The close of Week 1 for the 2014 fantasy football season means we have our first hint at answers to some of the biggest questions of the season. Rookie wide receivers are going to be inconsistent, but the talent of Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin shined in Week 1. Our rankings reflect their strong opening performances, but our writers do not get ahead of themselves with optimism. Both are talented, and both will have big weeks this season, but do not expect it every single week.
Fantasy football rankings, Week 2: Wide Receivers for standard, PPR leagues
Week 1 is a wrap, which means we know a little bit more about the fantasy impact of young wide receivers. We take a look at them with our Week 2 rankings.
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Brandon Marshall is probably the most notable injury question this week, and that is not a significant one. He injured his ankle against the Buffalo Bills, but has said he'll be ready for Sunday. You can plan on starting him with confidence. His running mate, Alshon Jeffery, suffered a hamstring injury against the Bills, but there has been no word on his injury or status for Sunday. We will have updates as the week progresses.
The biggest wide receiver news of the week is the potential early returns of Josh Gordon and Wes Welker. The NFL and NFLPA are reportedly close to an agreement on a new drug policy that would potentially end the suspensions of Gordon and Welker. It will have no bearing on Week 2, but if one or both of the receivers return, it will shake up plenty of fantasy leagues.
Consensus Writer Rankings (Standard)
| Rank | Consensus | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Calvin Johnson | Detroit Lions | @Carolina |
| 2 | Demaryius Thomas | Denver Broncos | Kansas City |
| 3 | A.J. Green | Cincinnati Bengals | Atlanta |
| 4 | Dez Bryant | Dallas Cowboys | @Tennessee |
| 5 | Brandon Marshall | Chicago Bears | @San Francisco |
| 6 | Julio Jones | Atlanta Falcons | @Cincinati |
| 7 | Antonio Brown | Pittsburgh Steelers | @Baltimore |
| 8 | Jordy Nelson | Green Bay Packers | NY Jets |
| 9 | Andre Johnson | Houston Texans | @Oakland |
| 10 | Michael Floyd | Arizona Cardinals | @NY Giants |
| 11 | Alshon Jeffery | Chicago Bears | @San Francisco |
| 12 | Roddy White | Atlanta Falcons | @Cincinnati |
| 13 | Randall Cobb | Green Bay Packers | NY Jets |
| 14 | Percy Harvin | Seattle Seahawks | @San Diego |
| 15 | Cordarrelle Patterson | Minnesota Vikings | New England |
| 16 | Pierre Garcon | Washington | Jacksonville |
| 17 | Vincent Jackson | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | St. Louis |
| 18 | Emmanuel Sanders | Denver Broncos | Kansas City |
| 19 | Michael Crabtree | San Francisco 49ers | Chicago |
| 20 | Jeremy Maclin | Philadelphia Eagles | @Indianapolis |
| 21 | Larry Fitzgerald | Arizona Cardinals | @NY Giants |
| 22 | Victor Cruz | New York Giants | Arizona |
