Drew Loftis

Drew Loftis

NFL

You can go fairly deep in draft and still find quality fantasy WRs

They generally are the most athletic players on the field. They have a reputation for being the biggest divas. Yet they rely completely on others for their fantasy production.

Meet NFL wide receivers.

Looking for a receiver in your fantasy draft requires deeper research than virtually any other position. Does the wideout have a quarterback who can regularly get him the ball? Is the offensive line good enough to give that QB time to throw? Are there other receivers who will steal their targets (bad) or demand extra coverage (good)? Does the team have a running game good enough to keep opponents from using a nickel defense on virtually every down?

No one of these factors is a deal maker or deal breaker, but the combination thereof gives you a better picture of what a talented receiver may be able to produce.

The good news is, there are plenty of worthwhile fantasy options, so if you miss out on the superstars early in your draft, you need not worry.

Sure hands

Because we don’t like having one-player categories, others join Calvin Johnson in our top-flight group. A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Jordy Nelson, Antonio Brown and Randall Cobb can be considered strong options for your top wideout. And we’re going to put Vincent Jackson in this group, based on our feeling that the Buccaneers will experience dramatic improvement this year, thanks to a new coach and moderate QB upgrade.

The last of this group, normally Jackson soon after Cobb or Jeffery, likely will go off the board in the middle of the third round. This puts Jackson’s Draft Value Quotient (DVQ) among the highest of the early-round WRs at 5.20, using his average draft position (ADP) of 37 — behind just Johnson (DVQ of 5.47 at ADP of 5.85) and Jeffery (5.51 at pick 27.74).

Great grabs

Maybe you decide to grab running backs with your first two picks, or opt for a QB or tight end Jimmy Graham. Now you’re picking late looking for your first WR in Round 3 or shortly thereafter. You’re still in OK shape, particularly if you can land Keenan Allen.

The bulk of this group — Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Wes Welker, Pierre Garcon, DeSean Jackson, Percy Harvin and Roddy White — have DVQs that take a dip into the 3s.

But in the middle of this pack, Victor Cruz is a good gamble. The Madman isn’t buying into the preseason swoon in the new offensive scheme. We believe the Giants will show marked improvement from last season.

At the tail end of the tier is Michael Crabtree, around pick 55. Sidelined for much of last season, Crabtree made a big difference in the 49ers offense during the playoffs. Besides, he won’t be going against Richard Sherman every week.

Good catches

By the time you get into picks in the 70s, you’re looking at WRs who are decent flex or weak WR2 options. This is a boring, average group. The best upside can be found in Michael Floyd and T.Y. Hilton. Sammy Watkins’ skills are intriguing, but a poor QB drags down his projections.

Of a crew that also includes Cordarrelle Patterson, Julian Edelman, Kendall Wright, Golden Tate, Torrey Smith, Marques Colston, Mike Wallace, and Eric Decker, we like the upsides of Emmanuel Sanders and Jeremy Maclin.

Hail Marys

Armed with three solid WRs heading into the second half of your draft, focus primarily on upside. Sure, Steve Smith may be a “safer” pick than Brandin Cooks in the 120s, as illustrated by the DVQ, but you can afford to gamble on potential this late. It’s easier to envision Cooks having a phenomenal rookie season than it is Smith recapturing his youth on a new team.

Other late picks we like: Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers raving about rookie in camp and he could be their only legitimate WR threat; second-year Steelers wideout Markus Wheaton; Vincent Brown, who likely will have to step in once Malcom Floyd and/or Eddie Royal are injured; and Cardinals rookie John Brown.

Insanity Insider

Post Fantasy Insanity columnist Drew Loftis applies his DVQ to the top 25 WRs:

Draft Value Quotient (DVQ) DVQ is a calculation of player’s value at average draft position, in relation to points scored and position. Pick-1 Equation is a straight ranking of players, using DVQ of each if they were picked first overall. Players listed in order of P1E.

PPT — projected points
ADP — average draft position
DVQ — averages for projected starters:

Overall: 3.81, QB: 2.48, RB: 5.15, WR: 4.32, TE: 2.18, DEF: 1.41, K: 0.99

1. Calvin Johnson, Lions
P1E: 5.03, PPT: 232, DVQ: 5.50, ADP: 5.94

2. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos
P1E: 4.16, PPT: 211, DVQ: 5.04, ADP: 12.24

3. A.J. Green, Bengals
P1E: 3.78, PPT: 201, DVQ: 4.92,ADP: 16.56

4. Julio Jones, Falcons
P1E: 3.74, PPT: 200, DVQ: 5.27, ADP, 21.65

5. Dez Brayant, Cowboys
P1E: 3.67, PPT: 198, DVQ: 4.81, ADP: 17.08

6. Brandon Marshall, Bears
P1E: 3.67, PPT: 198, DVQ: 5.07, ADP: 20.53

7. Alshon Jeffery, Bears
P1E: 3.63, PPT: 197, DVQ: 5.53, ADP: 27.03

8. Antonio Brown, Steelers
P1E: 3.13, PPT: 183, DVQ: 4.94, ADP: 29.29

9. Randall Cobb, Packers
P1E: 3.06, PPT: 181, DVQ: 5.05, ADP: 32.35

10. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers
P1E: 2.96, PPT: 178, DVQ: 5.20, ADP: 36.7

11. Jordy Nelson, Packers
P1E: 2.93, PPT: 177, DVQ: 4.39, ADP: 25.82

12. Keenan Allen, Chargers
P1E: 2.24, PPT: 155, DVQ: 4.18, ADP: 42.62

13. Andre Johnson, Texans
P1E: 2.16, PPT: 152, DVQ: 3.73, ADP: 35.74

14. Victor Cruz, Giants
P1E: 2.10, PPT: 150, DVQ: 4.07, ADP: 44.26

15. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
P1E: 2.08, PPT: 149, DVQ: 3.82, ADP: 40.56

16. Michael Crabtree, 49ers
P1E: 2.05, PPT: 148, DVQ: 4.61, ADP: 54.91

17. T.Y. Hilton, Colts
P1E: 1.97, PPT: 145, DVQ: 4.56, ADP: 59.03

18. Wes Welker, Broncos
P1E: 1.91, PPT: 143, DVQ: 3.91, ADP: 48.73

19. Roddy White, Falcons
P1E: 1.89, PPT: 142, DVQ: 3.92, ADP: 50.00

20. Pierrre Garcon, Redskins
P1E: 1.89, PPT: 142, DVQ: 3.58, ADP: 42.83

21. Cordarrelle Patterson, Vikings
P1E: 1.81, PPT: 139, DVQ: 4.36, ADP: 62.41

22. DeSean Jackson
P1E: 1.78, PPT: 138, DVQ: 3.38, ADP: 42.79

23. Michael Floyd, Cardinals
P1E: 1.73, PPT: 136, DVQ: 4.63, ADP: 71.65

24. Percy Harvin, Seahawks
P1E: 1.70, PPT: 135, DVQ: 3.65, ADP: 52.41

25. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles
P1E: 1.65, PPT: 133, DVQ: 4.36, ADP: 70.18