Odell Beckham Jr. has been outstanding, but is he the top dynasty WR asset?

Drafting wide receivers early has become more fashionable each year as running backs continue to become less reliable due to timeshares and injuries. The increasing popularity of PPR leagues isn’t hurting either. But let’s be honest, no one ever reads the introduction to rankings, so let’s cut to the chase. Here’s one man’s opinion on the top 10 dynasty wide receivers.

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• Antonio Brown (PIT)
  Brown caught 136 passes for 1,834 yards last year, and his quarterback missed a fourth of the season. If Ben Roethlisberger can stay healthy, Brown has a good chance to rewrite the record books. He could be in the mix for the top pick in redraft leagues for the next three or four years, making him especially enticing in dynasty formats.

• Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG)
  What Beckham can do just isn’t fair. Even when an entire defense is focused on stopping him he still somehow ends up wide open 50 yards downfield. The Giants’ offense isn’t as dynamic as Pittsburgh’s, but I wouldn’t argue with anyone putting Beckham first. He’s four years younger than Brown, after all.

• Julio Jones (ATL)
  Owning Julio isn’t much fun when he’s nursing an injury and ends up being a game-time decision, but facing him when he’s at full strength is even less fun. He’s a physical freak with a “my ball” mentality whose stats were just as impressive as Brown’s last year. He gets a slight downgrade due to injuries and Matt Ryan’s puzzling regression.

• DeAndre Hopkins (HOU)
  The quarterback play Hopkins got in 2015 was arguably the worst of anyone on this list, and the only reason I say “arguably” is because Brandon Weeden also suited up for the other team in Texas. Despite catching passes from Weeden, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett and T.J. Yates, Hopkins had more receiving yards than everyone but Brown and Jones in 2015. If the Brock Osweiler signing turns out to be a good one, watch out for Hopkins.

• Mike Evans (TB)
  Some would say this is a bit high for Evans, and that’s a defensible position based on his 2015 numbers. He racked up 1,206 yards, but his three touchdowns were the fewest of any of the 22 wide receivers with over 1,000 yards. He also drops too many easy passes. But I think the drops are fixable, and touchdowns are too random to be a strike against him. He scored 12 in 2014, so it’s not like he’s incapable of getting in the end zone. His height and athleticism make 2015 seem more like an oddity than a trend. Not to mention Jameis Winston should continue to improve.

• Amari Cooper (OAK)
  Cooper turns 22 in June and he already has a 1,000 yard season and a trip to the Pro Bowl under his belt. Fellow Pro Bowler Derek Carr’s emergence is also a huge positive. The Raiders are finally on the rise, and Cooper should be a big part of it. Of all the receivers taken in the first round of the 2016 draft, only Laquon Treadwell is significantly younger than Cooper, and Cooper has already proven he can be a star. He should have a WR spot on your roster for a long time.

• A.J. Green (CIN)
  Another year, another 1,000 yards for Green. His ceiling is limited by Andy Dalton, but in his five years in the league he’s averaging 83 receptions, 1,234 yards and nine touchdowns. There’s something to be said for consistency, even if he probably won’t be challenging for records the way the first few guys on this list are. Green is a safe choice to help you out for a few years.

• Dez Bryant (DAL)
  Based on talent alone, Dez would be higher on this list. But he’s coming off an injury-plagued year, and he wasn’t particularly good when he did suit up. Aside from the injuries, he also wasn’t able to overcome poor quarterback play the way Hopkins was. Then there’s the report that he was out of shape after getting paid. Finally, the rumored “incriminating video” and his history of off-field problems could factor in as well. He’s risky, but his abilities are undeniable, and he’s part of an excellent offense when Tony Romo is healthy.

• Sammy Watkins (BUF)
  Watkins is a boom-or-bust pick. He’s one of the most talented receivers on this list, but he plays for a run-first team with an uncertain quarterback situation. Those things could change while he’s in Buffalo and, if they don’t, he’ll still be in his mid-20’s when his rookie contract is up. In the right situation, Watkins would skyrocket up this list. That might not happen in the next year or two, though.

• Allen Robinson (JAX)
  This was a tough call. I know many in the fantasy community love the Blake Bortles–Allen Robinson connection, but I’m just not there yet. I could easily be talked into replacing Robinson with a few of the rookie receivers or maybe Brandin Cooks. But Robinson is coming off a 1,400 yard, 14 touchdown season and doesn’t turn 23 until August. Bortles was one of the best fantasy quarterbacks of 2015 as well. I’m just not completely buying it. Bortles didn’t look quite so amazing to me when I watched him, and I think he’s a candidate for regression. But stats win championships in fantasy, and the Jacksonville offense has done well in that department. Robinson is worth picking earlier than this if you think they can keep it up.

Best Dynasty Assets: Quarterbacks

Derek Norton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Derek, visit his archive, follow him on Twitter @mdereknorton, or visit his website, Sports Monocle.