| 23 | Eric Decker | New York Jets | @Green Bay |
| 24 | Julian Edelman | New England Patriots | @Minnesota |
| 25 | Reggie Wayne | Indianapolis Colts | Philadelphia |
| 26 | Marques Colston | New Orleans Colts | @Cleveland |
| 27 | Keenan Allen | San Diego Chargers | Seattle |
| 28 | DeSean Jackson | Washington | Jacksonville |
| 29 | Kendall Wright | Tennessee Titans | Dallas |
| 30 | T.Y. Hilton | Indianapolis Colts | Philadelphia |
| 31 | Mike Wallace | Miami Dolphins | @Buffalo |
| 32 | Brandin Cooks | New Orleans Colts | @Clevland |
| 33 | Kelvin Benjamin | Carolina Panthers | Detroit |
| 34 | DeAndre Hopkins | Houston Texans | @Oakland |
| 35 | Justin Hunter | Tennessee Titans | Dallas |
| 36 | Torrey Smith | Baltimore Ravens | Pittsburgh |
| 37 | Anquan Boldin | San Francisco 49ers | Chicago |
| 38 | Terrance Williams | Dallas Cowboys | @Tennessee |
| 39 | Golden Tate | Detroit Lions | @Carolina |
| 40 | Greg Jennings | Minnesota Vikings | New England |
| 41 | Steve Smith | Baltimore Ravens | Pittsburgh |
| 42 | Malcom Floyd | San Diego Chargers | Seattle |
| 43 | Markus Wheaton | Pittsburgh Steelers | @Baltimore |
| 44 | Rueben Randle | New York Giants | Arizona |
| 45 | Andrew Hawkins | Cleveland Browns | New Orleans |
| 46 | Marqise Lee | Jacksonville Jaguars | @Washington |
| 47 | Mike Evans | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | St. Louis |
| 48 | Cecil Shorts | Jacksonville Jaguars | @Washington |
| 49 | Dwayne Bowe | Kansas City Chiefs | @Denver |
| 50 | Riley Cooper | Philadelphia Eagles | @Indianapolis |
Consensus Writer Rankings (PPR)
| Rank | Consensus | Team | Opponent |
| 1 | Calvin Johnson | Detroit Lions | @Carolina |
| 2 | Demaryius Thomas | Denver Broncos | Kansas City |
| 3 | A.J. Green | Cincinnati Bengals | Atlanta |
| 4 | Brandon Marshall | Chicago Bears | @San Francisco |
| 5 | Julio Jones | Atlanta Falcons | @Cincinnati |
| 6 | Dez Bryant | Dallas Cowboys | @Tennessee |
| 7 | Antonio Brown | Pittsburgh Steelers | @Baltimore |
| 8 | Jordy Nelson | Green Bay Packers | NY Jets |
| 9 | Andre Johnson | Houston Texans | @Oakland |
| 10 | Pierre Garcon | Washington | Jacksonville |
| 11 | Michael Floyd | Arizona Cardinals | @NY Giants |
| 12 | Randall Cobb | Green Bay Packers | NY Jets |
| 13 | Percy Harvin | Seattle Seahawks | @San Diego |
| 14 | Roddy White | Atlanta Falcons | @Cincinnati |
| 15 | Alshon Jeffery | Chicago Bears | @San Francisco |
| 16 | Reggie Wayne | Indianapolis Colts | Philadelphia |
| 17 | Julian Edelman | New England Patriots | @Minnesota |
| 18 | Michael Crabtree | San Francisco 49ers | Chicago |
| 19 | Cordarrelle Patterson | Minnesota Vikings | New England |
| 20 | Emmanuel Sanders | Denver Broncos | Kansas City |
| 21 | Kendall Wright | Tennessee Titans | Dallas |
| 22 | Victor Cruz | New York Giants | Arizona |
| 23 | Vincent Jackson | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | St. Louis |
