Position Rankings: 2010 Wide Receiver Rankings

Position Rankings: 2010 Wide Receiver Rankings

This article is part of our Position Rankings series.

1. Aldrick Robinson, SMU
Seeing Robinson ranked this high is undoubtedly a surprise to most, but all the pieces are in place for him to have a huge season. He only caught 47 passes for 800 yards and five touchdowns last year, but there are two reasons why his numbers will skyrocket this year. First, last year's leading SMU wideout, Emmanuel Sanders, graduated. Sanders caught 98 passes for 1,339 yards and seven touchdowns last year, and now Robinson will be in line for the bulk of that sort of production. The second reason is that quarterback Kyle Padron, who started only six games last year, will be the starter from Day One in 2010. Padron was an immense upgrade as a freshman last year over the previous starter, Bo Levi Mitchell, and Robinson's numbers will benefit greatly from a full season of quarterbacking from Padron. Expect Robinson's 2010 season to look like his 2008 performance, when he caught 59 passes for 1,047 yards and 11 touchdowns in ten games.

2. Vincent Brown, San Diego State
Brown nearly led San Diego State in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2009 despite basically playing just six games. Before a thumb injury ended Brown's season, he was possibly the best fantasy wideout in the country, and we expect him to play similarly in 2010. He caught 45 passes for 778 yards and six touchdowns in the first six weeks and looked entirely unstoppable. What's especially impressive about Brown

1. Aldrick Robinson, SMU
Seeing Robinson ranked this high is undoubtedly a surprise to most, but all the pieces are in place for him to have a huge season. He only caught 47 passes for 800 yards and five touchdowns last year, but there are two reasons why his numbers will skyrocket this year. First, last year's leading SMU wideout, Emmanuel Sanders, graduated. Sanders caught 98 passes for 1,339 yards and seven touchdowns last year, and now Robinson will be in line for the bulk of that sort of production. The second reason is that quarterback Kyle Padron, who started only six games last year, will be the starter from Day One in 2010. Padron was an immense upgrade as a freshman last year over the previous starter, Bo Levi Mitchell, and Robinson's numbers will benefit greatly from a full season of quarterbacking from Padron. Expect Robinson's 2010 season to look like his 2008 performance, when he caught 59 passes for 1,047 yards and 11 touchdowns in ten games.

2. Vincent Brown, San Diego State
Brown nearly led San Diego State in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2009 despite basically playing just six games. Before a thumb injury ended Brown's season, he was possibly the best fantasy wideout in the country, and we expect him to play similarly in 2010. He caught 45 passes for 778 yards and six touchdowns in the first six weeks and looked entirely unstoppable. What's especially impressive about Brown is how consistent he was, as he scored no less than 14 fantasy points in each of the games he played. That kind of reliability makes Brown somewhat of a 1B in our rankings alongside Robinson.

3. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
If Jimmy Clausen were still around, it's quite possible that we would have put Floyd at the top of our rankings. He might be college football's best deep-threat at wideout, as he averaged 18.07 yards per catch last year while going for 795 yards and nine touchdowns in just seven games. Like Brown, Floyd was incredibly consistent last year, as he posted no fewer than ten fantasy points in any of his games, scoring at least one touchdown in all but one. If Floyd can develop some chemistry with new quarterback Dayne Crist, he should be similarly productive in 2010.

4. Dwayne Harris, East Carolina
There might not be a more exciting player in college football than Harris. He's a dangerous player as both a runner and receiver, as he totaled 1,127 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns on offense (seven receiving, five rushing). He also added three touchdowns on kick returns. Harris probably won't score 15 times again in 2010, but his yardage numbers are all but guaranteed to go way up. East Carolina's new coach is former Texas Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill, who will implement the Texas Tech-style spread offense this year for the Pirates.

5. Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma
Broyles was magnificent last year, catching 89 passes for 1,120 yards and 15 touchdowns while scoring twice more on a run and punt return. He did deal with a shoulder injury for a part of the year, but he didn't have injury trouble the year before that, so he's there's not much to worry about as far as durability goes. With Landry Jones presumably improving in his sophomore season, Broyles should be in for another huge season. It might be a bit much to expect 17 touchdowns again, but it'd be shocking if he didn't at least hit double-digits.

6. Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers
Sanu came out of nowhere as a true freshman last year to be one of the nation's best playmakers on offense. He caught 51 passes for 639 yards and three touchdowns and carved out an additional role as a wildcat quarterback specialist, running for 346 yards and five touchdowns. He also threw a touchdown pass. He'll definitely keep the wildcat role in 2010, but he's also likely to produce more as a receiver. Rutgers' top wideout from 2009, Tim Brown, is no longer around, so Sanu should see more targets in the passing game.

7. Randall Cobb, Kentucky
Like Sanu, Cobb is a multidisciplinary gamebreaker. Working as a receiver and wildcat quarterback last year, Cobb put together one of the nation's most impressive performances, catching 39 passes for 447 yards and four touchdowns, running for 573 yards and ten touchdowns and returning a punt for a touchdown. He was remarkably consistent despite playing in the brutal SEC, scoring in all but two games he played.

8. James Cleveland, Houston
Cleveland is definitely worth a high pick, as he caught 104 passes for 1,214 yards and 14 touchdowns during his first season at Houston last year. The reason we have him down at eight while many other publications have him ranked higher is that the Houston offense spreads the ball around a great deal, so Cleveland's production isn't quite as consistent as we'd like to see. He posted 77 catches for 961 yards and 13 touchdowns in six games last year, while in the other six games he totaled just 27 catches for 253 yards and one touchdown. If you're in a head-to-head league, that's a significant point to consider. It's possible that Cleveland will find more consistency in 2010 considering he played 2009 with a torn labrum, but if the injury were particularly limiting it's hard to see how he could have dominated like he did at certain points—in other words, if the injury were much of a factor you'd think he'd be limited all the time, not just certain weeks on an unpredictable basis.

