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Top Fantasy Football Wide Receivers 2018: Antonio Brown boasts the crown but DeAndre Hopkins in hot pursuit

Jim Saranteas @thefantasygreek
08/22/2018 5:09PM ET

In fantasy football, wide receivers have become as dominant, if not more, than running backs in the past seven or eight years because of the rise of points-per-reception (PPR) leagues. A more average wide receiver with less yards and less scores can be as productive as a wide receiver with more yards and more scores because of the number of receptions they haul in during a season. Players like Wes Welker and T.J. Houshmandzadeh helped their fantasy football stock in that way.

As most fantasy football leagues are twelve-team leagues, we’ll focus on the top twelve wide receivers, then rank the next best twelve and so on, until we reach wide receivers who’ll likely need an injury to become relevant outside of the bye weeks.

The ranking below is for non-PPR fantasy football leagues. At the end, we’ll note which players get a boost in the rankings in PPR fantasy football leagues.

1. Antonio Brown                 Steelers

2. DeAndre Hopkins            Texans

3. Odell Beckham Jr.           Giants

4. Julio Jones                       Falcons

5. Keenan Allen                   Chargers

6. A.J. Green                        Bengals

7. Michael Thomas              Saints

8. Davante Adams               Packers

9. T.Y. Hilton                        Colts

10. Mike Evans                     Buccaneers

11. Tyreek Hill                      Chiefs

12. Demaryius Thomas       Broncos

The ‘cream of the crop’ of fantasy football wide receivers. These are players expected to haul in 1,000-plus yards receiving, with at least five expected to top 1,200 yards.  At least three will top 100 receptions on the season. Antonio Brown is assuredly a top-five fantasy football draft pick in all formats and DeAndre Hopkins will likely sneak into the top five in PPR leagues.

13. Amari Cooper                 Raiders

14. Stefon Diggs                  Vikings

15. Doug Baldwin*              Seahawks

16. Adam Thielen                Vikings

17. Larry Fitzgerald              Cardinals

18. Josh Gordon*                 Browns

19. Allen Robinson              Bears

20. Marvin Jones Jr.            Lions

21. JuJu Smith-Schuster     Steelers

22. Jarvis Landry                  Browns

23. Michael Crabtree           Ravens

24. Corey Davis                    Titans

A few of the above players are no stranger to the fantasy football wide receiver rankings. Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Larry Fitzgerald look like sure bets to finish at least in this second tier. The rest are in good situations and have the talent to finish this high.

Genuine concern abounds on Josh Gordon who has yet to report to camp. Don’t be surprised to see his name fall further down the fantasy football ranks.

25. Brandin Cooks               Rams

26. Golden Tate                    Lions

27. Chris Hogan                   Patriots

28. Marquise Goodwin        49ers

29. Robby Anderson           Jets

30. Alshon Jeffery*              Eagles

31. Sammy Watkins             Chiefs

32. Robert Woods                Rams

33. Cooper Kupp                  Rams

34. Kenny Stills                    Dolphins

35. Will Fuller V                    Texans

36.Julian Edelman             Patriots

Here are potential breakthrough fantasy football wide receivers. Among this group, Marquise Goodwin is intriguing. Goodwin is reportedly having a great camp and has emerged as Jimmy Garoppolo’s number one wide receiver. On the rest, they are players who will likely have good weeks but be held back by other great wide receivers on their team.

Among this group, be cautious of Alshon Jeffery (shoulder). He’s been notorious for missing games due to soft tissue injuries. There is concern he may start the season on the PUP list and this would hurt his fantasy football value further.

37. Emmanuel Sanders      Broncos

38. Nelson Agholor*             Eagles

39. Kelvin Benjamin             Bills

40. Jamison Crowder*         Redskins

41. Randall Cobb*               Packers

42. Pierre Garcon                 49ers

43. Jordy Nelson                  Raiders

44. Allen Hurns                    Cowboys

45. Devin Funchess             Panthers

46. DJ Moore                        Panthers

47. Mike Williams                 Chargers

48. Marqise Lee                    Jaguars

In this fantasy football group, various issues surround the wide receivers which include quarterback talent (Kelvin Benjamin) or other good wide receivers on the roster (Jordy Nelson). If Alshon Jeffery misses time, Nelson Algohor gets a boost in value into the third group of fantasy football receivers. Allen Hurns is an intriguing prospect as the Cowboys look to replace the production of the departed Dez Bryant. However, Hurns is also an injury concern.

49. DeVante Parker*           Dolphins

50. Kenny Golladay             Lions

51. Anthony Miller               Bears

52. Michael Gallup              Cowboys

53. Rishard Matthews*        Titans

54. Ted Ginn                         Saints

55. Dez Bryant                      FA

56. Keelan Cole                   Jaguars

57. Sterling Shepard           Giants

58. Josh Doctson*               Redskins

59. Geronimo Allison          Packers

60. Tyler Lockett                 Seahawks

These are fantasy football wide receivers with a lot of talent expected to have the occasional breakout game. Kenny Golladay is a great late round pick as his game seems to be coming together as is veteran Dez Bryant who should instantly become the number one wide receiver for whatever team eventually signs him.

In PPR leagues, rank Stefon Diggs, Jarvis Landry, Golden Tate, and Emmanuel Sanders five spots higher than they are ranked above.

“ * “ denotes an injury at the time of writing.

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