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This week, I'm breaking down the world of wide receivers, reviewing offensive philosophies, personnel and ego for each team and assigning a rank. This process is part art, part science and a bit of gut feeling about the events to transpire this fall.
The list begins with the high-flying offense of the Colts. Fantasy owners are a little gun shy in early drafts I've seen this year after perhaps being left at the altar during championship week because of the Colts' early clinching of home field advantage. The loss of Edgerrin James may also be playing a factor.
I'm expecting more exploding scoreboards and piles of points at the RCA Dome this year. That's why Indianapolis lead my rankings.
1. Indianapolis Colts
Something had to give after the record setting season of 2004 in Indianapolis. The Colts' talented trio watched their overall totals dip from the prior season, but Indianapolis receivers as a whole trailed only Cincinnati for the NFL lead (31 total touchdowns).
Marvin Harrison is rehabbing from a second elbow surgery, but should be ready to go full-speed come training camp. Harrison caught 82 passes for 1,146 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Running mate Reggie Wayne added 83 receptions for 1,055 yards and five touchdowns. They're back in tow for another run and will once again be joined by Brandon Stokley, whose stats took the biggest hit from 2004. Stokley caught only one touchdown pass after exploding on the scene with 10 scores in 2004.
Aaron Morehead and Roscoe Crosby round out the receiving corps for Indianapolis in 2006. The effect of Edgerrin James' departure remains to be seen, but the combination of Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes appears to be more than capable to keep the digits on the Indianapolis pinball machine rolling.
2. Arizona Cardinals
Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald look to continue their magic after a brilliant 2005 season. The pair combined for 205 receptions, 2,811 yards and 17 touchdowns last year without benefit of a running game. The Cardinals instead turned to the duo in short routes and let them make plays. The addition of Edgerrin James therefore cuts into their opportunities, but will instead give them more quality opportunities.
Behind this duo stands Bryant Johnson, who caught 40 balls for 432 yards. James' addition should benefit Johnson perhaps most of all this year. The Cardinals added veteran Troy Walters as a possession receiver. Seventh-round selection from 2005 LeRon McCoy also contributed 18 catches. He's see some time in three-receiver sets.
3.Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati wide receivers shone brightly in 2005 during Carson Palmer's breakout year. Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh became household names. This dynamic duo combined for 175 catches, 2,388 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. The weekly contributions of these players in 2005 boggled the mind.
The Bengals' third receiver in 2005 faces some legal troubles heading into training camp. Chris Henry caught 31 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. Former Packers wide receiver Antonio Chatman (49 receptions, 549 receiving yards and four touchdowns) and 2003 draft pick Kelley Washington (seven games and 10 receptions) will compete against Tab Perry (four receptions, 21 yards and one touchdown) for the third slot.
4. Oakland Raiders
On paper, the Raiders enter the season positively stacked at wide receiver. Oakland enters training camp with six viable options at the position, led by all-world talent Randy Moss. Running opposite Moss is Jerry Porter who frustrated fantasy owners in 2005 but still finished with a solid season for a No. 2 option (76 receptions, 942 receiving yards, five touchdowns).
Ronald Curry had hoped to build on a brilliant 2004 year, but saw his season end prematurely in Week 2. He will enter camp in competition with Doug Gabriel (554 receiving yards and three touchdowns) for the third receiver slot.
Alvis Whitted, Johnnie Morant, Carlos Francis and Randal Williams will battle for the remaining roster slots behind the big four.
The key to the equation remains the consistency of the quarterback. Kerry Collins shone brightly on occasion, but was disappointing on the whole in 2005. He's been replaced by Aaron Brooks, a quarterback who has been plagued by erratic tosses and spotty decision-making in the past.
5. St. Louis Rams
The mad genius Mike Martz has moved on to Detroit, but the strong passing game and receiving quartet remains intact. The Rams figure to feature running back Steven Jackson more prominently this year, but a healthy Marc Bulger and company will still put up numbers.
Torry Holt quietly puts up huge numbers year after year. He'll be joined once again by Isaac Bruce, who missed five games last season and watched his productivity drop markedly (decreases of 53 receptions, 767 receiving yards and three touchdowns). Shaun McDonald and Kevin Curtis combined for 106 catches and 1,324 receiving yards last season.
