This is the third in a series of articles on Dynasty rankings for the 2010 season. 

The players listed are based on a 3 year time frame of value with the 2010 season representing 50% of value, 2011 at 30% and years 2012 and thereafter at 20%.

These rankings are for a 12 team league that has standard scoring and does not award any additional points based on receptions.  However, I must note that since I play exclusively in PPR leagues, possession receivers may be ranked higher than they should be.

Here are my Top 100 Dynasty WRs, ranked where I would select them in a start-up Dynasty league.  Players are arranged in Tiers of roughly equivalent value, with the age they will turn this year in parenthesis.  Rookies are designated by as asterisk following their name.

Tier 1

1 - Andre Johnson (29)

Andre Johnson is the safest pick among the elite WRs.  He is the oldest of the group at 29, but probably has at least 3-5 solid years of production left in him. 

The only negative of his Fantasy value would be that he has never posted double-digit TDs in any year (2007-2009 being 8, 8 and 9 respectively).  However I can live with lower TDs numbers for any receiver that has had two consecutive years of over 100 catches and 1500 yards.

2 - Larry Fitzgerald (27)

If Kurt Warner had not retired, Larry Fitzgerald would be at the top spot of my rankings.  It is true that elite WR talents generally produce well no matter who their QB is.  However the transition to Matt Leinart behind center will probably cause at least a short term dip in Fitzgerald’s Fantasy production.

It should be noted that the Cardinals were # 32 in rushing attempts over the past two seasons.  In the adjustment period for Leinart, one has to assume that there will be a more balanced attack going forward (particularly with Beanie Wells maturing into his role as starter). Consequently, Fitzgerald’s will have less targets, which will have to reduce his Fantasy numbers, but not enough to knock him out of the first tier.

3 - Calvin Johnson (25)

At times last year, Calvin Johnson was about the only thing the Lions had going for them on offense.  That didn’t escape notice of opposing defenses and Johnson was not only constantly double-teamed, he quite often had three players covering him. He had injury issues too, and all of this resulted in a disappointing season of 67 catches for 984 yards and 5 TDs.

That was then and this is now.  Detroit made some great offseason moves to take the pressure off of Johnson.  The underrated Nate Burleson was brought in to start opposite him, and Tony Scheffler, one of the best pass catching TEs in the league was also added.  Jahvid Best, a speedy RB with good hands was drafted and will immediately be part of the offensive mix.

Defenses that pay too much attention to Johnson this season will pay for it as they watch the Lions move the chains downfield with Burleson, Scheffler and Best.

The only caution is that some Fantasy analysts have expressed doubt that Johnson may not be a complete player.  They say that he is not quick laterally, and if true, would not make him a consistent option on short and intermediate routes.  Players like Marshall and Fitzgerald are consistent and reliable everywhere on the field and Johnson may lack that versatility.

Tier 2

4 - Vincent Jackson (27)

Vincent Jackson’s stats keep improving.  Take a look at the last 3 years:

      Year  Rec  Yds  TD

2007     41     623  3

2008     59   1098  7

2009     68   1167  9

The Chargers drafted a RB in Mathews who is not noted for his pass catching ability.  So, I imagine that Jackson will probably see more targets and the statistical progression we have seen will probably continue.  How about 80 catches for 1300 yards and 11 TDs? Seems doable to me.

5 - Brandon Marshall (26)

Miami was the perfect landing spot for Marshall.  This is a ball control/move-the-chains type offense with no serious competition at the WR position.  As an added bonus, he now has a QB that can accurately throw the ball for distances beyond 10 yards.

Marshall had 101 receptions for 1120 yards and 10 TDs with the mediocre Kyle Orton throwing to him.  Imagine what he can do with a potential elite talent like Chad Henne?  I doubt it will be any worse than with Boller.

Shortly before this article went to press, it was announced that Marshall had off-season hip surgery (not on the same hip he had surgery last year).  This was termed a “minor procedure,” and apparently the Dolphins are not concerned by it and expect him to be fine by training camp.

6 - Roddy White (29)

Let’s view Roddy White’s receptions numbers from the last 3 seasons:

       Year  Rec  Yds  TD

       2007   85    1153 11

       2008   88    1382   7

       2009   83    1202   6

He has produced with or without Ryan, with or without Turner, with or without a viable # 2 receiver and with or without a viable TE.  Maybe I am missing something here but I don’t see anything different this season that would cause his production to drop.

The only real knock against him is, that despite being the second most targeted WR of 2009, he only finished # 8 overall - mainly because he only caught a little over half the passes thrown to him (at 51.5%).  But that may be tied to Matt Ryan’s inexperience.  Assuming a continued improvement for Matt Ryan, White could easily catch 60-65% of his targets, which would project to about 95-100 catches and about 1350 yards if one extrapolates from last year’s numbers.

7 - Michael Crabtree (23)

It can’t be said Michael Crabtree was over-hyped in 2009.  A contract holdout carried into the main season and kept him from even working with the team until Week 5.  Despite that, this rookie posted 48 catches for 625 yards and 2 TDs.

One has to wonder what he could have accomplished if he had participated in all the OTAs and training camp.  And with an improved 49ers offense, it appears that the sky is the limit for him.  Crabtree is my top offseason acquisition target among WRs.  I recommend people trade for him now as I think his asking price will be lot higher next year.

8 - Sidney Rice (24)

Sidney Rice appears to be a stud going forward - with or without Brett Favre.  But the reality is that there is going to an adjustment period with Favre’s successor and Rice’s number should take a hit because of it. That uncertainty - of how well he will fare with Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels, or some unknown QB drops him slightly in the rankings.

9 - Greg Jennings (27)

Jennings had what many considered a down year but still had over 1100 receiving yards.  Don’t forget that he is the # 1 WR in a strong offense with a Top 3 QB throwing to him.  We should see a marked improvement over the 4 TDs scored last year.

The only misgivings I have is the tendency of Rodgers to spread the ball around and there are plenty of mouths to feed.  Besides Jennings we have Driver, Jones, Nelson and emerging star Jermichael Finley.  It is Finley that concerns me the most as he seemed to become Rodger’s go-to guy at the end of the season.  If the Rodgers/Finley relationship continues to grow, I seem to think it will be at the expense of Jennings.

10 - DeSean Jackson (24)

Jackson has big play ability, but because of McNabb’s arm, the Eagles played a modified West Coast Offense (WCO) that featured more downfield throws.  Kolb does not have the arm strength of McNabb, which suggests that they will run a more traditional WCO - resulting in an emphasis on a shorter passing game with more slants and crossing routes over the middle.

