season, with the Miami Dolphins being the team most interested before they
obtained David Boston. That won’t affect his play in 2004, as Moss has had a
number of distractions over the years, and he continues to be an outstanding
fantasy player. Having Marcus Robinson aboard will take some pressure off him,
but Moss really needs another speed receiver whom opposing defenses are
scared of. Moss is still an elite player though.
2) Torry Holt, St. Louis. Holt has been a fantasy players’ favorite, averaging
1,500 yards receiving over the last four seasons. The only complaint about Holt
from a fantasy perspective, is that he didn’t get into the end zone that much for
someone with such gaudy statistics. Holt answered his critics there, breaking the
plane 12 times in 2003. With quarterback Marc Bulger back in the fold and
secured with a long term deal, Holts will continue to pile the receptions and the
yardage, and is a top play again for 2004.
3) Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis. Harrison’s 2003 season was one other
receivers dream about, even though it was his worst year statistically since 1998.
Harrison should rebound some in 2004 if NFL officials start enforcing the rule that
cornerbacks can not “mug” opposing receivers. That was one of the reasons the
New England Patriots had so much success against him. Harrison will also
become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season which should have
him even more motivated.
4) Steve Smith, Carolina. Smith plays a lot bigger than his 5’9” height would
suggest, as he has tremendous leaping ability. He also scores more touchdowns
than his counterpart, Muhsin Muhammad, which is baffling considering he is five
inches shorter. Smith has the abilities and attitude of a featured receiver, which
is why the Panthers rewarded him with a long term deal in March. Smith is just
entering his prime in his fourth NFL season, and should develop a great rapport
with Jake Delhomme for years to come.
5) Terrell Owens, Philadelphia. In one of the biggest dramas in NFL history,
Owens finally landed in Philadelphia after failing to declare himself a free agent,
and initially being traded to Baltimore. Owens will now have to live up to his
statements that the Eagles can only make it to the Super Bowl with a receiver
like him aboard. Owens is used to the spotlight on him however, and he will
quickly team up with quarterback Donovan McNabb to be one of the best passing
combinations in the NFL.
6) Santana Moss, NY Jets. Moss was one of the most improved players in all
the NFL last year. Moss always had blazing speed, but it wasn’t until the Jets
traded Lavernues Coles, that he started to excel. There are a lot of factors that
point to Moss having a really big 2004. First, the Jets upgraded the second
receiver spot, bringing in Justin McCareins over Curtis Conway. Quarterback Chad
Pennington should also be healthy for a full season and Moss will quickly become
his favorite target.
7) Chad Johnson, Cincinnati. Johnson is the cousin of Keyshawn Johnson, and
he has inherited his receiving skills and ability to talk smack. Johnson will tell
anyone who will listen that he is one of the best receivers in the NFL, and after
leading the AFC in receiving yards, he will not get a lot of arguments. The only
question mark regarding Johnson’s 2004 season, is Carson Palmer. Palmer is
going to start the season, and there is a good chance that the first year starter
will struggle.
8) Hines Ward, Pittsburgh. Ward had another terrific fantasy season in 2003
even though there was a drop-off from 2002. Most of Ward’s receptions are
shorter passes which he turns into larger gains with his ability to run after the
catch. So even though quarterback Tommy Maddox struggled last year, it affects
Ward less than receiver, Plaxico Burress, who gets his throws farther down the
field. Ward is currently unhappy about his contract situation, but he won’t let it
affect his play.
9) Andre Johnson, Houston. Johnson was the third overall pick from the
University of Miami in the 2003 draft, and was pretty much all that was
advertised in his rookie season. After analyzing his statistics, it is obvious that
Johnson will have an even bigger year in 2004 if quarterback David Carr can stay
healthy. Johnson averaged 73 yards receiving in the games that Carr played, and
only 40 without him. Johnson should also use his 6’2”, 221 pound frame to score
more touchdowns this year.
10) Derrick Mason, Tennessee. If you a fantasy player that predicted Derrick
Mason would have more yards receiving than Marvin Harrison in 2003, then you
are either lying, or a fantasy genius. Mason doesn’t have great size or speed, but
he has continued to improve his craft since coming out of Michigan State in 1997.
