Buy or Sell: Emmanuel Sanders

Emmanuel Sanders hadn’t had more than 44 catches in a season before Mike Wallace left Pittsburgh for Miami in 2013. Sanders spent his last season in the Steel City getting more playing time than ever and he rewarded the team with 67 catches, 740 yards and six scores.

Now Sanders has moved on to Denver where he’ll be catching passes from Peyton Manning. Will his numbers continue to skyrocket as he takes on the role previously held by Eric Decker? Or did his final year with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh expose Sanders’ ceiling?

Emmanuel Sanders
ADP: 85.6
WR: 32

Buy: Andy

Peyton Manning has thrown 92 touchdowns in two seasons since moving from Indianapolis to Denver. A record-setting 55 of those came last season when four receivers — Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker and TE Julius Thomas — each hit double-digits.

The previous year Manning’s paltry 37 scoring throws only produced two double-digit TD scoring receivers. That season Brandon Stokley was Manning’s WR3. Only once in a very solid 15-year career did Stokley eclipse the numbers Sanders put up last year in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger is a very good QB, but he’s no Manning.

Sanders heads to Denver ostensibly as the WR3 replacing Eric Decker, who had 87 catches, 1,288 yards and 11 scores. Sanders won’t get all of those — both Demaryius and Julius Thomas are young studs hitting their strides who will get a piece of that action. But I also think you can make an argument that Sanders might start to take some stats away from Welker, who is aging and coming off of a season in which he suffered a couple concussions. Nearly three dozen receivers are going into situations that good? I don’t think so. If he’s available in the ninth round in my 10 team leagues he won’t be once my selection comes up. And I’d take him at least a couple rounds earlier if the right circumstances arise.

Sell: Anthony

Emmanuel Sanders is currently the 32nd WR taken on average, and I’ve got him ranked 34th, so I guess I’m selling him. Tough to do considering he’s going to a record-setting offense and replacing a guy who caught 172 passes and 24 touchdowns the last two seasons.

And frankly, when you’re that far down the list of guys at any position, it’s time to start reaching for guys you like. So if you like Sanders enough to go 32 or higher on him, by all means, do so. I don’t have Sanders ranked any higher because I don’t think he’s as talented as Decker, and Peyton Manning is more comfortable with his other targets.

Demaryius Thomas is becoming a superstar, and I expect an even better season from him in 2014 than he had last year. Same goes for Julius Thomas. Wes Welker certainly will get his, and Andre Caldwell even returns after a couple spotlight-stealing performances last year from the end of the bench. I think Sanders ultimately has a couple of big games, but when the dust settles he’s a low-end WR3 in 12-team leagues. He wouldn’t be the first guy Manning turned into a superstar, though, so like I said, if that allure is too much for you to pass up, then go ahead and ignore me. Just remember that Sanders’ “breakout” season last year was 67-740-6, and the Steelers were plenty comfortable replacing him with the unproven Markus Wheaton this offseason.

Emmanuel Sanders ...

Probably is ranked about right as a 9th round pick. (50%, 4 Votes)
Is going to skyrocket his career under Peyton Manning. (38%, 3 Votes)
Has never accomplished anything to warrant being as high as WR 34. (13%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 8