A team-by-team look at receivers

Running backs are considered the most vital position in fantasy football, but the increase in effective pass attacks around the NFL has made the wide-receiver and tight-end positions that much more valuable in recent seasons.

As a result, knowledge of the receiver positions from around the league is a must when owners enter their drafts. With that in mind, here's our in-depth look at the current wide-receiver and tight-end situations for all 32 teams and how they'll affect your fantasy football drafts.

ARIZONA CARDINALS
The Cardinals boast one of the best (if not the best) duos of wide receivers in the NFL in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, both of whom are attractive No. 1 fantasy wideouts and worth early round selections. Fitzgerald has the edge in value, but both will be selected within a round of each other in most cases. The third receiver on the roster is Bryant Johnson, but he won't have much draft value in most formats. Leonard Pope, Troy Bienemann and Ben Patrick are the top tight ends, but none of the trio warrants consideration.

ATLANTA FALCONS
The Falcons will look to improve what was a horrid pass offense in 2006, and new head coach Bob Petrino hopes veteran Joe Horn can make a difference. Once an elite fantasy receiver, Horn has dealt with injuries in recent seasons and is now little more than a No. 3 fantasy wideout. Michael Jenkins will start alongside Horn, but he and Roddy White both warrant minimal draft consideration. Alge Crumpler, who has been the team's most reliable option in the pass attack, will no doubt remain a valuable No. 1 fantasy tight end.

BALTIMORE RAVENS
Mark Clayton seemed to pass Derrick Mason as the team's No. 1 wide receiver last season, and he's a nice sleeper candidate in 2007. He could develop into a solid No. 2 fantasy wideout and is worth a middle-round choice. Mason, who saw his numbers fall across the board, is now little more than a late-rounder. Demetrius Williams, who is third on the depth chart, has shown potential and is a viable low-end sleeper. Todd Heap is one of the NFL's most talented tight ends and will be one of the first players taken at his position in drafts.

BUFFALO BILLS
The one wide receiver on the Bills roster with value is Lee Evans, who should be considered a borderline No. 1 or 2 fantasy wideout. Veteran Peerless Price, who was once considered a valuable asset for owners, will start with Evans but has no real draft value. Veteran Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish, who enters his third NFL season, round out the top four on the depth chart. Robert Royal is the favorite to start at tight end, while Kevin Everett and Ryan Neufeld will battle for the second spot. None of the three has draft value.

CAROLINA PANTHERS
Hamstring problems and the loss of Jake Delhomme late in the season hurt Steve Smith's numbers in 2006, but he's back to 100 percent and remains an elite fantasy wideout. Keyshawn Johnson's departure has created a battle among Drew Carter, Keary Colbert and rookie Dwayne Jarrett for the right to start opposite Smith. Jarrett and Carter are considered the favorites, and both are worth late-round fliers. Michael Gaines is projected to start at tight end, but no Panther at that position has any draft value.

CHICAGO BEARS
The Bears came out with a much more aggressive pass attack in 2006, which is part of the reason Bernard Berrian recorded career bests across the board. Now a much more viable No. 3 fantasy receiver, Berrian has the most value of any Bears wideout. Veteran Muhsin Muhammad is worth a late-round pick, but Rashied Davis and Mark Bradley have no draft value. Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen will share the pass-catching tight-end duties, so neither will be taken as more than a fantasy reserve in drafts.

CINCINNATI BENGALS
Chad Johnson, aka Ocho Cinco, has been one of the more consistent wide receivers in the NFL in recent seasons and is a surefire second-round choice in drafts. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is a solid complement and is considered a borderline No. 1 or 2 fantasy receiver. With Chris Henry suspended for the first eight games, Tab Perry could open the season as the team's No. 3 receiver with Antonio Chatman also in the mix. The Bengals don't use their tight ends often in the pass attack, so Reggie Kelly will hold no draft value.