My main concern with this potential change of offensive philosophy is that Jackson will be used as more of a possession receiver.  Given that his build is more that of a deep threat, one has to wonder if he will be more of an injury risk with the additional pounding he will be taking.

Those reservations aside, Jackson was the most electrifying player in the NFL and had a huge number of big plays, scoring 5 TDs of 50 yards or more.  His overall numbers were impressive with 63 catches for 1167 yards and 9 TDs.

One other note of caution, after a comparison his second year to his rookie numbers, I wonder if 2009 will be a career high water mark for him.  The reason is that something doesn’t sit well with me after viewing those two years:

2008 – 121 targets, 62 catches,   912 yards (14.7 YPC) 2 TDs.

2009 – 118 targets, 63 catches, 1167 yards (18.5 YPC) 9 TDs

So, he was targeted essentially the same number of times, resulting in about the same number of catches, except he had another 250 yards and 7 TDs.  Plus his yards-per-catch average increased by almost 4 yards.

There is a possibility that all the stars aligned perfectly and every break went his way.  If so, then maybe he may split the difference between the two years and in 2010 we will see something more along the lines of 1040 yards and 5 TDs. Probably I reading too much into this, but there does seem a slightly flukish quality about his 2009 year.

11 - Miles Austin (26)

I had Miles Austin ranked in the Top 10 before Dez Bryant was drafted by the Cowboys and he probably still belongs there.  Dez still has to prove himself, and even if he as good as advertised, history has shown that two Top 10 talents can put up good Fantasy numbers on the same team (see Fitzgerald and Boldin).  However Austin’s value takes a hit until we see how this ultimately plays out.

Austin certainly had an impressive season once he finally got a chance to be a starter.  An injury to Roy Williams moved him into the lineup in Week 5.  Austin seized the opportunity and there was no looking back after that.  His finals numbers for the year were 81 catches for 1320 yards and 11 TDs over essentially 12 games. He would have been the # 1 Fantasy WR if you extrapolate those numbers for a 16 game season.

The acquisition of Bryant has devalued Austin’s stock dramatically among his owners.  If you believe in Miles Austin as I do, then he still represents a good acquisition candidate.

12 - Randy Moss (33)

I have undervalued Randy Moss in my rankings over the years, but I think I have him slotted correctly this time.  It is true that this is a future HOF WR who probably still has another 2-3 years of solid production left in him.  However, a few factors knock him down to the bottom of the Top 12.

To begin with, although he behaved himself in his first two seasons with the Patriots, last year we saw that glimpses of the same Randy Moss who played for the Raiders.   He started taking off plays again and at times did not appear to be trying his hardest.

In addition, he has voiced public dissatisfaction with his contract and the conventional wisdom is that he will be playing for another franchise starting in 2011.  He probably has the talent to do well on any team he goes to, but we also thought that when he arrived in Oakland.

Finally, he doesn’t always seem to be the dominating player he once was - he can be taken out of game by opposing defenses, which was never the case in his youth.

Given the questionable return date of Wes Welker and the viability of his replacement in Julian Edelman, Moss will probably produce Top 5 numbers again this year.  But that is not guaranteed and with his muddled status beyond this season, I can’t place him any higher.

13 - Reggie Wayne (32)

Wayne’s total numbers for the 2009 season look impressive at a glance with 100 receptions for 1264 yards and 10 TDs.  However the last six weeks of these don’t seem that special when you take a closer look:

WK Opponent  Rec  Yds  TD

12    @ HOU       3        19     1

13    TEN            4        48     0

14    DEN            4        43     0

15    @ JAC        5      132     1

16    NYJ             3        33     0

17    @ BUF        5        21     0

The total for that six week stretch is 24 catches, 296 yards and 2 TDs.  Throw out Weeks 16-17 since the Colts weren’t really trying and you have 16 catches for 252 yards 2 TDs.  Extrapolate that over an entire season and it is for about 64 catches for 1000 yards and 8 TDs – nice numbers but you would hope for lot better in a WR some analysts still feel is Top 5 material.  

What does this all mean?  Perhaps nothing, but maybe Wayne is starting to show his age. Or possibly, with all the other toys Peyton had to play with (Clark, Garcon and Collie) Manning didn’t need to rely on Wayne like he had to in years past.

I could be reading too much into a small date sample. But, if it is true that Colts coach Jim Caldwell is thinking of playing four WR sets this fall (per a tweet of Adam Schefter after the owner’s meeting in March) then this dip in Wayne’s number at the end of the season may be a preview of things to come.

Tier 3

These are players I would be fairly comfortable with as my # 2 WR.

14 - Anquan Boldin (30)

If Boldin’s Fantasy owners had picked a team for him to be traded to, they couldn’t have done any better than where he landed in Baltimore.  Talk about an ideal situation – a team with a developing QB in Flacco and with no real competition to speak of.  If he can stay healthy, I can foresee 2-3 years of Top 15-20 production.

15 - Marques Colston (27)

From a talent standpoint, Colston is one of the best WRs in the NFL, but has a lot of competition for the ball in New Orleans.  Consequently, there are weeks that he seems to disappear in games.  However, despite vying for targets with Meachem, Henderson, Moore and Shockey, Colston posted a respectable 70 catches for 1074 yards and 9 TDs.  I would expect similar numbers this year.

16 - Steve Smith (31) Panthers

Steve Smith can still be one of the most dynamic players on the field once he gets the ball and now has a QB in Matt Moore that should find him more often than opposition (which could not always be said of Jake Delhomme).

The problem is that Moore’s tenure as the Panthers starter does not appear to have a long duration.  At some point he will probably make way for Jimmy Clausen.  I am not expecting the transition at the QB position to occur until 2011.  But if Moore struggles, then HC John Fox may be forced to make the change this season to try to save his own job.  If so then Smith’s numbers could again suffer during an adjustment period with Clausen.

17 - Dez Bryant* (22) Cowboys

The raves I have been hearing about Dez Bryant compare to what were said about Calvin Johnson and Michael Crabtree when they were rookies  (who both seem to have lived up to expectations). Of course, Roy Williams and Charles Rogers were also once highly thought of too, so talent and potential don’t always translate into consistent performance on field.

That said, Bryant seems to be the complete package with all the makings of a future elite WR.  And landing on a playoff caliber team with a QB like Tony Romo would seem to be made to order for his talents.