Mason does have the advantage of having one of the best quarterbacks in the
NFL throwing to him in Steve McNair, but Mason would be a Pro Bowl candidate
on most other teams as well.
11) Lavernues Coles, Washington. Coles came over to the Redskins last year
from the Jets as a restricted free agent, at the cost of a 2003 first round draft
pick. Coles was one of the bright spots in a dismal 2003 campaign under Steve
Spurrier. He showed all the speed that he had with the Jets, and continued to
improve his receiving skills. With Coach Joe Gibbs at the helm, the offense should
have more stability, and that means more pass opportunities for Coles.
12) Koren Robinson, Seattle. After a terrific 2002 season, Robinson had a
somewhat disappointing 2003 campaign. Robinson was benched for one start for
breaking a team rule, and battled a series of injuries for most of the year, Clearly,
someone will his blend of size and speed should have more than one game of
100 plus receiving yards, but that is all he got last year. Robinson is still maturing
physically and emotionally at just 24 years of age, and he should rebound this
year and put up more receiving yards than Darrell Jackson.
13) Chris Chambers, Miami. Chambers is a fourth year player, who plays much
bigger than his 5’11” height due to his athleticism and leaping ability. Chambers
has proven that he is a big play receiver with a 15.7 yards per catch average, but
he doesn’t seem to get the ball enough. One reason is Miami’s conservative
offense, the other has been an unsettled quarterback situation.
14) Joe Horn, New Orleans. Horn will best be remembered in 2003 for his
infamous cell phone call after scoring a touchdown, but it shouldn’t overshadow
another good year for him. Horn also played through a variety of injuries that
would have left a lot of other receivers on the sidelines. Still, Horn wasn’t the
fantasy darling that he was from 2000-2002 when he averaged over 1,300 yards
and eight touchdowns. This year, Horn should still be up around the 1,000 yard
mark in receiving, but don’t look for much above that.
15) Darrell Jackson, Seattle. Jackson was a restricted free agent after last
season, but surprisingly got few nibbles from teams that desperately needed a
receiver like Philadelphia and Baltimore. The thinking was that Jackson is more of
a number two receiver, and would not thrive in the role as a number one. In
Seattle, Jackson clearly benefits by having Koren Robinson’s speed to stretch the
field, but from a fantasy perspective, all you care about is that Jackson continues
to put up number one receiver numbers.
16) Peerless Price, Atlanta. Price was brought over from the Buffalo Bills for a
2003 number one draft pick, and to become the featured receiver for Michael Vick.
That was considered risky by some pundits who thought that Price would not be
nearly as effective without Buffalo’s Eric Moulds, and for the most part they were
right. However, it is not fair to judge Price until he plays with Vick for an entire
season. The Falcons have added receivers Dez White and rookie Michael Jenkins,
which should also help Price out.
17) Jerry Porter, Oakland. Porter had hernia surgery after the first game of
2003, and while he came back for the final 10 games, he wasn’t the same player
he was in 2002. If either Rich Gannon or Kerry Collins can get the passing game
anywhere close to 2002 levels, Porter should easily get close to the 1,000 yard
receiving mark. Porter’s leaping ability also makes him great at running the fade
route in the end zone, and he should be counted on for at least a half of dozen
scores.
18) Amani Toomer, NY Giants. Toomer has broken the 1,000 yard receiving
mark for the last five seasons and he should do it again. The only question
surrounding him is the Giants quarterback situation. Kerry Collins has moved on
to Oakland, and Kurt Warner looks to be the starting quarterback. If Warner is
successful, then Toomer will be successful. If Warner fails and the Giants have to
start rookie Eli Manning for some games, then that will lower Toomer’s numbers
through no fault of his own.
19) Justin McCareins, NY Jets. McCareins comes over from Tennessee for a
2004 second round pick. The Titans didn’t want to give him up, but they have
depth at the receiver position, and they needed the draft pick to stock other
areas. McCareins is just starting to come into his own in his fourth NFL season.
He has the size to go over the middle and the speed to hit the home run. This will
be his first opportunity to start every game of the regular season, and there is no
reason to think he won’t thrive in this new situation.
20) Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona. Update 8/15. Anquan Boldin will miss between 4-
8 weeks of the regular season. Fitzgerald was the 3rd pick overall in the 2004
draft and will step in as a starter next to Anquan Boldin. Even though Fitzgerald
has all the talent in the world, don’t look for him to put up rookie numbers like
Boldin. Fitzgerald only played two years at Pittsburgh and will have a bigger
adjustment to the NFL than Boldin did.
21) Eric Moulds, Buffalo. 2003 was just a bad year for Eric Moulds. First, the Bills
traded receiver Peerless Price who helped take away double teams from him.
Then Moulds battled a groin injury, causing him to miss games, and be at less
than 100% in others. Add in a really bad year from quarterback Drew Bledsoe,
and you can see why it was a washout. The Bills have a new coach and a new
offensive system. Bledsoe is back, and he could struggle again this year. Moulds
still has the ability, but he is a risky pick.
22) Plaxico Burress, Pittsburgh. Burress is not off to a good start this season
by missing the teams’ mini-camps. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the
end of the season and he is unhappy about it. 2003 was not much better for
Burress, as quarterback Tommy Maddox had a below average season. That was
a big reason why Burress’ receptions were down 23% and his receiving yards
down a whopping 35%. At 6’-4”, Burress is a physical specimen, but he needs to
play up to his talent level.
23) Charles Rogers, Detroit. Rogers was the second pick overall in the 2003
draft, and he has all the tools to be a great player at the NFL level.
Unfortunately, a broken collarbone ended his rookie season after just five games,
as it appeared that he was on his way to a solid season. Rogers’ fantasy value is
directly linked to the development of Joey Harrington, and how he progresses
under Steve Mariucci’s offense. Rogers will get a lot balls thrown his way this
year, and he should put up good numbers if healthy.
24) Javon Walker, Green Bay. In just his second NFL season last year, Walker
led the Packers receivers with 716 yards, surprising low considering Brett Favre
was the quarterback. At this point in time, Walker has to be considered the
number one receiver over Robert Ferguson and Donald Driver, as he averaged
17.5 yards per reception and pulled in nine touchdowns. Walker underwent
arthroscopic shoulder and ankle surgery in January, but it should not affect him
this year.
25) Isaac Bruce, St. Louis. Last year, Bruce dipped below the 1,000 yard
receiving mark for the first time since 1998. His five touchdowns were also his
lowest since he had 12 in 1999. That being said, Bruce is still one of the best
number two receivers in the NFL, and a great complimentary player to Torry Holt.
Look for Bruce to put up similar numbers to 2003.
26) Jimmy Smith, Jacksonville. Smith missed the first four games of the 2003
season, after violating the leagues substance abuse policy. If you prorate his
numbers over a full season, Smith would have had 72 receptions and 1,073
yards. Not bad for someone who was playing with a rookie quarterback in Byron
Leftwich. It is hard to believe that Smith is 35 years old as he does not show
many signs of slowing down. Smith is still the number one receiving option on an
offense that looks to be more explosive in 2004.
27) Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis. When you talk about some of the better
receivers in the AFC, the name Reggie Wayne is not heard too often. That is what
happens when you play with a Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, and Edgerrin
James. Wayne is quietly becoming one of the best number two receivers in the
league, and his increased numbers in 2003 are one of the reasons that Harrison’
s decreased. Wayne’s numbers might plateau in 2004, as there are only so many
balls to go around, but he is a solid value player.
28) Keyshawn Johnson, Dallas. Johnson comes over to the Cowboys from
Tampa Bay in exchange for Joey Galloway. While the Cowboys clearly lose some
speed in the exchange, they gain a big receiver who is fearless going over the
middle, and who has a penchant for picking up first downs. Johnson has lost a
step at 32 years old, but he should have a couple more productive seasons left.
Johnson also has a fear /respect for Coach Bill Parcells, which means that his
attitude should be in check the whole year.
