Loading ...
« Notes From the Margins: Quick notes | Main | The Trend is Your Friend - Michael Crabtree »
Wide Receiver Rankings: Top 25
By Vince Mullins | August 2, 2008
After writing down every wideout in the country on an index card then sorting them out into tranches, I was smacked upside the head by two observations.
This list, especially the Top Ten, is pretty safe with no discernible reaches. Also lots of small “waterbug” wideouts, certainly much more than I am used to ranking highly.
I have a rule of thumb to focus on WRs over six feet and 200 pounds and darned if there are only three of those build in my top 12, and the only one in my top ten leads it off…
1. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
The Bentley of fantasy college football pass catchers. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him eclipse lat year’s numbers and maybe even join Nevada’s Trevor Insley (1999) and D3 Westminster’s Scott Pingel (1998) as the only collegiate receivers to get 2000 yards in a season. Then Drew Smith told me that of the 17 WRs to amass 200 fantasy points and returned the next year, only two scored 200 the next year. Keep an eye out for our point-counterpoint on the Crab soon.
2. Chris Williams, New Mexico State
A healthy CW, a third-year starter at QB and WAC defenses should get this little man among the statistical big boys. Remember his 1400-12TD in 2006? Here he comes again.
3. Jarett Dillard, Rice
One of the most exciting WR in this game for the last two years, and I am really looking forward to the Week One Friday prime time matchup between Rice and the new SMU. Owls passing game should be lethal this year as CUSA continues to excel at two things: offense, and waiting to play offense.
4. Dante Love, Ball State
Cardinals return all 11 on offense and there is excitement in Muncie, Indiana for the first time since Close Encounters of the Third Kind was set there. Can QB Nate Davis recreate another efficient season - he can’t do much better so I would again expect a safe 1300 yard and 10+ TD season from Love.
5. Emmanuel Sanders, SMU
I liked him last year, but not this much. As it stands before camps open Sanders is the safest way to get exposure to the June Jones Revolution in Fort Worth. The top WR in Jones run-and-shoot is a lock for 1200+ yards and 14+ TDs and there is unproven depth around him in a system that needs 5 or 6-deep. This ranking should remain steady regardless of Justin Willis winning the starting QB job.
6. Casey Fitzgerald, North Texas
Maybe should be lower since you will get very little production from Fitz until September 27 (sounds like Dillard 2007). As we learned last year, no one will trade you a great wideout off to a slow start so you will have to pay up for this senior in one of the most improved offenses in the country.
7. Michael Thomas, Arizona
I have already taken criticism that the receiver with two first names gets ranked higher than Jeremy Maclin but I stand by it with the continue improvement of the Wildcats offense with Willie Tuitama at the helm..
8. Percy Harvin, Florida
Will Carroll told us not to worry as much about the foot injury, but you have to be concerned when he misses times for various maladies over his career and costs you a playoff spot. But, when he is healthy this is still the most electric athlete in the game today. OC Dan Mullen puts him in the backfield, in motion and split wide causing fits for many defensive coordinators across the south.
9. Malcolm Lane, Hawaii
Warriors should keep on chugging up huge numbers despite all new personnel, rougher travel schedule a decidedly tougher non-conference schedule - Lane filled in well last year when Ryan Grice-Mullin nursed injuries when split wide, plus he returns kicks.
10. Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
Will probably go higher in many drafts, but he just wont sneak up on defenses in 2008 like he did in his debut campaign, even if he continues to return kicks. Still a Top Ten, but I predict he will slow down especially if Danario Alexander returns healthy.
11. Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
This projection comes from his physicality, the huge bowl game against Indiana and the return of dual-threat QB Zac Robinson. Bryant is more of a Raushaun Woods than a shredded Adarius Bowman so you should expect more consistent performances.
12. Bryan Anderson, Central Michigan
If Dan Lefevour is good enough for his own billboard, he must have some super-productive teammates and Anderson combines the height and athleticism to tear up the MAC.
