2013 ADP Trends: Wide Receivers

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The elite receivers will come off the board in the first three rounds (eight receivers in all), respectable value is there in rounds four and five with eleven receivers going in that range of the recent ADP trends. This is important to understand if you’re draft plan is to focus on the running game in the early rounds, or possibly landing top tight end Jimmy Graham.

While engaging in mock drafts over the summer, I find waiting on receivers to be the preferred option. The only time I would recommend looking for a receiver before the 4th (unless Megatron falls into the second round or A.J. Green, Dez Bryant if they fall to the early third) is if you’re drafting late in the 3rd round and early in the 4th round.

At that point, you will be one of the last teams to pick in the 5th round and because it’s predictable (based on the results below) we will see a run on receivers in this area of the draft, selecting two key options as your 3rd and 4th selections seems to be a wise decision.

It’s all a matter of which positions on your starting squad you feel confident in dropping down to find value at the position for your starting lineup. Many seem to be tilting towards dropping down at quarterback and tight end.

Cecil Shorts Tops The List Of Value Receivers

While I like sleepers like Vincent Brown, Kendall Wright, Alshon Jeffery and value receivers like Miles Austin and Cecil Shorts I’m not confident having any of those options as one of my top two receivers in a ten team league, and I tend to like having two options I don’t have to worry about matchup play concerns weekly.

Of those options above, Cecil Shorts would be the top receiver to target on draft day because of what we saw from him no matter the quarterback on the field in 2012. He does have concussion concerns but going as an early ninth round pick in recent ADP’s, you will pick him up at a value as your third or fourth receiver on draft day.

Shorts should continue to be a factor and with Maurice Jones-Drew on the field, opposing defenses will likely drop a safety down in the box to stuff the run. Justin Blackmon is Jacksonville’s top possession receiver, and when he returns after his four-game suspension, his presence will provide a legitimate option for defenses to worry about on the other side of the field.

@seanfantasyinfo

Standard League ADP’s are from Fantasy Football Calculator.

2013 Fantasy Football Draft Prep