6. Dallas Cowboys
The biggest splash of the off-season came when Terrell Owens signed his deal with the Cowboys, thus ending the soap opera in Philadelphia. Owens brings his all-world talent and game-changing abilities to Drew Bledsoe and the Cowboys. Many await the inevitable meltdown and off-field distractions that come with having Owens on a roster. I believe those occur in 2007.
The Cowboys will run Terry Glenn opposite Owens. The double-teams sent to Owens will leave the speedy Glenn to thrive in single coverage. Glenn topped 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 1999 and established a new career mark with seven touchdowns.
Patrick Crayton returns as the third receiver. He started last season strong before an injury sidelined him for five games and hampered him substantially for the remainder of the year. He'll face competition in training camp from rookie Skyler Green from LSU. Either way, between Owens, Glenn, Julius Jones and the tight end tandem, there won't be many balls left for the remainder of the receiving corps.
7. Washington Commanders
Santana Moss teamed with the Washington tight ends to put up huge numbers for the Commanders last year. He was a veritable one man wrecking crew last season as the next leading receiver for the Commanders was David Patten with 22 receptions. The Commanders addressed this issue in the off-season by opening the wallet to bring aboard Brandon Lloyd and Super Bowl hero Antwaan Randle El. This trio may be smallish, but they'll win out on speed and athleticism to let Mark Brunell throw quick routes and allow the receivers to make plays.
The aforementioned Patten is expected to be released before training camp, which will leave Taylor Jacobs and James Thrash to battle for reps behind the talented trio up front.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville offense took a hit last month when Jimmy Smith called it quits after recording his ninth 1,000-yard season in 2005. They had put themselves in the best position possible with the selection of several wide receivers in the last two drafts. Former college quarterback, turned-wide receiver Matt Jones showed great athleticism and ability in his first year as a receiver. He'll only get better in year two as he battles third-year receiver Ernest Wilford for the top spot. Wilford emerged as a tremendous red @#%$ option last season with 681 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Smith's retirement puts Wilford in a great position to catapult into fantasy stardom.
The ascent of Jones and Wilford thrusts Reggie Williams into the third role. Williams made some steps forward last season, raising both his reception total and average yards per catch. He's certainly under the microscope after being passed on the depth chart by Wilford, who was drafted several rounds later in 2004. Cortez Hankton and Chad Owens will compete for the fourth slot this season.
9. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks were the most proficient offense in the NFL last year, piling more than 28 points per game. They achieved this level of performance despite playing without top option Darrell Jackson for much of the year. Mike Holmgren effectively utilized the big play ability of Joe Jurevicius for 10 touchdowns.
Bobby Engram assumed a larger role with 67 receptions and 778 receiving yards. He'll move back to the No. 3 role this season with the off-season acquisition of Nate Burleson. Burleson missed much of the 2005 season with an injury after his huge 2004 campaign (1,006 receiving yards, nine touchdowns).
Rounding out the receiving corps will be D.J. Hackett and former No. 1 overall draft pick Peter Warrick.
10. Carolina Panthers
The addition of Owens in Dallas left veteran receiver Keyshawn Johnson expendable. He enters a perfect situation here, as speedster Steve Smith draws the double-team on the outside and allows Johnson to work over a cleared-out middle of the defense. Johnson caught 71 passes for 839 yards and six touchdowns last season for the Cowboys.
There will likely be a three-man battle for the third receiver slot in training camp. Keary Colbert regressed to 25 receptions for 282 receiving yards and two touchdowns after a strong rookie season in 2004 (47 receptions, 754 yards and five touchdowns). He'll battle 6-foot-3 deep threat Drew Carter, who became a factor late in the year and in the NFC playoffs after returning from injury, and little-used veteran Karl Hankton.
11. New Orleans Saints
The 2005 season was filled with heartbreak and frustration for the Saints. They played without a home and spent much of their free time attending to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. That frustration showed on the field and prompted change to revitalize the squad.
The Saints changed out quarterbacks with the signing of Drew Brees and added another piece to the backfield in Reggie Bush. The receiving corps remains intact, led by veteran Joe Horn. Injuries kept Horn out of three games and parts of others which resulted in his lowest reception and receiving yard totals since 1999 in Kansas City.
Horn will be joined in the receiving corps by Donte' Stallworth, who continues to battle minor injuries and lapses in concentration. Nate Poole and Devery Henderson will enter camp in competition for the third receiver role. The speedy Henderson has a leg up as a deep ball threat. He caught 22 passes for 343 yards last season with three scores. He's worth a look-see in the late rounds with Brees under center.
