Ranking the NFL: Best and worst receiver units
Throughout the preseason, we’ll take a look at the best – and worst – the NFL has to offer, unit by unit. Look for a new set of rankings every few days.
They make the highlight reel catches, go over the middle for the tough grabs and, now more than ever, spend time inventing new end zone celebrations.
We’re talking, of course, about the wide receiver position. Like home run balls in baseball, chicks dig the deep ball and teams can’t seem to have too many weapons to give their quarterbacks.
What teams, including a pass catching tight end, have the best wide receiver units in the league?
Criteria for Receivers:
The No. 1 go-to-guy gets the bulk of the attention both on the field and in this poll, so they account for 50% of the final ranking.
What’s more important: a second receiver to take the heat off the go-to-guy or a top-flight tight end? You can make an argument for both, so each will account individually for 20% of the ranking.
The final 10% will go to the slot receiver or the No. 3 man on a team’s depth chart.
The Top 10:
1. Dallas Cowboys
Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton, Jason Whitten
When the Cowboys acquired all-time headache Terrell Owens from the Eagles, they inherited a big mouthed, cancer-in-the-clubhouse guy who has proven to be a distraction both on and off the field in his career. What they also inherited was a proven playmaker, a tall physical weapon and a player who can dominate on the field at times. When healthy, Terry Glenn is all speed and should love the single coverage he’ll receive now that Owens is on board. Patrick Crayton might have the best hands on the team and Jason Whitten is a two-time Pro Bowler and a top five tight end in the league, which gives the edge to Dallas over Indianapolis.
2. Indianapolis Colts
Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley, Dallas Clark
Marvin Harrison could arguably be the best receiver in the league, but without all the hype that normally follows big-name receivers. Reggie Wayne turned down offers to move to another team after coming into his own the last two seasons with the Colts, and Brandon Stokley benefits from having Harrison and Wayne run on the outside of him. Dallas Clark has played well for the most part, but is still looking for that breakout year.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Bryant Johnson, Leonard Pope
The Cardinals have quietly formed one of the best offensive teams in football, purely through their skill positions. Boldin is a fine possession receiver who isn’t a burner, but can make the big play in traffic. Fitzgerald is the speedster who knows how to get open and played in his first Pro Bowl last year, making one of the most incredible catches Honolulu has ever seen with defenders hanging all over him. Bryant Johnson gives the unit good deep speed, while rookie tight end Leonard Pope is a 6-foot-7 inch target that can run up the seam to complement his receivers.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Henry/Tab Perry, Reggie Kelly
Three-time Pro Bowler Chad Johnson got himself a brand new deal and looks to put up even bigger numbers this year than his outstanding stats from a year ago. T.J. Houshmandzadeh posted career bests in catches, touchdowns and yards last season and is a great compliment to Johnson as a No. 2. Chris Henry had a solid rookie year with six touchdowns, but was plagued by off-field issues this summer. Henry’s problems should give Tab Perry a bigger role in the offense. Reggie Kelly is a nice blocking tight end, but he doesn’t do much on the pass-catching side of things.
5. Carolina Panthers
Steve Smith, Keyshawn Johnson, Keary Colbert, Kris Mangum
Steve Smith is the NFL’s best receiver and the most explosive weapon in Carolina’s offense. Keyshawn Johnson signed with the team this offseason in hopes that he becomes what Muhsin Muhammad was to the Panthers a few years ago – a quiet leader. Keary Colbert was a bit of a disappointment last year, but should settle into a No. 3 role this year and Kris Mangum isn’t much of a threat, but is a solid blocker.
6. Seattle Seahawks
Darrell Jackson, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram, Jerramy Stevens/Itula Mili
Seattle might have given up too much for Nate Burleson in the offseason, but his addition is great for the Seahawks for a number of reasons. One, Burleson is a nice complement to Darrell Jackson, who has shown he can be a No. 1 option in an offense when healthy. Secondly, the addition also allows Bobby Engram to slide back over to his slot position. Engram finds first downs like Paris Hilton finds the tabloids and he will embrace the role again this season. With the recent injury setback suffered by Jerramy Stevens, the door is now open again for Itula Mili to reclaim his starting spot. This team also houses Peter Warrick and D.J. Hackett.
7. New York Giants
Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Sinorice Moss, Jeremy Shockey
If nothing else, you’ve got to hand it to the Giants receivers for having the most unique first names out of any wide receiving unit in the league. Plaxico Burress had 76 catches last season and seven touchdowns, but he also gets a lot of opportunities from QB Eli Manning. Amani Toomer is still productive after 11 years of service and rookie Sinorice Moss is small, but extremely explosive. Jeremy Shockey is another guy who got a lot of passes thrown his way last year and took advantage of it with 65 catches and seven touchdowns.
