FANTASY FOOTBALL ARTICLES

Other Positions:  Quarterbacks  |  Running Backs  |  Wide Receivers

First Round - For some reason, wideours only exist in odd-numbered years. 2006 and 2008 combined for only one. 2007 and 2009 totaled 12. Surprising too is that Robert Meacham and Craig Davis have both undelivered in a bust way most recently. There is no magic about the first round for wideouts other than it means they get a chance to play. Not all have really taken advantage of it. And the first year for them have all been below fantasy relevance with minor expceptions.

Second Round – This round has historically not produced many starters but a few like Vincent Jackson and Greg Jennings have developed into top receivers. Eddie Royal and DeSean Jackson had impressive rookie years though there were no first rounders last year so they were sort of "first round equivalents". This is mostly a level where players have to develop a year or two to matter and most end up marginal players if that.

Third Round – This round has produced some nice players but rarely more than one per year if that. Anquan Boldin had a great rookie year and Bernard Berrian has come on well but this is the round of players who take time to develop - if they ever do. The last four years have been nearly wastelands of talent.

Fourth Round – Usually this round (and deeper) serves up guys who become serviceable #2 wideouts for teams - if even that. Brandon Marshall is the lone exception here. The very much lone exception. And we cannot be sure yet if that was just Jay Cutler's doing.

Rounds Five to Seven – Oddly enough, the fifth and sixth rounds have done nothing to produce starters and yet Donald Driver, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and of course Marques Colston came from the seventh round to becoming starters. The majority of these players do nothing though if they even make the team but there have been some big surprises from the final round every couple of years. Chansi Stuckey and Chaz Schilens may get to start this year. For some reason, the seventh round has served up much more than the fourth through seventh rounds have lately.

2009 -  Like every year, there are at least a few rookie wideouts that are spawning optimism that almost always proves unfounded. The Raiders made Darius Heyward-Bey the first receiver taken but few outside of Big Al think the rookie holds a lot of promise for this year. Michael Crabtree was the concensus top dog but the 49ers pass attack appears unlikely to create any stars this year, let alone for a rookie. Jeremy Maclin (PHI) and Percy Harvin (MIN) are creating excitement already and are the most likely to shine this year. This appears to be a far better crop than 2008 but that doesn't mean any of them will end up as fantasy starters.

Other Positions:  Quarterbacks  |  Running Backs  |  Wide Receivers

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Kevin

Posted Jun 26, 2009 4:34pm EDT

Did you forget to mention 5th rounder Steve Breaston? He surely deserves mention as a late-round pick that has flourished.

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