After talking about the best seasons for running backs and quarterbacks, we now get to discuss wide receivers. Probably the position where the market exploded the most, with the highest average going from $20M in 2020 to $40M in 2025, finding an elite wide receiver became paramount for success.
With the wide receiver market getting more expensive by the year, front offices know that having a great pass-catcher on a cheap contract is an advantage. Also since 2020, 32 receivers have been selected in the first round.
A great receiver can make any quarterback right, adjusting to the ball and/or making that spectacular catch while covered. With a top-tier QB, though, we can see what these great receivers can do. Every player in here gave nightmares to opposing coordinators, who tried (and failed) to limit them. If Marino said you can’t defend the perfect pass, there’s also little you can’t do against a player who can catch the ball even when blanketed.
There may have never been a wide receiver MVP, but some of them got really close to it.
#10: Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints (2019)
We start the list with controversy. How is the player that catches 149 passes, breaking an all-time record, at 10th? To start, he had an average depth of target of only 8.1 and has the fewest yards per catch on the list. What he did was truly impressive, and it may take a while until someone breaks his record, but he was also force-fed, with almost 30 more targets than the other wide receivers, and a lot of short passes.
#9: Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts (2002)
Why is Marvin Harrison over Michael Thomas? Is all about the era. First of all, if I said that Michael Thomas was force-fed with 185 targets, Harrison had 205. But context is important here. Randy Moss, second in targets, had 185, while Julio Jones, second in 2019, had 157. At the beginning of the 2000s, the passing game hadn’t reached the explosive marks of the late 2010s, which makes Harrison’s statline of 143 catches, 1722 yards, and 11 touchdowns more impressive.
#8: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (2022)
What can you do against a receiver who can make this catch? The 2022 Justin Jefferson was the epitome of “just throw near him”, as he made impressive catches almost weekly. He led the league in receptions (128) and yards (1809), finished fifth in MVP voting, and won Offensive Player of the Year by a landslide. Jefferson was already one of the best receivers in the game, but his 2022 season put him on track for a future GOAT debate.
#7: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals (2024)
The first of two triple-crown winners on the list (spoiler), Chase dominated the league in 2024. Part of it was due to the Bengals having a terrible defense and needing Burrow and Chase to save the day? Yes. But you can’t diminish the fact that he achieved something extremely rare, leading the league in catches (127), yards (1708), and touchdowns (17). His 17 touchdowns are the fourth-highest mark in NFL history.
#6: Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers (2020)
Adams could’ve been higher on this list, but a hamstring injury kept him out of two games. He didn’t have eye-popping catches or yards; in fact, he’s one of two players with less than 100 yards per game here, and his 11.9 yards per catch are also the second-lowest. However, in just 14 games, Adams had 18 touchdowns. Few players reached this level of red-zone threat in a season.
#5: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (2015)
If now we have Jefferson and Chase, 10 years ago it was Jones and Antonio Brown. They alternated as the “best receiver in the league” for almost six years. 2015 was their best battle, with both having arguably their best seasons. I will get more into it in a second, but it was crazy how great their seasons were, and it was almost a coin flip to choose the fifth and fourth spot.
#4: Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (2015)
It was hard to choose between Jones and Brown, as they had extremely similar seasons. They tied for the lead with 136 catches, Jones had 40 more yards, and Brown scored 2 more touchdowns. I dare to say we’ve never seen two receivers playing at such a high level in the same season like they did. Brown was higher because he did it in fewer targets (although it was just 10) and finished higher in the OPOY voting. It’s not much, but I can’t stress enough how close they were.
#3: Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions (2012)
If you could build a receiver in a lab, you would get Calvin Johnson. He had it all, the size, speed, hands, route running, everything. He put up a show in 2012, setting a record 1964 yards that is still there. I’ve never seen another player being double-teamed AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, and probably never will. He also had a record of ten straight games with at least 100 yards. The only reason he’s third on the list is the touchdowns, as he led the league with 122 catches, 1964 yards, but had only 5 TDs.
#2: Randy Moss, New England Patriots (2007)
Another record that stood the test of time, no one has come close to Moss’s 23 touchdown receptions. Remember what I said in the beginning about a great wide receiver playing with a top-tier QB? That was Moss playing with Tom Brady. He is the only player on the list with fewer than 100 receptions, and he has the lowest yards per game as well. But this doesn’t matter when you score 23 touchdowns. To put it in perspective, just 10 quarterbacks had more touchdowns than Moss in 2007.
#1: Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams (2021)
Cooper Kupp didn’t break any records in 2021. But he had a more well-rounded season than any other receiver here. Not only was Kupp the first receiver since Steve Smith to win the triple crown, but he did that with excellent numbers across the board. His 145 catches are second in NFL history, just as his 1964 yards. His “worse” number was in touchdowns, however, his 16 tied for the fifth best in league history. Kupp may have had one good season, but he almost broke two records in it. No wide receiver had a better season than 2021 Cooper Kupp.
If you enjoyed this article please follow us here on MSN! Thank you for reading and have a great day!
