ProFootballinsight examines the wide world of receivers. Who will take the title of the best fantasy football wide receiver? How did Kurt Warner’s retirement affect Larry Fitzgerald? Will Anquan Boldin crack the top 10 after leaving the Cardinals? ProFootballinsight answers all these questions and more.

Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are no longer the dynamic duo.  Will Fitzgerald post his usual Top 3 numbers without Boldin to draw defenders away from Larry?  Will Boldin crack PFI’s Top 10?

2010 Fantasy Football Top 10 Wide Receivers

#10.  Steve Smith / Carolina Panthers- Unlike last year when the first quarter of the season, fantasy owners were wishing they had Steve Smith Giants, not the Panthers Steve Smith.  Even having to cope with Jake Delhomme’s Quarterback inadequacies last season in addition to adjusting to Matt Moore taking over the starting Quarterback job, Smith was still statistically a top 20 Fantasy Wide Receiver last year.  He finished 2009 with 982 yards receiving and 7 TD’s.

With Smith having a full off-season, mini-camp and pre-season to gel with whomever will start for the Panthers this season, and the fact that Smith has a ton of heart, I am confident that he will again be the number one Steve Smith.

#9.  Mike Sims-Walker / Jacksonville Jaguars-  In 2009, we saw to versions of Sims-Walker….  Fire and Ice.  Sims-Walker had games last year where he did not register a stat.  Mike then had games where he looked like the only player on the field.  Sims-Walker had to mature fast last season and will build upon his 869 yard, 7 touchdown 2009 campaign.  In order for coach Jack Del Rio to keep his job, his offense will have to improve from last season, and for that to happen, Sims-Walker will have to be a big contributor.  In the off-season, Sims-Walker has been working out with Larry Fitzgerald, which will only help Mike develop into a legitimate #1 Receiver.

#8.  DeSean Jackson / Philadelphia Eagles- D.J. is a potential touchdown threat every time he touches the ball.  It could be an end-around, wide receiver screen or a deep pass, all of which DeSean can take to the house.  The Eagles have an offense that appears to match the likes of the 2007 Patriots or any recent Saints team.  With that said, Jackson will only improve on his outstanding 2009 season where he totaled 1,156 yards on 62 receptions and 9 TD’s.  Jackson adds a bonus to leagues which give individual players credit for special teams as well.

#7.  Reggie Wayne / Indianapolis Colts- I do not see Wayne topping is 2009 totals of 100 receptions, 1,264 yards and 10 TD’s, but even posting totals with a 25 percent reduction still makes him a Top 10 wide receiver.  Wayne still has Peyton Manning at the quarterback position, and Reggie has eclipsed 1,000 yards for six straight seasons, and there is no reason to doubt his ability to make it seven.

#6.  Roddy White / Atlanta Falcons-  White and his QB Matt Ryan only get better and better as they age together in their NFL careers.  Defenses knew that White was Ryan’s favorite target, which did not stop Roddy from grabbing 85 balls for 1,153 yards and 11 TD’s.  The Falcons offense will be stronger than their 2009 version, and White’s numbers will only get better.  In Roddy’s last three seasons, he has never had less than 83 receptions and 1,100 yards.  Barring injury, I can say with confidence White will again top these numbers.

#5.  Randy Moss / New England Patriots-  With another year added to the age of both Randy Moss and his QB Tom Brady, Moss slips out of the Top 3, but not by much.  Moss in 2009 still had a very respectable year with 83 grabs for 1264 yards with 13 touchdowns.  Randy’s size still makes him a deadly deep threat with his length and jumping ability, not to mention is ability to bring in the ball with one hand.

All of this compiled with the fact that Moss has no choice to produce this year.  At 33 years of age, Moss is pushing for another big contract and without the numbers on the field, he will not see big numbers in his next contract either.  Being in a contract year is the biggest motivator that a professional football player experiences.  Look for Moss to keep his attitude in check and push for those numbers, bringing you fantasy paydirt!

#4.  Brandon Marshall / Miami Dolphins-  If Marshall still had Jay Cutler at QB, Brandon would be my #2 Wide Receiver.  Now that Chad Henne, who has been operating in a run first environment, is his starting Quarterback, Marshall’s stock drops a bit for several reasons.  Henne is not Cutler, and the Dolphins lack the ability to stretch the field and draw attention away from Marshall, who will be looking at constant double teams.  Miami shipped out Ted Ginn in the off-season, who would compliment Marshall as a deep threat.  It is Marshall’s talent that has him at #4, not his supporting cast.

#3.  Calvin Johnson / Detroit Lions-  Johnson, who had an off year last year as he only played 14 games had 67 receptions for 984 yards and 5 TD’s, will have a bounce back season in 2010.  Johnson will have another off-season under his belt with second year QB Matthew Stafford, which will help their on field chemistry.  The Lions added some Offensive firepower as well in the off-season with the additions of WR Nate Burleson and rookie RB Jahvid Best.  All of the above should will only lead to Johnson’s return to being a 1,000 yard receiver.  His size and skill set makes him a coverage nightmare and a TD machine.

#2.  Larry Fitzgerald / Arizona Cardinals-  Had Kurt Warner not retired, or Matt Leinart showed more in his past that he is a sure fire starter in the NFL, Larry would be like Ludacris, coming for that #1 spot!  Fitzgerald will face countless double teams this year with the loss of Anquan Boldin.  The Cardinals will also look to run the ball more this year than at any point of Fitzgerald’s playing career.  Yes, a lot to overcome, but if anyone is capable, it is Larry Fitzgerald.

#1.  Andre Johnson / Houston Texans-  Johnson’s last two years have been nothing less than ridiculous.  I would compare his stats to something you would see on a Madden video game, not legitimate NFL statistics.  In the last two years he has averaged 108 receptions for 1,572 yards and 8.5 touchdowns.  The only thing that will slow down Johnson would be any health issues that he or his QB Matt Schaub would sustain.  As stated above, with Larry Fitzgerald losing Anquan Boldin, who drew some double coverage attention away from him, and his QB Kurt Warner to retirement, Andre Johnson is the clear cut #1 Wide Receiver going into 2010!

Wide Reciever Insight from ProFootballinsight

I can already here you asking…  Where is Miles Austin?  Good question.  Yes, Miles Austin had an amazing year last year.  He quadrupled his three previous NFL seasons in one year.  Austin caught his opponents off guard last year as he exploded with 81 catches for 1,320 yards and 11 TD’s.  Austin will not surprise anyone this year after posting those stats.

So why is he not in the Top 10?  The Cowboys have so much talent on Offense that they need to play eight quarters, not four to get everyone involved.  Austin will be good this year, just not as good as last.  Roy Williams will not be as bad as he was last year, and they added rookie WR Dez Bryant, who will be involved as well.  Lets not forget about Pro-Bowl Tight End Jason Witten, or the fact that the Cowboys have three very talented Running Backs in Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice.  Quite frankly from a fantasy standpoint, they are too stacked for their own good.  The only exception to this is Tony Romo.

If you have any other questions or comments, we will get back to you.  Feel free to post your thoughts below.

Below are other related 2010 NFL Fantasy Football articles;

2010 NFL Fantasy Football Questions and Support

2010 Fantasy Football Draft Day Sleepers and Steals

2010 Top 10 Fantasy Football Quarterbacks

2010 Top 10 Fantasy Football Running Backs

2010 NFL Fantasy Football Kicker Advise

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Kurt Fraschetti / ProFootballinsight.net

Kurt@profootballinsight.net

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