2006 keeper league rankings -- WR
Here are the 2006 keeper league WR rankings as of the middle of May. Several rookie receivers broke into the top-100, and others have fallen or retired. The number after the player's name indicates his age for a majority of the 2006 season. There will be updates as the offseason continues...
WR
1. Larry Fitzgerald -- 23 -- he's the youngest of the top-10 receivers, and the Cardinals have the potential to average 35 points per game, so he's the default #1 WR
2. Steve Smith -- 27 -- Jake Delhomme loves him and he's proven that when healthy, he's one of the best playmakers in the business... should come close to repeating his 2005 season
3. Chad Johnson -- 28 -- whether it's Carson Palmer or not, Johnson will still be a productive player... once Palmer is 100%, Johnson will emerge as the #1 fantasy receiver
4. Terrell Owens -- 32 -- he's a big boom or big bust player this year... his QB and opposite receiver are both getting old, and the running back situation is not great, but if he doesn't trip over his mouth, another productive season is in order
5. Anquan Boldin -- 26 -- this might be the year that he gets in the end zone more, but if he doesn't, you won't complain about another 100 catch season
6. Torry Holt -- 30 -- Holt's stock isn't improving, but he's still one of the elite receivers in fantasy... he is at his best when Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson are healthy, which hasn't happened yet
7. Reggie Wayne -- 27 -- Peyton Manning will be forced to throw more without Edgerrin James to hand off to, which can't hurt Wayne... he has Marvin Harrison on the opposite side, and this is the year that Harrison passes the torch
8. Chris Chambers -- 28 -- watch the Culpepper situation, because we know what receivers working with Joey Harrington have done in the past... if Daunte is heaving it, Chambers will be catching it... a lot of it
9. Hines Ward -- 30 -- still has a few more top-tier seasons left, and Ben Roethlisberger looks often to him in the red zone... with Willie Parker emerging as a star, Ward could have more chances to shine
10. Randy Moss -- 29 -- he's the best of the middle of the top-tier receivers (did that make sense?) so he gets the #6 ranking for now... the signing of Aaron Brooks isn't bad, and Moss should have a nice rebound season
11. Andre Johnson -- 25 -- this is the year to draft Johnson in a keeper league, because he's coming off injuries and the Texans' offense is improving... he is a top-5 talent on a bad team, so he falls in most drafts
12. Marvin Harrison -- 34 -- hasn't shown his age yet, but with Edgerrin James gone and Reggie Wayne emerging as Peyton Manning's #1 target, he'll begin to decline this year... Harrison should still give you 75-1100-10 in 2006, but don't spend too much on him for the future
13. Plaxico Burress -- 29 -- he fell off the board in the second half of the season, otherwise he might be ranked in the top-10... he's still a huge red zone target and will be a great #2 WR or borderline #1 for your team
14. Santana Moss -- 27 -- he's only 27, but I find it hard to believe that last season wasn't a fluke... if Mark Brunell gets hot again, Moss could have another stud season, but I'm not mortgaging the house on it
15. Roy Williams -- 24 -- Roy is 24, the Lions still don't have a great QB, and you shouldn't expect him to jump to the top-6 yet... but you could do a lot worse about 15 receivers into your draft
16. Darrell Jackson -- 27 -- I want to like Jackson very much, but I can't... he doesn't always stay healthy, and can't hold onto the ball, but his numbers are always respectable, if not excellent... draft him about 20 WR into the night, and you'll be happy
17. Deion Branch -- 27 -- it's about time now that he moves into the top-12 WR, but I want to see it happen before I rank him there... the Patriots made good offseason offensive moves, so Branch should be ready to explode
18. Donte Stallworth -- 25 -- it will be interesting to see how Stallworth reacts to having Drew Brees throwing to him... if he can turn a few WR screens into big plays, he'll have a great season, and should be #1 on the depth chart
19. Lee Evans -- 25 -- career numbers: 96 catches, 16 touchdowns... if he plays a full season and the Bills figure out their QB situation, Evans could be a stud... I'm thinking he ends up around 75-1100-9 in 2006
20. Braylon Edwards -- 23 -- Charlie Frye and the Browns have two phenomenal weapons coming off major injuries... Edwards and Kellen Winslow will emerge in 2007 as great pass catchers and serious red zone weapons... draft Edwards now and watch his knee this year, then enjoy '07