8. St. Louis Rams
Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Kevin Curtis, Joe Klopfenstein
This unit has some age, but also has a ton of experience. Torry Holt is the consummate pro and excels in this league year after year. Isaac Bruce was released in March, but quickly was re-signed and should have enough left in the tank to complement Holt for another season. Kevin Curtis is one of the best No. 3 receivers in the game and has the speed and agility to get open. Joe Klopfenstein was selected in the second round of this April’s draft and should be a nice target for quarterback Marc Bulger in the red zone.
9. Oakland Raiders
Randy Moss, Jerry Porter, Doug Gabriel, Ronald Curry, Courtney Anderson
The Raiders have the potential to have the best foursome in the league at wide receiver, but with Jerry Porter’s holdout and trade demands, we’ll have to leave them here for now. Randy Moss suffered some injuries last year, but still drew double-team coverage on virtually every play. Doug Gabriel and Ronald Curry have serious potential, but find themselves on the injury report more than the field. Tight end Courtney Anderson is inconsistent, but shows flashes of being a nice, big option in the red zone.
10. San Diego Chargers
Antonio Gates, Keenan McCardell, Eric Parker, Rashaun Woods/Vincent Jackson
Antonio Gates is listed first up above for a reason: the guy is the best tight end in the league, period. You can make a claim for Tony Gonzalez, but with Gates’ age and production thus far in his short career, the sky seems to be the limit for him. Keenan McCardell had an excellent season last year and posted a career-high in touchdowns with nine. Here’s a stat that most people don’t know about Eric Parker: he caught 71% of the passes thrown to him last year, tops in the league (you had to be targeted at least 50 times, so no, he didn’t go 7 for 10). The No. 3 spot is between former first-round pick Rashaun Woods and Vincent Jackson.
The Bottom Five:
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
Matt Jones, Reggie Williams, Ernest Wilford, Kyle Brady
Would someone please stand up in this unit? Matt Jones has made a nice transition from college quarterback to NFL wide receiver, but is still raw and is now battling an ankle injury. Reggie Williams has been a bust thus far in his short NFL career and Ernest Wilford, albeit the best in the bunch, lacks speed. Kyle Brady is purely a blocker at this point and only caught 18 passes last year.
29. Philadelphia Eagles
Reggie Brown, Todd Pinkston, Jabar Gaffney, L.J. Smith
Who knows what you’re going to get with this fun bag of treats. Todd Pinkston was hurt all of last season and Reggie Brown is still very young and very raw. Jabar Gaffney was a disappointment in Houston, leaving tight end LJ Smith as the only receiver in Philly with above-average skills. Needless to say, this doesn’t look very promising for Eagles fans but at least Donovan McNabb’s gotten it done with a thin receiving corps before.
30. San Francisco 49ers
Antonio Bryant, Arnaz Battle, Vernon Davis
This squad is tricky because Antonio Bryant is loaded with talent, but the 49ers are going to have to get him involved early in games or else he seems to lose focus. Arnaz Battle is young and untested, but the real gem in this group is Vernon Davis. He’s going to be a stud, it’s only a matter of time, but since he’s a rookie and the ‘Niners don’t have a true No. 3 yet, they have to be rated in the bottom five.
31. Buffalo Bills
Lee Evans, Peerless Price, Josh Reed, Robert Royal
The unit has potential with Evans, Reed and Royal, but any team that goes out and makes an offer for Peerless Price at this point in his quickly fading career deserves to be this low. Enough said.
32. Chicago Bears
Muhsin Muhammad, Mark Bradley, Bernard Berrian, Justin Gage, Desmond Clark
This unit might be unfairly rated due to their quarterback and injury issues last season, but nevertheless, Muhsin Muhammad struggled last year and Mark Bradley showed promised before suffering a knee injury that cost him the season. Bernard Berrian and Justin Gage both have unique talents, but aren’t well-rounded enough, and tight end Desmond Clark was a non-factor last year in the passing game.
Boy, I was not expecting to see Dallas a top this list. TO is quite talented, but he’s proven to be more trouble than he’s worth. The rest of it looks pretty reasonable, though the Jacksonville corps might surprise some people this season.
I think what puts Dallas over Indy (in my opinion) is Whitten. Owens is a train wreck waiting to happen, but nobody can deny what a difference maker he can be in a game.
You can easily make an argument that Wayne is better than Glenn, because I think he is. However, I think Dallas Clark is a few steps back of where Whitten is, so therefore the Cowboys get the nod at #1.
I just don’t see that clear cut No. 1 out in Jacksonville. It’s like they’ve got a bunch of number threes, with the potential to be number twos. Jones is battling some injuries and Reggie Williams is bordering bust.
Wilford is their best receiver, but because of his speed he can be covered by an opponent’s second corner and certainly its No. 1 DB.
