The landscape has changed in fantasy football when it comes to how important wide receivers are.

23 wide receivers broke the 1,000-yard barrier in 2016, so the NFL continues to be a pass-first, run-second league. While receivers were third in the pecking order behind running backs and quarterbacks in fantasy football 3-5 years ago, the pendulum has swung towards passing. Receivers are just as important as those two skilled positions when it comes to constructing your fantasy squad these days.

Here are the top 12 wide receivers in fantasy football heading into the 2017 campaign:

Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!

 

Standard Wide Receiver Rankings

1. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

While Brown’s act has started to wear thin with his teammates and head coach as he has seemingly cared more about his footwear and his videotaping skills than football, the fact is no receiver has been better over the last four years. Brown has averaged 120 receptions, 1578 yards and 11 touchdowns per season over that span. The Steelers just made Brown the highest-paid receiver in the NFL and he should enter 2017 as fantasy football’s top receiver.

 

2. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

The departure of offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan will not make Jones any slower. Jones finished the 2016 season second in receiving yards behind T.Y. Hilton but was the only pass catcher to average 100 yards per game (he missed two games). Since all of Atlanta’s main players on offense are returning, and with the high-powered unit in the capable hands of new coordinator Steve Sarkisian, Jones should be primed for 1,500 to 1,800 yards. His only knock is his touchdown total since he has only scored double digits once in his six seasons.

 

3. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

When OBJ was not feuding with Josh Norman, referees or his own coaching staff, he was posting monster numbers for the third year in a row, snagging 101 Eli Manning passes for 1,367 yards and 10 touchdowns, despite constant coverage from double-teaming defenses. Beckham needs to focus more on getting open and less on everything else going on around him. If he can mature and do that on a consistent basis, he has the tools and talent to be No. 1 on this list in no time.

 

4. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

Put Green’s injury-marred 2016 in your pocket and envision him being as healthy as Cal Ripken Jr. in 2017. Green still managed 66 receptions for 964 yards even though he was limited to 10 games due to his hip injury. The man is ready to rebound to give fantasy owners another 80-90 catches for 1,200-1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns, which is wonderful but not enough to get him a spot among the top three.

 

5. T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts

Hilton had the best year of his career in 2016 with a career-high 91 receptions and a league-high 1,441 receiving yards. He now has four consecutive 1,000-yard years and has only missed two games in five seasons, so his consistency and durability is hard to match at the position. As long as Andrew Luck stays on the field, Hilton will stay as one of the top receivers in fantasy football.

 

6. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Evans and quarterback phenom Jameis Winston clicked during their second full season together to the tune of 96 receptions for 1,321 yards and a dozen scores. Part of the reason why Evans’ numbers were so gaudy, though, was because he was targeted more than any other receiver. If Tampa Bay bolsters their receiving corps and Winston spreads the wealth a little more, Evans’ stats could take a slight hit. He remains a top red zone target, however, making him a sure bet in standard leagues.

 

7. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

Brandin Cooks is no longer Drew Brees’ top target. Thomas will enter 2017 as a super sophomore looking to build off his fantastic rookie season (92 receptions for 1,137 yards and nine TD). Thomas will be a mainstay in dynasty leagues as fantasy squads will want to build around this future fantasy superstud. If Cooks winds up being traded before next season, look for Thomas to see even more targets.

 

8. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos

Thomas and pass-catching pal Emmanuel Sanders both suffered while Denver struggled through its first post-Peyton season. Fantasy owners can hold out hope that either Paxton Lynch or Trevor Siemian learns how to become a solid starting signal caller so Thomas returns to being the 100-catch, 1,400-yard dynamo he can be when a capable passer is running the offense. If Tony Romo makes his way to Denver, who knows how high the ceiling is for Thomas.

 

9. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

Nelson was the Comeback Player of the Year among receivers in 2016 as he racked up 97 catches for 1,257 yards and a league-high 14 touchdowns after missing all of 2015 due to injury. Nelson could be even better this upcoming season now that he is another year removed from his major knee surgery. Being 32 years old when the season starts is his only knock. We can't necessarily expect another 14 TD, but double-digits seems a good bet as long as he's healthy.

 

10. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans

Hopkins was the most disappointing receiver in fantasy football last year because his quarterback, Brock Osweiler, dragged down his fantasy value like an anchor would drag a fisherman down to the bottom of the ocean if it was tied to his ankle. Hopkins had 33 fewer receptions and 567 less yards in 2016 than he had the year prior thanks to Osweiler’s inaccuracy and rampant double teams from defenses. Look for Hopkins to be better in 2017, but not as great as he was in 2015 since Osweiler will probably still be the one throwing to him.

 

11. Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders

Cooper is on the verge of stardom and has many things pointed perfectly for him (great quarterback, an offense that does not ignore him, premier physical gifts), yet he has a couple things going against him. He has only scored 11 touchdowns over his first two seasons (elite WR get that in one season) and he had fewer than 75 receiving yards in 11 of his 16 games last season. Cooper needs more big games to become a big-time fantasy wideout.

 

12. Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Robinson was the second-most disappointing receiver next to Hopkins in 2016, but the good news is that his quarterback (Blake Bortles) appears to be more salvageable than Hopkins’. Robinson just had 1,400 yards and 14 TD in 2015, so there is no reason he cannot do it again if new head coach Doug Marrone straightens out Bortles and Bortles’ passes. Robinson might fall a few rounds in drafts because of his lackluster output this past season.

 

Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.