My top ten wide receivers in the NFL right now!
This may get some people mad!
Everyone talks about the best quarterbacks in the National Football League. But I think the best wide receivers is also so debatable. There is a receiver on my list that I have #7 and I think he could rank in the top three and I wouldn’t be mad at you! That’s how competitive ranking wide receivers is. But now with the season around the corner, I thought it would be right to rank the top ten wide receivers in the NFL!
***When I am making my 2022 projection, it is for an entire 17 game season or if a player is hurt or suspended, the amount of games I think they’ll play***
Honorable Mentions:
AJ Brown
Keenan Allen
CeeDee Lamb
DK Metcalf
Tyler Lockett
Tee Higgins
Mike Williams
10. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders, 130 tgt, 77 rec, 1053 yards, 5 TD
McLaurin is an interesting player to rank. Because he doesn’t put up the same stats as other guys that could have been here like A.J. Brown or Keenan Allen. However, he is also one of the best elusive, athletic, good cutting receivers in the league. His combination of speed and strength makes him a force to be reckoned with. Now with Carson Wentz at quarterback instead of Taylor Heinicke, McLaurin will have more receptions and more yards because of a better catch %, that will improve mainly due to the fact that they now have Jahan Dotson. McLaurin is a monster, even if the stats don’t show it!
Awards: Pro Bowl
2022 projection: 125 tgt, 83 rec, 1245 yards, 4 TD | Next season rank prediction: 9-12
9. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers, 121 tgt, 77 rec, 1405 yards, 6 TD
Samuel is an unbelievable receiver. His ability to catch the ball five yards ahead of the line of scrimmage and then turn it into a 15 yard gain is a skill only few players have. And there is only one or two other players in the NFL that can do that at the same level of Samuel. He led the NFL in yards per reception last season as a reward, as well as a 1st All Pro appearance. Now that his contract situation is figured out, we are going to see Samuel’s greatness again this season. However, because an inexperienced Trey Lance will throw some “meh” throws, his target-reception ratio will drop and so will his yards since they will run the ball more. But Samuel’s greatest attribute really won’t change!
Awards: Pro Bowl
2022 projection: 114 tgt, 65 rec, 1073 yards, 5 TD | Next season rank prediction: 9-15
8. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 114 tgt, 74 rec, 1035 yards, 14 TD
Evans is the most under appreciated receiver in the NFL. His combination of strength, route running, speed and agility makes him durable and prolific. That is the reason why he’s had 1,000+ receiving yards in every single season of his career. And he’s played eight seasons! Other players that have/had a similar skill set like Julio Jones and DeAndre Hopkins have suffered injuries. But Evans’ durability is unbelievable, and is why hen ranks 3rd in receiving yards since he entered the league behind those two players. And his ability to make catches 1on1 is insane! That is a reason for his 14 receiving touchdowns this season. With Chris Godwin and Julio Jones, Evans won’t get as many receiving yards as his fellow top receivers. But he will crack the 1,000 yard mark as he always does, and will continue to be the most consistent and durable receiver in the league!
Awards: Pro Bowl, 2nd team All Pro
2022 projection: 117 tgt, 78 rec, 1131 yards, 13 TD | Next season rank prediction: 6-10
7. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins, 159 tgt, 111 rec, 1239 yards, 9 TD
I know this may seem low for a 2x All Pro 1st team receiver but hear me out. I think, as good as he is, his style of play doesn’t put him higher among other wide receivers. Hill is a tremendous player however. Hill, since entering the league in 2016, has made the Pro Bowl in every single year of his career (2016 because of returning, not receiving). He is elusive and is faster than anyone else in the game. However, his rout running and strength is slightly a tad worse than the six guys above him. But there is something be said about the success he has had. However, I think it will be hard for him to get very great stats with Tua Tagovailoa at starting quarterback, even if he thinks he’s more accurate than Patrick Mahomes 🤣🤣🤣! I think this will be Hill’s first season starting 13 or more games and not cracking the 1,000 yard mark. Hill is great, but not as great as the six above him!
Awards: N/A
2022 projection: 124 tgt, 85 rec, 915 yards, 8 TD | Next season rank prediction: 9-14
6. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills, 164 tgt, 103 rec, 1225 yards, 10 TD
Stefon Diggs is one of the best route runners in the NFL. Combine that with his strength and 1on1 abilities and you’ve got yourself one of the best wide receivers in the National Football League. Despite only having two Pro Bowl appearances (2020 and 2021), he has been one of the best wide receivers in the NFL since he joined the league in 2015, including four straight 1,000+ yard receiving seasons. He has the 6th most receiving yards in the NFL since he entered the league and with Josh Allen throwing him the ball, nothing will change. Diggs will continue to dominate like he has for a very long time!
