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- Dante Pettis Sr. Washington
Pettis was overshadowed by John Ross in 2016, but he put up monster numbers as a junior and returns as Jake Browning’s number one target. It will be hard to match the 16 touchdowns he scored in 2016, but he has the chance to do it.
2. Shay Fields Sr. Colorado
Fields was Colorado’s top target in 2016 and a big reason why their offense blew up. He had more than 50 catches for 883 yards and nine touchdowns. I think he can crack the 1,000-yard mark and 10-touchdown mark.
3. Tavares Martin Jr. Jr. Washington State
Martin had 64 catches for 728 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016 and should see those targets go up with Gabe Marks and River Cracraft graduating. He is a rangy athlete who Luke Falk will assuredly connect with for a lot of big plays in 2017.
4. Demetris Robertson So. Cal
People overlooked Robertson in 2016 because of Chad Hansen and Cal’s struggles, but he had a huge freshman season with 50 catches, 767 yards and seven touchdowns. He will have to work with a new quarterback and not in the Bear Raid in 2017, but he has shown the skills to be one of the Pac-12’s best receivers thus far.
5. Deontay Burnett Jr. USC
He will be Sam Darnold’s top target with Smith-Schuster gone to the NFL and Darreus Rogers graduated. He has good size and speed and could test the 1,000-yard and 10-touchdown marks.
6. Devin Ross Sr. Colorado
Ross isn’t the big play receiver Fields is, but he had a very big 2016 and is poised for a bigger 2017. He should build on the 69 catches, 787 yards and five touchdowns he had in 2016.
7. N’Keal Harry So. Arizona State
The 6’4 220 Harry is probably the best athlete on this list and poised for huge things. He could be the next JuJu Smith-Schuster after putting up 58 catches for 659 yards and five scores in 2016.
8. Darren Andrews Sr. UCLA
Andrews had more than 50 receptions for more than 700 yards and four scores last year with UCLA’s quarterback injury issues. Expect big things from him with a healthy Josh Rosen.
9. Darren Carrington II Sr. Oregon
I thought Carrington was ready for a massive 2016, but Oregon’s overall issues seemed to slow him down. He could have left for the NFL, but is back for another season and easily could end up at the top of this list come December.
10. Jordan Lasley Jr. UCLA
A big play receiver with great size who ended 2016 with 620 yards and five touchdowns. Another player who should really benefit from a healthy Josh Rosen.
11. Chico McClatcher Jr. Washington
He had nearly 600 yards receiving and more than 100 rushing and scored six touchdowns while sharing targets with John Ross and Dante Pettis. He should see a lot more with Ross off to the NFL.
12. Charles Nelson Sr. Oregon
Yet another Oregon player whose production suffered in Oregon’s debacle of a 2016 season. He is as-explosive of a player as there is in the conference and could be a Top 5 receiver by the end of the season.