Contents
- 1 – Antonio Brown
- 2 – Dez Bryant
- 3 – Odell Beckham Jr.
- 4 – Julio Jones
- 5 – Demaryius Thomas
- 6 – Calvin Johnson
- 7 – Jordy Nelson
- 8 – A.J. Green
- 9 – Alshon Jeffery
- 10 – Randall Cobb
- 11 – T.Y. Hilton
- 12 – Mike Evans
- 13 – Brandin Cooks
- 14 – DeAndre Hopkins
- 15 – Emmanuel Sanders
- 16 – Kelvin Benjamin
- 17 – Andre Johnson
- 18 – Jordan Matthews
- 19 – Julian Edelman
- 20 – Martavis Bryant
- 21 – Keenan Allen
- 22 – DeSean Jackson
- 23 – Golden Tate
- 24 – Amari Cooper
- 25 – Brandon Marshall
- 26 – Allen Robinson
- 27 – Vincent Jackson
- 28 – Jarvis Landry
- 29 – Roddy White
- 30 – Sammy Watkins
Top 30 WRs Rank for 2015:
PPR scoring format:
Rush/Receiving TDs score 6 points.
Rush/Receiving yards score 1 point for every 10 yards.
Receptions score 1 point.
All Turnovers score -1 points.
Updates will be made through August as new info arises.
1 – Antonio Brown
2014: Att: 4, Rush Yds: 13, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 181, Rec: 129, Rec Yds: 1,698, Rec TDs: 13, FL: 2
2015 Status – No Change
Brown, the highest scoring PPR player outside of QB last season, will be the first receiver drafted in the first round.
Absolutely nothing to not like with Brown in this high powered Steeler offense. Brown will be the focus of the offense for the first 3 games with RB Le’Veon Bell suspended.
Brown ranked 2nd in the league in targets last season, only behind Demaryius Thomas, and should be the league leader this year. Upside with Brown is through the roof.
2 – Dez Bryant
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 136, Rec: 88, Rec Yds: 1,320, Rec TDs: 16, FL: 0
2015 Status – No Change
Dez, the league leader in TD receptions last season, is set to resume his role as Dallas’ biggest weapon. He could see an uptick in targets if the run game does not go as anticipated.
3 – Odell Beckham Jr.
2014: Att: 7, Rush Yds: 35, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 130, Rec: 91, Rec Yds: 1,305, Rec TDs: 12, FL: 1
2015 Status – Upgrade
OBJ was the 7th ranked PPR WR last season in 12 games played. OBJ will be given the most attention by secondaries but with WR Victor Cruz returning from his patellar injury, and Reuben Randle in the mix, the Giants’ receiving corps will be difficult to deal with.
4 – Julio Jones
2014: Att: 1, Rush Yds: 1, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 163, Rec: 104, Rec Yds: 1,593, Rec TDs: 6, FL: 1
2015 Status – No Change
The Falcons’ biggest weapon comes into the season healthy and in a contract year. Julio was the 6th ranked PPR WR last season and his tier 1 status remains unchanged.
5 – Demaryius Thomas
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 184, Rec: 111, Rec Yds: 1,619, Rec TDs: 11, FL: 0
2015 Status – No Change
Thomas was the 2nd ranked PPR WR last season and remains Denver’s top target. Thomas could also get a bump in red zone targets now that TE Julius Thomas (Jacksonville) is gone.
Despite Denver going to a more balanced attack, this should not affect Thomas’ stat line that much.
6 – Calvin Johnson
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 128, Rec: 71, Rec Yds: 1,077, Rec TDs: 8, FL: 0
2015 Status – Upgrade
Megatron was hampered with ankle injuries costing him three games and posing as a decoy in a few others. He is healthy now but will turn 30 in Sept.
QB Matthew Stafford and the offense had a season to get acclimated to OC Joe Lombardi’s system so Stafford’s inefficiencies from last year should improve.
Johnson is primed for a bounce back season.
7 – Jordy Nelson
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 151, Rec: 98, Rec Yds: 1,519, Rec TDs: 13, FL: 0
2015 Status – No Change
Jordy had hip surgery after the end of the season and is currently on track to return by training camp. Nelson turned 30 this spring, but if healthy, should deliver as the top target for the league’s best QB.
