32. Tyrell Williams – Detroit Lions
2020 Stats: missed entire 2020 season due to injury
Williams was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2016, and signed with the Raiders in 2019 with the expectation that he’d be the team’s top wideout. Injuries ultimately derailed his time with the Silver & Black as he will attempt to return from a torn labrum that kept him for the entirety of 2020. There will also be some youngsters in the mix for targets – including USC standout and fourth-round pick Amon-Ra St. Brown.
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31. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown – Baltimore Ravens
2020 Stats: 16 games played, 100 targets, 58 receptions, 769 yards, 8 TD
“Hollywood” hopes that a jersey number change can be the spark he needs to live up to his first-round potential. Brown has had mixed success through two years. On one hand, the shifty playmaker has 15 TD’s through two seasons. However, he hasn’t been as consistent of a producer as the Ravens would like. Especially when you consider who Baltimore could have drafted instead – AJ Brown and DK Metcalf were second-round picks in ’19. Baltimore spent a first-round pick in last April’s draft on Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman.
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30. Henry Ruggs – Las Vegas Raiders
2020 Stats:Â 13 games played, 43 targets, 26 receptions, 452 yards, 2 TD
In his first year with the Raiders, Ruggs posted a meandering stat-line. However, advanced numbers point to the Raiders offense performing considerably better whenever Ruggs was on the field. Defenses were forced to account for his ability to take the top off the secondary, allowing the Raiders’ other pass-catchers – namely, Pro Bowl TE Darren Waller – to rack up the yards.
Still, a first-round pick for a glorified decoy is a steep price to pay. The Raiders could benefit from getting the ball in Ruggs’ hands early and often. In college, Ruggs was an enormous threat in the screen game, and QB Derek Carr excels at getting rid of the ball quickly.
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29. Corey Davis – New York Jets
2020 Stats:Â 14 games played, 92 targets, 65 receptions, 984 yards, 5 TD
Davis is coming off his best year as a pro. The former fifth overall pick set a career-high in yards, touchdowns, yards per target, and catch%. With defenses keying on Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown, Davis took the opportunity to shred No. 2 corners. All of the skills that made Davis a top-5 pick were shown in a successful 2020 campaign. He’s excellent after the catch, and he’s strong enough to shake off would-be tacklers in the open field. While his tenure with the Jets started off a bit rocky with an injury in training camp, Davis figures to be one of rookie Zach Wilson’s favorite targets.
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28. Nelson Agholor – New England Patriots
2020 Stats: 16 games played, 82 targets, 48 receptions, 896 yards, 8 TD
While tight end Darren Waller grabbed all of the headlines in Vegas (deservedly so), Nelson Agholor should be commended for his solid season. The former Eagle enjoyed the best year of his career, setting a career-high in receiving yards and matching a career-best with eight touchdowns. Agholor parlayed his success with the Raiders into a lucrative free agent deal with the Patriots – two-years/$24 million. Agholor is a legitimate deep threat who showed excellent ball-tracking skills last season.
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27. D.J. Chark – Jacksonville Jaguars
2020 Stats: 13 games played, 93 targets, 53 receptions, 706 yards, 5 TD
As a second-year player in 2019, Chark’s 67.2 yard per game average ranked him higher than Odell Beckham Jr., Tyler Lockett, Tyler Boyd, and Zach Ertz. He finished the year with over 1,000 yards and hauled in eight touchdowns. Chark didn’t quite reach those numbers this past season, but Jacksonville trotted out three different quarterbacks throughout the year. Chark should feast in 2021 with No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence at the helm.
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26. JuJu Smith-Schuster – Pittsburgh Steelers
2020 Stats: 16 games played, 128 targets, 97 receptions, 831 yards, 9 TD
The former USC alum was mostly dreadful last year. Some of that can be attributed to poor QB play, but Smith-Schuster didn’t even show the same pop after the catch as he did in 2018 and finished averaging less yards per game than teammate James Washington. With Ben Roethlisberger back at the helm, the young WR looked more like the receiver he did in ’18 — hauling in 55 more receptions and scoring six more touchdowns than he did in ’19. We could potentially see Diontae Johnson or Chase Claypool take over as the No. 1 next season.
