A week ago at this time, the returning, big-name wide receiver fantasy owners were becoming excited about was Sidney Rice of the Minnesota Vikings. He made his debut in Week 11 and this week ESPN Fantasy has him projected for 63 yards and a touchdown. While San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson wasn't injured and his absence from the field probably has fantasy owners (and the Chargers!) a bit more bitter, we've got him projected for a similar performance. Fantasy owners should be intrigued.
It's the rare player that can possess nary a fantasy point yet be owned in more than half of ESPN's standard leagues as late as the week of Thanksgiving, but such is the case with Jackson (59.2 percent owned). Meanwhile, Rice, who scored five fantasy points in his 2010 debut, is owned in 43.2 percent of leagues. Regardless of actual ownership, these are impact wide receivers. A season ago, Rice finished eighth in standard wide receiver scoring with 169 fantasy points, while Jackson was a mere three points behind in a tie with Brandon Marshall for ninth. These guys are good, and they have opportunity. Personally, I would choose Jackson over Rice for the duration of this season, but I think it's clear both players should be owned even in 10-team standard leagues.
For more players whose stock is either rising and falling, you must be an ESPN Insider!
Eric Karabell | email
ESPN.com Senior Writer- ESPN contributor on TV, radio, podcasts, blogs, Magazine
- Charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame
- Author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments"
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Eric Karabell
Eric Karabell is an ESPN.com senior writer. He has worked at ESPN since 1997 and covered fantasy sports for ESPN since 2001, specializing in baseball and football. Eric appears several times per week on SportsCenter, NFL Live and other ESPN shows, contributes to ESPN Radio and ESPN The Magazine and is the host of the Baseball Today Podcast. He has been honored twice as fantasy sports writer of the year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, his blog was named best fantasy baseball series for 2007 and he was inducted into the inaugural FSWA Hall of Fame class in 2010.
Eric grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, and accordingly, favors Philly teams first, his fantasy teams second. He previously served as ESPN.com's lead NBA editor, and is a former Washington Post and Philadelphia Inquirer sports writer. Eric is also the author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments," published by Source Books and available in bookstores and online.
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