Ranking The AFC's Top 10 Wide Receivers
The NFL is packed to the gills with talented wide receivers. These men are playmakers who can raise an entire stadium to their feet in seconds. Who are the best of the best though? Here are the top 10 wide receivers in the AFC.
1. Tyreek Hill: Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill is the clear #1 in the AFC, and arguably #1 in the entire NFL. Hill is coming off an MVP-caliber season, where he nearly reached 2,000 receiving yards. He also managed 13 touchdowns in that time, all while dealing with a late-season leg injury. At 30 years old, he's likely to see some regression in the coming seasons. For now, the cheetah is still the same monster he’s been, and showing no signs of slowing down.
2. Ja’Marr Chase: Cincinnati Bengals
Chase has proven that with or without Joe Burrow, he’s a force to be reckoned with. His connection with Burrow is unmatched, but even without the star QB, he’s one of the best. Chase has put up over 1,000 yards in each of his 3 NFL seasons, and he currently has 29 touchdowns in his career.
With Joe Burrow returning, these two will be a dangerous duo once again. The last time both of these men played a full season together, they competed in the Super Bowl. While expectations shouldn’t be that high this season, they’ve proven that together, they light the league up.
3. Davante Adams: Las Vegas Raiders
Davante Adams is in a weird position going into 2024. He went to the Raiders in 2022 to join QB Derek Carr, but that only lasted 1 season. Now with some uncertainty at quarterback, there’s uncertainty about Adams’ production.
Regardless of external situations, Adams is still extremely productive and is capable of staying on the field for 17 games. With back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons, then amassing 1,100 yards in 2023, it doesn’t matter who’s throwing the ball to him, he'll show out. At 31 years old, Adams might be on a downswing soon. He’s similar to Tyreek Hill though, and there’s no reason to doubt his talents just yet.
4. Stefon Diggs: Houston Texans
Stefon Diggs had a bit of a spiral at the tail end of 2023, but he still managed 1,183 yards and 8 touchdowns on the year. While there could be numerous reasons for how things ended in Buffalo, speculation might be pointless here. Diggs has a fresh start in Houston with rising star CJ Stroud and a striking offense.
Diggs also joins breakout receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell and can bring a veteran presence to a fast-growing team. 2024 will be a big year for Stefon Diggs. The Texans are on the rise, and he gets a much-needed restart for his career.
5. Garrett Wilson: New York Jets
Garrett Wilson has breathed new life into the New York Jets. With a carousel of quarterbacks in his rookie season, Wilson still managed to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. 2023 was supposed to be even bigger for him before Aaron Rodgers went down for the season. Wilson still passed 1,000 yards in 2023, but his production suffered from the pivot in the offensive game plan.
With Rodgers returning, Wilson could have a career year in 2024. He’s joined by Allen Lazard, who already has a rapport with Rodgers, and this entire receiving corps should see a fast climb this season.
6. Nico Collins: Houston Texans
Another Houston Texans wide receiver joins this list, Nico Collins. Collins had a star-making campaign in 2023, bringing in 80 receptions for nearly 1,300 yards. He also scored a career-high 8 touchdowns on the year.
Collins has become a massive target for CJ Stroud. His numbers might see a slight decline if Diggs becomes the new #1 option. Coollins is a rising star in Houston though, and could be the face of this offense in the coming years.
7. DeAndre Hopkins: Tennessee Titans
The 32-year-old DeAndre Hopkins would’ve been top 3 on this list a couple of seasons ago. His regression could be due to age, or the situation around him in Tennessee. He's proven that no matter what, he’s perfectly consistent and dangerous. Tennessee had a messy QB room in 2023, and Hopkins was still a top target all year. He hauled in 75 passes for 1,057 yards, and 7 touchdowns.
The Titans are bringing in Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to complement Hopkins and it should be a huge benefit for all involved. Hopkins is aging, but his production is still tremendous and he’s one of the best in the building at any given moment.
8. George Pickens: Pittsburgh Steelers
George Pickens has been an interesting case in Pittsburgh throughout his short career. He’s easily the best playmaker on the roster, but he hasn’t been able to shine properly. Pickens amassed 1,140 yards in 2023, along with 5 touchdowns. He managed that with a carousel of quarterbacks, and a heavily criticized offensive game plan.
The entire Steelers offense has seen a massive change, and with Russell Wilson throwing the ball, Pickens will likely become an even bigger target. George Pickens has done a lot with very little in his career. Now he has 2 new QBs to build chemistry with, both of which are arguably more talented passers than anyone he’s played with thus far.
9. Amari Cooper: Cleveland Browns
Amari Cooper has spent his career flying under the radar. He's played for three different teams in his nine-year career, and he’s elevated every one of them. Cooper averaged 17 yards per reception last year and broke 1,000 yards for the 7th time in his career. He did all of that with 5 different quarterbacks throwing him the ball.
Cooper is known as a terrific route runner and an even better pass catcher. With Deshaun Watson looking for a resurgence, Amari Cooper will be his most reliable weapon, and will undoubtedly elevate their offense. He’s severely underappreciated, but when he’s on the field, he’s a game-changer.
10. Michael Pittman Jr.: Indianapolis Colts
Another under-the-radar stud in the AFC, Michael Pittman Jr. has carried the Colts’ offense for the past 3 years. Indy has had quarterback troubles, and it’s shown in Pittman’s production, but he is the biggest bright spot for them. The wideout hauled in 109 receptions (5th in the league) in 2023 and averaged 72 yards per game.
The environment around him has caused Pittman to be a forgotten gem, but he’s the ‘iron man’ of Indy’s offense. Anthony Richardson's returning from injury, and Jonathan Taylor is looking to bounce back. If this trio can stay together all year, they can give the Texans a run for their money in the AFC South.