CLEVELAND BROWNS
Braylon Edwards will be one of the top options in the pass attack for the Browns and is a viable No. 3 fantasy wideout and sleeper candidate. Joe Jurevicius is slated to start opposite him, but he is worth little more than a late-round pick. Travis Wilson is in the mix for the third spot on the depth chart, but Tim Carter and Joshua Cribbs will also compete. None of the three has draft value. Kellen Winslow is a top-five fantasy tight end, but he could slide in drafts as he continues to recover from microfracture knee surgery.

DALLAS COWBOYS
Terrell Owens is back from multiple surgical procedures to repair an injured finger and remains the top option in the Cowboys pass attack. He'll also be a top option for countless fantasy football owners and is well worth an early-round choice. Veteran Terry Glenn remains second on the depth chart and is a terrific No. 3 fantasy wideout, and Patrick Crayton is worth a late-round flier. Jason Witten, who caught 64 passes last season, will be undervalued in most drafts but is still a viable No. 1 fantasy tight end in most formats.

DENVER BRONCOS
The Broncos will continue to lean on Javon Walker, who is an attractive No. 1 fantasy receiver. Rod Smith, who had an arthroscopic procedure on his hip, has fallen to third on the depth chart behind low-end fantasy sleeper Brandon Marshall. Smith won't be selected in most drafts, but Marshall is worth a late-round choice. Brandon Stokley, David Kircus and Quincy Morgan are also in the mix, but none has draft value. Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler will split the tight-end duties, so neither is more than a fantasy reserve.

DETROIT LIONS
The Lions used yet another first-round draft selection on a wide receiver. One of the league's most promising young wideouts, Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson is a viable No. 3 fantasy receiver in seasonal formats. Roy Williams remains the team's top receiver, however, and is a terrific early round choice for owners. Mike Furrey will move to the slot with Johnson in the mix, so his value has fallen. In fact, he warrants no more than a late-round choice. Dan Campbell is the favorite to start at tight end, but he has no real draft value.

GREEN BAY PACKERS
One of the more underrated wide receivers in the NFL, Donald Driver has recorded 1,200-plus yards in three consecutive seasons and is a borderline No. 1 or No. 2 fantasy wideout. An injured ankle seemed to hinder Greg Jennings as a rookie, but he's back to 100 percent now and is a tremendous sleeper candidate in drafts. The battle for the third receiver spot is between Ruvell Martin and rookie James Jones, but neither has much value in drafts. Donald Lee and Bubba Franks could share the tight-end duties, but owners should avoid them both.

HOUSTON TEXANS
Andre Johnson recorded career bests in receptions (103) and yards (1,147) last season, but the fact that the Texans don't have a viable complement for him makes him more of a No. 2 fantasy receiver. Kevin Walter, who had 17 catches in 2006, is the current favorite to start opposite Johnson but will have to battle rookie Jacoby Jones, Andre' Davis and Jerome Mathis for the spot. None of the four has draft value. Owen Daniels will start at tight end, but with so many questions about the team's offense, he's a fantasy reserve for now.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
The Colts have one of the best duos of wide receivers in the NFL in Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, both of whom are solid No. 1 fantasy wideouts and worth early round choices. Rookie Anthony Gonzalez is slated to fill the third spot vacated by Brandon Stokley, so the rookie out of Ohio State should be a terrific low-end sleeper candidate in one of the league's premier offenses. Dallas Clark is a nice borderline No. 1 or No. 2 fantasy tight end, but the presence of Gonzalez and Ben Utecht hurts his value a bit across the board.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio has created an open competition for the prominent wide-receiver roles, but Matt Jones and Reggie Williams still remain the favorites to start. Neither is worth more than a late-round pick. Dennis Northcutt is locked into the third spot on the depth chart, while Ernest Wilford and rookie Mike Walker will compete for roles of their own. None of the three has draft value. There's a crowd at tight end (George Wrighster, Marcedes Lewis and Jermaine Wiggins); none warrants draft consideration.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The Chiefs haven't had an impact wide receiver for what seems like forever, but the team hopes Dwayne Bowe can change that. The rookie is a favorite to start alongside veteran Eddie Kennison, a viable No. 4 fantasy receiver, and is well worth a late-round pick in most drafts. Chris Hannon, Jeff Webb and Samie Parker will all compete for the No. 3 spot, but none has much draft value. Tony Gonzalez will continue to be the team's most valuable option in the pass attack and will be one of the first five tight ends taken in drafts.

