Top 30 wide receivers for 2013

Editor's note: Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg and Nathan Zegura will share a snapshot of their rankings in January to give owners something to ponder. Teams listed indicate franchise the player was with in 2012.

Top 30 wide receivers for 2013
Jamey Eisenberg	Dave Richard	Nathan Zegura
1. Calvin Johnson, DET	1. Calvin Johnson, DET	1. Calvin Johnson, DET
2. A.J. Green, CIN	2. Demaryius Thomas, DEN	2. Brandon Marshall, CHI
3. Demaryius Thomas, DEN	3. A.J. Green, CIN	3. Demaryius Thomas, DEN
4. Julio Jones, ATL	4. Brandon Marshall, CHI	4. A.J. Green, CIN
5. Brandon Marshall, CHI	5. Dez Bryant, DAL	5. Dez Bryant, DAL
6. Dez Bryant, DAL	6. Julio Jones, ATL	6. Julio Jones, ATL
7. Percy Harvin, MIN	7. Roddy White, ATL	7. Vincent Jackson, TB
8. Vincent Jackson, TB	8. Andre Johnson, HOU	8. Percy Harvin, MIN
9. Andre Johnson, HOU	9. Vincent Jackson, TB	9. Roddy White, ATL
10. Roddy White, ATL	10. Percy Harvin, MIN	10. Eric Decker, DEN
11. Michael Crabtree, SF	11. Wes Welker, NE	11. Andre Johnson, HOU
12. Randall Cobb, GB	12. Victor Cruz, NYG	12. Michael Crabtree, SF
13. Eric Decker, DEN	13. Eric Decker, DEN	13. Randall Cobb, GB
14. Wes Welker, NE	14. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	14. Victor Cruz, NYG
15. Marques Colston, NO	15. Reggie Wayne, IND	15. Jordy Nelson, GB
16. Victor Cruz, NYG	16. Michael Crabtree, SF	16. Marques Colston, NO
17. Reggie Wayne, IND	17. Pierre Garcon, WAS	17. James Jones, GB
18. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	18. Marques Colston, NO	18. Reggie Wayne, IND
19. Jordy Nelson, GB	19. Cecil Shorts, JAC	19. Pierre Garcon, WAS
20. Pierre Garcon, WAS	20. James Jones, GB	20. Antonio Brown, PIT
21. Steve Smith, CAR	21. Randall Cobb, GB	21. Larry Fitzgerald, ARI
22. Torrey Smith, BAL	22. Danario Alexander, SD	22. Steve Smith, CAR
23. Cecil Shorts, JAC	23. Steve Smith, CAR	23. Wes Welker, NE
24. Antonio Brown, PIT	24. Dwayne Bowe, KC	24. Cecil Shorts, JAC
25. Danario Alexander, SD	25. Jordy Nelson, GB	25.Greg Jennings, GB
26. Hakeem Nicks, NYG	26. Steve Johnson, BUF	26. T.Y. Hilton, IND
27. Mike Wallace, PIT	27. Justin Blackmon, JAC	27. Hakeem Nicks, NYG
28. Greg Jennings, GB	28. Mike Williams, TB	28. Dwayne Bowe, KC
29. Steve Johnson, BUF	29. Greg Jennings, GB	29. Jeremy Maclin, PHI
30. Justin Blackmon, JAC	30. Lance Moore, NO	30. DeSean Jackson, PHI
After Calvin Johnson, the next five receivers listed are all elite and can all challenge for the No. 2 receiver spot. ... Harvin has the chance for a bounce-back year, and he was on pace for 112 catches, 1,300 total yards and seven touchdowns before being lost for the season with an ankle injury in Week 10. ... Crabtree ended the season with at least nine Fantasy points in eight of his past 10 games, including the playoffs through the Divisional Round. ... Where the free agent receivers (Welker, Wallace, Jennings, Danny Amendola and Dwayne Bowe) land will impact this list dramatically. Welker would take a tremendous hit if he left the Patriots, but Bowe's value might improve if he stays in Kansas City with Andy Reid. ... Fitzgerald has the chance to return as a Top 10 receiver if the Cardinals upgrade at quarterback. But getting back Kevin Kolb will help as well. Before Kolb was lost for the season with a rib injury in Week 6, Fitzgerald was actually playing well. He had at least nine Fantasy points in four of his first six games. But after Kolb went down and Fitzgerald was stuck with John Skelton, Ryan Lindley and Brian Hoyer he had just two games with double digits in Fantasy points in his final 10 outings with one touchdown over that span. ... Garcon's value could decline if Robert Griffin III (knee) isn't ready by Week 1. ... Guys who were left off that can be considered Top 30 options as well include James Jones, Bowe, Amendola, Jeremy Maclin, T.Y. Hilton and DeSean Jackson, which shows just how deep receiver will be in 2013. -- Jamey Eisenberg