13. Eric Decker, Minnesota
Since the Golden Gophers were behind so much they had to throw, and Decker had to catch most of the passes leading to a 900y-9TD season as a soph. With a season under the belt and a little better luck in 2008 (-15 turnovers and 6 losses by less than a TD) Decker should get over 1100 and get double digit TDs.
14. Greg Orton, Purdue
By far the most talented veteran returning to the Boilermakers, Orton is the incumbent to be the leading receiver at the end of QB Curtis Painter’s passes. We will keep an eye on the freshmen and the JUCOs but for now I have a lot of confidence in Orton.
15. Kenny Britt, Rutgers
Who runs the fly route better? If it weren’t for the three bye weeks this year Britt would be a bit higher after last season’s vertical catch fest (20 ypc) with 1200 yards and 8 TD. Another downside risk - will the Knights face eight and nine-man fronts as much this year without Ray Rice?
16. Juaquin Iglesias, Oklahoma
Fellow Sooner Quentin Chaney may win the swimsuit contest and excel in bowl games, but I give the edge to Iglesias for his consistency - remember he led the team in 2007 with all-world Malcolm Kelly on the squad. Factor in a returning Sam “What Me Worry?” Bradford and a much easier schedule than last year and Iglesias could be your hero.
17. Aaron Kelly, Clemson
Many months have passed and I have forgiven Aaron for costing me a league title last year. Really, it was his fault . This future NFL first-day draft pick benefits from an offense with 8 returning starters and a much easier schedule (only four road games) so look for an improvement over the 1000 yard and 11 TDs.
18. Austin Collie, BYU
See his Player Spotlight from last month.
19. Marko Mitchell, Nevada
Despite a brutal September out-of-conference schedule Mitchell has a relatively easy slate the rest of the way so the lanky Mitchell should make lots of plays. His 53-1129-8TD season was pretty quiet and mostly back-loaded when QB Colin Kaepernick took over the job, so when CK grabs the starting job again this year Mitchell’s season looks a lot brighter.
20. Brennan Marion, Tulsa
The deep threat ne plus ultra. Whoever wins the QB job will get to chuck it to the JUCO with the NCAA record for yards per catch (31.9). Factor in the CUSA (lack of) defenses, OC Gus Malzahn and weak OOC schedule and the Golden Hurricane might just exceed last year’s numbers.
21. Jamarko Simmons, Western Michigan
Upgrade him if you play points per reception as he is the focal point of the Bronco pass offense. 2007 set career highs for the former RB 84-980-6TD, but I expect 2008 to be bigger based on a very manageable schedule after the opener at Nebraska and the late season improvement of QB Tim Hiller.
22. Stephen Williams, Toledo
Another MAC star ready for prime time, Williams is the key deep threat for a Rocket offense that has underperformed the last couple years. The QB shuffling seems to have settled on Aaron Opelt and wizard Tom Amstutz still calls plays so watch WIlliams go over 1300 with double figure TDs.
23. Greg Carr, Florida State
Voted “Most Likely to fall down this list” when camps open, Carr continuously teases me with high TD/catch ratios but never seems to break out of that jump ball specialist role. If the Seminoles get some quality QB play (paging Chris Weinke?) Carr should finally put it all together.
24. Jaison Williams, Oregon
Drops (and Jonathan Stewart running) slowed this Duck yet he still improved to a career high 8 TDs. With QB questions and supreme depth at WR, it is possible that I am overweighting his NFL potential, so stay tuned for future revisions.
25. Patrick Turner, USC
Last chance for PT to get some PT, this former top recruit should be the leader with QB Mark Sanchez taking over the QB reins full-time. Interesting schedule for the Trojans with two byes in the first month but weaker teams in November - sweet for fantasy, yes?
Rest of the 150-deep list throughout the next week..
Topics: Cheatsheets, College Football, Vince Mullins, Wide Receiver |
Comments are closed.
