X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Top 10 Second Year Wide Receivers

Alex Brock takes a look at the top 10 NFL sophomore wide receivers for 2015 fantasy football, ranking them by their projected fantasy points.

The 2014 rookie wide receiver class was the best in recent memory. While only time will tell if the great young receivers of 2014 will compare to the prolific careers of 1996 greats like Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison and Keyshawn Johnson, it's safe to assume that some second year guys will make a big impact next season and for seasons to come.

This list will try to predict the top 10 fantasy finishers amongst the wide receiver sophomores of 2015. It will take into account factors like the quality of the offense, particularly the Quarterback. Behold the bold, the questionable, and the predictable predictions for the 2014 WR class.

Editor’s Note: If you’re looking for a new, awesome, highly customizable and free option for year-round commissioner & dynasty leagues, something more capable than Yahoo, better looking than CBS, and built from the ground up with fantasy football in mind, play free fantasy football with our friends at Fleaflicker.

Be sure to check all of our dynasty fantasy football resources for 2025:

 

1) Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

Forget rookies. Beckham was one of the most dominant receivers in the game after coming back from a four week absence to start the season. He was top-3 in the league in receptions, yards and TDs after week 4. Plus, no wide out in the NFL can compare to Beckham's acrobatic ability on the field. This guy can catch any ball thrown within 10 yards of him. Although it's unclear what type of ability Eli Manning will display heading into 2015, Beckham should be beyond solid alongside Victor Cruz in the Giants' high-flying offense.

 

2) Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers

In terms of pure wide receiver athleticism, Benjamin is as good as they come. At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, there are few defensive backs who can swat a ball away from his reaching hands. The only problem is, sometimes they don't have to. Benjamin's 11 dropped passes was bested only by Mohamed Sanu in 2014. Dropped passes will ruin chemistry between a quarterback and his receivers very quickly. But, if Cam Newton can take a lesson from Matthew Stafford and throw the ball up high for his big boy on the right side, future success is imminent. Benjamin is the only credible receiver on the team and Newton's got the arm to set up some big plays and some big numbers in 2015.

 

3) Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

With only 38 targets, Adams received the least attention of any player on this list in 2014. A few key thoughts make him stand out going into his next campaign. First and foremost, he's got Aaron Rodgers throwing him the freaking ball. That has to count for a lot. Unfortunately, there are two Pro Bowl caliber receivers in front of him, each of whom set an NFL record in 2014 with 90 receptions, 1,200 yards and 12 TDs. Rodgers and the Packers coaching staff have made it clear that Adams will be awarded a bigger part of the receiving pie in years to come. When Green Bay faces teams with dominant secondaries (see the Patriots game, week 13), Adams becomes an unstoppable threat in the slot and along the sidelines to boot. Adams didn't have a chance to do much in 2014. But given the chance, he can (and will) compete among the top dogs next year.

 

4) Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Evans is the 2014 wide receiver version of Doug Martin. He's a Buccaneer, displays insane upside potential, and rose to fame based on a three week sample of dominance. Weeks 9 to 11 showed that Evans could compete with the big boys. Aside from that small sample size, there's not much else to say. Well, there is the fact that he was second among all rookie receivers in yards, fourth in receptions, and tied with Beckham for most rookie TDs. But again, that was mostly comprised by three weeks of absolute dominance, causing a residual salivation that remains among fantasy owners going into this year's draft. Look, Evans is a beast. But with Tampa's quarterback situation unsure, not to mention the plethora of other factors wrong with that team, one would be wise to be weary of Evans' stock in 2015.

 

5) Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills

As the top chosen wide out in the 2014 draft, Watkins did not disappoint with the Bills last year. Well, he did a little bit. His 65 receptions in 2014 were good for sixth among rookie receivers. He didn't eclipse 1000 yards on the season. That's okay. Most rookie receivers are not expected to break such a stellar mark. But, when a team with a lot of holes to fill trades up in the first round of the draft to land a receiver whilst three of his rookie comrades surpass him in receiving yards, it qualifies as a bit of a disappointment. Watkins is a monster receiver and should continue to be a freakishly talented wide out for years to come. But it's just not happening with the Bills. Not with E.J. Manuel or whoever else the management in Buffalo gets to replace him. Out of the 124 targets Watkins received last year, only 70 of them were catchable, as per Pro Football Focus. That number is doubtful to improve in 2015. Expect decent numbers from Watkins in his next campaign. Don't hope for anything spectacular.

