Welcome to FanSided’s weekly NFL Player Power Rankings. Every Tuesday throughout the season you can check out rankings for a different key position, including quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, and even the defensive star players. These power rankings will consist of the top twenty-five players at that given position. With 32 teams and only 25 spots that means that not every team’s players will make the cut. So make sure you check in every Tuesday to see if your favorite players made the list.
These rankings are NOT a list of the players with the most established and proven careers. That would favor the older players. They are also NOT a list of the players you would most want to build around going forward. That list would favor the younger players. No, this is a ranking of the best players at that position right now, today. The NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” kind of a league. So while early in the season the list will be influenced by previous performances, if later in the year James Jones is clearly outproducing Larry Fitzgerald then their rankings will reflect that regardless of what their general perception or reputation is.
This week we are looking at the wide receivers. With the heavy emphasis on the passing game in today’s NFL the league has seen a dramatic increase in the number of quality wide receivers. Twenty years ago it would have been difficult to find 25 WRs that were truly worthy of making a list like this. Today there are so many good wideouts to choose from that limiting the list to 25 is what becomes difficult. In order to make these power rankings at this point in the season a player must either be off to a fantastic start or be perceived as one of the absolute most talented players at the position. So who has made the cut and who fell just short?
Let’s find out……
The Honorable Mentions
I didn’t feel the need to include an “honorable mention” category for either the quarterbacks or the running backs. Yes, there were a few players that were close to making the list, but by the time I got through 25 guys there wasn’t anybody left that I felt that bad about excluding. The wide receivers are different. With less than one spot per team and most teams employing three starting caliber wideouts there were plenty of great guys that didn’t make the cut. Even this honorable mention list could have been 30 players long, but here are the ten players that were closest to making this week’s rankings (in no particular order):
Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers
Michael Floyd – Arizona Cardinals
Eric Decker – New York Jets
Andrew Hawkins – Cleveland Browns
Brian Quick – St. Louis Rams
James Jones – Oakland Raiders
Golden Tate – Detroit Lions
Brandin Cooks – New Orleans Saints
DeSean Jackson – Washington Redskins
Pierre Garcon – Washington Redskins
The top 25 is next…….
No. 25-21
25. Steve Smith – Baltimore Ravens
Steve Smith would never have made my top 25 NFL WRs list before the season started. I thought his best days were behind him. Thirteen receptions and 189 yards through the first two games say otherwise. We’ll see if he can keep it up for an entire season.
24. Kelvin Benjamin – Carolina Panthers
Another WR that I was wrong about. I thought Benjamin had bust written all over him. He looked like more of a Jon Baldwin than a Vincent Jackson to me, but the early returns in Carolina are very positive. It looks like Benjamin may be Cam Newton’s top weapon for years to come.
23. Sammy Watkins – Buffalo Bills
While Benjamin’s spot on this list was a surprise for me, Sammy Watkins’ isn’t. Watkins appears to be the elite playmaker that he was advertised as. There was some doubt that EJ Manuel would be able to get him the ball enough for him to be a factor, but so far it isn’t slowing Watkins down.
22. Emmanuel Sanders – Denver Broncos
If you want to argue that Emmanuel Sanders impressive production through two games (14 receptions and 185 yards) have more to do with Peyton Manning being his quarterback and Wes Welker being out thus far, I wouldn’t argue. However, Sanders has made the most of his opportunity and his skill set seems to be a perfect fit for their offense.
21. DeAndre Hopkins – Houston Texans
If DeAndre Hopkins wasn’t on a run first team and fighting for targets with Andre Johnson he would probably get more attention. Despite those factors that are working against him he’s still totaled 111 yards and a couple of TDs. His arrow is pointing up.
No. 20-16
20. Cordarrelle Patterson – Minnesota Vikings
Cordarrelle Patterson is a dynamic playmaker that is just waiting for a real quarterback to get the ball in his hands. After being stuck with Christian Ponder, Josh Freeman, and Matt Cassel thus far in his career hopefully the Vikings will wise up and get Teddy Bridgewater on the field. If Patterson gets some good QB play, watch out.
19. Mike Wallace – Miami Dolphins
If I’m being honest, I’ve never been a huge Mike Wallace fan. Yes, he’s fast, but I’ve always seen him as a bit of a one trick pony. That having been said, Wallace has been good so far this season with twelve receptions and a couple of TDs already in the books after two games.
18. Percy Harvin – Seattle Seahawks
In terms of sheer playmaking ability, Harvin is undoubtedly in the top ten. However, the question is if the Seahawks can find a way to get him the ball as much as the WRs that are much bigger in size and stature. They did a good job in the opener against Green Bay, but not so much in their loss to the Chargers.
17. Julian Edelman – New England Patriots
Julian Edelman has quietly established himself as Tom Brady’s go to target in New England. Even with Rob Gronkowski now back, Edelman has still been the most productive player in their offense. While Edelman faces the typical “unathletic white receiver” stereotypes, his 14.7 yards per catch is right up there with some of the best in the league.
16. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals
I struggled with where to slot Larry Fitzgerald on this list. He’s such a class guy and in his prime he was one of the best WRs in the NFL, period. He’s no spring chicken and his production is a little down through two games. Is this the beginning of the end or just a bump in the road? Time will tell.
