Keeper League Targets: Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Aspects of the fantasy game are changing each year and new wide receivers emerge as studs. The hardest thing to do is decipher between whom to keep in the middle ranges of the wide receiver/tight end position. Sure, Chad Johnson, Antonio Gates Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison, Steve Smith, and more are obvious options, but let's consider what you will give up to keep a certain player and the value you will receive. Finding a diamond in the rough at virtually no cost to you will help your team make strides in the coming season.

An underappreciated star goes unnoticed most of the time in fantasy football. Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers is a strong keeper option at where you probably drafted him. Ward battled injuries and suffered his second consecutive season with less than 1,000-yards receiving. In 2005, he grabbed 69 receptions for 975 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2006, he grabbed 74 receptions for 975 yards and 6 touchdowns. He seems to like that 975-yard mark for some reason. Regardless, he will be 100% healthy next year, and with what we expect from Ben Roethlisberger, Ward should be back and ready to post 1,300-yards like he did in 2002. There isn't a wide receiver like Ward that can stretch the field. He does some remarkable things include win fantasy titles. With the spotlight off of Hines Ward, you should be able to keep him for a 7^th or 8^th round pick. I recommend doing so strongly. He is underappreciated and should return to Pro Bowl form in 2007.

There is another underappreciated wide receiver floating around. His name is Lee Evans. Evans finished 2006 strong as he averaged 96 yards per outing in the last 9 games. He also hauled in 7 touchdowns in those last 9 games. Evans is the Bills sole home run threat and he can be expected to expand his role if the Bills bring in another playmaker as they are expected to. In his three seasons, Lee Evans is still maintaining a one touchdown every other game average. A career 16.2 yards per receptions average isn't bad either. Lee Evans is starting to remind me of a younger Steve Smith. He is just one more step away from blowing the doors off of the NFL. If you own Evans, I think you should keep him at whatever cost. You should only have to give up a 7^th or 8^th, maybe 9^th round pick to keep him. He was 8 yards shy of 1,300 yards and grabbed 8 touchdowns in a developing offense. The third year wide receiver theory was proven to be accurate with Evans, but Evans will keep up the pace and return with similar numbers in 2007. Just look at how constant his touchdown numbers are. Keep Lee Evans.

While Donte Stallworth is growing into the big, down the field target for the Eagles, Reggie Brown is growing into a "do-everything" kind of receiver. I think both of these guys will have fine 2007 seasons but right now I will feature Reggie Brown. Like we seen with Lee Evans, Brown is primed for a big third year. He only hauled in 3 more receptions in 2006 than he did the year before, but his yardage increased by 245 yards. Brown also averaged a touchdown every other game. Now, Brown owners probably drafted him in the 10^th or 11^th round, so that is all you would have to give up for him, so I am going to recommend holding on to him. Stallworth is expected to be back to help keep the pressure off of Brown. Brown led the Eagles in receiving in 2006 and should do so again in 2007.

Guess which tight end had 18 more receptions than Antonio Gates in 2006? If you guessed Kellen Winslow, you are correct. This outspoken Cleveland Brown was a top notch fantasy tight end and surprised many owners, especially with his 12^th or 13^th round selection. Only 8 other players in the NFL had more receptions than Winslow (89). His 875 yards and 3 touchdowns should be improved upon in 2007, regardless of who is at quarterback. I rarely recommend keeping tight ends, but if you think you could pass in doing so and only give up a late pick in exchange for Winslow, go ahead and do it.

Are you itching for my thoughts on Marques Colston? Of course you keep him. He was a waiver wire pickup in almost every league due to early drafts so by virtue of knowledge, you have to give up virtually nothing for his services in 2007. Although, I am concerned of a Michael Clayton/Keary Colbert-type letdown in 2007. But, with what we know from only one season, you would be foolish to not keep this kid.

If you are one of the few that play in deep, 16-team keeper leagues, I have a strong option for you. Ronald Curry from the horrible Oakland Raiders should be on your radar. He was second in receptions during the month of December, and 8^th in yards. You must also consider that he put up surging numbers in a cataclysmic offense that was getting worse by the hour. If Randy Moss and/or Jerry Porter do end up leaving Oakland, this will be the Ronald Curry show. He is 6-2 and can stretch the field. 2007 will be considered Curry's third full season in the NFL, despite entering the league in 2002. In his two complete seasons (2004, 2006), Curry is averaging 56 receptions, 703 yards, and 3.5 touchdowns a year. Logically thinking, this will be Curry's third year and could be an exception into the third year wide receiver theory. Like I said, if you play in really deep leagues that are misconstrued with confusing rules and regulations, and you need a reach for a keeper, think of Ronald Curry. He is the NFL's "Diamond in the Rough."

With all things considered, you may be wondering why I left off some of the better known wide receivers. In my opinion, AndreJohnson, Reggie Wayne, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Donald Driver, Terry Glenn, and Plaxico Burress should be considered no-brainers. Also, I am not sold on Roy Williams from Detroit. If I were to make an educated, yet controversial guess, I would say that Williams reminds me of David Boston. Also, Chris Chambers needs to show me more to make this list or be considered a no-brainer. If you do have a question concerning some of these picks, please use the forums at ffLiveWire or e-mail me.