Top 50 Fantasy Wide Receivers for 2015
There are multiple arguments that could be made for who should be the No.1 Fantasy wide receiver. In all honesty the top 10 or so all have the potential to push for that top wide receiver position by the end of the season. It’s a very deep class of talented and productive wide receivers this season with a ton of upside and potential throughout the draft.
Top 50 Fantasy Wide Receivers for 2015
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1. Antonio Brown (11) Pit : Brown has been the most consistent point producing wide receiver over the past two seasons. Recording 239 receptions for 3,197 yards and 21 touchdowns in his past 34 games, Brown has been able to record at least 10-plus standard fantasy points in 20 of his last 25 games. Brown has seen at least 9 targets in 27 of the Steelers last 34 games and will continue to be leaned on this year by Ben Roethlisberger. Expect him to be one of the top 5 wide receivers taken this year in all draft formats. |
| 2. Dez Bryant (6) Dal : Bryant continues to prove that he is one of the leagues top elite wide receivers. He has recorded at least 88 receptions for 1,200-plus yards and at least 12 touchdowns in each of his past three seasons and he should be drafted as a top 5 wide receiver in all league formats. |
| 3. Demaryius Thomas (7) Den : Thomas has been a top five receiver since Peyton Manning joined the Broncos in 2012. He has recorded no less than 92 receptions for 1,430 yards and 10 touchdowns in each of his last three seasons and looks to continue his assault on the leagues defensive backs. Owners can expect to see Thomas fly off the boards at the end of Round 1 and beginning of Round 2 as a top 5 wide receiver in all leagues. |
| 4. Calvin Johnson (9) Det : Injuries plagued Megatron all season last year which forced his fantasy production to fall. Recording just 71 receptions for 1,077 yards and 8 touchdowns, Johnson finished as the 14th best receiver in standard league scoring. The good news is that Johnson is healthy again and will take another stab at putting up mega-stats. As well as he has never had back-to-back seasons in his career with single-digit touchdown production. Johnson will still be a late first round pick in most leagues this season as he has a ton of upside to bounce back into the Top 5 come the end of the season. |
| 5. Odell Beckham Jr. (11) NYG : The youngest Madden 16 Cover winner looks to continue his assault on the leagues defenses in 2015. Despite missing the first four weeks of the year with a hamstring injury, he still finished with 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 10 receptions in his last six games while recording at least 11 targets in seven of the Giants last nine games. He was the No.1 rookie wide receiver down inside the red zone with 16 receptions on 25 total targets (12 games) for 122 yards and 8 touchdowns and will look to take advantage of weak pass defense match-ups this coming season. He should be considered a top eight Fantasy receiver in all leagues, and he’s worth drafting toward the end of Round 1 or beginning of Round 2. |
| 6. Julio Jones (10) ATL : Atlanta’s overhauling of the coaching staff included bringing in young play caller Kyle Shanahan, who has a track record of being more pass-friendly and tends to lean on one wide out. The Falcons finally have a stout offensive line to help solidify issues that have plagued the Falcons over the past few seasons. Julio recorded 104 receptions for 1,563 yards but only managed to reel in 6 touchdowns. Look for Matt Ryan to lean heavily on Julio this season and watch his touchdown count at least double. Julio should be a top 6 wide receiver drafted in all league formats and has the potential to lead all receivers this coming season. |
| 7. Jordy Nelson (7) GB : The Nelson, Aaron Rodgers connection continues to grow stronger each season. Stepping up from 126 targets in 2013 to 151 targets in 2014, Nelson capitalized on those targets increasing his receptions from 85 to 98, as well as his yards from 1,314 up to 1,519 and most importantly his touchdown count from 8 in 2013 jumped to 13 last season. Nelson was a monster at home scoring in 7 of 8 games. We can expect to see Nelson fly off the board between picks 18 and 26 in all leagues. |
