WR RANKINGS 49-64
Auction...............$14
Bye Week.............10
Wayne was having a typically productive season for the Colts and fantasy owners, when a knee injury cut his season short. He returns rested and healthy, but also a year older at 35. Eventually, fantasy enthusiasts should expect a decline. Along those lines, the addition of Hakeem Nicks could be a signal that the team wants to start transitioning away from Wayne. Look for the veteran to continue to be productive, but his days as a WR1 in fantasy are probably finished. However, as a mid-round selection that can slot in as a third receiver in many fantasy leagues, Wayne should have plenty of draft appeal.
Auction...............$14
Bye Week.............10
Maclin missed the entire 2013 season to a torn ACL, and has seen his share of ailments in the preseason. He should start the year as the No. 1 wideout option in Philadelphia with DeSean Jackson out of the picture. His injury history brings some risk, and he had a scare in a preseason game, but managed to walk off the field and was ok. If he plays 16 games he's a lock for 1,000-plus yards in the Eagles high-octane uptempo offensive attack under Chip Kelly.
Auction...............$12
Bye Week.............8
There wasn't a lot to like among Giants receivers in 2013, but Randle did offer a few rays of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy season. Now he'll have his chance to prove he can handle a bigger workload. With Hakeem Nicks having moved on to Indianapolis, Randle is in position to become the No. 2 target in Big Blue's passing game behind Victor Cruz. Of course, it's a passing game that has plenty of questions marks -- including the productivity of quarterback Eli Manning. Those questions could cause Randle to fall several rounds.
Auction...............$12
Bye Week.............9
The expectations are high for Watkins after the Bills spent the fourth overall pick on the former Clemson star. But he won't have to carry Buffalo's receiving corps all by himself. Robert Woods is looking to improve upon a respectable rookie campaign while Marquise Goodwin and Mike Williams will battle for targets from EJ Manuel. Nonetheless, Watkins is the star of the group. His talent will undoubtedly make him an interesting fantasy commodity, but beware -- defensive coordinators will certainly focus on keeping the talented receiver in check. Also, it's worth keeping in mind that few rookie wideouts make an immediate fantasy impact. If you're tempted to reach for Watkins ... don't.
Auction...............$12
Bye Week.............11
The Cowboys had a void at their No. 2 wideout slot last season because of Miles Austin's chronic injuries. Williams filled it nicely. So nicely, in fact that Dallas released the oft-injured Austin and have made Williams the heir apparent to the position. Now with new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan bringing his pass-friendly offense to north Texas, there is an opportunity for Williams to take a big step forward -- on the field and in fantasy.
Auction...............$12
Bye Week.............10
Hopkins might not have made the splash of fellow rookies Keenan Allen or Cordarrelle Patterson, but the young man from Clemson put together a nice season. With Andre Johnson getting a little longer in the tooth there is an opportunity for Hopkins to grab a larger share of the offense. Yet some of the youngster's production will have to do with the quarterback calling the signals for the Texans. Still, look for new head coach Bill O'Brien to get his young wideout heavily involved in the pass attack this season, which should give Hopkins plenty of upside heading into drafts.
Auction...............$12
Bye Week.............9
Tate went from being a No. 1 option in Seattle to being a No. 2 receiving option in Detroit -- and actually upgraded his situation. At least from a fantasy perspective. The Notre Dame product heads back to the midwest where he'll play alongside Calvin Johnson in the league's most pass-happy offense. This will be a chance for Tate to prove that he can be a consistent fantasy producer. It wouldn't be surprising to see the fifth-year receiver set career highs across the board. It also wouldn't be surprising to see Tate come off the board as a third receiver for a number of fantasy owners.
Auction...............$10
Bye Week.............7
Cooper was a nice waiver wire find for a number of fantasy owners, as he finished among the top 15 at receiver. The problem is that Cooper's production was a series of peaks and valleys. Nearly 54 percent of the fantasy points he scored came in just three games -- including a 33.7-point outburst in Week 9. The upside is that Cooper should be locked into the WR2 job with the departure of DeSean Jackson. But with LeSean McCoy still commanding the lion's share of the touches and Zach Ertz trying to carve out a larger slice of the pie, what does that mean for Cooper in 2014? Receivers have a chance to post nice numbers in the Eagles offense, but fantasy owners will want to see more week-to-week consistency from Cooper.
