More than any other position in fantasy football, wide receivers can burst on to the scene with surprising results. A receiver with a new quarterback or with a better supporting cast can have a huge year that brings fantasy owners a huge windfall.
This season will be no exception. Several solid wide receivers will take the next step and become fantasy studs for the owner bold enough to select them. These three players are chief among them.
Stevie Johnson- Buffalo Bills
I'm stretching the limits of the term breakout season to include Stevie Johnson. In 2010, he already had what can probably be considered a breakout season. He caught 82 passes for over 1,000 yards and ten touchdowns.
In 2011, he will become a fantasy superstar. His reception numbers will be at or near 100 and a 1,400-yard receiving season isn't out of the question. I'd also look for a healthy increase in his touchdowns.
The boost in production will come from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick improving on his 2010 season and an increase in passes thrown to him with the departure of Lee Evans from the Bills' receiving corps.
James Jones- Green Bay Packers
Jones firmly established himself as the third receiver in the Packers' offense in 2010, but in 2011, he will take the next step and work his way onto the field with more regularity.
Last season, he caught 50 passes for 679 yards, but this season, those numbers will be closer to 75 and 900. His touchdowns, of which he had five last season, will also see a jump as he sees more time. He is a rangy target in the red zone.
There are plenty of other options in the Packers' offense, so his ceiling is limited right now, but there is no better offense to play receiver in. Aaron Rodgers will find a way to get Jones involved in the offense early and often.
Jerome Simpson- Cincinnati Bengals
Simpson is a receiver that probably wasn't even on the radar of fantasy owners before last season. He had done little to prove that he was worthy of the second-round pick he was selected with back in 2008.
After filling in briefly at the tail end of last season, Simpson is slowly working his way up draft boards.
With Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco no longer with the team, Simpson will have more than a fair chance to prove he should stay on the field. Only rookie A.J. Green will enter the season ahead of him on the depth chart. The shaky quarterback situation limits Simpson's ceiling, but he is at least worth a spot on your roster.
No comments:
Post a Comment