Who Are The #1 Wide Receivers?

So we can assume there will be a ton of interest in Plaxico when he's back - I don't think you can drop him lower than 6th or 7th overall on this list.

Seems like Welker plays a different position than the others on your list, Matt. I'd say he's not a legitimate #1 receiver, but he's far and away the best slot receiver in the business.

Steve Smith had (8) 100 yard games and (2) 90+ hard games last year, with Jake Del-Homey throwing him the ball....

How is Wayne the key to the Colts offense?

How is Vincent Jackson nowhere on here? He is huge, fast, and has great hands. He should be with Wes Welker and Antonio Bryant in that group.

Wow--that's high praise for Santana Moss. I'm a Skins fan, but even i think he is a very good #2 at best. Where is Hines Ward in all this? Also, Cotchery from the Jets as well as Coles (now on Bengals) are as much if not more deserving of inclusion in the #1 category imo. Bernard Berrian also shouldn't be too far behind...

Yeah, I think Smith's in the top group too. He's "inconsistent" because of Delhomme and the offense. But when somebody who can play is throwing to him, he's one of the more unguardable receivers in the league. ...so quick! And tough as nails. Remember when Vinny Testaverde was helped out of his wheel chair to start for the Panthers a couple years ago? We all knew he'd been washed up for years, but didn't we all think to ourselves, "well, he does have Steve Smith, so maybe there's a chance..." Isn't that the kind of thing that defines what we mean by a #1 receiver?

The fact that Steve Smith isnt in the top group invalidates most, if not all, of the rest of your argument Matt....not consistent enough? Are you joking, eight 100 yard games and two 90+ yard games??? In that run based, Jake Delhomme(mediocre) offense? Countless Broken tackles, hands, speed?
Smith IS a number one receiver, there is no doubt about that.

I guess my main beef with your article is that you never really define what a "true number one" receiver is. Does he have to be the best receiver on his team or does he have to be able to be the best receiver on every team that you put him on? If the latter is the case, then would Moss be a #1 receiver if he were on the same team as Fitz?

Does the receiver have to have the ideal size and shape to be a number one? The ideal speed? The ability to time his jumps perfectly, make a catch across the middle, make the spectacular catch in triple coverage while being hit? Are there certain stats that a receiver must be able to attain? Does the ability to come back and play extremely well after a broken face count for anything?

Also, even if a receiver has the production, is he a #1 receiver if there's a better receiver on his team? Technically speaking, Donald Driver is the #1 receiver on the Packers' depth chart, so how can Greg Jennings be considered in this article if Driver isn't listed above him?

Anquan Boldin would be the top receiver on most NFL teams. He would provide a significant upgrade over the top receiver on many teams. Why is he not a "number one" receiver?

Boldin's pre-Fitzgerald numbers help make the argument for him being a #1 guy.
His rookie season he was the practically the offense.
But the Boldin we saw last season wasn't the same guy as a few years ago. Will this offseason help him revert to form?

Good piece. Finding a "true number one" is difficult.

A true number one to me is when the defense rolls his way and he still beats it. As a Redskins fan, I can say Santana Moss, while I like his abilities, is easily shut down.

Not so with an Andre Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald. They do what they want to do when they want to do it.....

Great list, so far no complaints really compare to the analysis you put in.

Yes Colston's numbers fell off last year, he was nursing a thumb injury the entire season. With only 11 games he put up 47/760/16.2/5tds. Those numbers project him with 3 1000 yard seasons in 3 years. I'm not saying he should be with the elite but for him not be be in the 2nd tier is a crime. By the way, Just because you can run, doesn't make you close to a number 1. I'm talking to you Lee Evans.

I scanned the list to see where you put Steve Smith before I read the article. Him not being at the top hurts your credibility. His big play ability is only matched by his right hook.

Reggie Wayne??? You're kidding right??? Wayne scored all of six TDs but he's the key to their offense? On any team other than Indy, Wayne's a JAG. And even IN Indy, he isn't good enough to rate him that high. Wayne has virtually NO ability to take over a game.

The key indicator of a WR taking over is points scored - yards don't win games, points do and more specifically we're looking for multiple TD performances here. In the past four seasons, Wayne has had a grand total of TWO games where he scored more than one TD (both times, he scored 2TDs, no games with 3 or more in last four years). TWO GAMES!!!! True #1 WRs, like the others you've listed, typically do it 2-3 three times EVERY season. THAT is what truely separates the top tier in this topic and Wayne doesn't cut it.

Two disagreements - Steve Smith belongs in the first group (I'm probably biased though - as a Saints fan, we see him twice a year and he absolutely kills us), and I don't think Lee Evans even belongs in the discussion when it comes to the first two groups - "The Rest of the Bunch" at best IMHO.

I'm not sure why you would think putting Calvin Johnson as a legit no.1 would be an issue. Simply put, he's an amazing talent and what he did last year on a disastrous offense really puts him in a special league.

If he wasn't on the list with the Fitz's and Andre Johnson's it would be a major injustice.

