Who's the Best Wide Receiver in the NFL?

Contents

Introduction
A Look at the Numbers
The Case for Julio Jones
The Case for DeAndre Hopkins
The Case for Michael Thomas
The Case for Davante Adams
The Case for Tyreek Hill
Conclusion

The answer to this question may be hotly debated among NFL fans, but there are a few wide receivers who stand out above the rest. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best wide receivers in the NFL and what makes them so great.

Introduction

In the National Football League, there are a lot of great wide receivers. It’s hard to narrow it down to just one, but if we had to, we would say that the best wide receiver in the NFL is Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Brown has been one of the most consistent wide receivers in the NFL over the last few years, and he has shown that he can be a big playmaker for his team. In addition to his great hands and route running ability, Brown also has great speed and agility, which allows him to create separation from defenders and make big plays.

A Look at the Numbers

When it comes to wide receivers, there are a lot of great players in the NFL. But who is the best? To answer that question, we need to take a look at the numbers.

Receptions

In the National Football League (NFL), a reception is generally awarded to a player who catches a forward pass thrown from behind the line of scrimmage, provided that player is eligible to receive passes. A reception does not necessarily mean that the receiver gained yardage after making the catch; high-yardage gainers are often caught short of the line to gain and went down immediately upon catching the ball.

The leading receivers of all time by receptions are Tate, Jones, Sharpe, Harrison, Anderson, Welker, Rice, Fitzgerald, Moss and Carter. The most prolific season in history by a receiver in terms of receptions is 143 by Marvin Harrison in 2002. Jerry Rice holds the record for most consecutive seasons with 50 or more receptions, doing so in eight seasons from 1986 to 1993. Reggie Wayne posted nine straight seasons with 60 or more catches from 2002 to 2010 while Larry Fitzgerald did it from 2004 through 2012. Among tight ends, Shannon Sharpe posted eight consecutive seasons with 60 or more catches from 1994 to 2001.

Incomplete passes and behind-the-line-of-scrimmage lateral passes do not count as receptions; however, any legal catch may be awarded a reception yardage statistic (e.g., an eight-yard pass may be caught behind the line but it will still be worth eight yards).

Yards

Yards is probably the most important stat for a wide receiver. After all, the more yards they can rack up, the more likely it is that their team will score. However, it’s worth noting that not all yards are created equal. A receiver who picks up a bunch of yards on short passes isn’t as valuable as one who consistently catches long passes for touchdowns.

Touchdowns

In the NFL, the wide receiver position is one of the most important on the field. Wide receivers are often the team’s best offensive weapon, and they are responsible for catching passes and scoring touchdowns.

Touchdowns are the most important stat for wide receivers, and they are a good way to compare receivers. The following table shows the top 10 wide receivers in terms of touchdowns over the past three seasons.

The Case for Julio Jones

In recent years, Julio Jones has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He has incredible speed and agility, making him a tough matchup for any defensive back. Jones also has great hands and is able to make contested catches. In addition, he is a good route runner and has developed a good rapport with Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.

The Case for DeAndre Hopkins

In a league increasingly defined by dynamic duos at the wide receiver position, Houston Texans star DeAndre Hopkins has emerged as arguably the best individual pass-catcher in the NFL.

During his six-year career, Hopkins has been remarkably consistent, catching at least 74 passes for 1,002 yards and seven touchdowns in each of the last four seasons. He’s eclipsed 1,200 yards receiving three times and topped double-digit touchdowns twice.

What separates Hopkins from other top receivers is his ability to produce in spite of subpar quarterback play. In 2017, he caught 96 passes for 1,378 yards and 13 touchdowns while working with a rotation of quarterbacks that included Tom Savage and T.J. Yates.

In 2018, he again eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark despite playing with rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson for just seven games. Even when Watson was sidelined with a knee injury late in the year, Hopkins still managed to put up big numbers, catching five passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in a Week 17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hopkins has also shown an incredible ability to make contested catches, using his 6’1″, 212-pound frame to box out defenders and come down with tough catches in traffic. His highlight reel is filled with impressive one-handed grabs and toe-tapping sideline receptions.

Simply put, there are few players in the NFL more productive or more reliable than DeAndre Hopkins, which is why he’s widely considered to be one of the best wide receivers in the game today.

The Case for Michael Thomas

Since being drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Michael Thomas has been one of the most productive wide receivers in the league. In his four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Thomas has averaged 91 catches for 1,141 yards and 7 touchdowns per season. He has also been exceptionally reliable, catching 85% of the passes thrown his way.

In 2019, Thomas had an incredible season, setting new NFL records for catches (149) and receiving yards (1,725) while also catching 9 touchdown passes. He was named First Team All-Pro and was voted as the Offensive Player of the Year by his peers.

There is no doubt that Michael Thomas is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL today. He is a big playmaker with great hands and he has proven to be extremely durable, playing in all 16 games in each of his four NFL seasons. If he can keep up this level of production, there is no reason why he can’t be considered one of the greatest wide receivers of all time.

The Case for Davante Adams

Davante Adams is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He is tall, athletic, and has great hands. He also has a great ability to run after the catch. In addition, he is a very good route runner.

Adams was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Fresno State.

Adams was named to the Pro Bowl in 2016 and 2017. He was also named second-team All-Pro in 2016 and 2017.

In 2018, Adams caught 111 passes for 1,386 yards and 13 touchdowns. He led the NFL in touchdown receptions. Adams was named first-team All-Pro for his performance in 2018.

Adams is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL because of his greathands, ability to run after the catch, and route running ability.

The Case for Tyreek Hill

Tyreek Hill is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the NFL. His speed is otherworldly, and he has the ability to take the top off of a defense at any time. He’s also a threat to score anytime he touches the ball, whether it’s on a reception, a run, or a return. He’s one of the most dangerous weapons in the league, and there’s a case to be made that he’s the best wide receiver in the NFL.

Conclusion

After much consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the best wide receiver in the NFL is Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions. While there are many talented receivers in the league, Johnson has proven time and again that he is one of the best, if not the best, receiver in the game today.

Some of the things that make Calvin Johnson such a great receiver are his size, speed, and athleticism. At 6’5″, Johnson is one of the tallest receivers in the NFL, and his size gives him a big advantage over most defenders. He is also one of the fastest receivers in the league, and his athleticism allows him to make catches that other receivers simply cannot make.

In addition to his physical gifts, Johnson is also an excellent route runner with great hands. He has a knack for finding open space in defenses, and he consistently makes tough catches look easy. He is also a very good blocker, which is something that is often overlooked in receivers.

While there are many great receivers in the NFL today, I believe that Calvin Johnson is the best. He has all of the physical tools that you look for in a receiver, and he has proven time and again that he is one of the best at his position.

Who’s the Best Wide Receiver in the NFL?

Introduction