Best Wide Receivers in the NFL 2023 Justin JeffersoLeads thP

Best Wide Receivers in the NFL 2023: Justin Jefferson Leads the Pack, D.J. Moore Climbing the Ranks

Best Wide Receivers in the NFL 2023: Justin Jefferson Leads the Pack, D.J. Moore Climbing the Ranks

The most exciting position in theNFLhas to be wide receiver, and that naturally leads us to look at who the best WRs in the NFL are. With the receiving crown changing hands every week, its fair to ask who takes the top spot.

The distinction is ultimately meaningless, as all the top receivers add something unique to their offenses that make them go, but taking the title is always tantalizing. Lets look at who the top WR in the NFL is and where the top NFL wide receivers fall on the list after that.

Justin Jefferson can lay claim to the title of being the best receiver in the NFL. Its difficult to separate the top two receivers, but when taking into account career production and capability, Jefferson just barely gets the top spot. An accomplished technician and route runner, Jefferson is a threat at all three levels of the field and has played every position and role in the offense while remaining effective regardless.

While Jefferson has great route running, ball tracking, instinct for space, and athleticism, what makes him stand out is his preternatural body control. His highlight catches demonstrate this in a big way, but so does his ability to power through contact while always driving forward and capacity to contort his body in unusual ways to supplement his route running.

That Jefferson layers on top of all of that an incredible instinct for the sideline and first-down marker, along with an understanding of how NFL coverages work and where theyre weak, and you have the recipe for a high-level threat.

The fastest premier receiver in the NFL, Tyreek Hill combines his speed with nuanced route running, surprising strength, and a great understanding of what his quarterback wants from him. While Jefferson might be a slightly better receiver to have on a team, Hill is the one that most alters opposing defenses and makes life easy for his quarterbacks.

When the Minnesota Vikings functionally traded Stefon Diggs for Jefferson, they traded not just one top receiver for another but one with a very similar skill set but that looks a lot different.

Both are great route runners, but Diggs is more explosive in his routes and has a longer history of difficult catches. His freelancing requires a QB friendly to his style of play, but Diggs is nearly unstoppable when he has chemistry with his passer.

Its a sign of the times that the leagues best big receiver is only No. 4, but a more open NFL requires different skill sets. Luckily for A.J. Brown, he not only has his size and contested-catch ability but also speed and route-running ability to find space.

While former Ole Miss teammate DK Metcalf was lauded for his athleticism, Brown also happened to be one of the most athletic receivers in that draft and is demonstrating that in the NFL week after week.

Following the 2021 season, many would have considered Davante Adams to be the top receiver in the NFL. Truthfully, one could still make that case. But we know that Adams is at his best when winning off the release against 1-on-1 coverage, whether thats to take a slant to the house or win deep.

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Adams capacity for middle-of-the-field catches and play in space is elite but not quite to the level of the receivers above him. Of course, he makes up for it by being deadlier in the red zone than any of them. Adams is a touchdown machine, and it doesnt matter whos throwing him the ball.

Like Adams, JaMarr Chase is essentially a big with speed who can win in space but excels in contested situations and deep downfield. Sounds like the dream receiver.

Chase doesnt have the same YAC ability as Adams or instinct for space as Brown, but hes more explosive than either of them when asked to do what he does best. Chase is an incredible weapon that could muscle his way into elite territory with just a bit more refinement.

Losing high-level play from Matthew Stafford meant a small drop-off in production for Cooper Kupp, but he remains the elite slot threat and route runner that he was when he led the league in receiving yards in 2021.

Kupps athletic capability is at a high level more than many of the WRs below him on the list but not quite up to the standards of the players in the top five, limiting his explosive potential. He still generates explosives, showcasing that in his near-record season, but Kupp is better as a space player winning intermediate routes. Either way, there arent many things hes below-average at, and hes a huge asset for the Rams.

Were seeing a very gentle downward slope in DeAndre Hopkins career as he enters his 30s, but hes still a high-level player who supercharged the offense when he returned to the lineup. His calling card jump-ball catches ruined draft analysts for years as they tried to find the next Hopkins in their favorite big contested-catch receiver.

It never happened. Hopkins has a great understanding of what the offense wants him to do, and he converts his power and route running into deep-ball capability. Yet, Hopkins best work is in the red zone and at the 17-22 yard mark instead of further downfield, capping him compared to other high-level receivers.

Perhaps the most underrated receiver this year in the NFL, Tyler Lockett does a phenomenal job getting open, still plays with high-level athleticism, and remains a surprisingly good catch-point receiver.

With some of the most reliable hands in the league and a knack for space, Lockett is an improvisers best friend while also happening to play a disciplined style of football that fits timing offenses. His understanding of space extends into the red zone, one reason he ranks fourth in the NFL in receiving touchdowns.