Thanks for the comments John.
-Anthony-
If you want to talk about pure talent, it’s tough to top Dallas, not only because of T.O. and Glenn, but also Whitten. There may not be a better receiver in football than T.O., when his head’s screwed on straight of course, and then you add those guys to the mix.
I could see the Bengals being listed ahead of the Cards, if only because Chris Henry is one of the best #3 receivers in the league (when he’s not getting handcuffs slapped on his wrists). CJ vs. Fitz is a wash, and while Boldin’s a great possession receiver, Housh ain’t no slouch.
The mental part of the game is extremely important, which is why I’d take Harrison over TO any day of the week. Sure, if TO makes it through a whole season (and that’s a big IF) he’d probably put up better numbers, but I’d rather have the cool, calm leadership of a Marvin Harrison, someone you can count on. Wayne is much better than Glenn and you’re right, Witten is better than Clark, but not enough to put Dallas over the top, in my opinion.
Anyway, these lists spark some good discussion.
And that’s what it’s all about John…everybody has a different look on these rankings which is great.
I may see something on Sunday’s that JEC sees differently as well as you do.
If I was starting a team and I needed a quality WR to fit in a leadership role, I’d go with Harrison hands down. But if I need a game altering performance, than it would be hard to pass up T.O.
-Anthony-
Stalter, just when I thought you were on the right path, you put the Cowboys on top here. The Colts entire receiving corp has proven more than anyone on the Cowboys except TO, and he’s still got his questions. I would put the Colts, Cardinals, and Bengals ahead at least. Not to mention, the Cowboys aren’t going to be a big passing team according to Parcells. You are telling me you think that Jason Witten is so much better than Dallas Clark, more so than Brandon Stokley and Reggie Wayne over Terry Glenn and Patrick Crayton. Come on Stalter, you know better than that.
Alright Drew, don’t sign me up for Bryant Gumbel status yet…
I think everybody needs to put their distaste for Owens on the backburner for a second and remember what the guy does on the field. By no means am I an Owens supporter, but he does what Harrison does on the field, if not more, does he not?
Check out some stats from last year:
Glenn – 62 rec., 1,136-yards, 18.3 ypc., 7 TDs
Harrison – 82 rec., 1,146, 14 ypc, 12 TDs
Wayne – 83 rec., 1,055, 12.7 ypc, 5 TDs
Now, I know what’s coming: “but Anthony, Harrison and Wayne split all the stats between them while Glenn was the number one guy in Dallas last year.” To that I say, exactly.
The Colts are a pass first team where as the Cowboys (as you eluded to Drew) are a run first team and Glenn still had just as many yards, a better average and comparable for the most part in TDs.
Plus, I’d rather have Patrick Crayton on my team than Stokely any day of the week. Stokely is who he is because of Peyton Manning, Wayne and Harrison. He couldn’t be a viable #2 on a contending team, where as I believe Crayton could be.
And Drew, saying that you would put Cincinnati ahead of Dallas is laughable considering their tight end is Reggie Kelly, a pure blocker.
Don’t forget the rules!
-Anthony-
For all of TO’s talent, he’s missed 14 games over the last four years due to injury and the inability to play with others. Harrison has missed two games in the same span. When they both play, TO is the superior physical talent, but Marvin brings much more to the table. With TO, you don’t know if you’re getting a 180-yard game or if he’ll be on the side line stalking your QB or bitching out your offensive coordinator. Marvin is a pro, which is why, in my book, he’s the superior wide receiver.
Glenn’s numbers from last year compare favorably to Wayne’s, but he was a #1 last year. If he matches those numbers again this year and TO plays a full season to his potential, then the duo’s stats will likely surpass those of Indy’s duo. But if you ask Bill Parcells and Jerry Jones if they would take Harrison, Wayne, Stokley and Clark for TO, Glenn, Crayton and Witten, I think they’d do it in a second and not a soul in Dallas would argue with them. I think they’d take the crews from Arizona and Cincinnati as well.
I think there are two schools of thought that could play into this debate:
1) Are we building a team from scratch and therefore leadership, attitude and accountability have to come in to play?
Because if so, sign me up for the Colts trio + Stokley.
2) Or are we playing street ball where I need the best receiver unit to beat you and the politics are set to the side for 60 minutes?
In that case, the way I look at it, the Cowboys have two #1′s, a #2 (Crayton) and a Pro Bowl tight end in Whitten. Where as the Colts have two #1′s, a #3 (Stokley) and a serviceable tight end (Clark).
Give me Dallas.
JEC, excellent point about Owens’ history of injuries and I agree that does hurt some of my arguments. The piece about Jones and Parcells is tough to debate, however, considering Parcells hasn’t hit it off with Owens one bit so far, and he once called Glenn “she”. I think Parcells would take the Jaguars WRs over what he has now so he can mold them into “Parcells Players.”