This was a tough task this year, particularly because of the lack of perceived high-quality talent at the position. Kind of emphasizes the idea to take stud receivers early and not worry about them later. ... Demaryius Thomas was among the most consistent Fantasy receivers last year, posting 10-plus Fantasy points in 10 games, tied for second behind only Calvin Johnson. Though he had few monster games, he delivered more 13-plus-point games than anyone else. His role in the offense, his youth and his quarterback basically help seal him as one of the brighest young receivers in football. ... Had a hard time after 10th overall and suspect I'll make some changes here as the offseason moves on. I do think Harvin's versatility gives him an edge over Welker, who may or may not be in a contract year again in 2013 -- or a Patriot. ... I think there are some good potential values in 2012 breakouts like Cecil Shorts, James Jones, Danario Alexander and even Lance Moore. Don't be surprised to see these guys slip and become nice pickups on Draft Day. ... Not taking a chance on Hakeem Nicks (too injury prone), Mike Wallace (too boom-or-bust) or DeSean Jackson (see Wallace) unless they fall into my lap in Round 7 or so. ... I like Jamey's bold call on Michael Crabtree, who had one 10-plus-point game with Alex Smith and five with Colin Kaepernick during the regular season. And I assume Nathan's ranking on Welker is based on him moving on from New England, in which case I understand the surprising tumble. -- Dave Richard
The wide receiver position is extremely deep headed into 2013 and there are at least 10 other receivers that I really wanted to get into my Top 30. ... This list will change a ton depending on some offseason movements, but guys like Justin Blackmon, Kenny Britt, Steve Johnson, Mike Wallace, Miles Austin, Torrey Smith, Malcom Floyd, Anquan Boldin, Denarius Moore, Brandon Lloyd, Danario Alexander, Josh Gordon, Danny Amendola, Lance Moore and Mike Williams all legitimately could be in the Top 30 today and may very well end up there come the summer. ... Hilton is my one surprise inclusion in the Top 30 and I really believe that he will become a star as soon as he takes over the starting job from Donnie Avery, which should happen in 2013. Hilton ended the year seeing six or more targets in nine games and in those nine games he produced 45 catches for 742 yards and six touchdowns. Over 16 games, that would be a season of 80 catches, 1,319 yards and 11 touchdowns, which would be pretty darn good. ... Don't sleep on Harvin in 2013, as he was on pace for a season of 110 receptions, 1,203 yards and five touchdowns receiving plus 171 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. ... In the eight games he has played with Colin Kaepernick, Crabtree has been targeted 77 times and has caught 50 passes for 714 yards and seven touchdowns. Those are clear No. 1 receiver numbers and he is someone with a lot of upside headed into 2013. ... With the news that Chip Kelly is going to Philadelphia, I bumped Justin Blackmon and Kenny Britt and included the two Eagles receivers at the bottom of my Top 30 since I am expecting a high-octane offense. ... There are so many receivers to be excited about heading into 2013 that I really think you could make a Top 50 at this position and be excited (to varying degrees obviously) about every player on that list. My key takeaway from going through this exercise is that you can load up on running back early, still snag a good quarterback from that extremely deep position and you will have no problem grabbing a very solid group of wide receivers in the middle rounds because the position is so loaded. -- Nathan Zegura