 

6) Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis Colts

This guy is the next T.Y. Hilton. Well that's not the boldest claim, considering he plays alongside Hilton and has the same quarterback throwing deep bombs his way. With Reggie Wayne finally out of town, the Colts offense, which led the league in passing in 2014, will be soaring towards the hands of Hilton and Moncrief. Based off only 32 targets last year, Moncrief ranked third among rookies in WR rating. He's a very real deep threat. He is the epitome of a high-risk, high-reward choice for this year's draft. Moncrief's numbers thus far are nothing to drool over. It's a safe bet that Andrew Luck will make them drool-worthy eventually.

 

7) Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers

Martavis Bryant is largely similar to Moncrief. Andrew Luck is largely similar to a younger Ben Roethlisberger - think about it. Bryant was a third-stringer in a superabundant passing offense in Pittsburgh and didn't receive nearly enough targets to compensate for his skill level. Still, with only 26 receptions on the year, he managed eight TD grabs. Almost one third of his receptions ended up in the end-zone. That's nuts. He's proven himself as one of Big Ben's favorite receivers in the red zone. As a cemented component of the Steelers offense heading into 2015, Bryant is poised to make a big splash early on with a refreshed Roethlisberger at QB.

 

8) Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins

Landry was solid in 2014. In fact, it's rare to find a receiver as consistent as this guy. Landry was second only to Beckham in rookie receptions, ranked top-eight in yards, TDs and WR rating and there's aboslutely no reason to believe he should be lower than #8 on this list. There's no reason Ryan Tannehill would be worse than last year. There's good reason to believe the Dolphins will be better, overall, than in years past. You know exactly what you will be getting with Landry. He's the least exciting guy on the list, but probably the most reliable.

 

9) Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles

Matthews ranked top five among all rookies in all the major WR counting stats: TDs, receptions, yards and WR rating. As the season went on, he became a larger part of Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense and showed true top-tier talent out on the wings. But the Eagles offense underwent an overhaul-style makeover this offseason and barely resembles the 2014 squad. The uncertainty surrounding Sam Bradford at the helms takes some value away from Matthews, who would be more profitable with Nick Foles and his strong arm. Whether you think Kelly is a genius or a moron, one should expect some growing pains for the Eagles offense in 2015. Even if Philadelphia can pull it off, it's hard to imagine the Bradford-to-Matthews combination being an elite situation going forward.

 

10) John Brown, Arizona Cardinals

I was going to give this spot to Brandin Cooks, but Brandin Cooks can't do this.

I don't like much about the Cardinals or Saints offenses right now. But with a potentially healthy Carson Palmer in 2015, Arizona could get back on track next year, with Brown a major beneficiary of the action. He was top 10 in major rookie receiving stats and he's got the upside and acrobatics for the 2015 season.

 

Honorable Mention: Jacksonville Jaguars Receivers

Allen Hurns, Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee all showed flashes of brilliance in their rookie campaigns. Anyone who is able to show a faint glimmer of brilliance in Jacksonville's offense should be commended. Essentially, the entire offense, including quarterback Blake Bortles, is heading into a collective sophomore season. The 2014 third overall draft pick will have an arsenal of young receivers again this year, all with a year of NFL experience under their belts. Unfortunately, none of these guys alone show true individual breakout potential. Lee is likely the most talented of the whole bunch based on his collegiate accolades. But until Lee, or anyone else, proves he can break the threshold of relevance, none are valuable fantasy options at this time.

