2015 Tiered Dynasty Rankings: Wide Receivers (WR), Tier 2

As the Football season starts to close in, we’re digging into Dynasty Leagues analysis. Here are the 2015 Tiered Dynasty Rankings we looked at: Tier 1 Wide Receivers; Tier 1, Tier 2, Tiers 3 & 4 Running Backs; Quarterbacks.

Today, fantasy football expert Bill Dubiel takes a look at the tier 2 wide receivers. In PPR formats these can be some of the most valuable players, and they typically have a pretty long career span (compared to running backs, anyway). These are the rankings for keeper/dynasty formats, and while age isn’t necessarily the only factor, it plays a huge role in these rankings versus redraft leagues.

Wide Receiver Tiered Dynasty Rankings - Tier 2

8) Randall Cobb, 24, GB

Randall Cobb officially broke out in 2014 to the tune of 1,287 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, and established himself as one of the incomparable Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets. I believe we’ve yet to see the best from Cobb, and I would love to push him into the top tier. However, as long as Jordy Nelson is around to eat up 8-10 targets per game, Cobb’s upside is limited. Nelson does not have a stranglehold on the team target lead though, as from Week 7 on it was in fact Cobb who got more looks from Rodgers. I don’t know if it’s realistic to expect another 12 touchdowns in 2015, but this elite threat will continue to be a WR1 as long as he plays in Green Bay.

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9) Alshon Jeffery, 25, CHI

Alshon Jeffery has been a superstar the last two years WITH Brandon Marshall on the team—now that Marshall is with the Jets, the sky is the limit for Jeffery. He’s always been a monster near pay-dirt, as he’s gathered 37 end-zone targets over the last two seasons, which he turned into 17 touchdowns. Rookie Kevin White is talented enough to take some of the heat off of Jeffery, and I expect him to improve upon last year’s numbers (1,133 yards/10 TDs). The circus that followed Jay Cutler last year will have hopefully abated come September, and I believe he’ll look Jeffery’s way early and often over the course of 2015.

10) DeAndre Hopkins, 23, HOU

DeAndre Hopkins is one of the most talented receivers in the league from a catching standpoint. He has outstanding body control and hands, allowing him to catch virtually anything thrown his way. He produced a great season in 2014 despite dealing with an absolute mess at quarterback (1,210 yards/6 TDs), and can probably be relied on for similar numbers. Brian Hoyer and/or Ryan Mallet aren’t going to light up the box score, capping Hopkins’ statistical ceiling but he is only going to keep getting better though, and should be a legitimate top-end WR2 for the next six or seven years.

11) Calvin Johnson, 29, DET

It appears that age and usage are finally catching up with the formerly unquestioned number one fantasy wide receiver. Calvin Johnson is still one of the most physically imposing figures in the NFL, but he can no longer be relied upon for 16 games a season. He missed a large chunk of last season due to injury, but following the Lions’ bye week he reminded everyone why we call him Megatron—he had 729 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 49 receptions from Week 10 to Week 17. Johnson won’t be hurting for targets as long as Matthew Stafford is under center, and has WR1 potential, but due to his age and recent slew of injuries, he’s a top-of-the-line WR2.

12) Jordy Nelson, 30, GB

Don’t let my comments on Randall Cobb confuse you—Jordy Nelson is still the wide receiver I prefer for 2015, particularly in PPR leagues. Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson have my vote for best QB/WR duo in the NFL, and I don’t expect that level of play to go anywhere anytime soon. Rodgers peppers him with targets, and Nelson reels them in, plain and simple. In the last two seasons, he’s averaged 1,416 yards and 10.5 touchdowns. Those are WR1 numbers, and that’s what I expect him to produce for at least the next season or two. The only knock on Nelson is the emergence of Randall Cobb as a legitimate second option, which still shouldn’t do too much damage to his final numbers.

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