LestersLegends.com » 2009 fantasy football WR rankings

Jeremy Maclin is a talented Rookie WR from Missouri.  It may take an injury for him to make a major impact outside of the return game.  Still, he’s in a high-powered offense with a talented QB and should make some noise at some point in the year.  I think he’ll start off slow, but as he grasps the offense, he will take off.
Prediction:  45 catches for 600 yards and 4 TDs
Michael Crabtree is not endearing himself with NFL fans or fantasy owners.  I think he’s the most delusional person since our last President.  If he believes he can sit out a year and improve his draft status without working out for teams, that’s a whole new version of fantasy football.  I think he’ll eventually cave because you just can’t make the money back you’ll lose.  He’ll start slow, and possibly endure and injury (hamstring most likely).  Eventually he’ll make an impact though.
Prediction:  40 catches for 550 yards, 6 TDs
Brian Robiskie will start out slow because he’s falling behind Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs on the depth chart.  I think he’s too talented to stay down long though, and should work his way into the rotation around the middle of the year.  He’ll have some solid games, but be very inconsistent.
Prediction:  36 catches for 450 yards, 4 TDs

Percy Harvin is going to see action all over the place.  In the slot, out wide, as a Running Back, a return man, and a Wildcat QB.  The Vikings will have to go against their standard and get creative to get the ball in his hands.  Once it’s there, look out.  He can score from anywhere on the football field.  He’ll be more exciting to watch than a valuable fantasy player to rely on, but that will come in time.
Prediction:  50 catches for 600 yards, 200 rushing yards, 7 total TDs

Hakeem Nicks was supposed to make one of the biggest splashes from the rookie WRs, but is not having a good preseason.  The Giants have plenty of options at WR (Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, and Sinorice Moss) so if he doesn’t start turning heads, don’t look for much of an impact in 2009.
Prediction:  25 catches for 300 yards, 2 TDs

Justin Gage had 651 yards on just 34 catches (19.1 yards per catch) with 6 TDs.  With the addition of Nate Washington, Gage will have to catch quite a few more passes to match is 2008 yardage output.  Plus, with the addition of Rookie Kenny Britt, he’s going to have to stay healthy.  Gage had 92+ yards in three games and fewer than 50 yards in seven games making it hard to rely on him for anything more than a WR4 or WR5.  Playing for a defensive-minded team with a run-heavy offense leaves my expectations lower for a somewhat unproved player for a team with two more mouths to feed.  Gage is going in the 11th round in fantasy drafts, which is a pretty fair value.  I’m expecting him to catch 50 passes for 700 yards and 5 TDs.

Patrick Crayton is the #2 WR again now that T.O. has moved on toe Buffalo.  Miles Austin will get his catches as the #3 WR, and TE Jason Witten catches more than his share of passes so Crayton’s value is not that of a normal #2 WR in an offense as explosive as Dallas’ should be.  Aside from the weapons in the passing game, the Cowboys also have a formidable ground game with Marion Barber III, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice.  Crayton is worth a roster spot as a WR4 or WR5, but I think he’s being drafted a little early (12th round).  If last year is an indication, Crayton should have some value in Week 4 (Denver), Week 5 (Kansas City), and Week 12 (Oakland since Nnamdi Asomugha will be matched up with Roy Williams).  He plays the Saints in Week 15, but I would have a hard time gambling on him in the fantasy playoffs.  I think he’s good for a slight bump over last year with 55 catches for 675 yards and 6 TDs.

Domenik Hixon had a decent year for the Giants with 43 catches for 596 yards and 2 TDs.  While he wasn’t a consistent threat, he did have seven games with 57+ yards.  He will enter the season as the #1 WR, though he’ll have to hold off Rookie Hakeem Nicks.  I wouldn’t really trust any Giant WR for more than a spot duty role, Hixon is worth a roster spot as a WR4 or WR 5.  Weeks 4 (Kansas City), 6 (New Orleans) and 12 (Denver) appear to be the best bets.  He’s going in the 10th round of fantasy drafts.  I’m expecting 65 catches for 780 yard and 4 TDs.

Davone Bess has been moving up draft boards as a trendy sleeper pick.  He will have to hold off Greg Camarillo, who is coming off a knee injury.  Bess had 54 catches as a Rookie for 554 yards and a TD.  He really stepped it up the final six weeks of last year with 35 catches for 366 yards (61 yards per games).  Bess is going in the 13th round of fantasy drafts and should get a slight bump in PPR leagues.  I would consider him a decent WR4 and a nice WR5 with a ton of upside.  I’m looking for 70 catches for 700 yards and 3 TDs.

