Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

- Written by Brad Berreman
- Edited by Marc Caviglia

It is a widely known theory in fantasy football that wide receivers, for whatever the reasons, tend to “breakout”  in their third NFL season.  With that in mind, let’s examine some third-year wide receivers that could be worth consideration on fantasy football draft day.

ELITE STATUS

DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles – Jackson’s arrival actually may have come in 2009, when he posted 62 receptions for 1,156 yards and nine touchdowns along with two punt return touchdowns.  His yards per-catch from last season (18.6) will be hard to repeat, but it’s easy to predict a slight bump in Jackson’s reception total in 2010 with Kevin Kolb taking over under center for the Eagles.  Jackson is a legit low-end WR1 in fantasy football leagues.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis Colts – Garcon has 43 receptions for 765 yards (16.3 yards per-catch) and four touchdowns in 2009, as he saw increased playing time when Anthony Gonzalez (knee) went down early in the season. Gonzalez’s return may hurt his fantasy football potential some, but Garcon’s big-play ability should keep him in the starting lineup and a certain No.18 under center for the Colts keeps his fantasy football potential high.

THE SECOND TIER

Eddie Royal, WR, Denver Broncos – Royal had a disappointing 2009 (37 receptions, 345 yards, zero touchdowns) after a prolific rookie season (91 catches for 980 yards, five touchdowns) in 2008.  With Brandon Marshall being traded to the Miami Dolphins during the offseason, the potential for Royal to be Denver’s number-one wide receiver and have a nice rebound season is there.  Broncos’ head coach Josh McDaniels has also professed a desire to get Royal more targets, which is obviously good news for his fantasy football potential.

Devin Thomas, WR, Washington Redskins – Thomas has the size (6’2”, 218 pounds) and speed (4.4 40-yard dash) to be a dangerous NFL wide receiver, but he only has 40 receptions, 445 yards and three touchdowns through his first two seasons.  The Redskins’ offseason acquisition of quarterback Donovan McNabb and hiring of Mike Shanahan as the team’s new head coach may help him reach his potential in 2010, assuming he can secure the starting job opposite Santana Moss.

Donnie Avery, WR, St. Louis Rams – Avery should be the top wide receiver for St. Louis, for what that’s worth after their recent run of poor seasons.  He battled various ailments in 2009 on his way to 47 receptions and 589 yards for the offensively-challenged Rams. Rookie Sam Bradford or underwhelming veteran A.J. Feeley starting games this season may not be a recipe for Avery to suddenly become an elite fantasy football receiver, but the team may trail in a lot of games and could be throwing the ball enough to make him worth a late-round flier.

Josh Morgan, WR, San Francisco Giants – Morgan had 52 receptions for 527 yards and three touchdowns in 2009.  Having Michael Crabtree opposite him for an entire season should help him take another step forward in 2010, and the other pieces of the 49ers’ offense seem to be in place with running back Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis. As long as quarterback Alex Smith can continue the progress he showed last season, Morgan could become a solid WR4 for fantasy football owners.

POTENTIAL SLEEPERS

Chaz Schilens, WR, Oakland Raiders – The arrival of a competent quarterback (Jason Campbell) in Oakland should help Schilens and the other Raiders’ receivers this season.  He missed the first eight games of 2009 with a broken left foot on his way to 29 catches (17 over the final three games) for 365 yards and two touchdowns.  He had a second foot surgery after the season, and the team is being cautious with him right now.  He definitely has the size (6’4”, 225 pounds) and decent speed to offer some fantasy football potential if he can be healthy and develop some chemistry with Campbell.

Early Doucet, WR, Arizona Cardinals – Doucet had 14 receptions in the Cardinals’ two playoff games last season, and could be poised to take a greater role in Arizona’s offense this season with the offseason trade of Anquan Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens.  He has been limited recently by an abdominal strain, but the ailment is not expected to prevent him from being ready for Week 1. Doucet makes for a nice late-round flier, even with Matt Leinart replacing Kurt Warner under center.

Mario Manningham, WR, New York Giants – Manningham had 57 receptions for 822 yards and five touchdowns in 2009, but did struggle with seven dropped passes.  He is in line to be the Giants’ number three wide receiver, behind Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks, which limits his fantasy football upside some.  But if he can fix his drop issues and eliminate mental lapses, he could catch 50-60 passes again quite easily in 2010 and has some upside if an injury puts him into a starting role.

Harry Douglas, WR, Atlanta Falcons – Douglas missed all of 2009 with a torn ACL and could carve out a significant role for himself as the Falcons’ number-three wide receiver this season.  He could even start opposite Roddy White early in the season with Michael Jenkins (left shoulder) out right now.  Douglas could be worth a late-round flier in deeper leagues.

Davone Bess, WR, Miami Dolphins – Bess has totaled 130 receptions for 1,312 yards (10.1 yards per catch) through his first two NFL seasons, but has caught just three touchdowns.  His fantasy value is much greater in PPR leagues, and he is likely to work out of the slot for the Dolphins. The continued growth of quarterback Chad Henne should also benefit him.

Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers – Nelson is competing with James Jones to be Green Bay’s number three wide receiver this season, a spot that could bear some fantasy football fruit with Aaron Rodgers moving into the league’s elite quarterbacks. Donald Driver is coming off knee surgeries this offseason, and at age 35 his best days are likely behind him. If Driver has to miss time this season, the Packers’ wide receiver depth chart stands to change some, which could make both Nelson and Jones fantasy relevant no matter who wins the job.

This article has been written by Bruno Boys newest staff writer Brad Berreman. He can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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