Fantasy football roundtable: Wide receiver edition

​Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the wide receiver position going into the 2016 NFL fantasy draft season, courtesy theScore's team of fantasy experts (▲: player is trending upward; ▼: player is trending downward):

Which receiver has the best chance of unseating Antonio Brown for overall WR1 honors?

Bisson: I'm going with Dez Bryant. Cowboys offensive coordinator loves feeding his No. 1 receiver, and Bryant is one of the top red-zone targets in football when healthy. He should see in excess of 160 targets if he stays healthy, and his touchdown upside is unparalleled. It's a long shot that anyone will upend Brown, but Bryant has as good a shot as anyone.

McLaren: Julio Jones is the only receiver capable of unseating Brown. The two shared the league lead with 136 receptions last season and Jones picked up 40 more yards. Thanks to the Falcons' dismal red zone offense, Jones scored two fewer touchdowns. Improved play from QB Matt Ryan and the offensive line should allow Jones to reach his true statistical upside.

Conrad: If he can stay healthy, it's Jones; despite seeming to be perpetually banged up, he has missed just one game over the last two seasons. Even if Jones can't match 2015's 136 catches and 1,871 yards, an uptick on his eight TDs would certainly help his value.

Chernish: In just two years, Odell Beckham Jr. has flashed exceptional athleticism to go with lightning quick speed en route to becoming one of the most lethal deep-ball recievers. He has quickly become QB Eli Manning's favorite target and, despite not being known as a red-zone threat, had 14 TDs and 1,450 yards on 96 receptions. He has the tools to surpass Brown.

How will Kelvin Benjamin fare in his return from injury?

Bisson: Prior to 2015, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton had targeted his No. 1 wide receiver an average of 129 times per season. That's topped by Benjamin's 145 targets as a rookie. With Benjamin fully recovered from last year's knee injury and little competition behind him, don't be surprised to see him exceed 100 catches and 1,200 yards. He's a borderline WR1.

McLaren: Benjamin will be a top-15 receiver. TE Greg Olsen was the only Panthers pass-catcher to eclipse 1,000 yards in 2015, while four wide receivers had at least 400 yards. Benjamin - who totaled 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie - is more capable than Ted Ginn Jr. and Jerricho Cotchery, and he'll immediately re-assume the majority of their looks.

Conrad: When Benjamin put up a 73-1,008-9 receiving line in 2014, he was a big fish in a small receiving pond, as Olsen was his only real competition for targets. With Olsen, Devin Funchess, Ginn Jr. and former Jet Stephen Hill all in the mix, there are a lot more mouths to feed, possibly making Benjamin a fantasy disappointment if drafted too early.

Chernish: The fact Newton was a fantasy juggernaut without Benjamin is scary. Benjamin will be welcomed by Newton and coach Ron Rivera with open arms, but don't reach for him. He is a pure red-zone threat more than capable of posting 15-plus TDs but could fail to eclipse 1,000 yards. He's a high-risk, high-reward pick, but there are worse plays as a No. 2 or No. 3 option.

What is the best plan of attack for addressing the position in standard 10- or 12-team leagues?

Bisson: Lean heavily on wide receivers as the foundation of your fantasy team, particularly in PPR formats. Never before has the position carried such huge scoring potential, with solid value available in every round. If you're drafting early in Round 1, nab one of Brown, Jones or Odell Beckham. If you're selecting late, you can still land A.J. Green or Bryant.

McLaren: Take receivers early and often. Then, when all the sure-fire options are gone, load up on late-round lottery tickets. Owners should fill the vast majority of their bench spots with receivers in order to maximize the chances of hitting on an extra top performer.

Conrad: Take the best player available at your early-round draft spot, whether it's a running back or receiver. Even without a Brown, Beckham or Jones on a fantasy roster, viable options can easily be found in the mid-to-late rounds, as receiver production is easier to predict.

Chernish: Have a variety of WRs such as deep threats and possession receivers. Don't draft a WR because he's the best available. You can draft an RB early and draft Cooper, Mike Evans and/or Allen, each of whom has 1,000-yard upside. Pair them with elusive options John Brown, Hurns or DeSean Jackson. They can be found in the middle rounds.

What is your bold WR prediction for 2016?

Bisson: Even bolder than Bryant possibly being the No. 1 receiver in fantasy? Okay, here goes: Torrey Smith will finish in the top-15 in fantasy scoring among wide receivers. Chip Kelly won't hesitate to sling the ball a ton once the 49ers fall behind (which should happen a lot), and Smith remains their most capable pass-catcher. Look for a big season from him.

McLaren: Jordy Nelson and T.Y. Hilton will each finish in the top-five at the position. Nelson missed the entirety and Hilton had to play without QB Andrew Luck for most of 2015, but they finished third and 12th, respectively, in standard-scoring leagues in 2014. They have two of the pass-happiest quarterbacks in the league and their respective teams have questions around the running game.

Conrad: DeAndre Hopkins will finish outside the top-10 among receivers. While his production won't fall off a cliff, he shouldn't see quite the same volume of targets with newly-signed RB Lamar Miller around to carry more of the offensive load.

Chernish: Sammy Watkins will be a top-10 fantasy WR. With aging LeSean McCoy in the backfield, the Bills are likely to sling the ball around the field a bit more, and the first look will be the Bills' most terrifying WR in Watkins. He broke the 1,000-yard plateau last season playing in only 13 games and was one touchdown shy of 10. An 80-1,500-10 receiving line can't be ruled out.