29) Eddie Kennison, Kansas City. It is amazing that the Kansas City offense is
as potent as it is, considering that Kennison’s 56 catches led the Chiefs’ wide
receivers. Of course when tight end Tony Gonzalez has 71 catches and running
back Priest Holmes has 74, there are only so many receptions left. Kennison still
has some speed left in his 31 year old legs, as evidenced by his 16 yards per
reception average in his three seasons as a Chief. Kennison should continue to
put up good stats as part of the Chiefs’ offensive juggernaut.
30) Rod Smith, Denver. Smith has been one of the best receivers in the NFL
over the last seven years, but he is starting to show some declining skills at 35
years of age. His receiving yards have dropped an average of 19% every year
since he had 1,602 in 2000. If that happens again this year, then Smith will be
down around 700 yards. That will not happen as long as he stays healthy,
because he is still the best receiver that the Broncos have, and having
quarterback Jake Plummer for a full season will help.
31) Rod Gardner, Washington. The acquisition of Lavernues Coles last year
drastically affected Gardner’s fantasy value. In 2002, Gardner was the Redskins’
featured receiver, and he was able to break the 1,000 mark even with rookie
Patrick Ramsey and Shane Matthews throwing to him. With Coles on board,
Gardner was relegated to number two receiver status, and his production
dropped. Gardner should have a better 2004 with Mark Brunell at quarterback,
and a more effective offensive line and running game.
32) Justin Gage, Chicago. Gage is a second year player out of Missouri, who has
great size at 6-4 and 217 pounds, but slipped to the fifth round in the draft due
to suspect speed. Gage only started three games last year, but showed the
knack for the big play in averaging almost 20 yards per reception. Not bad for
someone with suspect speed. Gage will battle it out with David Terrell and Booby
Wade for a starting spot now that Marty Booker has been traded to Miami.
33) Quincy Morgan, Cleveland. Heading into the 2003 season, the Browns
receiving group was four deep with Kevin Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, Andre
Davis, and Morgan. Since they all got a good amount of playing time, the ball was
spread around, and none of the four were great fantasy options. With Kevin
Johnson in Baltimore, Morgan should see a spike in production in 2004. Having a
settled quarterback position with Jeff Garcia will help the effort.
34) Donte Stallworth, New Orleans. The pressure is on Stallworth as coach Jim
Haslett has already been quoted as saying that his play will help determine if the
Saints make the playoffs this year. Stallworth has the speed and strength to be a
Pro Bowler, but injuries and off the field problems have impeded his progress.
When healthy, he is going to average between 15 and 20 yards per reception
and he’ll score touchdowns too. Stallworth is a risky pick, but there is a good
chance he will have a break through season.
35) Drew Bennett, Tennessee. The Justin McCareins trade to the Jets,
essentially cuts the Titans receiving group to three main players, Derrick Mason,
Tyrone Calico and Bennett. McCareins had 47 catches as the number two
receiver, and those will be mostly spread out to Bennett and Calico. Bennett was
originally a quarterback at UCLA, and is a big target at 6’5.” Add in some above
average athletic ability and you can see why the Titans had enough faith to let
McCareins go.
36) Ashley Lelie, Denver. Longtime Broncos great, Ed McCaffrey has decided to
call it quits after nine years with the team. That opens the door for Lelie to start
full-time opposite Rod Smith. Lelie had 10 starts in 2003 due to injuries to
McCaffrey, but he showed very little improvement from his rookie season. The
Broncos had some interest in Seahawks’ restricted free agent, Darrell Jackson, so
clearly they are not completely sold on him. However, Lelie has worked hard in
the off-season and will get the starting nod.
37) Terry Glenn, Dallas. When Glenn was playing with New England, he was
one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL. Glenn still shows his old
explosiveness at times, but he will never be a star player again. What Glenn has
turned into with the Cowboys is an average second receiver, who could have
easily moved down the depth chart if Antonio Bryant didn’t implode. Unlike earlier
in his career, Glenn is able to stay healthy enough to stay on the field, but he
does not stand out in an average Cowboys’ offense.
38) Deion Branch, New England. Branch is not one of the better known
receivers in the league, but he did have a breakout game in the Super Bowl with
a 143 yard receiving effort. Branch is blessed with above average speed and
great receiving skills. In fact, the Patriots brass has often referred to him as
having Terry Glenn talent, without the headaches. Branch is hurt by the fact that
Tom Brady and Patriots offense likes to spread the ball around and not feature
one receiver.
