I notice in these various mock drafts I’m competing in that there isn’t much interest in the older receivers. Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Marques Colston, Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith. Nobody wants to draft these guys.
We can all agree that there’s a point where guys are simply too old. They can’t get the separation anymore. But it’s also true that there’s something to be said for the know-how and experience of having been around the block. These guys have been in the league for a long time for a reason.
So I got out some numbers.
This is similar to the PPR running backs chart I posted the other day. This time around, I’m looking at the 100 wide receivers who’ve ranked between 11th and 20th at their position over the last 10 years.
That is, nobody selects Colston or Boldin thinking he’ll keep pace with Antonio Brown or Dez Bryant. You’re not looking for blockbuster production. What you’re hoping for is steady, reliable stats. So none of these guys ranked in the top 10 in their given year, but they all at least ranked in the top 20. They’re the guys who ranked 11th to 20th in the 2005 thru 2014 seasons.
Of the 100 guys, 25 of them were 30 at the end of the season. Five of those were exactly 30, so 20 of the 100 (which works out to about 20 percent) were older than 30 at the end of said season.
I’ve got all of the older guys in bold.
My leaning is that these older guys tend to get undervalued. As a group, they’ll be better than the young, unproven flyer-type guys that many like to select before them.
WIDE RECEIVERS RANKING 11th thru 20th | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Age | No | Yards | Avg | TD | Points |
2013 | Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 28 | 85 | 1,314 | 15.5 | 8 | 179.4 |
2014 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 21 | 68 | 1,051 | 15.5 | 12 | 177.1 |
2014 | Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 24 | 85 | 1,133 | 13.3 | 10 | 176.6 |
2012 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 29 | 83 | 1,154 | 13.9 | 10 | 175.4 |
2012 | Wes Welker, N.E. | 31 | 118 | 1,354 | 11.5 | 6 | 173.4 |
2013 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 32 | 109 | 1,407 | 12.9 | 5 | 170.7 |
2012 | Victor Cruz, NYG | 26 | 86 | 1,092 | 12.7 | 10 | 169.2 |
2007 | Wes Welker, N.E. | 26 | 112 | 1,175 | 10.5 | 8 | 168.9 |
2013 | Pierre Garcon, Wash. | 27 | 113 | 1,346 | 11.9 | 5 | 166.5 |
2012 | Michael Crabtree, S.F. | 25 | 85 | 1,105 | 13.0 | 9 | 165.3 |
2012 | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 34 | 106 | 1,355 | 12.8 | 5 | 165.0 |
2013 | Vincent Jackson, T.B. | 30 | 78 | 1,224 | 15.7 | 7 | 164.4 |
2007 | Greg Jennings, G.B. | 24 | 53 | 920 | 17.4 | 12 | 164.0 |
2009 | Steve Smith, NYG | 24 | 107 | 1,220 | 11.4 | 7 | 164.0 |
2010 | DeSean Jackson, Phil. | 24 | 47 | 1,056 | 22.5 | 8 | 164.0 |
2005 | Hines Ward, Pitt. | 29 | 76 | 1,214 | 16.0 | 7 | 163.4 |
2007 | Torry Holt, St.L. | 31 | 93 | 1,189 | 12.8 | 7 | 162.9 |