| 24 | Jeremy Maclin | Philadelphia Eagles | @Indianapolis |
| 25 | Eric Decker | New York Jets | @Green Bay |
| 26 | Marques Colston | New Orleans Saints | @Cleveland |
| 27 | Larry Fitzgerald | Arizona Cardinals | @NY Giants |
| 28 | Keenan Allen | San Diego Chargers | Seattle |
| 29 | T.Y. Hilton | Indianapolis Colts | Philadelphia |
| 30 | DeSean Jackson | Washington | Jacksonville |
| 31 | Brandin Cooks | New Orleans Saints | @Cleveland |
| 32 | Mike Wallace | Miami Dolphins | @Buffalo |
| 33 | DeAndre Hopkins | Houston Texans | @Oakland |
| 34 | Kelvin Benjamin | Carolina Panthers | Detroit |
| 35 | Justin Hunter | Tennessee Titans | Dallas |
| 36 | Torrey Smith | Baltimore Ravens | Pittsburgh |
| 37 | Anquan Boldin | San Francisco 49ers | Chicago |
| 38 | Greg Jennings | Minnesota Vikings | New england |
| 39 | Steve Smith | Baltimore Ravens | Pittsburgh |
| 40 | Golden Tate | Detroit Lions | @Carolina |
| 41 | Terrance Williams | Dallas Cowboys | @Tennessee |
| 42 | Markus Wheaton | Pittsburgh Steelers | @Baltimore |
| 43 | Malcom Floyd | San Diego Chargers | Seattle |
| 44 | Andrew Hawkins | Cleveland Browns | New Orleans |
| 45 | Dwayne Bowe | Kansas City Chiefs | @Denver |
| 46 | Cecil Shorts | Jacksonville Jaguars | @Washington |
| 47 | Marqise Lee | Jacksonville Jaguars | @Washington |
| 48 | Rueben Randle | New York Giants | Arizona |
| 49 | Brian Hartline | Miami Dolphins | @Buffalo |
| 50 | Allen Hurns | Jacksonville Jaguars | @Washington |
Individual Writer Rankings (Standard)
| Rank | Daniel Kelley | Dan Ciarrocchi | John Daigle | Scott Kaliska |
| 1 | Calvin Johnson | Calvin Johnson | Calvin Johnson | Demaryius Thomas |
| 2 | Demaryius Thomas | Demaryius Thomas | A.J. Green | Calvin Johnson |
| 3 | A.J. Green | A.J. Green | Demaryius Thomas | Dez Bryant |
| 4 | Brandon Marshall | Dez Bryant | Brandon Marshall | A.J. Green |
| 5 | Julio Jones | Julio Jones | Antonio Brown | Julio Jones |
| 6 | Dez Bryant | Jordy Nelson | Julio Jones | Brandon Marshall |
| 7 | Antonio Brown | Brandon Marshall | Jordy Nelson | Jordy Nelson |
| 8 | Jordy Nelson | Antonio Brown | Dez Bryant | Antonio Brown |
| 9 | Andre Johnson | Andre Johnson | Michael Floyd | Andre Johnson |
| 10 | Percy Harvin | Alshon Jeffery | Andre Johnson | Alshon Jeffery |
| 11 | Michael Floyd | Randall Cobb | Emmanuel Sanders | Vincent Jackson |
| 12 | Randall Cobb | Roddy White | Cordarrelle Patterson | Randall Cobb |
| 13 | Roddy White | Cordarrelle Patterson | Pierre Garcon | Michael Floyd |
| 14 | Keenan Allen | Michael Floyd | Alshon Jeffery | Roddy White |
| 15 | DeSean Jackson | Pierre Garcon | Michael Crabtree | Larry Fitzgerald |
| 16 | Larry Fitzgerald | Vincent Jackson | Marques Colston | Victor Cruz |
| 17 | Reggie Wayne | Percy Harvin | Percy Harvin | Cordarrelle Patterson |
| 18 | Alshon Jeffery | Victor Cruz | T.Y. Hilton | Pierre Garcon |
| 19 | Jeremy Maclin | Emmanuel Sanders | Roddy White | Emmanuel Sanders |
