FANTASY FOOTBALL ARTICLES

Common knowledge is that receivers take time to develop and that they are typically the least likely position for injury. Let’s take a look at what the best had in common last season.

Height - The NFL has long drafted tall receivers on the premise they are easier to find in traffic and better able to bring down jump balls in a crowd. The reality as it has played out suggests that is not the biggest criteria for success. Seven of the top eleven receivers were 6’0” or less.  Factor in that Randy Moss and Terrell Owens are known exceptions and only Chad Johnson did well in spite of his height.

Possession receivers are good for consistency; it is just evident that really tall ones are not consistently great. It is a game predicated more on route running and speed than just the ability to dunk a basketball.

Weight - Typically a function of height, the wide outs are the lightest players on their team in order to keep that needed speed. Top receivers almost always tip the scales at less than 200 pounds and it is certainly not unheard of for official listed weights to be a bit higher than reality.

Age/ Experience - Anquan Boldin was a tremendous exception to the rule last season. He excelled in only his first season (having 168 passes thrown at him was a big aid). This is a position where talent reigns supreme for the very best players, so age has less to do with what happens for the position.

It is notable that the magic 3 year mark still holds true, with five of the Top 20 being in their third season. Because of that phenomenon, most successful receivers are peaking around the age of 25-27 years old and hold on for a few years before tailing off.

There is a dramatic disappearance of receivers after they reach 30 years of age. Only the very best hold on after that mark, and only Keenan McCardell and Marvin Harrison managed to excel beyond the age of 31. The historically hot receivers of Owens, Harrison, Horn and Bruce should all be looking at a decline starting now.