| 8. AJ Green (7) Cin : Look for Green to bounce back this season. Heading into a contract season, Green has some really high expectations and could produce amazing numbers while playing for his future. Clearly a No.1 fantasy wide receiver, some owners may shy away from grabbing Green as early as he would normally go but we are assuring you it’s perfectly fine to gamble on Green. In the 11 games he was active, Green averaged more than 6 receptions and over 94 yards per game while adding a touchdown in 6 of those 11 games. |
| 9. Randall Cobb (7) GB : After posting career highs in receptions (91) yards (1,287) and touchdowns (12) the Packers rewarded Cobb graciously with a 4-year $40 million dollar extension. Entering 2015 with one of the leagues most prolific quarterbacks, look for Cobb to continue his assault on the leagues defenders. Owners can expect to see Cobb fly off the boards as a top 10 fantasy receiver in all league formats. |
| 10. TY Hilton (10) Ind : Hilton had his second consecutive season with 82 catches but had 262 more yards and 2 more touchdowns than his previous season. With the addition of Andre Johnson in what was an over the hill receiving corp in 2014, looks to give Hilton some cushion as defenses won’t be able to solo Hilton out. Owners should look to draft Hilton as a low-end No.1 Fantasy wide out with a ton of upside and potential with Andrew Luck throwing him the pigskin. |
| 11. Alshon Jeffery (7) Chi : With Brandon Marshall moving on to the Jets, Jeffery is now the top receiving option for Jay Cutler. He has recorded at least 145 targets in each of the past two seasons and could easily see that number for a third year straight. A monster down inside the redzone for Cutler, owners can expect Jeffery to finish inside the top 12 again this year. Being drafted as a low-end No.1 fantasy wide out expect to see Jeffery off the boards towards the end of Round 2 and into Round 3. |
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12. Emmanuel Sanders (7) Den : After posting career highs in targets (141), receptions (101), yards (1,404) and touchdowns (9) the Broncos bring in Gary Kubiak for a system shake up. The change could mean a decrease in Sanders’ production as Kubiak does not have a good history of having two receivers recording quality production in the same season. Now, what we’re saying is that we don’t believe that Sanders will repeat his numbers from last year, but 80-plus receptions for 1,200 yards and 7-9 touchdowns isn’t unrealistic with Peyton Manning still under center. Owners should view Sanders as a high-end No.2 fantasy wide out worth grabbing no earlier then Round 3. |
| 13. Mike Evans (6) TB : After a slow start, he never went more than one game without scoring. Evans recorded 68 receptions for 1,051 yards while scoring 12 touchdowns in 15 games. Evans overshadowed veteran Vincent Jackson especially down inside the red zone as Evans secured 8 of his 12 targets, 6 going for touchdowns. The fear is that he regresses in his second season as defenses key in on him. With the addition of Jameis Winston, we look for Evans to really push for that leading 2nd-year wide receiver spot. We like Evans as a high-end No. 2 Fantasy receiver you’ll find between the middle of Round 2 and early Round 3. |
| 14. Kelvin Benjamin (5) Car : Benjamin produced 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and 9 touchdowns last season which had him as a top 3 rookie receiver. Drops were a major problem for Benjamin especially down inside the red zone. He recorded the 6th-most amount of targets amongst receivers last season (146) but caught exactly half of them. Of his 15 red zone targets only 4 were brought in for 3 touchdowns but he looks to improve on that percentage this season. Look to Benjamin as a solid No.2 Fantasy wide out with the potential to leap to a sneaky No.1 producer if he improved his hands. Owners can expect to see Benjamin off the table late in Round 2 and into Round 3. |
| 15. DeAndre Hopkins (9) Hou : With Andre Johnson moving on to Indianapolis, Hopkins becomes the No.1 target for the Texans heading into the season. Hopkins recorded 76 receptions for 1,210 yards and 6 touchdowns last season. He did not do much damage down inside the red zone as he saw 12 total targets, catching 6 of those passes but only 2 went for a touchdown. In two seasons now, Hopkins has reeled in 128 receptions for 2012 yards and eight touchdowns and we look for him to continue his trend up as he enters his third season which typically can be a breakout year. Owners should consider Hopkins a No.2 Fantasy wide receiver with a ton of upside worth draft in the middle of Rounds 4 and 5. |
