Pro teammate Anquan Boldin will play for the Ravens. In other words, Fitzgerald may struggle to get the ball in his hands, and without Boldin present, opposing defenses are bound to zero in on him. Even with these changes in the desert, Fitzgerald should get his 1000-plus yards and six-plus touchdowns, just don’t expect the dominant Fitzgerald from years passed.
8) Roddy White, Falcons
The second the Michael Vick era ended in Atlanta, the Roddy White era commenced. The Falcons lead receiver has put together three straight seasons with 80-plus receptions and 1150-plus yards. Last season, White also established a career-high with 11 touchdowns, ranking third amongst all NFL wide outs. This season, White should continue to build on his rapport with Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, and at 28-years old, he should continue to rack up close to 1200 yards annually.
9) Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins
Despite missing a game last season, Brandon Marshall ranked amongst the elite wide outs in receptions and touchdowns. Before getting concerned about what a trip to Miami might do to his statistics, keep in mind that last season Marshall adapted to a new offense, new coaching staff, and new quarterback, and still came away as one of the top fantasy receivers. Expect Marshall to become the cornerstone of the Dolphins offense, alleviating the burden on injury-prone running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.
10) Marques Colston, Saints
Though Marques Colston may be the lead wide receiver in one of the NFL’s best passing offenses, the problem lies in that quarterback Drew Brees likes to share the wealth. As a result, despite playing in all 16 games, Colston hauled in just 70 grabs for 1074 yards. To his credit, Colston did find the pay-dirt on nine occasions, but before assuming that he’s good for 1300 yards and wasting a second-round pick, consider that Colston’s value is limited by Brees’ ability to keep all Saints receivers involved in the game plan. Colston is a very good fantasy receiver, but he is not among the elite.