39) Andre Davis, Cleveland. Davis is a third year player out of Virginia Tech
who has the talent and speed to be an above average NFL receiver. Davis moved
into the starting lineup for the final eight games of the 2003 season, and had
380 receiving yards. If Dennis Northcutt was not resigned, Davis would have
been a much more valuable fantasy option. As it stands now though, he will be
battling with Quincy Morgan and Northcutt for a starting position.
40) David Givens, New England. Givens is a 2002 seventh round pick out of
Notre Dame who looked like he might not even make the roster at the beginning
of last year. Givens had shaky hands in his rookie season, but improved so much
that he is now considered sure handed. At 6’-0”, he is one of the Patriots biggest
receivers, and he is a player that quarterback Tom Brady looks for in the end
zone. Givens should get more balls than anyone on the team except Deion
Branch, as his career continues to sky upward.
41) Peter Warrick, Cincinnati. Warrick had a very solid season in 2003, finally
showing the promise that made him a high first draft pick out of Florida State in
2000. Having a Pro Bowler like Chad Johnson play next to him is huge for Warrick,
as it takes a lot of the defense’s focus off of him. Warrick had arthroscopic
surgery on his knee and will need some time to get back to 100%, but it shouldn’
t be a factor for him once the regular season rolls around.
42) Nate Burleson, Minnesota. Burleson is a solid size receiver 6’1” and 190
pounds, and he has shown explosiveness down the field. Burleson averaged
almost 16 yards per catch last season, and had seven receptions over 20 yards.
Campbell will be battling with Marcus Robinson and Kelly Campbell for playing
time, but it looks like Burleson has sewn up the number two receiver job.
43) Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina. Muhammad is entering his 9th season as a
Panther, and while he is still very valuable to the organization, he is not a great
fantasy player anymore. Muhammad averaged over 1,200 yards receiving, and
seven touchdowns in 1999-2000, but now he will not get close to those
numbers. Muhammad has a big cap number in 2004 and there was some talk
that he could be released, but that never came close to materializing.
44) Tyrone Calico, Tennessee. Calico was a rookie last year from small
conference, Middle Tennessee State, so the Titans knew he would need
development time. Calico showed tons of talent at the beginning of the year,
including 92 yard receiving games against New England and Houston. However,
Calico did not catch a pass the last six weeks as his playing time plummeted due
to dropped balls. Calico will step into the number three receiving role with Justin
McCareins traded, increasing his value immensely.
45) Joey Galloway, Tampa Bay. The 32 year-old Galloway was acquired from
the Cowboys for Keyshawn Johnson, in what could be a win-win deal. Galloway is
not the player he once was, but he brings speed to a team that was overloaded
with possession receivers. He had 14 receptions over 20 yards, which is pretty
remarkable considering he only had 34 catches all year. Coach Jon Gruden will
use him to spread the field and his role could be bigger if Keenan McCardell
continues to hold out.
46) Dennis Northcutt, Cleveland. Northcutt was scheduled to be an
unrestricted free agent at the end of last season, but due to a snafu filing the
paperwork, he remained property of the Browns. Northcutt was extremely angry
about the situation, and it didn’t look like he would ever don the Browns’
uniformm again. However, both sides decided to compromise and he signed a
three year, $9 million deal. Northcutt will join a suddenly formidable three man
receiving group with Quincy Morgan and Andre Davis.
47) Robert Ferguson, Green Bay. Ferguson is entering his 4th NFL season out
of Texas A&M, and he has started to show the ability that made him a second
round pick. As of now, Ferguson has the slight advantage over Donald Driver for
the second receiver slot, but all three Packer wide-outs are close in ability.
Ferguson was scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the year, but he signed
an extension through 2008. The Packers now have their top three receivers
locked up contractually.
48) Travis Taylor, Baltimore. Taylor was the number one receiver on the team
last year, which showed the sorry state of the Ravens’ receiving core. Taylor
does have the advantage of playing with a very good tight end in Todd Heap,
and now the Ravens have added veteran wide-out Kevin Johnson. Having
Johnson around will help Taylor, who will also benefit from having second year
quarterback Kyle Boller healthy. Taylor does need to start flashing more of that
ability that made him a 2000 first round pick.