9. Titus Young, Boise State
Young was a monster last year, scoring 15 total touchdowns as a receiver, runner and returner. He also totaled 1,179 yards from scrimmage. We don't see him improving on those numbers in 2010, but expecting Young to do more than he did last year would be a bit greedy, anyway. Boise State's high-powered offense from last year returns almost entirely intact for the 2010 season, meaning Young should be able to easily pick up where he left off.

10. DeAndre Brown, Southern Mississippi
Brown's sophomore season was a disappointment last year, but that was apparently due to him being limited by the broken leg injury he suffered at the end of 2008. Even as a disappointment, he still posted a highly respectable 47 catches for 785 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games. Word is, he's looking like a Calvin Johnson clone these days, as he's bulked up to about 245 pounds on his 6-6 frame, and he is fully recovered from his 2008 injury. At the end of last year he showed signs of returning to the form he showed his freshman season by catching 18 passes for 403 yards and five touchdowns in the last four weeks. He should produce in 2010 like he did as a freshman in 2008, when he caught 67 passes for 1,117 yards and 12 touchdowns

11. Damaris Johnson, Tulsa
Although Johnson's total touchdown number dropped from 12 to four last year, he remains *the man* in the Tulsa offense and should be a top nationwide receiver this year. He should bounce-back in the touchdown department while remaining one of the nation's best kick and punt returners. He will be a relatively early pick in all formats, and deservedly so. Although the emergence of players like Rickey Johnson and Jameel Owens will bite into his catch numbers, expect Johnson to have a season more like his freshman year, where he scores more touchdowns despite posting lesser yardage totals.

12. James Rodgers, Oregon State
James is Jacquizz's brother, and each is an almost exact copy of the other. James also checks in at a very undersized 5-7, 185 or so, and he provides at receiver what Jacquizz does at running back: big plays. He caught 91 passes last year for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 303 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He also returns punts and kicks for the Beavers, something he has proven to be dangerous at, as well. While last year's starting quarterback is gone and it's not clear how effective the new Ryan Katz will be, James is probably the top receiver option in the Pac-10 and one of the best nationwide.

13. Wes Kemp, Missouri
Many observers expect Jerrell Jackson to take over as Missouri's next top wideout, but we think Kemp is the better candidate. Jackson should definitely put up sizable numbers in 2010, but Kemp is the better athlete and has far more big-play ability. Kemp averaged 18.17 yards per catch while Jackson averaged just 12.38, so the two had similar yardage totals even though Jackson had 14 more catches. Kemp also scored three touchdowns while Jackson scored just two. Don't expect Kemp to match Danario Alexander's monstrous numbers from last year, but he has more potential than Jackson and that should become apparent once he steps into the spotlight this year.

14. Eric Page, Toledo
Page was one of the nation's best wideouts as a true freshman, catching 82 passes for 1,159 yards and seven touchdowns in what has to be one of the more memorable freshman performances in recent memory. Page will never be a red-zone monster and his upside is limited, but his unreal consistency means he won't let his fantasy owners down from week to week.

15. Jermaine Kearse, Washington
If Jake Locker can take the next step as a passer in 2010, Kearse could be in for a huge season. He was an excellent big-play threat in 2009, taking 50 receptions for 866 yards and eight touchdowns. If the final six games of 2009 are a preview of what's to come, Kearse should be one of the best in the nation this year. In that span he caught 30 passes for 568 yards and six touchdowns, and it wouldn't be surprising if he picks up in 2010 where he left off last year. Although James Rodgers ranks ahead of Kearse in the Pac-10, look for Kearse to be a big deal this year.

16. Kendall Wright, Baylor
Look for Wright to be a very good receiver in 2010. He caught 66 passes for 740 yards and four touchdowns last year as a sophomore catching passes from his backup quarterback. The return of Robert Griffin should really help Wright's numbers, and make him worth a significant selection in Big 12-only leagues. He should make an impact in other formats, too.

17. Leonard Hankerson, Miami
Hankerson had a breakout season in 2009, as he had a team-high 45 catches for 801 yards and eight touchdowns. He should see a spike in production as quarterback Jacory Harris has his first season under his belt. Expect big things from Hankerson in 2010, as Miami's offense will put up points in bunches. It wouldn't be too surprising if he topped 1,000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns this season, but he may not see many targets in the red-zone as the Hurricanes have a bunch of running backs who are capable of scoring from close.

18. DeVier Posey, Ohio State
Posey became a favorite target of Terrelle Pryor last season and found the end zone eight times. Posey has all the tools to be a dominant receiver, and he could become a big fantasy contributor if Pryor can become a more efficient passer. If Pryor has a big year, Posey will have little trouble passing the 1,000-yard mark for the first time.

19. Malcolm Williams, Texas
Williams did not have a big sophomore season, but he showed glimpses of his potential by topping the 100-yard mark on two different occasions. Williams is in position to land a starting role in 2010 and could become the primary downfield target for Garrett Gilbert based on his size and speed. If the two can develop a connection, Williams will have a breakout year.

20. Deonte Thompson, Florida
Coming off a disappointing season in which he got more notoriety for his comments off the field than for his performance on it, Thompson will be looking to make a big impact in 2010. The Gators will rely more on the passing attack this season, which should benefit Thompson more than any other player on the team. Thompson isn't a big receiver, but he has the speed to get open and be a valuable target for new QB John Brantley. Expect a big improvement in 2010--1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns are certainly in reach.

21. Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh
Although most of the attention regarding potential 2011 NFL receiver prospects tends to go toward Julio Jones in Alabama and A.J. Green in Georgia, it might be Baldwin who winds up being the first off the board. Baldwin is a major deep threat even though he's a giant of a receiver, making him somewhat of a middle class man's Calvin Johnson. Even though he nears 6-5 and 230, Baldwin is quick in and out of his breaks and is a natural high-pointer in traffic. The only reason he might not build on the numbers from his awesome 2009 sophomore year, in which he caught 57 passes for 1,111 yards and eight touchdowns, is that he'll have a new quarterback this year in Tito Sunseri. But if Sunseri is smart, he'll spend the majority of his passes trying to lob it up to Baldwin. Until Sunseri proves himself to be completely incompetent, which there is no reason to believe will happen, Baldwin is a top receiver option in the Big East and warrants consideration in all other formats, too.

22. A.J. Green, Georgia
Although Green isn't an offense that will give him ridiculous numbers, he might be the best receiver in the country. He should have his best year yet in 2010, though, and he's worth a high selection in SEC-only leagues as well as significant consideration in others. He averaged 5.3 catches for 80.8 yards and .6 touchdowns per game last year, but there's upside for more than that with him.

23. Kris Adams, UTEP
After catching 42 passes for just 580 yards and two touchdowns last year, Adams could wind up one of the best draft values in college fantasy football this year. In 2008 he caught 50 passes for 958 yards and 14 touchdowns. Don't expect numbers that grand this year, but look for Adams to make his way back to double-digit touchdowns.

24. Keith Smith, Purdue
Smith was one of the Big Ten's best wideouts last year, catching 91 passes for 1,100 yards and six touchdowns and throwing a 15-yard touchdown. He should be one of the conference's top wide receiver picks this year, and is worth a pick in all other formats.

25. Greg Childs, Arkansas
Childs caught 48 passes for 894 yards and seven touchdowns in an excellent sophomore season last year, but the big wideout has potential to do better this year. He has lots of upside and should be at least a very strong WR2 option in SEC-only leagues, and his potential means he's worth a gamble pick in all other formats, too. His consistency is a concern because the Arkansas offense can really spread the ball around, but Childs' superior talent should keep him as the top target.

26. Tyron Carrier, Houston
Carrier is one of three 1,000-yard receivers returning to Houston this season. He caught 91 passes for 1,029 yards in 2009; and with quarterback Case Keenum back to command the offense, he is in position to have another big year. Carrier is the Cougars' second best receiver behind James Cleveland, but he'll certainly catch enough passes in Houston's spread offense to be a useful starting option in most mixed leagues.

27. Jarvis Williams, North Carolina State
Williams knows how to use his 6-4, 219-pound frame in the red zone. He scored 11 times on just 45 receptions, but it'll be hard to duplicate that touchdown percentage. Look for Williams to compensate by upping his reception and yardage totals while further impressing NFL scouts with his aerial prowess. Williams has the chance to be the top ACC fantasy wideout this year, though it will be tough to top players like Donovan Varner at Duke, Leonard Hankerson at Miami and Jarrett Boykin at Virginia Tech.

28. Armon Binns, Cincinnati
Although Binns is the most popular Cincinnati receiver for the time being, he certainly doesn't have a monopoly on the big-play supply in the Bearcats passing attack. With former five-star recruit Vidal Hazelton and the underrated D.J. Woods featured in the offense, there will be competition for catches. Still, Binns enters the season as the top Cincinnati receiving target – you can't pass on guys who catch double-digit touchdowns. Binns did just that last year despite Mardy Gilyard being around, so there's a chance he could improve on his 2009 numbers of 61 catches for 888 yards and 11 touchdowns. The big wideout is a definite factor in the Cincinnati air attack, but the question is how much upside he has.

29. Austin Pettis, Boise State
Pettis should have paid rent to WAC end-zones last season, as he seemingly lived there. He scored 14 times on 63 receptions, and also posted an impressive 855 yards to win first-team All-WAC honors. Pettis' 6-3 frame and quickness make up for a lack of elite speed, and allow him to find the end zone on a regular basis. He's worth a high pick in MWC-only leagues and a significant selection in other formats, too.

30. Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
Like Greg Salas, listed below, we certainly expect Jeff Fuller to have high fantasy value in 2010. The issue is he's being touted as a potential top-tier wideout, something we can't see happening. It's not because Fuller isn't good enough — we'd certainly expect him to produce on the level of guys like Vincent Brown and James Cleveland if he were in their respective offenses. What concerns us about Fuller is the fact that Texas A&M might have the most talented group of receivers in the country, and he'll only be one of several players getting open constantly in that offense. Uzoma Nwachukwu in particular might be the biggest threat to Fuller's production, as he totaled 708 yards and six touchdowns as a true freshman last year, which actually had him averaging more yards per game than Fuller. That's not even considering the catches that players like Hutson Prioleau, Ryan Tannehill, Brandal Jackson, Ryan Swope and Kenric McNeal could take away from him in 2010. Fuller is definitely the best receiver option for A&M and is a very good bet to score at least ten times, but his yardage potential might be limited thanks to the players previously mentioned.

31. Tyshon Goode, Kent State
Goode came out of nowhere as a freshman to catch 53 passes for 755 yards and five touchdowns last year, including a particularly encouraging five-game stretch where he totaled 35 catches for 575 yards and five touchdowns. Goode looked ready to emerge as a star in the MAC last year, and he should be a high wideout selection in MAC-only leagues. Keep an eye on him in other formats, too.

