2016 wasn't exactly an exciting year for traditional rookie storylines. Unlike the emergence of Odell Beckham Jr. via one-handed grab in 2014, or the dominant arrival of guys like Amari Cooper last year. Ultimately, 2016 revealed no red carpet for the heir to the throne (though one rookie made a pretty dominant case.) Unlike the debut of Zeke Elliott in the ground game, we will have to wait until 2017 to see a potential rookie contender, or see if 2016 first rounder's like Josh Doctson are healthy and talented enough to prove his worth (the same can also be said, more begrudgingly and less hopefully, of circa-2015 draft Kevin White.)

The receiving heroes of 2016 are the men who were largely ignored: a man with unreliable hands, a rookie in a very crowded offense, and a receiver whose workload was generally due to a Wally Pipp-like scenario. The disappointments of 2016 were more the stuff of great fanfare: the ultra-talented star who always carried the water for his less impressive quarterbacks, a once talent whose contract and reputation desperately needed a good year, and a wide receiver whose stock on and off the field dropped so greatly he ended up finishing the season on a different team entirely.

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Wide Receiver Risers

Davante Adams had a draft position that matched Anquan Boldin, Terrance Williams, and Chris Hogan, but wound up with a touchdown total that tied Mike Evans and Antonio Brown. That total should have been higher, honestly, if it weren't for some careless drops in the end zone. Overall, his numbers suggest less "fluke" and more "reliable target," a stark contrast to the player who didn't seize his opportunities in 2015. Adams was the WR71 on average in fantasy drafts, meaning that there are a lot of leagues where the top 10 WR wasn't even selected. There was no buzz on Adams, the third WR drafted on average from Green Bay. With a better completion percentage than Terrelle Pryor, DeAndre Hopkins, or Emmanuel Sanders, it's hard not to be excited of the potential of the young WR for many more years to come.

Michael Thomas wasn't supposed to be "the rookie" this year, though as argued above, there isn't really "the rookie" when fantasy players are more likely to take a Josh Gordon flyer than a first year player. But Sterling Shepard, Corey Coleman, and Will Fuller all held the distinction of higher ADP. Thomas was a probably talented player on a very talented offense, most akin to the 2013-14 "too many mouths" Denver Broncos. Thomas would probably be good, and was worth a lottery ticket, but words like "reliable" and "consistent" were nowhere to be found. And while Bleacher Report's beach house interview with Brandin Cooks had the WR confessing he stalked Drew Brees so he could be the team's best receiver, you could argue at best that the role is temporary, or argue at worst it was Thomas's title. Thomas was less likely to go long, but his 75.8 yards per game and nine touchdowns put him comfortably in the fantasy football top ten. Thomas is good, stable, and dynamic after the catch, meaning continued success is to be expected in the sophomore year.

Tyrell Williams is the player on my list most likely to suffer a sophomore slump, as his receptions/target were pedestrian at best, he didn't score many touchdowns despite being the only consistent receiver on his team, and his yards per game were... fine. But in this case, it's more of the journey for Tyrell Williams. He's the only receiver in San Diego to crack the top forty in terms of yards receiving this season, landing at number fifteen. Little statistics normally hidden away show that he played the role of "big gain leader" in the NFL, with 19 catches of more than 20 yards, and a 15.3 yards per catch average, all coming on less than seventy receptions. San Diego is under new leadership and may not continue looking for Williams in potential garbage time scenarios. If he can hold onto the ball more, he looks quietly scary in keeper and dynasty leagues. He'll still be paired with world beater Phillip Rivers, but no indication of how much competition other receivers on the team might give him. I loved Williams in his first year as a full-time starter, and am cautiously excited for the future.

Wide Receiver Fallers

Brandon Marshall needed a good year. The receiver spent the offseason on a media tour, going on late night talk and sports shows around the country. Half of the time he was simply trying out his camera time and the other half advocating for the return of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick, healthy or not, turned out to be an unreliable option for the team and they descended into mediocrity. Luckily the talented young WR stepped up with 857 yards and.... oh, I'm sorry, that's Quincy Enunwa's file. With no Eric Decker to challenge him for work, Brandon Marshall did.... nothing. Didn't score, didn't catch it a lot, did nothing during the fantasy playoffs. One of the game's most consistent receiving options up and vanished in the second half. With no QB option in sight for the team, Marshall's challenge is ultimately an uphill one.

Jeremy Maclin took his place in Kansas City, and became apart of the infamous Chiefs "Have You Seen Me?" exhibit. Maclin was drafted just outside of the Top-20 in most fantasy drafts. Apart from a few small games, he largely followed in the tradition of a talented receiver signed to the Chiefs who promptly does nothing. Famous names also include Dwayne Bowe and.... um... Rod Streater? Maclin has been superseded by Tyreek Hill, otherwise known as "ADP: Undrafted."

Michael Floyd's story is more difficult. Going into the season, I refused to own a Cardinals WR. A crowded field of potentially talented hands had one name that was scarier than most. Floyd had the speed and the potential, and showed both off in 2015 as Arizona made a deep playoff run. What ultimately occurred was a talented receiver who, through behavioral issues or otherwise unknown, saw the ball less and less. Then, an incident involving drunk driving saw him move to New England, where he still saw fourth-or-fifth-option workloads. Floyd may still have the talent, but 2016 was not an indicator of on-field success, but a hope that he finds inner resolve and peace before hopefully, eventually, getting back into the game once again.