I can’t entirely get on the bandwagon and rank him any higher because 1) he is yet to play one down in the NFL, and 2) I think the concerns voiced about his character may be legitimate.

Actually it seems more personality issues with Bryant, rather than character, per se.  I could care less that he lied about lunch with Deion Sanders (which led to his NCAA suspension).  What disturbs me was his Pro Day, where scouts reported he looked ill-prepared to perform and seemed unmotivated.  Plus he forgot his cleats (a minor point, but a detail that never should have been overlooked on what was the most important day of his football career).

Well, people who study the college game extensively say he is going to be star in the league.  They are probably right, but for the reasons I mentioned I am curbing my enthusiasm for Bryant until I can see what he can do in the pros.

18 - Hakim Nicks (22)

It still has to be sorted out who will ultimately be the biggest Fantasy value among the WRs for the Giants – is it Nicks or Steve Smith?  I like Smith better in PPR leagues but in non-PPR the nod goes to Nicks.

The initial signs are that the G-Men have found an able successor to Plaxico Burress in Hakim Nicks.  He wasn’t able to wrestle a starting spot from Mario Manningham until late in the season but still had impressive first year numbers of 47 receptions for 790 yards and 6 TDs.  He should take another step forward in his development this season.

Tier 4

Probably solid as the # 2 WR, but I have a few misgivings either about these players or their situation.

19 - Dwayne Bowe (26)

Serious doubts have arisen whether Bowe is as good as we once thought.  He dogged it in training camp last year and was demoted to third string.  He then worked his way back to being a starter, but was suspended for four games for using a banned substance.  Add to that, Chris Chambers (claimed off of waivers from the Chargers) had better numbers after Bowe’s return from suspension.

To cause further concern, the suspension for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy was though to be steroids - although the actual suspension was for use of a diuretic (a diuretic can be used a masking agent for steroids on drug tests).  If indeed there was steroid use, then the question is whether his future production will decline if he is no longer using steroids.

My reservations about Bowe may be unfounded and if so, one can have a Top 10 WR pretty cheaply.  But I would just as soon haves someone else take the risks with this player.

20 - Jeremy Maclin (22)

We don’t know how the change at the QB position will impact Maclin until a few games into the season.  We will have to see not only how well Kolb performs, but also whether he and Maclin can develop a rapport.  

With all the excitement over DeSean Jackson’s theatrics, a lot of people have overlooked what a fine season Jeremy Maclin had.  He was relatively quiet until Week 5 of the season, and in those final 13 games he accounted for 49 catches, 146 yards and 4 TDs.  He stepped up further in the playoffs, with 7 catches for 146 yards and a TD against the Cowboys. 

If you extrapolate his numbers from Week 5 on, it comes out to about 60 catches for 1000 yards and 5 TDs (which would be great numbers for a rookie season).  There are a lot of unknowns with Maclin situation, but I honestly wouldn’t be shocked to see him outperform Jackson this year.

21 - Steve Smith (25) Giants

Steve Smith got off to a blazing start in the 2009 year, but the late season emergence of both Hakim Nicks and Mario Manningham ate into some of his production.  Still, his numbers for the season were quite nice with 107 catches for 1857 yards and 7 TDs.  He is Eli Manning’s favorite target and is only 25 years old.  I would move him up about 3-4 notches is PPR leagues.

22 - Kenny Britt (22)

Kenny Britt showed that when he is on the field, he can just flat out play. In limited action as a rookie he compiled 42 catches for 701 yards and 3 TDs. 

However the 2010 season started on a bad note as Britt showed up in training camp out-of-shape.  He also reportedly seemed distracted and lacking in concentration.  As a result, he was held out of the early practices.  He has subsequently viewed that experience as “a wake up call,” and should be on the field with the other veterans when the OTAs resume later this month.

While I do like Britt, his upside will always be limited as long Vince Young is his QB.  Young has never thrown for more than 2500 yards and his WRs over the years have had little Fantasy value.  Under the right situation Britt could easily finish in the Top 15, but I don’t see it happening until Young starts becoming more a traditional pocket-passing QB.

23 - Mike Sims-Walker (26)

I mentioned going into last year that Mike Sims-Walker had been a sleeper longer than Rip Van Winkle.  But he finally awakened and showed us he could do if he stayed healthy.  He played essentially 14 games and if you prorate his numbers of 63/869/7 you get about 70 catches for 1000 yards and about 8 TDs. That is the good news.

The bad news is that his production tailed off the last 5 weeks of the season and there has been no clear cut explanation for that.  Perhaps it was some nagging injuries that he couldn’t shake off.  Others argue that Garrard had accuracy problems that the QBs misfires were on the medium/out routes that MSW had feasted on earlier in the year.

Unfortunately the Jags did not address the QB position in the draft.  To complicate matters there are some young WRs that could significantly reduce his targets, among them Mike Thomas, Jarrett Dillard and Zach Miller.  All these factors will make it tough for MSW to break into the upper echelon of receivers.

24 - Chad Ochocinco (32)

Admittedly I have him too low, since he probably has another 2-3 good years left in him.  However, while he retains upside to finish in the Top 15 this year, my enthusiasm is dampened by continued doubts about Carson Palmer (see the QB rankings article).  There are also concerns that the run-oriented offense that Cincinnati morphed into last season will continue.

Tier 5

This group should be good as flex-starters.

25 - Mike Wallace (24)

I was looking forward to listing Mike Wallace in a Fantasy Sleepers article this summer, but the trade of Santonio Holmes to the Jets has bumped Wallace to a starting spot opposite Hinds Ward.  Now he is on everyone’s radar.

What jumped out at me was about Wallace was a factoid I ran across in his 2009 stat numbers.  Among WRs, Mike Wallace the highest yards-per catch average in the league with 19.8. This was better than both DeSean Jackson and Vincent Jackson (who finished second and fourth).  Now Wallace had only 39 catches, but statistically he outperformed some higher profile big play specialists.

Wallace is not lacking in speed and seems to catch everything thrown to him.  With Holmes gone and Ward getting up their in years, Wallace could produce the numbers of a # 1 Fantasy WR within the next two seasons.

26 - Pierre Garcon (24)

Pierre Garcon took over the Colts # 2 WR position as a result of an injury to Anthony Gonzalez and never looked back.  Garcon shined in the playoffs, leading the team with 21 receptions and 215 yards.  It is doubtful Gonzalez will unseat him when he returns this season (although he still has his believers).