Awards: Pro Bowl
2022 projection: 158 tgt, 108 rec, 1231 yards, 7 TD | Next season rank prediction: 4-9
5. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals, 64 tgt, 42 rec, 572 yards, 8 TD (10 games)
Hopkins had one of his worst seasons of his career last year, even if he was healthy. He would have been on pace for under 1,000 yards (972) for the first time since 2016. However, that doesn’t deny what DeAndre Hopkins can do on a football field. We need to take into account that Arizona was running the football a lot as well, a reason for his dramatic 400 yard drop off if he was healthy. He is a route running machine, who’s stronger 1on1 than anyone else in the league. He is 2nd in receiving yards and 4th in receiving touchdowns since he entered the league in 2013. With a more improved Kyler Murray, Hopkins should play well…in the maximum 11 games he will play due to a suspension! So he won’t cross the 1,000 yard mark again this season (unless he turns into prime Calvin Johnson) but will probably be on pace to do it!
Awards: N/A
2022 projection: 75 tgt, 53 rec, 770 yards, 7 TD | Next season rank prediction: 6-13
4. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals, 128 tgt, 81 rec, 1455 yards, 13 TD
Is there anything not to like about Ja’Marr Chase??!! He’s an incredible route runner, he’s athletic, elusive, fast and strong for a rookie. Chase accumulated the 2nd most yards per reception in the NFL with 18 as well as a Pro Bowl appearance. Again, he was a rookie last season. The fact that Chase was able to do what he did with Tee Higgins, Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd in the same offense is unbelievable. And he is top cornerbacks #1 priority when playing Cincinnati, which opens up the rest of the offense. He had the most receiving yards for a rookie ever in a season in modern NFL history, 2nd all time behind Bill Groman in 1960! Now that he’ll have Joe Burrow again and one more year of development, he will continue to be one of the most dominant receivers in the National Football League!
Awards: Pro Bowl, 2nd team All Pro
2022 projection: 134 tgt, 87 rec, 1435 yards, 11 TD | Next season rank prediction: 2-4
3. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings, 167 tgt, 108 rec, 1616 yards, 10 TD
Justin Jefferson is one of the most likable football players from a playing perspective. First of all, he is now the face of the griddy dance and watching him do that over and over again is always fun. Second of all, he’s only 23 years old and has accumulated over 3,000 receiving yards and over 15 touchdowns in just two seasons. He had the 3rd most receiving yards in a season for a rookie in 2020 and progressed in 2021 up to 1,616 yards. He has the most receiving yards in the NFL since he entered the league in 2020, and that’s against Davante Adams and a 1,900 yard receiving Cooper Kupp! He’s fast, quick, athletic, strong and incredible 1on1. He’s great on the deep ball and gives all cornerbacks trouble. If someone put JJ at #1 I would completely understand them. That is how close these receivers are. There’s nothing not to like about JJ as a football player, and as a dancer too!
Awards: 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, 3rd most receiving yards in a season of all time, Pro Bowl, 1st team All Pro, 4th in MVP voting
2022 projection: 175 tgt, 115 rec, 1897 yards, 15 TD | Next season rank prediction: 1
2. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders, 169 tgt, 123 rec, 1553 yards, 11 TD
Davante Adams is one of those players who has consistently been considered one of the best wide receivers in the NFL for a while now. He has the most receiving yards in the NFL since 2018, as well as becoming the touchdown and yards per game leader in 2020. This season he got even better. His route running, strength, red zone catching, 1on1 abilities and his consistency more importantly will make him one of the best wide receivers in the league for many more years to come. Will he have the same success without Aaron Rodgers is everyone’s question. But everyone forgets that he elevates his quarterback and will do the same for Derek Carr. Adams, as always, will be one of the NFL’s top wide receivers!
Awards: Pro Bowl, 1st All Pro
2022 projection: 147 tgt, 117 rec, 1598 yards, 8 TD | Next season rank prediction: 2-7
1. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams, 191 tgt, 145 rec, 1947 yards, 16 TD
Cooper Kupp is the clear cut, best wide receiver in football! Before we get into why he’s so good, let’s break down what he accomplished last season. He won the Offensive Player of the Year, triple crown (rec, yards, td), was the receiving yards per game leader, won a Super Bowl, Super Bowl MVP, made thePro Bowl and All Pro 1st team and had the 2nd most receiving yards ever in a season! Not to mention he finished 3rd in MVP voting. His elusiveness, route running, speed and deep ball combination makes him so dangerous to play. His yards after the catch is unbelievable! And this, while being clearly his best season, wasn’t just his only good year. He leads the NFL in receiving yards since 2019! He may not hold this title next season, but he clearly holds it in 2022!
Awards: Pro Bowl, 1st team All Pro
2022 projection: 168 tgt, 118 rec, 1456 yards, 13 TD | Next season rank prediction: 2-5
Players that have to potential to be here next season (not included in “Honorable Mentions”):
Rashod Bateman
Jameson Williams
Garrett Wilson
Michael Pittman Jr.
Michael Thomas
D.J. Moore
My top 10 prediction at the end of next season
Justin Jefferson
Davante Adams
Cooper Kupp
Ja’Marr Chase
Stefon Diggs
Mike Evans
Jameson Williams
Deebo Samuel
CeeDee Lamb
Rashod Bateman (if the Ravens throw the ball enough, he’ll probably get 1200 yards and 5 touchdowns)
WR rankings are so competitive. Cooper Kupp stands on top for now, until he’ll hand over the torch to Justin Jefferson in 2022! I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for quarterback and running back rankings!
You still think Adams will be this high with Carr as his qb?