| 16. Julian Edelman (4) NE : Edelman followed up his standout 2013 performance (105 catches for 1,056 yards and 6 touchdowns) with another solid campaign in 2014 (92 catches for 972 yards and 4 touchdowns), and he likely would have finished with consecutive seasons of 100-plus catches and 1,000-plus yards had he played in the final two games of the regular season (concussion). Edelman may struggle early in the season with Jimmy Garoppolo but Edelman is the type of receiver that can help a young quarterback, which we are hoping leads to Edelman still having some solid production in the absence of Tom Brady. Edelman has the potential to see 100-plus receptions and 1,000-plus yards as the Patriots stand out slot receiver and should be drafted as a No.2 Fantasy wide receiver towards the end of Round 4 and beginning of Round 5. |
| 17. Jordan Matthews (8) Phi : Matthews had a solid rookie season in 2014 with 67 catches for 872 yards and 8 touchdowns on 105 targets, and was the 2nd best rookie receiver down inside the red zone. Matthews ranked No.8 last year amongst all wide receivers down inside the red zone, recording 10 receptions on 15 targets for 96 yards and 6 touchdowns (tied for 4th). The last two No. 1 receivers for Eagles coach Chip Kelly were DeSean Jackson in 2013 and Jeremy Maclin last year, both set career highs in production and were Fantasy stars. Jackson was the No. 9 Fantasy receiver in standard leagues with 82 catches for 1,332 yards and 9 touchdowns on 126 targets. And Maclin was also No. 9 last year with 85 catches for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns on 143 targets. Matthews is a solid No. 2 Fantasy receiver on Draft Day worth drafting as early as Round 4 in all formats. |
| 18. Brandin Cooks (11) NO : Cooks’ rookie season was shortened to 10 games because of a thumb injury but the speedster averaged 5.3 catches and 55 yards per game. Cooks totaled 53 receptions for 550 yards and 3 touchdowns while posting 70-plus yards in four of his ten games. With Kenny Stills getting traded to the Dolphins and Jimmy Graham being sent out to Seattle, it comes down to Cooks to take that next step in his development. The Saints play a league high 12-indoor games this season which boasts well for Cooks and quarterback Drew Brees. We like Cooks this season as a solid No.2 Fantasy wide out worth drafting in late Round 4 and early Round 5. |
| 19. Brandon Marshall (5) NYJ : A season full of injuries dragged Marshall’s production straight down to the bottom. Entering 2015 at the age of 31 and catching passes from Geno Smith or Ryan Fitzpatrick there really isn’t that much to be excited about. We still like Marshall as a No. 2/high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver that can be drafted quite a bit later than when we are used to seeing Marshall go. He is going to see the targets and if he can remain healthy don’t be surprised if he posts some real nice numbers. Remember this isn’t Rex Ryan’s ground and pound Jets anymore. |
| 20. Andre Johnson (10) Ind : Johnson gets a huge improvement, departing from a run heavy scheme now expected to be one of the main focuses in a pass heavy offense, catching passes from Andrew Luck, on a division rival that is a potential Super Bowl contender, expect to see big things from Johnson. Last season Hakeem Nicks and Reggie Wayne recorded 185 targets combined, even IF Johnson is able to record 120 of those targets, he has the potential to produce 75-plus receptions with 1,000 yards and plenty of redzone opportunities. Johnson has never recorded double digit touchdown numbers, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him break that streak this year as the Colts tallest receiver. Owners can view Johnson as a No.2 Fantasy wide out worth grabbing in Rounds 5 and 6. Also, if you draft Johnson he is a must start in weeks 5 and 15 against his former team. |
