NFL Rankings: 10 best wide receivers in the league

Honorable Mention

• Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers – The 5-foot-10 Brown may not be a household name by NFL standards, but he finished the 2013 season with 1,499 receiving yards (second in the NFL) and his quickness and route-running are on the elite level. Because of his lack of size, there is some concern that Brown isn’t a “true” dominant wideout, but with one more full season of success, those worries will evaporate.
• Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers – Crabtree is one of the best route runners in the NFL, and if not for a smattering of injury issues, he would be higher on the list. It remains to be seen how prolific Crabtree and quarterback Colin Kaepernick can be for a full season, but the ceiling is high.
• Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers – Much like Crabtree, Jordy Nelson has battled the “injury-prone” label, but he played all 16 games in 2013, and the results were electric. Nelson finished in the top 10 in the league in receiving yards (1,314), and the electric downfield threat made 22 catches of 20+ yards during the campaign. He’s a star who isn’t perceived as such.
• Wes Welker, Denver Broncos – Welker’s concussion problems are well-documented, but he managed to catch 73 passes in only 13 games last season (as a secondary option), and no one is better out of the slot. Obviously, Welker isn’t nearly the physical specimen of anyone else on the list, but his quickness and evasiveness are elite.
• Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons – Injuries are a running theme of the honorable mention list, and White fits the bill, having played only 13 games in 2013 while hobbling noticeably down the stretch. However, Atlanta’s steadying force posted six straight seasons with 80+ catches and 1,150+ yards prior to that injury hiccup, and White is a technician.