David Anderson Houston Texans
The Texans aren’t exactly stacked at WR with the exception of Andre Johnson of course but they still have enough guys with more talent than Anderson to expect much more than similar numbers to 2006.
Miles Austin Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have a solid core of receivers on paper but with Terry Glenn on the brink of extinction and Patrick Crayton testing the free agent market in the off-season there is a small chance that the Cowboys could have a receiver opening and at 6-3/216 you’ve got to think the Cowboys will give Austin a look. Most likely he’ll be buried again on the depth chart and will find topping 20/250/1 tough work.
Jason Avant Philadelphia Eagles
Avant is a difficult player to asses as he’s shown flashes in his first two years but what has he really done?! The Eagles aren’t opposed to spreading the ball around but unless something unforeseen occurs in the off-season I just don’t see Avant being more than a 3rd or 4th WR again this season.
Hank Baskett Philadelphia Eagles
After a fluke rookie season that was inflated by long receptions Baskett came crashing back to earth in his sophomore season. At 6-4/220 you’d think the Eagles would at least look to make him a red-zone target but his three TD’s in 32 games say otherwise. Baskett could be an interesting late round flyer but I wouldn’t count on it.
Taye Biddle Tampay Bay Buccaneers
Biddle does not have any stats for 2007 and his 3 receptions for 37 yards in his rookie season point to Biddle being lucky to just make an NFL roster at this point.
Jeremy Bloom Pittsburgh Steelers
Bloom has yet to play a down of football but the fact that the Steelers picked him up near the end of the 2007 season shows that at least they believe he’s still got his wheels. Bloom will most likely not see the field at WR but he might not be a bad pick if your in a format that awards individual special team return points.
Shaun Bodiford Green Bay Packers
He caught his first and only pass of his career last season (good for 13 yards) and is buried behind a solid Packers WR core, in other words, there is no reason to bother with Bodiford at this point.
Greg Camarillo Miami Dolphins
Talk about over hyped! I’ve heard a lot of sleeper talk about this guy and maybe he has sleeper potential but eight receptions in 19 games doesn’t exactly scream superstar. Now for the good part, all eight receptions along with his 160 yards and two TD’s came in the last three games of the season including a 64 yard game winner in OT for the Dolphins only win of the season, couple that with the Dolphins pathetic at best WR core and there is reason to have some faith in the 6-1/190 Camarillo. It’s rare for a WR to go from nothing to startable in one season though so I’d say late flyer at best.
Jason Carter Carolina Panthers
He has yet to pull in a reception in his career so don’t expect anything out of at best the 2nd best Carter on the Panthers
Brandon “Bam” Childress New England Patriots
Even though Childress has been in the league for 3 seasons, 2008 will be his 3rd year of NFL experience if that makes any sense. It doesn’t matter what year of receiver is, he won’t be a factor in 2008 or any other year for that matter, by the way You’d think a guy with the nickname of BAM would have a little punch to him but I guess in his defense which WR was going to sit sitting behind a slew of studs in New England this season.
Brian Clark Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Clark has 4 career receptions for 23 yards all last season for the Denver Broncos before ending the season with Tampa Bay. Joe Galloway and Ike Hilliard are hitting senior citizen status and at this point Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall are more bluff than buff so it’s not exactly like he’s got a ton of competition and at 6-2/204 he’s got the look but I’m not willing to bet on the kid succeeding at this point, I just think he’s a guy to at least keep an eye on, maybe not a whole eye but at least a little squint.
Marques Coltson New Orleans Saints
For the first half of last season it looked like Colston had taken a step backwards with only 26 receptions, 263 yards, 2 TD’s, and no more than 70 yards in any single game. Luckily for fantasy owners it appeared that those seven games were the fluke as Colston went wild the final 10 games of the season. It will be tough to top last years numbers but even a small drop off doesn’t exclude him from stud status.