2006 | T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin. | 29 | 90 | 1,081 | 12.0 | 9 | 162.7 |
2012 | Randall Cobb, G.B. | 22 | 80 | 954 | 11.9 | 9 | 162.6 |
2010 | Mike Williams, T.B. | 23 | 65 | 964 | 14.8 | 11 | 162.4 |
2012 | James Jones, G.B. | 28 | 64 | 784 | 12.3 | 14 | 162.4 |
2009 | Wes Welker, N.E. | 28 | 123 | 1,348 | 11.0 | 4 | 162.4 |
2011 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 28 | 80 | 1,143 | 14.3 | 8 | 162.3 |
2008 | Brandon Marshall, Den. | 23 | 104 | 1,265 | 12.2 | 6 | 162.1 |
2009 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 26 | 70 | 1,074 | 15.3 | 9 | 162.0 |
2005 | Randy Moss, Oak. | 28 | 62 | 1,136 | 18.3 | 8 | 162.0 |
2009 | Chad Johnson, Cin. | 31 | 72 | 1,047 | 14.5 | 9 | 161.9 |
2010 | Miles Austin, Dall. | 26 | 69 | 1,041 | 15.1 | 8 | 161.4 |
2011 | Hakeem Nicks, NYG | 23 | 76 | 1,192 | 15.7 | 7 | 161.2 |
2013 | Anquan Boldin, S.F. | 33 | 85 | 1,179 | 13.9 | 7 | 161.0 |
2014 | Golden Tate, Det. | 26 | 99 | 1,331 | 13.4 | 4 | 160.1 |
2010 | Jeremy Maclin, Phil. | 22 | 70 | 964 | 13.8 | 10 | 160.0 |
2007 | Kevin Curtis, Phil. | 29 | 77 | 1,110 | 14.4 | 8 | 159.0 |
2006 | Plaxico Burress, NYG | 29 | 63 | 988 | 15.7 | 10 | 158.8 |
2008 | Vincent Jackson, S.D. | 25 | 59 | 1,098 | 18.6 | 7 | 158.7 |
2011 | Brandon Marshall, Mia. | 26 | 81 | 1,214 | 15.0 | 6 | 158.7 |
2014 | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 22 | 76 | 1,210 | 15.9 | 6 | 157.0 |
2013 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 30 | 82 | 954 | 11.6 | 10 | 156.2 |
2007 | Roddy White, Atl. | 26 | 83 | 1,202 | 14.5 | 6 | 156.0 |
2014 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 29 | 71 | 1,077 | 15.2 | 8 | 155.7 |
2006 | Darrell Jackson, Sea. | 28 | 63 | 956 | 15.2 | 10 | 155.6 |
2009 | Santonio Holmes, Pitt. | 25 | 79 | 1,248 | 15.8 | 5 | 155.4 |
2008 | Bernard Berrian, Minn. | 28 | 48 | 964 | 20.1 | 8 | 155.0 |
2014 | Kelvin Benjamin, Car. | 23 | 73 | 1,008 | 13.8 | 9 | 154.8 |
2012 | Mike Williams, T.B. | 25 | 63 | 996 | 15.8 | 9 | 153.6 |
2014 | DeSean Jackson, Wash. | 28 | 56 | 1,169 | 20.9 | 6 | 153.6 |
2005 | Plaxico Burress, NYG | 28 | 86 | 1,221 | 14.2 | 5 | 153.4 |
2011 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 23 | 65 | 1,057 | 16.3 | 7 | 153.0 |
2008 | Lance Moore, N.O. | 25 | 79 | 928 | 11.7 | 10 | 152.8 |
2009 | Hines Ward, Pitt. | 33 | 95 | 1,167 | 12.3 | 6 | 152.7 |
2013 | Keenan Allen, S.D. | 21 | 71 | 1,046 | 14.7 | 8 | 152.6 |
2008 | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 30 | 82 | 1,145 | 14.0 | 6 | 152.5 |
2010 | Terrell Owens, Cin. | 37 | 72 | 983 | 13.7 | 9 | 152.3 |
2006 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 23 | 70 | 1,038 | 14.8 | 8 | 151.8 |
2011 | Laurent Robinson, Dall. | 26 | 54 | 858 | 15.9 | 11 | 151.8 |
2010 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 27 | 90 | 1,137 | 12.6 | 6 | 151.7 |
2011 | Nate Washington, Tenn. | 28 | 74 | 1,023 | 13.8 | 8 | 150.8 |
2007 | Bobby Engram, Sea. | 34 | 94 | 1,147 | 12.2 | 6 | 150.7 |
2005 | T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin. | 28 | 78 | 956 | 12.3 | 8 | 149.8 |