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25. DeVonta Smith – Philadelphia Eagles
2020 Stats (college):Â 13 games played, 117 receptions, 1,856 yards, 23 TD
The Eagles spent back-to-back first-round picks on wide receivers, and they hope DeVonta Smith has a more successful rookie campaign than 2020 draft pick Jalen Reagor. The reigning Heisman trophy winner has special tools and boasts superstar potential. Though Smith is a bit slight of frame, he’s the ultimate competitor and has no problem battling with physical corners. He absolutely abused LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. (the No. 1 CB in the 2022 class) twice during his college career – going for over 200 yards in each contest.
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24. Deebo Samuel – San Francisco 49ers
2020 Stats: 7 games played, 44 targets, 33 receptions, 391 yards, 1 TD, 1 rushing TD
As a rookie, the 49ers just begun to scratch the surface of what Samuel could mean within their offense. The versatile athlete is capable of impacting the game in a multitude of ways and saw time as both a traditional wideout and as a ball-carrier out of the backfield in 2019. Samuel had 71 touches last season, and that number could potentially rise dramatically as he becomes more accustomed to Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Injuries limited Samuel to just seven games in 2020, but there is no reason to be down on the former Gamecock — Samuel will shine moving forward.
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23. Jerry Jeudy – Denver Broncos
2020 Stats:Â 16 games played, 113 targets, 52 receptions, 856 yards, 3 TD
Jeudy was the second WR taken off the board in 2020, and has a chance to be one of the top young wideouts in the league. Equipped with divine route-running skills, Jeudy enters Year 2 as a prime breakout candidate. He’ll need to clean up the dropped balls (10 as a rookie), but Jeudy has all the skills of a No. 1 wideout. With his ability to create space from defensive backs, Jeudy should enjoy a big year catching passes from Teddy Bridgewater.
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22. Ja’Marr Chase – Cincinnati Bengals
2019 Stats (college): 14 games played, 84 receptions, 1,780 yards, 20 TD
Jaylen Waddle was the draft’s top speedster, and DeVonta Smith is the reigning Heisman trophy winner, but Cincy’s Ja’Marr Chase is the most complete WR from the ’21 class. Chase will be an immediate impact player within the Bengals offense. The LSU Tiger hasn’t played since January of 2020 after sitting out all of last season. Despite missing an entire year, the Bengals took Chase as the first WR off the board – even though the team has several holes elsewhere on the roster. That speaks to the talent of the 21-year-old. The last time current Bengals QB Joe Burrow and Chase linked up, the elite QB-WR combo dominated the SEC.
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21. D.J. Moore – Carolina Panthers
2020 Stats: 15 games played, 118 targets, 66 receptions, 1,193 yards, 4 TD
Moore has a nice blend of speed and power which make him a tough player to bring down in the open field. At 5-foot-11, 215-pounds, Moore is able to shed arm tackles and pick up important yards after the catch. Moore managed to lead the Panthers in yards despite seeing 18 less targets than teammate Robby Anderson. Anderson could see an even larger target share with his former buddy Sam Darnold in the fold, but Moore will continue to be the superior big play threat. Moore’s 18.1 yard per catch average ranked first among 18 WR’s who eclipsed 1,000 yards on the year.
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20. Will Fuller IV – Miami Dolphins
2020 Stats: 11 games played, 75 targets, 53 receptions, 879 yards, 8 TD
The Dolphins have a new-look to their receiver room, with former Houston Texan Will Fuller IV now leading the charge. Fuller has been an absolute monster when he’s been healthy – like he was last year. His season was derailed after being handed a six-game suspension, but the fact that he didn’t get hurt is a plus. The Notre Dame speedster is a lethal deep threat who recorded eight scores in his final nine games of the year. Fuller will miss the first game of the 2021 season and then join a WR group that includes DeVante Parker and sixth overall pick Jaylen Waddle. That should be enough options for QB Tua Tagovailoa who enters a crucial year in his development.