MIAMI DOLPHINS
Chris Chambers, who will line up in the "X" position for head coach Cam Cameron (he will be used on the less-crowded side of the offensive formation), is a borderline No. 2 or 3 fantasy wideout after a poor 2006 season. Marty Booker remains second on the depth chart but is worth little more than a late-round flier. Rookie Ted Ginn Jr., Derek Hagan and Az-Zahir Hakim are also in the mix, but none has much draft value. David Martin will replace the departed Randy McMichael at tight end and is a nice low-end sleeper candidate.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The departure of Travis Taylor and release of Marcus Robinson leaves the door open for Bobby Wade, Billy McMullen, Troy Williamson and rookies Sidney Rice and Aundrae Allison to compete for the top four spots on the depth chart. Williamson and Rice could be worth late-round fliers, but the others have much to prove before owners will consider them as viable draft options. Visanthe Shiancoe will replace Jermaine Wiggins as the team's top tight end, but he is more of a blocker and will warrant little to no attention in most drafts.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Randy Moss was dealt to the Patriots in the offseason and will serve as their No. 1 wideout, but he shouldn't be considered more than a No. 2 fantasy receiver in an offense that will spread the football out a lot. Donte' Stallworth will start alongside Moss and is a viable No. 3 fantasy wideout, while Reche Caldwell, Wes Welker and Kelley Washington will have minimal value in most drafts. Benjamin Watson has 60-reception potential, but like Moss and Stallworth, he loses a bit of value due to the team's immense depth in the pass attack.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Marques Colston is the team's new No. 1 wide receiver (Joe Horn was released) and he'll be a nice borderline No. 1 or No. 2 fantasy wideout in what should remain a prolific Saints offense. Devery Henderson is the favorite to start opposite Colston and is a nice sleeper candidate, but he could see some competition from Robert Meachem when he returns from knee surgery. David Patten and Terrance Copper will battle for the third spot, but neither has draft value. Eric Johnson will start at tight end and is a nice sleeper choice.

NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants will continue to lean on Plaxico Burress as a prominent option in their pass attack, so the athletic wideout will be an attractive No. 2 fantasy receiver in most drafts. Amani Toomer continues to recover from an injured knee and could see competition for the second spot on the depth chart from rookie Steve Smith. Neither wideout is worth more than a late-round choice. Sinorice Moss and David Tyree are also in the mix, but neither has draft value. Jeremy Shockey is a top-five fantasy tight end and is worth a middle-round pick.

NEW YORK JETS
The Jets will continue to use Laveranues Coles in a prominent role on offense, but his lack of touchdown production makes him a low-end No. 2 fantasy receiver. Jerricho Cotchery had a breakout season in 2006 with 82 receptions and six touchdowns, so owners should consider him a viable No. 3 wideout. Brad Smith, Justin McCareins and Chansi Stuckey are in the mix for the final spots on the depth chart, but none has draft value. Chris Baker will continue to start at tight end, but he also will be left undrafted in most formats.

