Part 3 of Mattie T’s 2007 Fantasy Football Preview: Ranking the Top 5 Wide Receivers

It’s true that in order to win on a consistent basis in fantasy football, you will need wide receivers that can consistently haul in catches, gain yardage & get into the end zone week by week.

Here are my top 5 wide receivers in fantasy football heading into the 2007 season.

5. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals.

When Boldin is healthy, this guy is pretty damn consistent year by year. Boldin did see a dropoff in receptions last season (83 in ‘06 after finishing tied for 2nd with 102 in ‘05), but he was able to haul in 1,200 or more receiving yards for the 3rd time in his 4 year career.

Anquan is definitely one of the best wideouts in the business & should record close to 90 receptions, 1,300 receiving yards & 8 touchdowns in 2007.

4. Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams.

Holt has been one of the NFL’s most consistent receivers in nearly a decade.

Torry finished his 2006 season with his 7th straight campaign of 80 or more receptions & 1,300 or more receiving yards.

To top that off, Holt has totaled a double-digit figure in touchdown catches over 3 of his past 4 seasons.

I’m putting Holt down for 100 receptions & 1,400 yard season in 2007 to go along with 12 touchdown receptions.

3. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts.

No matter how many touchdown passes Peyton Manning throws next season, Marvin Harrison will be his main target for a good majority of them.

Harrison finished his 2006 season by recording 80+ receptions, 1,100+ receiving yards & 10+ touchdowns for the 8th straight year. This guy is the true definition of consistent & has not missed a beat despite the fact that he’ll turn 35 next month.

I’d put Marvelous down for 100 receptions, 1,400 receiving yards & 14 receiving touchdowns for 2007.

2. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers.

Smith has been sensational over the past 2 seasons since coming back from a broken leg injury that cost him 15 games during the 2004 season.

For the 1st time in his 6 year career, Smith recorded back-to-back 1,000 yard receiving campaigns (1,563 in ‘05 & 1,166 in ‘06.) Smith has also proved that he can be a big-time scorer with 20 receiving touchdowns over the past 2 seasons.

Carolina’s quarterback situation could be iffy if Jake Delhomme gets off to a shaky start, but backup David Carr has the advantage seeing that he had Andre Johnson as his #1 target in Houston for 4 seasons.

Put down Smith for 90 receptions, 1,300 receiving yards & 10 receiving touchdowns for 2007.

1. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals.

I know that it seems like Ocho Cinco does nothing but run his mouth every week leading up to Sunday, but he has serious game to back it up.

Johnson won his 1st receiving title in ‘06 & it was one of the closest races in recent league history.

Johnson beat out Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts by THREE yards for the 2006 NFL Receiving crown.

Johnson went beserk starting with Week 10 against San Diego when he caught 11 receptions for 260 yards & scored 2 touchdowns. Johnson would end up reeling off 3 more games of 100 or more receiving yards (Bengals went 3-0 during that stretch) for the rest of the way.

Of course, we’re talking about a guy who has caught 90 or more receptions & recorded 1,250 or more receiving yards over each of the last 4 seasons.

Put Chad down for his first ever 100 reception season, 1,500 receiving yards & 12 receiving touchdowns in 2007.

This was probably the toughest preview for me. As you can see, a lot of really good receivers were left off the list which include Terrell Owens, Reggie Wayne, Roy Williams, Lee Evans, Larry Fitzgerald & Randy Moss.

Tomorrow i’ll have Part 4 of my week-long 2007 Fantasy Football Preview with a look at the top 5 tight ends.

Until then,

Mattie T

Sports Writer for BMS Radio Chicago

www.BMSRadio.com

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