12. Detroit Lions
The toys in the Detroit cupboard are well-known. The 2006 Lions offense will see Mike Martz behind the controls with a new quarterback duo of Josh McCown and Jon Kitna. We'll see if he can cure some of the ills of the past several years.
Roy Williams is a tremendous force when he's on the field, but he continues to battle nagging injury concerns. Charles Rogers has battled injuries and suspensions to appear in only 15 games over three years. Mike Williams came into camp unprepared for the rigors of pro ball after 18 months away from football.
The second-leading receiver to Roy Williams in 2005 was Scottie Vines. Vines caught 40 passes for 417 yards and will be given every opportunity to hold off his more heralded colleagues for a role this year.
13. Denver Broncos
Ashley Lelie is unhappy dropping to No. 3 on the depth chart, and he may be departing Denver before the start of the season. (Brian Bahr / Getty Images)
The Broncos moved up in the first round of the 2006 draft to select Jay Cutler as the heir apparent to Jake Plummer. It was no surprise that they moved immediately thereafter to find him (and Plummer for 2006) another target to complement veteran standout Rod Smith (1,105 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns). Denver made the move during day one of the draft to trade their second-round selection to Green Bay for disgruntled receiver Javon Walker. Walker left the 2005 season opener with a knee injury and did not return. Battles with management necessitated the move, but it's now caused an issue on the Denver roster.
Ashley Lelie regressed in 2005 after a breakout year in 2004. He finished with 12 fewer catches, 300 fewer yards and six fewer touchdowns in 2005. Lelie now wants out of Denver based on his demotion to the third receiver role with the addition of Walker. Time will tell whether he'll still be in tow as training camp hits. Behind him sit Todd Devoe, inconsistent third-year receiver Darius Watts, Charlie Adams and fourth-round selection Brandon Marshall from Central Florida.
Denver will still be a run-heavy offense behind Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne, but the addition of Walker offers Plummer another consistent receiving option and sure-handed red @#%$ target.
14. San Diego Chargers
Keenan McCardell put forth a huge year for the Chargers last season at the age of 35. He caught 70 passes for 917 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns. McCardell leads the team into 2006 and will serve as a steadying force for first-year start Philip Rivers. McCardell will be teamed with Eric Parker, who came on strong in the second half of the 2005 season. Parker finished with 57 receptions for 725 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the fact that Rivers is a first-time starter, Parker stands as one of my sleeper picks for this year. The presence of LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates will leave this speedy receiver to torch man coverage.
The Chargers have two strong players at the position, but there is a significant drop-off in experience thereafter. San Diego added former 49ers first-round washout Rashaun Woods through a trade. He'll battle Kassim Osgood and Vincent Jackson for the third receiver role. I'm looking squarely at Jackson as one to watch this season. The 6-foot-5 second-round selection from last year causes match-up problems and could become a force in the red @#%$.
15. Miami Dolphins
Miami revamped the passing game by changing out its quarterback tandem for 2006. Gone are A.J. Feeley and Gus Frerotte. They've been replaced by Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington, both of whom exit tempestuous situations. The receiving corps looks much the same as it did last season, led by Chris Chambers and Marty Booker. The duo combined to tally 121 receptions, 1,804 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2005.
Wes Welker had the third-most catches among Dolphins wide receivers last year with 29. The Dolphins would like him to concentrate on his return duties for 2006. Therefore, they used their third-round pick this year on the all-time leading receiver for the Arizona State Sun Devils, Derek Hagan. At 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, Hagan offers another sizable receiving option for the Culpepper/Harrington tandem.
16. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta used top selections on receivers in 2004 and 2005, and Jim Mora and company will look for those players to pay huge dividends this season. Michael Jenkins and Roddy White worked extensively with quarterback Michael Vick this off-season to improve their timing, which should vastly improve the passing game to go alongside the perennial top ranking ground game. The duo combined for 65 catches, 954 receiving yards and six touchdowns a year ago.
Veteran Brian Finneran returns in the third slot. The reliable veteran led all Falcons wide receivers with 50 catches for 611 yards a season ago. The Falcons added a speed option in Adam Jennings from Fresno State in the sixth round of the draft to execute deep patterns.