Of all the receivers in the top 10, Deebo Samuel may have the best trump card of all of them, though it comes at the cost of being substantially less well-rounded. Samuel is a YAC machine, and he combines his speed, power, vision, and instinct for space to get it done.

Hes not as polished a route runner as others on the list, nor is he a phenomenal technician against press, but Samuel demolishes angles and provides a unique weapon. He can still break open on routes, though that is a product of his incredible explosiveness more than his technique.

Already an elite route runner out of the gate, DeVonta Smith possesses a great combination of speed and agility that has made him an asset to Jalen Hurts and allows the Eagles to attack opposing defenses in a variety of ways with multiple types of route combinations. Smith plays with physicality but doesnt have the strength to stand up to the other receivers ahead of him on the list, but hes a reliable and explosive option.

A size/speed freak in every sense of the word, Metcalf drew comparisons to Calvin Johnson coming out of his Combine workouts. Metcalfs speed, size, and acceleration lived up to that, though he doesnt have the agility or contested-catch capability of the former All-Pro.

Thats fine; Metcalf is on the verge of elite and an incredible option in Seattles offense, even if he is a bit more specialized in his route tree. He still wins jump balls at a high rate and can bail out quarterbacks when in trouble.

Maybe wed be talking about Terry McLaurin more if he benefited from better QB play. Neverthless, McLaurin averaged 82.6 yards per game after Taylor Heinicke took over in 2022. McLaurin is a speedster with good route running and great hands; that always has value.

While he could do more against contact and doesnt have the instinct for space that some other route-running mavens have, McLaurins a fantastic addition to any roster. Its a shame he doesnt play with more timing-oriented quarterbacks because he could really take off.

Its always difficult to place rookies on lists like these, and with a slightly weaker class in 2022 than in the previous two years, it feels like a risk putting one in the top fifteen. But Chris Olave has earned it despite uneven quarterback play.

Olave has a great release and gets into gear quickly, presenting the Saints with a great deep option out of the gate. He also has great ball tracking and is a good enough route runner to present threats at all three levels of the defense. With less than a season under his belt, there are very few holes in his game.

Its been an unusual year in Tampa Bay, but that doesnt take away from the talent of their receivers, who have proven what they can do in better passing environments.

Another receiver characterized by excellent body control and a good understanding of field geometry, Chris Godwin does a great job winning between the 20s and adjusting to any pass. He has incredible hands but doesnt have quite the same capacity for winning deep as other receivers on the list.

Mike Evans is an unusual player in that hes one of the most productive players ever since entering the league but has never threatened to be a top-five WR in production in any particular year.

It speaks to Evans consistency and the value of his size, contested-catch ability, and understanding of the game. Hes an underrated route runner, though his agility and speed dont always allow him to show it off. Overall, Evans is a great weapon to have, but he wont ever be the best.

If CeeDee Lamb were consistent, hed be one of the top receivers. There are some games where he gets open at will, demonstrates uncommon fluidity and after-catch speed, and showcases high-level technique to go with his athleticism.

At other times, Lamb looks clumsy, has difficulty stringing together receiver moves, and can have trouble holding on to the ball. Some of that is injury, and some of that is teams playing him more physically than hed like. But we see much more of the good than the bad with Lamb, which is how he gets on this list.

A prototypical possession receiver, Tee Higgins is a perfect fit in the Cincinnati Bengals offense, complementing Chases deep threat and Tyler Boyds underneath outlet work. Higgins makes the most of his large frame and does a good job absorbing contact throughout the route and the catch point. While he could do a little bit more to get open as a route runner, hes still developed there and is capped largely by his speed.

While Samuel stands alone as a YAC receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown might be atop the next tier of after-catch specialists. St. Brown has continued to develop, and his catch-point ability isnt too bad, either.

Most of his growth has come as a route runner, and as the Lions offense has improved its timing, he has thrived. St. Browns combination of fluidity and strength are great assets and might remind Detroit fans of Golden Tate.

Like McLaurin, Garrett Wilson suffers from a lack of consistent QB play. But when the passing game is working, hes the reason why. Wilson is great at avoiding contact as an after-catch receiver, and his agility has allowed him to find a number of ways to get open.

While his initial stem could use some work, Wilson is otherwise already becoming a complete route runner with good speed and strength. He has a high ceiling hes yet to unlock, and his feel for the game is already there.

The Atlanta Falcons decided to trade Calvin Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars after it was clear the Falcons needed to reload for 2023 without having a resolution to his suspension for gambling. That might mean that Trevor Lawrence will end up with a high-level receiver without the Jaguars having to spend a draft pick there.

