In the past the wide receiver role was one to avoid when looking at youth.  Always go with the sure thing as solid receivers seem to change little year-to-year.  Young receivers take too long to adapt to the game, and come along so slowly that you can easily pick them out a year or two before they really emerge.  Well, the past few seasons that trend has really been put to the test, as each year a number of wide receivers emerge with serious fantasy impact.  Here are a number of young wide receivers, who had impact games, but not an impact season in 2006/ 2007:

Greg Jennings/ Green Bay - Came out in 2006 on fire in the preseason and carried that over to the first few games of the regular season.  Then he hurt his ankle, and though he flashed some great plays as the season went on, never really got himself going again.  If Jennings is healthy this season (currently fighting some early camp soreness) watch for him to emerge as the deep threat in the Green Bay offense.  Driver will clearly remain Favres favorite target, but Jennings height and hands will still draw him plenty of attention in the offense…. IF, he can stay on the field.

Mark Clayton/ Ravens - Clayton is on many sleeper lists and moving up receiver fantasy rankings lists.  He has been working out this offseason, and added weight to help him break tackles after the catch, but at the end of the day his speed and ability to run accurate routes has made him improve so quickly.  Became a favorite target of McNairs as the previous season wore on, which should only continue to improve this year, as Mason begins to take a back seat.  Clayton should have 80+ receptions this year with more red zone targets.

Braylon Edwards/ Browns - Only thing holding this kid back from being an elite receiver is inconsistent QB play, and his competitivness which gets him in trouble.  The Browns need to find somebody who can deliver the ball and then we would not hear about Edwards rants and concerns.  Edwards has great speed and can go up and over defenders to get the ball.  In his third year now (of which teh majority of his rookie season was lost to injury), and should be ready to take another big step  in development this year putting him in the top 15 of wide receivers.

Santonio Holmes/ Steelers - Holmes is currently listed as WR2 on Pitt depth charts.  In the past, this still wouldn’t be that big a plus in the Steeler offense, which throws the ball seldom and when they do it is most often to Hines Ward.  Well in 2007, a new coach is forcing the ball to the air much more suddenly making Steeler receivers valuable in fantasy circles again.   In limited play in 2006, Holmes managed 49 receptions (on some big plays), so look for that to improve as both the offense and Big Ben have more opportunity to create and throw the ball.

Vincent Jackson & Craig Davis/ Chargers - Two wide receivers from the same team?  Well Jackson is on almost every sleeper list available as he completely torched defenses over the final few weeks of last season.  It did not go unnoticed.  But a recent injury in Charger camp has left Eric Parker sidelined which will have impact on both Jackson and rookie receiver Craig Davis.  While Davis (also coming off of an injury) has an opportunity to take over Parker’s role and make a name for himself (thus driving up his value), Jackson (even though he is now the clear number one) no longer has as much help on the other side of the field.  Defenses would be much more focused on Parker than they will now be on Davis, so watch for Jackson to see more pressure as he try to get open.  He may struggle more than most expect early in the season as he adjusts.