Nelson was the 3rd ranked PPR WR last season.
8 – A.J. Green
2014: Att: 2, Rush Yds: 2, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 116, Rec: 69, Rec Yds: 1,041, Rec TDs: 6, FL: 2
2015 Status – Upgrade
Green suffered through a toe injury last season costing him three games and affecting many others.
He is healthy coming into the season and despite the emergence of RB Jeremy Hill, Green remains the focal point of the offense.
Green should be targeted early and often and is primed for a bounce back year.
9 – Alshon Jeffery
2014: Att: 6, Rush Yds: 33, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 145, Rec: 85, Rec Yds: 1,133, Rec TDs: 10, FL: 0
2015 Status – Slight Upgrade
Jeffery, taking over the WR1 role in Chicago last season, finished as the 10th ranked PPR WR, and that was with Brandon Marshall in the mix.
Jeffery’s targets should bump up as well.
10 – Randall Cobb
2014: Att: 11, Rush Yds: 37, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 127, Rec: 91, Rec Yds: 1,287, Rec TDs: 12, FL: 2
2015 Status – No Change
Cobb was the 8th ranked PPR WR as Green Bay’s WR2. Cobb’s stat line shouldn’t alter that much from last season, but the double-digit TDs may not be repeatable.
Green Bay’s offense returns unchanged from last season and when all are healthy, last season’s #1 scoring offense could be that again.
11 – T.Y. Hilton
2014: Att: 2, Rush Yds: 20, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 131, Rec: 82, Rec Yds: 1,345, Rec TDs: 7, FL: 1
2015 Status – No Change
Hilton ranked 12th in PPR WR scoring as the Colts’ WR1.
The Colts’ now field the deepest receiving corps in the league with new additions Andre Johnson and first round pick rookie Phillip Dorsett (a Hilton-type clone) joining Hilton and Donte Moncrief.
This unit is an upgrade from last season, but there are potentially a lot of mouths to feed.
QB Andrew Luck ranked 3rd in pass attempts last season and should remain in that top 3 range so the opportunities will be there.
12 – Mike Evans
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 123, Rec: 68, Rec Yds: 1,051, Rec TDs: 12, FL: 0
2015 Status – Upgrade
Evans ranked 13th in PPR WR scoring in 15 appearances as a rookie. This was despite the ineffective QB Josh McCown/Mike Glennon tandem from last season.
Evans efficiency should get a boost in receptions and yards with the obvious upgrade of rookie QB Jameis Winston. The potential ceiling could be very high.
13 – Brandin Cooks
2014: Att: 7, Rush Yds: 73, Rush TDs: 1, Tgts: 69, Rec: 53, Rec Yds: 550, Rec TDs: 3, FL: 0
2015 Status – Upgrade
With top receiving threats TE Jimmy Graham (SEA) and WR Kenny Stills (MIA) both gone, sophomore Cooks takes over New Orleans’ WR1 spot by necessity.
The Saints’ will run a more balanced offense this season but Cooks should be peppered with targets by Brees and will be schemed for in this offense since outside of new addition RB C.J. Spiller, they just don’t have a lot of great aerial options.
14 – DeAndre Hopkins
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 127, Rec: 76, Rec Yds: 1,210, Rec TDs: 6, FL: 1
2015 Status – Upgrade
Hopkins ranked 14th in PPR WR scoring last season, and that was despite having the second most targets on his team.
But with Andre Johnson (IND), last year’s Texans target leader gone, Hopkins’ looks should jump up and his stat line across the board should bump up as well, despite the run-first offense centered by either Brian Hoyer and/or Ryan Mallett.
15 – Emmanuel Sanders
2014: Att: 8, Rush Yds: 44, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 141, Rec: 101, Rec Yds: 1,404, Rec TDs: 9, FL: 0
2015 Status – Downgrade
Sanders ranked 5th in PPR WR scoring last season as he blew up in Peyton Manning’s air game.
