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Factoid

Rookie wide receivers

Tough for Davis, Williams to put up elite numbers

There were three wide receivers drafted in the top 10 last April, and those teams will certainly give them a chance to make an immediate impact. But while Corey Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross will certainly push for snaps right away, it won't be easy for them to be difference makers.

Ian posted the chart a couple of days ago showing how of the top 100 fantasy tight ends in the last 10 years, only one has been a rookie. Although there have been far more rookie wide receivers to post meaningful contributions, the top 100 fantasy wide receivers over that same time period (standard scoring) have included only two rookies -- Mike Evans and Odell Beckham Jr. Very unlikely the 2017 crop, then, adds anyone to that group.

TOP 100 WIDE RECEIVERS OF THE LAST 10 YEARS
YearPlayerNoYdsTDPts
2007Randy Moss, N.E.98149323287.3
2011Calvin Johnson, Det.96168116265.2
2014Antonio Brown, Pitt.129169814261.1
2015Antonio Brown, Pitt.136183411256.2
2015Julio Jones, Atl.13618719241.1
2015Brandon Marshall, NYJ109150214234.2
2014Demaryius Thomas, Den.111161911229.9
2014Jordy Nelson, G.B.98151913229.9
2014Dez Bryant, Dall.88132016228.0
2013Josh Gordon, Clev.8716469227.4
2013Demaryius Thomas, Den.92143014227.0
2012Calvin Johnson, Det.12219645226.4
2007Terrell Owens, Dall.81135515226.0
2007Braylon Edwards, Clev.80128916224.9
2015Allen Robinson, Jac.80140014224.0
2015Odell Beckham Jr., NYG96145013223.3
2013Calvin Johnson, Det.84149212221.2
2015DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.111152111220.1
2012Brandon Marshall, Chi.118150811216.6
2011Jordy Nelson, G.B.68126315216.3
2008Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.96143112215.1
2011Wes Welker, N.E.12215699213.9
2009Andre Johnson, Hou.10115699212.9
2012Dez Bryant, Dall.92138212211.7
2007Reggie Wayne, Ind.104151010211.4
2016Jordy Nelson, G.B.97125714209.7
2010Brandon Lloyd, Den.77144811209.0
2013A.J. Green, Cin.98142611208.6
2016Mike Evans, T.B.96132112208.1
2011Victor Cruz, NYG8215369207.9
2008Calvin Johnson, Det.78133112207.0
2010Dwayne Bowe, K.C.72116215206.6
2014Randall Cobb, G.B.91128712206.4
2009Randy Moss, N.E.83126413206.4
2014Odell Beckham Jr., NYG91130512206.0
2013Brandon Marshall, Chi.100129512205.5
2008Andre Johnson, Hou.11515758205.5
2012A.J. Green, Cin.97135011204.8
2013Antonio Brown, Pitt.11014999204.3
2012Demaryius Thomas, Den.94143410203.4
2010Roddy White, Atl.115138910203.2
2009DeSean Jackson, Phil.63116712202.4
2013Dez Bryant, Dall.93123313201.4
2016Antonio Brown, Pitt.106128412201.3
2007Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.100140910200.9
2014Emmanuel Sanders, Den.10114049200.8
2010Greg Jennings, G.B.76126512198.4
2009Miles Austin, Dall.81132011197.8
2016Odell Beckham Jr., NYG101136710197.6
2007Chad Johnson, Cin.9314408196.7
2013Alshon Jeffery, Chi.8914217196.6
2014Julio Jones, Atl.10415936195.4
2013Eric Decker, Den.87128811194.8
2014Jeremy Maclin, Phil.85131810191.8
2015Doug Baldwin, Sea.78106914190.9
2015A.J. Green, Cin.86129710189.7
2010Mike Wallace, Pitt.60125710189.6
2010Calvin Johnson, Det.77112012189.2
2011Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.8014118189.1
2011Steve Smith Sr., Car.7913947189.0
2012Vincent Jackson, T.B.7213848188.4
2007T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin.112114312187.7
2013DeSean Jackson, Phil.8213329187.4
2009Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.97109213187.2
2009Reggie Wayne, Ind.100126410186.4
2007Marques Colston, N.O.98120211186.2
2011Percy Harvin, Minn.879679185.2
2012Eric Decker, Den.85106413184.4
2012Andre Johnson, Hou.11215984183.8
2008Greg Jennings, G.B.8012929183.2
2016T.Y. Hilton, Ind.9114486182.8
2012Julio Jones, Atl.79119810182.8
2008Steve Smith Sr., Car.7814216182.1
2009Roddy White, Atl.85115311181.5
2008Roddy White, Atl.8813827180.6
2007Brandon Marshall, Den.10213257180.2
2013Jordy Nelson, G.B.8513148179.4
2009Sidney Rice, Minn.8313128179.2
2014T.Y. Hilton, Ind.8213457178.5
2011Roddy White, Atl.10012968177.6
2014Mike Evans, T.B.68105112177.1
2012Roddy White, Atl.9213517177.1
2016Julio Jones, Atl.8314096176.9
2014Alshon Jeffery, Chi.85113310176.6
2008Anquan Boldin, Ariz.89103811176.5
2009Brandon Marshall, Den.101112010175.9
2015Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.10912159175.5
2015Calvin Johnson, Det.8812149175.4
2012Marques Colston, N.O.83115410175.4
2015Eric Decker, NYJ80102712174.7
2007Plaxico Burress, NYG70102512174.5
2016Davante Adams, G.B.7599712173.7
2012Wes Welker, N.E.11813546173.4
2011Mike Wallace, Pitt.7211938173.0
2009Vincent Jackson, S.D.6811679171.8
2010Reggie Wayne, Ind.11113556171.5
2010Hakeem Nicks, NYG79105211171.2
2013Andre Johnson, Hou.10914075170.7
2010Andre Johnson, Hou.8612168170.6
2011Vincent Jackson, S.D.6011069169.7

Worth noting that there have been plenty of quality rookie wideouts in that time frame, albeit not top-100 guys. Last year both Michael Thomas and Tyreek Hill were top-15 wide receivers. Amari Cooper ranked in the top 25 at the position in 2015. Difficult to do, though.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index