We’re ranking the top 10 players at each position in the NFL this offseason. Patrick Mahomes took the No. 1 spot for our quarterback rankings and Panthers star Christian McCaffrey came in at No. 3 for running backs. Now, let’s turn our attention to the wide receiver position. Here’s the 10 best in the league right now, beginning with a few names who just missed the cut.
Honorable mentions
T.Y. Hilton: A few years ago, Hilton was easily a top-five receiver. This year, he posted 76 receptions for 1,270 yards and six touchdowns. As Andrew Luck continues to regain his footing as an elite quarterback, Hilton should return to his 2016 levels of dominance.
Stefon Diggs: The ying to Adam Thielen’s yang, Diggs is a technician for Minnesota. The 25 year old has surpassed all expectations and established himself as a well above-average receiver that any NFL team would be glad to have. His 102 receptions for 1,021 yards and nine touchdowns were perhaps the quietest of the 2018 season. Diggs would be a deserving No. 1 guy for most offenses.
Davante Adams: Adams has finally leveled up and become Aaron Rodgers’ top guy in Green Bay. His 1,386 yards were the most for the Packers since Jordy Nelson’s 1,213 back in 2013. In a rejuvenated offense after the departure of Mike McCarthy, Adams could just be getting started.
Brandin Cooks: Back-to-back Super Bowl losses should only serve as more motivation for Cooks. His 1,204 receiving yards led the Rams’ potent aerial attack in 2018 — a number that he can build on, pending Jared Goff’s further development under Sean McVay.
10. A.J. Green
2018 stats: 77 targets, 46 catches, 694 yards, 6 touchdowns, 173 YAC
Before going down due to injury in Week 9, A.J. Green was the focal point of Bill Lazor’s offense. On pace for 90 receptions, 1,388 yards and 12 touchdowns, Green would have easily finished among the top receiving producers in 2018 had he not gotten hurt. Green has been carrying Andy Dalton and Cincinnati’s offense for too long. If he ever gets some real talent at quarterback, his ceiling will be as high as any receiver in football.
9. JuJu Smith-Schuster
2018 stats: 166 targets, 111 catches, 1,426 yards, 7 touchdowns, 617 YAC
With Pittsburgh’s No. 1 wide receiver Antonio Brown likely to be traded to another team, it will be interesting to see how Smith-Schuster will respond to being the guy for Ben Roethlisberger in the Steelers’ passing offense. Although he recorded more catches and yards than Brown in 2018, it’s important to note that he was not facing the opponents’ best cornerbacks for the majority of the season.
8. Mike Evans
2018 stats: 139 targets, 86 catches, 1,524 yards, 8 touchdowns, 256 YAC
Despite having to catch passes from either the inconsistent Ryan Fitzpatrick or the inaccurate Jameis Winston, Evans manages to post impressive numbers every single year. Under new coach Bruce Arians, he could push his game to new heights. However, Evans’ job may get significantly harder in 2019 as the potential departures of DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries could result in a lot more attention on Evans by defenders.
7. Adam Thielen
2018 stats: 153 targets, 113 catches, 1,373 yards, 9 touchdowns, 428 YAC
A poster-child of starting from the bottom, nearly everyone knows the story of Thielen’s ascension from undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State to hometown hero for the Vikings. In 2018, he came through again with another fantastic season to the tune of 1,373 yards. It was his second 1,000+ yard year in a row after an extended drought for Minnesota. If Thielen didn’t have to share so many targets with Diggs, he might be higher on this list.
6. Michael Thomas
2018 stats: 147 targets, 125 catches, 1,405 yards, 9 touchdowns, 502 YAC
There are some who would claim Thomas is already the best wide receiver in the NFL. He’s not there yet, but Thomas is undeniably one of the league’s most difficult playmakers to cover. With the help of Drew Brees, he’s posted some sensational numbers. While his relatively low average depth of target (7.8 yards) certainly did not hurt, Thomas had a completely ridiculous 82.9 percent catch rate last year, the best mark of any receiver.
5. Tyreek Hill
2018 stats: 137 targets, 87 catches, 1,479 yards, 12 touchdowns, 489 YAC
One of the most unique threats at his position, Hill is a threat to score regardless of where he catches the ball. Hill has the top game speed in the league and has taken a big step forward in his development in each of his first three years in the NFL. With the extremely dynamic and young MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball, there’s no telling how high his ceiling could go.
4. Odell Beckham Jr.
2018 stats: 124 targets, 77 catches, 1,052 yards, 6 touchdowns, 332 YAC
With the possible exception of Hill, Beckham is the most gifted athlete on this list. His speed, agility and unmatched explosiveness make him a generational kind of talent. Unfortunately, Beckham’s awesome potential is being held back by a couple of factors. First and foremost, Eli Manning is a shell of his former self and he was never a great quarterback to begin with. If Beckham ever gets an upgrade at QB and learns to stay out of his own way, he might become the best receiver in the business.
3. Antonio Brown
2018 stats: 168 targets, 104 catches, 1,297 yards, 15 touchdowns, 503 YAC
Brown may go down as the top undersized wide receiver in NFL history, perhaps even greater than Steve Smith. At 5-foot-10 and 186 pounds, Brown can’t beat cornerbacks with his size. He manages to get wide open consistently through a combination of meticulous route running and flawless, subtle instincts. On the field, there’s nothing not to like. Brown’s antics off of it are worth weighing for potential trade partners, though.
2. DeAndre Hopkins
2018 stats: 163 targets, 115 catches, 1,572 yards, 11 touchdowns, 348 YAC
All of these elite receivers have their own special talent to bring to the table. For Hopkins, it’s his unrivaled ability to win those critical 50/50 balls. You will not find a more tenacious wideout when it comes to battling in traffic and making difficult catches despite tight coverage. Hopkins also has to get some major credit for his durability. He played a remarkable 99.1 percent of Houston’s offensive snaps in 2018.
1. Julio Jones
2018 stats: 170 targets, 113 catches, 1,677 yards, 8 touchdowns, 448 YAC
Tyreek Hill is faster. Odell Beckham is more explosive. Antonio Brown’s numbers are undeniably better and Julio Jones wasn’t even close to matching DeAndre Hopkins’ snap count this past season. What sets Jones apart? He’s the best pure football player among them. Whether it’s converting to safety on a dime to break up an interception or making a clutch catch to spark a comeback, he simply makes Atlanta a better team. There’s no other pro wide receiver who offers more value than Jones for the Falcons.