| 20 | Eric Decker | Mike Wallace | Brandin Cooks | Percy Harvin |
| 21 | Michael Crabtree | Michael Crabtree | Jeremy Maclin | Eric Decker |
| 22 | Julian Edelman | Julian Edelman | Justin Hunter | Julian Edelman |
| 23 | Cordarrelle Patterson | Eric Decker | Vincent Jackson | Jeremy Maclin |
| 24 | Pierre Garcon | Larry Fitzgerald | Randall Cobb | Mike Wallace |
| 25 | Victor Cruz | DeSean Jackson | Kendall Wright | Michael Crabtree |
| 26 | Kendall Wright | Jeremy Maclin | Reggie Wayne | Marques Colston |
| 27 | DeAndre Hopkins | Marques Colston | DeAndre Hopkins | Reggie Wayne |
| 28 | Vincent Jackson | Reggie Wayne | Julian Edelman | Keenan Allen |
| 29 | Emmanuel Sanders | Kendall Wright | Eric Decker | Kendall Wright |
| 30 | Marques Colston | Keenan Allen | Kelvin Benjamin | Torrey Smith |
| 31 | Brandin Cooks | Kelvin Benjamin | Greg Jennings | T.Y. Hilton |
| 32 | T.Y. Hilton | Torrey Smith | Malcolm Floyd | DeSean Jackson |
| 33 | Cecil Shorts | TY Hilton | Keenan Allen | Justin Hunter |
| 34 | Kelvin Benjamin | Brandin Cooks | Victor Cruz | Kelvin Benjamin |
| 35 | Mike Wallace | Justin Hunter | Anquan Boldin | Brandin Cooks |
| 36 | Terrance Williams | Golden Tate | DeSean Jackson | Terrance Williams |
| 37 | Steve Smith | Anquan Boldin | Steve Smith | Golden Tate |
| 38 | Anquan Boldin | DeAndre Hopkins | Larry Fitzgerald | Anquan Boldin |
| 39 | Golden Tate | Terrance Williams | Mike Wallace | DeAndre Hopkins |
| 40 | Malcom Floyd | Markus Wheaton | Torrey Smith | Rueben Randle |
| 41 | Andrew Hawkins | Rueben Randle | Andrew Hawkins | Riley Cooper |
| 42 | Torrey Smith | Greg Jennings | Marqise Lee | Markus Wheaton |
| 43 | Justin Hunter | Mike Evans | Markus Wheaton | Greg Jennings |
| 44 | Greg Jennings | Riley Cooper | Dwayne Bowe | Mike Evans |
| 45 | Allen Hurns | Dwayne Bowe | Sammy Watkins | Marqise Lee |
| 46 | James Jones | Marqise Lee | Golden Tate | Dwayne Bowe |
| 47 | Brian Quick | Steve Smith | Terrance Williams | Hakeem Nicks |
| 48 | Jerrel Jernigan | Allen Hurns | Mike Evans | Steve Smith |
| 49 | Jerricho Cotchery | Hakeem Nicks | Brian Quick | Doug Baldwin |
| 50 | Mike Evans | Sammy Watkins | Allen Hurns | Mohamed Sanu |
Individual Writer Rankings (PPR)
| Rank | Daniel Kelley | Dan Ciarrocchi | John Daigle | Scott Kaliska |
| 1 | Calvin Johnson | Calvin Johnson | Calvin Johnson | Demaryius Thomas |
| 2 | Demaryius Thomas | Demaryius Thomas | A.J. Green | Calvin Johnson |
| 3 | A.J. Green | A.J. Green | Demaryius Thomas | A.J. Green |
| 4 | Brandon Marshall | Dez Bryant | Antonio Brown | Dez Bryant |
| 5 | Julio Jones | Julio Jones | Brandon Marshall | Julio Jones |
| 6 | Jordy Nelson | Antonio Brown | Jordy Nelson | Brandon Marshall |
| 7 | Dez Bryant | Brandon Marshall | Julio Jones | Antonio Brown |
| 8 | Antonio Brown | Jordy Nelson | Pierre Garcon | Jordy Nelson |
| 9 | Andre Johnson | Andre Johnson | Michael Floyd | Andre Johnson |