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19. T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts
2020 Stats: 15 games played, 93 targets, 56 receptions, 762 yards, 5 TD
This is right around the spot where we get into the players who could either be or have already been All-Pros at one point in their career. Hilton has never graced the All-Pro team throughout his career, but the four-time Pro Bowler has been one of the most prolific receivers in the league since he burst onto the scene in 2012. From his second year up until 2018, Hilton averaged 1,206 yards per season while hauling in 33 touchdown passes. His numbers have gone down since Andrew Luck decided to step away from the game, but Hilton remains a productive option.
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18. Jarvis Landry – Cleveland Browns
2020 Stats: 15 games played, 101 targets, 72 receptions, 840 yards, 3 TD, 1 rushing TD, 1 passing TD
With Odell Beckham Jr. lost for the season early on, Jarvis Landry stepped in as Baker Mayfield’s favorite target. Landry has had a very nice career thus far, and consistently hovers around 1,000 yards. Landry is often able to shake defenders with quick, precise cuts. It is clear that Mayfield and Landry have a better connection than Mayfield/OBJ. Landry isn’t going to consistently dominate like some of the league’s top receivers do, but he is a very solid No. 1 option.
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17. Brandin Cooks – Houston Texans
2020 Stats:Â 15 games played, 119 targets, 81 receptions, 1,150 yards, 6 TD
Brandin Cooks has quietly been one of the most consistent producers since entering the league. Last year, Cooks became the second WR (Brandon Marshall) to have a 1,000 yard season for four different teams. He was excellent down the stretch for Houston, and exploded once Will Fuller IV was lost for the season. Over the final two contests, Cooks caught 18 passes for 307 yards and three scores. He had 71 receptions and 1,012 yards in his last 11 games. Whoever lines up under center for the Texans in ’21, you can expect Cooks to produce at a high level.
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16. Kenny Golladay – New York Giants
2020 Stats : 5 games played, 32 targets, 20 receptions, 338 yards, 2 TD
Golladay hopes to return to form as he joins a new team in ’21. The former Lions wideout enjoyed a breakout year two seasons ago. In his third year in the league, Golladay scored 11 touchdowns and recorded a gaudy 18.3 yard per catch average. Injuries held him to just five games last season, but all signs are pointing to a bounceback in New York. The Giants inked the top FA WR to a 4-year, $72 million deal to be Daniel Jones’ top option. Having a tall wideout who can pluck passes out of the air over smaller defenders will be a welcomed sight for the young QB.
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15. Amari Cooper – Dallas Cowboys
2020 Stats:16 games played, 130 targets, 92 receptions, 1,114 yards, 5 TD
Few players have benefited more from a change of scenery than Coop. After floundering his last couple of years in Oakland, Cooper was jettisoned to Dallas and immediately became an x-factor for the Cowboys’ high-powered offensive attack. Cooper showed flashes of brilliance during his four-year stint in Oakland, but failed to gain any sort of consistency as a pass catcher. In his first six games as a Cowboy, Cooper hauled in 40 passes for 642 yards and six scores — including an electric three-touchdown game against the rival Philadelphia Eagles. Despite Dak Prescott being out for most of 2020, Cooper once again put up big numbers for the Boys.
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14. Terry McLaurin – Washington Football Team
2020 Stats:15 games played, 134 targets, 87 receptions, 1,118 yards, 4 TD
After a stellar rookie season in which McLaurin notched 919 yards and seven touchdowns, the former Buckeye was even better in Year 2. Despite continued instability at the quarterback position — McLaurin caught passes from four QBs in 2020 — McLaurin affirmed his status as a budding star. The league is full of young, talented wideouts and McLaurin is amongst the best. In ’21, McLaurin enters the year with the best QB he’s had (Ryan Fitzpatrick) and the best No. 2 wideout he’s played with (Curtis Samuel).
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13. Cooper Kupp – Los Angeles Rams
2020 Stats: 15 games played, 124 targets, 92 receptions, 974 yards, 3 TD
Kupp continues to make teams look foolish for allowing him to fall to the 69th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Following an unbelievable career at Eastern Washington, Kupp fell due to a lack of top-end speed or elite size. He’s proven he doesn’t need either to be one of the most unguardable receivers in the entire league.
