Wide receivers in the NFL have become some of the most dynamic playmakers. Due to the rules and the emergence of the passing offense, a great wide receiver is now a crucial part of a winning team.
Now that the position has so much value, it has led to a lot of depth. According to NFL expert picks the number of receivers who could be in the top 11 is more than there are spots, so some are left off this list. We’ve plenty of NFL predictions for you to consider.
11. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Selected 17th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, CeeDee Lamb entered the league ready to put on a show. In his second season, he made the Pro Bowl and cracked 1,000 receiving yards. Lamb surpassed former teammate Amari Cooper as the No. 1 receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have put their faith in Lamb, trading Cooper, who had been their number one in 2019 and 2020, to the Cleveland Browns.
Lamb has already proven he is special, and due to some injuries to the Cowboys’ receiving core, he will get a lot of targets.
10. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Keenan Allen gets better year after year, maintaining his skill at 30 years old. His route running in the middle of the field has helped him become a favorite target for his quarterbacks. Four out of the last five seasons, he has had more than 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards, making the Pro Bowl.
Now with Justin Herbert, one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, his game has expanded. Allen’s reliable hands were a go-to option last season, as he had the second-most targets of his career with 157.
9. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
During the offseason, A.J. Brown was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles. Brown and the Titans could not come to a contract extension. Almost immediately after being traded to the Eagles, he had a new contract.
Injuries have plagued Brown’s first three seasons in the NFL, but he has still played enough to prove he is special. For two seasons he was able to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. Brown is a scary runner after the catch, using his strength to easily break arm tackles from cornerbacks.
8. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans has arguably been the most consistent wide receiver from a deep 2014 NFL Draft. He has been a picture of health, playing under 15 games only once. On top of that, he has reached over 1,000 receiving yards every year.
Despite never reaching 100 receptions in a season, Evans has been one of the best down-the-field receivers. His height is not easily matched by corners, making him one of the best-contested catch targets.
7. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Last season was a slight step back for Stefon Diggs after leading the NFL in receptions and receiving yards in 2020. He passed 100 receptions for the third time and 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth.
Defenses focused on stopping Diggs in 2021 because of 2020. It also didn’t help that the Bills’ offense was heavily reliant on Diggs, allowing the field to open up for others. There wasn’t much receiver talent to help him out, but that might have changed.
6. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
In the offseason, Tyreek Hill was traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Miami Dolphins. He is swapping out an MVP-level quarterback with insane arm talent, for one where analysts question how deep he can throw.
Still, Hill remains one of the fastest players in the NFL turning simple short routes into break-away touchdowns. His role last season actually fits what he will be doing in Miami. Due to everyone knowing about the Chiefs’ downfield passing attack, that opened up a lot of easy short routes for Hill.
5. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Few NFL wide receivers can do what Deebo Samuel does. Last season head coach Kyle Shanahan decided to experiment with Samuel as a running back, and it worked. The idea probably came about because of what Samuel can do with the ball in his hands, 780 yards after the catch, second most in the NFL.
As just a pure receiver, Samuel still racks up impressive numbers. With 77 receptions last season, he was fifth in receiving yards, with 1,405. With the ball in his hands, Samuel becomes a running back and makes big plays happen.
4. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson has quickly risen through the wide receiver rankings. After two Pro Bowls, combining for 196 receptions and 3,016 yards over his first two seasons, it’s hard to deny his status among the elite.
At just 23 years old and with a new offensive-minded head coach, it seems like he can get better. The Minnesota Vikings’ hired Kevin O’Connell, who was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams last year, coaching the only player to have more receiving yards than Jefferson. If anyone could get more out of Jefferson, it could be O’Connell.
3. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Within one season, Ja’Marr Chase placed himself in the conversation for the best wide receiver in the NFL. He helped the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl, made the Pro Bowl, and won Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Chase put up incredible stats, coming in fourth in receiving yards, 1,455 on 81 receptions. It may be hard for him to lead the NFL in receiving yards because of how good of a receiving core the Bengals have. However, defenses’ need for constant awareness of him opens up the rest of the field for his teammates to put up their own solid stats. If they don’t pay attention to Chase, he could go off, as he did for over 200 yards twice last year.
2. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Davante Adams has improved every season, leading to five straight Pro Bowls and back-to-back All-Pro. When it comes to routes and release moves, Adams has all the tricks in the book, making him often unguardable.
This offseason has been marked by top receivers being traded, and Adams is another one, moving from the Green Bay Packers to the Las Vegas Raiders. In his last two years, Davante Adams has played a crucial part in Aaron Rodgers’ consecutive MVPs, with their connection that led to 2,927 yards, 238 receptions, and 29 touchdowns. Even with a new team, he will still be the feature wide receiver for the Raiders as new head coach Josh McDaniels loves great route runners.
1.Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
In 2021, Cooper Kupp nearly broke the all-time season record for receptions and yards, putting up the second most. He did have some help with an extra game but still dominated the league winning the receiver Triple Crown. That earned him his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection, winning Offensive Player of the Year.
It didn’t stop with personal achievements, as the Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl, with Kupp winning the MVP. His ability to line up anywhere on the field, beating corners over the top, mixed with his short and intermediate route running, made him a terror on defenses.
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