The NFL is full of talented receivers. Wideouts are the second-most “premier” position behind quarterback. One pass-catcher got the biggest non-QB salary in history. Here are the top 20 NFL wide receivers right now.
20. Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills
The Browns traded Cooper to the Bills just before Week 7 and the November 5 trade deadline. In the first six games of 2024, Cooper made 24 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns. He’s now played with four different franchises. In 2023 with the Browns, Cooper had a strong season with 72 receptions, 1,250 yards, and five touchdowns.
19. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Collins’ first two seasons weren’t remarkable. However, in 2023, Collins became only the third Texans receiver to record 1,200 receiving yards with his 80 receptions for 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns. In six games in 2024, Collins is off to a good start toward another strong year with 32 receptions for 567 yards and three touchdowns.
18. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Smith is one of seven receivers with 80 receptions and 1,000 yards for seven touchdowns in the past two seasons. He holds an Eagles record of 140 receiving yards in a playoff game. Smith set an Eagles rookie record with 64 passes for 916 yards and five touchdowns. In 2023, Smith had 81 receptions for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns.
17. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Samuel holds the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns by receiver with 19. In the Super Bowl era, Samuel is the only player to record 4,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in his first five seasons. Samuel led in YAC per reception for four consecutive years. 2023 stats: 60 receptions, 892 yards, and seven touchdowns.
16. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
In 2021, Kupp captured the “Triple Crown” with 145 receptions, 1,947 receiving yards, and 16 receiving touchdowns. A couple of down years followed, with a hamstring injury limiting his 2023 output, but he still managed 59 receptions, 737 yards, and five touchdowns. In 2024’s first six games, Kupp has 18 receptions, 147 yards, and one TD.
15. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
McLaurin is one of only six receivers to record 900+ receptions in each of their first five seasons. He’s also made 1,000 receiving yards in each of his last four seasons. In 2023, McLaurin made 79 receptions for 1,002 yards and four touchdowns. In 2024’s first six games, McLaurin has made 29 receptions for 356 yards and four touchdowns.
14. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
In each of his three seasons, Waddle has crossed 1,000 receiving yards. In his rookie year, he set a then-NFL record of 104 receptions. In 2023, Waddle made 72 catches for 1,114 yards and four touchdowns. In 2022, Waddle had a league-leading 18.1 yards per reception and a career-high 1,356 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
13. DJ Moore, Chicago Bears
In his rookie season of 2023, Moore made 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns. His receiving yards were the fourth most in Bear’s history. Moore is off to a good start in the first six games of 2024. He’s made 31 receptions for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Moore is averaging 10.1 yards per reception.
12. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
In his rookie year of 2023, Nacua set the record for rookie receptions with 105 and receiving yards at 1486. He also made six receiving touchdowns. In 2024, a knee injury in Week 1 has kept Nacua out of action, and he’s unlikely to return until at least Week 8 or 9.
11. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Some detractors point to Evans’ age. But last season, the five-time Pro Bowler had 79 receptions for 1255 yards and a league-tying 13 touchdowns. Evans has had ten consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards, second only to Jerry Rice’s 11. Thus far in 2024, Evans has 25 grabs for 310 yards and five TDs.
10. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Wilson is the first Jets player with more than 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two NFL seasons. Last season, Wilson caught 95 receptions for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns. In six games of 2024, Wilson has made 41 receptions for 399 yards and three touchdowns. If Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy, Wilson’s numbers should be big.
9. Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans
For the last six seasons, Diggs had 1000+ receiving yards each year. In all four seasons with Buffalo, he made at least 103 catches. Last season, Diggs had 107 receptions for 1183 yards and eight touchdowns. In six games with the Texans, Diggs has hauled in 37 receptions for 392 yards and three TDs.
8. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
In 2023, Aiyuk caught 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns. He led the NFL in receptions for first downs or touchdowns at 81.3%. Aiyuk ranked second in yards per reception at 17.9. Aiyuk caught 14 of 20 passes thrown both outside the numbers and with 15-plus air yards last season, ranking him first over the last four seasons.
7. Davante Adams, New York Jets
In 2023, despite the Raiders’ quarterback struggles, Adams made 103 receptions for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2022, Adams led the league with 14 touchdown receptions. Adams has proved himself as one of the most reliable wideouts in the NFL. He’s recorded the fifth-most receiving touchdowns in a player’s first 10 NFL seasons with 95.
6. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
In 2023, St. Brown made 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and ten touchdowns. His receptions tied for second, his receiving yards ranked third, and touchdowns tied for fourth. Last season, St. Brown had nine games with 100 receiving yards, ranking third in franchise history. He’s also one of five players to record 100 receptions for the past two seasons.
5. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
After being traded to the Eagles, Brown has finished inside the top five in receiving yards each year. Last season, Brown had 106 receptions for 1,456 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He’s surpassed 1,450 yards in two consecutive seasons and caught 18 touchdowns in 34 games. He ranks second over the last two seasons with 33 receptions for 25-plus yards.
Read More: Ranking the 30 Best NFL Quarterbacks Playing Now
4. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Last season, Chase made 100 catches for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns. What’s remarkable is that Chase has had 1,000 receiving yards or more in all three of his NFL seasons. And 2024 may be his best season yet. In six games in 2024, Chase already has 34 receptions for 565 yards and five TDs.
Read More: 20 Rising Stars in the NFL to Watch
3. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Last season, Lamb had a stellar year with 135 receptions, ranking him first in the NFL. His 1749 receiving yards ranked second, and his 12 touchdowns ranked third. Only three other players have recorded more receiving yards in their first four NFL seasons in history. Furthermore, Lamb’s numbers have improved in each of his four seasons.
Read More: The 20 Most Memorable Super Bowl Moments in History
2. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Hill led the league in receiving yards last year with 1,799 and also tied in receiving touchdowns with 13. Hill is the first receiver in NFL history to record multiple seasons of 1,700 receiving yards. In 2023, Hill had 119 receptions. He’s led the last two seasons in catching 35 passes of 25-plus yards.
Read More: The 10 Highest-Paid NFL Quarterbacks of All Time
1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
In 2023, Jefferson had 68 receptions for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. Last season, Jefferson averaged a career-high 107.4 receiving yards per game, and that was while missing seven games due to injury. He’s one of three players to have ever reached 1,000 receiving yards in ten or fewer games played.
Read More: The 15 Best NFL Rookie Seasons