Wide Receivers 76-100

Brian McDonald
Senior Editor
June 13, 2008
We wrap up our in depth look at the wide receivers with our top 76-100 wide outs. We are certainly digging deep into the sleeper variety with this grouping. We are firm believers in taking a few gambles on unproven commodities rather than always playing it safe with known mid-level performers. This grouping certainly has the high rolling, riverboat gambler drafter in mind. (Rankings updated on 6/24/08) 76) Preston Parker, Jr, Florida St. Parker's great spring took a considerable hit when he was popped with a semi-automatic handgun and a bunch of weed. Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln? Well coaches had raved about Parker throughout the spring, and either this proves how clueless Bobby Bowden actually is, or Parker had them all fooled. After thinking that Parker may actually get booted, it was business as usual in Tallahassee as he'll miss a few games and then be back to running with and catching enough balls to warrant fantasy consideration as a third or fourth wide receiver. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 52 rush attempts, 270 yds rush, 62 receptions, 791 yds rec, 5 Total TDs, 101.30 fantasy pts 77) Lareylle Cunningham, Sr, California The senior will try to shake knee problems in order to make an impact in his final year. We see Cunningham as a possession receiver at best. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 0 rush attempts, 0 yds rush, 4 receptions, 33 yds rec, 0 Total TDs, 2.20 fantasy pts 78) Demetrius Byrd, Sr, LSU With all the talk about Brandon LaFell and Terrance Toliver, it was Demetrius Byrd who was the Tigers' most consistent receiver in 2007. Byrd, a former JUCO transfer, has good speed and he's a tremendous route runner. We liked Byrd's potential a tad more before Ryan Perrilloux was dismissed from the team, but Byrd could be a solid number 4 or 5 on your fantasy roster. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 0 rush attempts, 0 yds rush, 35 receptions, 621 yds rec, 7 Total TDs, 83.40 fantasy pts 79) Thomas White, Sr, Baylor Art Briles takes over at Baylor and he knows a thing or two about running offenses. A healthy quarterback battle is also underway, and this should be a benefit to the passing game in the log run. White is the Bears' top wide out and if the passing game improves, so will White's numbers. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 3 rush attempts, 17 yds rush, 34 receptions, 475 yds rec, 8 Total TDs, 80.80 fantasy pts 80) Titus Young, So, Boise St. Likely starting the season as the third receiving option behind Jeremy Childs and Austin Pettis, Young remains one to watch should Childs struggle to make it back or if either of the top two wide receivers suffer injury woes. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 13 rush attempts, 66 yds rush, 44 receptions, 639 yds rec, 7 Total TDs, 89.00 fantasy pts 81) Vidal Hazelton, Jr, Southern California As one who finds fifty sit-up crunches challenging, the thought of playing a football season with two pulled abdominal muscles is unfathomable. Vidal Hazelton did just this. It's easy to overlook his 50-540-4 season, but Hazelton has put himself in position to be the Trojans' go-to wide receiver. He's surrounded by a great deal of wide receiver talent, but his cohorts have yet to prove very much. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 1 rush attempts, 12 yds rush, 50 receptions, 540 yds rec, 4 Total TDs, 60.80 fantasy pts 82) B.J. Cunningham, r-Fr, Michigan St. Some members of the staff see Cunningham emerging as the deep threat in the Spartan attack. He'll certainly be afforded the opportunities to make plays, but at this moment it doesn’t appear like he'll be anything more than a third offensive option at best. Tier: sleep 2007 Stats: rush attempts, yds rush, receptions, yds rec, Total TDs, fantasy pts 83) Greg Smith, Jr, Georgia Tech Greg Smith is an intriguing fantasy prospect. You may be able to take advantage of a quirk if he's listed as wide receiver in your league. Smith will man one of the slotback positions alongside Jamaal Evans. While not an ideal runner at 6'3", he will provide matchup problems as a receiver out of the backfield, and he'll also see a few carries. Smith's fantasy potential is very much a gamble, but he is certainly someone to watch on Saturdays. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 2 rush attempts, 24 yds rush, 37 receptions, 588 yds rec, 3 Total TDs, 58.80 fantasy pts 84) Greg Mathews, Jr, Michigan After losing both Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington, Mathews becomes the Wolverines' top and most experienced receiver. Considering Rich Rodriguez will likely not have the personnel to fully install his spread option attack, they may have to air it out more than usual. Let's also not forget the numbers Darius Reynaud put up at West Virginia last year (a CFFinsider sleeper BTW). Mathews could get a few more looks than people anticipate in 2008. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 2 rush attempts, 17 yds rush, 39 receptions, 366 yds rec, 3 Total TDs, 43.53 fantasy pts 85) Danario Alexander, Jr, Missouri One of our chosen ones from 2007, Danario Alexander was looking to make a full recovery from his knee injury. A June re-injure of his left knee has left his 2008 in doubt. Alexander is out for the nonconference portion of the schedule, and he may be out longer. Here is what we wrote before the injury: We're not quite as high on Danario after Jeremy Maclin's emergence, but we still believe Alexander may emerge as a goal line threat; in essence Alexander's role may become similar to the one Mizzou tight ends have served of late. He's in the right offense, and while he may go undrafted in some leagues, you should keep an eye on the number of balls thrown his way. He'll produce if healthy. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 6 rush attempts, 31 yds rush, 37 receptions, 417 yds rec, 2 Total TDs, 41.86 fantasy pts 86) Ross Lane, Sr, Northwestern Ross Lane is one of those guys who doesn't appear like he's doing much while you're sitting in the stands, then on the post-game show you learn he caught 8 balls for 115 yards. He's a great fit for the system, and the senior WR from Florida could amass double digit touchdowns in 2008. His numbers have improved in each of his previous three seasons, and his junior season ended with 49-649-7 through the air. He's bigger than you think, faster than you think, and he'll continue to fly under the radar as one of the Big Ten's best wide receivers. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 0 rush attempts, 0 yds rush, 49 receptions, 649 yds rec, 7 Total TDs, 85.26 fantasy pts 87) Marlon Moore, Jr, Fresno St. Fresno State is looking to get back into the BCS picture in 2008. If they are to do so, they'll need more than just the legs of Ryan Matthews. Someone like Marlon Moore is going to need to step-up. Moore turned up the heat toward the end of 2007 scoring in four of the last six games for the Bulldogs. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 5 rush attempts, 31 yds rush, 48 receptions, 694 yds rec, 6 Total TDs, 84.33 fantasy pts 88) Edward Britton, Jr, Texas Tech A long shot to emerge as a fantasy threat on a weekly basis, Britton will be in the starting lineup this fall and this makes him one to watch. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 9 rush attempts, 52 yds rush, 48 receptions, 631 yds rec, 4 Total TDs, 69.53 fantasy pts 89) Duval Kamara, So, Notre Dame On the cusp of becoming a fantasy threat, Kamara started five games as a true freshman for the Irish, hauling in 32 receptions, breaking the freshman record of none other than Tim Brown. If Jimmy Clausen can improve, Kamara will likely emerge as Notre Dame's top target. He's one to keep an eye on as the season progresses. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 0 rush attempts, 0 yds rush, 32 receptions, 357 yds rec, 4 Total TDs, 47.80 fantasy pts 90) Kyle Jefferson, So, Wisconsin Jefferson leads a very young wide receiving group. He'll likely increase his 26-412-2 numbers of a year ago; in fact he could triple his touchdown output. However he's likely still a year away from serious fantasy consideration. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 2 rush attempts, 11 yds rush, 26 receptions, 412 yds rec, 2 Total TDs, 40.20 fantasy pts 91) Scotty McKnight, So, Colorado We're expecting bigger things from Cody Hawkins this year so naturally we need a wide receiver to pair up with him. The sophomore McKnight is our guy. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 0 rush attempts, 0 yds rush, 47 receptions, 555 yds rec, 4 Total TDs, 61.30 fantasy pts 92) Brian Hartline, Jr, Ohio St. Following a very good spring Hartline will join Brian Robiskie as a go-to receiver. He'll look to build upon his 46-694-6 receiving campaign of a year ago; we expect comparable numbers. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 6 rush attempts, 46 yds rush, 52 receptions, 694 yds rec, 7 Total TDs, 91.33 fantasy pts 93) Greg Salas, So, Hawaii Expected to man one of the outside receiver spots this fall. The 6'1" Salas is one to watch. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 0 rush attempts, 0 yds rush, 3 receptions, 35 yds rec, 1 Total TDs, 8.33 fantasy pts 94) Michael Washington, Sr, Hawaii Washington will take over one of the inside receiver spots from the departed Davone Bess and RGM. Those put up pretty decent numbers if I recall, thus making Washington one to watch. Tier: WR4 2007 Stats: 0 rush attempts, 0 yds rush, 3 receptions, 51 yds rec, 2 Total TDs, 15.40 fantasy pts 95) Zach Zimmerman, So, Southern Methodist Zimmerman should see a starting role at wide receiver in 2008, which automatically puts him into fantasy consideration. Tier: sleep 2007 Stats: 0 rush attempts, 0 yds rush, 8 receptions, 130 yds rec, 0 Total TDs, 8.66 fantasy pts 96) Damian Williams, So, Southern California Williams, who sat out 2007 after traveling with Mitch Mustain from Arkansas to Los Angeles, had a very nice spring and has put himself in the wide receiver rotation. He'll make an impact, and it may may be a big enough one to deem Williams a national fantasy sleeper. Tier: sleep 2007 Stats: rush attempts, yds rush, receptions, yds rec, Total TDs, fantasy pts 97) Quentin Chaney, Sr, Oklahoma Chaney should start along side Iglesias. With Oklahoma's passing game likely to stretch the field again, Chaney is one to keep an eye on. Tier: sleep 2007 Stats: 0 rush attempts, 0 yds rush, 8 receptions, 185 yds rec, 2 Total TDs, 24.33 fantasy pts 98) Jonathan Baldwin, Fr, Pittsburgh We’re giving Baldwin high marks because of his potential to see the field early at multiple positions. Pitt could use a boost to the passing game and Baldwin has the size to play right away. In fact, at 6-6 230lbs he could slide over from WR and become a pass catching threat at tight end. Tier: sleep 2007 Stats: rush attempts, yds rush, receptions, yds rec, Total TDs, fantasy pts 99) Michael Floyd, Fr, Notre Dame Aside from the growing pains at quarterback and the problems on the offensive line, there was probably no bigger need on the Notre Dame offense than playmakers at the wide receiver spot. The Irish bring in three to go along with last year’s top receiving recruit, Duval Kumara. Floyd is probably the most electric of the bunch as he attacks the football and has good acceleration after the catch. Based on the offensive talent Weis has been bringing in, the Irish could soon be scoring multiple offensive touchdowns a game. Look for Floyd to see immediate playing time. Tier: sleep 2007 Stats: rush attempts, yds rush, receptions, yds rec, Total TDs, fantasy pts 100) LaVorick Williams, Fr, New Mexico St. The true freshman enrolled early and made a big splash this spring. He still has as a ways to go to crack the starting lineup but Williams is a name to remember. Tier: sleep 2007 Stats: rush attempts, yds rush, receptions, yds rec, Total TDs, fantasy pts

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