Meanwhile, Reggie Wayne is 32 and may have peaked.  If that is the case, then expect Garcon to gradually increase his role as Wayne is gradually phased out over the next 2-3 years (using Marvin Harrison’s history with the club as a guide).

27 - Percy Harvin (22)

Among the rookies of 2009, Percy Harvin led the league in gimmicky plays and migraine headaches.  It is true that a player who is multi-faced like Harvin can be used in a variety of ways, giving him potential # 1 WR upside.  The only problem is that players who are novelty acts tend to put up streaky numbers and consistent production is a big selling point in Fantasy leagues.

Also one never knows with Harvin when the next dreaded migraine will strike (perhaps leaving his owners scrambling to figure out a suitable replacement one hour prior to kickoff).  Another question is how well will Harvin (and the rest of the team) fare in the eventual post-Favre Vikings world? All things considered, I am only comfortable with him as a flex starter at this time.

28 - Robert Meachem (26)

Robert Meachem may be the best WR the Saints have.  But he could also be Fantasy fools gold.  Yes, he had 722 yards and 9 TDs, but he only had 45 catches.  That means that he averaged a TD once out of every five times he caught the ball.

The problem with TD heavy production on a limited number of passes is that it doesn’t always hold up the following year (do the names Reggie Williams or Marc Boerighter ring a bell?).

Also Meachem (a first round pick of 2007) didn’t do much of anything until his third year in the league.  Not the best sign, but he lost his first season due to injury and perhaps he was slower in picking up the playbook than others (like Colston and Moore). 

It should also be noted that he is also extremely sure-handed and didn’t drop one pass that was thrown to him last year.  All things considered, I like him at this level, but there is some risk involved.

29 - Hines Ward (34)

Hines was undervalued in league drafts last year, but finished # 16 among WRs in standard scoring leagues last year, and as # 12 in PPR leagues.  Age is starting to catch up with him.  However, with Holmes gone and Wallace transitioning as his replacement (along with a QB substitute for Big Ben the first four weeks of the season) Ward should improve on last year’s numbers of 95 receptions for 1167 yards and 6 TDs.

30 - Jerricho Cotchery (28)

Cotchery is not a sexy pick (as they say) and there seems to be a lack of enthusiasm for him, but I think he represents good value not only in Dynasty leagues but also in redrafts.

The addition of Santonio Holmes further muddles the Jets WR situation.  This looks to be some sort three-headed-monster with Cotchery, Holmes and Braylon Edwards all vying for targets - canceling out the Fantasy value for all three.

You can build a case though that Cotchery is the Jets WR to own.  He seems to have a good rapport with Mark Sanchez and was his favorite target, looking at him on 25% of his pass attempts.  Sanchez only averaged 24.4 attempts per game, which was near of the bottom of the league.  With his pass attempts logically increasing this year, so should Cotchery’s numbers (which last year were 57 catches for 821 yards and 3 TDs).  I could see Cotchery having something like 70 catches for 1000 yards and 5-6 TDs.

But what about Holmes and Edwards? Both are more deep threats, so probably they are competing with each other for a starting spot, rather than with Cotchery. Holmes will also be on suspension for the first four weeks and during that period Cotchery can reestablish his position as the go-to guy again for Sanchez (which may continue once Holmes returns).

In any event this WR trio will probably not continue on the Jets past the 2010 year.  I look for either Holmes or Edwards to be gone, leaving Cotchery to be the move-the-chains WR on the offense.

Tier 6

Mostly veterans whose current situation makes me uneasy, along with a few rookies.

31 - Santonio Holmes (26)

Statistically, 2009 was the first year that Santonio Holmes passed Hines Ward in most categories and in my preliminary rankings done after the Super Bowl I had him listed in the Top 15. 

But that was before his latest brush with the law that resulted in the Steelers trading him to the Jets for a used blocking sled (I’m joking, it was a fifth round draft pick) which was followed by a league suspension for the first four weeks of the 2010 season.

Holmes in only 26 and still has Top 15 upside - but not this year and maybe not the next either. His value is pretty speculative.  All we can really say for sure is that his contract is essentially for a 12 game tryout with the Jets and what happens after that is anyone’s guess.

32 - Golden Tate* (22) Seahawks

Golden Tate seemed to fall in value after the draft, but I am not sure why.

He was considered in the Top 5 among WRs and looked to be the most NFL ready of the bunch, due to the pro style offense he played in at Notre Dame under Charlie Weiss. He also landed on a team that he could be a starter for by midseason (with only T. J. Houshmanzadeh and Deion Branch to compete with).

Yet, Tate has been falling near the end of the first round of rookie drafts, generally 1.08 to 1.11 (which doesn’t make much sense to me).

I will have to admit that no one is expecting new HC Pete Carroll to make the playoffs this season. And in recent years, Seahawk players have not done much Fantasy wise.

But after re-watching his YouTube highlight clips, I still think guy has oodles of potential.  He plays bigger than his size (5-11, 199) and runs like a RB (which he was before he converted to WR).  Perhaps his critics are right, that he is not a true # 1 WR and might end up being pigeon-holed as a possession receiver.  But even if that is the worst case scenario, he could still make a good living for his Fantasy owners.

33 - Austin Collie (25)

The bad news is that Austin Collie will probably never be anything more than a slot receiver.  The good news is that Peyton Manning may be throwing him the ball for   another five years and, if so, he can make a pretty good Fantasy living off of that.

Collie has been downgraded on some rankings I have seen due to the return of Anthony Gonzalez (who sat out last year due to injury). But if anyone will be the odd man out (of Garcon/Collie/Gonzalez) I think it will be Gonzalez.  Collie is sure handed and is just as good of a route runner, plus Manning now trusts him.

Look for Collie to improve upon his 2009 numbers of 60 catches for 676 yards and 7 TDs.  I can also see him with an increased role at some future time when age eventually catches up with Dallas Clark (who turns 31 this year).

34 - Lee Evans (29)

I am sorry but I have pretty much given up on expecting a breakout year for Lee Evans.  He seems outstanding in all phases of the game, but never seems to come up with the corresponding Fantasy numbers to prove it.

However, with Terrell Owens gone, by default Evans is about the only string on the Bills’ guitar.  Who else is there to throw to?  Lacking a solid # 2 WR, Evans merits Fantasy attention once again by being the receiving threat in Buffalo.

