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Editor’s Note: Every Friday, Next Impulse Sports will be releasing fantasy football positional previews. Check back next Friday for a preview of the league’s best tight ends. All scores are based on ESPN’s standard scoring.
Today: The Wide Receivers
The Franchise Guys
Worth your first-round pick, guaranteed to be your best player, and can lead you to the postseason even with a subpar supporting cast.
1. Calvin Johnson
The Lions throw the ball a shit-ton. Teams have tried to double or triple cover Johnson in the past, but it has never worked. With Golden Tate and Eric Ebron in town, there should be more space for the NFL’s best wide receiver to operate.
2. Demaryius Thomas
Spoiler alert: Peyton Manning is still his quarterback and Demaryius Thomas is still a beast — scored 220 fantasy points last year.
3. Josh Gordon (if he’s not suspended)
Even without a legit quarterback, Gordon posted the highest season total of all wide receivers. If he’s not suspended, he’s a top choice.
4. Brandon Marshall
Sorry Brandon, you and Jay cannot be selected together as a package deal.
5. AJ Green
203 fantasy points last season.
6. Julio Jones
A healthy Julio Jones makes for a better NFL.
6. Dez Bryant
He takes a lot of shit for going crazy sometimes…..
…..but at the end of the day, he puts up points. His numbers last season: 93 catches, 1233 yards, and 13 touchdowns.
7. Alshon Jeffery
Why you should draft him:
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C
8. Antonio Brown
Finished second in receiving yards last season.
The Playoff Guys
Good enough to give you a fighting chance for the championship.
9. Jordy Nelson
Aaron Rodgers is his quarterback.
10. Andre Johnson
Ryan Fitzpatrick might be starting at quarterback for the Texans and Johnson has been a no-show at voluntary OTAs. As long as he’s playing week 1, Johnson is still a top-10 fantasy receiver.
11. Vincent Jackson
Josh McCown is going from Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery to Vincent Jackson. I think he still might be happy.
12. Larry Fitzgerald
Let’s not forget about him. Sure, he suffered a down-year by his standards, but he’s still one of the best wide outs in the league. Can’t blame him for Arizona’s quarterback incompetence since Kurt Warner retired.
13. Desean Jackson
If he was still an Eagle, he’d be higher up on this list, after all he was a top-10 fantasy receiver last year. But Washington could very well be a mess this season, again.
14. Keenan Allen
Quite possibly the steal of the 2013 NFL Draft. The third-round pick gained over 1000 yards through the air in his first season.
15. Randall Cobb
See: Aaron Rodgers
The Reserves
Your WR2s….
16. Victor Cruz
17. Michael Crabtree
As long as Richard Sherman isn’t covering him.
18. Pierre Garcon
Desean Jackson should attract some attention, leaving Garcon with more space.
19. Percy Harvin
Can he stay healthy?
20. T.Y. Hilton
1,083 receiving yards last season.
21. Torrey Smith
Joe Flacco might be boring, but Smith definitely isn’t.
22. Golden Tate
Playing opposite Calvin Johnson should pay big dividends.
23. Wes Welker
Aka, slot-machine.
24. Julian Edelman
Also a slot-machine.
25. Michael Floyd
Had over 1,000 yards last season.
26. Cordarrelle Patterson
Versatile and a playmaker.
27. Eric Decker
Won’t repeat his success from a year ago now that he’s in New York and no longer catching passes from Peyton.
28. Emmanuel Sanders
Peyton’s newest toy.
29. Kendall Wright
Logged over 1,000 receiving yards last season, but only found the end zone twice.
30. Mike Wallace
Just face it, he’s either going to hit a home run or strike 0ut.
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