| 21. Keenan Allen (10) SD : Allen broke out as a rookie and produced solid numbers to make him a standout Fantasy receiver 2013, but he struggled as a sophomore last season. Can he turn into a third-year breakout this year? Allen had 71 catches for 1,046 yards and 8 touchdowns in his first season, but he regressed last year with 77 catches for 783 yards and just 4 touchdowns. Allen is slated as the No.1 receiver for the Chargers but with four different receivers recording 750-plus yards each there’s no real featured receiver. Adding Stevie Johnson this off season could help pull some additional coverage off of Allen allowing him to be more successful. Owners will be able to draft Allen as a low-end No.2/ high-end No.3 Fantasy receiver late in Round 5 or into Round 6 in most league setups. |
| 22. Jeremy Maclin (9) KC : Maclin pursued the ultimate payday after posting career highs in targets (143), receptions (85), yards (1,318) and tying a career high in touchdowns (10) last year with the Eagles. He signed a 5-year $55 million dollar contract with the Chiefs that guaranteed him $22 million. Getting paid is going to effect Maclin’s production as the Chiefs receivers last season recorded zero touchdowns amongst them. Dwayne Bowe lead the Chiefs last season with 96 targets and Travis Kelce was right behind him with 87, Maclin should be considered a low-end No.2/ high-end No.3 Fantasy wide out worth drafting in Rounds 5 or 6. Owners beware, Maclin getting paid this off season makes him a potential bust candidate in 2015. |
| 23. DeSean Jackson (8) Was : His production declined from his career year in Philadelphia in 2013, but that was expected. Jackson still had a successful first season in Washington as he recorded 56 catches for 1,169 yards and 6 touchdowns on 94 targets. Look for him to continue his production with RGIII, Jackson is worth drafting as a No.2 fantasy wide out in Rounds 4 thru 5 this summer. |
| 24. Sammy Watkins (8) Buf : Watkins led the Bills in targets (128), yards (982) and receiving touchdowns (6). He was also tied for second on the team in receptions (65). He is expected to be healthy after having off season hip surgery but needs to be monitored heading into training camp. He has elite talent and ability to beat defensive backs with ease but with E.J Manuel, Matt Cassel or Tyrod Taylor under center he is no more then a No.2 Fantasy wide receiver worth snagging in Rounds 4 thru Rounds 6. |
| 25. Golden Tate (9) Det : Coming off a career high in targets (143), receptions (99) and yards (1,331) the question is, can he do it again? We do believe so. He showed his upside and potential to be a solid No.1 wide receiver when Calvin Johnson was injured or inactive, posting 10-plus standard fantasy points in 4 of those 5 games. Downside is, Tate recorded 10-plus standard points in just two games that Megatron was active. Owners should view Tate no higher than a No.2 Fantasy wide receiver that is worth drafting in Round 5 and later. |
| 26. Amari Cooper (6) Oak : Expect to see an instant impact from the 4th overall draft pick. Cooper is expected to be slated as the No.1 wide out for the Raiders come regular season time and could be in line for quite a bit of work from Derek Carr. Cooper has been working all over the field this off season including spending some time return punts and kickoffs. Placing your most dynamic player in harms way is a big risk and we don’t believe the Raiders are wanting to sacrifice a first round pick for a few extra yards. Cooper is a gamble this season but worth taking as a No.2 Fantasy receiver as early as Round 5 with the potential to be lead the Raiders in targets. |
| 27. Allen Robinson (8) Jac : Robinson finished the season as the Jaguars most consistent receiver as he averaged over 5 receptions and 60 yards per game in nine of his ten games until suffering a foot injury. Through ten games Robinson recorded 48 receptions for 548 yards and 2 touchdowns and he should look to grow into a prominent role for Jacksonville, and that should be enough to help Fantasy owners, especially those in PPR formats. We are hopeful to see growth between Robinson and Blake Bortles as they turn into a solid connection. Don’t reach to early for Robinson, view him as a low-end No.2/high-end No.3 Fantasy wide out that can be drafted with a Rounds 6 thru 9 pick that could pay off down the road. |