Jamin Elliott Atlanta Falcons
Spent all of 2007 on IR and has yet to catch a ball in his career. He is listed as a 3rd year WR but the fact is that he’s been around since 2002 when he played two games for the Bears. He will be lucky to make and NFL roster and has no fantasy value.
Devale Ellis Detroit Lions
Missed the 2007 season due to injury after a 4 catch, 41 yard rookie season. With the Lions loaded at receiver he is likely nothing more than a special teams boost.
Mike Espy Washington Redskins
Missed the 2007 season due to injury and has yet to record a reception in his career. The Redskins receiving core isn’t great but don’t look for Espy to be able to break through.
Malcom Floyd San Diego Chargers
Floyd’s NFL experience lists this as is 3rd season but he actually has been in the league since 2004 when he had 3 receptions for 49 yards and a TD. He missed the 2005 season and looked like he could be headed for a nice career after a decent 2006 campaign, only to come crashing down to earth last year. At 6-5/225 he’s an interesting prospect but with Chris Chambers now on board and Eric Parker coming back from injury there will likely be even less balls for Floyd this season. He could be traded or cut before the season starts. Bottom line is that he looks good on paper but unless he goes somewhere else he just isn’t going to be worth a fantasy selection.
Skyler Green New Orleans Saints
The former LSU standout is going back home after being signed by the Saints in the off-season. He is a burner but at 5-9/190 he just isn’t much of a target. I wouldn’t expect much out of Skyler this season except to be a return specialist.
Derek Hagan Miami Dolphins
Hagan is one of the more interesting 3rd year prospects as he’s got the size (6-2/203) and situation (sorry Dolphins) to be a #1 WR this season, not a #1 fantasy WR mind you but a #1 NFL receiver. Let’s face it, if the guy can’t beat out Marty Booker, Greg Camarillo, and Ted Ginn then he’s not the sleeper that I think he is! Even though the Dolphins will likely continue to struggle again this season it wouldn’t be a surprise if Hagan doubles his numbers from last season which makes him worth a late flyer for sure.
Devin Hester Chicago Bears
After TRYING to play defense in 06’ and being a return stud, the Bears smartly let him play receiver last season and while he didn’t have a monster season, you can’t sneeze at 20 receptions, 299 yards, and 2 TD’s to go along with all of his returns. Hester is a very intriguing pick this season especially considering the Bears aren’t exactly stacked at wide out but there is no guarantee right now just how much the Bears are willing to use him at receiver. I think this high risk/high reward could be a monster steal this season.
Domenik Hixon New York Giants
Hixon has only one reception for five yards in his career and despite his 6-2 frame I wouldn’t expect a whole lot more this season. He is a return star on the rise but that’s about as good as it gets.
Carlyle Holiday Green Bay Packers
Holiday is another one of those receivers entering his 3rd season “experience” wise but has actually been in the league since 2005. He was on our sleeper watch last season despite putting up only 9 receptions and 126 yards in 06’ but he missed the 2007 season due to injury. Holiday could be the odd man out in the Packers solid receiving core so unless he ends up somewhere else in the off-season I wouldn’t expect much out of him this season.
Santonio Holmes Pittsburgh Steelers
Despite missing three games to injury last season Holmes still managed to better each of his 06’ stats and is primed to have an even better season in 08’. Hines Ward may be the Pittsburgh receiver receiving the most hype its Holmes that is on the verge of becoming a fantasy star. 75 receptions, 1100 yards and 8 TD’s are all within his reach this season.
Glenn Holt Cincinnati Bengals
Holt benefited from the suspension of Chris Henry and still didn’t put up anything to write home about. With the big three WR’s (Henry, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshamndzadeh) getting a majority of the balls thrown their way there just isn’t a reason to think that Holt can even match last years totals as long as he’s a Bengal and those three are on the field.
Sam Hurd Dallas Cowboys
The 6-2 Hurd showed just enough last season to make him an interesting prospect, especially from a dynasty perspective when you throw in the fact that he will only be 23 years old this season. The off-season will determine just how much value you should place on Hurd, if Terry Glenn returns and the Cowboys re-sign Patrick Crayton then I would no expect anything better than last season, however if Glenn were to bow out and/or Crayton leaves D town then you’ve got a sleeper worth a possible late round flyer on your hands.
