You hear about guys like Tom Brady or Drew Brees making no name receivers into playmakers and Pro Bowlers, but what about a receiver who does the same thing for his QB? That is what makes a guy elite, the type who a quarterback can just toss a ball up to, and know that the majority of the time, his guy is going to come down with it. The kind of guy who is so dominant that their very presence strikes fear in a defense, the kind who could be a number one anywhere, the kind who is irreplaceable to an offense. Not just because they're a a threat in the red zone or on 3rd down, or because they can stretch the field, but because they can do it all. That is what embodies a great receiver.
The men on this list are not all perfect examples of those attributes, but they characterize them better than anyone else in the NFL, right now.
Honorable Mentions:
Wes Welker- Understand that outside of Larry Fitzgerald, he is my favorite receiver in the game. Hes who every 5'9" white guy strives to be. The reason he isn't higher is because he is a product of New Englands spread offense and Tom Brady's talent. Hes as good as he could have hoped to be and is incredibly productive but there are only a few teams that he could be this productive on, and all those teams have elite QBs and other receivers to take the pressure off of him. The reality is that its not Welker who scares defenses, its Tom Brady. He could never be a true number one, and that is what holds him back in these rankings.
Kenny Britt- If not for injuries, he'd have cracked the top ten. Talk to me next offseason, because when he plays, hes a beast.
Vincent Jackson- Need to see how he does with a quarterback who isnt as good as Philip Rivers. We'll see how he fares with Josh Freeman this season before I put him in the top 10. He has all the intagables to be a great player but I'm not convinced hes there yet.
Dwayne Bowe- Followed up a great 2010 season with a subpar one last year. We'll see if he can bounce back, or if he simply overachieved two years ago. I do tend to think its the former scenario given the injuries across the board to the Chiefs offense in 2011. He should bounce back and I'll feel more comfortable putting him higher but for now theres a bit of a log jam for the last two spots on this list.
Victor Cruz- He had a great season, but I wouldn't feel right putting him ahead of guys who are more accomplished and proven that they were not one year wonders. I like Cruz, but I learned my lesson from Brandon Lloyd last year.
Marques Colston- He was the last man out. I want to say he is a product of Drew Brees, and while thats true to a certain extent, I fully believe he could succeed anywhere as a true number one. Unfortunately there are only ten spots on this list and while the last couple are almost interchangeable for five players, at this moment Colston misses out.
Without further ado-
#10 Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers)
I was tempted to leave him off, but Wallace isn't the same one trick pony he was for the majority of his first two years in the NFL. What really tipped the scales is how his presence affects opposing defenses. He was the reason that Antonio Brown was able to go off in the second half of last season, because he was constantly demanding extra attention. He might be the top gamebreaker in the league right now and that is what seperates him. The reality of it is, he could do what hes doing on any team, and is the kind of player any quarterback would want to have in his arsenal. Hopefully he continues to refine his technique and improve as an all around player and though he'll never be a top five wideout, hes an integral part of the Steelers offense and gives them the ability to score form anywhere on the field. No other receiver on this list can say that.
#9 Hakeem Nicks (New York Giants)
One need only have watched the playoffs this year to know just how impressive a receiver Hakeem Nicks is. He had 444 yards in the playoffs, hauling in 4 TDs for the Giants. In only his 3rd year, he has already shown signs of being elite, especially in the red zone where few can match his ability to win jump ball situations. He now has back to back 1000 yard seasons and a Super Bowl ring to boot. He'll be a pernnial Pro Bowler for years to come, and the potential to be a top five receiver. Believe me, if Nicks hadn't been there last season, Victor Cruz would not have been nearly as productive.
#8 Steve Smith (Carolina Panthers)
With Hines Ward retired, Smith now holds the title of grittiest receiver in the NFL. I'm going to go ahead and toot my own horn here because I did say last year that people were giving up on him too quickly. He and Cam Newton played off each other better than I ever expected and hopefully they continue that success in 2012. He is the kind of guy any quarterback would love to have, especially at this stage of his career where he is still talented enough to make plays, but smart enough to understand the intricacies of playing the position that can only come with experience. Though I doubt he replecates last years numbers, he should still be a very productive receiver in 2012.
#7 AJ Green (Cincinnati Bengals)
Believe me, I really wanted to put Green higher, but I'll be reasonable because hes only played one season. This is a man on the cusp of joining the elite, and in other year or two, he'll will be in the conversation among the very best. He is a case of a guy who made his quarterback look better than he actually was. Andy Dalton played admirably for a rookie but a good number of his throws were simply tosses to Green that he felt comfortable knowing his star receiver would be able to come down with. I can remember watching some of those catches and simply staring in bewilderment as Green absolutely stole jump balls from opposing defensive backs (trust me because a good number came against the Steelers). There isn't a receiver in the game who adjusts more gracefully and few have purer hands than the Bengals young star. He's got all the talent, now its just a matter of gaining experience because he is a special player.