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28. Kenny Stills (5) Mia : Acquired by the Dolphins in the off season, Stills is expected to take on the deep threat role that Mike Wallace could not live up to. Stills recorded 63 receptions for 931 yards and 3 touchdowns last year with the Saints and managed to catch over 74% of his targets. He has solid hands but seemed to have a problem maturing, a main reason the Saints traded him. With the hopes he can keep up his target/reception ratio and increase his touchdown we like Stills this season as a No.3 Fantasy receiver worth drafting as early as Round 7 in most league formats. |
| 29. Eric Decker (5) NYJ : We expected Decker’s production to drop off much worse than it did last season. Recording 74 receptions for 961 yards and 5 touchdowns wasn’t as bad as we had anticipated. But, subtract his 10 reception, 221 yard, 1 touchdown week 17 against the Dolphins and your looking at 64 receptions (4.0 per week) for 741 yards (46.3 yards per week) with 4 touchdowns. Decker led the Jets receivers with 115 targets last year in a Rex Ryan ground and pound system. Expected to share MORE targets with Brandon Marshall this season, Decker could be a sneaky pick. Decker should be viewed as a No.3 Fantasy receiver being gambled on no earlier than the 7th Round. |
| 30. Charles Johnson (5) Min : Cordarrelle Patterson flopped last season, opening the door for Johnson to emerge. Recording 31 receptions on 58 targets for 475 yards and 2 touchdowns last season, the majority of Johnson’s work came in the second half of the season as he only had 6 receptions for 60 yards heading into week 11. Once he became a regular starter from Week 11 through the end of the season he racked up 415 of his 475 total receiving yards. Expected to open the season as the No.2 wide out for the Vikings, Johnson is a 3rd-year breakout candidate worth drafting as a No.3 Fantasy receiver in Rounds 7 or 8 this year. |
| 31. Vincent Jackson (6) TB : Jackson produced a third-straight season with over 70 catches and fourth straight with over 1,000 yards but barely got to those milestones (70 receptions for 1,002 yards). Clearly Jackson was out performed by rookie Mike Evans along with some poor quarterback play at times, Jackson’s consistency was unpredictable at best. Scoring just two times is the second lowest of his career (2005 – zero) but he’s never had less than 7 touchdowns in back-to-back seasons. With the addition of Jameis Winston we like Jackson to bounce back this year but with the ability to draft him much later than years past. Owners should view Jackson as a No.3 Fantasy wideout well worth drafting in Round 7 and on. |
| 32. Kevin White (7) Chi : White was selected with the 7th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and looks to play a big role as the Bears No.2 wide receiver across from Alshon Jeffery. He recorded 109 catches for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season for West Virginia. He is a big, strong, competitive receiver with great ball skills and the ability to go up and snag the ball out of he air. Taking a gamble on White as a low-end No.2/high-end No.3 Fantasy wide out could pay off as Jeffery averaged about 970 yards and 6.5 touchdowns as the Bears No.2 wide receiver over the past three seasons. |
| 33. Mike Wallace (5) Min : Wallace joined the Vikings this off season and looks to reestablish himself the deep threat we know him as. We are hoping that Teddy Bridgewater has matured and can get the ball down the field to Wallace. Wallace caught just 12 passes of 20-plus yards in Miami after snagging 44 in four years with Pittsburgh. Wallace is expected to be the No.2 receiver for the Vikings behind Charles Johnson and is still worth a No.3 Fantasy wide receiver spot that can be drafted much later than in years past. |
| 34. Roddy White (10) ATL : Back to back seasons below 1,000 yards, leg and ankle injuries, overhauling of the coaching staff and turning 33 in the off season are some pretty serious strikes against White. The Falcons brought in Kyle Shanahan, who does have a track record of being more pass-friendly but tends to lean on one wide out and we are expecting that wide out to be Julio Jones. All 3 White, Jones and Matt Ryan have all mentioned in multiple interviews that they expect the offense to be much more balanced than last season as Ryan threw the 2nd-most amount of passes. With expectations of 850-1,000 yards and 6-8 touchdowns, White is at most a low-end No.2/high-end No.3 Fantasy receiver worth a mid-round pick. |
