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Ladd Biro’s Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 60 Wide Receivers

LADD BIRO ARCHIVE
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A ranking of NFL wide receivers heading into the season. Rankings will be updated throughout the preseason.

By Ladd Biro
Special to Latimes.com
RNK NAME TM REC YD TD COMMENT
1 Randy Moss OAK 49 767 13 Needs to bond with Collins, stay healthy and keep his nose clean; but still the most dangerous weapon in the league.
2 Terrell Owens PHI 77 1200 14 You still have to worry that he'll go postal at some point during the season, but there's no denying he's a force when he hits the field.
3 Javon Walker GB 89 1382 12 After his coming-out party in '04, he's auditioning for a hefty raise. He'll get it.
4 Reggie Wayne IND 77 1210 12 Let others take Marvin. You can wait another round and grab his understudy, who will surpass the mentor for good this season.
5 Torry Holt STL 94 1372 10 His rapport with Bulger is remarkable. Got off to a slow start in '04, but that shouldn't happen again.
6 Chad Johnson CIN 95 1274 9 The deadliest weapon in the Bengal arsenal; defenses can't ignore other WRs anymore, either.
7 Marvin Harrison IND 86 1113 15 Peyton's favorite target is starting to slow down a bit, and won't be the #1 Colt WR any longer.
8 Roy Williams DET 54 817 8 Would have had a monster 2004 if not for injuries. Could double his TD production in '05.
9 Joe Horn NO 94 1399 11 All signs point to another terrific year for cell-phone man, particularly if Brooks improves.
10 Nate Burleson MIN 68 1006 9 Though not suited to be a #1 receiver, he came up big when Moss was out in '04. A bit of a gamble that could pay off handsomely.
11 Darrell Jackson SEA 87 1199 7 Among the best of the second-tier receivers, he would be higher if he'd stop dropping so many balls.
12 Andre Johnson HOU 79 1142 6 A revamped playbook calling for shorter timing routes should increase AJ's touches and open up more downfield opportunities.
13 Hines Ward PIT 80 1004 4 With Big Ben given more leash to throw, and Burress gone, Ward should return as a fantasy force.
14 Laveranues Coles NYJ 90 950 1 Reunited with his favorite QB, he'll reconnect with the end zone much more frequently.
15 Donald Driver GB 84 1208 9 Driver is the Pack's receiver 1b to Walker's 1a. With Favre at the controls, they'll both prosper.
RNK NAME TM REC YD TD COMMENT
16 Steve Smith CAR 6 60 0 The biggest question mark on the list, returning from a blown-out knee. Will bring his owners great joy, or great disappointment. May return kicks, too.
17 Michael Clayton TB 80 1193 7 2004's fantasy ROY will have to share more with Galloway this season, but should get out of the gates faster as the entrenched starter.
18 Jerry Porter OAK 64 998 9 The most talented WR to line up with Moss since Chris Carter, all Porter should do is catch TDs. Hammy troubles are a concern.
19 Chris Chambers MIA 69 898 7 Consistently productive even when his offense stinks, will return to '03 form once the Fins learn to run again.
20 Anquan Boldin ARI 56 623 1 With everything but his nose intact and back at his natural flanker position, he should be a solid #2 fantasy WR with Warner under center.
21 Eddie Kennison KC 62 1086 8 This will be the year when a Chief WR finally makes a serious fantasy impact.
22 Ashley Lelie DEN 54 1084 7 After blossoming in '04, his challenge is to mix in some consistency along with his explosiveness.
23 Keenan McCardell SD 31 393 1 Way underrated after falling off the radar in '04, but will return with a vengeance in '05 paired with a confident Brees. Age is only concern.
24 Drew Bennett TEN 80 1247 11 Without Mason drawing double-teams on the other side, Bennett won't get open as much. Due for a big fall from lights-out '04.
25 Jimmy Smith JAX 74 1172 6 So the Jags are going vertical this year, huh? Smith certainly hopes so, though those aging legs ain't what they used to be.
26 Isaac Bruce STL 89 1292 6 There are worse things than being second fiddle in the Rams' offense.
27 Deion Branch NE 35 454 4 With Patten gone and Troy Brown an afterthought in the receiving game, a healthy Branch will be a solid fantasy WR again.
28 Rod Smith DEN 79 1144 7 With Lelie drawing more attention on the other side, Smith will be getting open more often. Don't write him off just yet.
29 Derrick Mason BAL 96 1168 7 The perfect receiver to help Kyle Boller develop his confidence, Mason's numbers will remain as steady as he is.