Kupp is as polished of a route runner as there is in today’s league. His ability to get in and out of cuts is spectacular, and his nuance within each route combination is top-notch. Kupp uses subtle head fakes and dekes to create separation from defensive backs, and he’s been one of the best receivers after the catch since he entered the league.
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12. Justin Jefferson – Minnesota Vikings
2020 Stats: 14 games played, 125 targets, 88 receptions, 1,400 yards, 7 TD
Justin Jefferson or Adam Thielen? Can’t go wrong with either. Jefferson led the team in yards and receptions, Thielen led the team in scores (14), and both give opposing defenses fits. The offense can go through either guy on a weekly basis, and both are capable of gashing defenses from all over the field. Jefferson is an elite talent, and has already made teams look foolish for allowing him to be the fifth WR taken off the board in last year’s draft. Jefferson’s 1,400 yards broke the rookie record which was previously held by Anquan Boldin.
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11. Keenan Allen – Los Angeles Chargers
2020 Stats: 14 games played, 147 targets, 100 receptions, 992 yards, 8 TD
One of the league’s smoothest route runners, Allen has been getting it done at the highest level for quite some time. Plagued by injuries during the portion of his career, the Chargers’ top wideout has since shook the bug and has missed just two games in four years. He’s been the epitome of consistency during that time span. Allen has been named a Pro Bowler all four years, scored at least six TDs each season, and never caught fewer than 97 passes. An interesting wrinkle in Allen’s career moving forward will now be the shake-up at quarterback in LA. Having Justin Herbert under center should prolong Allen’s peak.
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10. Calvin Ridley – Atlanta Falcons
2020 Stats: 15 games played, 143 targets, 90 receptions, 1,374 yards, 9 TD
With Julio Jones now in Tennessee, Calvin Ridley is the clear No. 1 wideout in Atlanta. The former Alabama product is entering his fourth year with the Falcons, but this will be Ridley’s first season with massive expectations. After two good seasons to start his career, Ridley exploded in 2020. With Jones battling injuries for much of the year, Ridley became Matt Ryan’s go-to target — and he responded in a big way. If Ridley can shine once again in 2021, he will be closer to the top-5.
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9. Allen Robinson – Chicago Bears
2020 Stats: 16 games played, 151 targets, 102 receptions, 1,250 yards, 6 TDÂ
Robinson doesn’t require stable QB play to show off his skills. Among the NFL’s elite group of wide receivers, none have had a more inconsistent set of hurlers tossing them the rock. From Blake Bortles to Mitch Trubisky, Robinson’s motley crew of gunslingers have been inconsistent, at best.
Chicago’s current QB situation could be the best two gunslingers Robinson has had the chance of playing with. Andy Dalton, while not spectacular, has been a consistent NFL starter and will lean on Robinson in the early going of the season. Once he’s ready to take over, the combo of Robinson and rookie QB Justin Fields could potentially light the league on fire.
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8. D.K. Metcalf – Seattle Seahawks
2020 Stats:16 games played, 129 targets, 83 receptions, 1,303 yards, 10 TD
The Seahawks have two great receivers in Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Lockett had a career-year, registering 100 receptions, 1,054 yards, and 10 touchdowns. However, Metcalf is clearly Seattle’s true No. 1. Despite catching 17 less passes, Metcalf gained nearly 300 more yards. His incredible size and speed make him a matchup nightmare. As long as Russell Wilson is throwing him the ball, Metcalf is going to be one of the league’s best receivers.
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7. Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2020 Stats: 16 games played, 109 targets, 70 receptions, 1,006 yards, 13 TD
You can’t teach size. Other receivers may have more speed, wiggle, or body control, but none of that matters when facing off against Mike Evans. Having to deal with a 6-foot-5, 230-pound freight train who can box out defenders like he’s on a basketball floor is one of the toughest assignments a cornerback can take. Evans is a red-zone monster who demands double teams anytime Tampa approaches pay-dirt. Over the last three years, Evans has scored 29 touchdowns.
