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Shifting back to the NFC, our ranking of every NFL team based on their wide receiver corps continues. This week focuses on one of the toughest divisions in football with the NFC South. There are a ton of well-known names here so be sure to pay close attention to the analysis given.
Lastly, this is your weekly reminder that these rankings are subject to change based on the usual off-season moves and updates. There are bound to be some changes by the time our conference and straight #1-32 rankings take shape.
Let's get to it.
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NFC South Receiver Ranks
4. Carolina Panthers
- Kelvin Benjamin
- Devin Funchess
- Curtis Samuel
- Charles Johnson
Once upon a time, the Carolina Panthers were notorious for having one of the most desperate wide receiver corps in the NFL. Fast-forward a couple years and, well, they've really only seen a marginal improvement. Since the departure of Steve Smith, the biggest addition to the roster was that of Kelvin Benjamin. Benjamin is entering his fourth season, one he hopes is a repeat of his rookie year. Boasting 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014, fantasy owners were primed to see a big step up in Benjamin's sophomore campaign. Unfortunately, an ACL tear derailed his 2015 season but his 2016 line has been overlooked. His yardage only dipped down to 941 while his TD total fell to seven. Most owners would have you believe he fell off a cliff when in reality he wasn't all that bad. Look for Kelvin Benjamin to end up as a rock solid WR3/flex play in 2017 despite concerns about his fitness.
Beyond that, the Panthers don't really have much else at the position. Devin Funchess has been a well hyped prospect but he hasn't had more than 473 yards in either of his first two years. That said, the loss of Ted Ginn leaves room for one other contributor. Rookie Curtis Samuel could be the playmaker they've been searching for, but it's still not clear how the team will use him. Check back mid-season to see who steps up.
3. Atlanta Falcons
Julio Jones is as big of a fantasy superstar as fellow top-three wideouts Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. Depending on who you ask, the order of how those three are ranked varies. Ultimately, Julio is a virtual guarantee to finish with stellar numbers. You can expect roughly 1,500 yards and seven touchdowns from Julio year-to-year. Not much else to add here other than that he's an absolute stud.
Despite being the defending NFC champions, the Falcons don't actually boast consistent fantasy contributors beyond Julio Jones. Before some Atlanta diehards start pounding the table for Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel, the word "consistent" is the most important part of the previous sentence. Throw in Justin Hardy and it's a talented group for sure. Problem is, talent doesn't always translate to fantasy production. Sanu and Gabriel are late round fliers who could be decent bye week fill-ins depending on the makeup of your team. Hardy would need one of those two to falter in order to crack your fantasy radar.
All in all, the Falcons are one of the league's best teams so that alone earns them a closer look for fantasy. Unfortunately for Sanu, Gabriel, and Hardy, the two teams ranked above them have receivers who have more credible contributors.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Mike Evans
- DeSean Jackson
- Adam Humphries
- Chris Godwin
The combo of Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson is a lethal arsenal for quarterback Jameis Winston. In the case of Evans, he's proven that he has the talent to hang with the likes of Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, and Antonio Brown. If it weren't for a bizarre 2015 season where he only scored two touchdowns, he'd be widely considered as a member of that same tier. Instead, his 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2016 put him a teeny tiny step below the top-three. Look for Winston to continue to rely on his monster No. 1 receiver.
DeSean Jackson had a quiet 1,005 yard, four touchdown season in Washington last year. Now a member of the Buccaneers, he trades in one young QB in Kirk Cousins for another in Jameis Winston. As far as fantasy is concerned, DeSean should have no problem repeating similar numbers in 2017. The knock on D-Jax is that he's a very boom-or-bust player, a criticism you can't argue against. Expect Jackson to be a respectable WR3/flex on his new team.
Adam Humphries has shown some flashes of talent in the past but this is really a two-man show in Tampa Bay. You won't want to own anyone other than Evans and Jackson.
1. New Orleans Saints
Even with Brandon Cooks shipped off to New England, the New Orleans Saints are in the rare position of potentially netting us three fantasy contributors at wide receiver. The trio of Michael Thomas, Willie Snead, and Ted Ginn is right up there with the elite corps of the NFL. Michael Thomas boasted a line of 1,137 yards and nine touchdowns in his rookie year, putting him well within the top-10 at the position. Thomas now finds himself as the clear No. 1 receiver on a team that throws a ton. With Drew Brees at the helm, Thomas won't have a problem repeating his rookie success.
Willie Snead steps in as the team's secondary option with the potential to be a low-end WR2. Snead has put up steady numbers in his first two years, just missing out on 1,000 yards each time. Granted, his TD totals have been low as he hasn't reeled in more than four scores to this point. Still, the Saints have proven time and time again that they know how to keep multiple receivers involved, especially as it pertains to their top two targets. Snead is going to have sneaky draft day value and could end up being one of the year's biggest steals.
Speaking of keeping multiple receivers involved, Ted Ginn goes from one of the weakest receiver groups in the league to one of the strongest. Ginn has a tendency to steal fantasy points away from those higher on the depth chart. That's likely to continue in New Orleans with the potential for more consistent production thanks to being on a much better offense. You won't want to draft Ginn as a starter but he deserves to be owned in all leagues in 2017. He has serious flex upside and could end up as high as a WR2 in the event of an injury. Should any of the top three get hurt, Coleman bumps up a spot on the depth chart, shifting this analysis over to him.
More 2017 Fantasy Football Analysis
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.
