When looking at fantasy football production at the wide receiver position, we are truly in a golden age. Last year, it was difficult to go wrong with any premier wideout pick, with only injuries to some key guys slowing them down for a few weeks. But if you were smart and picked for depth, you should have weathered the storm. Needless to say, I did not.
So, with that in mind we need to look at the big dogs on your fantasy football list. Guys that if you want on your team, you’re probably going to have to sacrifice that first or early second-round pick and, depending on the number of players in your league, you might want to target these guys early anyway.
The first thing you might notice about this list is who isn’t on it, specifically the Denver Broncos’ wide receiver tandem of Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, both of which are coming off incredible career years. Why aren’t the here? Simple, I don’t know how healthy or productive Peyton Manning will be in what should be his final season and I also don’t know how productive either will be in Gary Kubiak’s offensive system. I certainly wouldn’t be afraid to pick either guy, and both should put up good numbers this season, even if they don’t match their 2014 production. Still, these five guys, I feel, are all guarantees to put up monster catch, yardage and touchdown numbers.
Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears
2014: 85 catches, 1,133 yards, 10 touchdowns
Jeffrey has put up great numbers for the last two years, but Adam Gase’s offense had two guys ass 1,400 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Granted, Jay Cutler is a far cry from Peyton Manning, but he can still sling the ball and is in a make-or-break season with one of the best coaching staffs in the country. With Brandon Marshall shipped out of town, Jeffrey is now the primary target with a dangerous rookie, Kevin White out of West Virginia, on the other side. Jeffrey is getting the ball.
Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
2014: 88 catches, 1,320 yards, 16 touchdowns
Incredible numbers for Bryant last year with an All-Universe touchdown total will only get better this season. Terrence Williams does just enough to keep some of the pressure off Bryant and the Cowboys will lean even more on the passing game unless Darren McFadden somehow stays healthy for a full season. That sentence was as ridiculous for me to type as it was for you to read.
Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
2014: 129 catches, 1,698 yards, 13 touchdowns
No wideout in the NFL was better than Antonio Brown last season and I expect that he’ll be in contention for that spot again this year. Brown is in a situation much like Bryant, where he’s getting just enough help from the No. 2 guy, in this case third-year wideout Markus Wheaton, that he can flourish without garnering double-teams every time. Add to that Le’Veon Bell’s emergence as a multi-talented weapon and that safety over top has to keep looking into the backfield. That’s when Brown runs by him.
Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants
2014: 91 catches, 1,305 yards, 10 touchdowns
Those are numbers from a rookie with little help on the outside after the injury to Victo Cruz early in the season. Cruz will be back this year, along with Reuben Randle and the under-appreciated Preston Parker. Eli Manning will have to throw the ball because the Giants didn’t do a whole lot to fix their running game, with Shan Vereen and Rashad Jennings likely splitting time in the backfield. Beckham Jr. is on the cover of the new Madden 16 game this season. It may be the only time he’s successfully covered this season.
Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
2014: 71 catches, 1077 yards, eight touchdowns
Johnson played in just 13 games last season and he wasn’t 100 percent in most of them and still put up those kind of numbers. Megatron is the best wideout in the game, both on-the-field and in fantasy until somebody proves something different. The last time he was healthy for 16 games he caught nearly 2,000 yards and he’s hit double-digit touchdowns four times in his eight-year career. He’s as safe a bet as they come.
