2014 Fantasy Football: Top 40 Wide Receivers

This is part of the 2014 fantasy football preview. A look at the top quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, kickers and defenses can be found via the links on each position.

The 2014 fantasy football season is just around the corner and owners all around are beginning to prepare for their drafts. The wide receiver position is one that seems to get deeper year after year with more NFL teams going to a pass-heavy offense. It also means that fantasy owners don’t have to reach for a wide receiver too early in drafts unless it is a stone cold lock that they will produce big numbers. The time has come to rank the best receivers in fantasy football for 2014. Here is the top 40 moving forward.

1. Calvin Johnson- The best receiver in the game right now had 84 catches in 14 games last season for the Lions. There are a lot of new weapons in the Detroit offense this season but that shouldn’t slow Megatron down enough where he isn’t a first-round pick and the top WR on the board for 2014.
2. Demaryius Thomas- This is all about the offense in Denver. 92 catches in 16 games along with no more Eric Decker means more targets for Thomas. There is a strong possibility that he ends up with 100-110 catches in 2014 with his relationship with Peyton Manning. He is creeping into first round drafting territory.
3. A.J. Green- There is so much to like about Green. 98 catches for 1,426 yards last season. He has added some weight in the offseason to be more physical and could break his career highs from a year ago. Green should be gone before the second round is over with a 100-catch season coming in 2014.
4. Brandon Marshall- The Marshall/Cutler connection in Chicago is very strong as shown by the 100 catches Marshall had in 2013. There is competition there with Alshon Jeffery in the Bears’ offense but Cutler seems to trust Marshall more from their days in Denver. It should be another ho hum 100-catch year from Marshall.
5. Jordy Nelson- The stock of Nelson banks a lot of Aaron Rodgers. When Rodgers was hurt last season, Nelson wasn’t as productive but he had ten catches in Week 17 when Rodgers returned. Nelson still had 85 catches last season and if Rodgers plays 16 games in 2014, there is no doubt Nelson will be a top-5 wideout.
6. Julio Jones- There are some doubts about Jones coming off of his foot injury which limited him to just five games last season. He averaged eight catches a game during those games however so he is a must-start fantasy receiver when healthy and one that needs to be taken early in drafts with a pass-happy Atlanta offense.
7. Dez Bryant- Bryant set career highs in catches and touchdowns in 2013. This could be the season where Bryant takes another big step forward. He is in the best shape he has ever been and Tony Romo loves just throwing it up to him. A season with over 100 catches seems likely as long as he can keep his temper under control in the process.
8. Alshon Jeffery- The breakout star of 2013 comes in as a top ten wide receiver moving into 2014. Jeffery had 89 catches for 1,421 yards for the Bears last season. There is zero doubt that the Bears offense will continue to grow and the stock of Jeffery will grow with it. He is well on his way to stardom and a second or third-round selection.
9. Vincent Jackson- 78 catches for 1,224 yards doesn’t sound the kind of numbers that Jackson would want but the quarterback situation in Tampa Bay wasn’t good last year. The addition of Mike Evans will open up more chances for Jackson, who will rebound and be a top ten WR for the 2014 season.
10. Antonio Brown- Brown had 110 catches for 1,499 yards last year and now the team has removed Emmanuel Sanders from the mix. Brown isn’t going to get any more catches than the 110 from last season but if he can remain steady and add a couple more touchdowns, he becomes an even more valuable piece on a fantasy roster.
11. Randall Cobb- Cobb was showing what he could do in the Green Bay offense before a broken leg derailed his season but 31 catches in six games shows what he can do. He is now healthy and with no more James Jones in the offense, Cobb should see plenty of passes on the opposite side of Jordy Nelson.
12. Larry Fitzgerald- Even with a sometimes rough-looking offense in Arizona, Fitzgerald had 82 catches in 2013. There have been moves made to improve things and that should allow Fitzgerald to have better numbers for the 2014 season. There would be no surprise if Fitzgerald gets close to 90-95 catches for 1,100 yards.