Ridley is up there with the best of them when it comes to running routes and beats out other Alabama alums like Jaylen Waddle, Jerry Jeudy, and even DeVonta Smith in that category. If hes maintained his health and athleticism throughout his suspension, Ridley could rocket up the power rankings next year.

The Dolphins have extraordinary speed on their roster, and they know how to use it. Waddle is a better after-catch receiver than Hill, while Hill does a better job deep. But what really separates them are Hills developed instincts, body control, and technical route running. Nevertheless, Waddle does a lot to help teams win and can immediately turn a game.

From an undrafted free agent to thetop receiver to hit free agency in 2023, Jakobi Meyers has had quite the journey. Hes probably the slowest receiver on the list, but Meyers has incredible hands, a good sense for the ball, and is a great route runner. He wont be able to win everywhere for an offense, but even those without a deep threat, he can carry a team.

Once the standard-bearer for technicians, Keenan Allen has been hampered by injuries an issue that has plagued him since college. Allen no longer has his speed, but he does still have most of his short-area quickness, and hes a great improviser and seam-buster against zones. Allen is a reliable receiver when hes on the field, though his ability to get on it is itself a liability.

While reinvention is an incorrect way to characterize Amari Coopers career arc, he has been a different type of receiver at every stop. A speedy drop-prone WR with the Raiders turned into an efficient intermediate route runner with good hands in Dallas.

With the Browns, Cooper began winning deeper and on the sideline with contested catches. The truth is, he can be all of those things with enough focus and consistency. When he maintains his level of play, hes a fantastic player.

Like Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk is a special after-catch player who wins with both strength and agility. He does have some chops as a route runner that Samuel doesnt have and can win deep, specializing in sideline plays and seam routes up the middle of the field.

Aiyuk does well when fighting through contact for the ball and has strong hands, too. He still has more to do to develop as an intermediate and short route runner, but the instincts are there, and hes turned into a very friendly target.

Just like Aiyuk, Samuel, and Waddle, DJ Moore is a fantastic athlete that has leveraged his explosiveness and speed to turn into a great after-catch player but still lacks the finer details to be a high-level route runner.

Moores hands have been an issue, but he does make up for it by reeling in passes that should have been incomplete. Though he can moonlight as a running back at times, he doesnt have the strength of Aiyuk or Samuel and is a little more limited there. Nevertheless, Moore has been a big asset for Carolina and can threaten to score at any time.

He now finds himself as a member of the Chicago Bears after being traded in a package for the first overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

It has been fun to see Mike Williams develop into his own beyond just a possession receiver, but he seems to have topped out in his development. An alright route runner with adequate athleticism and a fantastic sense of how to find the ball, Williams can be crucial on high-leverage downs and in the red zone but doesnt always add much between the 20s.

The speed Williams had shown in college hasnt arrived in the NFL, but he still finds moments to be explosive.

There are several receivers not on this list that had more productive seasons than the rookie Drake London. But on film, London does a great job getting open and plays at a high level when the ball heads his way.

Playing with Marcus Mariota has limited Londons production, but his ability to win contested catches and reel in passes well outside of his 64 frame is worth consideration. Not only that, hes demonstrated an ability to get open beyond what many scouting reports said of him.

London still doesnt have big-play athleticism, but his ability to find space and win the ball separates him from other receivers with more well-rounded skill sets.

The Minnesota Vikings offense funnels passes toward Jefferson at the expense of everyone else correctly so so Adam Thielens production has plummeted. But he consistently gets open on plays he doesnt see targets and reels in catches at a consistent rate.

Thielen hadnt lived up to his red-zone reputation this year, and his contested-catch ability is no longer like his 2018 self, but hes only lost a little bit of his agility and none of his route running. Hes one of the best route runners in the NFL and still has good athleticism and great hands.

Michael Pittman Jr. has had to adapt to a variety of different roles as the Indianapolis Colts have cycled through many quarterbacks, all with different styles. Its to Pittmans credit that hes been productive regardless of that role, and he can power through linebackers to win in the air or get away from cornerbacks to win deep.

Pittman still has work to do as a technician, but hes improved there, too. Pittman has been overshadowed by the rest of his draft class and hidden by his teams carousel of quarterbacks, but he has been productive despite it all.

There had been a small slot receiver trend a few years ago in the NFL, but it had all died out. Nevertheless, Christian Kirk is bearing the flag carried forth at first by Wes Welker. Both demonstrate high-level route running, dynamic short-area quickness, and a good understanding of how the offense needs to operate, even as the play develops.

And both are friendly targets for their quarterbacks. While neither were consistent as pass catchers, their ability to generate first down after first down on an enormous number of targets helped keep the offense moving. Kirk shouldnt be a No. 1, but hes flourished when forced into that role.

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