Empty the Bench

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

As a Chad Ochocinco owner you never like to hear this kind of quote from Carson Palmer: “We’re a team that throws the ball about 20 times and runs it about 30. That’s who we are, and that’s who we’re going to continue to be.” Ugh. Very few of us can afford to bench Chad regardless, but I’m not expecting huge things against a San Diego secondary that’s looked quite good.

I don’t know what to make of the whole Randy Moss mess, other than we all know this is a guy who takes off plays (and games … and seasons, in the case of 06-07). I’m not shocked or aghast. That’s who he is. We knew that. He’s still the best wide receiver of the decade, and I think he’ll get his head screwed back on. That said, with just 6 receptions over the last three weeks and playing in Buffalo against their elite secondary (189.2 YPC, 10 TDs allowed, 25 INTs), Rando is hardly an elite play.

Back in Week 8 I predicted that would be the week Hakeem Nicks overtook Mario Manningham and his irksome tendency to drop big passes for good. It appears I was a bit premature, but better late than never. Hakeem Nicks got his fist start of the season on Sunday night and made plays, converting 7 targets into 4 receptions, 110 yards and a TD. It could have been a bigger game if not for a few costly drops, but Nicks played well and should be a fine play in Washington.

Speaking of drops, Dwyane Bowe returns from his four-game suspension this week just in time to take on the Cleveland Browns’ fantasy-friendly secondary. There was some concern over whether Bowe would regain his starting job, but apparently he kept himself in great shape and resumed his first-team reps right off the bat. If he’s available in your league, and he shouldn’t be, scoop Bowe up and pencil him into your WR3 slot. There’s every reason to believe he’ll get plenty of opportunities to produce.

Last week I closed out the wide receiver ranks with this throwaway line (you were going to start him either way): “Just a hunch, but I think Andre Johnson pushes around Seattle’s smallish secondary this week: 9 receptions, 146 yards, 2 TDs.” I thought it was an aggressive projection, but appears I was a bit conservative: Johnson had surpassed those totals by halftime and finished with 11 for 193 and 2 scores. You heard it here first: Andre Johnson is a fine start in Week 15 at St. Louis.

Weekly Darrelle Revis alert: downgrade Roddy White. Significantly. Christ, that Revis kid is really, really good.

See also:
- Week 15 QB Ranks
- Week 15 RB Ranks
- Week 15 TE Ranks
- Week 15 DEF Ranks

1. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans @ STL
2. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals @ DET (Check Status)
3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts @ JAC
4. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals @ DET
5. Wes Welker, New England Patriots @ BUF
6. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos vs. OAK
7. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints vs. DAL
8. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles vs. SF
9. Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings @ CAR
10. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers vs. CIN
11. Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys @ NO
12. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions vs. ARZ
13. Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens vs. CHI
14. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers @ PIT
15. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers @ PIT
16. Randy Moss, New England Patriots @ BUF

WR rankings 17 through 46, after the jump…

17. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals @ SD
18. Steve Smith, New York Giants @ WAS
19. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. GB
20. Stevonne Smith, Carolina Panthers vs. MIN
21. TJ Houshmandzadeh, Seattle Seahawks vs. TB
22. Robert Meachem, New Orleans Saints vs. DAL
23. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. GB (Check Status)
24. Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis Colts @ JAC (Check Status)
25. Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. IND (Check Status)
26. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers @ PHI
27. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants @ WAS
28. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons @ NYJ
29. Dwyane Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs vs. CLE
30. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings @ CAR (Check Status)
31. Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills vs. NE
32. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Bucs @ SEA
33. Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans vs. MIA
34. Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals @ DET
35. Kevin Walter, Houston Texans @ STL
36. Joshua Cribbs, Cleveland Browns @ KC
37. Jerricho Cothery, New York Jets vs. ATL
38. Chris Chambers, Kansas City Chiefs vs. CLE
39. Braylon Edwards, New York Jets vs. ATL
40. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins vs. NYG
41. Devery Henderson, New Orleans Saints vs. DAL
42. Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys @ NO
43. Devin Thomas, Washington Redskins vs. NYG
44. Davone Bess, Miami Dolphins @ TEN
45. Mohamd Massaquoi, Cleveland Browns @ KC
46. Devin Hester, Chicago Bears @ BAL (Check Status)

See also:
- Week 15 QB Ranks
- Week 15 RB Ranks
- Week 15 TE Ranks
- Week 15 DEF Ranks