1)Andre Johnson - The reigning and defending fantasy WR champion. Untouchable at the position over the past two seasons. The only other wide who can threaten AJ is my man at number two. And that's still a reach.2)Roddy White - I'm very high on Roddy this season. The Falcons realize that they overworked Burner Turner and are looking to lighten the load on their star running back. Hence, the average NFL fan is in line to see how good Roddy White really is. Expect big-time yardage and a dozen scores a la Torry Holt and Marvin Harrison in their prime.
3)Reggie Wayne - Admittedly, this is more of a chalk ranking. Wayne's numbers and his rapport with Peyton Manning dictate that he be rated in this spot. My fear is that his wheels come off as quickly as Marvin Harrison's did. Probably won't happen in 2010, but look out in 2011. Just saying.
4)Randy Moss - Can Moss find his form with Tom Brady once more? If he can, now is the time to do it. The Freak is always a threat. I think. He has looked amazingly mortal many times over the past two years. He won't go for 23 TD's again, but sixteen is never out of the question for Moss.
5)Calvin Johnson - Megatron reminds me a whole lot of Andre Johnson. Huge wide receiver. Great speed. Incredible athletic gifts. Struggled with injuries a couple of seasons. Big Calvin is due for a healthy sixteen in 2010. With the development of his young star QB, he could finish as a top three WR.
6)Larry Fitzgerald - I feel guilty about having Fitz ranked this low, but his QB's suck. Plain and simple. One(Leinart) is fairly accurate but lacks the confidence to throw downfield and the other(Anderson) is a mad bomber who throws a football like Nuke Laloosh used to throw a baseball. Hot Tub Boy and Scatter Arm cannot and will not play to the level of QB that their predecessor, Kurt Warner, did and Fitzgerald's numbers will suffer. He may even fall out of the top 10.
7)Brandon Marshall - Marshall is happy to be in the wonderful state of Florida again after starring at Cenral Florida in college. He's also become fast friends with new QB Chad Henne. However, B-Marsh is suiting up for one of the more rush-heavy teams in all of the NFL. He should get more redzone opps, but I see the catch number coming down to about 85 this year.
8)Miles Austin - Austin is good. As a Redskins fan, this is very hard for me to admit. His game should not suffera bit with the addition of Dez Bryant from Oklahoma State. And we already know Roy Williams is no threat to his numbers. Austin will continue to dazzle with his ability to run after the catch for the Cowboys. Not a bad WR1 if you can get him in the mid- to late-second round.
9)DeSean Jackson - Jackson is a playmaker. He turns fairly routine looking plays into spectacular TD's for the Eagles. He is also a big factor in the punt return game. D-Jax could be the most electric player in the NFL and he has been Kevin Kolb's number one supporter as Philly transitions to the new QB. Think Torry Holt's numbers from 2000-2001. Smallish size keeps from being a regular redzone target.
10)Steve Smith (NYG) - I may be as high on the "new" Steve Smith as anyone around. Especially in PPR formats. Smith's numbers aren't going anywhere. He's Eli Manning's security blanket. If Dominique Wilkins was the "Human Highlight Reel", then Steve Smith is the "Human Third Down Conversion". He was amazingly steady in 2009 and all signs point to a continuation right where he left off.
11)Greg Jennings - This may be the last time I go out on a limb for Jennings. Last season okay, but greatness was expected. Another ho-hum year in 2010 will pigeonhole Jennings as an eternal WR2 incapable of getting over the hump to become an elite WR1. The Packers have tons of weapons, but none with more ability to make plays than Greg Jennings. It's time for him to show up week in and week out.
12)Anquan Boldin - For a guy who misses as many games as Quan Quan does, it's a bit strange to think he's also known as one of the toughest guys in the entire NFL. Sure, he came back a few weeks after getting a steel plate put in his skull in 2008, but he's forever missing games with pulled groins and hammys and sprained ankles and knees. My instinct tells me that the move to Baltimore will make Boldin at least try to play through some of the seemingly minor stuff more often than when he was in Zona. Being teammates with Ray Lewis could have that effect.
13)Wes Welker - I know. I'm an idiot. This is way too high for a wide who's coming off reconstructive knee surgery and who's being forced to play with a brace on that left knee. Right? I just have to disagree. Welker's a stocky guy who relies more on quickness and route running ability than straight ahead speed. Along with Tom Brady looking 100% again after his knee injury in '08, I think Welker still breaks 100 catches in 2010. But, if you take him, please handcuff Julian Edelman to him later in your draft.