49) Anquan Boldin, Arizona. Update 8/15. Anquan Boldin will miss between 4-8
weeks of the regular season. Boldin was a second round pick in 2003 out of
Florida State who slipped in the draft due to questionable speed and a previous
ACL Injury. Boldin had 217 yards receiving in his first game, the most ever by a
player making his NFL debut, and he never looked back on his way to making the
Pro Bowl.
50) Jerry Rice, Oakland. It is hard to use the word Jerry Rice and average
receiver in the same sentence, but that is exactly what Rice will be in 2004. Rice’s
statistics had a precipitous drop last year, but that’s what happens when you are
in your forties and in your 20th year in the league. It will be interesting to see if
Rice becomes a malcontent if he doesn’t get the ball as much as he has in the
past, but the team is still going to need him to play a fairly significant role if they
want to get back to the playoffs.
51) Brandon Lloyd, San Francisco. Lloyd is a second year player who was stuck
behind Terrell Owens, Tai Streets and Cedric Wilson for most of last year. When
Lloyd did get into the game, he showed some big play ability, averaging over 15
yards per catch and having five receptions over 20 yards. With Owens and
Streets both gone from the team, Lloyd should be the number one receiving
option. Lloyd has plenty of talent, but the 49er passing game will struggle this
year, and Lloyd will at times too.
52) Michael Clayton, Tampa Bay. Clayton was Tampa Bay’s first round selection
from the National Champion LSU squad. Clayton is a polished receiver who excels
in the run after the catch, (RAC), and his stock will increase dramatically if Keenan
McCardell continues to hold out. Besides McCardell, the Buccaneers have
receivers Joe Jurevicius, Charles Lee and Joey Galloway all competing for playing
time, but Clayton continues to shine in training camp.
53) Reggie Williams, Jacksonville. The 6’3”, 229 pound Williams was the 9th
overall pick in the 2004 draft out of Washington. The trading of Kevin Johnson to
Baltimore leaves an immediate opening in the starting lineup for Williams. With a
proven number one receiver in Jimmy Smith opposite him, and an emerging star
quarterback in Byron Leftwich, Williams should have a very good 2004 campaign.
In fact, his numbers could outpace the two receivers drafted ahead of him in
Larrry Fitzgerald and Roy Williams.
54) Kevin Johnson, Baltimore. Johnson is with his 3rd team in less than a year
after a much publicized release with the Browns, and playing the final six games
of 2003 with the Jaguars. Johnson was painted as a malcontent with Cleveland,
not to mention a poor blocker, but those shouldn’t be big issues this season.
Johnson averaged 42 yards per game with Jacksonville, and he should be around
those numbers this year as he moves into a full time starting position with the
Ravens.
55) Johnnie Morton, Kansas City. Morton’s 29 reception effort in 2002 had the
critics questioning whether he was ready for the glue farm, but he rebounded
with a solid but unspectacular 2003. Morton’s skills appear to have eroded to the
point where he will never be a 1,000 yard receiver, like he was four times with
Detroit. Morton can still be a solid possession receiver and he will continue to
play that role with Kansas City until someone better comes along.
56) Marty Booker, Miami. Update 8/23. Booker traded to Miami where he will fill
the number two receiver role. Booker is not a well known commodity among your
casual fan, surprising considering the fact that he averaged 98 catches and 1,130
receiving yards from 2001-2002. Last year, Booker’s statistics really dipped as he
was suffering from back and ankle problems, and having Kordell Stewart as his
quarterback. .
57) David Terrell, Chicago. Terrell was the eight pick overall in the 2001 draft
and has not shown much in three years to warrant that high of a selection. With
Dez White now playing in Atlanta, and Marty Booker traded to Miami, this is the
perfect opportunity for Terrell to step up his game and lay claim to a starting job.
The Bears would like that as well as they are still paying him like a top 10 pick,
and they are really lacking depth at the position.