With the Brett Favre saga finally over, Bernard Berrian gets a bump in value.  Berrian had a solid year with 48 catches for 964 yards and 7 TDs despite playing with the likes of Gus Frerotte and Tavaris Jackson.  With Favre he should surpass the 1000 yard mark he’s been hovering around the past two seasons.  Berrian has averaged 6 TDs a year over the past three seasons, a number that could also increase with #4 on board.  Even if Favre did go down, Sage Rosenfels would be an adequate replacement.  Berrian is going in the 7th round in fantasy drafts, though he’ll likely begin to creep up the draft board with his new QB.  I would roll with Berrian as a WR3.  I expect him to catch 65 passes for 1100 yards and 7 TDs.
 
Devin Hester is another speedy WR that got a shiny, new Quarterback this year.  Even though he annoyed Jay Cutler recently, I think Hester could have a real nice year.  With another year at WR under his belt, he should be more comfortable.  Having a QB with a big arm to take advantage of his speed should also help.  He was spotty at best last year with just three games with over 70 receiving yards.  He had six games with less than 30 yards.  You would think he would have rushing numbers to increase his value, but he ran just six times for 61 yards.  He had 11 return TDs in his first two years, but failed to reach paydirt last year.  He isn’t slated to do any returns this year, so don’t expect any bonus scores.  Having him concentrate full-time on his WR duties should help him stay focused and healthy, but it also takes away what comes naturally for Hester.  I expect him to be more consistent with Cutler, but I still don’t think I would want to rely on him as a WR3.  He’s going in the 7th round in fantasy drafts.  I’m expecting 55 catches for 850 yards and 6 TDs.

Steve Breaston is another speedy WR that is being counted on in 2009.  Only he’s the third WR on his team, which means, barring injury, that I would want him as a WR4 at best.  He had a great year catching 77 passes for 1006 yards and 3 TDs.  He was very inconsistent with eight games with 77+ yards and eight games with fewer 55 yards (five with fewer than 40 yards).  He only added 3 TDs.  The Cardinals are going to balance their offense more this year with the addition of first round pick Beanie Wells.  Unless Boldin or Fitz get hurt or Boldin is miraculously traded, Breaston’s fantasy value takes a hit in 2009.  He is going around the ninth round of fantasy drafts, which is a bit early for my tastes.  I’m expecting around 55 catches for 825 yards and 4 TDs.

Torry Holt is thankful to escape the mess that is the St. Louis Rams.  Not that Jacksonville is a passing mecca, but they are a team that should rebound after a disappointing 2008 season, unlike the rams, who should continue to be bottom feeders.  Because he has been an elite WR for so long it seems that Holt is older than he actually is.  While he’s no spring chicken, he’s still just 33.  He had the worst season of his career last year, but St. Louis as a whole struggled last year.  His string of 1000+ yard seasons ended at eight.  He is easily the best wideout that Jacksonville has had since the days of Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.  His days of 1300 yard seasons are behind him, but he still makes a solid WR3 and a great WR4.  He is going in the 8th round of fantasy drafts, and could end up being a great value.  I think he’ll catch 80 passes for 1000 yards and 4 TDs.
Derrick Mason briefly retired following former teammate Steve McNair’s tragic death.  I think he was just evaluating his life, and clearly he feels he has some football left in his system.  Good news for Ravens fans because it would have left their WRs pretty thin.  Mason had another fine year with 80 catches for 1037 yards and 5 TDs.  You would think a 35 year old WR with 12 years in wouldn’t have much upside, but Joe Flacco should be a little more comfortable with the pace of the league and should get a longer leash in 2009.  Mason is a nice WR4, especially in PPR leagues.  He’s going around the 9th round in fantasy leagues.  I can see a 90 catch, 1000 yard, 5 TD season from Mason.

Muhsin Muhammad is another veteran that continues to produce despite being 36 and entering his 14th season.  Moose had 65 catches for 923 yards and 5 TDs last year.  He was a bit inconsistent with eight games with 50 or fewer yards, but he salvaged two of them with a TD.  He ended the year on a relative high note averaging 76.3 yards in his last three games.  Most of the focus will be on Steve Smith and the running game so Moose should be able to find his spots.  He’ll be challenged by Dwayne Jarrett, but if the Panthers are in contention again they will likely lean on the veteran.  He’s a solid choice to add depth to your bench and spot start, perhaps in Week 8 (Arizona) or Week 9 (New Orleans). I’m expecting 65 catches for 800 yards and 6 TDs.  Not bad value for a guy going in the 13th-
15th round.

Chris Chambers had a disappointing 2008 season with just 33 catches for 462 yards and 5 TDs.  The year before he had 66 catches for 970 yards and 4 TDs in split duty with Miami and San Diego. Clearly he’s not the same guy who caught 82 passes for 1118 yards and 11 TDs for the Dolphins in 2005.  With LT, Gates, Vincent Jackson, Sproles, and Malcom Floyd, it doesn’t appear as if that is going to change anytime soon.  He’s still young enough (31) to bounce back though, especially with a talented QB like Philip Rivers.  His days as a fantasy starter are likely over, but he is still worthy of a roster spot.  He’s being taken in the 10th round of fantasy drafts, but I’d probably wait a little longer.  He should be good for 50 catches for 750 yards and 5 TDs.


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