This week, I'm breaking down the world of wide receivers, reviewing offensive philosophies, personnel and ego for each team and assigning a rank. This process is part art, part science and a bit of gut feeling about the events to transpire this fall.
The list begins with the high-flying offense of the Colts. Fantasy owners are a little gun shy in early drafts I've seen this year after perhaps being left at the altar during championship week because of the Colts' early clinching of home field advantage. The loss of Edgerrin James may also be playing a factor.
I'm expecting more exploding scoreboards and piles of points at the RCA Dome this year. That's why Indianapolis lead my rankings.
1. Indianapolis Colts
Something had to give after the record setting season of 2004 in Indianapolis. The Colts' talented trio watched their overall totals dip from the prior season, but Indianapolis receivers as a whole trailed only Cincinnati for the NFL lead (31 total touchdowns).
Marvin Harrison is rehabbing from a second elbow surgery, but should be ready to go full-speed come training camp. Harrison caught 82 passes for 1,146 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Running mate Reggie Wayne added 83 receptions for 1,055 yards and five touchdowns. They're back in tow for another run and will once again be joined by Brandon Stokley, whose stats took the biggest hit from 2004. Stokley caught only one touchdown pass after exploding on the scene with 10 scores in 2004.
Aaron Morehead and Roscoe Crosby round out the receiving corps for Indianapolis in 2006. The effect of Edgerrin James' departure remains to be seen, but the combination of Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes appears to be more than capable to keep the digits on the Indianapolis pinball machine rolling.
2. Arizona Cardinals
Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald look to continue their magic after a brilliant 2005 season. The pair combined for 205 receptions, 2,811 yards and 17 touchdowns last year without benefit of a running game. The Cardinals instead turned to the duo in short routes and let them make plays. The addition of Edgerrin James therefore cuts into their opportunities, but will instead give them more quality opportunities.
Behind this duo stands Bryant Johnson, who caught 40 balls for 432 yards. James' addition should benefit Johnson perhaps most of all this year. The Cardinals added veteran Troy Walters as a possession receiver. Seventh-round selection from 2005 LeRon McCoy also contributed 18 catches. He's see some time in three-receiver sets.
3.Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati wide receivers shone brightly in 2005 during Carson Palmer's breakout year. Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh became household names. This dynamic duo combined for 175 catches, 2,388 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. The weekly contributions of these players in 2005 boggled the mind.
The Bengals' third receiver in 2005 faces some legal troubles heading into training camp. Chris Henry caught 31 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. Former Packers wide receiver Antonio Chatman (49 receptions, 549 receiving yards and four touchdowns) and 2003 draft pick Kelley Washington (seven games and 10 receptions) will compete against Tab Perry (four receptions, 21 yards and one touchdown) for the third slot.
4. Oakland Raiders
On paper, the Raiders enter the season positively stacked at wide receiver. Oakland enters training camp with six viable options at the position, led by all-world talent Randy Moss. Running opposite Moss is Jerry Porter who frustrated fantasy owners in 2005 but still finished with a solid season for a No. 2 option (76 receptions, 942 receiving yards, five touchdowns).
Ronald Curry had hoped to build on a brilliant 2004 year, but saw his season end prematurely in Week 2. He will enter camp in competition with Doug Gabriel (554 receiving yards and three touchdowns) for the third receiver slot.
Alvis Whitted, Johnnie Morant, Carlos Francis and Randal Williams will battle for the remaining roster slots behind the big four.
The key to the equation remains the consistency of the quarterback. Kerry Collins shone brightly on occasion, but was disappointing on the whole in 2005. He's been replaced by Aaron Brooks, a quarterback who has been plagued by erratic tosses and spotty decision-making in the past.
5. St. Louis Rams
The mad genius Mike Martz has moved on to Detroit, but the strong passing game and receiving quartet remains intact. The Rams figure to feature running back Steven Jackson more prominently this year, but a healthy Marc Bulger and company will still put up numbers.
Torry Holt quietly puts up huge numbers year after year. He'll be joined once again by Isaac Bruce, who missed five games last season and watched his productivity drop markedly (decreases of 53 receptions, 767 receiving yards and three touchdowns). Shaun McDonald and Kevin Curtis combined for 106 catches and 1,324 receiving yards last season.
6. Dallas Cowboys
The biggest splash of the off-season came when Terrell Owens signed his deal with the Cowboys, thus ending the soap opera in Philadelphia. Owens brings his all-world talent and game-changing abilities to Drew Bledsoe and the Cowboys. Many await the inevitable meltdown and off-field distractions that come with having Owens on a roster. I believe those occur in 2007.
The Cowboys will run Terry Glenn opposite Owens. The double-teams sent to Owens will leave the speedy Glenn to thrive in single coverage. Glenn topped 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 1999 and established a new career mark with seven touchdowns.
Patrick Crayton returns as the third receiver. He started last season strong before an injury sidelined him for five games and hampered him substantially for the remainder of the year. He'll face competition in training camp from rookie Skyler Green from LSU. Either way, between Owens, Glenn, Julius Jones and the tight end tandem, there won't be many balls left for the remainder of the receiving corps.
7. Washington Commanders
Santana Moss teamed with the Washington tight ends to put up huge numbers for the Commanders last year. He was a veritable one man wrecking crew last season as the next leading receiver for the Commanders was David Patten with 22 receptions. The Commanders addressed this issue in the off-season by opening the wallet to bring aboard Brandon Lloyd and Super Bowl hero Antwaan Randle El. This trio may be smallish, but they'll win out on speed and athleticism to let Mark Brunell throw quick routes and allow the receivers to make plays.
The aforementioned Patten is expected to be released before training camp, which will leave Taylor Jacobs and James Thrash to battle for reps behind the talented trio up front.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville offense took a hit last month when Jimmy Smith called it quits after recording his ninth 1,000-yard season in 2005. They had put themselves in the best position possible with the selection of several wide receivers in the last two drafts. Former college quarterback, turned-wide receiver Matt Jones showed great athleticism and ability in his first year as a receiver. He'll only get better in year two as he battles third-year receiver Ernest Wilford for the top spot. Wilford emerged as a tremendous red @#%$ option last season with 681 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Smith's retirement puts Wilford in a great position to catapult into fantasy stardom.
The ascent of Jones and Wilford thrusts Reggie Williams into the third role. Williams made some steps forward last season, raising both his reception total and average yards per catch. He's certainly under the microscope after being passed on the depth chart by Wilford, who was drafted several rounds later in 2004. Cortez Hankton and Chad Owens will compete for the fourth slot this season.
9. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks were the most proficient offense in the NFL last year, piling more than 28 points per game. They achieved this level of performance despite playing without top option Darrell Jackson for much of the year. Mike Holmgren effectively utilized the big play ability of Joe Jurevicius for 10 touchdowns.
Bobby Engram assumed a larger role with 67 receptions and 778 receiving yards. He'll move back to the No. 3 role this season with the off-season acquisition of Nate Burleson. Burleson missed much of the 2005 season with an injury after his huge 2004 campaign (1,006 receiving yards, nine touchdowns).
Rounding out the receiving corps will be D.J. Hackett and former No. 1 overall draft pick Peter Warrick.
10. Carolina Panthers
The addition of Owens in Dallas left veteran receiver Keyshawn Johnson expendable. He enters a perfect situation here, as speedster Steve Smith draws the double-team on the outside and allows Johnson to work over a cleared-out middle of the defense. Johnson caught 71 passes for 839 yards and six touchdowns last season for the Cowboys.
There will likely be a three-man battle for the third receiver slot in training camp. Keary Colbert regressed to 25 receptions for 282 receiving yards and two touchdowns after a strong rookie season in 2004 (47 receptions, 754 yards and five touchdowns). He'll battle 6-foot-3 deep threat Drew Carter, who became a factor late in the year and in the NFC playoffs after returning from injury, and little-used veteran Karl Hankton.
11. New Orleans Saints
The 2005 season was filled with heartbreak and frustration for the Saints. They played without a home and spent much of their free time attending to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. That frustration showed on the field and prompted change to revitalize the squad.
The Saints changed out quarterbacks with the signing of Drew Brees and added another piece to the backfield in Reggie Bush. The receiving corps remains intact, led by veteran Joe Horn. Injuries kept Horn out of three games and parts of others which resulted in his lowest reception and receiving yard totals since 1999 in Kansas City.
Horn will be joined in the receiving corps by Donte' Stallworth, who continues to battle minor injuries and lapses in concentration. Nate Poole and Devery Henderson will enter camp in competition for the third receiver role. The speedy Henderson has a leg up as a deep ball threat. He caught 22 passes for 343 yards last season with three scores. He's worth a look-see in the late rounds with Brees under center.