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6. Michael Thomas – New Orleans Saints
2020 Stats:Â 7 games played, 55 targets, 40 receptions, 438 yards, 0 TD
In Mike Thomas’ first four seasons, the former Buckeye caught 92, 104, 125, and 149 passes. Thomas piled up between 1,137-1,725 yards and scored a total of 32 touchdowns. Quite simply, Thomas’ career is off to an absurd start. The 2020 season didn’t go as planned, as the star wideout battled injuries and disciplinary issues throughout the regular season. However, despite posting career-worst numbers, Thomas remains an elite receiver.
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5. Julio Jones – Tennessee Titans
2020 Stats:Â 9 games, 68 targets, 51 receptions, 771 yards, 3 TD
At his peak, Jones remains one of the top WR’s in the game. Prior to the 2020 season, Jones averaged 103 receptions, 1,564 yards, and six touchdowns over his previous six years. The star was limited to just nine games this past year, and still put together a season most receivers would love to have. For what’s it worth, the Titans have a fairly solid No.2 with A.J. Brown’s career skyrocketing — 70/1,075/11. Should he remain healthy, Jones should have a huge year opposite Brown in Tennessee’s offense.
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4. Stefon Diggs – Buffalo Bills
2020 Stats: 16 games played, 166 targets, 127 receptions, 1,535 yards, 8 TD
After five solid seasons in Minnesota, Diggs joined the Bills and instantly became one of the league’s premier wideouts. He’s an exquisite route runner with some of the best hands in the league and turned out to be an incredible fit for young QB Josh Allen and Buffalo’s offense. When these two are locked-in, there’s no stopping Buffalo’s high-flying offense – just ask any of the teams that faced them last season. Diggs’ 2020 season was spectacular, and he may only get better moving forward with rising star Allen throwing him the ball.
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3. Tyreek Hill – Kansas City Chiefs
2020 Stats:15 games played, 135 targets, 87 receptions, 1,276 yards, 15 TD, 123 rushing yards, 2 rushing TD
Hill is a track star playing receiver — and that’s not a knock on the Kansas City receiver. The 26-year-old is still learning the position which should be a scary thought for opposing defenses. It feels like there’s another gear in terms of route running that Hill has yet to hit. Even if he never develops into a super-charged Marvin Harrison, Hill remains a matchup nightmare and the single fastest player in football. Considering he’s part of the most explosive offense in football, Hill will continue to dominate defenses as the league’s premier big-play threat.
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2. Davante Adams — Green Bay Packers
2020 Stats: 14 games played, 149 targets, 115 receptions, 1,374 yards, 18 TD
Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target is now a four-time Pro Bowler and has emerged as one of the top wideouts in the league. Adams is a pristine runner of routes with an expansive route tree. There might not be a receiver in the league better at taking a screen pass behind the line of scrimmage, shaking his defender out of his shoes, and going for a 15-yard gain. Adams was also the highest-graded receiver on vertical routes in 2019 according to Pro Football Focus. Over the last five seasons, Adams has scored a remarkable 58 touchdowns.
He’s been attached to an all-time great quarterback for his entire career, but could that streak be coming to an end? With reports of descension between Rodgers and the front office, there could be a trade on the horizon. If Rodgers is dealt, Adams will then be on the receiving end of passes from ’20 first-round pick Jordan Love – which would be a step down, to say the least.
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1. DeAndre Hopkins — Arizona Cardinals
2020 Stats: 16 games, 160 targets, 115 receptions, 1,407 yards, 6 TD
The gifted Arizona wideout is an impossible matchup one-on-one, and has one of the largest catch radius’ the league has seen. Though a few other wideouts should be considered for this spot, Hopkins has a strong case as being the best pound-for-pound wideout given the entirety of his career. With a blue-chip signal caller in Murray at the helm, there’s no telling what Hopkins can accomplish moving forward. The NFC West has been put on notice, Hopkins and the Cardinals will be a problem.
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