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Stadium Rant
The Top 10 Wide Receivers In The NFL For 2024
By Ryan Stella,
4 hours ago
The wide receiver position, without a doubt, has been the most difficult to rank so far because of how deep the position is. The NFL continues to become more pass-heavy as the years go by, so it's crucial to have a good group of receivers for the best chance of success. Every quarterback needs a go-to receiver to help them out, and these are the top guys.
Honorable Mentions
Keenan Allen, CHI
Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI
Mike Evans, TB
Puka Nacua, LAR
D.J. Moore, CHI
10: Stefon Diggs, HOU, Age: 30
After spending four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Stefon Diggs is now a Houston Texan. He joins a loaded offense with star quarterback C.J. Stroud under center. Last season, Diggs had a year filled with controversy, from reports that he and Josh Allen didn't get along to reports that he was a diva and bad for team chemistry. Diggs was in the middle of an excellent season before Buffalo completely changed their offensive scheme.
Diggs is now 30, but he's still one of the best route runners in the NFL, as he has been for several years. His production may go down slightly now that he will share the field with Nico Collins and Tank Dell, but Diggs should still drastically improve an already good offense.
Brandon Aiyuk's name is heavily involved in trade talks after he recently requested a trade out of San Francisco. There is still a chance he stays with the 49ers, but he may very well get moved, with teams like the Washington Commanders and the Pittsburgh Steelers showing interest in him. Aiyuk would be the undisputed number-one receiver on both teams, and he may love that idea.
Aiyuk is excellent at getting open against man coverage, especially in press situations, where he beats with his elite route running on deep plays. His knack for getting open in press situations is one of the reasons he averaged 17.9 yards per catch last year. Aiyuk is also very good with the ball and is a talented receiver after the catch.
Garrett Wilson has put together two excellent seasons despite several different quarterbacks throwing him the ball. Assuming Aaron Rodgers stays healthy, Wilson will have by far the best season of his career in year number three. He has been in one of the worst possible situations for a receiver, but he still finds ways to impact the game and put up numbers.
Wilson is one of the best route runners in the league and is always open, but he hasn't been thrown to as much as he needs to be. Rodgers will help Wilson in many ways, and watching them build a connection will be exciting. He has excellent hands and is nearly impossible for any defensive back to contain.
Talent-wise, Davante Adams is at the top of the list of NFL wide receivers, but his situation limited his production last year, and that's bound to happen again. Adams is still in the conversation for best route runner in the NFL, but his situation isn't doing him any favors, and he's 31 years old now. Adams is one of the best receivers of this generation, and he may be in trade talks throughout this year.
The Raiders desperately need a quarterback, and it looks like they'll select one in the 2025 NFL Draft. They may be able to keep Adams for a few years if they get him a good young quarterback in the draft like Carson Beck or Shedeur Sanders. Adams still has at least a few years left in the tank, so the Raiders shouldn't waste his talent.
Accolades: 6x Pro Bowl, 3x All-Pro, 2x Receiving TD Leader
6: Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET, Age: 24
Last season, Amon-Ra St. Brown proved he's one of the top receivers in the NFL, ranking in the top three in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. St. Brown is incredibly reliable and seemingly always open, making it easy for Jared Goff to make his throws. He also has some of the best hands in the NFL and rarely drops a pass.
St. Brown was one of the main reasons the Lions made it to the NFC Championship, and he had an excellent three-game playoff run. The Lions are in a position to contend for the Super Bowl this season, and St. Brown is one of the top reasons. He has a chance to move up this list after this season.
A.J. Brown is one of the best receivers against man coverage because of his physicality. He is great at the catch point and is one of the best in the NFL after the catch because of his strength and size. Brown and Devonta Smith are an excellent wide receiver duo, and they help star quarterback Jalen Hurts tremendously.
Brown also has underrated speed, which contributes to his ability after the catch. Expect similar production from Brown this season as the Eagles continue to be contenders in the NFC. It'll be exciting to see how Brown performs in the Eagles' new offensive scheme under Kellen Moore, their new offensive coordinator.
Ja'Marr Chase is the second most explosive receiver in the NFL behind Tyreek Hill, of course. He has put together an excellent start to his career and has performed well even when Joe Burrow has been on the shelf dealing with injuries. Chase has breakaway speed, is great after the catch, and can go up and get 50/50 balls in man coverage.
The Bengals' offense is still set to be one of the most talented and devastating in the NFL despite their loss of several key players. Chase may break 1,500 receiving yards for the first time in his career as long as Burrow stays healthy because he can get Chase the ball at will.
Accolades: 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year, 3x Pro Bowl
3: CeeDee Lamb, DAL, Age: 25
In 2023, CeeDee Lamb had by far his best season in the NFL, and he's looking to replicate that and finally help the Cowboys win their first Super Bowl since the 1990s. Lamb is an excellent route runner with some of the best hands in the NFL and is always a threat to break open a game with a huge play.
Lamb's season earned him a selection on the All-Pro First Team and a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year, which he placed third. Lamb set career highs in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and receiving yards per game. If quarterback Dak Prescott continues his elite play, Lamb may have an even better season in 2024.
Accolades: 3x Pro Bowl, 1x All-Pro, 1x Receptions Leader
2: Tyreek Hill, MIA, Age: 30
Tyreek Hill is by far the most explosive receiver in the NFL because of his generational speed and ability to get open against any coverage. He is also a great route runner and one of the best of all time after the catch. Hill can turn a normal short pass into a one-play touchdown in the blink of an eye.
Hill put together his best statistical year in 2023, posting a career-high in receiving yards and tying his career-high in receptions. Tua Tagovailoa just received a huge extension, and Hill loves playing with him. Assuming the Dolphins continue to make some moves, they could be a sneaky sleeper in the AFC as long as Tagovailoa limits his mistakes and improves under pressure.
Justin Jefferson is the most complete and well-rounded receiver in the NFL, and he has no true weaknesses in his game. Jefferson appeared in just ten games in 2023 and only started nine of those games, but he still broke 1,000 yards and finished in the top 20 in receiving yards. Jefferson is an excellent route runner with sticky hands and the athletic ability to go up and grab any pass, even if the throw is bad.
He no longer has Kirk Cousins, but it truly does not matter. He will continue to get himself wide open and help his quarterback greatly, whether it's Sam Darnold or the rookie J.J. McCarthy. Jefferson has just under 6,000 career receiving yards in his four seasons and has posted an absurd 98.3 receiving yards per game in his career. Expect Jefferson to be atop the Offensive Player of the Year's list again in 2024.
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