Today's "WR Pick 'Em", a.k.a. Jeremy Maclin versus the NFC South, some of the NFC South WRs anyway, features Marques Colston and Steve Smith (the favorites with 4th round ADP prices), followed by Jeremy Maclin and Vincent Jackson who both go in the 5th round on average.
Marques Colston carries red flags - he's had six various knee surgeries in the last four years; however, Colston hasn’t missed much time and posted yet another solid performance last year with 80 receptions, 1,143 receiving yards and 8 TDs. Colston was particularly hot down the stretch (the #3 fantasy WR last year from Week 6 on). Colston was an UFA heading into this season but New Orleans inked Colston to a 5-year, $40M deal to perhaps keep Colstron as a Saint for the rest of his career. Colston has averaged 75-1,040-8 TDs per season over six years with New Orleans.
One of the bigger-named free agent signings this year, Vincent Jackson garners little respect in general, the lowest-ranked WR in this poll in ADP. Jackson ended last year with a 60-1,106-9 TD stat-line and has a fairly amazing 17.5 YPC average in his career, every catch, every season. Jackson doesn't seem like a WR who will get 80+ catches though (his career best is 68) but Tampa signed Jackson to elite WR money with a 5-year, $55.6M contract.
After an impressive 70-964-10 TD season in 2010, Jeremy Maclin battled through injuries and illness for a solid 63-859-5 TD in 2011. Entering his 4th year in the league, however, Maclin is still looking to have his first NFL 1,000-yard season. He'll need Michael Vick to stay healthy with a particularly large drop-off on paper from Vick to rookie Nick Foles should Vick get hurt again.
Somewhat left for dead in fantasy circles last year (the 33rd ranked WR last year in ADP), Steve Smith was putting up stats again like it was 2005 with the elite play of new Panthers' QB Cam Newton. Smith is now 33 years old but he didn't show any signs of slowing down last season. Smith had six big games last year with 100+ yards, but in the other ten he averaged just 3.4 receptions and 47 yards per game. Carolina signed Smith to a 3-year extension through 2014.
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