Outlook: Beckham burst onto the scene after missing the first six games of the season to deliver one of the most impressive campaigns in the history of fantasy football. In twelve games, the former LSU star caught 91 balls for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, carrying many fantasy owners to victory with three-straight 25-point performances to close out the season. As expected, Beckham Jr. is a highly sought after player in 2015, earning an early round pick in all formats. The question is will the volume of targets and catches be there for Beckham with the return of Victor Cruz and the defensive adjustments made by opposing teams. In addition, a hamstring injury has limited his offseason training this spring and could be a concern as it could linger into the season. Fantasy owners who expect OBJ to produce similar fantasy per game numbers in 2015 may be disappointed, especially if they use an early first round pick to select the flashy wide receiver. However, owners who are looking for top-10 WR stats with the possibility of top-5 WR production will likely have their wishes granted.

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Outlook: Pound for pound the best receiver in the game, Antonio Brown optimizes what it means to be an elite fantasy receiver. Blessed with outlandish quickness and speed, Brown might stand at only 5’10’’, but he plays like a giant. 2014’s No.1 receiver was a dynmo, finishing with an NFL high 129 receptions (18 more than No.2 Demaryius Thomas) to go along with 13 touchdowns. Prized by fantasy owners for such a high weekly ceiling (he has an active 32-game streak of at least 5 catches and 50 yards in a game), Brown is simply one of the top-3 fantasy receivers no matter the format. He will again be the focal point of the Steeler’s passing game, and while his ridiculous 33 targets in the redzone is sure to drop with the development of 6’5’’ Martavis Bryant, Brown is capable of scoring from any part of the field. Look for a slight downtick in overall numbers if some of his younger counterparts earn the trust of Ben Roethlisberger and the coaching staff, but without a doubt Brown belongs at very near the top of the WR1 rankings.

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Outlook: 2014 was the third in what has been a string of monster fantasy seasons for Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. Thomas finished second in the league with a whopping 1,619 yards and 111 receptions. He also added 11 touchdowns, making him the No. 4 wide receiver in standard scoring league and No. 2 in PPR leagues. Wide receiver can often be a position that fluctuates from week to week, but Thomas is a rare gem who provides consistency while still providing elite level numbers. From Week 4 through Week 17, Thomas went over 100 yards in all but three contests. In those three remaining contests, he still scored a combined four touchdowns, which made him a double-digit fantasy producer every week except one, even in standard scoring formats. That kind of stat-line is something you won’t find in too many places and it’s why Thomas is a consensus top three wide receiver heading into the 2015 season.

As great as Thomas has been, there is still concern that the Broncos might be leaning more on the running game in 2015 than they have in recent seasons. While that could be a cause for concern, the reality is that it might affect every other player in this offense other than Thomas. Kubiak’s scheme is definitely more run-heavy than others that the Manning-Thomas combo have been a part of, but an often overlooked aspect of Kubiak offenses is that they tend to rely heavily on the “X” wide receiver. Graham Barfield of Rotoworld broke down the numbers and explained that the X receiver in Kubiak’s offense has averaged six receptions for 82.4 yards per game. That projects out to a 96 catch, 1,318 yard season for Thomas...and all of that comes from offenses with substantially less talent at the quarterback position. Thomas is one of the safest picks in all of fantasy football and will be drafted as such at the back end of the first round. If you’re looking for elite production and security with your first round pick, look no further than the Broncos’ top receiver.

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Outlook: Bryant posted a third-consecutive season with at least 88 catches, 1200 yards, and 12 touchdowns last season in route to finishing as the third ranked fantasy wide receiver. He led the league with a career-high 16 touchdowns, three more than Antonio Brown and Jordy Nelson. A regression in the run game due to the departure of DeMarco Murray could have a positive impact on Bryant, should the Cowboys be forced to throw more. Bryant saw 24 less targets in 2014 as a result of the effective rushing attack and balanced offense used by head coach Jason Garrett. If Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden struggle to pick up the slack in the ground game, Bryant may see more targets and could have an even bigger season in 2015. A looming contract dispute and possible holdout has some fantasy owners worried about using a first or early second round pick on Bryant. Assuming that Bryant and the Cowboys reach an accord on a new long-term deal, Bryant is more than worthy of an early round pick and will make an excellent foundation for both PPR and standard scoring teams.