58) Donald Driver, Green Bay. Driver obviously had a disappointing 2003
season, with his receptions, yardage and touchdowns all down big time. In his
defense though, he suffered a neck injury at the beginning of the year, and that
can affect a players’ psyche. Right now Driver looks to battle it out with Robert
Ferguson for the number two receiver spot. Driver is signed to a long term deal,
but he needs to play well this year, or there will be whispers of his release.
59) Eric Parker, San Diego. Parker has shown flashes of being a good player in
this league, but he has not been able to stay on the field for an entire year.
Parker averaged 35 yards receiving and had three touchdowns in the first seven
games of the season, before being put on IR with a dislocated shoulder. If
Parker can stay healthy, he should be no worse than the number two receiver on
this team. Of course with the Chargers’ poor offense, that is like a number three
on a good team.
60) Corey Bradford, Houston. After leading the Texans in receiving with 697
yards in 2002, Bradford saw both his catches and receiving yards dip dramatically
in 2002. A big part of that was the drafting of Andre Johnson who became the
number one receiver. Bradford averaged over 19 yards per reception last year,
and is capable of a 100 yard game, but he averaged a measly 1.5 catches per
game. Bradford still has the talent, but he is a risky fantasy pick as the Texans
rely more on Jabar Gaffney.
61) Bobby Engram, Seattle. After being a starter earlier in his career with
Chicago, Engram has turned into the perfect third receiver. He is comfortable in
his role, and he can step in as a starter without your team missing a beat. With
free agent Darrell Jackson resigning, Engram will remain in a supporting role.
One interesting note is that Jackson scored six touchdowns last year after being
shutout the prior three years. He won’t get six again, but he will be a target
around the end zone.
62) Roy Williams, Detroit. Williams was the most polished receiver coming out
of the 2004 draft, but was drafted after Larry Fitzgerald due to his enormous
potential. Still, the Lions got a great consolation prize in Williams, who should
immediately step into the starting lineup opposite Charles Rogers. The Lions
suddenly have depth at the receiver position with Rogers, Tai Streets and Az
Hakim, which is why Williams’ numbers will be modest in 2004.
63) Keenan McCardell, Tampa Bay. After having just 670 receiving yards in
2002, McCardell became a focal point of the offense in 2003. McCardell’s 1,174
receiving yards were the second most of his 12 year career, and his eight
touchdowns were a personal best. McCardell is currently holding out in a nasty
contract dispute, and he is being downgraded as we approach the 3rd pre-
season game.
64) Marcus Robinson, Minnesota. Robinson is now with his third team in as
many years and it is clear that he will never be the 1,400 yard receiver that he
was in 1999 with the Bears. That is because he hasn’t been the same player
since tearing his ACL. What he is, is a good possession receiver who will look a
lot better playing opposite Randy Moss. Robinson is sure to get a lot of one-on-
one coverage, and that should make for a good year for him. He also knows how
to get into the end zone, which is a plus.
65) Dante Hall, Kansas City. Hall is a receiver, but is better known as the most
dangerous return man since Billy “White Shoes” Johnson. Anytime you have a
player who can take the ball the distance on any play, you want to get the ball in
his hands as much as possible. With Hall’s playmaking ability, you would figure
that he would average more than just 10.1 yards per reception, and that figure
should increase this year. Hall is still learning how to play the wide receiver
position and should see more progression in 2004.
66) Ike Hilliard, NY Giants. Hilliard is entering his eight season with the Giants,
and while he has never lived up to being the seventh pick overall in the 1997
draft, he is a serviceable NFL receiver. One of the knocks on Hilliard is that he is
injury prone, and he has missed 12 starts over the last two seasons. Hilliard is
also losing the explosiveness he had earlier in his career. He had only two
receptions over 20 yards in 2003, down from a career high 16 in 1999. Hilliard
could get a push from Tim Carter.
67) Lee Evans, Buffalo. With last years first round pick, Willis McGahee not able
to play last year after recovering from a torn ACL, the Bills will make sure Evans
gets on the field. Ironically, Evans has also come back from an ACL injury, but his
play last year at Wisconsin showed he is fully healthy. Evans has the speed and
the hands to be a perfect compliment to Eric Moulds. He is also one of the more
mature rookie receivers. Look for Evans to win the number two job over Josh
Reed and Bobby Shaw.
