Fantasy Football Wide Reciever Rankings: Early Version

FanHouse's crack squad of savvy fantasy football personnel put our six heads together and amassed consensus rankings for non-keeper, standard scoring leagues. We'll update as the season gets closer, but this is our "incredibly early yet still fun" version.

There's little doubt about which wide receivers are elite -- the top nine here seem to be "sure things" (even if Miles Austin and Sidney Rice are a touch troubling as fantasy WR1s considering the value they provided last year). And Andre Johnson is even more of a lock; all but one of our experts ranked him No. 1 overall.

After the top tier, though, the precipice for elite talent seems to drop off fairly steeply -- there are only a few real WR2s sitting out there this year, and a whole bunch of guys that seem prepped to either step up as high-value WR3s ... or to end up crushing your team because you didn't pay attention to the quick fall.

That's not to say you should jump the gun on drafting receivers this year, but it's important to know that not playing your cards right this year could lead to some awkward post-draft lineup evaluation.

More Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Tight End

Player	Team
1. Andre Johnson	Texans
Johnson surpassed 1,500 yards for the second consecutive year in 2009 and, barring an injury to Matt Schaub, shouldn't show any signs of slowing down. He's as elite as they come and worthy of being the first wide receiver taken in most drafts.
2. Calvin Johnson	Lions
Megatron's 2009 was a relative disappointment, as he failed to top 1,000 yards in a season where he was projected to break out. But factor in injuries and a stronger performance with Matt Stafford on the field, and he'll actually end up being not only a top-tier WR this year, but also a pretty good draft value.
3. Randy Moss	Patriots
Another year, another top-five WR finish for Moss -- 2010 shouldn't be any different, particularly if Wes Welker can continue to progress as quickly as he has so far in the offseason. Sometimes that means a week or two of inconsistent numbers, but mostly it means top-end TDs from a wideout.
4. Larry Fitzgerald	Cardinals
Even with Kurt Warner (retirement) and Anquan Boldin (trade) now departed from the desert, it's hard to imagine that Fitz won't end up as a true No. 1 again. There are some concerns -- including his topping 100 yards just three times last season, but his talent is too elite to become ineffective.
5. Miles Austin	Cowboys
The notion of having Miles a "true" No. 1 wideout will scare lots of owners, even though there was little about his performance last season to suggest he's anything other than just that. Roy Williams is worthless and even when folks tried to defend Austin, Tony Romo still found him. So, yeah, believe.
6. Reggie Wayne	Colts
As Peyton Manning's top target, Wayne is theoretically the definition of "consistent" for fantasy owners. There were some dull spots last year, and he's dealing with a contract holdout at the moment, but that should mean he falls further than normal, and making him a nice 2010 value.
7. DeSean Jackson	Eagles
Sure, he lost to a lowly blogger in an exercise test during the Super Bowl and sure, Donovan McNabb is now in DC, but assuming that Kevin Kolb under center will hurt Jackson's value is the type of thinking that will kill your fantasy team. Draft with confidence, and bump him up if your league rewards for return yards and TDs.
8. Roddy White	Falcons
White quietly put together another superb season for fantasy owners, totaling 1,153 yards and 11 TDs, which is even a more impressive feat when you consider Matt Ryan's struggles last year. With an improved Falcons offense, he's a great target for early-picking owners who go RB first.
9. Sidney Rice	Vikings
Without question, Rice was the best waiver-wire value of any player in 2010 -- his rapport with Brett Favre made him a must-start each week. The only reason to fear Rice's status as elite is the possibility that the gunslinger might not return for another tour of duty. Adjust accordingly.
10. Anquan Boldin	Ravens
Boldin's move from Arizona to Baltimore is an interesting one for fantasy owners -- he'll probably be a lock to hit 80 catches and 1,000 yards for the fifth time in six years. Considering he's much more talented than Derrick Mason (who totaled 73 grabs and 1,028 yards in 2009), there might me hope for much more.
11. Vincent Jackson	Chargers
Vinnie Jax followed up his breakout 2008 with an even better 2009, vaulting himself into the WR1 fantasy discussion for 2010. There are concerns about his refusal to sign a tender, though, and the Chargers' willingness to spread the ball around doesn't help matters either.
12. Brandon Marshall	Dolphins
The oft-troubled Marshall gets to bring his oft-talented game to the quiet town of Miami, where, well, we'd be lying if we said we weren't concerned about off-field issues. On-field, though, it's hard to argue against Marshall, who tallied his third straight season of 100 catches and 1,100 yards. Expect the reception total to dip a little in South Beach, but snatch him up as a high-end WR2, especially with concerns following offseason hip surgery.
13. Marques Colston	Saints
Colston was nearly surpassed by teammate Robert Meachem last year, from a fantasy standpoint anyway. From a "real football" through process, however, Colston was tops on the Saints with 102 targets. Expect him to improve on a rebound-filled 2009 as the Saints keep airing it out while trying to defend their title.
14. Greg Jennings	Packers
Jennings' 2009 line -- 68 catches, 1,113 yards and four TDs -- is disappointing only in that everything seemed like it would line up for an absolutely monstrous season. Instead, Jennings made owners regret their choice much of the season, which means he's in line to be a nice value pick as a WR2 this season on a pass-heavy Packer squad.
15. Chad Ochocinco	Bengals
After a borderline depressing 2008, the 85 bounced back last season to top 70 catches and 1,000 yards with nine touchdowns. Ocho isn't truly elite anymore, but he's still going to command a decent value because of his name and his production. Consider him a high-end WR2 heading into 2010.
16. Steve Smith	Panthers
