Fantasy Football 2009: The Top 10 Recevier to Draft

Today's NFL looks to be going more and more to a two back system. Gone are the days when every team tried to get away with a featured back who averaged over 20 touches a game. That paradigm shift in coaching will have an effect in how you approach your fantasy football draft this season. As a result, Receivers and Tight Ends, who in the past have played third fiddle to Running Backs and Quarterbacks, will play an expanded role on your fantasy team; here then are the top ten Wide Receiver to go after in your 2009 Fantasy Football Draft.

1) Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals) WR

Fitzgerald not only enjoyed a monster season in 2008, he was virtually unstoppable in the Super Bowl. Given the fact that Kurt Warner has decided it stick around for at least two more years, Fitzgerald should be first on anyone's list of best available receivers. Larry is coming off two straight +90 receptions, +1400 yards, +10 TD season, and 2009 should be no different. Fitzgerald should be a late first round pick in any league.

2) Andre Johnson (Texans) WR

What's not to like about Andre Johnson, other than he plays for the Houston Texans? Throw out his injured plague 2007 season and you have a player who had +100 receptions in both 2006 and 2008. Add to that the fact that he had over 1,500 yards last season, and that at 6-3, 225 lbs he makes an excellent target in the red zone, and you have a 2009 fantasy superstar. Johnson had 8 games of +100 yards last season, and that type of consistency is hard to find. Take him as high as you dare.

3) Roddy White (Falcons) WR

If truth be told I have a soft spot for Roddy White, since he was part of my 12-2 fantasy team last year. White, a former first round draft pick in 2006 is coming off two straight +80 receptions, +1,200 yard seasons. Yet even more important, he is Matt Ryan's favorite target. As Ryan develops as a quarterback, look for White's numbers to go up. Though not a sexy choice as your top receiver, he is nevertheless a very solid one.

4) Calvin Johnson (Lions) WR

Yes, he is perhaps the most talented receiver in the league. Yes, he deserves to be rated higher than Roddy White, but the Lions have a revolving door at Quarterback, and that can turn into a problem. Johnson lived up to the hype in 2008, with a spectacular 78-1,331-12 season. The number two pick overall in 2007, he is always a threat to have a record breaking year. Still, take a peek at who is the Lions' quarterback before drafting him.

5) Reggie Wayne (Colts) WR

With Peyton Manning at Quarterback and Marvin Harrison off the team, Wayne will be closer to the +1,500 yard receiver he was in 2007, than the +1,100 yard receiver he was in 2008. Call it +1,300 yards and take him. He has been solid over the past 5 years and this isn't his year to slow down.

6) Brandon Marshall (Broncos) WR

What's not to like about Marshall? He is a big 6-4, 230 lb receiver coming off back to back +100 receptions, +1,200 yards seasons. Capable of big games, Marshall had a huge 18 receptions, 166 yard game last season. Forget the fact that he comes out of UCF (my alma mater), I am not playing favorites here, Marshall will be a top 10 receiver this season.

7) Randy Moss (Patriots) WR

The Patriots let go of Cassel, which means that they are banking on Tom Brady being back to good form. Though Wes Welker is the workhorse receiver on this team, near the goal line, the throws will go to Moss. He won't get you another 23 touchdown season, but he will get you a 10 TD season without breaking a sweat, a total he has reached 8 times in 11 seasons.

8) Greg Jennings (Packers) WR

Jennings clicks well with his Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Rodgers will get better (if that is possible, given his 2008 numbers) in coming years. Look for Jennings to be in the 80-90 catches, +1,200 yards, +10 touchdown range for the next three seasons in a row. A steady receiver, Jennings had 5 games over 100 yards last season.

9) Steve Smith (Panthers ) WR

Look I love Smith, and I got nothing against the little guy, but this 5-9 receiver has logged 106 games and 509 receptions in this league already. I just don't feel he has a 1,400-1,500 yard season left in him. Besides that, the Panthers ran the ball well last season and will do so again. Look for Smith to come down to earth this season. He will get you 70 catches for over 1,000 yards, but don't look for another season in which he logs eight games of +100 yards.

10) Aquan Boldin (Cardinals) WR

Boldin is not happy as a Cardinal, but he is signed through 2010. A happy Boldin would rate much higher on this list; an unhappy Boldin might end up traded. If he lines up on the opposite side of Fitzgerald, look for +80 catches, +1,000 yards, and 10 TDs.

Statistical Sources:

www.sports.yahoo.com