Chad Jackson New England Patriots
After showing some promise in his rookie season (13/152/3) Jackson missed most of the 2007 due to injury. The bad part for Jackson besides the slew of talented receivers the Patriots acquired last season is the fact that when Jackson did come back he did not catch a single pass which says to me that he could very well be the odd man out this season. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots try and shop him on draft day. He has potential in the right situation but as of this moment he isn’t in that situation.
Adam Jennings Atlanta Falcons
After a stat-less rookie season (actually he had one carry for -4 yards) Jennings put up 62 yards on 6 receptions to go along with one TD. I would expect Jennings main contribution for the Falcons to be in the return game this season.
Greg Jennings Green Bay Packers
After an excellent rookie season Jennings followed it up with an even better sophomore season. I do have a couple of worries when it comes to Jennings though; a) health, he has yet to play in all 16 games and b) his TD ratio last season is out of whack (one TD for every 4 receptions). While Donald Driver is still Brett Favre’s favorite target he is on the other side of old and it’s clear that Jennings is who Favre looks to for big plays. As long as he remains healthy Jennings should better his receptions and yardage this season but I would be surprised if his TD’s go up, with that said he should still be near or at double figures which makes Jennings a WR to look at right after the big boys are off the board.
C.J. Jones New England Patriots
Jones is only entering his 3rd season of experience but he came into the league back in 2003 with the Cleveland Browns. He spent last season on the Patriots practice squad and has yet to record a single reception. Even if he makes an NFL roster he has no fantasy value.
Brandon Marshall Denver Broncos
We called Marshall a sleeper going into the 2007 season but even we couldn’t expect an 82 catch, 1016 yards, and 5 TD’s improvement over his 2006 numbers, that’s just amazing. Now that we’ve stroked the 6-4, 230 lb Marshall’s ego let’s take a more realistic look at the situation. Yes Marshall had a monster season, yes he appears that he is on the verge of stardom BUT let us not forget that if Javon Walker wasn’t injured for a majority of last season Marshall would’ve still been the #2 WR for the Broncos which is the position he might be in this season if Walker is around. All you have to do is look at the only two weeks that Walker was really healthy (week one and two) and compare Walker and Marshall. Week 1-Walker 9-119 and Marshall 5-52-1. Week 2-Walker 8-101-0 and Marshall 5-82-0
Marshall will still have a very good season but if Walker stays in Denver and is healthy I just wouldn’t expect as good of numbers as last season.
Ruvell Martin Green Bay Packers
Martin is likely to have seasons like his first two as long as Driver and Jennings are ahead of him on the depth chart and the emergence of James Jones makes Martin at best the 4th WR. At 6-4 he has some red-zone plays in his future at worst. He’s a player worth keeping an eye on, especially if he goes somewhere else in the off-season or if one of the guys above goes down but most likely he is headed for another 20/300/2 type of season.
Marcus Maxwell Cincinnati Bengals
Actually came into the league in 2005 with the 9ers but did not put up any numbers in 05’ or 06’. Last season he went to the Bengals where he managed one reception for five yards. Despite his 6-4/205 frame he won’t be a fantasy factor.
Lance Moore New Orleans Saints
Moore started with the Saints in 2005 but did not see the field. After a lackluster first two seasons Moore took advantage of his opportunity in last season with an OK season. Ideally the Saints would like to have Marques Colston and Robert Meachem as their starting wide outs this season which likely would land Moore in a slot role or a 4th receiver, in other words I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve already seen Moore’s career year.
Sinorice Moss New York Giants
The younger brother of Santana Moss came into the league with high praise and speed to burn but after two seasons he’s shown little to warrant the praise. Plaxico Burress is clearly the Giants #1 receiver with an aging Amani Toomer trying to hold off Moss and Steve Smith for the #2 spot. Likely Toomer will stick around for another season and Smith showed enough at the end of the season to likely be the heir apparent for the #2 spot leaving Moss as the odd man out again this season. It’s worth your time to at least know the name Sinorice but at this point he just doesn’t have enough value to warrant a look.
