I think its Stokley. I know, boring but I think thats the real move the chain guy here. Smith is big play or no play and everyone else is a headache. Outside of Rice, I don't see a guy I really want on my fantasy team for every week use.
Stokley is just OK. I like Brown and took him at 19.12, so not exactly jumping out on a limb. He really did look good last week, better than everyone else. I didn't even realize he was a rookie until after the game.
There is a lot of Thompkins hype, but unlike Thompkins, there really isn't much standing in the way of Marlon. Not saying he will put up WR1 stats at all, but there is no Pitta/Boldin this year and Torrey Smith doesn't exactly make me quake in my boots. Thompkins may in fact be better, but he is getting drafted as a WR3/4. Brown was my 7th WR.
Wait... who is standing in Thompkins way? Being completely honest... he's the clear cut #2 in NE right now. Amendola is a good bet to play less than a full season and Gronk will miss at least the first couple of games. Between the two of them we're probably talking like... 4-8 games during this season where Thompkins will be the #2 target on the field. I'm honestly thinking he out produces what Lloyd did last season.
I feel like Moore has more (no pun intended) standing in his way right now to be honest. Because unlike Thompkins he doesn't have the coaching staff ranting and raving and putting him at #2 on the depth chart... YET. He has to still beat out Stokley and Jones; which isn't a hard task. But still, we have to temper expectations whether or not Harbaugh and crew are willing to give the kid a shot as the #2. They may prefer the trusty veteran over the uncertain rook. We'll need to wait and see, he's not a bad buy and hold right now (especially in dynasty) but don't let this hype train get to out of control. He had 3 good catches in one preseason game.
We will just disagree then. Amendola practiced yesterday. I know people like to label him as going to miss some games, but before the last two years, he played 14 and 16 games for the Rams, so maybe they were fluke injuries. All I know is that he is healthy now and is the WR1. In the second preseason game Amendola looked great and absolutely was Brady's favorite. Thompkins was 1-3 in the same game that Amendola had 6-71-1TD. When Gronk is healthy, he will outproduce Thompkins, period. So, other than a few games which we know Gronk will miss, Thompkins will be behind Amendola and Gronk. What about Vereen and Sudfeld? Before last week when Vereen was benched, Amendola didn't play and Gronk didn't play, all four of the guys I mentioned were clear favorites over Thompkins. To me, that is a lot more than Brown has in front of him.
That said, I am not saying that Brown will out do Thompkins, because the Ravens passing game is not the Patriots. I am just saying that in 2012, Torrey Smith had 49 receptions, Jacoby Jones had 30 receptions and Ed Dickson had 21 receptions. I don't see anything there that looks like much in front of Brown, including Stokely. I don't know if Brown will do much, but his value as a potential guy is fantastic. I had read the articles about how unlike Thompkins, he was a highly touted prospect (have to be to go to Georgia), so like countless others, maybe he wasn't used well in college.
Anyway, they both could end up being solid players or crap, but I think I would rather pick Brown with my 19th rounder than Thompkins with my 8th. I look at Smith, Stokely, Jones and Dickson and think, hey there is a chance that Brown, if he plays like he did every week, could in fact break out and be the #1 WR or TE on the Ravens FF-wise. I don't think there is any chance, barring injury that Thompkins will do the same.