National Football League

Fantasy Fox: Top 50 non-PPR wideouts for Week 1

Published Sep. 3, 2014 12:15 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Here are my top 50 wide receivers for Week 1, citing standard-scoring leagues only.

This countdown doesn't lean on a particular stat. It's merely an educated best guess of which pass-catchers will tally the best combination of total yards and touchdowns for the NFL's opening weekend.

Regardless of how these rankings shake out every week, it shouldn't supersede two important factors that go into regular lineup consideration:

1. Always play your healthy superstars.

1. The wonderfully consistent Demaryius Thomas has notched at least 92 catches, 141 targets, 1,430 yards and double-digit touchdowns over the last two seasons.

Of more importance to this weekend, D-Thomas also has a current streak of at least one touchdown in five straight games -- including the postseason (six overall).

2. We're taking a leap of faith on Julio Jones at No. 4, when factoring in his extended layoff (season-ending foot injury in early October) and modest success against the Saints (four-game average: 4.3 catches, 81 yards, 0.5 TDs).

But let's also remember that, dating back to the 2012 NFL playoffs (January 2013), Jones has accrued four TDs in a six-game span ... while collecting double-digit targets for all six outings.

3. Larry Fitzgerald (82 catches, 954 yards, 10 TDs) has a great matchup against the Chargers, the NFL's 29th-ranked pass defense last year. For good measure, Fitz has also collected double-digit targets in his last two season-openers ... and double-digit targets in his last three home outings.

4. Counting the playoff loss to the Chargers, A.J. Green (98 catches, 1,426 yards, 11 TDs last year) hasn't registered a 100-yard outing in seven games -- the longest such drought of his prolific career. That streak ends in Week 1 ... against the same Ravens club that Green torched for eight receptions, 151 yards and one TD back in Week 10.

5. The rookie battle between the Jaguars' Marqise Lee and Eagles' Jordan Matthews should be fun to watch -- especially with Points Per Reception leagues. After all, Philly and Jacksonville had the NFL's 32nd- and 26th-ranked pass defenses last year.

Jay Clemons, the 2008 Fantasy Football Writer of the Year (Fantasy Sports Writers Association), can be reached via Twitter, day or night, at @FOX_JayClemons.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League