This season, however, expect a stat line drop across the board for multiple reasons. Sanders’ self-admittedly revealed earlier in the off-season that 1,000 yards receiving may be a ceiling in his new slot role in 3-receiver sets.
Manning’s pass attempts should drop as well with Denver leaning more on C.J. Anderson in running a balanced offense.
16 – Kelvin Benjamin
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 145, Rec: 73, Rec Yds: 1,008, Rec TDs: 9, FL: 1
2015 Status – No Change
Benjamin’s production came from his team leading targets where he and TE Greg Olsen trumped the rest of the team. However, Benjamin only hauled in half of them.
Another issue on this run-first offense is PFF’s pass rating grade ranking Benjamin just 70th of all eligible receivers. Despite ranking tied for 6th in targets, Benjamin finished as the 17th ranked PPR WR.
Carolina also drafted another big receiver in Devn Funchess with their 2nd round pick. If Benjamin’s targets drop for any reason, his stat line across the board could place him out of the top 20 WR’s.
17 – Andre Johnson
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 147, Rec: 85, Rec Yds: 936, Rec TDs: 3, FL: 3
(with Houston)
2015 Status – Upgrade
Johnson’s situation basically reverses as he leaves a run-first bad QB situation to a pass-first great QB scenario.
Johnson was brought in to fill the possession role manned last season by the departed Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks. Wayne/Nicks combined for 186 targets, 102 receptions, 1,184 receiving yards, and 6 TDs last season.
Johnson, who is an upgrade on both Wayne/Nicks, should now see the majority of those looks. Johnson is a high floor target coming in as Andrew Luck’s WR2.
18 – Jordan Matthews
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 103, Rec: 67, Rec Yds: 872, Rec TDs: 8, FL: 0
2015 Status – No Change
The massive overhaul in Philadelphia continued this off-season, leaving Matthews as Philly’s new WR1.
Former WR1 Jeremy Maclin (KC) who ranked 9th in PPR WR scoring last season, vacates a large hole to fill for Matthews, and possibly 1st round pick rookie WR Nelson Agholor (A Maclin-clone). Expect Matthews stat line to increase across the board in an efficient offense that runs more plays than any other team. This should continue this season.
Matthews will also have a new QB in Sam Bradford (when healthy) throwing to him. Matthews’ targets should increase to make him the team leader in this category (Maclin lead the team with 143 targets last season).
19 – Julian Edelman
2014: Att: 10, Rush Yds: 94, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 134, Rec: 92, Rec Yds: 972, Rec TDs: 4, FL: 0
2015 Status – No Change
Edelman ranked the 15th highest PPR WR last season.
Other than the loss of third down back Shane Vereen, the Patriots offense returns largely unchanged. The loss of Vereen may actually bump Edelman’s usage.
QB Tom Brady is currently suspended for the 1st four games, which may force New England to scheme more run plays during this time, but it’s New England so who knows.
20 – Martavis Bryant
2014: Att: 3, Rush Yds: 12, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 48, Rec: 26, Rec Yds: 549, Rec TDs: 8, FL: 0
2015 Status – Upgrade
Pittsburgh’s WR2 Bryant has breakout potential in this high-powered Steelers offense. His stat line above is from 10 games played.
Bryant benefits from the attention WR1 Antonio Brown will draw from opposing defenses and provides a big red zone target for Roethlisberger.
The Steelers will need to average high scores to win games and this offense is built to do just that. Bryant’s potential for double-digit TDs seem like a floor.
21 – Keenan Allen
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 122, Rec: 77, Rec Yds: 783, Rec TDs: 4, FL: 2
2015 Status – Slight Upgrade
San Diego’s WR1 did not produce to the level of his impressive rookie season in 2013 and should see a turn around who may see more time out of the slot.
With TE Antonio Gates (2nd on team in targets) out for the first 4 games, Allen could see a lot of looks during this time.
22 – DeSean Jackson
2014: Att: 4, Rush Yds: 7, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 95, Rec: 56, Rec Yds: 1,169, Rec TDs: 6, FL: 0
2015 Status – No Change
Jackson ranked 23rd in PPR WR scoring with the QB carousel of RG3/Cousins/McCoy (Totaled 18 TDs) last season. QB Robert Griffin III is expected to start the season but Jackson’s deep threat skills could be hindered if Washington’s QB play does not improve.