Martin Nance Minnesota Vikings
After a 4 catch, 33 yard rookie season he spent 2007 on the Vikings practice squad. He has good size (6-3/213) and while the Vikings are praying for a receiver to step up it won’t be Nance who has no fantasy value.
Willie Reid Pittsburgh Steelers
After not recording a reception in his rookie season he managed to haul in 4 receptions for 54 yards last season, by the way out of those whopping four catches he managed to fumble one of them away, not the kind of thing that sits well in Pittsburgh. Unless the Steelers make some changes Reid looks to be at best the 4th WR this season so while he could improve on last season it won’t be enough to warrant a fantasy pick.
Brandon Rideau Chicago Bears
Started his career in 2005 with Cleveland and has yet to see the field. Even at 6-3 and playing for a Bears squad with WR troubles he won’t be a solution the Bears consider; no fantasy value.
Bill Sampy Philadelphia Eagles
Besides looking like a chick in his NFL.com pic (sorry Sampy but its true) there isn’t much else to notice about this guy whose put up no stats thru his first two seasons and likely won’t put up anything again this season.
Charles Sharon Jacksonville Jaguars
His coaches have high praise for Sharon but the fact is that he’s spent most of the past two seasons on the Jaguars practice squad may say otherwise. At this point he has no fantasy value.
Brad Smith New York Jets
Smith, who played quarterback at the University of Missouri, is still learning the WR position but he’s getting better every day. While he isn’t ready for prime time at this point he is a nice #3 receiver for the Jets and the fact that the Jets will let him throw and run here and there adds a little value but unless you’ve got a very deep league I just don’t see Smith having enough value to bother with quite yet.
Maurice Stovall Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I was on the Maurice Stovall sleeper train last season but man oh man did that train derail! The 6-4 Stovall had us all fooled into thinking he was going to have a breakout sophomore season but to quote Lee Corso, “Not so fast my friend!” I’m not quite ready to give up on Stovall just yet but when he couldn’t overtake has been Ike Hilliard you’ve got to have your doubts. If you’ve got some stud WR’s early in your draft he could be worth a late round flyer but I wouldn’t expect much.
Dominique Thompson Carolina Panthers
Started his career in 2005 with the St. Louis Rams and had one catch for 13 yards, the only reception of his career. Despite going to the Panthers in the off-season I just don’t see a change of scenery changing anything for Thompson who has no fantasy value.
Jeff Webb Kansas City Chiefs
I called Webb a deep sleeper last season and while he did not put up numbers worthy of being on your fantasy team they weren’t God awful either. There is no doubt that Dwayne Bowe is the Chiefs #1 WR right now but things aren’t as clear as to who will be starting opposite of him. Eddie Kennison is well past his prime, Samie Parker just isn’t doing anything special, and nobody else has shown much in the way of anything. I’m not saying Webb will win the job but if he does he is worth having on your radar screen.
Brandon Williams St. Louis Rams
Williams is nothing more than a return man at this point with no fantasy value.
Demetrius Williams Baltimore Ravens
After a promising end to his rookie season Williams missed a big chunk of last season due to injury. As long as Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason are around Williams isn’t likely to be more than the #3 WR but he’s got the skills to defiantly improve his numbers this season and while he likely isn’t worth a fantasy roster spot at this point he is a guy to keep an eye on.
Travis Wilson Cleveland Browns
Wilson has a combined 2 receptions and 32 yards in his first two seasons, both coming in his rookie season. Aside from Braylon Edwards the Browns WR’s are average at best but there is no reason to think Wilson will do enough this season to have any fantasy value.
Wallace Wright New York Jets
Wright didn’t have a single reception in his rookie season and had only 6 for 87 last season. Don’t expect much more than that this year.
