The Wide Receivers are next on the Fantasy TIP glance into the 2009 fantasy football campaign.  Here I give you my straight forward take on next season's Top 10 performers.

1. Larry Fitzgerald / Arizona Cardinals

He was a man amongst boys for most of the NFL regular season.  But in single-handedly willing the eternally-weak Arizona Cardinals all the way to Super Bowl 43, it is hard not to wonder how high Larry Fitzgerald’s fantasy football ceiling extends.  Supremely confident, Fitzgerald combines the freakish physique of Terrell Owens with that just-get-it-near-me athletic ability of Randy Moss.  Further cementing Fitgerald’s case as the clear #1 at WR is the fact his Quarterback support goes two deep.  With a lack of clear-cut Running Back studs next season, Fitz could easily find himself drafted inside a number of fantasy first rounds.


2. Andre Johnson / HoustonTexans

Here’s another prototypically-built Wide Receiver who is really coming into his own in the NFL behind an improving offense.  With Quarterback Matt Schaub turning in a solid year and newcomer Running Back Steve Slayton keeping the Safeties honest, Johnson turned in his first truly monster year in 2008.  Look for HOU Head Coach Gary Kubiak to continue to build on the offensive side of the football with perhaps another banger RB or WR threat, which will only make Andre Johnson that much more productive.


3. Calvin Johnson / Detroit Lions

Blessed with incredible speed and athletic ability, Johnson finally got healthy and started producing elite-level fantasy football numbers in 2008.  And then the Lions dumped Roy Williams and all hell broke loose.  His post-Roy numbers are just incredible - - and that was without a QB anybody but his own mother had ever heard of. The Detroit Lions won’t let Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman all escape their clutches come NFL draft day, and any one of those incoming Rookies would represent a huge improvement at the Quarterback position.  There’s some risk associated with a likely move at QB, but given Calvin Johnson’s production with a few clip-board types at the helm, we like those odds.


4. Brandon Marshall / Denver Broncos

The stream of absolute stud Wide Receivers continues with this talented Bronco. Brandon Marshall would be a top flight producer on any NFL team, but on this defenseless team, Brandon’s capable of a monster game coming from behind against any team in the league.  And if he happens to get in a groove against a particular DB (can you say, Antonio Cromartie?), look out.  The only things keeping  Marshall from battling Fitz for the top spot are his immaturity and his fellow stud WR, Eddie Royal.  Marshall & Royal are like Harrison & Wayne at Indy a few years back - - they’ll both produce very good receiving numbers, but neither will completely blow away the other.  But very good numbers are very good numbers.


5. Randy Moss / New England Patriots

The one guy on this Wide Receiver list who has that boom-bust feel is the temperamental Moss.  If Tom Brady starts at Quarterback for the Patriots and stays healthy, just slide him to the top of this list - - no question.  But without Brady, Randy Moss is a wildcard.  Despite ultimately getting a surprisingly solid season out of Matt Cassel after Brady’s week one knee injury, Moss never really performed close to the way he did in 2007.  So was it completely a Tom Brady issue or did the NFL finally figure out how to neutralize him after he got shut down in the 2007 playoffs?  Either way, Randy Moss carries some risk and that’s why he’s a bit further down this Top 10 list.


6. Steve Smith / Carolina Panthers

This angry little dude just continues to produce and there’s no reason to expect a significant change in 2009.  Carolina’s monster running game stole a few TD’s this year, but there’s always room for a few deep bombs to the speedy Smith each game.  If he can avoid punching any Panther teammates in the preseason, expect Steve Smith to turn in another stellar receiving effort.


7. Roddy White / Falcons

While we were tempted to slide the emerging White a bit higher up this list, the fact that he only recorded 10 receptions over his final 3 regular season games had us thinking twice.  While Quarterback Matt Ryan and Runningback Michael Turner are both outstanding, there’s really no other major receiving threat on this team.  We’re going to make the assumption the Falcons realize this as well and intend to address it through either free agency or the draft.


8. Greg Jennings / Green Bay Packers

The Packers have quite a few solid wideouts, so committing to include Greg Jennings inside the top 10 at this point makes us a bit nervous.  But Greg's one of the league’s better deep threats and he’s terrific with the football after the catch.  Plus, you have to figure that Aaron Rodgers will only improve after finally getting that “I’m not Brett Favre” season under his belt.  Expect Rodgers to take his game to the next level and that would logically translate well for his favorite weapon in Greg Jennings.


9. Reggie Wayne / Indianapolis Colts

The Marvin Harrison show is likely over, which should bump Wayne’s numbers just a bit.  However, it’s hard to imagine Peyton Manning not evenly distributing the balls no matter who is out there catching them. That said, Wayne is and has always been a sure-fire top notch WR - - probably the most consistent NFL receiver of the past five years.  You may not get a steady stream of monster numbers out of Reggie, but barring injury, you will get at least 100 catches, 1000 yards and 8 Touchdowns without question.


10. Marques Colston / New Orleans Saints

Forget about his injury - - just look at the potential evidenced by Marques Colston's final three games - - 23 grabs, 306 yards and 4 Touchdowns. What the what?!?!  Colston may slide into the background a tad after an injury-plagued campaign and the emergence of super #2 Lance Moore.  But he is a physical freak who just makes plays. And Drew Brees tends to lean on favorite targets. Colston will again be his favorite receiver, so look for a very solid year.


The One Notable Exception: Anquan Boldin / Arizona Cardinals

The selection of Anquan Boldin in this slot is simply a hunch on our part that Boldin will be playing somewhere else in 2009.  Always a bit of whiner, Boldin actually had the giblets to complain about not being targeted enough in this past weekend’s NFC Championship Game.  You know, the one that put the Cards in the Super Bowl for the first time in their history.  I’m sorry, but that’s un-freaking-believable.  Larry Fitzgerald is the clear cut man in Arizona now and Steve Breaston would make a serviceable replacement if the Cards decide to move on.  And with his 2009 home potentially in question, you have to be a little more conservative in ranking Anquan Boldin moving into next season.