35 - Santana Moss (31)

I had Moss at #25 before the HBH news broke. That ranking was based on the fact that McNabb has always thrown the long ball well and that Moss would logically seem the one to benefit most from the Redskins recent trade with the Eagles.

But that all changed when The Washington Post reported on 05-20-10 that sources have told them that Santana Moss had received the human growth hormone HGH from Dr. Anthony Galea. 

HGH is on the banned substances list and if commissioner Roger Goodell determines that Moss violated the league’s drug policy, then Moss would be suspended.  People are guessing that if a suspension comes down, it would be for four games (using Rodney Harrison’s 2007 suspension for using HGH as a guide).

This entire matter is completely up in the air as this article goes to press.  Since I don’t know how it will play, I will go with the worst case scenario.  The current ranking of Moss assumes a four game suspension.  Please upgrade Moss accordingly if he is definitely cleared in the coming weeks.

36 - Devon Aromashodu (26)

For a few weeks, everyone seemed to be touting Aromashodu as their favorite sleeper candidate for 2010. The rumor mill reported that he emerged in the Bear’s recent min-camp as the # 1 WR in Mike Martz new offense. However, the most recent official word is that he is still third on the depth chart behind Hester and Knox

For those not familiar with the guy nicknamed, The Monster Mash, Aromashodu is a journeyman who has kicked around the league, spending 2008 on a practice squad after catching a handful of passes from Peyton Manning in 2007.

He caught fire in the last 4 games of the 2009 season, amassing 22 catches for 282 yards and 4 TDs.  I happened to catch the Week 15 game against the Vikings and he didn’t just look like some schmuck who got in the lineup thru an injury, he looked like he belonged.  He seemed to have a dominating presence at times against the defense, particularly in the red zone.

I think it is anyone’s guess as to who will be the best Fantasy choice among this trio, but I will give a slight edge to Aromashodu, as he is the most physically imposing of the three at 6-2, 203 lbs.

37 - Johnny Knox (24)

As I write this, Mike Martz currently has Johnny Knox working as a starter, as the X receiver the Bear’s offense.  This may be subject to change once the team gets into training camp.  But with my enthusiasm for Knox, I believe it is likely he will succeed in that role.

Knox was a fifth round, off-the-radar prospect from Abilene Christian.  He is slightly built at 6-0, 180 lbs, but has blazing speed, and caught 45 passes for 527 yards and 5 TDs as a rookie.

I ran across an interesting offseason quote by former Packers All-Pro WR James Lofton who said that he was impressed but not surprised with how well Knox had done in his first season.

“I like Johnny Knox,” Lofton told WSCR-AM 670 in Chicago on 01-22-10, “I worked him out in the offseason and I was really high on him.  I was a little worried that he’s not real big, but there are some guys who are not real big that can play in the NFL, and he’s one of them.

Knox looks to be a good receiver in the Marvin Harrison mold, but so far he hasn’t shown either Harrison’s toughness or receiver smarts.  That may come in time, and it is too early to tell if could be the next Harrison, or only has the upside of a slot receiver.

38 - Demaryius Thomas* (23) Broncos

Demaryius Thomas is another player people are going gaga over in rookie drafts.  There have been repeated comparisons to Brandon Marshall and I will have to admit that in his YouTube clips he appeared to have been dominating the defenders he was facing.

The problem is though, that Thomas only did one thing in college and that was to go deep.  Add to that, the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech ran the ball 82% of the time.  When any team runs the ball that often, the few times they do pass in a game the defenders will be probably be caught unaware, making whoever is catching the deep throws (in this case Thomas) look a lot better than he may really be.

Thomas is considered a 2-3 year project to assimilate to the pro game.  Josh McDaniels will try to get him involved in some plays this year, but realistically his Fantasy owners will probably not know what they really have in this player until about 2011-2012.

39 - Dexter McCluster* (22) Chiefs

If you like to gamble, Dexter McCluster is the rookie to roll the dice on in 2010 drafts.  McCluster can be viewed as a smaller version of Percy Harvin.  This is a versatile player who played most of his college career at Ole Miss as a WR but was switched to RB his senior season when his coaches realized he was the best runner the team had.

Chiefs HC Todd Haley jokingly told the Kansas City Star on 05-03-10 that he hopes the 5-8, 170 lbs McCluster “grows” some but is not concerned that he lacks the size to make it in the NFL.

Haley compared McCluster to former New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet (5-10 188 lbs) and St. Louis kick returner Dante Hall (5-8, 187) who overcame their diminutive statures with remarkable strength.  “Those are the things that you hear about him: He (was) pound-for-pound the strongest guy at Mississippi.” 

The Chiefs drafted him as a WR but plan to use him in a number of different packages that he will be utilized as a RB.  He is a gifted receiver and I am hoping he becomes the Chief’s version of Wes Welker.  His size is the major drawback and the risk one takes in drafting him is that simply won’t be big enough to compete at the NFL level.  He has such a high upside that I am willing to take that risk.

Tier 7

These players have the potential to be good flex starters in 2010 or beyond.

40 - Eddie Royal (24)

Eddie Royal had to be the biggest disappointment among WRs taken in last year’s draft.  He had a fabulous rookie season in 2008 with 91 catches for 980 yards and 5 TDs.  Yet he flopped big time in 2009 with only 37 catches, 345 yards and no TDs.

What happened?

Well, theories abound but the one that makes the most sense is that he had trouble learning Josh McDaniels’ offensive system.  Under Shanahan, Royal was asked to run precise routes.  Under McDaniels, he was required to make “hot reads” - that is to say that he had to react to how the defense was responding to the developing play and adjust his route accordingly.

Now perhaps Royal is not a quick study and things will start to come together in his second year for his new coach.  The alternative is that he may lack the improvisational skills required and is just a poor fit for McDaniels’ offense. If that is the case, then he never will be of much Fantasy value so long as he and McDaniels both remain in Denver.  Stay tuned to his progress this year as this should be an interesting storyline to follow.

41 - Nate Burleson (29)

Being signed by the Lions was probably the best thing that Burleson’s Fantasy owners could have asked for.

He is being reunited with Scott Linehan, who was his OC in 2003/2004. He will be lining up opposite Calvin Johnson, who will be double covered as the deep threat, allowing Nate work the underneath patterns (along with Tony Scheffler).  And the Lions aren’t afraid to throw and throw often, as evidenced by Stafford leading the league in pass attempts last season with 583 throws over 16 games.