32. Jerrel Jernigan, Troy Jernigan is one of the best wideouts in the nation and almost definitely the best in the Sun Belt, but his production could regress a bit in 2010. Not only is quarterback Levi Brown gone, but the Troy wideout crew is absurdly talented and Jernigan won't be the only one getting open in 2010. Expect more modest production from him this year, but consider him an elite receiver option in Sun Belt-only leagues who deserves consideration in all other formats, as well.

33. T.Y. Hilton, Florida International
Hilton is the country's best wideouts that no one's heard of. He had just 57 receptions for 632 yards and five touchdowns last year (as well as a kickoff return for a touchdown), but as a freshman in 2008 he caught 41 passes for an incredible 1,013 yards and seven touchdowns, returned a punt for a touchdown, returned a kick for a touchdown, ran for two touchdowns and threw for a touchdown. Seriously. Obviously, the secret is out at this point and every team that faces Florida International makes stopping Hilton priority No. 1, but watch out for Hilton to bounce back this year. It wouldn't surprise if he winds up the best receiver option in the Sun Belt.

34. Chris Owusu, Stanford
Owusu probably won't see the ball as regularly as Ryan Whalen, but he'll almost definitely make more of the opportunities he does get. He averaged 18.43 yards per reception as a sophomore last year, going for 682 yards and five touchdowns in the receiving game. He's also an incredible kick returner, averaging 31.54 yards per return and taking three back for touchdowns last year. Look for Stanford to make a serious effort to get Owusu more involved on offense this year, as he has the ability to be a game-breaker.

35. Darryl Freeney, East Carolina
Freeney had a very good sophomore season in 2009, catching 48 passes for 718 yards and three touchdowns, and his numbers should go up significantly in 2010. He wasn't allowed to participate in the spring, however, due to academic issues, so make sure the team is bringing him back this fall. It certainly seems like they will. Freeney will get a boost in production this year because ECU is installing a Texas Tech-style offense and Freeney will see his targets soar if he's on the field. He's worth a gamble pick in most formats.

36. Tracy Moore, Oklahoma State
Like Kemp in Missouri, Moore is someone we're expecting to come out of nowhere to outdo the more established players that were ahead of him last year. Moore only caught 11 passes as a true freshman last year, but he took those catches for 183 yards and three touchdowns. What makes Moore intriguing is that he showed that big-play ability last year despite being built like an h-back, making him something like a shorter version of San Diego Charger Vincent Jackson. Another reason to like Moore is that he'll be playing in the offense of former Houston offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Houston was one of the main teams recruiting Moore before last year, so there's reason to believe Holgorsen already has big plans for Moore in 2010.

37. Greg Salas, Hawaii
If Greg Alexander were still throwing passes for Hawaii, we'd probably have Salas ranked in our top-five. But Bryant Moniz likely will play quarterback this year, and we don't think he'll be a particularly efficient passer. The gap between the performances of Alexander and Moniz last year was huge. Moniz averaged 7.5 yards per attempt and threw 14 touchdowns to ten interceptions, while Alexander averaged 9.6 yards per attempt and threw nine touchdowns to four interceptions. Granted, Salas produced all season and continued to put up big numbers despite Moniz starting at quarterback, but wide receiver Rodney Bradley was out for the majority of that stretch with a broken leg. Bradley caught 31 passes for 575 yards and five touchdowns in the first six games last year, and it's doubtful that Salas' numbers would have stayed at the level they did if he were competing with Bradley all the while. We think the combination of Bradley's return and Moniz's uninspiring quarterback play will keep Salas out of the top tier of fantasy wideouts this year.

38. Donovan Varner, Duke
Varner became one of the country's better wide receivers as a sophomore last year, catching 65 passes for 1,047 yards and eight touchdowns. Varner produced even against the tough teams, and really was dominant in the second half of the season, including a performance against Miami that featured eight catches for 165 yards and a touchdown. His value is quite high in ACC-only leagues, and he's worth a pick in all other formats, too.

39. Bert Reed, Florida State
Reed is only 5-10 and 167 pounds, but compensates with 4.3 speed and an improving skill set. He is the Seminoles' primary weapon at wideout, and caught 60 balls for 710 yards last season. Reed's size limits him in the red-zone, unfortunately, and both his touchdowns last season came on rushes. Expect him to score as a receiver at least a few times this year and improve on his yardage totals from 2009 as well. He's mostly valuable in ACC-only leagues.

40. Niles Paul, Nebraska
Paul is one of the more exciting players in the country, and he should be serviceable fantasy option in most formats if his quarterbacks can be even slightly adequate. He scored on the ground, through the air and on a punt return last year, and he should be similarly dangerous in 2010. His value is high in Big 12-only leagues, but beware of inconsistency here.

41. Tandon Doss, Indiana
Doss was one of the nation's receiving threats last season, catching 77 passes for 962 yards and five touchdowns. Although he does not possess elite level speed, he has good size and can stretch the field. He is expected to be their clear number one receiver this season, and should provide game to game consistency adding up to a big season.

42. Hubert Anyiam, Oklahoma State
Anyiam led Oklahoma State with 42 catches for 515 yards as a sophomore last year, and he should hold similar importance in the school's new high-flying offense that will be engineered by former Houston and Texas Tech offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Anyiam seems limited to a bit of a possession receiver role, but Holgorsen's offense mandates a ridiculous number of pass attempts, so Anyiam's numbers should go way up this year. He's worth a significant pick in all formats.

