Ranking The NFC's Top 10 Wide Receivers
1. Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson is right up there with Tyreek Hill for the best receiver in the league. Through his four-year NFL career, Jefferson has amassed 5,899 receiving yards, and 30 touchdowns. He missed 7 games last year due to injury and still recorded 1,074 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Kirk Cousins is off to Atlanta this year so that connection with Jefferson is gone as well. The Vikings’ offense is in bad shape in 2024, but Jet is still the best in the game. With JJ McCarthy out for the year, Sam Darnold will be QB for Minnesota. Despite the offensive changes Jefferson will undoubtedly elevate this team once again.
2. CeeDee Lamb
Similar to Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb has been a monster for the Dallas Cowboys. Drafted in 2020 as well, Lamb is scary close to Jefferson in numbers. With 5,145 yards and 32 touchdowns in his career, he’s as dominant as it gets.
Despite contract negotiations taking over in Dallas, Lamb still has Dak Prescott at QB for another year. This duo has been extremely difficult to stop, and there’s no reason for that to change. The Cowboys might see a lot of changes next year, but for now, they’ve got a top 3 weapon in the league.
3. Brandon Aiyuk
The 2020 NFL Draft was stacked, as Brandon Aiyuk joined Jefferson and Lamb in that class. Aiyuk didn’t have the immediate impact the other two had, but he’s become a force in his own right. He failed to reach 1,000 yards in his first two seasons, but in his last two, he brought in over 70 receptions and topped 1,000 both times.
Brandon Aiyuk is in a strange spot this year. There's news of him wanting out of San Francisco and no real sign of where he’ll end up. Aiyuk seems to know what he wants in terms of money, and environment though. He’ll look for the best opportunity, and continue to be a star wherever he plays in 2024.
4. AJ Brown
AJ Brown was a superstar before he went to Philadelphia in 2022. The 2019 second-round pick has only looked better as the years go on. In Tennessee, he broke out in his rookie year, recording over 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns. He’d go on to extend both of those numbers in his second season.
Ever since Brown went to the Philadelphia Eagles, he’s been completely dominant. He nearly broke 1,500 yards in each of the last two seasons, and he’s the #1 target for franchise QB Jalen Hurts. At age 27, AJ Brown is nowhere near slowing down, and he’ll be dominating the NFL for quite some time.
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown
Another player who had a slow start to his career, Amon-Ra St. Brown is quietly a top 5 receiver in the NFL. Drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2021, St. Brown showed a ton of potential. It wasn’t until 2023 that his potential was realized. The Lions are one of the most electrifying teams in football, and St. Brown is a huge reason for that.
St. Brown recorded 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023 and was a key player in Detroit’s deep playoff run. Now he’s 23 years old, and entering his prime with perfect timing. The Lions are hot, and a Super Bowl win has never been more possible for them. If they can finally win one, Amon-Ra St. Brown will play a massive role.
6. Cooper Kupp
In 2021, Cooper Kupp led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He’d also go on to win Offensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl MVP that year. Kupp recorded nearly 2,000 receiving yards that year, and 16 touchdowns. While he was always a great player, his connection with Matt Stafford sparked a larger fire in his career.
Since 2021, Cooper Kupp has had shortened seasons in both 2022 and 2023. The Rams' offense hasn’t been the same without his consistency. With rising star Puka Nacua, if Kupp can stay healthy this year, the LA duo could be the most dangerous in football. Kupp is still everything he should be, he just needs to remain on the field and show it.
7. Mike Evans
Mike Evans is possibly the most underrated wide receiver in the NFL. He doesn’t bring the same flash as some of the other guys on this list, but he might be the most consistent. Evans has had 10 straight seasons where he’s recorded 1,000 yards. He’s started in 153 regular season games, and he’s done it with 7 different quarterbacks throwing him the ball.
Mike Evans is 30 years old, and he’ll probably wind down in the coming years, but he's been the Iron Man of the NFL. Baker Mayfield just scored a great contract with Tampa Bay. The connection he formed with Evans was extremely fun in 2023. They’ll continue that chemistry in 2024, and likely claim the NFC South once again.
8. Deebo Samuel
Deebo Samuel has not only been an elite pass catcher but he’s proven to be a terrific rusher as well. Over the last 3 seasons, he’s hauled in 193 receptions for nearly 3,000 yards, with 1,405 of those coming in 2021. In that period, he’s rushed the ball over 130 times for over 800 yards.
Whether Brandon Aiyuk sticks around or not, Deebo Samuel will still be a game-changer for San Francisco. He’s played a key role in 2 Super Bowl appearances over the last 5 years. His versatility and dominance are what make him one of the best in football.
9. DJ Moore
DJ Moore is a classic case of succeeding despite his surroundings. He spent his first 5 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, and there were times when he was the only bright spot. In 2023, Moore joined a struggling Chicago Bears offense and managed career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
Now first overall pick Caleb Williams is being brought in as the QB of the future. DJ Moore should be a perfect weapon for him to utilize this early in his career. Moore’s production could see a slight decline due to target sharing with Rome Odunze. No matter what flashy new weapons burst on the scene he should be a lynchpin for this offense during a huge transition.
10. Puka Nacua
Puka Nacua is the only second-year receiver on this list, but he earned his place. The 2023 fifth-round pick came out swinging in his rookie year and broke multiple records. Some of them were recording 105 receptions, 1,486 yards, and 181 yards in a playoff game. Nacua quickly found himself as Matt Stafford’s favorite target and rightfully so.
While Puka’s insane production could be due to Cooper Kupp’s absence, there won't be much decline. At 36 years old, Matt Stafford only has a couple of seasons left in him. The supremely talented Nacua and Kupp could be a perfect group for Stafford’s twilight years.
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