#6 Brandon Marshall (Chicago Bears)
Marshall is a case where his personality hurts him. Talent-wise, he could be as good as anyone but between his laziness and stab wounds, hes been quite the underachiever. With an increase in focus and improved quarterback play in 2012, he could move up this list. Its impressive that he was able to put up the kind of numbers he did in Miami given the lack of talent around him which is why this could be a career year for him. Keep in mind that despite everything, this is a guy who has had five straight 1000 yard seasons, and with Jay Cutler throwing him passes rather than Chad Henne and Matt Moore, he should go off in Chicago. Hes proven he can be productive anywhere, which is what makes him great, and is why I expect big things from him in 2012.
#5 Greg Jennings
I have concerns that he, like Welker in New England or Colston in New Orleans, is a product of a great system. However, he was good before Rodgers was, and I believe he could be a great player on another team. He is the kind of talent who could be a number one anywhere and in one sense, he might actually be more productive on another team because he wouldnt have to split targets with so many other receivers. He fits what Green Bay does perfectly and remains the best skill on their offense.
#4 Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons)
You know your good when you catch 100 passes and it feel like a down year. White now has five straight 1000 yard seasons, 4 straight Pro Bowls and has yet to miss a game going into his eighth year. The addition of Julio Jones stole some targets but not by much and as Jones matures, he should continue to relieve the pressure on White. Though he still has the occasional drop that frustrates the hell out of fantasy owners (this guy), he could succeed anywhere.
#3 Andre Johnson (Houston Texans)
Nagging injuries ruined his 2011 campaign, but he remains one of the three truly elite receivers in the game today. Prior to last season, Johnson was coming off four straights years where he averaged 93 yards or more per game, and had 8 or more TDs each of those seasons. Oddly enough yesterday was Johnson's birthday, and I have to wonder if at 31 he can be the same dominant receiver we've come to know. Assuming hes healthy and back to normal, you can expect a Pro Bowl season from him. Not to mention, with Matt Schaub back under center and defenses having to focus on Arian Foster, you can bet Johnson will again be a centerpiece in Houston's talented offense.
#2 Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions)
Easily the best wideout last season, a year in which he led all receivers with 1682 yards and 16 TDs. If Matt Stafford stays healthy, there is no reason to believe he won't hold the top spot on this list in another year or two. What keeps him at number two isn't much. I do want to see him play at that level consistenly, and like I said earlier, I am taking into account personality. It isn't that Johnson has done anything wrong, in fact by all accounts he has been a consumate pro. What tips the scales is simply that the man at number one goes above and beyond in the locker room and off the field, whereas Johnson is still young and learning. If this were simply based on expected production, he'd be number one, but I'm talking about who I'd want on my team, and while I'm a big fan of the Lions superstar, I'm not ready to anoint him the king, just yet.
#1 Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals)
No receiver can do so much, with so little and its why hes been at the top of my receiver rankings for the last five years. The man had 1411 yards last season, with John Skelton and Kevin Kolb throwing him the football. Not to mention, it wasn't as if he had an Anquan Boldin on the other side to relieve the attention he received from opposing secondaries. The man who has come in to do just that, rookie first rounder Michael Floyd, was missing practices, so Fitz called him out on twitter:
The next day, everything was cool.
How many guys, would not only say something, but do it so effectively? He meant no offense to Floyd, but got his point across. He has become a consumate pro, a true veteran and effective leader. Not to mention, he has the best hands in the game and can still make every play that is asked of him. He is the kind of man who truly thinks team first, realizes winning is the gold standard and wont accept anything less of himself or his teammates. I can say confidently that there is no one I'd rather have on the field or in the locker room than Larry Fitzgerald.
Whether your a fan of his or not, I urge you to read this article from a few months back. It summarizes the Cardinals receiver about as well as anything.
Snubbs: Welker, Britt, Colston, Cruz, Bowe, Vincent Jackson, Miles Austin, Brandon Lloyd, Desean Jackson, Dez Bryant.
Next Up: Top 10 Defensive Backs
Thanks for the feedback!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. Witten is the most well rounded TE in the game but you'll have to wait for those rankings to see exactly where he comes in. (I'm posting defensive backs later today, after that I'll do the TEs).