Not sure I see the Lee Evans love. Really, he's quite inconsistent and now has T.O. to fight for balls in a run first offense.

All good arguments guys... I went back and forth with Steve Smith as a #1... Just choose Reggie instead.

I would take R Wayne over Smith and I would also put him ahead of Andre Johnson...

No D Hester? Just Kidding...

No qualms here about the top 5...

If you put Ocho Stinko in this list after last year, then Donald Driver belongs a couple jumps ahead of him.

Matt, nice debate that you've started. I've got a couple of gripes.

1st - You state that Boldin can't command the big pay day. I think that probably isn't true. If AZ would have accepted the Bears second round pick(the rumored amt. offered), I bet the Bears would have paid him the big bucks. The reason no one has traded for Boldin is because no one is will ing to pay BOTH the big $$'s and 2-3 draft choices, including a 1st rounder. If Boldin was a free agent, he'd command big $$'s for at least a couple of years. Longer term, I'm sure teams are a bit worried about his age.

Second, it is ludicrous to suggest that Wayne is more important to the Colts offense than Manning. ...this is the screwiest thing I've read in any of your articles!

I love your stuff!! Keep up the good work!

Cheers

One Superbowl ring on the whole list (Wayne). WRs rarely win games. Almost every hall of fame WR played with a hall of fame QB.

A true #1 should be able to block, catch in traffic on third down, track and catch the deep pass, run with the ball, and read coverages on the run. And do it consistently vs. the better defenses.

Jennings had some crucial drops last season. I'm looking for more consistency from the former WMU Bronco. And maybe a little help from Jamarko Simmons!

Matt I love you. That's right people, I did write love but in a manly sort of way. You are absolutely out of your mind. Boldin should be in the top five. So should Steve Smith. In fact, I may put Smith ahead of Boldin in the my top five because of his greater explosiveness and I love Boldin. Look up Boldin's rookie numbers. Establishied #1 status as a rookie in 2003. And hasn't looked back sense.

My list. Andre Johnson, Fitz, Calvin Johnson, Steve Smith and Anquan Boldin.

Reggie Wayne, while a good to very good WR LOOKS better because of Manning. Conversely Steve Smith would look a lot better if Delhomme was a better QB and he was used better in The Carolina system.

Matt you're closer to the GM types than I am but is MOSS STILL a #1. Moss only wants to run the 8/9 route.

Two guys that should not have made the list. Welker and Edwards. Wes Welker clearly is a product of the Patriot system . Any average NFL receiver could run those 5 yard pivot and option routes he runs. "Butter fingers" Braylon Edwards is more interested in modeling than being a top flight NFL receiver. I don't know why he would be considered top 30. And this guy wants to be paid like a top NFL receiver. Now that's crazy.

Marques Colston, Saints: More a product of QB Drew Brees and the Saints’ offensive attack. His numbers dropped in 2008.

His numbers dropped because he had an injury (Played 11 games(. You could say that hes a product of Brees but we really dont know that untill we see him on another team or with a different QB. He still put up 760 yards and 5 touchdowns

Mike G - Wow–that’s high praise for Santana Moss. I’m a Skins fan, but even i think he is a very good #2 at best. Where is Hines Ward in all this? Also, Cotchery from the Jets as well as Coles (now on Bengals) are as much if not more deserving of inclusion in the #1 category imo. Bernard Berrian also shouldn’t be too far behind…

Hines Ward in my eyes has always been seen to be a good receiver but hes not that real number one, great blocker last year was the first time he had over 1,000 yards in 4 years. Cotchery shouldnt be on this kind of level, hes close but I'd put him on the outside of this list. Berrian I see as a huge deep threat but VERY inconsistent

Calvin Johnson is a beast. I hope stafford is a bust because I don't want to face those two twice a year.

1,331 yards, 78 receptions, 17.1 avg, and 12 td's on the LIONS with like 3 QB's throwing to him! Simply amazing.

Not to beat a dead horse but not having Steve Smith in the top 5 is ridiculous. He is the toughest receiver in the league that has to adjust to every pass thanks to Delhomme. He has that intangible quality that you just cant measure. Its called heart and desire. I wish Peppers had one ounce of what he has.

Calvin Johnson is overrated. Anybody could produce in an offense where you get about a 100 balls thrown your way each game. Drops too many passes, is hurt too many times, hasn't made any circus catches yet. He's good but not great.

Props to 'Dre Johnson, many would overlook him but he is an absolute stud. Colston being put in a second tier is ridiculous, he is absolutely a number 1. Nobody has mentioned Dwayne Bowe yet???!!! Wake up people/Matty
B!!! He's better than almost all of your second and third tiers.

3. Andre Johnson, Texans: How good is this guy? Well, he is the definition of a franchise WR. He is big, he can run, and he puts up numbers. I expect him to break the bank very soon. If he played in a larger market, he would be a household name.