| 10 | Percy Harvin | Roddy White | Dez Bryant | Pierre Garcon |
| 11 | Randall Cobb | Pierre Garcon | Andre Johnson | Randall Cobb |
| 12 | Michael Floyd | Randall Cobb | Michael Crabtree | Roddy White |
| 13 | Reggie Wayne | Alshon Jeffery | Alshon Jeffery | Victor Cruz |
| 14 | Keenan Allen | Percy Harvin | Cordarrelle Patterson | Alshon Jeffery |
| 15 | Jeremy Maclin | Michael Floyd | Emmanuel Sanders | Percy Harvin |
| 16 | Pierre Garcon | Cordarrelle Patterson | Percy Harvin | Michael Floyd |
| 17 | Roddy White | Julian Edelman | Marques Colston | Vincent Jackson |
| 18 | Alshon Jeffery | Victor Cruz | Roddy White | Cordarrelle Patterson |
| 19 | DeSean Jackson | Kendall Wright | Jeremy Maclin | Larry Fitzgerald |
| 20 | Julian Edelman | Emmanuel Sanders | Randall Cobb | Kendall Wright |
| 21 | Larry Fitzgerald | Reggie Wayne | Brandin Cooks | Julian Edelman |
| 22 | Michael Crabtree | Vincent Jackson | Kendall Wright | Michael Crabtree |
| 23 | Eric Decker | Mike Wallace | Julian Edelman | Reggie Wayne |
| 24 | Victor Cruz | Eric Decker | Reggie Wayne | Emmanuel Sanders |
| 25 | Vincent Jackson | Larry Fitzgerald | T.Y. Hilton | Eric Decker |
| 26 | Kendall Wright | Michael Crabtree | Justin Hunter | Mike Wallace |
| 27 | Emmanuel Sanders | Torrey Smith | DeAndre Hopkins | Keenan Allen |
| 28 | DeAndre Hopkins | Marques Colston | Vincent Jackson | Marques Colston |
| 29 | Marques Colston | Ty Hilton | Eric Decker | Torrey Smith |
| 30 | Brandin Cooks | Jeremy Maclin | Kelvin Benjamin | Jeremy Maclin |
| 31 | T.Y. Hilton | Keenan Allen | Greg Jennings | Kelvin Benjamin |
| 32 | Steve Smith | Kelvin Benjamin | Anquan Boldin | T.Y. Hilton |
| 33 | Cecil Shorts | DeSean Jackson | DeSean Jackson | DeSean Jackson |
| 34 | Cordarrelle Patterson | Justin Hunter | Steve Smith | Justin Hunter |
| 35 | Mike Wallace | Brandin Cooks | Malcolm Floyd | Brandin Cooks |
| 36 | Andrew Hawkins | Golden Tate | Keenan Allen | DeAndre Hopkins |
| 37 | Anquan Boldin | DeAndre Hopkins | Victor Cruz | Anquan Boldin |
| 38 | Kelvin Benjamin | Anquan Boldin | Mike Wallace | Terrance Williams |
| 39 | Terrance Williams | Markus Wheaton | Andrew Hawkins | Golden Tate |
| 40 | Malcom Floyd | Greg Jennings | Larry Fitzgerald | Greg Jennings |
| 41 | Greg Jennings | Terrance Williams | Torrey Smith | Markus Wheaton |
| 42 | Torrey Smith | Dwayne Bowe | Marqise Lee | Dwayne Bowe |
| 43 | Golden Tate | Rueben Randle | Markus Wheaton | Brian Hartline |
| 44 | Allen Hurns | Steve Smith | Dwayne Bowe | Steve Smith |
| 45 | Justin Hunter | Brian Hartline | Brian Quick | Rueben Randle |
| 46 | Brian Quick | Riley Cooper | Golden Tate | Doug Baldwin |
| 47 | James Jones | Marqise Lee | Sammy Watkins | Marqise Lee |
| 48 | Jerrel Jernigan | Doug Baldwin | Terrance Williams | Allen Hurns |
| 49 | Mike Evans | Hakeem Nicks | Mike Evans | Andre Caldwell |
| 50 | Dwayne Bowe | Allen Hurns | Allen Hurns | Riley Cooper |
