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WR ranking tiers: Finding mid-draft sleepers key

Brandin Cooks remains a hot commodity after leaving Drew Brees and the Saints and going to Tom Brady and the Patriots. AP Photo/Elise Amendola

Note: To view Eric's latest tiered rankings for quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, check out the Insider Cheat Sheet.

A year ago at this time, wide receiver was the hot fantasy football position, with high-end options to draft before any running backs and enough depth that it was pretty much assumed one’s flex spot wouldn’t be a running back. Oh, how things change! Sure, wide receiver remains a strong fantasy position, of course, but several high-end options have become question marks, and by the middle rounds, it just doesn’t feel the same as last year, creating more balance with the never-forgotten running backs.

As a result, a tiered system for wide receivers seems even more relevant than a year ago, when one could do little wrong and end up with usable options no matter what. Perhaps that’s still the case to some degree, but with the many rookie running backs and several new veterans likely finding immediate opportunity, it’s more of a mix. Regardless, one might notice more drop-off from tier to tier at wide receiver. I certainly did. We’ve covered quarterback and running back and we continue now with wide receiver.