Top wide receivers
1. Brandon Lloyd, Broncos
Entering this season, Lloyd’s best season came back in 2005 when he racked up 733 yards with five touchdowns. Lloyd doubled that production this season as a surprise star on the Denver Broncos. Lloyd was able to form a rapport with both Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, while leading the NFL with 1448 yards. After being scooped off the waiver wire in most leagues this season, Lloyd is likely to be drafted within the first three rounds of most fantasy drafts next season.
2. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
In 2008, Bowe displayed his potential with 1022 yards and seven touchdowns. However, last season Bowe was never on the same page with his new coaches or quarterback. He regressed to just 589 yards and four touchdowns and was widely speculated to be trade bait prior to the season. Instead, the Chiefs held on to Bowe and he responded with 1162 yards and an NFL-best 15 touchdowns. A first-round pick in the 2007 draft, Bowe will likely be among the top-five wide outs picked in fantasy leagues next season.
3. Roddy White, Falcons
Long considered a star, White reached a new level this season with a career-best 115 receptions for 1389 yards. For a second-straight season, White reached double figures when it came to touchdowns with 10. However, there was a bit of a decline in the second half of the season. After surpassing 80 yards in seven of his first 10 games, White failed to do so in any of the final six contests.
4. Greg Jennings, Packers
Through the first five games of the season, Jennings had just 14 receptions for 183 yards. In the ensuring 11 contests, Jennings hauled in 62 receptions for 1082 yards. It was an incredible turnaround that included five games of 115-plus yards. Jennings is considered the top target on arguably the best passing team in the NFL.
5. Mike Wallace, Steelers
One of the top young stars in the NFL, the 24-year-old Wallace broke through this season with 1257 yards and 10 touchdowns. Wallace has done an excellent job replacing Santonio Holmes in the Pittsburgh offense. Wallace also came through most in the fantasy playoffs with three 100-plus yard performances to finish the regular season.
Top surprises
1. Brandon Lloyd, Broncos
A receiver who has been discarded on several occasions, Lloyd broke through this season, and the most promising sign was his fine performance playing with Broncos quarterback of the future Tim Tebow at the end of the season.
2. Stevie Johnson, Bills
Though he, ultimately, dropped the catch (in the end zone against the Steelers) that defined the Bills season, Johnson has nothing to be ashamed of. He surpassed Lee Evans as the most effective wide out for the Bills and in doing so hauled in 10 touchdowns while racking up 1073 yards.
3. Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers
While other rookie wide outs were drafted earlier, including his own teammate Arrelious Benn, the most impressive was Mike Williams, who racked up an astonishing 11 touchdowns with 964 yards. Between Williams, Benn, quarterback Josh Freeman and running back LeGarrette Blount, there is plenty to be excited about in Tampa Bay.
4. Mike Williams, WR, Seahawks
While his numbers would have been better had he avoided the injury bug, Seahawks receiver Williams proved that his immense talent is still very much alive and kicking. Williams took a major step towards fulfilling his promise this year and next season will likely reach 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career.
5. Johnny Knox, WR, Bears
Devin Hester and Devin Aromashodu were likely drafted before him before the season, and Earl Bennett earned more praise, but at the end of the season it was Johnny Knox who was Jay Cutler’s top target with 960 yards and 5 touchdowns. Knox averaged an impressive 19 yards per reception this year.
Biggest busts
1. Randy Moss, WR, Titans
Long considered one of the all-time greats, Moss went bust this season. Moss combined for 393 yards while suiting up for three franchises. Moss looked more like a coach than a player late in the season with the Titans.
2. Steve Smith, WR, Panthers
I suppose it’s tough to be a top receiver when your quarterback can barely even pass the ball, and that was the case for Steve Smith and the Panthers this season as Matt Moore was injured and Jimmy Clausen proved incapable of manning the quarterback position in the NFL. The season ended with Smith scoring just two touchdowns.
3. TJ Houshmandzadeh, WR, Ravens
Though he made some key plays in the postseason, Houshmandzadeh was forgettable in the regular season as the Seahawks seemed to know what they were doing when they opted to cut the former Bengals star loose. With the Ravens, Houshmandzadeh played behind Anquan Bolsin, Derrick Mason and Todd Heap.
4. Devin Aromashodu, WR, Bears
Some fantasy managers assumed he would be the top target on the Bears this season, but Aromashodu failed to even play on a consistent basis. His season total of 149 yards was less than Aromashodu racked up in Week 16 of the 2009 season.
5. Bernard Berrian, WR, Vikings
With Sidney Rice injured, fantasy managers jumped on Berrian thinking he would finally reach 1000 yards for the first time in his career. Instead, Berrian saw his production cut in half, as Brett Favre and the passing game fell apart. The 30-year-old Berrian will likely no longer start in the NFL, as he failed to score a single touchdown all season.