Everyone wants to be a wide receiver.
It’s not hard to see why, either – they are the rockstars of the NFL. Catching passes, scoring touchdowns, and doing so all while rocking arm sleeves, grills, and doing whatever Tik Tok dance is popular at that very second in the end zone? Who wouldn’t want to be a receiver?
In today’s NFL, there are more talented wideouts than any period in the history of the game, so shrinking this list down to 32 was difficult and means several good players will be left off the list. So with honorable mentions to Tyler Lockett, Courtland Sutton, Christian Kirk, and Rashee Rice all out of the way, let’s dive into the top 32 receivers ahead of the 2024 NFL season
32. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
Addison seems to get forgotten when talking about the best No. 2 receivers in the league, but he absolutely shouldn’t. As a rookie, he caught 70 passes for 911 yards and 10 scores. Justin Jefferson garners a lot of attention, and rightfully so, but Addison is terrific.
31. DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans
Hopkins has an argument for having the worst uniform career of all time, but he’s still playing well even going into his 12th season. He’s coming off the seventh 1,000 yard campaign of his career, and now has a respectable duo of Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to take some of the load off of him.
30. Michael Pittman Jr, Indianapolis Colts
Has there been a player who has had a more quiet 100-catch season than Pittman? He is the Colts’ go-to target, and is one of the better underneath receivers in the game today. He’s a down-in-the-trenches receiver which may be why he doesn’t get as much attention as the flashier names, but Pittman is going to be vital to the Colts getting back to the postseason.
29. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
Metcalf is somewhat of a one-trick pony, but that one trick is quite good. He isn’t going to blow you away with his route-running, but there are fewer things in the NFL that are prettier than a Geno Smith piss missile landing in the hands of No. 14 for a big gain.
28. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Godwin had an up-and-down year in 2023, but still managed to put together his third consecutive 1,000 yard season. He’ll be a free agent in 2025, so he’ll certainly be looking to put on a show in a contract year.
27. Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
The Bears have themselves quite a trio after acquiring Allen from the Chargers and drafting Rome Odunze to go along with D.J. Moore. Even at age 32, the reliable veteran is coming off a 1,200 yard season and will fit that power slot role perfectly in Shane Waldron’s offense.
26. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
Drake London sounds like a great spy name, but he’s also a terrific receiver. His numbers may not have looked gawdy in a run-heavy Falcons offense over the last two seasons, but you can expect him to take a big leap forward in a Zac Robinson, Sean McVay-descendant offense with Kirk Cousins under center.
25. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
What a breakout year it was for Collins. Prior to 2023, his career-high in catches was 37. He more than doubled that by hauling in 80 passes for nearly 1,300 yards and eight scores last season. Some may say this is a little low for Collins, but I fully expect him to keep climbing the list and have a higher ranking at this time next season.
24. George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers
Like Metcalf, Pickens isn’t exactly known as a route technician that will create separation on all parts of the field. However, he is one of, if not the best contested catch artist in the NFL today, and is also terrific after the catch. Pittsburgh will need him to take that step forward as a true No. 1, though, with Diontae Johnson now in Carolina.
23. Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers
Johnson gets a fresh start with the Panthers, and will be Bryce Young’s unquestioned No. 1 target in Dave Canales’ offense. If Carolina goes with a healthy does of three-step drop and release stuff with Johnson being the primary target, there could be real success with that.
22. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
I don’t know if you heard, but Tee Higgins wants to get paid. Playing in a contract year with Joe Burrow as your quarterback will certainly help that cause, but Higgins is in need of a bounceback year. He missed 5 games in 2023, and averaged less than four catches per game when healthy. That said, his resume of consecutive 70 catch, 1,000 yard seasons can’t be ignored – he’ll be fine.
21. Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Oh, poor Malik Nabers.
Nothing is wrong with him, he just plays for the Giants and has to catch passes from Daniel Jones. In any other draft class that didn’t have Marvin Harrison Jr. in it, Nabers would have been the first receiver taken. Regardless, his talent is evident and hopefully he has a quarterback that can elevate those talents sooner than later.
20. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Smith has had at least 80 catches and 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons, and has solidified himself as one of the best young receivers in football. His play earned him a nice pay day, which will keep him in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future.
19. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
Chris Olave is the one thing that is currently watchable about the New Orleans Saints. He’s coming off an 87 catch sophomore season in which he also totaled over 1,100 yards. He’s a star in the making, and one the Saints are lucky to have.
18. Marvin Harrison Jr, Arizona Cardinals
Queue all the angry people screaming, “He hasn’t even played a down yet.”
I don’t care. Harrison is the best receiving prospect since Calvin Johnson, and it isn’t premature to put him in the top 20. He and Kyler Murray are about to be a complete hoot to watch every week, and big numbers are coming his way.
17. Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans
On the surface, Diggs’ numbers from a season ago look great. However, he didn’t have a 100-yard receiving game after Week 6, and had five games with less than 40 yards. However, going to Houston where he can play alongside Nico Collins and Tank Dell will allow him to age gracefully into being a WR2 on a really good offense.
16. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
It’s hard to figure out where to put Samuel because he is one of the best weapons in football, but he’s not a terrific separator. However, he is one of the best yards after catch receivers in the NFL. Of all players who averaged 14 yards or more per reception, none had a lower depth of target than Samuel (7.3). He is a complete game-changer, and one of the most versatile weapons of all time.
15. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Kupp dealt with injuries in 2023 to start off the season, and missed time during the 2022 season, as well. However, in his last full season he caught 145 passes for nearly 2,000 yards. With Puka Nacua now allowing Kupp to age nicely into more of a supporting 1b role, he should see his numbers jump up from what they were in 2023.
14. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
Terry McLaurin is the most underrated receiver in football. He’s had 10 different quarterbacks start a game since 2019, and yet all he does is produce. He’s coming off four consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, and hasn’t had fewer than 77 catches in that stretch. Here’s to hoping Jayden Daniels is the answer in Washington.
13. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1,000 yards in 10 consecutive seasons to start a career is something we may never see again. Mike Evans is one of the most consistently productive receivers of the last decade, and will surely have a Hall of Fame induction awaiting him once his time is over. He’s still going strong, though, and is coming off a career-high 13 touchdowns.
12. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Waddle missed three games in 2023, but still accumulated over 1,000 yards and averaged over 14 yards per catch. While it was a step down from his 2022 season, he earned a massive check for his efforts over the last three seasons.
11. Garrett Wilson. New York Jets
Garrett Wilson had 95 receptions last season with the equivalent of Simon & Garfunkel throwing him the ball. If Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers, Wilson could be in for a potential All-Pro season in 2024.
10. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Nacua had arguably the greatest rookie season ever for a wide receiver in 2023. He caught 105 passes for 1,486 yards, both of which are NFL records. He’s also a very willing blocker in the run game, which is an aspect of his game that deserves more recognition. Don’t be shocked if Nacua replicates his success from a season ago, and if that success has the Rams in the Super Bowl bubble.
9. D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears
It’s amazing to think that Moore has four 1,000 yard seasons and two 90-catch seasons when you also think of the quarterbacks he’s played with. Justin Fields and Moore seemed to be developing a chemistry a year ago, but then Fields got hurt and the reigns when to Tyson Bagent for a bit. Even so, Moore put up new career-highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
8. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
There’s a greater than zero chance that as you’re reading this, Aiyuk is posting another cryptic message to some social media platform. Maybe it’ll be MySpace this time around. Or Kik. Check Kik. Anyway, Aiyuk rules. He was 52nd in routes run last season, but seventh in receiving yards – he made the most of every route and every target. Wherever he plays in 2024, that team is getting one of the game’s very best.
7. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Even in his 30s, Davante Adams is still one of the best route-runners in the NFL. He had his fourth consecutive 100-reception season in 2023, and that was amidst that whole Josh McDaniels – Jimmy Garoppolo THING, we’ll call it. He’s aging like a fine wine, and I’d expect him to be a trade target ahead of the trade deadline for contending teams to be looking at adding.
6. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
What a season it was for St. Brown in 2023. He hauled in 119 passes for over 1,500 yards and 10 scores and helped the Lions reach their first NFC Championship Game since 1991. With the Lions core staying largely intact, they’ll be right back in the mix in the NFC.
5. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Brown may have had fewer explosive plays in 2023 than he did in 2022, but he became more of an efficient go-to No. 1 receiver. He caught a career-high 106 passes and had over 1,400 yards for the second consecutive year and, like his teammate Smith, earned a large extension.
4. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase is so special at every level, but especially after the catch. Of all players with at least 50 targets, Chase was eighth in the league in YAC and only had four drops all season. His 100 catches were a career-high, and now he gets a healthy Joe Burrow back for the 2024 season to build off of that and try to make it back to the Super Bowl.
3. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Lamb is coming off one of the greatest seasons for a receiver in history. His 135 catches were the fifth most for a receiver in a season and his 1,749 yards were the ninth most in a single season. Lamb took a big step in 2022, and then took a giant leap to establish himself as one of the game’s elite pass catchers.
2. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
While Lamb had the ninth-most receiving yards in a single season ever, Hill had the seventh-most with 1,799. And that was while missing a game, as well. Hill has three straight seasons of 110+ catches, and has over 1,700 yards in each of the last two seasons. He’s a legit contender to total 2,000 yards in a season if he stays healthy for all 17 games.
1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson missed seven games in 2023, but still pulled off a 1,000 yard season. And don’t forget that in 2022, he led the NFL in catches (128) and yards (1,809). As a route-runner, he is lethal, and even more so after the catch when he has the ball in his hands. He is the game’s best receiver, and the Vikings will need him to be just that as they enter a new era with J.J. McCarthy.