I guess Houston being the 4th largest city in USA is to small for this guy to be household name. DUH

I flip flop on Boldin, I agree he's not ahead of the top tier as listed but is it possible to have a "system #1". A guy not on this list that is very valuable to his team is Hines Ward. He does everything the Steelers need him to do.

If we take this and try and extrapolate it to Q could he be a true #1 on a team like the Eagles where his toughness and inside route running would entirely change the game dynamics? While he isn't a prototypical #1 he has a unique ability to attack a team from underneath. Given a #2 with speed and a RB who can press the corner Q is unmatched at applying pressure. The TD vs Atlanta showed just how dangerous he is. While he will always be #2 to Fitz in AZ he could fill the #1 slot for a number of teams IMO.

Hmmm, I think I would rather have Hines Ward then some of the guys on the bottom of the list.

I like this site but I'd sure love to play FF against these guys. I get Peyton as the fourth QB off the board, I get Colston as the 14th WR and Bowe as the 20th WR off the board. I would smoke these guys....

Matt. Don't mean to be picky and it has nothing to do with Packers/Bears but you guys seem to use Angelo almost too frequently as a source to bounce these ideas off of. Don't misunderstand me. They do the same thing here in Milwaukee. The local paper always does a pre-draft assessment of the top players at each position and get input from people in the league. Generally they are quoted as unnamed AFC/NFC scouts, or personnel people, whatever. Unless it is Angelo he is always quoted for his input by name and he is quoted a lot. Usually when I read his assessments, I consider them in terms of his track record and then apply a big discount. My conclusion has been that it is simple an issue of him wanting to be accessible and be quoted, etc. Methinks he should spend more of his valuable time trying to build sustainable success with the Beardowns. Although I am very happy to see him spend less time focusing on the important stuff.

Where's Bernard Berrian, Derek Mason, Eddie Royal, Hines Ward and Vincent Jackson?

Has Tory Holt got that slow? I'd still take him over Braylon Edwards and Lee Evans!

I like #2 but not as the #2 pick ;)

Probably a lot of guys who could have made the list in my slot over another with every opinion, but I like that the argument here has some good points behind it...

Orange, the guys you mentioned illustrate the point of Matt's article. All those guys are only #1s because their team doesn't have anybody better, period. Bernard Berrian?? He can run, but he's not a very good all-around receiver. Derek Mason? Please. He's gutty, a pro, and seems like he'd be a good team-mate, but he's a career #2 guy ideally.

Matt,

Great read. I agree with the top five. All five of those guys are the cream of the crop.

KevinA - WR don't win Super Bowls? How about the Steelers last two Super Bowl wins? Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes ring a bell?

Jon B - Calvin "Megatron" Johnson is overrated? Dude get off the wacky tobaccy. Megatron made Kitna, Culpepper, and Orlafsky look good. Dude is constantly doubled teamed and still puts up numbers. The only bright spot on the 0-16 team last year. He got snubbed for the Pro Bowl last year, in my honest opinion. As a Packer fan, Megatron is hated but I love the kids game. It's like the 2nd coming of Moss to the division. Megatron nearly won both the games for the Lions last year against the Pack.

The only number of Colston's that actually declined last year was his TDs, and that had more to do with the emergence of Lance Moore and the rest of the receiving corps (as well as an increased focus on the running game in close). Colston's yards per catch was actually a career best and so would be his yards per game when you consider that 2 or 3 of the ones he did play were a loss to injury and then trying to work him back in to the lineup. I'm not saying that he is an elite WR, but your claim of statistical decline ignored both his injury AND what he did when he was back. I mean, you might as well hit Brady for a statistical decline last season too since he only played 8 minutes...

If your gonna hold back on Marshall to see what he can do without cutler, how can you concretley put Reggie Wayne in there if he's always had Peyton??

Who is the kid out of Kansas City, for some reason I can't remember his name but he's on the verge of being a number one and could have a huge year with a solid qb and new coach.

It's a shame Calvin Johnson is stuck on the Lions.

Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, and Andre Johnson are the top 3 receivers in the league bar none... it's not even a discussion. Those 3 guys are the true definition of a #1 wideout who can dominate a game.

How can anyone not think Boldin is a True #1 WR? Why is it that so many people are closed minded and only think what did you do lately? Why is it also that these so-called experts FORGET about his rookie year WITHOUT Fitzgerald? 101 catches, over 1300 yards and 8 TD with Jeff Blake throwing to him. If that is not #1 production without a WR on the other side of you then guess what Matt Bowen there are NO #1 WR in the NFL!

I agree on Dwayne Bowe. He is the only guy not listed that I think may become a big time #1 this year.

Moss is easily still the best in the league.

When Fitzgerald starts to draw the same coverages as Moss then you can compare them.

I'll take Moss first if I was picking a WR for my team.

The rest of the guys still cannot hold his jock.

Here's my litmus test of a "true #1 receiver".

If Deion Sanders (in his prime) was single covering him, would you ever throw in his direction?

In that context, I think Matt's three tiers are spot on.

Either the list is wrong, or Jerry Jones is wrong... more likely JJ. Where's Roy Williams?