| 35. Torrey Smith (10) SF : Smith reunites with old friend Anquan Boldin. After a career high 11 touchdowns last season, Smith is expected to see that number fall. Although producing a career high in touchdowns, Smith tied his career low with 49 receptions and had a career low 767 yards last season. At this point we are scared to draft Smith any higher than a No.3 Fantasy receiver no earlier than Round 7 this year. |
| 36. Jarvis Landry (5) Mia : Landry played well enough as a rookie that Miami traded Mike Wallace to the Vikings, brought in Kenny Stills from the Saints and made Landry the No. 1 receiver on the depth chart. Landry was second among rookie receivers in receptions with 84 (former LSU teammate Odell Beckham Jr. was first with 91 catches), and he was one of 17 receivers in the NFL with 80-plus catches last season. Landry posted five games with 7-plus catches, and he finished with 758 yards and 5 touchdowns on 84 receptions. With a ton of upside in PPR leagues, we believe Landry has the potential to post 80-plus receptions again if he can remain healthy all season. A must watch this season in all leagues and worth drafting as a No.3 Fantasy wide receiver as early as Round 7. |
| 37. Nelson Agholor (8) Phi : Agholor is one of the Eagles most versatile receivers and the first rounder is expected to see instant playing time in Chip Kelly’s offense. Agholor has been running with first- and second-team offenses during the spring and seeing time both inside and outside. He is nearly a lock to start as the No.2 wide out for the Eagles with the potential of being a solid fantasy producer. He is locked in as a Top 4 Rookie wide receiver and should be drafted as a No.3 Fantasy wideout with a ton of upside. |
| 38. Martavis Bryant (11) Pit : Bryant is expected to be given the opportunity to beat Markus Wheaton out for the No.2 job across from Antonio Bryant. Bryant only recorded 26 receptions compared to Wheaton’s 53 but Bryant managed to produce 549 yards (only 105 less) then Wheaton. Bryant had a magnet on him inside the end-zone finishing with a whopping 8 touchdowns (6 more then Wheaton). Bryant recorded 8 red zone targets catching 4 of those passes for touchdowns. He’s big, he’s strong and he knows how to utilize his size and strength to beat defenders to the ball, oh and did we mention he can be snagged as a No.3 Fantasy receiver in Rounds 7 thru 9. |
| 39. Marques Colston (11) NO : Colston was once a lock for at least 1,000-plus yards and a good handful of touchdowns but with back to back 900 yard and 5 touchdown seasons its pretty clear that Colston is on the downhill. Even if you presume his targets will go up now that Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills are out of New Orleans, Colston should still be viewed as a No.3 Fantasy wide out until proven better. Coming off a down 2014, Colston returns rejuvenated and ready to lead a very inexperienced receiving corps. |
| 40. DeVante Parker (5) Mia : Parker was the 14th overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, will not participate in the Dolphins’ minicamp after having a screw placed in his foot during surgery but is considered on track for the start of the regular season. Expected to start the season as the No.3 receiver for the Dolphins behind Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings, Parker isn’t worth drafting any higher than a low-end No.3 Fantasy wide receiver in later rounds this year. |
| 41. Breshad Perriman (9) Bal : The Ravens really want their first round pick to win the No.2 wide receiver job across from Steve Smith but a case of drops in his first off season has a red flag raised. He dropped 8-of-54 catchable passes at Central Florida last year. A heightened focus should be a fixable issue and we still expect Perriman to beat out Kamar Aiken and Marlon Brown for the No.2 job. We expect Perriman to be counted on to play the high-volume X role under Marc Trestman and should be drafted as a No.3 Fantasy receiver this season. |
| 42. Larry Fitzgerald (9) Ari : Fitzgerald, who will be 32 this year, caught just 63 passes for 784 yards last season, his lowest production since his rookie year, with a career-low two touchdowns. It’s easy to call Fitzgerald a potential bounce back player but it depends as to what level of production you are expecting him to give. In the past, Fitz has been a 90-plus reception for 1,000-plus yard and double digit touchdown guy unfortunately he is better viewed as a 75 catch, 850 yard and 4-6 touchdown fantasy producer this season worth drafting as a No.3 Fantasy receiver starting in Rounds 6 or 7. |