68) Jerome Pathon, New Orleans. Pathon is another one of those valuable
players, who would be a third receiver in an ideal situation, but always seems to
end up on the field either because of injuries or his good play. Pathon has
earned the right to compete for the number two spot, but the reality is it will go
to Donte Stallworth, who was a number one pick, and is superior from a talent
standpoint. Pathon does not have a lot of upside as a fantasy player, but you
always know what you are going to get.
69) Josh Reed, Buffalo. The addition of Lee Evans means that Reed will play in
the slot, which is a position that he is more suited for. That leaves Bobby Shaw
as the odd man out even though he had a better year than Reed in 2003. Even
though Reed is the third receiver now, he will have plenty of opportunities if Drew
Bledsoe rebounds from a poor season. That of course is a big if, which is why the
Bills drafted J.P Losman. If Losman is forced into action in 2004, the value of all
Bills receivers plummets.
70) Bryant Johnson, Arizona. Update 8/15. Anquan Boldin will miss between 4-8
weeks of the regular season. Bryant was a surprising first round pick out of Penn
State in the 2003 draft, as most teams had him slotted in the second round.
Johnson had a decent enough rookie season, although his accomplishments
were dwarfed by second round pick, Anquan Boldin. Johnson has suffered from
some foot problems in the off-season, but he should be recovered by opening
day.
71) Troy Brown, New England. When you look at Browns’ statistics from 2003,
the decrease in production is startling. Brown was out of the lineup for four
games due to a mysterious “leg injury.” Rumor has it that Brown could have
played in some of those games, if it wasn’t for the overly cautious Patriots
coaching staff. It looks like the Pats are phasing Brown a bit, as they would
rather feature receivers Deion Branch and David Givens. Brown will be a valuable
third receiver for the Super Bowl champs.
72) Jabar Gaffney, Houston. The Texans were expecting marked improvement
in Gaffney’s second NFL season, but it just didn’t happen. Granted, the Texan’s
went through three different starting quarterbacks, but that didn’t seem to affect
Andre Johnson. From a pure statistical standpoint, Gaffney does not deserve the
number two receiving spot over Corey Bradford, as Bradford averaged more than
seven yards per reception in 2003. Look for Gaffney to settle into the third
receiver role this year.
73) Freddie Mitchell, Philadelphia. The addition of Terrell Owens obviously
sewed up the need for a number one receiver, but it was thought that Mitchell
would compete for the number two role with Todd Pinkston. However, it seems
that the team feels that they are more effective with Mitchell lining up in the slot.
That way, he can be a go-to guy on third down when they really need to move
the chains. Mitchell started to excel in that role last year, and he should this year
as well.
74) Antwaan Randle El, Pittsburgh. Randle El is a former quarterback from the
University of Indiana who has made his mark in the league as a dangerous kick
and punt returner. The Steelers were expecting big things from him in 2003, but
his numbers decreased like the rest of the Steelers’ receivers. The bonus around
Randle El is that he is always going to be one of the leading rushers from the
wide receiver position, but unless Hines or Burress get injured, his value will be
limited as a third receiver.
75) Antonio Bryant, Dallas. Bryant is one of the most frustrating receivers in the
NFL. He has tremendous talent, but can be a head case. Last year, Bryant had
169 yards receiving in his first two games. He then had just 381 yards total over
the final 14 games of the regular season. Now this off-season, Bryant already
had a run in with Coach Bill Parcells, and now he is currently away from the team.
Bryant will most likely return to the club, but his fantasy value has plummeted.
76) Todd Pinkston, Philadelphia. When the Philadelphia Eagles lost in the NFC
championship game for the third consecutive year, it was the receiving core that
received most of the blame. Pinkston, James Thrash, and Freddie Mitchell were
called everything from soft, to just plain awful. Pinkston had a poor regular
season, a good playoff game against Green Bay, and then got shut out in the
championship game. Pinkston will be the Eagles’ second receiver, but he does
not have a lot of fantasy value.
77) Dez White, Atlanta
78) Cedric Wilson, San Francisco
79) Kevin Dyson, San Diego
80) Dane Looker, St. Louis