No. 15-11
15. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons
Roddy White is definitely one of the better wide receivers in the NFL. The fact that he has to share the field with one of the absolute best receivers of this generation steals a little of his spotlight. The Atlanta offense has enough passes to go around and White will be on the receiving end of plenty of them this season.
14. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts
Reggie Wayne may be one of the more underrated wide receivers of this generation. For years he was dismissed as just a product of having Peyton Manning at quarterback, but when Andrew Luck showed up it became clear that Wayne was a leader and as dependable of target as there is. Even at 35 and coming off an injury he still appears to be the Colts best weapon in the passing game.
13. Keenan Allen – San Diego Chargers
Keenan Allen slipped through the cracks a little bit in his draft class and the Chargers couldn’t be happier about it. Allen isn’t the explosive playmaker that some of the receivers on this list are, but he’s an excellent route runner and reliable player at still a very young age.
12. Vincent Jackson – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vincent Jackson is a physical freak. The only thing holding him back is an apparent lack of a reliable quarterback. If Josh McCown doesn’t improve quickly it might be time to go back to Mike Glennon. Regardless, the Bucs have to find a way to utilize Jackson’s physical talents.
11. Alshon Jeffery – Chicago Bears
Alshon Jeffery showed last season that he is as gifted as any receiver in the league. He’s been slowed a little by injuries early this season so his production isn’t quite where he probably would like it thus far, but there are plenty of games to go and Jeffery clearly has the ability to be a big time producer.
No. 10-6
10. Randall Cobb – Green Bay Packers
Randall Cobb is a dynamic playmaker in a dynamic passing offense lead by one of the best QBs in all of the NFL. Cobb already has three TDs on the season and would likely have even bigger numbers if it wasn’t for the fact that he has another top ten WR on his team competing for targets.
9. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans
Andre Johnson has been one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL for a long time. Between his age, his holdout, sharing targets with DeAndre Hopkins, being in a run first offense, and having the limited Ryan Fitzpatrick as his QB there is every reason in the world for Johnson to fall out of the top ten. His 12 receptions and 167 yards through two games say that he’s not leaving without a fight.
8. Demaryius Thomas – Denver Broncos
Demaryius Thomas is one of four most talented wide receivers in the NFL (along with AJ Green, Julio Jones, and Calvin Johnson). His production has been a little down (by his standards) in the first two games so that’s why he’s outside the top five for the time being.
7. Antonio Brown – Pittsburgh Steelers
Antonio Brown is a dynamic playmaker and Big Ben’s clear top target. Not only is Brown a guy that racks up a ton of receptions, but he can make something happen when the ball is in his hands as well. His 12 receptions and 206 yards are amongst the best in the league through two games.
6. AJ Green – Cincinnati Bengals
You know a wide receiver is good when you feel like you are slighting them by ranking them sixth best in the NFL. The fact is that AJ Green is probably one of the three best WRs in the NFL, but with an injury knocking him out for a few weeks and his production below that of those in the top five he’ll have to settle for this slot for the time being.
No. 5-1
5. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys
Dez Bryant is a dynamic playmaker. He’s sometimes made headlines for the wrong reasons, but on the field he’s always given his all and produced. Bryant already has 14 receptions in the first two games and the Dallas offense was a mess in one of those games. Bryant is one of only a couple of receivers with a legitimate shot at claiming the number one spot in these rankings.
4. Brandon Marshall – Chicago Bears
Brandon Marshall has been hurt during the first two games of the season and still has totaled 13 receptions and his four TDs is the most by a WR in the NFL. His freakish one handed snag for a TD on Sunday night was a reminder of just how good Marshall is.
3. Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers
Jordy Nelson has been off the charts good through two games in 2014. His 18 receptions leads all WRs and his 292 yards leads all the NFL. Nelson may not have the freakish athleticism of the two WRs above him on this list, but his 16.2 yards per catch show that he’s a playmaker in his own right. Nelson looks poised to have a huge break out season in 2014.
2. Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons
Julio Jones is right up there with the most physically gifted players in the NFL at any position. His combination of size, speed, hands, and leaping ability make him a dynamic weapon that is almost impossible to stop. After missing time last season with an injury, he’s back to his super star ways again this year. Jones is a definite candidate to be the best WR in the NFL this season.
1. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions
If you surveyed every defensive back in the NFL and asked them who the best wide receiver in the league is I feel pretty confident that Calvin Johnson would be the top vote getter. Megatron is listed at 6’5″ and 236 pounds but he plays even bigger. His speed for that size is scary and he simply has the ability to go up and get balls where 90% of other NFL WRs couldn’t. Johnson already has 247 receiving yards through two games. That’s on pace for almost 2000 yards for the season. For most players that number would be unrealistic, but for Megatron it’s entirely possible. That’s why he’s in the number one spot for this first WR power ranking of the season.
So there you have it. The first set of wide receiver power rankings for the 2014 season. Who do I have ranked too high? Who do I have ranked too low? Is there someone that I left out all together that you feel is deserving? This was, by far, the hardest list to do to date, so I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Thanks for reading.