Top 5 fantasy football wide receivers to draft

fantasy football /

Nov 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

With Fantasy Football on the horizon, be sure to know who are the best of the best to draft when it comes to your main wide receiver.

It is finally that time of year. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to NFL training camp. We have waited what feels like forever for this time to finally arrive.

Fans everywhere are evaluating their team in hopes of a good season. However, fantasy football players are examining every team and every player as draft preparations begin.

Although I don’t suggest stacking your entire team with rookies, there are a select few first round draft picks that may do your team some good. Players like Corey Coleman, Will Fuller and Josh Doctson may be useful during injuries or as a handcuff, but don’t waste a pick on them early in the draft or even at all.

Your No. 1 drafted wide receivers are going to be seasoned players. You’re going to choose the players that had a successful fantasy year; I hope that was obvious.

But, what’s not so obvious is who these players are. You could probably guess one or two of them, but I was surprised the fifth player to appear on the list beat out wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Check out the list as these top five players are definitely the guys to draft this fantasy football season.

Next: 5. An easy Giant to draft

5. Odell Beckham Jr.

The New York Giants had a long season ahead of them without star wide receiver Victor Cruz. Odell Beckham Jr. stepped in as their No. 1 receiver, and he literally exploded.

Not only is he infamous for his one-handed catches but, his wing span abilities outreach many of his opponents. Even after a one-game suspension, Beckham’s numbers topped most players.

Beckham had multiple week’s where he posted over 40 points per game. In Week 8, he posted about 60 points against the New Orleans Saints.

He averaged a little over 21 points per game for a total of 319 this season. This is only the beginning of Beckham, except this season he will be fighting for the ball with Cruz.

Next: 4. This Texan was owned in 100% of leagues

Jan 3, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) looks to get by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Davon House (31) during the second half at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

4. DeAndre Hopkins

Another popular wide receiver in the fantasy world is DeAndre Hopkins. He averaged a little over 20 points per game, which is amazing for any owner.

Hopkins completed 11 touchdowns and 1,432 yards this season. His best game earned 50 fantasy points in Week 11 against the New York Jets.

Hopkins earned owners a total of 331 fantasy points this season, which is almost a 100-point increase since 2014. Hopkins will be one to draft next season for sure.

Next: 3. This Jet took off last season

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

3. Brandon Marshall

Top five dead or alive goes to Brandon Marshall. Marshall had a career high season breaking all kinds of NFL and New York Jets records, which reflected in fantasy scores tremendously.

Although Marshall averaged 21.2 points per game, his highest scoring game was in Week 12 against the Miami Dolphins. He completed 9-of-11 passes for over 130 yards and two touchdowns posting 50 fantasy points.

He completed the season with 1,376 yards and 13 touchdowns. Marshall totaled 339 points this season which almost double his 2014 fantasy points.

Aside from his fantastic fantasy season, Marshall also made NFL history, and aided in a great season with the Jets. It doesn’t seem he’ll slowdown in the 2016 season. Now with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick back, he’s going to pick up exactly where he left off from last season.

Next: 2. This Falcon flew across the scoreboard

2. Julio Jones

There’s no doubt Julio Jones was definitely one of the first wide receivers to go in your fantasy league. He consistently lit up the scoreboard averaging 23 fantasy points per game.

Jones opened the season with a bang against the Philadelphia Eagles. He completed 9 receptions and two touchdowns, earning owners 50 fantasy points in Week 1; what a season opener!

He continued this the following week when he posted 40 fantasy points. That was only the first two weeks of the season.

Jones has really become beneficial to the game and totaled 375 fantasy points this season. He’ll be another hot draft pick next season, so grab him quick!

Next: 1. The best of the best'

Dec 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs the ball past Denver Broncos cornerback Kayvon Webster (36) during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

1. Antonio Brown

Antonio Brown made a huge impact on any fantasy team. It was a sigh of relief that the regular fantasy season was over when he got injured.

He averaged almost 24 points per game and in multiple games he posted over 40 points like we saw in Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns.

Brown was no match-up for the Browns. He completed 10-of-14 targets and two touchdowns earning owners about 60 fantasy points.

must read: Top 10 bold fantasy football predictions for 2016

He finished the season with nine touchdowns and over 1,600 receiving yards, and was owned in 100% of leagues. If you drafted him congratulations, he earned 382 fantasy points that season. Expect him to continue the momentum in 2016 as he’s about to surprise the football world with his best season yet.