 

NFL & Fantasy Football Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-0" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="700px"]

 


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.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Logan Gilbert

Fans 10 In Return Start Monday
Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers, DeShon Elliott Agree to Two-Year Extension
Ryan Pepiot

Strikes Out 11 in Win
Hunter Goodman

Homers Twice, Drives in Three
Stephen Curry

"Not Even Close" to Retirement
Jonathan Kuminga

Linked to Bulls, Heat
Kevin Durant

Has "No Desire" to be Traded to Minnesota
Isaac Paredes

Returns as DH on Monday
New York Giants

Mike Kafka Expected to Reclaim Play-Calling Duties
Jon Runyan

Limited During Minicamp
Saquon Barkley

Feels Great Physically
Justin Simmons

Panthers Have Talked With Justin Simmons
Jordan Addison

Trial Date Set for July 15
New York Jets

Jets Sign Kingsley Jonathan, Marquis Hayes
Jarace Walker

Remains Sidelined for Game 5
Justin Verlander

Returning to the Rotation on Wednesday
Tony Finau

Finishes Tied For 38th at U.S. Open
Bud Cauley

Misses The Cut at U.S. Open
Cameron Young

Finishes Tied For Fourth at U.S. Open
J.J. Spaun

Wins U.S. Open
Xander Schauffele

Finishes Tied For 12th at U.S. Open
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Second at U.S. Open
Si Woo Kim

Finishes Tied For 42nd at U.S. Open
Vershon Lee

Vikings Ink Undrafted Offensive Lineman Vershon Lee
Luke Clanton

Misses The Cut at RBC Canadian Open
San Francisco 49ers

C.J. West Signs Rookie Deal with San Fran
Jaylen Warren

Training to Handle Larger Workload
Giancarlo Stanton

to Make Season Debut on Monday
Will Campbell

Ends Minicamp as Top Left Tackle
Sam Cosmi

Making Good Progress From Torn ACL
Kamaru Usman

Gets Back In The Win Column
Adonai Mitchell

Impresses at Minicamp
Joaquin Buckley

Winning Streak Comes To An End
Miranda Maverick

Drops Decision At UFC Atlanta
Bradley Chubb

Fully Healed, Looking Disruptive
Jonnu Smith

Contract Talks "Still Fluid"
Rose Namajunas

Wins Decision At UFC Atlanta
Andre Petroski

Suffers Unanimous-Decision Loss
Edmen Shahbazyan

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Raoni Barcelos

Wins Third Fight In A Row
Chase Elliott

Ends Mexico City with A Great Finish of Third
Christopher Bell

has A Strong Runner-Up Performance At Mexico City
Chase Briscoe

Wild Day Ends with A Top-10 Finish
Michael McDowell

Leaves Mexico City with A Top-Five Finish
Cody Garbrandt

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Cody Brundage

Defeated After Accidental Clash Of Heads
Cody Brundage

Mansur Abdul-Malik Defeats Cody Brundage By Technical Decision
Oumar Sy

Suffers His First Loss
Alonzo Menifield

Scores Upset Win
Alex Bowman

Delivers Bravura Performance After Michigan Injury
Tyler Reddick

Inexplicably Mediocre on his Once-Best Track Type
John Hunter Nemechek

Canny Strategy Gives John Hunter Nemechek Best Career Road-Course Finish
Cole Custer

Earns Best Finish Since Cup-Series Comeback at Mexico City
Grant Holmes

Punches Out 15 in Loss
Elly De La Cruz

Goes Yard in Fourth Straight Game
Will Vest

Dealing With Finger Injury
Jackson Merrill

Placed on Seven-Day Concussion Injured List
J.J. McCarthy

Looking "a Lot Stronger"
Shohei Ohtani

Will Be Dodgers' Starting Pitcher Monday
Roki Sasaki

Shut Down From Throwing
Garrett Wilson

Receives New Contract Offer
Jordan Hicks

Headed to Boston
Kyle Harrison

Traded to Red Sox
Travis Kelce

Slims Down During the Offseason
Trey Hendrickson

Bengals Restart Contract Discussions
Brady House

Nationals Promoting Brady House to Major Leagues
Rafael Devers

Traded to San Francisco
Logan Gilbert

to Start on Monday
Jayden Higgins

Impresses During Minicamp
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

on the Move to Memphis
Cole Anthony

Dealt to the Grizzlies
Seattle Seahawks

DeMarcus Lawrence Making an Impression With his New Team
Tyler Mahle

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Luis Robert Jr.