Jake Delhomme's early-season struggles created much of the "other Steve Smith (see below) is better now" jokes. Smith finished shy of 1,000 yards for the first time since 2004, but don't expect that streak to last past this year: even if the 'Cats will keep running the ball, Smith's strong close to the season and a change under center for Carolina should equal an excellent option as a WR2 in 2010.
17. Steve Smith	Giants
This guy was better than his namesake (or something), posting a ridiculous 107 catches, 1,220 yards and seven touchdowns en route to becoming a big-time steal for fantasy owners. His value gets a little bump in PPR leagues, but try not to reach for him as a WR1; landing him as a WR2 puts your team in good shape.
18. Percy Harvin	Vikings
All the talk about drug problems and bad attitude were pointless: when Harvin got on the field for Minnesota last season, he flat-out produced, racking up 790 yards receiving (60 catches and six touchdowns), 135 yards rushing (15 carries) and 1,156 worth of return yardage, with two TD's to boot. And, yes, he was a rookie. Adjust accordingly if you get points for return yardage, of course, but either way, expect the Vikes to continue and utilize Harvin all over the field.
19. Hakeem Nicks	Giants
Anyone who saw Nicks play at North Carolina knew he would be a special talent; it just didn't seem like he'd make an impact his rookie year. But he did just that, catching 47 passes for 790 yards and six TDs. The bonus here is that he doesn't have the burden of being a No. 1 for his team (a la Crabtree) because of Steve Smith's emergence. If you're willing to gamble on a WR2 with lots of upside, Hicks is your guy, provided he's still hanging around.
20. Michael Crabtree	49ers
Crabtree didn't play until Week 7 last season, the byproduct of (if you want to be technical) Al Davis' stupidity in paying Darrius Heyward-Bey. When he did play, though, he was pretty darn good. Sure, he might have only recorded two trips to the end zone, but anytime you can pick up 48 catches and 625 yards in what amounts to two-thirds of a rookie season, well, that ain't too shabby. Look for continued improvement, obviously, and if you can land him as a WR3, you've done real well for yourself.
21. Pierre Garcon	Colts
Garcon's draft value will be tied -- whether rightly or not -- to Anthony Gonzalez. It was Gonzo's injury in the first game of the season that gave Garcon his value, after all. Considering that Garcon didn't play the last two games of the season and is entering just his third season, it seems likely he could blow up in a big-time way. But he's still at best the third option on the Colts, meaning reaching for him too early is the definition of "pulling a Burleson" if he doesn't pan out.
22. Hines Ward	Steelers
Ward seemed destined to quietly flame out after injuries slowed his stats, but back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, coupled with the second highest catch total of his career in 2009 (95) make him pretty tough to write off. However, he'll be missing Ben Roethlisberger for at least the first four games of the season, and that makes him -- once again, in a best-case scenario -- a steady WR3 heading into the year.
23. Dwayne Bowe	Chiefs
Having Bowe as a top-25 wideout for 2010 seems risky, considering he missed four games for PED violation and didn't do much after he got back. Still, given that he started just nine games and dealt with troubles all season, 47 catches, 589 yards and four touchdowns isn't THAT bad, right? With a new OC (Chuckie Weis) in town and an improved overall Chiefs team, Bowe reeks of bounce-back.
24. Mike Sims-Walker	Jaguars
A third-year UCF product, "MSW" tossed up big numbers for a waiver-wire add last year, but he did have some terrifyingly big disappearances, including six games where he recorded less than 30 yards, three catches and no touchdowns. The Jags' volatility in the passing game is still scary though.
25. Donald Driver	Packers
Everyone seems quick to write off Driver (every year), even though he continued to fool people last year, posting his sixth-straight 1,000-yard season in 2009. Still, there are reasons to be concerned. Namely: offseason knee surgery and Driver's fourth straight year with a lower number of receptions. He's a "safe" WR3 but be aware that he is 35.
26. Robert Meachem	Saints
Meachem's overall stats for 2009 were outstanding -- but his game log is a bit confusing. At times, he's a pure monster (see: eight catches, 142 yards, 1 TD against Washington), at others he's a red zone enigma (two catches, 10 yards, two TDs against Tampa Bay) and then sometimes nonexistent (he recorded two different games with zero catches during the season). Add in the fact that he had toe surgery in the offseason, and there's enough confusion surrounding Meachem that you shouldn't do anything silly like pull the trigger on him as a WR2 just yet. A WR3 though ...
27. Mike Wallace	Steelers
The rook out of Ole Miss broke out in a big way in 2009, totaling 39 catches for 756 yards and six touchdowns; numbers that are even more impressive considering that from Weeks 10-14 he was a relative non-factor. Now, Santonio Holmes is in New York, which will give Wallace even more opportunity, even if Big Ben's suspension to start the year will probably hamper his early-season stats.
28. Jeremy Maclin	Eagles
Maclin's rookie campaign -- a 56-catch, 773-yard, four-TD effort -- was a boon to fantasy owners who drafted him late before the season or snatched him up after his Week 5 blowup. He's a talented kid with a talented QB and a smart offensive game plan, meaning that if he wasn't so young, he'd almost certainly be a WR3 to kick off the season. For now, try to draft him as a reserve to hedge your bets.
29. Santana Moss	Redskins
Moss' 2009 season -- 70 catches, 902 yards, three touchdowns -- were nearly dead-on in line with his three-year average. However, that average is calculated with someone other than Donovan McNabb taking snaps, which makes Moss, a two-time fantasy breakout, quite an interesting pick for a a third run at stardom.
30. Derrick Mason	Ravens
Mason is another in the "old dude who just won't quit producing" line, having topped 1,000 yards receiving in eight out of his last nine seasons after an impressive 2009 campaign. He'll be considered hampered by Boldin's arrival, but the truth of the matter is that with Anquan in town, Mason won't have to be the team's No. 1 option, and that should lead to pretty solid, if not respectable, stats.