Parcells has just as big of an ego as Owens. This was once a guy who didn’t fly home with his team (Patriots) after they lost the Super Bowl, because he was negotiating with the New York Jets to become their head coach.
Owens and Parcells is a match made in Hell.
-Anthony-
Here’s what I find humorous…the Eagles have an atrocious offensive unit, outside of McNabb and Westbrook. I mean, there receiving core is near the bottom of the league, as accurately depicted by Stalter’s rankings. Yet, you hear Donovan talking Super Bowl like it’s inevitable…
Can you explain this Stalter???
I’ll tell you what BoSox, go check out some media guys around the web. A handful of them are picking the Eagles to win the East this year (I think one of the ESPN Scout guys said it a couple days ago).
If you ask me, I just don’t see it. Check out Bullzeye.com on September 1st to see my predictions on the up coming season by the way, but you’ll see that I’m not big on the Eagles.
Everybody keeps going back to how they won before last year with no receivers, but they’ve got a bigger issue at running back than what most people think.
They’re checking out Stephen Davis, which is all the evidence I need to tell me Reid is concerned about how many carries Westbrook can take on in a full 16 game season. Westbrook has battled through some aches and pains in preseason, Buckhalter can’t stay upright and Ryan Moats has been dinged recently as well.
But hey, McNabb should rebound and the defense is still pretty solid except their linebackers, man, that’s a so-so unit besides Trotter in the middle.
You watch though, they’ll start off real hot because of their schedule, but later in the season everybody is going to be breaking their necks leaping off of that bandwagon…
-Anthony-
2) Or are we playing street ball where I need the best receiver unit to beat you and the politics are set to the side for 60 minutes?
I hope this is not what we’re playing. Saying that these are the “best” receiver units infers that you’re taking everything into account – talent, dependability, presence in locker room, professionalism, etc. I would think you would want the results of a poll of GMs (asking them who the best receiving corps are) to be pretty close to your list. A list of the most physically gifted WRs would no doubt have Dallas near the top.
I brought up the bit about Harrison vs. Owens injury history and the Parcells/Jones bit because I think that’s how GMs would look at it.
How about the QB impact? I mean Manning is going to deliver the TD pass a lot more consistently than Boo Hoo Drew.
Plus… Ya just gotta hate Dall, don’t ya?
I don’t think he’s trying to project numbers, just rank the receiving group’s value/ability, so QB play would be extraneous.
Sorry John, you’re right, you did bring up the point about Owen’s injuries, not JEC. It was an excellent point…
You know it’s funny, I first had Indy ranked #1 in my original draft of the WRs and had Dallas #2. It’s not that I ranked Indy #25, I think they have an excellent unit and anybody can make an argument for them being first (like you all have).
But when it came down to it, I think Dallas’s top two are very comparable to Indy’s top two and therefore it’s a wash for me. I like Crayton and Whitten a lot more than I like Stokley and Clark and therefore I remain sold on the Cowboys at numero uno.
-Anthony-
That may be the best way to look at it.
Are Harrison and Wayne THAT much better than TO and Glenn that they make up for the huge difference between Crayton/Witten and Stokley/Clark? Doubtful.
Besides, everyone’s talking about Wayne like he’s one of the best receivers in football. He may very well be, but he may also just be a product of the offense he plays in and the quarterback he plays with. There’s certainly an argument to be made, in my mind, for Owens and Glenn being every bit as talented as Harrison and Wayne.
JP, you keep talking about what GMs think, and I bet if you ask them who the most talented receiver in football is, most of them will say Owens. To take that a step further, I bet very few of them would name Harrison — Moss, Steve Smith and maybe even Chad Johnson would probably be more popular choices.
If you’re looking at things from purely a talent and ability standpoint, having the Cowboys above the Colts is certainly reasonable.
Yeah…I just don’t see the Eagles finishing ahead of Dallas, NY , or even Washington in their own division. And you bring up a great point with their easy schedule in the beginning of the season. I’ll have to keep that in mind as I scout out some winners to cover me some spreads…
I do think that Westbrook is going to prove alot of people wrong and shoulder the load and have a breakout season. He’s another Marshall Faulk, and Faulk never needed any help.
I’ll set the ceiling on the # wins coming from the Eagles at 9.
BoSox
I think I conceeded long ago that if you are looking at pure talent that Owens is better physically than Harrison. (I think Wayne is better than Glenn.) But I suspect that GMs around the league would rather have Harrison on their roster because he’s a pro and he doesn’t come with all the baggage. Hell, I don’t even want TO on my fantasy team for that reason. There’s a lot more that goes into being the “best” than just physical ability – in my book, anyway.
Good list…good discussion.