30 Eric Moulds BUF 88 1043 5 Don't write his epitaph just yet. The old warrior is plenty capable of putting up the numbers. It's his QB you need to worry about.
RNK NAME TM REC YD TD COMMENT
31 Larry Fitzgerald ARI 58 780 8 My gut keeps telling me to watch out for the sophomore jinx with this guy. New QB, new RB, Boldin back in the line-up…smells like trouble.
32 Lee Evans BUF 48 843 9 They may walk before they run, but "Losman to Evans" could become a very familiar call this fall.
33 T.J. Houshmandzadeh CIN 73 978 4 Can you imagine if he didn't use initials? Has a chance to put up solid numbers, but not the crazy totals some pundits are predicting.
34 Plaxico Burress NYG 35 698 5 Now that he's "The Man" in New York, will he put up, or shut up? Forget the latter, but hopefully he won't let his immaturity detract from Eli's development.
35 Charles Rogers DET 0 0 0 Has everything you want in a WR, with one exception: the world's most brittle collarbone. Major injury risk, but huge upside.
36 Muhsin Muhammad CHI 93 1405 16 Why do I picture Wile E. Coyote racing out off the cliff, looking down, and realizing he's about to plummet? Call it the Orton Factor.
37 Tyrone Calico TEN 2 13 0 Major sleeper who could soar up the charts if he's fully recovered from '04 horse-collar injury. Great size/speed combo.
38 Donte Stallworth NO 58 767 5 I'm tired of waiting for him to realize his potential. This guy has "underperformer" written all over him.
39 Santana Moss WAS 45 838 5 Moss is proof that you should be careful what you wish for. He got out of NY, but fell into a mess.
40 Brandon Stokley IND 68 1077 10 When Peyton likes you, good things happen. But shoulder injury drops him out of the Top 30.
41 Travis Taylor MIN 34 421 0 Having secured the #2 WR slot ahead of Robinson, has to be considered a major sleeper candidate if he can hold onto the job.
42 Joey Galloway TB 33 416 5 If he can stay healthy, and Griese can keep his job, Galloway will be a valuable sleeper.
43 Brandon Lloyd SF 43 565 6 Plagued by minor injuries and major QB problems, Lloyd still manages to post decent stats when given the chance.
44 Amani Toomer NYG 51 747 0 A faulty hammy and poor QB play denied him an end zone appearance in '04. Should bounce back with Burress taking some of the heat.
45 Keary Colbert CAR 47 754 5 His race to stardom will be slowed with Rod Gardner in the fold, but Colbert should make a steady third WR in your line-up.
RNK NAME TM REC YD TD COMMENT
46 Terry Glenn DAL 24 400 2 You heard it here first: Glenn will out-perform Keyshawn. Sadly, it won't be enough to help your team.
47 Reche Caldwell SD 18 310 3 Can't seem to stay healthy, but has flashed big-play potential. Worth a late-round pick.
48 David Givens NE 56 872 3 Plenty of upside now that Patten is gone. A solid bye-week sub whose value would skyrocket if Branch gets hurt again.
49 Mike Williams DET * * * Promising rookie should get plenty of red-zone looks.
50 Michael Jenkins ATL 7 119 0 If you insist on drafting a Falcons WR, he's the only viable option.
51 Ronald Curry OAK 50 679 6 Terrific upside playing in Raider offense. If Porter's hammy doesn't improve soon, his stock goes up. Way up.
52 Keyshawn Johnson DAL 70 986 6 An adequate possession receiver, but little big-play potential.
53 Marty Booker MIA 50 638 1 Another Dolphin who's easy to overlook, Booker's size and speed will get him plenty of attention from Frerotte.
54 Antonio Bryant CLE 58 812 4 Inconsistent and underachieving, he's the only Browns WR worth drafting. Developing good rapport with Dilfer in training camp.
55 Marcus Robinson MIN 47 657 8 Lost #2 job to Travis Taylor, but that could change at any time. Robinson has physical gifts that few can match, and will have his games where he soars.
56 Justin McCareins NYJ 56 770 4 Has yet to live up to fantasy expectations. Coles' return will make him an after-thought.
57 Jabar Gaffney HOU 41 632 2 Has the chance to make noise in '05 with AJ drawing double-teams and Carr steadily improving.
58 Reggie Williams JAX 27 268 1 Stands to gain the most from a more vertical Jags offense.
59 Rod Gardner CAR 51 650 5 An underachiever as a Skin, his size has made him instantly welcome among the small Panther receiver corps. Potential sleeper.
60 Greg Lewis PHL 17 183 0 Season-ending injury to Pinkston and T.O.'s lunacy make him someone to watch during the preseason.
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