12. Detroit Lions
The toys in the Detroit cupboard are well-known. The 2006 Lions offense will see Mike Martz behind the controls with a new quarterback duo of Josh McCown and Jon Kitna. We'll see if he can cure some of the ills of the past several years.
Roy Williams is a tremendous force when he's on the field, but he continues to battle nagging injury concerns. Charles Rogers has battled injuries and suspensions to appear in only 15 games over three years. Mike Williams came into camp unprepared for the rigors of pro ball after 18 months away from football.
The second-leading receiver to Roy Williams in 2005 was Scottie Vines. Vines caught 40 passes for 417 yards and will be given every opportunity to hold off his more heralded colleagues for a role this year.
13. Denver Broncos
Ashley Lelie is unhappy dropping to No. 3 on the depth chart, and he may be departing Denver before the start of the season. (Brian Bahr / Getty Images)
The Broncos moved up in the first round of the 2006 draft to select Jay Cutler as the heir apparent to Jake Plummer. It was no surprise that they moved immediately thereafter to find him (and Plummer for 2006) another target to complement veteran standout Rod Smith (1,105 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns). Denver made the move during day one of the draft to trade their second-round selection to Green Bay for disgruntled receiver Javon Walker. Walker left the 2005 season opener with a knee injury and did not return. Battles with management necessitated the move, but it's now caused an issue on the Denver roster.
Ashley Lelie regressed in 2005 after a breakout year in 2004. He finished with 12 fewer catches, 300 fewer yards and six fewer touchdowns in 2005. Lelie now wants out of Denver based on his demotion to the third receiver role with the addition of Walker. Time will tell whether he'll still be in tow as training camp hits. Behind him sit Todd Devoe, inconsistent third-year receiver Darius Watts, Charlie Adams and fourth-round selection Brandon Marshall from Central Florida.
Denver will still be a run-heavy offense behind Tatum Bell and Ron Dayne, but the addition of Walker offers Plummer another consistent receiving option and sure-handed red @#%$ target.
14. San Diego Chargers
Keenan McCardell put forth a huge year for the Chargers last season at the age of 35. He caught 70 passes for 917 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns. McCardell leads the team into 2006 and will serve as a steadying force for first-year start Philip Rivers. McCardell will be teamed with Eric Parker, who came on strong in the second half of the 2005 season. Parker finished with 57 receptions for 725 yards and three touchdowns. Despite the fact that Rivers is a first-time starter, Parker stands as one of my sleeper picks for this year. The presence of LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates will leave this speedy receiver to torch man coverage.
The Chargers have two strong players at the position, but there is a significant drop-off in experience thereafter. San Diego added former 49ers first-round washout Rashaun Woods through a trade. He'll battle Kassim Osgood and Vincent Jackson for the third receiver role. I'm looking squarely at Jackson as one to watch this season. The 6-foot-5 second-round selection from last year causes match-up problems and could become a force in the red @#%$.
15. Miami Dolphins
Miami revamped the passing game by changing out its quarterback tandem for 2006. Gone are A.J. Feeley and Gus Frerotte. They've been replaced by Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington, both of whom exit tempestuous situations. The receiving corps looks much the same as it did last season, led by Chris Chambers and Marty Booker. The duo combined to tally 121 receptions, 1,804 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2005.
Wes Welker had the third-most catches among Dolphins wide receivers last year with 29. The Dolphins would like him to concentrate on his return duties for 2006. Therefore, they used their third-round pick this year on the all-time leading receiver for the Arizona State Sun Devils, Derek Hagan. At 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, Hagan offers another sizable receiving option for the Culpepper/Harrington tandem.
16. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta used top selections on receivers in 2004 and 2005, and Jim Mora and company will look for those players to pay huge dividends this season. Michael Jenkins and Roddy White worked extensively with quarterback Michael Vick this off-season to improve their timing, which should vastly improve the passing game to go alongside the perennial top ranking ground game. The duo combined for 65 catches, 954 receiving yards and six touchdowns a year ago.
Veteran Brian Finneran returns in the third slot. The reliable veteran led all Falcons wide receivers with 50 catches for 611 yards a season ago. The Falcons added a speed option in Adam Jennings from Fresno State in the sixth round of the draft to execute deep patterns.
