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#pounditThursday, March 28, 2024

Ranking the 10 best wide receivers in the NFL

5. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

A.J. Green failed to eclipse 1,000 yards for the first time in his professional career last season, but that’s simply because injuries limited him to only 10 games. Still, the superstar managed to come close by finishing with 964 yards on the season.

Prior to his injury-riddled 2016 season, Green had established himself as one of the most consistently tough matchups in the NFL. He had five consecutive seasons with 65-plus receptions, 1,040-plus yards and six-plus touchdowns.

In both 2012 and 2013, Green eclipsed 1,350 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he came very close to those numbers again in 2015.

Just like the disappointing Bengals’ season that was marred due to injury, Green’s 2016 was not reflective of his talent. Expect him to bounce back in a big way in 2017 and continue his dominance in the AFC.

4. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Evans may only have three professional seasons under his belt, but it’s clear where he’s headed.

In 2016, Evans capped off his best season to date, hauling in 96 receptions for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns. It also represented the third straight season where he’s gotten noticeably better on the field.

Some may argue that No. 4 is still too high for the 23-year-old, but it’s impossible not to recognize his career trajectory. The reality is he’s barely beginning to scratch the surface of his ceiling, and as quarterback Jameis Winston also continues to progress, it means bigger things are coming for Evans.

With the addition of DeSean Jackson, who will stretch the field, Evans could break out with some eye-popping — if not historic — numbers in 2017.

3. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

The top three receivers on this list are an essential mix-and-match. The argument could be made that any of the three are the best receiver in football because the margin of talent between them is razor thin.

Julio Jones has been nothing short of dominant in his career, but that’s particularly been the case over the past three seasons. And his performance in 2015 was the stuff of legend — 136 receptions for 1,871 yards and eight touchdowns. While those numbers did dip a bit in 2016, he still rounded out the year with 83 receptions for 1,409 yards and six touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl appearance. He also carried the team in the postseason, which was highlighted by a 180-yard, two touchdown effort against the Packers.

Calling them “elite” is an understatement for Jones and the top other members of the top three. They are all on a different planet from the other receivers in the NFL, and if Jones could bring his touchdown tally up (only one season in double-digits), he’d likely be the No. 1 receiver on this list.

2. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

Odell Beckham Jr. may not be the best wide receiver in football right now (it sure is close), but by the time he wraps up his professional career, he may very well go down as the greatest of all-time.

Beckham has put up some of the best numbers the league has ever seen by a player in their first three seasons. He has broken more league and franchise records than can even be counted, is already considered among the top 10 in all of football by his peers, and he won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014.

You could pore over his records and accolades for hours, but Beckham’s numbers and film are what do all the talking.

In three seasons (43 games), Beckham has already hauled in 288 receptions for 4,122 yards and an incredible 35 touchdowns. Add in the highlight reel catches he makes in every single game and his ability to turn a seven-yard slant into a 70-yard touchdown, and it’s easy to see why he’s already considered among the very best.

If not for his sometimes over-the-top emotions, Beckham might be considered the best skill position player in the NFL.

1. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

Antonio Brown may have Beckham and Jones nipping at his heels, but he has established himself as the most dominant receiver in football over the past four seasons and has been consistently dangerous since his sophomore year in the league.

Brown has hauled in 105 or more receptions in four straight seasons, while also eclipsing 1,275 yards and eight touchdowns in each year over that span. He’s also scored double-digit touchdowns in each of the past three seasons and put up over 1,800 yards in 2015.

Like Beckham and Jones, he’s broken countless league and franchise records, and his accolades are a list as long as some of his numbers. Already in his career, Brown has been named to five Pro Bowls, four All-Pro teams, and was ranked the No. 4 player in all of football by his peers.

It’s also entirely possible that Brown passes 10,000 career yards in 2017, which will be just his eighth season as a pro.

That is incredible, especially when you consider he had only 167 yards as a rookie.

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