Top Ten 2008 FF Wide Receivers

In part three of our series on the top ten at each position we move to the prima donnas, I mean wide receiver spot. This is one of the hardest positions to predict from year-to-year, even at the top spots on your draft board. Randy Moss was washed up in Oakland but in New England he regained his dominance and the top spot as the most dangerous FF WR out there. Wideouts can make or break you from week to week and given that most leagues start at least three they may occupy the most spots on your roster. The real interesting decision come in the middle to late part of the draft when you are deciding between your 4th or 5th WR spot and a backup QB or kicker or defense - that is where real FF champions are made.

1) Randy Moss, Patriots
2007 Stats: 98 catches, 1,493 yds, 23 TDs
Just think the Pats got Owens a year ago in a trade with the Oakland Raiders giving up just a fourth round draft pick, talk about value. Moss has the most gifted physical skills of any receiver in the league and now that he has joined forces with the best quarterback in the league he is virtually unstoppable. Moss is the only receiver worthy of a first-round selection in the FF draft this year and that should tell you all you need to know. How many teams wouldn't mind having their RBs put up his kind of numbers? Even if his TDs were cut in half this year he would be a top five fantasy WR - wow!

2) Terrell Owens, Cowboys
2007 Stats: 81 catches, 1,355 yds, 15 TDs
Drama no more for TO who has blended in nicely to his new home in Big D. While quarterback Tony Romo is making the news with his on again off again romance with Jessica Simpson, TO is quietly sitting in the background and putting up big numbers. OK, so maybe TO still isn't that quiet but we don't have to see him doing crunches on TV all the time fighting with the coaching staff and front office. Owens seems to have found peace as he enters the twilight of his career and that makes his selection far less risky in the draft.

3) Reggie Wayne, Colts
2007 Stats: 104 catches, 1,510 yds, 10 TDs
With the decline of Marvin Harrison in Indy Reggie has now clearly grabbed the top spot in the Colts receiving core. There are still plenty of weapons for Manning including second year pro Anthony Gonzalez, who could be a nice sleeper this year, and the steady Dallas Clark at tight end. Only T.J. Houshmandzadeh had more catches than Mr. Wayne last season but the return of Harrison to full strength does pose a bit of a threat to his overall productivity this year. Still, Wayne is making even Jim Sorgi look good in the preseason so expect another great season out of him.

4)Braylon Edwards, Browns
2007 Stats: 80 catches, 1,289 yds, 16 TDs
The former Wolverine was the breakout receiver in 2007 and looks to equal that performance again this year. Edwards will likely sit out most of the preseason after Donte Stallworth stepped on his foot cutting Braylon who was running in only his socks. Don't they teach you about shoes at Michigan? It is a minor injury and shouldn't hamper Edwards at all who is joined by Stallworth who comes over from the Pats, Joe Jurevicius, and tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. at key targets for quarterback Derek Anderson.

5) Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
2007 Stats: 100 catches, 1,409 yds, 10 TDs
Arizona has one of the best wide receiver tandems in Fitgerald and Anquan Boldin. Unfortunately the quarterback spot still appears a bit shaky with third-year quarterback Matt Leinart trying to holdout veteran and for FF superstar Kurt Warner off for the starting spot. Last season Fitzgerald had nearly an identical season as he had in 2005, his best, when he had 103 catches, 1,409 receiving yards, and ten touchdowns - freaky. The only troubling spot in Fitzgerald's game last year was his first three career lost fumbles.

6) Andre Johnson, Texans
2007 Stats: 60 catches, 851 yds, 8 TDs
The big Texans receiver appeared in only nine games last season after injuring his knee. Johnson missed Houston's entire offseason after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. He has tweaked his groin in training camp but that shouldn't hamper his efforts to gel with quarterback Matt Schaub in his second year with the Texans after leaving the Falcons. Andre is Houston's only real threat of offense, however, allowing defenses to key on him. Still the man taken one pick after Charles Rogers six years ago is a beast and FF stud.

7) T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals
2007 Stats: 112 catches, 1,143 yds, 12 TDs
The hardest name to spell in the top ten and well beyond, TJ lead the league in receptions last year teaming up with Chad Johnson as a terrific wideout duo in Cincinnati. He is nursing a sore hamstring he claims is at 80% while Johnson hurt his shoulder when he landed awkwardly after a big hit from Lions cornerback Brian Kelly. When healthy, the two are dominant and had the most catches for teammates in the NFL since 2004. With third WR Chris Henry no longer around, expect another big year from the Palmer to Houshmandzadeh combo.

8) Marques Colston, Saints
2007 Stats: 98 catches, 1,202 yds, 11 TDs
Talk about a late round steal. Colston, a seventh-round draft pick, has an NFL record 168 receptions through his first two seasons and was just rewarded with a three year contract extension that should bump his salary nicely from the $445K he was scheduled to make. New Orleans traded for tight end Jeremy Shockey from the Giants which will take some pressure off of Colston who remain Drew Brees's favorite target. He set the club record for catches and receiving yards last season while tying the team record for touchdowns. Not bad for a guy out of Hofstra.

9) Plaxico Burress, Giants
2007 Stats: 70 catches, 1,025 yds, 12 TDs
The former Michigan State Spartan and now world champion is still bothered by ankle issues that bothered him last season. Still, Plaxico proved he doesn't need to practice during the week to be productive on Sundays. Eli Mannings big target has some new orthotics to deal with the bum ankle and help his flat feet. It is something the Super Bowl hero will probably have to deal with the remainder of his career. Don't expect Burress to suit up in the preseason but he has already said he will starting in the season opener against Washington.

10) Steve Smith Panthers
2007 Stats: 87 catches, 1,002 yds, 7 TDs
It wasn't long ago that Smith stood atop this list. But injuries to himself and quarterback Jake Delhomme haven't helped, neither has his camp antics that included a tussle with Ken Lucas that concluded in the starting cornerbacks nose being broken from Smith's right cross - nice. If you draft Smith prepare to have a replacement for the first two games because head coach John Fox suspended Smith without pay for the incident. It is almost like having three bye weeks this year - wonderful. That might be reason alone to knock him out of the top ten.

Just Missed:
Chad Johnson, Bengals
Torry Holt, Rams
Wes Welker, Patriots
Anquan Boldin, Cardinals
Roy Williams, Lions

Rookies to grab:
Devin Thomas, Redskins
Earl Bennett, Bears
Donnie Avery, Rams