Burleson has been oft injured, but has been solid when he has been healthy.  In 2004 he caught 68 passes for 1006 yards and 9 TDs.  Before he was hurt last year he had had 63 passes for 812 yards and 3TDs and was WR #25 through 13 games and was averaging 12.9 yards per catch.

42 - Antonio Bryant (29)

Bryant is one of those players I really don’t know where to rank.  He is capable of #1 WR production, but has had attitude and injury issues in the past.  Add to that are doubts about Carson Palmer (see QB rankings article) and being on a team that has morphed into a run-first offense.  There is also competition from Ochocinco, Matt Jones and Andre Caldwell.  He could either be a solid # 2 WR or of little value, and the extremes make him a bit too risky for my tastes.

43 - Braylon Edwards (27)        

It is hard to muster much enthusiasm for Edwards when he is mired in a WR trio for the Jets that includes Holmes and Cotchery.  His true value is speculative and we won’t know what that will be until either he or Holmes moves on to another team.  A return to the Top 25 beyond 2010 is foreseeable, but it will all turn on his team situation at that time.

44 - Mike Williams* (23) Buccaneers

Along with McCluster, Mike Williams is in the boom-or-bust category among WRs of this draft class.  I actually like him better than Aurelius Benn, who was taken by Tampa Bay before him in draft.  However Williams is not for the feint of heart, as it seems just as likely that could be either a Top 10 WR or out of the league entirely within 3 years.

Williams can best be described as a first round talent with a seventh round character.  He slid to the fourth round of the draft due to legitimate concerns about his character.  In particular, not only were there repeated disciplinary and academic violations, but he actually quit the Syracuse team and did not finish out his college career.

If he can somehow get his act together this guy can be a future star in the league.  He is on a short leash with the Buccaneers but they have the utmost faith in him. 

Tampa Bay GM Mark Dominik told Peter King of Sport Illustrated that despite the character concerns about Williams, “He’s a starting receiver.  I think he is going to start for us at some point this year.  He’s excited to play football and we all know it’s a risk…We’ve done our research and we feel comfortable with the risk.” http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writ...lbag/index.html

45 - Devin Hester (28)

I have never been too impressed with Hester, but apparently Mike Martz sees him as a legitimate WR, rather than a converted kick returner.  Brad Biggs of Chicago Breaking Sports reported on 05-22-10 that “As things are designed right now, Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are the starting WRs in the base offense.”

After all is said and done, I still think Aromashodu and Knox are the better Fantasy plays and that Hester will be the third most productive of this bunch.  But, I can’t keep Hester too far down from those two in my rankings when Martz makes comments about Hester like this: “He may miss a snap or two (due to special teams) and then go right back in.  I think that he’s an elite wide receiver – there’s no question about that.” 

46 - Devin Thomas (24)

Who shall emerge as the # 2 WR for the Redskins?  Devin Thomas is the early betting favorite and was starting last year over classmate Malcolm Kelly.  If Santana Moss is suspended we will probably see Thomas as the # 1 for the first four weeks of the season.

However, I can’t get on the Thomas bandwagon yet.  Of the few Redskins games I did see, I was not overly impressed with either his route running or his pass catching ability.  He looked pretty rough around the edges.  But he has a good QB now in McNabb and if Moss is out we will have a much better idea during the suspension period of how good player Thomas really is.

Tier 8

Now things start to get really dicey.

47 - Julian Edelman (24)

When Wes Welker was hurt in the season finale, Edelman stepped in and gave a great Welker imitation with 10 catches for 103 yards.  The timetable for Welker’s return is uncertain and until then Edelman will take over the slot position for the Patriots.  There is also the possibility that Welker may never fully recover to be the player he once was.

In any event, Edelman looks to be a solid flex starter in PPR leagues this season until Welker returns to the field.  After that he resumes his role as understudy.  However at the age of 24, he certainly looks to be Welker’s eventual successor and if Brady plays another 5-6 years, then we might well see Edelman crack the Top 10 among receivers in PPR leagues.

48 - Mike Thomas (23)

Mike Thomas is among my top sleeper picks.  It is true that he only had 48 catches for 453 yards in his rookie season, but he led the league in efficiency (among those averaging at least 2 targets per week) catching a whopping 77.4% of what was thrown to him.  Perhaps it is redundant to say he is sure handed, as his ratio of dropped balls to receptions was fifth lowest among WRs at 2.04% (only one dropped pass all season).

With Torry Holt gone, he still has to beat out Jarrett Dillard for the # 2 spot, but the worst case scenario he becomes the slot receiver and might end up a solid flex play in PPR leagues.  An upgrade at the QB position is needed for Thomas to maximize his Fantasy upside, but until then I love the value for this player who can be had very cheaply.

49 – Early Doucet (25)

Those who were paying attention to the Cardinals late in the season may have noticed that Doucet was looking really good and was outplaying Steve Breaston. He was particularly impressive in the playoffs where he caught 14 passes for 145 yards in two games

Breaston is the early favorite to replace Anquan Boldin - but my money in on Doucet.  There is concern over Matt Leinart as the new Arizona QB, but I think that should work to Doucet’s advantage, as Doucet (being a second string player) has a lot more experience in working with Leinart than Breaston has.

50 - Arrelious Benn* (22) Buccaneers

Benn was drafted in the second round by Tampa Bay and is already slated to be an opening day starter.  Most Fantasy analysts like him better than Mike Williams, but I honesty don’t think he is as good of a prospect.  However, he will be one of the few rookies you could actually plug into your starting line up in Week 1 and get a few points.

51 - Steve Breaston (27)

Steve Breaston is penciled in as the starter opposite Larry Fitzgerald now that Anquan Boldin has gone on to greener pastures.  However as I noted above, I expect him to be surpassed on the depth chart by Doucet and will go back to being the slot receiver for the cards.  By the way, Steve Breaston is no slouch and did post a 1000 yard receiving season in 2008.

52 - Wes Welker (29)

It generally takes two years to completely recover from an ACL injury. There is talk about his rehab going well, but we might not see Welker return at all in 2010.  Additionally, there is no guarantee that he will ever be the same player again – he might not be able to make those quick cuts that characterized his receiving game.

53 - Donald Driver (35)

Donald Driver looked as if he hadn’t lost a step at the start of the year, but wore down badly near the end of the season.  He will probably remain the starter, but I didn’t like what I saw down the stretch and I am guessing he will be displaced or phased out by James Jones or Jordy Nelson sometime in 2010.  The sands in the hour glass seem to be running out.