43. Maurice Shaw, Idaho
Shaw is one of the best big-play threats in the country. He caught just 32 passes last year but went for a ridiculous 666 yards and six touchdowns. With Max Komar gone, Shaw should see his catches go way up. If he holds onto his per catch average, the results could be spectacular. Take Titus Young and Austin Pettis first out of WAC receivers, but watch out for Shaw to be in the race for the second spot.

44. Vidal Hazelton, Cincinnati
Hazelton is a USC transfer who should do big things in the Butch Jones offense. Armon Binns should be the main red-zone guy at Cincinnati, but it wouldn't be surprising if Hazelton led the team in receptions. He's worth a significant pick in Big East-only leagues, and he's worth monitoring in all other formats as well.

45. Jamel Hamler, Fresno State
Hamler looks ready for a breakout season after catching 37 passes for 503 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore last year. He'll have little competition for Fresno State's top wideout spot and is therefore a good wideout pick in WAC-only leagues and someone to keep an eye on in other formats.

46. Owen Spencer, North Carolina State
Spencer might be the nation's best big-play threat, as his 30 catches went for a mind-boggling 765 yards and six touchdowns last year. That's 25.5 yards per catch. It doesn't look like Spencer will ever be a ten-catch per game sort of receiver, but all he needs is two receptions to do a great deal of damage. He's very valuable in ACC-only leagues.

47. DeMarco Sampson, San Diego State
Vincent Brown will get all the headlines this year, but Sampson proved that he too is a big-time receiving threat when Brown got hurt last year. Sampson caught 62 passes for 851 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2009, but consistency was a major issue for him. He showed he can play against the top defense by catching a total of 11 passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns against BYU and TCU, but he caught his eight touchdowns in a four-game stretch, including 15 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns against Colorado State. Still, Sampson caught at least two passes in all games last year and caught four or more in nine. He'll be a regular part of the offense in 2010, but the explosions go off irregularly. He has a high value in MWC-only leagues and is worth a spot in all other formats if Brown gets hurt again.

48. Rodney Bradley, Hawaii
Bradley is a good sleeper after his 2009 season was cut short by injury. He had 31 catches for 575 yards and five touchdowns in seven games, meaning he could be one of the nation's better options if he can stay healthy. He's a top wideout option in WAC-only leagues and is worth consideration in other formats, too.

49. Jermaine McKenzie, Memphis
McKenzie is a Miami transfer who had trouble seeing the field for the Hurricanes after a season-ending injury his freshman year set him behind players like Leonard Hankerson, Travis Benjamin and Aldarius Johnson. He reportedly chose Miami over schools like Alabama, Clemson and Auburn, so there's reason to believe he's a major talent. He enters a Memphis offense that was good to recent receivers like Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton, and neither of those two can approach McKenzie's level of natural ability. If he can develop some chemistry with the oft-injured but still very talented Tyler Bass at quarterback, McKenzie could be a terror in CUSA. He's worth keeping an eye on in all formats and could be very valuable in CUSA-only leagues.

50. Uzoma Nwachukwu, Texas A&M
Nwachukwu didn't disappoint as a freshman last year. Indeed, he must have exceeded expectations. He led Texas A&M with 708 receiving yards while catching six touchdowns, displaying immense big-play ability all the while as he averaged 17.7 yards per catch. It's hard to predict whether his numbers will improve in 2010, because Texas A&M has tons of talented pass-catchers and the ball will definitely be spread around. Nwachukwu is definitely a good value in Big 12-only leagues, but he's mostly only good for a later-round gamble pick in other formats.

51. Jerrell Jackson, Missouri
Jackson has the potential to be Missouri's top receiver in 2010. He caught 37 balls for 458 yards in 2009, but he became more involved in the offense as the season went on, accumulating over half his total yardage in the final three games of the regular season. If those games are any indication of how he'll be used in 2010, Tigers' fans can expect a healthy dose of Jackson this season. Look for him to bring in at least 50-60 catches for around 700-800 yards and a handful of touchdowns in 2010.

52. Colin Larmond, Boston College
Larmond has been a mammoth big-play threat for Boston College, averaging 20.55 yards per catch last year and scoring five touchdowns. How well he fits into the feature wideout role is unknown, but he has the athleticism to do a great deal of damage. He appears to be a very good receiver option in ACC-only leagues, and might even make an impact outside of them, too.

53. Brandon Wimberly, Nevada
Wimberly was excellent as a freshman in 2009 and should be one of the better wideout options in the country, and certainly in the WAC. He caught 53 passes for 733 yards and six touchdowns last year, and though Nevada doesn't throw it much, his natural improvement from one year to the next should help his numbers improve in 2010.

54. A.J. Jenkins, Illinois
Jenkins was an excellent recruit out of Florida, but only caught 21 passes in his first two season and was surrounded by rumors that he would transfer. Although he doesn't posses great size, he has blazing speed with excellent cutting ability, and was one of the stars of the off-season. He has a tremendous upside and is poised for a breakout season. The Illini certainly hope that he makes great strides this year to replace the lost production from Arrelious Benn.

55. Markeith Summers, Mississippi
Summers is a big wideout who has mostly played a role player role for Mississippi, but he's in line for a bigger workload this year. He could have played anywhere he wanted, including Alabama, Florida, LSU and Tennessee, so there's reason to believe Summers is ready to breakout. He caught 17 passes for 394 yards and four touchdowns last year, but Shay Hodge and Dexter McCluster are gone, so his targets should go way up. He could be a mid-round steal in SEC-only leagues and is certainly worth keeping an eye on otherwise.