21. Javon Walker -- 28 -- with the trade to Denver, his stock rises, but you still need to watch how he responds to being tackled with a rebuilt knee... he signed a huge deal to stay in Denver, and rookie QB Jay Cutler will love him in 2007
22. Ernest Wilford -- 27 -- I love Wilford's potential as the breakout star of 2006... Jimmy Smith retired and the Jags didn't sign any big name receivers, so he'll be the default #1 for rising star Byron Leftwich... don't wait too long to snag him
23. Laveranues Coles -- 28 -- the Jets passed on the top quarterbacks in the draft, which means Chad Pennington will be throwing to Coles again, which hasn't been all that bad... he won't be your #1 WR, but as a secondary guy, you won't be unhappy
24. Reggie Brown -- 26 -- nobody knows who will come out of camp as Donovan McNabb's favorite WR, but Brown is the best of the bunch... the return of Brian Westbrook will rob Brown of catches, but his yardage won't suffer
25. TJ Houshmandzadeh -- 29 -- more than Chad Johnson, Housh's numbers are directly related to the success of Carson Palmer... he could take a small step back in 2006, but he's still a good #2 WR for your team
26. Antonio Bryant -- 25 -- he could be used as a decoy for rookie TE Vernon Davis, who looks like the real deal... Bryant has a ton of talent, and if Alex Smith has a good sophomore season, Bryant will be a great sleeper pick
27. Donald Driver -- 30 -- becomes the top option for Brett Favre, which is never a bad thing... Driver is 30 now, and there are younger receivers in Green Bay, but he'll still be the most productive Packer in 2006
28. Drew Bennett -- 28 -- Vince Young, Steve McNair, Billy Volek... it doesn't really matter... Bennett became a household name with a ridiculous burst at the end of 2004, causing him to go 15 receivers too high in 2005 drafts... don't do it again
29. Nate Burleson -- 25 -- the change of scenery might be what Burleson needs... Seattle will use him as a #2 or #3 WR, which means he has a serious chance to become a star again... great value pick
30. Derrick Mason -- 32 -- if your league rewards catches, Mason is a stud, producing 430 receptions in the last five seasons... since most leagues don't, and he doesn't score, you can do better than rely on Mason
31. Chad Jackson -- 21 -- should be starting, because he's better than Reche Caldwell and Troy Brown, but probably won't... Jackson will be the best fantasy WR in this draft clas
32. Joe Horn -- 34 -- Drew Brees is in town, and Donte Stallworth is quickly becoming a stud, so Horn's value is much lower than it was in the last few seasons... he's your best bet if you are looking for a 34-year-old receiver on the decline
33. Joey Galloway -- 34 -- had his best season in seven years, but his age will eventually affect his status as a burner... look for the beginning of the decline this year
34. Rod Smith -- 36 -- two major ranking busters: 1. Javon Walker and Ashley Lelie are better and younger than Smith 2. he's 36 years old... that being said, I think he'll have a decent season and then fade into retirement
35. Terry Glenn -- 32 -- never lived up to the hype from his rookie year, but could be a great sidekick to Terrell Owens... look for 60 catches and be happy if he gets there
36. Muhsin Muhammad -- 33 -- whether it's Rex Grossman, Brian Griese, Bob Griese... it doesn't matter; no WR in Chicago will catch 70 passes or 9 touchdowns this year, so pick someone younger with more potential
37. Jerry Porter -- 28 -- Porter is still young enough to have a few good seasons, but he hasn't popped into a star yet, and I don't think Aaron Brooks will make him one... a good #3 WR and not much else
38. Troy Williamson -- 24 -- should be the top producing receiver in Minnesota this year, whatever that means... Brad Johnson is old and their "upgrade" at running back was Chester Taylor, so don't get too pumped
39. Mark Clayton -- 24 -- if the Ravens complete a trade for Steve McNair, Clayton will be the biggest beneficiary... he showed us at the end of the year what kind of receiver he can be; now he needs a chance
40. Matt Jones -- 23 -- with Jimmy Smith gone, Jones has a chance to be the #2 WR behind Ernest Wilford... he'll have to fight Reggie Williams, which makes me think he'll be used more as a tight end or H-back
41. Michael Clayton -- 24 -- if Chris Simms likes him, he could duplicate 2004; if not, you'll hate him again, and someone else will share his success after you dump him... hold him through the slump and reap the benefits later