Auction...............$10
Bye Week.............4
The Rams last season were mum on how they would use Austin, continually telling the public that they had big plans for the dynamic receiver. If Brian Schottenheimer had a plan, it wasn't plainly apparent. Austin was rarely a big part of the gameplan and was even more rarely a big contributor. The talent is obvious for the former West Virginia product, it's just a matter of getting the ball in his hands more consistently. The hope is that Schottenheimer and quarterback Sam Bradford can make that happen more frequently in 2014, which would give Austin plenty of upside heading to drafts.
Auction...............$8
Bye Week.............9
Late in his rookie season, Hunter showed glimpses of what he could be. The University of Tennessee product had a pair of 100-yard games and began to make a case for himself as the Titans' No. 2 receiver. Now that Kenny Britt is gone and Kendall Wright is moving up the ranks, Hunter is gaining in value and could be a late-round gem.
Auction...............$8
Bye Week.............7
At 6'5", Evans makes a nice target in a Buccaneers offense that is trying to build its passing game. The former Texas A&M standout will be matched with veteran Vincent Jackson and fellow rookie Austin Seferian-Jenkins to form a group that would seemingly be as comfortable on the hardwood as on the gridiron. In his initial NFL campaign, signs point toward Evans being a particularly appealing target in the red zone -- good news for fantasy owners willing to take a chance on the first-year player.
Auction...............$7
Bye Week.............5
Hartline has blossomed in the past two seasons, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns. While all eyes were on Mike Wallace last season in Miami, it was Hartline who led the team in catches and yards. Is another 1,000-yard season in the offing for the Ohio State product? It seems unlikely considering the rapport Wallace and quarterback Ryan Tannehill seemed to forge toward the end of 2013. Hartline is mostly a matchup-based option who seems destined to see a statistical dropoff this season.
Auction...............$7
Bye Week.............8
Boldin is the definition of a player that any NFL team would love to have on the field, but one that fantasy owners are understandably cool on. The veteran topped 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 2009, but that was due in large part to circumstances. Michael Crabtree missed much of the season with an Achilles injury while Vernon Davis struggled to stay completely healthy. As such, Boldin was the main target for Colin Kaepernick. Those circumstances aren't likely to be duplicated again in 2014. While Boldin is an excellent possession receiver who can make plays and extend drives, he'll have a hard time being drafted as anything more than a fourth wideout on many fantasy teams.
Auction...............$6
Bye Week.............6
Bowe has been on a steady decline since a breakout season in 2010. The veteran receiver might not have hit rock bottom with his production in 2013, but he was certainly close. Bowe has reportedly made a concerted effort to get into better shape for the upcoming season, but in an offense that still features Jamaal Charles heavily, it's fair to wonder how much of a factor Bowe can be. The upside for the LSU product is that there are no other proven receivers on the roster. Until further notice, Bowe is the top target (not named Charles) in the passing game -- for whatever that's worth on a team that was in the bottom 10 in aerial offense last season.
Auction...............$6
Bye Week.............10
You never want to have one of your worst career seasons when your contract is expiring. That was the case for Nicks, but things have potentially worked out well for the veteran. He makes the move to Indianapolis and joins a quality offense led by Andrew Luck and staffed by Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton. Nicks will have to compete for targets, but he has a nice chance to rebound playing alongside one of the NFL's best young quarterbacks. Look for the North Carolina product to have sleeper appeal in the middle rounds.
Auction...............$5
Bye Week.............4
Doug Baldwin plays the game with a chip on his shoulder. That's good for the Seahawks, but it might not be enough to make the Stanford product a major fantasy commodity. The diminutive wideout is a lesser receiving option on a team that leads with the running game. In the event Percy Harvin can't make it through the season fully healthy, Baldwin could see a jump in his numbers, but it's not enough to make him anything more than a late round flier.
WR RANKINGS 49-64
