The Fantasy Fox offers up his inaugural, post-draft listing of the top 60 wide receivers -- citing standard-scoring leagues only:
a) For the regular season last year, Brown collected double-digit targets 13 times.
b) Of the full 16-game slate, Brown notched 90 yards receiving and/or one touchdown 13 times.
c) Brown (129 catches, 1,698 yards, 15 total TDs in 2014) tallied eight outings of 100-plus receiving yards last season.
d) The Central Michigan product should get off to a lightning-fast start this fall ... in lieu of tailback Le'Veon Bell's three-game drug suspension.
2. There's a small temptation to rank Odell Beckham Jr. above Brown, given the absurd stats from his rookie campaign -- 91 catches, 1,305 yards, 12 TDs in just 12 games.
However, I also live in fear of the proverbial sophomore slump, or least a watered-down version of that time-tested notion for Beckham.
The rationale: Opposing defensive coordinators have all spring and summer to devise ways to hinder Beckham. Plus, tailbacks Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams and Shane Vereen could/should all be rock-steady fantasy contributors.
The safe play calls for Beckham to be a mid-to-late Round 1 pick in standard-scoring leagues. For PPR drafts, though ... go ahead and snag OBJ in the first five selections.
3. The so-so ranking for Demaryius Thomas (three-year average of 99 catches/1,494 yards/12 TDs) buys into the notion of the Broncos becoming a more balanced offense in 2015 -- as a dual means of preserving Peyton Manning for the postseason and supporting new head coach Gary Kubiak's appreciation for a strong rushing attack.
In other words, if Adam Gase were still calling plays in Denver ... Thomas would be a top-3 wideout.
4. I have Mike Evans (68 catches, 1,051 yards, 12 TDs as a rookie) 12 slots below Beckham, which may qualify as a fantasy sin, given the following stat:
**Of the eight times he collected 80-plus receiving yards, Jackson scored six touchdowns.
**Of the seven times Jackson tallied less than 80 receiving yards ... he scored zero TDs.
2. Gone are the days of Andre Johnson (85 catches, 936 yards, 3 TDs with Houston last year) notching seven or eight touchdowns per season.
But with his move to the Colts offense, the potential Hall of Famer shall be a threat for 100 catches once again.
Citing his 15 games from 2014, Johnson (who turns 34 in July) collected seven or more receiving targets 14 times -- including seven double-digit outings.
That's a clear sign Johnson can still get separation from cornerbacks. He just needs a quarterback (like Andrew Luck) to consistently find him downfield.
3. Julian Edelman (92 catches, 972 yards, 4 TDs last year) will be a top-20 wideout in PPR leagues. In his last seven games -- including the playoffs -- the Welker clone averaged 14 targets per outing.
For standard leagues, however, there are too many lulls to justify Edelman as a Round 4 or 5 selection. Of his 14 regular-season outings last season, Edelman produced less than 55 yards receiving six times.
4. I pledge to prioritize the drafting of Green Bay's Davante Adams anytime after Round 8 of standard-scoring leagues.
Jay Clemons, the 2015 national winner for "Sports Blog Of The Year" (Cynopsis Media) and 2008 Fantasy Football Writer of the Year (Fantasy Sports Writers Association), can be reached via Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.