56. Juron Criner, Arizona
Although Criner did not begin last season as a starter, he worked his way up the depth chart and finished with a team-leading 581 yards and nine touchdowns. The Wildcats like to spread the ball around, but quarterback Nick Foles will look for Criner even more in 2010. Expect a breakout season from Criner if he and Foles can develop a consistent connection and continue hooking up on big plays down the field and in the end zone. His value is mainly there in Pac-10-only leagues, but keep an eye on Criner in other formats if you're not satisfied with your wideout options after the draft.

57. Scotty McKnight, Colorado
McKnight is a very good possession wideout, and probably the top player to target on the Colorado roster. He caught 76 passes for 893 yards and six touchdowns in his 2009 junior year, and that should be his floor for 2010. He produced even against tough defenses, including the nation's best in Nebraska. McKnight caught seven passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns in that game. He's worth a significant pick in Big 12-only leagues and is worth consideration in other formats, too.

58. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
Jeffery was excellent as a freshman last year, leading South Carolina in all receiving categories. he caught 46 passes for 763 yards and six touchdowns, and his status as South Carolina's top receiver threat shouldn't be seriously challenged at any point. South Carolina doesn't have the most high-flying offense, so Jeffery's immense talent won't translate as well into the fantasy world, but he should still be a very good receiving option in SEC-only leagues and warrants attention in other leagues, too.

59. Jereme Brooks, Utah
Brooks is in line for a breakout year as a senior. He caught 56 passes for 696 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior last year, and he's by far the most accomplished member of the Utah wide receiver group at this point. The three other top pass-catchers from the Utah offense of last year are gone now, and Brooks is in line to get the bulk of the remaining work.

60. Torrey Smith, Maryland
Smith was an All-ACC performer last season as he caught 61 balls for 824 yards and five touchdowns. The 6-1, 200-pound weapon accounted for nearly 1/3 of the team's receiving yards last season and was a huge positive in an otherwise dismal season for the Terps. Smith's receiving production could be harmed by poor passing from his quarterbacks, but his owners can take some solace in the fact that Smith is a dangerous runner and returner, as well. He had a touchdown on the ground last year as well as two kick return touchdowns. He's a valuable wideout in ACC-only leagues, but otherwise he's probably just worth monitoring because the team around him is nowhere near as good as he is.

61. Nick Toon, Wisconsin
Possessing strong football bloodlines (his father Al Toon starred for the New York Jets), Nick Toon has both the size at 6-3 and 211 pounds, as well as the speed to become an excellent playmaker for the Badgers. He finished last season with 805 receiving yards and a solid 14.9 yard per catch average. With tight end Garrett Graham departed for the NFL, Toon and teammate Lance Kendricks are in line for increased production in 2010.

62. Tramain Swindall, Texas Tech
Swindall posted a solid 55-catch season as a sophomore last year, totaling 694 yards and five touchdowns. He has enough talent to claim more of the catches in the Tech offense, but he faces a great deal of competition in Alexander Torres, Detron Lewis and Austin Zouzalik.

63. LaVon Brazill, Ohio
Brazil was one of the nation's most under-appreciated all-around playmakers in 2009, catching six touchdowns, returning punts for three more, and throwing a touchdown pass as well. He probably won't match those excellent numbers this year, but he's the only Ohio player who's worth monitoring in all formats. His value in MAC-only leagues is obviously higher.

64. Armand Robinson, Miami (OH)
Robinson is Miami's best wideout and should be a good receiver option in MAC-only leagues. He caught 67 passes for 788 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games last year, so he'll definitely get his touches, though the dink-and-dunk nature of the Miami offense limits his upside.

65. Ryan Whalen, Stanford
Whalen was the best player in Stanford's big-play passing game in 2009, taking 57 receptions for 926 yards and four touchdowns. Stanford has one of the country's best quarterbacks in Andrew Luck, and the passing game could get more work this year with Gerhart gone. Expect Whalen's yardage numbers to increase slightly in 2010 with perhaps twice as many touchdowns as last year. However, Whalen might not be Stanford's best wideout by season's end, and if you're a gambler you might want to instead go with Chris Owusu instead.

66. Patrick Edwards, Houston
Though Edwards was the Cougars' third best receiver in 2009, his 1,021 yards and six touchdowns would have made him the most-productive wide out on many teams in the nation. Houston's top two receivers, James Cleveland and Tyron Carrier, are also back in 2010, so Edwards' numbers are unlikely to get any better. Still, he's an experienced receiver in Houston's spread offense, so he'll catch enough passes to be a fantasy factor in mixed leagues.

67. Daniel Hardy, Idaho
Hardy was a top WAC wideout in 2009 and will be the same in 2010. He caught 39 passes for 691 yards and three touchdowns, numbers that should improve across the board with Max Komar gone. Take Hardy after Maurice Shaw as far as Idaho receivers go, but consider them both very good options.

68. Phillip Payne, UNLV
Payne was arguably UNLV's best wideout while Ryan Wolfe was still around, so he'll definitely hold the title in 2010. He caught 58 passes for 661 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore last year, and he'll be in position to significantly improve on those numbers in 2010. He's a valuable player in MWC-only leagues, but he could have value in other formats, too.

69. Joe Adams, Arkansas
Adams was excellent as a sophomore in 2009, catching 29 passes for 568 yards and seven touchdowns despite missing three games. Expect him to be a pretty good WR2 or great WR3 option in SEC-only leagues, and keep an eye on him in other formats in case the Arkansas passing game gets even more prolific this year.

70. Marvin McNutt, Iowa
McNutt is a converted quarterback, and his combination of size at 6-4, 215 pounds and excellent speed makes him a difficult player to defend. He caught 34 passes for 674 yards and eight touchdowns last season and proved a very capable player in the red-zone, scoring six times in the team's final six games. While he is still raw, he is becoming a dependable receiver who should see an increase in targets this season.

71. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
Blackmon caught 20 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown as a freshman last year, and he's a good bet to at least triple that production this year. Former Houston and Texas Tech offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen is calling the shots with the Oklahoma State offense, so the numbers are about to get ridiculous in the passing game. Blackmon shouldn't be too high of a pick because there's a bunch of Cowboys receivers who could breakout this year, but his value is especially good in Big 12-only leagues. He's probably only worth monitoring in other formats.

72. Luther Ambrose, UL-Monroe
Ambrose is a huge big-play threat who had a very encouraging season in 2009. The junior totaled 311 yards and one touchdown on the ground while adding 455 yards and four touchdowns on 34 receptions. He's one of the team's most important players and they should make an effort to get him more touches in 2010.

73. Ronald Johnson, USC
Johnson will be flying a bit under the radar this year after catching just 34 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns last year. His season was significantly compromised by a collarbone injury, but Johnson is productive when he's on the field. Don't expect him to be as good as Damian Williams was, but he has value in Pac-10-only leagues.

74. Alexander Torres, Texas Tech
Torres surprisingly led Texas Tech in receptions last year, snagging 67 passes for 806 yards and six touchdowns. The 6-1, 196-pounder should be able to improve his production in 2010, but you never know with Texas Tech wideouts.

75. Donavon Kemp, UTEP
Kemp is a candidate to step up in a big way for UTEP this year. He caught just 11 passes as a sophomore last year, but those catches went for 262 yards and four touchdowns. That sort of big-play ability can't be ignored, so UTEP has almost no choice but to get him the ball more to see what happens. Consider him the best bet to step up as the second-best UTEP wideout after Kris Adams, and a super-sleeper who could have some worth in a number of league-types.

76. Jarrett Boykin, Virginia Tech
While opposing defenses are focused on VT's monster of a running game, Boykin will continue to sneak behind defenses and come up with huge plays. Boykin parlayed his 40 catches into 835 yards and five touchdowns last season, accounting for over 1/3 of Tech's receiving yards and touchdowns. Boykin is on the brink of becoming a star, and should be the first one to benefit from Tyrod Taylor's continued improvement.

77. Jheranie Boyd, North Carolina
Boyd is a former top-ten wideout recruit with immense big-play ability. He's too good to not be featured more prominently in the North Carolina offense this year. He caught 12 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns as a rotational player last year, but look for him to significantly increase those numbers this year and maybe even end the year as North Carolina's best wideout. He's worth a gamble pick in ACC-only leagues and should be monitored in all other formats.

78. Marvin Jones, California
Jones led California last year with 43 catches for 651 yards and six touchdowns, numbers he could definitely improve on this season. The former four-star recruit has the talent to be one of the top producers in the conference, but he needs better quarterback play from Kevin Riley to do it. Even if he only matches last year's numbers, Jones is worth a significant pick in Pac-10-only leagues.

79. Darvin Adams, Auburn
Adams was excellent as a sophomore last year, catching 60 passes for 997 yards and ten touchdowns. He should be a top wideout in the SEC again this year, but beware of a decrease in productivity. New quarterback Cam Newton isn't necessarily going to be as polished of a passer as Chris Todd right away, so Adams might struggle to reach last year's numbers.

80. Chris Givens, Miami (OH)
Givens was productive for Miami in 2008 and 2007, but he was only able to play four games last year. He might be the team's second-best wideout option behind Armand Robinson, so he has value in MAC-only leagues.

81. Kashif Moore, Connecticut
Moore seems poised to become the next No. 1 wideout for Connecticut. He's undersized but proved to be a big-play threat last year, averaging 16.82 yards on his 22 catches. He caught even more passes as a freshman the year before, snagging 27 for 273 yards. The emergence of Marcus Easley cut into Moore's production last year, but Easley's in the NFL now. Moore seems more ideally built for a supporting role than a feature one, but it seems that the ball will find him more often in 2010. He should have a good value in Big East-only leagues.

82. B.J. Cunningham, Michigan State
Cunningham found the end-zone four times last season and became a consistent target of quarterback Kirk Cousins. Look for Cunningham's production to increase if Cousins can have another strong season. He has good value in Big Ten-only leagues.

83. Juan Nunez, Western Michigan
Nunez was very productive last year, but his struggles to stay healthy kept him out of six games. Still, he averaged one touchdown per game and added 32 catches for 430 yards. Robert Arnheim and Jordan White are major threats to steal catches in the Western Michigan offense, and losing star quarterback Tim Hiller could hurt his production, but Nunez is arguably the top wideout option on the team.

84. Lester Jean, Florida Atlantic
Jean caught 38 passes for 501 yards and four touchdowns as a junior last year, but his numbers should go up in 2010. He'll go from the third receiving option in the offense to the first, which makes him a good wide receiver option in Sun Belt-only leagues. He's worth keeping an eye on in other formats, but not too much.

85. Chris Rainey, Florida
Rainey has rushed for over 500 yards in each of the past two seasons, but the Gators have a lot of good running backs and will move Rainey to receiver in 2010 to take advantage of his blazing speed. Rainey won't be the impact player Percy Harvin was, but he'll be a versatile option for the Gators out of the slot, and occasionally in the backfield.

86. Detron Lewis, Texas Tech
Lewis was expected to explode as the team's clear No. 1 wideout last year, but players like Alexander Torres, Tramain Swindall and Austin Zouzalik emerged to shoulder much of the workload. Lewis has his place in the offense, but don't expect Michael Crabtree numbers from him, or even Danny Amendola numbers, for that matter.

