10. Pierre Garcon, Wide Receiver, Washington Redskins
Garcon ended the regular 2013 season ranked 13th among his fellow wide receivers, which was a humongous improvement over his dismal 2012 season. His stats and fantasy production were not too shabby considering the Washington Redskins finished the 2013 season with the second worst NFL ranking only managing three wins. Fantasy owners who drafted Garcon in later rounds got a bargain versus folks who chose players like Dwayne Bowe or Mike Wallace earlier in drafts. Look for Garcon to be targeted as a top 10 wide receiver choice in 2014 fantasy drafts.
2013 Statistics: 113 Receptions, 1346 Receiving Yards, Five Receiving Touchdowns
9. Larry Fitzgerald, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals
2013 was a decent comeback year for those fantasy owners who kept the faith in Fitzgerald for their fantasy teams. Forget 2012, where Fitzgerald ranked a horrible 42nd for wide receivers and relish in his 2013 season where he earned in the 16th most fantasy points for wide receivers, and the fifth most touchdowns. Clearly, the veteran Fitzgerald no longer falls within the top 10, however, with the Cardinals more solid coaching and new quarterback, which were huge in boosting his value last year, he should remain a top 20 receiver entering into the 2014 fantasy football season.
2013 Statistics: 82 Receptions, 954 Receiving Yards, 10 Receiving Touchdowns
8. Eric Decker, Wide Receiver, Denver Broncos
So much for the Denver Broncos addition of Wes Welker eating into Decker’s targets and fantasy numbers. Decker ranked 8th in fantasy points for wide receivers, compared to Welker’s 23rd ranking.
Granted, Decker stayed healthy and Welker missed a few games, however, most fantasy owners who took a chance drafting a Broncos wide receiver, other than Demaryius Thomas, chose Welker over Decker.
Hopefully, if you drafted Decker, you stuck with him as he performed exceptionally well during the latter part of the season.
With how much Peyton Manning throws a ball and with 55 regular season touchdowns, there was plenty to go around for Decker, who should be targeted as a top 10 draft pick for wide receivers in 2014.
2013 Statistics: 87 Receptions, 1288 Receiving Yards, 11 Receiving Touchdowns
7. DeSean Jackson, Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
Jackson concluded the regular NFL season with an impressive 10th place ranking for wide receivers, which is ions above his 60th place ranking in 2012.
Jackson stepped up in 2013 and filled the No. 1 receiving slot for the Eagles expertly and rewarded fantasy owners who drafted him in later rounds very handsomely.
In 2014 fellow receiver, Jeremy Maclin should return, however the Eagles are playing far too well with Nick Foles as quarterback, so there should be no reason not to trust Jackson, who should be chosen within the top 15 wide receivers, in 2014 fantasy drafts.
2013 Statistics: 82 Receptions, 1332 Receiving Yards, Nine Receiving Touchdowns
6. Antonio Brown, Wide Receiver Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers loss of Mike Wallace was fantasy owners of Brown’s gain. Brown finished his 2013 fantasy season as the 7th ranked wide receiver. If you played in a points per reception league which awards points for punt returns you were the lucky recipient of 409 return yards and a touchdown on top of the remarkable fantasy points he brought you each week. Quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger should continue to target his No. 1 receiver tons in 2014 which makes Brown an easy top 10 fantasy pick for wide receivers in 2014.
2013 Statistics: 110 Receptions, 1499 Receiving Yards, 8 Receiving Touchdowns
5. Julian Edelman, Wide Receiver, New England Patriots
Who would have predicted that Edelman would have emerged as the No. 1 receiver for the New England Patriots and for quarterback Tom Brady? Edelman started off the 2013 season making his fantasy owners happy, however a slump during the mid-season may have caused people to drop Edelman to the waivers. If you picked him up off the waivers towards the end of the season, you received the revitalized version of Edelman who provided a nice boost in fantasy points to your team as fantasy playoffs occurred. Edelman placed 18th ranked in wide receivers for 2013 compared to the over-hyped Danny Amendola, who barely made a presence with the Patriots ranking 60th. Edelman seems to have found his niche’ with Brady, making him a top 20 wide receiver selection in 2014 drafts.
2013 Statistics: 105 Receptions, 1056 Receiving Yards, Six Receiving Touchdowns
4. Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver, San Diego Chargers
Allen was a fantasy hidden gem this past season as the only rookie wide receiver to finish in the top 20; 17th to be exact in 2013.
Most definitely, not even drafted by fantasy owners at all in 2013, Allen was a hot waiver wire pick up during Weeks 5 and 6 after catching people’s eyes with double-digit fantasy performances.
He soon developed into quarterback, Philip Rivers main receiving target.
Allen had some ups and downs, but his amazing athleticism and some awesome touchdown catches should have him on your fantasy radar when the 2014 drafts occur. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Allen get drafted in the top 20 wide receivers in 2014.
2013 Statistics: 71 Receptions, 1046 Receiving Yards, Eight Receiving Touchdowns
3. Cordarrelle Patterson, Wide Receiver, Minnesota Vikings
The rookie Patterson didn’t wow many people at the beginning of the 2013 fantasy season, but he surely made fantasy owners look twice as he started being targeted on the waiver wires when his performance begin peeking around Week 13. Patterson doubly rewarded fantasy owners who got points for returns as he scored two return touchdowns and racked up over 1300 return yards in the 2013 season. Patterson’s late season shine and incredible speed carved the path for this young player to become one of the best receiving options the Vikings currently have. Look for Patterson’s role to expand in 2014, making him a solid draft target for your WR3 position.
2013 Statistics: 45 Receptions, 469 Receiving Yards, Four Receiving Touchdowns
2. Alshon Jeffery, Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears
If you ended up with Jeffery as a late round draft pick, or landed him from the waivers for your fantasy team in 2013, you scored big time. Jeffery finished up his 2013 season superbly ranking 8th among wide receivers, only a few notches below fellow Bears receiver Brandon Marshall. Jeffery had some phenomenal touchdown catches and his size makes him a true threat on the Bears offense continuing into the 2014 season. Jeffery will be a major draft day target when your 2014 drafts take place, and will likely not be available after round four. He should make a serviceable WR1-2 on a weekly basis for your 2014 fantasy team, hands-down.
2013 Statistics: 89 Receptions, 1421 Receiving Yards, Seven Receiving Touchdowns
Josh Gordon, Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns
Gordon finds himself not only on the top surprise wide receivers for 2013 list, but also as the top-ranked No. 1 wide receiver for the NFL this year, dethroning fellow receiver, Calvin Johnson. Gordon had a spectacular year despite he was not even active for the first two games of the season due a two-game suspension he had to serve. As a fantasy owner of Gordon, you reaped the huge fantasy points he graciously awarded every week. No matter who was under center at quarterback for the Browns, Gordon put up outstanding numbers. He was player worth waiting for if you drafted him at the start of the season. All this amazingness warrants Gordon a No. 1 pick as your top wide receiver in 2014 fantasy drafts.