by Mike Harmon

Comment

Some of the coverage has been comical, such as Chad Ochocinco's offer to serve as a nanny for Carson Palmer. The stories involving contract squabbles took up much of our time and attention, and though it appears that many of those stories are gone, there's no question that a few wrinkles will appear before camps start at the end of July.

Until then, I'm pulling the crystal ball back out to continue my run through the number-crazed gauntlet of statistical projections. In past columns, I've raced through the quarterback and running back yardage categories. This time, I'm putting the spotlight on the wide receivers. Do they need another spotlight?

Last year's leader in the category, Andre Johnson, tops my list for 2009. Which former fantasy heroes join him?

1. Andre Johnson, Houston

Johnson's three-year stats are ridiculous by any measure, but take into account the uncertainty and inconsistency of the Houston quarterback slot, and you truly appreciate his skills. In the past three years, he's averaged 6.8 catches and 87 yards per game. On paper, the Houston offense is primed for a leap in production. Steve Slaton anchors the running game, and we have to believe that Matt Schaub eventually matches our grandiose expectations. Even with double-coverage and the world knowing he's getting the ball, Johnson just makes catch after catch.
2008 Total: 1,575 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,539 receiving yards

2. Steve Smith, Carolina

Smith earned his fourth straight 1,000-yard season in 2008 despite missing two games to open the year because of an internal suspension. He offered owners four or more receptions in 12 of the 14 games in which he appeared. In fact, Smith also finished 10 games with at least 96 receiving yards.
2008 Total: 1,421 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,364 receiving yards

3. Calvin Johnson, Detroit

Even the guys wearing bags on their heads in Detroit lifted them to catch a glimpse of the field on obvious passing downs. Johnson demonstrated that even the winless Lions had one player who could match up with anybody. He amassed 78 receptions and 1,331 receiving yards (fifth in the NFL) despite obvious deficiencies across the offensive unit. An improved running game with Kevin Smith should help this unit find more of a rhythm, not that any cornerback can match up with him anyway.
2008 Total: 1,331 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,287 receiving yards

4. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis

Wayne earned his fifth straight 1,000-yard season in 2008 while averaging five receptions and 71.6 yards per game. Granted, all of those totals were down from his 2007 numbers, but Wayne has been a consistent performer since breaking through during Peyton Manning's prolific 2004 season. He's averaged 86.4 receptions and 1,246 receiving yards during this five-year period.
2008 Total: 1,145 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,263 receiving yards

5. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona

Fitzgerald produced the third 1,400-yard season of his dominant five-year career in 2008. He's averaged 92 receptions and 1,273 receiving yards during the past four years (84.9 yards per game). Arizona is back for another run, with tag-team partner Anquan Boldin and six-man tag mate Steve Breaston in tow.
2008 Total: 1,431 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,259 receiving yards

6. Randy Moss, New England

Moss obviously didn't get the opportunity to equal his 2007 heroics when Tom Brady went down in the opener. Despite Brady's absence, Moss still generated his ninth career 1,000-yard season. Brady's back under center, and I have no reason to believe that they can't recapture some of that 2007 magic if everyone's healthy and ready to play.
2008 Total: 1,008 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,240 receiving yards

7. Wes Welker, New England

Welker posted his second straight 100-reception season (111) as Matt Cassel's favorite target once Brady went down. Clearly, Welker had already established a fabulous rapport with Brady in 2007 as part of the record-breaking offensive explosion. Welker is still going to see 8-10 looks per game and average 6-7 receptions. He's golden.
2008 Total: 1,165 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,226 receiving yards

8. Greg Jennings, Green Bay

Ordinal out of range I had some reservations about the Jennings-Aaron Rodgers combination entering 2008, and quite clearly those concerns were unfounded. Jennings established new career marks in receptions (80) and receiving yards (1,292). The third-year receiver from Western Michigan topped 80 receiving yards on nine occasions. I still expect to see more help from the Green Bay running game and a defense that underperformed last year.
2008 Total: 1,292 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,217 receiving yard

9. Marques Colston, New Orleans

Colston averaged 1,120 receiving yards in his first two years as a receiver for Drew Brees. Fantasy owners were hoping for an encore in his third season, but injuries limited the star receiver from Hofstra to 11 games. He still produced three 100-yard games for the Saints last year and topped 80 receiving yards on five occasions.

The New Orleans passing attack is back in full effect for another season, and while Brees might not make another run to 5,000 yards, we can reasonably expect Colston to bounce back if healthy.
2008 Total: 760 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,207 receiving yards

10. Terrell Owens, Buffalo

Cut through all of the negativity. You still get big annual production from Owens. Last year, he accumulated a double-digit touchdown total for the eighth time in his career while earning his ninth 1,000-yard season. I'm looking at the positives here. Owens has a strong No. 2 target in Lee Evans opposite him, a top-flight running back in Marshawn Lynch (following his three-game suspension) and a quarterback eager to elevate his game.
2008 Total: 1,052 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,192 receiving yards

11. Roddy White, Atlanta

White emerged as a go-to fantasy option 2007 as he hauled in 83 balls for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns. He stepped his game up to another level in 2008, working beautifully in concert with rookie Matt Ryan. He set new marks in receptions and receiving yards. I'm excited about the addition of Tony Gonzalez to the receiving corps as an option to draw attention over the middle. White working against man-to-man coverage is an exciting proposition.
2008 Total: 1,382 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,180 receiving yards

12. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seattle

Houshmandzadeh steps out of Cincinnati to assume the No. 1 role in the potentially explosive Seattle offense. He's a reception machine who snags anything put on his gloves, averaging 89 receptions and 1,012 receiving yards per season. It's really just a question of keeping all of the principal players in this offense healthy and on the field. If the team gets 16 games out of Matt Hasselbeck, Houshmandzadeh approaches a triple-digit reception total and a huge yardage total.
2008 Total: 904 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,173 receiving yards

13. Anquan Boldin, Arizona

Boldin's offseason contract issue and agent dealings have overshadowed what he and the Cardinals were able to accomplish in the 2008 season. Despite missing four games with a serious injury sustained at the goal-line, he still topped 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time in his six-year career. He topped 60 receiving yards in 10 different games. The high-octane Arizona passing game is back for another run and, barring an injury, Boldin should reach great heights again.
2008 Total: 1,038 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,129 receiving yards

14. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City

The Chiefs battled through a horrible 2008 campaign, but both Gonzalez and Bowe contributed healthy bottom lines for fantasy owners. In two years in Kansas City, Bowe has averaged 78 receptions and 1,008 receiving yards. Now, he serves as the ultimate receiving option for Matt Cassel with Gonzalez off to Atlanta. Count me among the many calling for bigger things from Bowe in his third year.
2008 Total: 1,022 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,114 receiving yards

15. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati

Ochocinco and the Bengals experienced a tumultuous 2008 season. In addition to the name-changing flap, the team was beset by injuries, most notably that of Palmer. Ochocinco missed three games in their entirety and parts of others, leading to his lowest reception and receiving yardage totals since his rookie season.

Palmer is back and healthy per all reports, and Ochocinco has a new running mate in Laveranues Coles. I like the planned scenario of Ochocinco living with Palmer, as that can only help heading into camp. Remember, Ochocinco had racked up at least 1,100 receiving yards in six consecutive seasons.
2008 Total: 540 receiving yards
2009 Projection: 1,059 receiving yards