14)Steve Smith (Car) - The "old" Steve Smith will be looking to become "the" Steve Smith again this season. If God's willing and the Panthers QB's don't fail, he may be able to get his title back. I'm just not ready to say with certainty that Matt Moore and/or Jimmy Clausen can do it for sure. So the Panthers' Steve Smith is rated second in my Steve Smith rankings. Potentially explosive WR2.
15)Marques Colston - If only New Orleans didn't have a seemingly infinite amount of talented receivers on their roster. We, as fantasy football players, might finally see the full extent of Colston's skill set. Alas, Marques is surrounded by gifted WR's and his coach, Sean Payton, revels in using them all. Colston's still the number one guy for Drew Brees, but sharing the load will always limit his upside.
16)Hakeem Nicks - Nicks is one of the many extremely talented 2nd year WR's out there and he has a chance to take his game to the next level this year. He has great, strong hands and a knack for getting loose downfield. As much as I questioned the Giants' pick of Nicks to attempt to replace Plaxico Burress, it appears that he could actually wind up being better than Burress.
17)Dwayne Bowe - Last year was an aberration. Bowe took a step back because he didn't get along with new coach Todd Haley and becasue he couldn't keep himself in check. He had weight issues and got suspended for some sort of drug policy violation. Bowe will be back and should be the best we've seen yet in 2010. Matt Cassel should be more comfy in KC's offense and D-Bowe should be rewarded. Draft him as a low-end WR2 if there's a run or a WR3 if you can.
18)Michael Crabtree - It's time for Crabtree to be the player he views himself as and to become the player we all envisioned him as when he was at Texas Tech. He improving his route running as 2009 chugged along and should be even better after having an entire training camp under his belt. Vernon Davis' breakout will mean safeties will be occupied down the middle of the field and Crabtree should get some deep opportunities on the outside in addition to running his specialty out routes and underneath stuff. I have high expectations for the kid.
19)Percy Harvin - Sidney Rice's injury + Brett Favre's return + The discovery of the cause of his migraines = Harvin as a solid WR2. Harvin's game-changing skills are obvious. All you to do is watch him for a few plays. He even does a good job blocking downfield. Now, with Rice's hip injury, Percy gets a chance to be the man in the Minnesota passing game until at least Week 8. Medium risk, high reward.
20)Hines Ward - Few things on Earth are as steady as Hines Ward. Even without Big Ben Rapistberger for the first four weeks of the season Ward should still be an effective fantasy receiver. If this were just an NFL ranking, Hines would be much farther up this list. Still, #21 isn't that bad. Book him for another 80 catches and 950+ yards.
21)Chad Ochocinco - Oh my, Robin, you may have a problem on your hands. I'm not so much worried about everyone getting along with the presence of Batman, ahem T.O., as much as I am the effect that he'll have on your fantasy numbers. I've got you ranked here but, I have to say, I will not get on board this year. You won't be my Ultimate Catch, Chad.
22)Pierre Garcon - Garcon can play. Forget that he got his chance to shine because Anthony Gonzalez is a typical talented former Buckeye with zero heart. Firget the threat of Austin Collie. Collie can't get loose outside like Garcon and certainly is not the heir apparent to Reggie Wayne. Garcon is. Expect over 1000 yards this season.
23)Terrell Owens - He's back! Somehow good ol' Terrell landed in a great spot for himself. Cincy has another star wideout, a solid running game, and a pretty decent QB who, if his elbow is healthy, should esily return to his old 4000 yard level. All this adds up to one more big year for Owens. 1000 yards and 10 TD's would not surprise me at all. Neither would another meltdown.
24)T.J. Houshmandzadeh - Who's your Momma? I bet you thought those jokes had died after that pathetic display T.J. put on in 2009, didn't you? Never count me out. I'm always willing to be "That Guy". The jackass in me just won't die. Anyway, I like Housh to bounce back and play well as a complement to Anquan in Baltimore.
25)Santonio Holmes
26)Mike Sims-Walker
27)Mike Wallace
28)Santana Moss
29)Johnny Knox
30)Derrick Mason
31)Jeremy Maclin
32)Robert Meachem
33)Donald Driver
34)Mike Williams (Sea)
35)Steve Breaston
36)Austin Collie
37)Mike Williams (TB)
38)Malcolm Floyd
39)Dez Bryant
40)Steve Johnson
41)Roy Williams
42)Legedu Naanee
43)Lee Evans
44)Braylon Edwards
45)James Jones
46)Eddie Royal
47)Sidney Rice
48)Dexter McCluster
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