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Outlook: Julio Jones set career best marks in targets and receptions in his first healthy season as the Falcons’ top receiving option. Already a top ten player at his position, there is still room for growth. With seven games of over 100 yards receiving and nine with double digit targets, Jones’ six touchdown receptions seem a little low given his importance in this offense. If the Atlanta offense improves under the guidance of OC Kyle Shanahan, Jones should be primed for his best season to date. As the centerpiece not only of Atlanta’s passing game but the entire offense, Jones figures to have ample opportunity to get the ball in his hands making his fantasy ceiling much higher than most. Rumblings over his contract status have not proven to be a distraction at this point. In fact, both signs seem optimistic that a contract extension can be worked out prior to the start of the season. Jones has not given any indication of a potential hold out and instead has been committed to improving the offense.

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Outlook: Green is my darkhorse pick for overall WR1. This should tell you all you need to know about how I feel about his fantasy prospects entering the 2015 season. A nagging toe injury sapped his speed and quickness for much of the season, but despite missing four games he was able to put up a 69-1046-6 line and finish as a WR2 in standard leagues. Precedent and his effectiveness make me believe that Green is one of the best receivers in the league and he has a good a chance as any to be fantasy’s top receiver.

Before his injury plagued 2014 season, Green finished as fantasy’s No.4 overall receiver in 2012 and 2013. He’s one of the few receivers in the league capable of hitting a big play from anywhere on the field, will be peppered with targets in an offense that projects to pass more frequently, and actually had the second-highest per catch average of his career last year even thought he was rarely fully healthy. Being injured may have forced him to work harder on the technical aspects of route running, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s also in a contract year. The threat of the running game will keep defenses honest, and Green will benefit from the return of Marvin Jones and Tyler Eifert as coverages can’t roll in his direction as frequently. Sure there are a bunch of reason’s (more options in the red zone, the erratic play of Andy Dalton) why Green might not rise to No.1, but it’s not for lack of talent. I see several flashes in the pan (Beckham, Evans) and guys with less pedigree (Jeffrey) being ranked near or above Green. There honestly aren’t three receivers in the league I’d take over Green, which means he could be an easy WR1 value pick for any fantasy team.

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Outlook: There aren’t many receivers in fantasy history that can essentially miss five games and still finish in the top-15. That should tell you everything you need to know about Calvin Johnson. Despite the injuries, he still finished with a standard scoring 12.0 points per game, which was good for No.10 in the NFL. Yes, he’s lost a step, and has missed a few starts over the last two seasons, but he’ll be targeted relentlessly in the red zone, has a threatening wing mate in Golden Tate, and still possess one of the highest wide receiver ceilings in the NFL. Johnson has three top-5 finishes (including two No.1 overall) in his last four seasons, and if he plays 16 games, he’s a virtual lock to finish in the top-5 again. Sure he’s probably on the downswing in his career, (and not an ideal dynasty pick) which is why he could be a serious value pick in the second round. He’s capable of winning your week by himself, and still has 1500 yard, 10-plus touchdown upside, making him an easy WR1.

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Outlook: Early this offseason it seemed a good bet that the Packers wouldn’t be able to resign Randall Cobb. But thankfully for Packers fans, and Cobb owners, the 5’10’’ blur of a receiver will be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers and not David Carr or Blake Bortles in 2015 (disaster averted!) after he signed a four-year $40 million deal in March.

To put it mildly, Cobb went off last year. On the back of his career best 91-1287-12 line, Cobb finished just out of the top 5 in standard scoring. The receptions and yards aren’t as eye-popping for the high volume slot receiver, but what does stand out are the 12 touchdown receptions. Bucking serious statistical trends, Cobb is a rare sub six-foot receiver to score double-digit touchdowns in the red zone. Are these numbers sustainable or repeatable? The answer to that question will largely shape where Cobb falls in the final 2015 receiver rankings.

With more hands in the cookie jar, can Cobb hope to replicate his stats from a year ago? As long as Rodgers is flinging the ball around, I think he can. Cobb demonstrated touchdown scoring chops in 2012 when he found the end zone eight times, so approaching double digits again is certainly plausible. The catches and yardage will be there in the high volume Packer attack, so the biggest question remains the development of the younger Packer receivers. Will Devante Adams, Jeff Janis, and tight end Richard Rodgers demand more run in the weekly game plan, especially in the red zone? Aaron Rodgers, like many veteran quarterbacks, greatly value the familiarity and timing that comes with veteran receivers, especially in the red zone. I don’t believe that the other receivers will make much of a dent into Cobb’s numbers, and expect him to once again be a top-10 receiver, and an easy WR1.