Scratched with Thumb Soreness
Desmond Bane

Traded to Orlando
Byron Buxton

Scratched from Sunday's Lineup
Brendan Donovan

Returns to the Lineup
Steven Adams

Rockets Agree to Three-Year Contract Extension
Ty Dillon

Is a Respectable Cap Flexiblity-Focused DFS Option For Mexico City
Corey Perry

Produces 10th Postseason Goal
Connor McDavid

Scores First Finals Goal
John Hunter Nemechek

Is John Hunter Nemechek Worth Rostering In Mexico City DFS Lineups?
Sam Bennett

Nets Another Road Goal in Game 5 Win
Eetu Luostarinen

Earns Two Points Saturday
Brad Marchand

Pots Two Goals in Game 5 Victory
Sergei Bobrovsky

Ties NHL Record with 10th Road Win
Ross Chastain

Trackhouse Racing's Mexico Focus Makes Ross Chastain a Leading Contender for the Win
Kyle Busch

One of Two Past Mexico City Winners in the Field
Ryan Preece

Earns Surprising Front-Row Start
Austin Cindric

Not as Strong of a Road Racer as People Think
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Stronger on Infield Road Courses Than Purpose-Built Ones
Joey Logano

Seemingly Alternating Between Good and Mediocre Races
Brad Keselowski

One of the Few Drivers with Mexico City Experience
Denny Hamlin

Ryan Truex Makes First Cup Series Start Since 2014
Erik Jones

Mexico City Will Likely be a Struggle for Erik Jones
Noah Gragson

Front Row Motorsports' Speed May Make Noah Gragson a Decent DFS Option
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Road Courses Are Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s Worst Track Type
Evander Kane

Drops to Fourth Line Saturday
Kasperi Kapanen

Won't Play on Saturday
Calvin Pickard

Starts Game 5 for Oilers
Tyrese Haliburton

Struggles in Friday's Loss to OKC
Chet Holmgren

Dominates the Glass in Game 4
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Leads the Way in Game 4
Jalen Williams

Has a Quality Showing on Friday Night
Russell Westbrook

to Decline Player Option
Kevin Durant

Trade Could Happen in the "Next Few Days"
Joaquin Buckley

Set For Main Event
Kamaru Usman

An Underdog At UFC Atlanta
Miranda Maverick

Set For Co-Main Event
Rose Namajunas

Looks To Bounce Back
Andre Petroski

Looks To Extend His Win Streak To Four
Edmen Shahbazyan

A Favorite At UFC Atlanta
Raoni Barcelos

Set To Take On Former Champion
Cody Garbrandt

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Mansur Abdul-Malik

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Connor Hellebuyck

Wins Vezina And Hart Trophies
Aleksander Barkov

Records Two Power-Play Assists Thursday
Sam Reinhart

Collects Three Points in Thursday's Loss
Matthew Tkachuk

Notches Three Points in Losing Effort
Calvin Pickard

Joins Exclusive List with Thursday's Win
Mattias Ekholm

Logs Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Leon Draisaitl

Delivers Victory in Overtime Thursday
Myles Turner

Playing Through Illness
Reed Sheppard

Will Play in the NBA Summer League
Kevin Durant

Deal Could Come Sooner Rather Than Later
Dorian Finney-Smith

Undergoes Ankle Surgery
Anze Kopitar

Wins Third Lady Byng Trophy
Sergei Bobrovsky

Heading Out for Win No. 15
John Klingberg

Won't Play in Game 4 Against Panthers
Viktor Arvidsson

Sits Out Game 4 Against Panthers
Stuart Skinner

Remains in Oilers Crease Thursday
Jalen Williams

Leads Thunder in Scoring Wednesday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Settles for 24 Points in Game 3 Loss
Pascal Siakam

Does Everything for Pacers Wednesday Night
Matt McCarty

Comes Off Season-Best Showing at RBC Canadian Open
Justin Thomas

Desperate to Continue Good 2025 Season
Jon Rahm

Seeks Revenge at U.S. Open
Tom Kim

Aiming for Improvement in U.S. Open
PGA

Sungjae Im Expects Solid Performance at Oakmont
Brian Harman

Aims to Rebound From the Memorial
Tony Finau

has Been Up and Down at U.S. Open
Patrick Cantlay

Hoping This is the Year at Oakmont
Akshay Bhatia

Improving in Time for U.S. Open
Xander Schauffele

Primed for Another Major Championship Run
Cameron Young

May Struggle at U.S. Open
Collin Morikawa

Eyeing Third Major Championship Title
Matt Fitzpatrick

Seeks to Avenge Oakmont Collapse
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF