We started with the Top 10 Running Backs for 2011, so run on back there and see what that’s all about and then come back here and see who our Top 10 receivers are. They are just below this area. Until the CBA is done these rankings are in limbo, but hey, aren’t we all? Have at it:
1. Andre Johnson: I tried to come up with a legitimate reason not to have Andre as the #1 receiver and there was nothing. I tried to frame him for drunk driving, but they got Hines Ward instead! AJ was injured last season, missed 3 games and also played on his bum ankle for much of the season and still led the league in receiving yards per game with 93. His problem in fantasy has been getting in the end zone, but his 1500+ yards in ’08 and ’09 made up for that and he finished as the #2 and #1 fantasy receiver in those seasons. Even with a nagging ankle he was on pace for 1500 yards and 10 TDs last season. That would have made him the best fantasy receiver in the league, which he is. His injured ankle is nothing to be concerned about and the Texans are still going to be a good offense with Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Owen Daniels there to take away some pressure. And even with pressure you can’t stop the man. Projection 1450/10
2. Calvin Johnson: Megatron could be the most talented wide receiver in the league, or at the very least top two, but he continues to have quarterback trouble. He finished as the 5th best fantasy receiver last year and had a nagging injury and lost his quarterback in a card game. But even with back up QBs he put up good numbers. If he has Stafford all season he could compete for that #1 spot. Projection 1300/12
3. Roddy White: He has been very consistent, topping 83 receptions and 1153 yards each of the last 4 years. The addition of Julio Jones could take away a few looks, but also help take away some coverage. His consistency makes it hard not to grab him early. I could see playing it safe and taking him ahead of Megatron, but I can’t get over how high CJ’s ceiling is. He lives in a frickin mansion. White will get his. Projection 1350/10
4. Mike Wallace: I wrote an article a while back putting Wallace in the top 3, but I’m finding it really hard to not keep Roddy at #3 now that I’m piecing my rankings together. 60 Minutes has top 3 ability and I think he is set up to make a big leap with a full year of Big Ben as his QB and as the #1 option, but White is too safe to pass on for Wallac-e. Oh, and click on that link and read a lot more about why I like him this season. Projection 1250/11
5. Hakeem Nicks: If you project out Nicks’ numbers from last season you have #1 stats. I like him a lot, but I’m just not sure what we are going to get. I’d like to see a full season before I rank him in the top 3, but he sure has the ability to do it this year. Last season he almost had a TD per game he started. I don’t see him able to keep up those crazy numbers, but he is a no doubt top 5 wide receiver. Projection 1275/9
6. Larry Fitzgerald: I’m taking a bit of a leap here with Fitzy based on his insane ability and the likelihood that he won’t have Derek Anderson, John Skelton, Max Hall and Richard Bartel do their best to get him killed and/or kill his fantasy value. Who will be the next QB in Arizona? I don’t know. Stop badgering me! But the odds are that it will be Kevin Kolb, Kyle Orton, or Marc Bulger. Really, no matter who it is, they will be better than that foursome of rot. Of course Fitz still hauled in 90 receptions with that foul lot throwing to him, but touch downs were few and far between. He is easily the first, second and third read for whoever is quarterbacking in AZ so he will get plenty of targets. He has had 90+ receptions in 5 of 7 seasons and those two were his rookie and injury seasons. He’ll get the receptions and with a better QB will get his TDs. Projection 1275/9
7. Vincent Jackson: He will fall a bit in PPR leagues, but a full year with an even more seasoned Philip Rivers and he should match and exceed his 2009 numbers, which put him at the 10th best fantasy receiver. There is a chance that he’ll be traded, but there is no firm evidence of that at this point. If it does happen he will have to be reevaluated, but in the comfortable climes of San Diego’s offense he will have no trouble putting up big numbers. Projection 1150/10
8. Greg Jennings: Jennings started off slow last season, but finally got on track with Rodgers as the season went on. You could say his numbers were low because Jermichael Finley was taking away looks, but his sub-par numbers were a point of angst for the Packers as well as faux footballers. With Finley back I do see his numbers taking a slight dip, but in that offense I don’t see him losing too much. Projection 1125/9
9. Reggie Wayne: Wayne is slowing down and if Austin Collie can stay on the field he will lose some targets to him. But when it comes down to it, Wayne is still Manning’s #1 target. He will continue to get his receptions, but touchdowns are going to continue to be hard to come by. His value in non-ppr is going to hinge completely on how often he gets into the end zone. Last year he had 111 receptions, a career high, but also had a career low of 12.2 yards a reception and only 6 TDs. I see his receptions dropping a little and his TDs not rising any. Projection 1225/7
10. Desean Jackson: As a side note, I have absolutely no respect for DJax as a person, but I can’t let that get in the way of my rankings. So anywho, Jackasson is an amazing talent, with crazzy ass speed and agility and in the open field is nearly untouchable. Many people, including teammates it seems, believe he was afraid to go over the middle after his concussion last season and it certainly seemed so. He only had 47 receptions, but still was the 11th best fantasy receiver last season. That’s some crazy production per reception. With his propensity to T-Rex arm passes over the middle I don’t see him getting a ton of receptions, but if he does go all 16 games, and has Vick giving him all types of time to get open deep, it will be very hard to stop him from doing just that. Projection 100/1 — 1o50/7