2011 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 22 | 54 | 959 | 17.8 | 8 | 149.5 |
2008 | Santana Moss, Wash. | 29 | 79 | 1,044 | 13.2 | 7 | 149.1 |
2011 | Greg Jennings, G.B. | 28 | 67 | 949 | 14.2 | 9 | 148.9 |
2007 | Steve Smith, Car. | 28 | 87 | 1,002 | 11.5 | 7 | 148.8 |
2010 | Mario Manningham, NYG | 24 | 60 | 944 | 15.7 | 9 | 148.6 |
2006 | Joey Galloway, T.B. | 35 | 62 | 1,057 | 17.0 | 7 | 148.6 |
2005 | Donte Stallworth, N.O. | 25 | 60 | 1,005 | 16.8 | 8 | 148.5 |
2014 | Mike Wallace, Mia. | 28 | 67 | 862 | 12.9 | 10 | 147.8 |
2011 | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 23 | 63 | 928 | 14.7 | 9 | 147.3 |
2006 | Laveranues Coles, NYJ | 29 | 91 | 1,098 | 12.1 | 6 | 147.2 |
2005 | Donald Driver, G.B. | 30 | 85 | 1,105 | 13.0 | 6 | 147.2 |
2011 | Dwayne Bowe, K.C. | 26 | 81 | 1,159 | 14.3 | 5 | 147.1 |
2006 | Anquan Boldin, Ariz. | 26 | 83 | 1,203 | 14.5 | 4 | 147.1 |
2010 | Santana Moss, Wash. | 31 | 93 | 1,115 | 12.0 | 6 | 146.9 |
2013 | Julian Edelman, N.E. | 27 | 105 | 1,056 | 10.1 | 6 | 146.7 |
2008 | Hines Ward, Pitt. | 32 | 81 | 1,043 | 12.9 | 7 | 146.7 |
2005 | Keenan McCardell, S.D. | 35 | 70 | 917 | 13.1 | 9 | 146.3 |
2006 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 25 | 103 | 1,147 | 11.1 | 5 | 146.1 |
2007 | Santonio Holmes, Pitt. | 23 | 52 | 942 | 18.1 | 8 | 145.9 |
2009 | Derrick Mason, Balt. | 35 | 73 | 1,028 | 14.1 | 7 | 145.0 |
2006 | Mike Furrey, Det. | 29 | 98 | 1,086 | 11.1 | 6 | 144.6 |
2005 | Eddie Kennison, K.C. | 32 | 68 | 1,102 | 16.2 | 5 | 144.5 |
2010 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 27 | 84 | 1,023 | 12.2 | 7 | 144.4 |
2009 | Steve Smith , Car. | 30 | 65 | 982 | 15.1 | 7 | 144.4 |
2008 | Dwayne Bowe, K.C. | 23 | 86 | 1,022 | 11.9 | 7 | 144.2 |
2012 | Steve Smith, Car. | 33 | 73 | 1,174 | 16.1 | 4 | 144.1 |
2009 | Donald Driver, G.B. | 34 | 70 | 1,061 | 15.2 | 6 | 143.4 |
2014 | Torrey Smith, Balt. | 25 | 49 | 767 | 15.7 | 11 | 142.7 |
2014 | Steve Smith, Balt. | 35 | 79 | 1,065 | 13.5 | 6 | 142.5 |
2006 | Terry Glenn, Dall. | 32 | 70 | 1,047 | 15.0 | 6 | 141.8 |
2010 | Percy Harvin, Minn. | 22 | 71 | 868 | 12.2 | 7 | 141.5 |
2008 | Eddie Royal, Den. | 22 | 91 | 980 | 10.8 | 5 | 140.9 |
2007 | Anquan Boldin, Ariz. | 27 | 71 | 853 | 12.0 | 9 | 140.7 |
2012 | Stevie Johnson, Buff. | 26 | 79 | 1,046 | 13.2 | 6 | 140.6 |
2009 | Percy Harvin, Minn. | 21 | 60 | 790 | 13.2 | 8 | 140.5 |
2008 | Kevin Walter, Hou. | 26 | 60 | 899 | 15.0 | 8 | 140.2 |
2013 | T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 24 | 82 | 1,083 | 13.2 | 5 | 138.9 |
2013 | Torrey Smith, Balt. | 24 | 65 | 1,128 | 17.4 | 4 | 138.8 |
2007 | Derrick Mason, Balt. | 33 | 103 | 1,087 | 10.6 | 5 | 138.7 |
2005 | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 27 | 70 | 1,023 | 14.6 | 6 | 138.3 |
2005 | Joe Jurevicius, Sea. | 31 | 70 | 945 | 13.5 | 7 | 136.7 |
Note: the fantasy points above include rushing yards and 2-point conversions, but those stats aren't listed.
—Ian Allan