By Marvin Moore June 1, 2023
The NFL has evolved into a pass-happy league that devalues running backs while prioritizing gunslingers and pass-catchers. Compiling the top 10 receivers was not an easy task.
An eye-popping 21 receivers and one tight end eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards last year, and a trio of wideouts surpassed 1,500 yards. Eight players caught at least 100 passes in a sign of the times.
The league has a stockpile of youthful pass-catchers with the talent to rewrite the record books. Here are my picks for the 10 best wide receivers heading into the 2023 season.
10. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Kupp tallied 42 catches on 54 targets in the first four games of the 2022 season before injuries limited him to 75 receptions in just nine games. The NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 with a league-high 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns, the dynamic slot receiver is also a deep threat who is adept at running downfield routes.
9. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Waddle averaged an NFL-best 18.1 yards per reception last season while catching 75 passes for 1,356 yards and eight touchdowns despite quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missing parts of six games. The speedy wideout has posted back-to-back campaigns with 1,000-plus receiving yards, exceeding the century mark six times in 2022.
8. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Wilson hauled in 83 passes for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns from mediocre passers like Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Joe Flacco. The former Ohio State standout averaged 19 yards per catch on five different occasions and should put up monster numbers with future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers under center for the Jets this season.
7. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Lamb shined in his first season as the Cowboys’ WR1 with 107 catches for 1,359 yards and nine scores despite backup quarterback Cooper Rush starting five games. The former consensus All-American and two-time Pro Bowler has averaged 86 receptions and 1,132 yards in his first three pro seasons and should see fewer double coverages in 2023 with the speedy Brandin Cooks running deep routes.
6. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Brown enjoyed a banner campaign in his first season with the Eagles and set career highs in receptions (88), receiving yards (1,496), and touchdowns (11). One of the league’s top deep threats, the former Ole Miss star tallied 155-plus yards in three games and found the end zone in eight games. Brown should continue to put up All-Pro numbers with quarterback Jalen Hurts spearheading Philadelphia’s high-octane offense.
5. Jamarr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
The LSU product is primed for another monster season as the favorite target of quarterback Joe Burrow. Chase missed five games in his sophomore campaign but still racked up 87 receptions for 1,046 yards and nine touchdowns. The 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year has earned Pro Bowl honors in his first two seasons while tallying 2,501 yards and 22 touchdowns.
4. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
The three-time Pro Bowl wideout continued to produce at an elite level last year with 108 passes for 1,429 yards and 11 touchdowns. Diggs has caught over 100 balls in four of the past five seasons and has posted five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. A durable player who has missed only three games since 2018, he needs just 1,188 yards to reach the 10,000 career mark.
3. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Aaron who? Adams could easily be atop this list and remains one of the best pass catchers in the league. The six-time Pro Bowler earned his third first-team All-Pro selection with 100 receptions for 1,516 yards and an NFL-high 14 touchdowns. The former Fresno State standout has caught over 100 passes in four of his last five seasons while tallying 61 scores.
2. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
There is no doubt that Jefferson has a good argument as the best receiver in the league. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year led the league in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809), averaging 108 catches and 1,608 yards over three seasons. A target monster, Jefferson surpassed the 100-yard barrier a whopping ten times last year.
1. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
The “Cheetah” earned his seventh straight Pro Bowl nod with a rousing debut season in South Florida with 119 passes for 1,710 yards and seven touchdowns. Hill tallied six games with 140-plus receiving yards and was second in the league with 25 catches of 20+ yards. The ceiling for the four-time All-Pro remains uncapped if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can avoid injury.
