Who’s the Best WR in the NFL?
Contents
We’re taking a look at the best wide receivers in the NFL today. These are the players that are making a huge impact on the game and who always seem to be open. Who’s your favorite?
Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown is one of the most talented wide receivers in the NFL. He has great hands, runs precise routes, and has the speed to take the top off of a defense. He’s also a dangerous punt returner, and is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. In addition to his on-field talents, Antonio Brown is also a dynamic personality, and is one of the most popular players in the league.
Brown’s dominance in the league
There’s no doubt that Antonio Brown is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time First-team All-Pro. In his seven seasons in the league, he’s racked up over 11,000 yards and 75 touchdowns. He’s also been extremely durable, missing just four games in his career.
Brown has had some great quarterback play during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he’s also been productive with lesser quarterbacks. In 2013, he had 1,499 yards and eight touchdowns with Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon throwing him the ball. He’s proven time and time again that he can produce regardless of who is throwing him the ball.
The only knock on Brown is that he’s not a very good blocker. But when you’re as good as he is at catching the ball, it really doesn’t matter.
Brown’s production
Since being drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Brown has emerged as one of the league’s top receivers. He has eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in six of his eight seasons, including a career-high 1,533 yards in 2014. He has also found the end zone at least eight times in five different seasons and has caught 85 or more passes in five straight years.
Julio Jones
Julio Jones is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He is a big playmaker and has great hands. Julio can run good routes and has a great work ethic.
Jones’ dominance in the league
Jones has been one of the most productive and dominant wide receivers in the NFL over the past decade. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and a five-time First-Team All-Pro. Jones has led the league in receiving yards three times and is second all-time in receiving yards per game. He is also tied for the most 100-yard receiving games in NFL history.
Jones’ production
In his nine NFL seasons, Jones has eclipsed 1,400 receiving yards six times, including each of the last five years. He’s caught at least 83 passes and scored six touchdowns in every season except his injury-shortened 2012 campaign. He’s averaged 96 catches for 1,430 yards and six touchdowns per 16 games played. Among receivers with at least 80 games played since 2011, only Antonio Brown has more catches (601 to 599), while only Brown and Josh Gordon have more receiving yards (8,377 to 8,174) than Jones.
Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. is undoubtedly the best wide receiver in the NFL today. His catch radius is second to none, and his ability to create separation is unrivaled. Beckham also has great hands, and is able to contort his body to make the toughest catches. His career stats speak for themselves, and there is no doubt that he is the best receiver in the league.
Beckham’s dominance in the league
Odell Beckham Jr. is widely considered to be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and has been dominant since he was drafted by the Giants in 2014. He has amassed over 5,000 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns in his career, and was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2016. Beckham is known for his incredible catches, many of which have been featured on highlight reels. He is also a gifted athlete, and has shown himself to be a dangerous threat on special teams and as a punt returner. In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Beckham has also been recognized for his work off the field, including his charity work with children’s hospitals.
Beckham’s production
In his first three seasons, Beckham amassed 4,122 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging over 1,400 yards per season. His reception and yardage totals increased each year, culminating in a career-best 1,450 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016. Beckham’s catch rate of 58.8 percent was the lowest of his career in 2016; he had caught 64 percent of his targets in each of his first two seasons.
In 2017, Beckham played in only four games due to a season-ending ankle injury suffered in Week 5. He recorded 25 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns in those four games.
A.J. Green
A.J. Green is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He has been to the Pro Bowl five times and was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2014. He has led the NFL in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Green’s dominance in the league
In his eight NFL seasons, A.J. Green has been one of the most consistent and productive wide receivers in the league. He has amassed over 8,900 yards and 63 touchdowns in 119 career games, and his 18.8 yards per reception average is the fifth highest in NFL history.
Green has been selected to six Pro Bowls, and was named a first-team All-Pro in 2012. He is one of only six wide receivers in NFL history to have at least 800 receptions and 11,000 receiving yards in their first eight seasons.
In 2017, Green had a down year by his standards, catching just 964 yards and securing 8 touchdowns; however, he still managed to lead the Bengals in receiving yardage.
Green’s production
In his eight NFL seasons, Green has been one of the most productive and reliable wide receivers in the league, hauling in six 1,000-plus yard seasons, including a career-high 1,350 yards in 2012. He’s also averaging a healthy 13.8 yards per reception for his career.
Green has shown an uncanny ability to make the big play throughout his career. He’s racked up 51 receptions of 40 or more yards, including 11 of 50 or more yards. In fact, Green’s 11 50-plus yard catches are tied for the most in NFL history through a player’s first eight seasons.