| 43. Chris Matthews (9) Sea : Matthews was a star of Super Bowl 49 for the Seahawks against the Patriots, and we’ll see if he can follow it up for a full year in 2015. Matthews produced 4 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots and showed he knew how to use his 6-f00t-5 frame to beat NFL defenders. The former CFL receiver showed off his size (6-foot-5, 218 pounds) and playmaking ability, and we expect the Seahawks to use him much more this season. |
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44. Michael Floyd (9) Ari : Floyd was set to be a third year breakout option but failed to meet those expectations. After producing 65 receptions for 1,041 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2013, Floyd feel short of those numbers last season. He should be considered a No. 3 Fantasy receiver on Draft Day, and he’s worth drafting with a mid-round pick. He could easily become a weekly starter in all formats, but the good thing is you don’t have to spend a high draft pick on him this season compared to last year. |
| 45. Victor Cruz (11) NYG : Cruz is looking to come back from last year’s patellar knee injury, and his Fantasy value will hinge on his recovery. If he’s able to return in training camp and play in any preseason games then he could be considered a potential No. 3 Fantasy receiver. He is expected to spend most of his time in the slot to avoid double teams and take advantage of lesser talented defensive backs. Continue to monitor Cruz’s status as he could go from a mid-round No.3 Fantasy wide out with upside, down to a late-round waste of a pick depending on his health and recovery. |
| 46. Steve Smith Sr. (9) Bal : After starting his first season with the Ravens on fire, Smith cooled off after week 6 and remained fairly inconsistent throughout the remainder of the season. He recorded 70-plus yards in 5 of the first 6 weeks but managed to reach and surpass the 70-yard mark just 3 times in the final 10 games. Look for Smith as a low-end No.3 or No.4 Fantasy receiver this season that can be drafted in Rounds 10 and on. |
| 47. Marvin Jones (7) Cin : Jones missed all of last season with foot and ankle ailments but has appeared to look 100 percent in minicamp. That means Jones will be in a competition for a starting job with Mohamed Sanu. It shouldn’t take much for Jones to unseat Sanu as the No. 2 receiver in Cincinnati, a job he held while scoring 10 touchdowns on 51 receptions in 2013. Jones getting stronger and healthier is a great sign that Jones is shaping up to be a late-round Fantasy sleeper. |
| 48. Brandon LaFell (4) NE : LaFell has shed the protective boot he donned during Patriots OTAs. He missed pretty much the entire spring and should be fine for training camp. After a successful first season with the Patriots, LaFell spent most of the off season catching passes from Tom Brady and picking his brain. LaFell not only won his first Super Bowl, but he also set career highs in catches (74), yards (953) and touchdowns (seven). And he did this after not making his first reception until Week 3. A solid No.3 or No.4 Fantasy wide receiver come draft day, look for LaFell in the later rounds of the draft. |
| 49. Donte Moncrief (10) Ind : Playing behind T.Y Hilton and Andre Johnson, Moncrief is sure to see man-to-man coverage and plenty of deep chances from Andrew Luck but it’s hard to predict what kind of consistency Moncrief will produce to start the season. He is well worth taking a gamble on as a No.3 or No.4 Fantasy receiver in Round 9 and later. |
| 50. Anquan Boldin (10) SF : Boldin has averaged at least 84 catches for 1,120 yards and six touchdowns the past two seasons, and has been a Top 24 receiver in standard leagues each year since joining the 49ers. The addition of Torrey Smith and Michael Crabtree getting healthy could hinder Boldin’s production but that is unknown. Boldin led the 49ers in targets in 2014 with 130, and we should expect Colin Kaepernick to lean on him again. Owners should view Boldin as a No.3 Fantasy wide out that can be drafted at a later time with the potential of a greater reward. |
