As we are essentially a quarter through the NFL season, we can start really drawing significant conclusions from the data. Here are the top wide receivers in the NFL this season so far.
Michael Hickey / Getty images
As we are essentially a quarter through the NFL season, we can start really drawing significant conclusions from the data. Here are the top wide receivers in the NFL this season so far.
These rankings are through Week 4 games only, so Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore’s massive Thursday Night Football performance against the Washington Commanders does not factor in.
5. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
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39 rec, 501 yds, 1 TD
The other guys on this list were established superstars coming into the year. But, Puka Nacua does not fit that bill, at all.
The fifth-round rookie has been given an opportunity of a lifetime while superstar Cooper Kupp has been sidelined with an injury. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is a kingmaker for his preferred wide receiver target, and loves getting his top target gaudy numbers. That’s exactly what has happened in Los Angeles, as Nacua is leading the league in receptions by six catches. He’s on pace for a record-smashing 165 catch season.
Yes, he’s getting a ton of targets, but he’s earning them. The BYU alum is already one of the most crafty route runners in the league, with a knack for finding the soft spots in a defense. And, his hands are ultra-reliable, making him the perfect security blanket for Stafford. Things will get interesting in the near future when Kupp returns, but Nacua is absolutely a star.
4. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
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Stats: 33 rec, 397 yds, 3 TD
The Raiders are a disaster, but Davante Adams is showing week-in and week-out that he is destined for the Hall of Fame after his career.
Adams has been a complete wide receiver for a long time now. I would argue no one runs the entire route tree better than Adams does, especially on in-breaking routes. His willingness to get hit over the middle and make contested catches with his 6-foot-1 215lb frame makes him arguably the league’s best chain mover.
Even with subpar quarterback play in Las Vegas, Adams is putting up huge numbers and is well on his way to another All-Pro season. Whether he will spend the entirety of the season with the Raiders is unknown.
3. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
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Stats: 31 rec, 399 yds, 4 TD
It was a tumultuous offseason for Stefon Diggs and his relationship with the Buffalo Bills. Diggs appeared close to asking for a trade multiple times over the offseason. But, the two sides worked it out, and he has returned to form as one of the league’s elite receivers.
His worst game this year is a 7-66-0 performance in week 2. That’s a 1122 yard pace on 119 catches. The other three performances have all been over the 100-yard mark. And, he’s been remarkably efficient, too. He has 31 catches on just 39 targets, one of the most efficient rates in the league, and the chemistry between him and Josh Allen is as good as any pair in the league.
Like Adams, he is willing to go over the middle and take hits. But, he’s also a huge threat down the field, and does a great job on the scramble drill when Josh Allen extends plays. If he can stay healthy, he could be on pace for a career-year.
2. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
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33 rec, 543 yds, 3 TD
J Jetta, as he’s known around NFL circles, has a chance to end up as the best wide receiver in football history. Yes, he’s that good.
His 4800 receiving yards through three years coming into this year is over 600 more than the next closest receiver. And, he’s continued that pace into this season. He has three games already this year of 149 yards or more, and his worst game was a causal 6-85-0 game in week one. His worst game is All-Pro type numbers.
If we’re talking about pure feel for the position, no one has better feel than Justin Jefferson. It just seems like he’s always open and always catching the ball with his hands and high-pointing deep balls. In the same way that Jerry Rice was a natural at the position, Justin Jefferson just has an innate understanding of how to play wide receiver at a level that hasn’t been seen since Rice.
1. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
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Stats: 28 rec, 470 yds, 4 TD
It was an incredibly tough decision between Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson for the top spot. But, I think Tyreek Hill is giving defensive coordinators slightly bigger headaches than Justin Jefferson is, and that’s opening things up for his teammates.
Hill’s speed makes him arguably the league’s fastest player. But, it’s not only straight-line speed. No one in the league can change direction or make cuts at full speed like Tyreek Hill can. That kind of speed forces defense to be pretty conservative on the back-end.
The problem with playing soft against Tyreek Hill is that he’s evolved his game into being far more than just a burner. He, along with fellow Dolphin speedster Jaylen Waddle, are adept at turning underneath throws into big gains with the ability to pick up yards after the catch.
Right now, Tyreek Hill is the wide receiver keeping defensive coordinators up at night the most.