13. Keenan Allen- It was a great rookie year for Allen in 2013 with 71 receptions for 1,046 yards. Teams are going to focus on him more this season however and it would be a great season if he can just match his numbers from a year ago. It will all depend on whatever or not Philip Rivers can find Allen enough times but he goes into the season highly regarded.
14. Wes Welker- It was just another average year for Welker in 2013 with more than five catches per game. He did miss three games with a concussion but still finished with 73 catches. The numbers for Welker are likely to go up in 2014 as the Broncos work Emmanuel Sanders into the offense though. 100 catches isn’t out of the question.
15. Percy Harvin- Harvin played in one game during the regular season last year and had just one catch because of a hip injury. However as a healthier player now, he can return to his days from Minnesota and that athletic ability. Russell Wilson is going to be looking Harvin’s way a whole lot during the upcoming year.
16. Pierre Garcon- The 2013 season was one to remember for Garcon with 113 catches for 1,346 yards. His stats could possibly take a hit in 2014 however with the addition of DeSean Jackson to the Washington offense but if Garcon can finish with 85-90 catches and lands in the endzone 8-10 times, owners will take it.
17. Cordarrelle Patterson- While Patterson may have had just 45 catches in 2014; the Vikings offense is going to showcase him more this season. His speed and athletic ability will be needed in Minnesota and Patterson will likely finish the 2014 year with 70-75 catches and 900-1,000 yards. The potential is there for so much more as well.
18. DeSean Jackson- Jackson takes his talents to Washington after having 82 catches for the Eagles in 2013. It will be a dynamic duo with Pierre Garcon and if Jackson can be the return specialist that he is and adds 75-80 catches and 8-10 touchdowns, the Redskins will be an offensive machine which is great for fantasy purposes.
19. Andre Johnson- There are some issues between Johnson and the Texans but he should be there when the season begins. Even if he isn’t however and is traded, his value as a fantasy wide receiver is still there. He had 109 catches last season and should be considered a WR2 for the 2014 fantasy season.
20. Roddy White- Injuries hit White a lot in 2013 and he had just 63 catches mostly late in the season. He is back to full health and along with Julio Jones in Atlanta should see plenty of play from Matt Ryan. White should be on track to catch 80-85 passes in 2014 for 1,100 yards and 6-8 touchdowns.
21. Julian Edelman- Edelman is a PPR player’s best friend much like Wes Welker was in the New England offense. Edelman had 105 catches for 1,056 yards last season. He has the respect of Tom Brady and with the injury history of Danny Amendola, Edelman should match his numbers if not exceed them in 2014.
22. Victor Cruz- There are going to be changes in the Giants’ offense with no more Hakeem Nicks and the addition of Odell Beckham but Cruz is still the No. 1 receiver. He had 73 catches for nearly 1,000 yards last year. A season with 85-90 catches should be expected as the new pieces around Eli Manning come in and Cruz sees more targets.
23. T.Y. Hilton- Hilton saw his numbers go sky high with Reggie Wayne in Indianapolis with 82 catches for 1,083 yards. Those numbers are likely going to go down some with Wayne’s return but Andrew Luck seemed to like what he saw from Hilton last season and should continue looking for him. A season with 70-75 catches would be reasonable.
24. Michael Crabtree- The recovery for Crabtree from his torn ACL limited him to just five games in 2013 with 19 catches during those games. He will be fighting to get targets with Anquan Boldin but should be able to get close to 75-80 catches this coming season for San Francisco. He looks to be a perfect WR2 or flex receiver.
25. Golden Tate- A move to Detroit moves the value of Tate up. He had 64 catches last season for Seattle as the main option but now with Calvin Johnson on the opposite side, Tate is going to see a lot of looks because of teams wanting to keep Johnson down. Tate should be on track for 70-75 catches if not more in 2014.