42. Keyshawn Johnson -- 34 -- he's caught 70 or more passes in every full season he's played in the NFL... the key is keeping him healthy and Jake Delhomme throwing to anyone other than Steve Smith
43. Ashley Lelie -- 26 -- currently, he's the #3 receiver in Denver after the acquisition of Javon Walker, but he'll supplant Rod Smith early in the year, and if Walker isn't 100% this year, Lelie could be a surprise
44. Justin McCareins -- 27 -- he really needs a healthy QB to show his talent... McCareins was a rising star in Tennessee, and fell into a hole with the J-E-T-S... could finally breakout into a 70-1000-7 player, but it's a reach
45. Kevin Curtis -- 28 -- I still don't think Curtis is that good, but his numbers suggest otherwise, and he steps into a starting role opposite Torry Holt... he could prove me wrong in 2006, but I doubt it
46. David Givens -- 26 -- he's one of those receivers who it seems has been in the league forever, but is really only 26... the new system won't help him become a star, but there are worse choices
47. Derek Hagan -- 22 -- this is your rookie sleeper, but it depends on several things: A. Culpepper needs to be healthy B. Marty Booker has to show his age C. you have to know who he is
48. Eric Moulds -- 33 -- he gives David Carr an established target, however goofy he may be... with Andre Johnson on the other side, Moulds could see many passes coming his way
49. Cedrick Wilson -- 27 -- he's too small and makes mistakes, but his contract implies that he'll get enough playing time to make a difference... I don't buy it
50. Santonio Holmes -- 22 -- his recent arrest won't hurt him any, and he could start the year as the #3 in Pittsburgh, but don't spend too much on him
51. Michael Jenkins -- 24 -- he still might move from Atlanta, so keep an eye on him, because he's got tools to become a top flight WR in the NFL
52. Brandon Lloyd -- 25 -- Joe Gibbs usually doesn't like idiots, and now he has one in Lloyd... he has a lot of talent, but he can't keep his head on... draft with caution
53. Mike Williams -- 22 -- Williams might become Jon Kitna's best friend... he's a giant, who is mobile enough to get open and strong enough to get tough yards, so he might explode this year if the passing game is revived
54. Brandon Stokley -- 30 -- he's the victim of having too many weapons in the Colts offense... went back into obscurity after a huge 2004 season, and he won't come out of it in Indy
55. Koren Robinson -- 26 -- good story, bad situation... Robinson beat alcohol to become a Pro Bowl returner, but he didn't contribute much to the offense and won't in 2006, either
56. Jabar Gaffney -- 25 -- puts up the same numbers every year, and 2006 will be no different... he'll finish with 50-550-2
57. Mark Bradley -- 24 -- good pick for 2007, but he'll need time to recover from an ACL injury last year... Chicago's passing offense is terrible, but his size and speed might lead to cheap touchdowns
58. Tyrone Calico -- 25 -- this was my favorite no-name receiver for three years, and it hasn't paid off yet... don't give up yet, but don't go nuts over him
59. Chris Henry -- 23 -- it will be interesting to see if Henry takes the next step and passes T.J. Houshmandzadeh, or becomes Brandon Stokley version 2005... I'm voting for the latter
60. Charles Rogers -- 25 -- I can't rank him high until he plays a full season, and if he does, he has to fight for catches from Roy Williams and Mike Williams... draft him if you want to, but don't say I didn't tell you so
61. Reggie Williams -- 23 -- I'd love to see him get a starting spot and show his skills, but that could be a year away
62. Bryant Johnson -- 25 -- three seasons, three touchdowns... he needs an injury to Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin to produce this season... the best #3 NFL WR option in fantasy this year
63. Roddy White -- 24 -- he is in a terrible situation with a QB that can't throw, but he still had a decent rookie year... look for a small step forward, but nothing to write home about
64. Eddie Kennison -- 33 -- his run of 1000-yd seasons will end this year, because the Chiefs will look elsewhere with the offense and his turbo is running low
65. Demetrius Williams -- 23 -- already making people gush in Baltimore, Williams could be a decent #5 receiver in deep leagues if Air McNair lands in Maryland
66. Amani Toomer -- 32 -- he's scored five or more TD in every season since 1998, with 2004 as the only exception... look for a repeat of 2004
67. Joe Jurevicius -- 31 -- takes his 10 touchdowns and great story to Cleveland, where he could be a decent decoy for Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow... or could go back to being useless