54 - Mohammad Massaquoi (24)

Massaquoi dropped a lot of balls, but did have a few impressive weeks as a rookie despite some substandard QB play:

Rec Yds TD

   8   148  0

   5     83  0

   5   115  1

   3     61  1

Probably not best to get too excited about the above numbers, as I recall that Mark Bradley had similar stats on the Bears and with the Chiefs, but was cut by both clubs for a lack of consistency.

55 - Emmanuel Sanders* (22?) Steelers

This graduate from SMU looks to be stepping into the # 3 WR spot and if he lives up to his potential could eventually replace Hines Ward (who can’t last forever).  The major note of concern seems to be his 5-11, 186 lbs frame, that some scouts thought is too slight to succeed at the pro level.

Tier 9

56 - Brian Hartline (24)

Hartline would have been the # 1 WR for the Dolphins if not for the Marshall trade.  Nice value here even though Miami will probably be more run oriented this year.

57 - Chaz Schilens (25)

I have been hyping Chaz Schilens since the end of his rookie 2008 season.  A slow recovery from an ankle injury and spotty QB play derailed the 2009 year.  He had offseason surgery on the same foot again and is out until training camp.  If he can ever get back on the field I think he emerges as a solid flex starter with the upside of a # 2 WR.

58 - Malcolm Floyd (29)

The Chargers thought enough of Floyd to put the maximum tender offer on him as a restricted free agent (for a first and a third round pick) but found no takes.  Floyd should see more targets this year, but remains the # 3 receiving option behind Vincent and Gates.  He will probably not significantly improve upon last year’s 45 catches for 776 yards and 1 TD.

59 - Laurent Robinson (25)

After being acquired in trade from the Falcons, Robinson looked to be the best thing the Rams had going for them at WR, but his season ended in Week 3 with a leg injury.  With questions about his timetable for recovery and a rookie QB in the mix, his value is extremely speculative, although his upside could well be in the #30-40 WR range.

60 - Louis Murphy (23)

Murphy looked to be a better deep that than Heyward-Bey (drafted three rounds ahead of him) and could well establish himself this season as the deep threat for the Raiders.  If Chaz Schilens is slow making it back from his foot injury, look for Murphy to be featured more early in the season.

61- Brandon LeFell* (24) Panthers

Despite small hands, LeFell appears to be a good possession receiver.  Those on the Carolina message boards think that the team has found the successor to Mushin Mohammad in LeFell.

62 -Donnie Avery (26)

By default the # 1 WR for the Rams, but in two years his Fantasy owners still don’t know what they have with this player.  If he doesn’t take a dramatic step forward in his development this year, then he probably never will.

63 – Malcolm Kelly (24)

I saw something interesting in Rotoworld in the offseason, where Kelly reported that Mike Shanahan told him “We’re going to find ways to get you the ball.”  Now perhaps Shanahan tells every third string WR that, but it could also mean that Kelly has a legitimate shot at getting a starter’s spot.

Devin Thomas is the favorite to become the # 2 WR in Washington. While lacking in speed and with durability issues concerning his knees, Kelly does have better hands than Thomas.  Also if Moss does serve a four game suspension, Kelly could well be bumped up as a temporary starter along with Thomas.

64- Jacoby Jones (26)

Jones looked to be emerging as the # 2 WR for the Texans, but the resigning of Kevin Walter delays that possibility until 2011 at the earliest.  Jones has the size (6-3 193) and athleticism to be a great receiver in the NFL, but when he will deliver on this potential remains to be seen.

65 - Harry Douglas (25)

We are still waiting for someone to step up besides Roddy White among the WRs in Atlanta to become a solid receiving option and that might be Harry Douglas. Douglas looked solid in the offseason, but the 2009 year was derailed by an ACL injury. 

An interesting comment was made by Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, who in February interview said he envisions Douglas playing a Wes Welker type role in future seasons.  That makes sense, as at 5-11 and 176 lbs, Douglas probably doesn’t have to build to be much more than a slot receiver.

66 - Chris Chambers (32)

Cut by the Chargers during the 2009 season, but joined the Chiefs and finished with a flourish, posting 36 passes for 608 yards in nine games.  There may be real value here as Chambers seemed to outplay Dwayne Bowe at times and appears to have earned the trust of Matt Cassel.  There is little behind him do as Jerheme Urban, Lance Long or Dexter McCluster hardly represent threats to take the # 2 WR spot from him.

67- Eric Decker* (23) Broncos

It would not surprise me to see Decker emerge as a starter in Denver sooner than the highly regarded Demaryius Thomas.  Many in the scouting community considered Decker to be the best possession receiver in his class.  Perhaps a Wes Welker type roll in McDaniels’ offense lies in his future.

68 - Mardy Gilyard* (24) Rams

Gilyard is cat quick and was a clutch player in college, but is a smallish at 5-10 and 195 lbs and may not be big enough to succeed at the next level.  But, he is starting out with Sam Bradford and these rookies may become simpatico.  Gilyard has about as good a shot any in the crowd of St. Louis WRs to eventually become Bradford’s favorite target.

69 - Brandon Tate (23)

Brandon Tate was a third round 2009 pick by the Patriots who is in the mix to secure the # 2 spot and/or eventually step in for Randy Moss in 2011.  He has some serious competition in Taylor Price, but is still highly regarded by some Fantasy owners.

Tier 10

Depends on what you are looking for as we are talking apples and oranges (and maybe pears). The veterans represent mostly depth, but a few could still make a big splash this year.  The rookies are generally long term projects limited by their current situation.

70 - Josh Cribbs (27)

An interesting player that the Browns can use in a variety of ways.  Whether that will ever translate into any Fantasy value outside of leagues that award return yardage remains to be seen.  Although the competition is so meager in Cleveland that Cribbs could make some noise this year.

71 - Andre Roberts* (22) Cardinals

This 5-11, 195 lbs speedster out of The Citadel has been called this year’s Johnny Knox.  I dunno about that, but he ran a 4.46 at the combine while looking quick and fluid.  He reportedly has sticky hands and has been called the best route runner of his class.  He is behind Fitzgerald, Breaston and Doucet on the depth chart, so it will be a few years before we know if he can live up to the raves of some draft scouts.

72 - Taylor Price* (23) Patriots

Taylor Price is a bit of a project, but he impressed coaches at the Pats’ recent mini-camp with his initial ability to grasp the playbook.  He appears to have the intellect and ability to handle the schemes and formations he will be facing at the NFL level. 