26. Torrey Smith- The key to Smith’s game is the deep pass as he caught 65 balls for 1,128 yards in 2013. He seems to have a great connection with Joe Flacco in Baltimore and will be expected to continue his strong play from the previous few seasons. Smith will be expected to have at least 1,100 yards again this year.
27. Jeremy Maclin- Maclin has turned into the main option for the Eagles with DeSean Jackson gone. He didn’t play last season due to injury but gets thrown into a high-powered Philadelphia attack that looked dynamic in 2013. If Maclin can pick up where Jackson left off, he will be someone worth starting every week.
28. Kendall Wright- It was a very productive season in 2013 for Wright with 1,079 receiving yards on 94 catches. His value depends a lot on what Jake Locker can bring to the table this season for the Titans. If Locker and Wright can continue their strong play again, Wright should find himself worth a flex spot.
29. Michael Floyd- Carson Palmer is going to be looking for someone other than Larry Fitzgerald at times and found Floyd a lot in 2013 with 65 catches for 1,041 yards. Those numbers are only bound to rise especially with Ted Ginn opening up the middle of the field for the Cardinals in 2014.
30. Reggie Wayne- The 2013 season ended quickly for Wayne after he tore his ACL. In the seven games he played however, he had 38 catches. Andrew Luck loves looking for the 35-year-old and that means his value is still high going into the upcoming season. A season with 80 catches should be expected.
31. Emmanuel Sanders- The value of Sanders went up when he signed with the Broncos in the offseason. He had 67 catches for the Steelers last season but could find those numbers going up in a Peyton Manning offense. He will need to prove he is one of the top options though before he becomes a must-start each week.
32. Mike Evans- The only rookie in the top 40 is Evans, who should see a lot of action with the Buccaneers on the other side of Vincent Jackson. Evans proved during his time at Texas A&M that he can go up and get errant passes. If Josh McCown can find Evans on a regular basis, he will be worth taking late in drafts.
33. Eric Decker- A move to New York makes Decker the No. 1 receiver in the Jets’ offense but who is going to get him the ball? Geno Smith didn’t prove much last season and the better option would likely be Michael Vick. Decker had 87 catches last season in Denver but will be lucky to come up with 70 with the Jets.
34. Mike Wallace- When Wallace signed with the Dolphins to begin the 2013 season, he was expected to put up huge numbers. He did have 73 catches for 930 yards but didn’t make the impact intended. His second season should go better in Miami and he will be a solid flex player to begin the year.
35. Marques Colston- Colston may be getting up there in age but is still productive with 75 catches last season for 943 yards. Brandin Cooks is going to make life difficult on Colston getting consistent passes from Drew Brees his way though. A season with 65-70 catches may be more realistic.
36. Dwayne Bowe- A huge disappointment in 2013 with 57 catches, Bowe needs a big rebound in 2014. His value though is quite low after what happened a season ago and it still appears he is in Andy Reid’s doghouse. Bowe is the perfect candidate to be used as a bye week replacement but is not an every week option right now.
37. Hakeem Nicks- It will be a new setting for Nicks going from the Giants to the Colts. He will find himself as the No. 3 receiver in Indianapolis but should see enough work to make him fantasy relevant. It may not be the greatest season out there for Nicks but if he can make 60-65 catches, it should be good enough for owners.
38. Marvin Jones- The advantage of being on the other side of A.J. Green is that teams will give Jones single coverage most of the time. He had 51 catches last season and ten touchdowns in the process. It wouldn’t shock anyone if he can match those numbers in 2014 and increases his reception total.
39. Terrance Williams- Williams will get his chance to start for the Cowboys this season with Miles Austin being gone. Much like the other No. 2 receivers on this list, a season where he finishes with 65-70 catches should be expected. Williams had many catches of over 20 yards in 2013 which makes him a deep threat to watch for.
40. Cecil Shorts- There aren’t very many things to like about the Jaguars offense but Shorts is a positive with his 66 catches from a year ago. He is the No. 1 receiver without any doubt with Justin Blackmon suspended. He could be a sneaky WR3 selection in deep leagues with his five catch per game average.