68. Robert Ferguson -- 26 -- with the trade of Javon Walker to Denver, Ferguson steps into a decent situation opposite Donald Driver... he could produce like Javon Walker in 2004, or could be on the streets like Jimmy Walker in 1995
69. Reche Caldwell -- 27 -- still has the tools to be a stud, but hasn't put it all together, and this year probably won't be different
70. Arnaz Battle -- 26 -- he's big, but he's on a bad team with a young QB and a below average offensive line... not a good prognosis
71. Antwaan Randle El -- 27 -- I don't like him in Washington, but I didn't like him in Pittsburgh and he put up respectable numbers... always a threat to take it to the house
72. Samie Parker -- 25 -- Parker didn't live up to the expectiations put on him, and he's too small to be a game-changer, so find another option as a #3 fantasy WR
73. Greg Lewis -- 26 -- should be the #2 in Philly, but probably won't be... either way, keep your eye on him
74. Sinorice Moss -- 22 -- will battle Tim Carter for the #3 job with the Giants, but that would make him only the fifth option... let someone else draft him
75. Travis Wilson -- 22 -- probably will be #3 for the Browns, but that's no big shake... has sleeper potential because Braylon Edwards is coming off a major injury and Joe Jurevicius is old
76. Marty Booker -- 30 -- has 630+ yards in each of the last five years... if that's what you are looking for, you won't be disappointed
77. Skyler Green -- 22 -- he's listed as the #4 WR for Dallas, and should take over their kick return duties... you could have worse players as your #6 fantasy WR
78. Keary Colbert -- 24 -- says he was nursing an ankle injury all of last season; if that's true, he should be a good #3 in Carolina
79. Clarence Moore -- 24 -- he's 6'6", and should be used for lob passes in the red zone, but that's about it
80. Peerless Price -- 30 -- returns to the spot of his glory days, but with an unstable QB situation, it's hard to see him catching 60 passes
81. Bernard Berrian -- 25 -- the Bears will use him as a sneaky downfield threat, which means about 30-40 catches and four TD
82. Corey Bradford -- 30 -- right now he's listed as the #2 WR in Detroit... not a chance that will remain the case
83. Brandon Williams -- 22 -- he won't make a big splash, but he could be starting by the end of the season, making him another 49ers starter to avoid
84. Marc Boerigter -- 28 -- I've been waiting for him to explode for five years... eight TD out of 20 catches his rookie year, none since
85. Rod Gardner -- 29 -- still has a chance to be a major contributor, but needs injuries in front of him
86. Aaron Moorehead -- 25 -- good longshot pick, because if any of the WR in Indy falter or get injured, he'll step into the #3 role
87. Marcus Robinson -- 31 -- 19 TD in the last three seasons, but could be buried on the depth chart
88. Greg Jennings -- 23 -- not sure what he'll do... with the return of Brett Favre, I suppose Jennings has some value because he was a second-rounder... not one of the top-6 rookies
89. Travis Taylor -- 28 -- if he starts, he'll give you 55-700-5... if not, forget about him
90. Jerricho Cotchery -- 24 -- good size and tools, but won't supplant Coles or McCareins this season
91. Ronald Curry -- 27 -- if he's healthy, could be a major sleeper on a team without a great tight end
92. Todd Pinkston -- 29 -- hasn't performed in four years as a starter... probably should be 25 spots higher, but I don't trust him
93. Maurice Stovall -- 21 -- has to beat Edell Sheperd and David Boston (yes, that David Boston) to become the #3 WR... good pick for 2007
94. Keenan McCardell -- 36 -- should be near the end of the line, but had a nice year in 2005... find other receivers and let someone else gamble here
95. Eric Parker -- 27 -- developing into a good fantasy WR, but still the third or fourth option in the Chargers offense
96. Shaun McDonald -- 25 -- not much opportunity here, but he always comes up with one or two big weeks... draft him in the last round and hope he explodes when your starters are on bye
97. David Boston -- 28 -- still a freak of nature and still only 28... he could resurrect his career like Galloway... or sail into nothing again
98. Tim Carter -- 27 -- he's one of the five fastest players in the league, but has no job yet
99. Jason Avant -- 22 -- Philly was a good landing spot for him, but he won't produce until next season
100. Brandon Marshall -- 22 -- I liked him before the draft, but he won't crack the lineup in Denver anytime soon
posted by joebook @ 2:18 PM
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