31. Dez Bryant, Cowboys
32. Steve Breaston, Cardinals
33. Kenny Britt, Titans
34. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seahawks
35. Antonio Bryant, Bengals
36. Lee Evans, Bills
37. Braylon Edwards, Jets
38. Wes Welker, Patriots
39. Santonio Holmes, Jets
40. Devin Aromashodu, Bears
41. Nate Burleson, Lions
42. Johnny Knox, Bears
43. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos
44. Mario Manningham, Giants
45. Julian Edelman, Patriots
46. Josh Morgan, Niners
47. Malcom Floyd, Chargers
48. Mohamed Massaquoi, Browns
49. Devery Henderson, Saints
50. Eddie Royal, Broncos
51. Jerricho Cotchery, Jets
52. Devin Thomas, Redskins
53. Chris Chambers, Chiefs
54. Jacoby Jones, Texans
55. Laurent Robinson, Rams
56. Donnie Avery, Rams
57. Terrell Owens, Free Agent
58. Golden Tate, Seahawks
59. Austin Collie, Colts
60. Kevin Walter, Texans
61. Jabar Gaffney, Broncos
62. Arrelious Benn, Buccaneers
63. Davone Bess, Dolphins
64. Roy Williams, Cowboys
65. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders
66. Nate Washington, Titans
67. Lance Moore, Saints
68. Anthony Gonzalez, Colts
69. Early Doucet, Cardinals
70. Devin Hester, Bears
71. Chaz Schilens, Raiders
72. Mike Williams, Buccaneers
73. Jason Avant, Eagles
74. Josh Cribbs, Browns
75. Brandon Gibson, Rams