23 – Golden Tate
2014: Att: 5, Rush Yds: 30, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 144, Rec: 99, Rec Yds: 1,331, Rec TDs: 4, FL: 0
2015 Status – No Change/Slight Downgrade
Tate ranked 11th in PPR WR scoring last season, five spots higher than teammate Calvin Johnson. This scenario occurred due to the missed and decoy games involving Johnson, forcing Tate into a temporary WR1 role which he will not see again, unless Johnson gets injured.
If Johnson can stay healthy, their stat lines will easily reverse, except for the TDs.
24 – Amari Cooper
2015 Status – Rookie
Cooper, the 3rd pick in the NFL draft, becomes the Raiders’ WR1 and likely their biggest offensive weapon. Cooper comes in NFL ready so he should contribute immediately.
Oakland also brought in Michael Crabtree as their WR2, but Cooper should lead the team in receiving stats across the board as he will be heavily utilized out of necessity since, unlike the Colts’ scenario, this team lacks weapons.
25 – Brandon Marshall
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 106, Rec: 61, Rec Yds: 721, Rec TDs: 8, FL: 0
(with Chicago)
2015 Status – Slight Upgrade
Marshall comes into New York as the new WR1. Both Marshall and WR2 Eric Decker dealt with nagging injuries last season but if they can stay healthy, both will help QB Geno Smith’s outlook.
Decker managed to rank 26th in PPR WR scoring last season but it is anyone’s guess how much the receivers may cancel each other out, but expect Marshall to be the featured target here.
26 – Allen Robinson
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 81, Rec: 48, Rec Yds: 548, Rec TDs: 2, FL: 0
2015 Status – Upgrade
Robinson’s stat line comes on 10 games played before breaking his foot ending his season. Robinson is a big, fast, and athletic wideout that should dominate looks as the WR1.
New addition TE Julius Thomas provides a red zone target and 2nd round rookie RB T.J. Yeldon should be an improvement in the run game to help take pressure off of QB Blake Bortles.
Target Jacksonville players at your own risk.
27 – Vincent Jackson
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 142, Rec: 70, Rec Yds: 1,002, Rec TDs: 2, FL: 1
2015 Status – Upgrade
Jackson, same as teammate Mike Evans, gets a bump up just due to the upgrade at QB with rookie Jameis Winston. Jackson’s TD total should at least be somewhat respectable compared to last season.
Jackson, Tampa’s WR2, led the team in targets. That may not happen again this season but he should still get plenty of looks from Winston.
28 – Jarvis Landry
2014: Att: 2, Rush Yds: -4, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 112, Rec: 84, Rec Yds: 758, Rec TDs: 5, FL: 4
2015 Status – Slight Upgrade
Landry comes into the season as Miami’s WR1 filling the possession role, where QB Ryan Tannehill targets most effectively.
Landry should lead in targets, with WR Mike Wallace (MIN) gone. WR Kenny Stills replaces Wallace on deep routes, and injury prone TE Jordan Cameron replaces Charles Clay (BUF).
29 – Roddy White
2014: Att: 0, Rush Yds: 0, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 125, Rec: 80, Rec Yds: 921, Rec TDs: 7, FL: 1
2015 Status – No Change
White ranked 21st in PPR WR scoring last season in 14 games played. White turns 34 this Nov. but should still be targeted enough to remain a viable WR2, when healthy, in this pass-first offense.
30 – Sammy Watkins
2014: Att: 2, Rush Yds: 8, Rush TDs: 0, Tgts: 128, Rec: 65, Rec Yds: 982, Rec TDs: 6, FL: 0
2015 Status – No Change/Slight Downgrade
Watkins is in the unenviable position of starting in a run-first offense with new additions WR Percy Harvin and TE Charles Clay possibly dropping his target total from last season.
New addition RB LeSean McCoy is expected to be the focal point of the offense and currently penciled in to start at QB is Matt Cassell.
Watkins is currently coming off draftboards in the late 5th/early 6th rounds.
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