Fansided

Top 25 NFL wide receivers of the 21st century

By Jarrett Bailey

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 19: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals stands on the side of the field during their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on November 19, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 19: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals stands on the side of the field during their game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on November 19, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 4: Wide receiver Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the football against safety Reggie Nelson #20 of the Cincinnati Bengals after catching a pass during a game at Heinz Field on December 4, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 35-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 4: Wide receiver Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the football against safety Reggie Nelson #20 of the Cincinnati Bengals after catching a pass during a game at Heinz Field on December 4, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Bengals 35-7. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

16. Hines Ward

This is the part where we mention that Hines Ward is one of the best blocking receivers of all time. Now that that’s out of the way, Hines Ward was also pretty decent at catching the ball, too.

Ward was drafted by Pittsburgh in 1998 out of Georgia, but he really had his breakout season in 2001.

He caught 94 passes that season for just over 1,000 yards and four touchdowns en route to earning his first Pro Bowl selection. 2002 was his best year as a pro, notching what would turn out to be career highs in catches (112), yards (1,329), and touchdowns (12). Ward made four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2001-04, and was Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite target for the majority of his time in Pittsburgh.

Ward was the MVP of Super Bowl XL, catching a touchdown from Antwaan Randle El to seal the win for Pittsburgh over Seattle. He retired with exactly 1,000 catches and over 12,000 yards. He is one of the best receivers of the 2000s, and one of the best Steelers of all time. He may not have been a prototypical receiver in terms of speed, but he was as tough as they came.

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