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Outlook: The changing of the guard has officially taken place in Houston, where Andre Johnson will no longer be lining up on the outside. In comes DeAndre Hopkins, a player who enters his third year on the heels of a breakout 2014 campaign. Fantasy owners won’t be shy about drafting Hopkins in 2015. Those supporting Hopkins’ ascension into the top 10 fantasy wideouts must first believe in another jump in targets. After receiving 93 targets as a rookie, he saw 127 balls thrown his way in 2014. With Cecil Shorts and others not likely to demand a huge amount of attention, a modest increase is realistic. Secondly, the quarterback play is expected to be better and more consistent, especially considering Hoyer’s prowess with the play-action pass perfectly suits Hopkins downfield skills. He will need to prove he is fully recovered from wrist surgery earlier in the offseason. All signs point to him being able to suit up for training camp after sitting out all of the team’s OTAs. There is upside for Hopkins to achieve modest improvements across the board. Simply repeating his numbers from a year ago would still be productive for the 15th wide receiver off the board, making him a solid investment on draft day.

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Outlook: Jeffery’s sequel to his breakout 2013 was successful at the fantasy box office, as his 85-1,133-10 line was good enough for a WR1 finish in most standard leagues. He continued to show a refinement to his game, and the strong body control and point of attack skills that has kept his catch rate at 60 percent over the past two seasons. He’s built good chemistry over the last few seasons with Cutler, and he better have the trust of the gunslinger, as Jeffery slides into the No.1 receiving role for the Bears after the departure of Brandon Marshall.

With two consecutive WR1 finishes, Jeffery is no flash in the pan. It seems like a no brainer his production will increase or at the very least, stay the same now that he’s the team’s undisputed No.1 passing game option. He will fill the role of Demaryius Thomas in the Adam Gase pass offense, but I have to wonder just how effective he’ll be with most of the defensive focus on him. He’s enjoyed dominating alongside Brandon Marshall for two years, feasting on single coverage. He was solid, if not spectacular as the main man in weeks 13-17 last year when Marshall suffered a rib injury. He failed to top 75 yards, and his catch percentage actually dipped to a lackluster 41 percent. He did manage to score twice, and this is where I think Jeffery will continue to produce. While I foresee a possible dip in receptions and yards, Jeffery’s size and catch radius make him a brute in the red zone. He is a must start receiver in any format, but might linger right on the cusp of WR1 status, especially if Kevin White’s development accelerates.

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Outlook: Mike Evans delivered a quality rookie season to fantasy owners despite the offense’s struggle to put points on the board. Better quarterback play will almost assuredly see Evans’ poor catch rate of 55 percent improve in 2015, and he did spend a portion of the offseason working with Randy Moss. However, he is not likely to garner 23 percent of his team’s passing attempts as he did a year ago. Before anointing Evans a top-five player at his position and surefire WR1 for the upcoming season, take a closer look at the numbers. Tampa Bay passed the ball 531 times throughout the 2014 regular season against only 353 rushing attempts on its way to the worst record in the NFL. The coaching staff knows it will need to improve the running game, and while Evans will be the focal point of the passing game, it may be a little too bullish to predict a huge step forward in Evans’ second season as a pro. He appears to be over a slight hamstring issue from earlier this spring during OTAs and heads into training camp looking to develop chemistry with his new quarterback. The media hype surrounding Winston will undoubtedly keep Evans’ name in the fantasy spotlight throughout the entire preseason, which could inflate his fantasy stock by the time draft day comes around.

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Outlook: The departure of former number one wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has opened the door for second-year wide receiver Jordan Matthews to assume the top receiving role with the Eagles in 2015. The team added first round pick Nelson Agholor from USC to help add depth to a depleted corps that includes veteran Riley Cooper. Matthews’ size and athleticism makes him a tough red zone target and the likely favorite of newly acquired quarterback Sam Bradford. The former second round pick from Vanderbilt caught 67 balls for 872 yards and eight touchdowns on 103 targets as a rookie in 2014. With Maclin now a member of the Chiefs, look for Matthews to receive more targets and catches, while approaching the century mark in yards and double-digit touchdowns. Owners should be aware of the possibility of Agholor emerging as the primary target instead of Matthews, as he is a smart player who runs excellent routes, and is a versatile wide receiver with excellent speed.

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