87. Conner Vernon, Duke
Vernon had a superb freshman season in 2009, catching 55 passes for 746 yards and three touchdowns in just 11 games. Look for him to build on that excellent performance, making him a good ACC-only league depth pick at wide receiver. He's worth keeping an eye on in other formats.

88. Antavious Wilson, Marshall
Wilson was excellent as a freshman in 2009, catching 60 passes for 724 yards and three touchdowns as Marshall's top pass-catcher. It will be disappointing if he doesn't build on those numbers in 2010 and become a decent WR2 or strong WR3 in CUSA-only leagues. His potential is limited by the quarterbacks throwing to him, but considering what he did as a freshman last year, you have to like his chances of improving. 89. Kamar Aiken, Central Florida
Aiken had a very good 2009 season, catching 36 passes and showing huge big-play ability by taking it 610 yards for nine touchdowns. The problem is that his quarterback play might take a step back in 2010, but he's still worth a significant pick in CUSA-only leagues.

90. Adrian Hodges, Bowling Green
Hodges isn't Freddie Barnes, but he might be the closest thing Bowling Green has left. He caught 46 passes for 417 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore last year, so he's probably worth a depth pick in MAC-only leagues.

91. Julio Jones, Alabama
Jones can blame part of his 2009 struggles on injuries, but he needs to play better in 2010. 43 catches for 596 yards and four touchdowns in his sophomore season made him one of the country's most disappointing players, though Alabama's national title made it forgivable. Jones isn't worth a pick outside of SEC-only leagues for three reasons. First, he needs to prove himself more as a red-zone target after catching just eight touchdowns in two years. He'd undoubtedly produce better there if Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson didn't make it so easy for Alabama to score, but touchdowns are what matter in fantasy football, so the excuse doesn't really matter. Second, the Alabama offense obviously doesn't need to throw much. Third, the injury concerns aren't going to go away. If you have Jones as anything more than a WR2 in SEC-only leagues, you might be hurting.

92. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Iowa
Johnson-Koulianos has led the Hawkeyes in receiving the last three seasons, and finished last season with 45 catches for 750 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 16.7 yards per catch. He is a valuable deep threat but is not always the most consistent, sometimes messing up on routine plays. Despite this, he's very talented and capable of improving. He has never been a scoring threat, and needs to work on his ability in the red-zone to become a more well-rounded target.

93. Terrance Toliver, LSU
Toliver has yet to fully live up to his enormous potential, and a broken hand suffered in an off-season fight is not a step in the right direction. That said, Toliver did catch 53 balls for 735 yards last season, but he only caught three touchdowns despite scoring twice in the season opener against Washington. Toliver's hand will be fine by the time the season starts, so he'll have no excuses for anything less than a superb season.

94. David Leonard, Wyoming
Leonard offers steady production without much upside. He caught 77 passes for 705 yards and three scores in 2009, but he could improve this year given that his starting quarterback, Austyn Carta-Samuels, will no longer be a freshman. His value is particularly high in PPR leagues.

95. Russell Shepard, LSU
Shepard's name sounds so familiar because he came to LSU as the nation's top quarterback recruit, but since then he has converted to wide receiver. He only caught five passes last season, but ran for 277 yards, and has the speed to be an elite receiver. Shepard will catch, carry, and throw in what should be a breakout season for one of the SEC's most talented players. He's worth a depth pick in SEC-only leagues.

96. Greg Little, North Carolina
Little is a runner/receiver hybrid who's good at everything but great at nothing. He caught 62 passes last year for 724 yards and five touchdowns while adding 166 yards and a touchdown on the ground, but his catches could drop a bit this year with a few young targets emerging on the North Carolina offense. He should be valuable in ACC-only leagues, but he's only worth keeping an eye on otherwise.

97. McKay Jacobson, BYU
Jacobson is puzzlingly dangerous as a deep threat, averaging 24.17 yards per catch last year and 19.54 in his season prior to that. There's a legitimate concern that O'Neill Chambers will overtake him as the team's most useful fantasy wideout, but you have to take Jacobson between the two because of his upside. 556 yards and four touchdowns is good enough production to make him a significant pick in MWC-only leagues.

98. Da'Jon McKnight, Minnesota
McKnight did not play in the Gophers' first eight games last season, but he received an opportunity when Eric Decker was lost with a foot injury and ran with it. Over the last five games, McKnight caught 17 passes for 311 yards. Those numbers are not staggering by any means, but they did help him secure a starting spot. Expect McKnight to pick up where he left off and be the Gophers' top receiver this season.

99. Dontavia Bogan, South Florida
Bogan might be South Florida's most reliable receiver option with A.J. Love (knee) and Sterling Griffin (ankle) sidelined. He caught 22 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns as a junior last year, but that was as the third option in the offense. He'll be no worse than the second option this year. He has potentially good value in Big East-only leagues, but is probably only worth monitoring otherwise.

100. Keshawn Martin, Michigan State
Martin is one of the best big-play threats in the country. If it weren't for a loaded group of wideouts at Michigan State, we'd have him much higher than this. He only caught 18 passes last year, but he averaged 22.83 yards per catch, going for 411 yards and five touchdowns. He also added 219 yards and a touchdown on the ground in addition to two passing touchdowns and a kickoff return for a touchdown. Martin's versatility and knack for the big play gives him extremely high upside, but his inconsistent workload keeps him from being a top recommendation. Go ahead and rank him about 20 spots higher if you're the gambling type.

Kevin O'Brien, Jordan Ozer, Mike Wendt and Jerry Donabedian contributed to this article.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mario Puig
Mario is a Senior Writer at RotoWire who primarily writes and projects for the NFL and college football sections.
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