He is speedy with a 4.41 40 time and reports from the combine were that he looked like a “fast talented NFL receiver”.  Needs to develop his route running, but oodles of potential for this youngster (enough for me to take him at 3.02 in a rookie draft).

73 - Roy Williams (29)

The drafting of Dez Bryant confirms Williams’ days with the Cowboys are numbered.  He may turn it around with another team, but I wouldn’t waste any roster space waiting for that to happen.

Yeah, I probably have him too low, but this is just not a player I have any confidence in any longer.  As with many gifted athletes, he can make circus catches but then drop the easy ones.  If his production ever matched his excuses and complaints he would make it back into the Top 10.  

74 - T. J. Houshmanzadeh (33)

The critics were right – he isn’t a # 1 WR.  Playing second fiddle to Ochocinco disguised the fact that T. J. can’t cut it if he is the main focus of attention for the opposing defense.  

Perhaps age is catching up with him, as his average yards per game dropped for the third consecutive year (from 77.2 yards in 2006 to 56.9 yards last year).  He is currently listed as the # 1 WR on the Seahawks depth chart, but I couldn’t even get a third round pick for him in a recent rookie draft.

75 - Jabar Gaffney (30)

Gaffney did a great Brandon Marshall impersonation in the Broncos final game of the season with 14 catches for 213 yards.  By default he still is the # 1 WR for Denver but may be edged out by the rookies Thomas and Decker at some point in time.  He does have the upside potential to be decent flex starter for this season.  A great player to pick up for depth, particularly in PPR leagues.

76 - Derrick Mason (36)

Mason turns 36 this year, but how many receivers have remained productive at that age?  With Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth now with the Ravens, Mason should become the slot receiver.  I see his value similar to that of Muhsin Muhammad last year, probably about 50 catches for 500 yards and 3-4 TDs.

77 - Jarrett Dillard (25)

Someone is going to emerge as the # 2 WR in Jacksonville.  Mike Thomas is the clear favorite, but there are those who think that Jarrett Dillard is a more promising prospect.  Troy Williamson is also in the mix, but I don’t view him as serious competition.

78 - Damian Williams* 22 (Titans)

In recent years U.S.C. has produced its share of stars (Steve Smith) and duds (Mike William and Dwayne Jarrett).  Williams is closer to Smith than Jarrett.  There is not much serious competition to beat out to become the Titans starter opposite Kenny Britt. As with Britt, Vince Young is the main limitation on Williams upside.

79 - Deon Butler (24)

With Nate Burleson gone to Detroit and Deion Branch still struggling with injuries, I thought Deon Butler was going to crack the Seahawks starting lineup this season.  He still might, although the arrival of Golden Tate looks to be a potential roadblock to his progress.

80 - James Jones (26)

Along with Jordy Nelson, James Jones is a leading candidate to eventually replace Donald Driver.  Although in order to secure that spot Jones will have to show better hands, as he was the second worst receiver in the league in 2009 as far as dropped balls are concerned (32 catches, 9 drops, a 21.95% ratio).  Hard to get excited about a player who is not sure handed and has a lot of competition for targets.

81 - Mario Manningham (24)

Manningham emerged for a short time as the # 2 WR for the Giants, but was eclipsed by the rising star of Hakim Nicks.  Long term he looks to be the # 3 for the G-Men and will only see the starting lineup as a result of injury (or an unexpected regression by Nicks).

82 - Jordy Nelson (25)

In the mix for the Packers with James Jones to eventually replace Donald Driver.  Not as speedy as Jones but has proven to be more sure handed.

83 - Darrius Heyward-Bey (23)

DHB is a speedster taken by the Raiders as the seventh pick overall of the 2009 draft.  He looks to me to be a modern version of James Jett - another former track start who will max out as the # 3 WR for this team. 

The games I saw of him last year he seemed to have hands of stone.  Although at mini-camp on 05-26-10, NFL Writer Jerry McDonald reported that “Heyward-Bey was the best receiver on the field, and caught everything thrown his way.” Perhaps he may develop into something worthwhile after all – although I am not real optimistic.

84 - Steve Johnson (24)

The # 2 WR position in Buffalo seems to between Stevie Johnson and James Hardy. Hardy saw the bulk of the reps on 05-25-10 but HC Chan Gailey (quoted on the buffalobills.com site) cautioned not to read too much into it, “We’re waiting to see who is going to step up,” explained Gailey.

I am guessing that Johnson will eventually beat out Hardy.  Hardy was taken five rounds before him in the 2007 draft, but has been outplayed by Johnson on the field.

Both players have had modest numbers so far, with Johnson having a better career total of 12 catches for 112 yards and 2 TDs.

Buffalo desperately needs someone to be the possession receiver and draw some attention away from Lee Evans.  Johnson seems to be a good candidate for that and those who followed his college games note that his 2007 numbers at Kentucky with Woodson at QB were as follows: 61 receptions for 1052 yards (17.2 yards average) and 13 TDs.

85 - Josh Morgan (25)

Morgan looked really promising before Vernon Davis was drafted and Crabtree started living up to his potential.  He seems now to be the # 4 receiving option on the team (after the above two and Frank Gore).

Tier 11

If you got the roster space, then any of the below might be worth a flyer.

86 - Marcus Easley* (23) Bills

Marcus Easley was a fourth round pick by the Bills and at 6-2, 210 lbs is an intriguing combination of size and speed (with a 4.4 40 timed by the Bills).  This former walk-on at UConn didn’t contribute much in his first season, but broke out with a big 2009 campaign of 48 receptions, 893 yards and 8 TDs (all in the last nine games).

Is Easley a late bloomer or a one-year wonder?  It remains to be seen, but Buffalo is bereft of proven receiving talent behind Lee Evans, and this developmental project only has an overachiever (Steve Johnson) and two disappointments (James Hardy and Chad Jackson) in front of him on the depth chart.  This is surely hyperbole but

I will close in noting that Sal Maiorana of The Democrat and Chronicle says that Easley “would appear to have future star written all over him.” 

87 - Terrell Owens (37)

As I write this Terrell Owens still hasn’t found a new home.  Although if Santana Moss is suspended, perhaps Mike Shanahan might decide to let the T.O. circus come to Washington.  His skills have declined with age and his personality remains a negative that outweighs what he can still bring to the table – although some team may