OAKLAND RAIDERS
Randy Moss' departure opens the door for Jerry Porter, who switched his number from 84 to 81, to once again have some draft value. He'll be a borderline No. 3 or 4 fantasy receiver, as will Ronald Curry, who was impressive at the end of last season and is a nice sleeper candidate. Travis Taylor, Doug Gabriel and Mike Williams are also in the mix, but none is draftable in most cases. Zach Miller is considered the favorite to start at tight end and is a viable fantasy reserve, although he won't be taken in most drafts.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Donte' Stallworth's departure opens the door for Reggie Brown to be the team's new No. 1 wideout. A solid breakout candidate, Brown could be a terrific draft bargain. Kevin Curtis signed in the offseason and is expected to start opposite Brown, but he's more of a No. 4 fantasy wideout. Hank Baskett and Greg Lewis will battle for the third spot, but only the former is worth a late-round choice. L.J. Smith continues to battle back from hernia surgery and will be a viable low-end No. 1 fantasy tight end when he's at 100 percent.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Hines Ward will continue to be a prominent option for Ben Roethlisberger in the Steelers pass attack and will be a viable No. 2 fantasy wideout in the offense of new coordinator Bruce Arians. Sleeper candidate Santonio Holmes will start opposite Ward and is worth a late-round selection. Nate Washington is penciled in as the No. 3 receiver, but like veteran Cedrick Wilson he has little draft value. Heath Miller will remain the team's No. 1 tight end, but his struggles last season make him more of a late-round reserve for owners.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Keenan McCardell's release has opened the door for Vincent Jackson, who is now the team's top wide receiver and a terrific sleeper candidate for fantasy football owners. Eric Parker is the current No. 2, but he'll receive competition from rookie Craig Davis. Neither is worth more than a late-round flier in larger formats. Malcolm Floyd and Kassim Osgood are in the mix for the fourth spot, but neither has draft value. Antonio Gates will be the first tight end taken in almost all formats.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The 49ers bolstered their corps of receivers with the addition of Darrell Jackson, who can produce solid numbers but should be drafted as more of a No. 2 fantasy wideout due to his proneness to injuries. The second spot on the depth chart is a battle between Arnaz Battle and Ashley Lelie, but the former is the current favorite. Neither is worth more than a late-round choice. Rookie Jason Hill is also in the mix but has little draft value. Vernon Davis is a tremendous breakout candidate and a solid No. 1 fantasy tight end.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
The trade of Darrell Jackson improved the value of Deion Branch, who should be able to record the first 1,000-yard season of his NFL career. The move also makes D.J. Hackett a tremendous sleeper candidate and worth a middle- to late-round choice. Bobby Engram will work in the slot and Nate Burleson is in the mix as well, but neither is worth more than a late-round flier. Marcus Pollard is considered the favorite to start at tight end after Jerramy Stevens' release, but he's no more than a late-round fantasy reserve.

ST. LOUIS RAMS
Torry Holt should be back to 100 percent after an arthroscopic procedure on his knee and remains one of the more attractive wideouts in fantasy football. Veteran Isaac Bruce has lost a step and is now worth little more than a middle- to late-round choice. Drew Bennett will replace Kevin Curtis as the slot receiver and is a viable fantasy reserve. Dante Hall and Dane Looker are also in the mix but have no draft value. The Rams now have Randy McMichael, who should be drafted as a borderline No. 1 or solid No. 2 fantasy tight end.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Joey Galloway is a lock starter for head coach Jon Gruden and is a viable No. 3 fantasy wideout across the board, but there is serious competition for the second spot on the depth chart between Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall, a Notre Dame product who has been impressive in offseason workouts and could become a low-end sleeper candidate. Ike Hilliard is also in the mix but warrants little consideration. Anthony Becht, Alex Smith and Jerramy Stevens could all share the tight-end duties, but none has draft value.

TENNESSEE TITANS
With David Givens' status in serious doubt due to leg injuries, Brandon Jones appears to be the team's No. 1 wide receiver and is a viable sleeper candidate. Courtney Roby, Roydell Williams and Justin Gage will battle for the second spot on the depth chart, but none of the three is worth more than a late-round flier. Rookie Paul Williams is also in the mix, but he has no draft value at this time. Veteran Ben Troupe could be a nice late-round value pick as a No. 2 fantasy tight end, but Bo Scaife will also see time at the position.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Santana Moss experienced a serious statistical decline last season, and his fantasy value takes a similar turn downward. Once a viable No. 1 fantasy receiver, Moss is now more of a borderline No. 2 or No. 3 wideout. Brandon Lloyd, who had the worst level of production for a starting receiver in the Super Bowl era last season, has little draft value. Antwaan Randle El will remain the third receiver but has no value in most draft formats. Chris Cooley is a tremendous tight end with great hands and will remain a surefire fantasy starter.