Mike Evans
Career Stats: 122 games played (121 starts), 606 receptions, 9,301 yards, 75 TD
Mike Evans, who is in his tenth season, could retire tomorrow and be extremely happy with his performance. From the start, the Texas A&M product has been an above-average wideout. Evans, a 6-foot-5 target, has finished each of his eight seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards – his current career high is 1,524 yards in 2018. The four-time Pro Bowler is one of the league’s premier red zone threats. Evans excels at meeting the ball at its highest point, in addition to exploiting his enormous size. As a result, Evans has 75 touchdowns, including 27 in two seasons with Tom Brady at the helm of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Evans, who will be 29 when the season begins in 2022, has plenty of time to progress up the list.
Mike Evans
Charlie Joiner
Career Stats: 239 games played (211 starts), 750 receptions, 12,146 yards, 65 TD
Charlie Joiner rose from a fourth-round pick to the Hall of Fame. Joiner, a 5-foot-11 wideout from Grambling State, fell to the fourth round of the 1969 NFL Draft before being selected by the Houston Oilers. Joiner began his career as a defensive back for the Oilers before switching to receiver late in his rookie season. After a couple years with the Oilers and Bengals, Joiner joined the San Diego Chargers in 1976. Joiner had 1,056 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 50 catches that year. Joiner was an All-Pro in 1980, with 71 receptions, 1,132 yards, and four touchdowns. Joiner retired at the age of 39 after the 1986 season as the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards.
Charlie Joiner
Cooper Kupp
Career Stats: 71 games played (57 starts), 433 receptions, 5,517 yards, 40 TD
Cooper Kupp may be entering his sixth season in the NFL, but the former Eastern Washington standout has already left his mark on the record books. Kupp, who plays for the Los Angeles Rams, has gone from a good wideout to a superstar in a matter of years. Kupp won the receiving triple crown in 2021, leading the NFL with 145 catches, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns. Kupp was just as effective in the playoffs. Kupp scored a touchdown in each of Los Angeles’ four victories, including two in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl. Kupp gained 183, 142, and 92 yards in the Rams’ last three games. He was also voted Super Bowl MVP.
Cooper Kupp
Charley Taylor
Career Stats: 165 games played (157 starts), 649 receptions, 9,110 yards, 79 TD
The Washington Redskins selected Charley Taylor with the third overall choice in the 1964 NFL Draft. Taylor was a star from the minute he joined the franchise. Taylor caught 53 catches for 814 yards and five touchdowns while also running for 755 yards and five scores en route to being named the AP Rookie of the Year. Taylor led the NFL in receptions in Year 3 with 72. He repeated the feat the following year (70 catches), finishing the two-year streak with 2,109 yards and 21 receiving touchdowns. Taylor was the NFL’s all-time catches leader when he retired in 1977.
Charley Taylor
Tyreek Hill
Career Stats: 91 games played (73 starts), 479 receptions, 6,630 yards, 56 TD
Tyreek Hill cemented his spot in history over the first six seasons of his career. Hill was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs and went on to become an All-Pro as a rookie. Hill, nicknamed ‘Cheetah’ for his outstanding speed, made a habit of blowing past even the fastest defenders from the outset of his career. Hill teamed up with superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City to form one of the league’s most feared QB/WR duos. Hill was named All-Pro three times while with the Chiefs and appeared in the Pro Bowl each year. Hill was acquired by the Miami Dolphins prior to the 2022 season. We’ll see how he goes with Tua Tagovailoa instead of Mahomes at QB.
Tyreek Hill
Andre Reed
Career Stats: 234 games played (217 starts), 951 receptions, 13,198 yards, 87 TD
Andre Reed, a fourth-round pick in 1985, made the most of his opportunity with the Buffalo Bills. Reed rewrote the record books in Buffalo for 15 years and became a franchise legend. The top wideout blossomed at the same time as the team. Reed caught 269 catches for 3,825 yards and 27 touchdowns from 1990 to 1993, during Buffalo’s four-year run to the Super Bowl. Reed was selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls from 1988 to 1994.
Buffalo Bills Vs New York Jets
Anquan Boldin
Career Stats: 202 games played (198 starts), 1,076 receptions, 13,779 yards, 82 TD
Only eight wideouts in the history of the National Football League have caught more passes than Anquan Boldin. Boldin was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft after playing collegiately at Florida State. Boldin played for the Arizona Cardinals for the first seven years of his career. Boldin was a three-time Pro Bowler during that time, scoring 44 touchdowns and gaining over 7,500 yards. As a third-year player, the former Seminole led the NFL in receiving yards per game with 100.1 and set a career high with 1,402 yards. Throughout his 14-year career, Boldin remained a threat.
Anquan Boldin
Davante Adams
Career Stats: 116 games played (109 starts), 669 receptions, 8,121 yards, 73 TD
Davante Adams spent the first eight years of his career getting passes from one of the best quarterbacks of all time, Aaron Rodgers. Adams concluded three seasons in Green Bay with more than 1,300 yards. Adams had a career-high 1,553 receiving yards in his final season with the Packers in 2021. Adams has five seasons with double-digit touchdowns under his belt, including a career-high 18 in 2020. Adams, a two-time All-Pro, will now add to his resume as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Davante Adams
Hines Ward
Playoff Stats: 217 games played (190 starts), 1,000 receptions, 12,083 yards, 85 TD
Hines Ward was merely a successful football player. During his successful career, the Steelers made the playoffs eight times, including two Super Bowl victories. He was an extremely effective player in all aspects of the game. Ward does not have some of his contemporaries’ eye-popping figures. The majority of that is due to him playing for a defensive-minded Pittsburgh squad that depended heavily on the run game. As a result, Ward made an impact as a run blocker on a regular basis. Ward, perhaps most importantly, always saved his best for the most vital situations. Ward ranks eighth all-time in playoff receiving yards and has 10 career postseason touchdowns, including two in the Super Bowl.
Hines Ward
DeAndre Hopkins
Playoff Stats: 136 games played (136 starts), 789 receptions, 10,581 yards, 68 TD
DeAndre Hopkins, who is only 30 years old, has already established himself as a Hall of Famer. After only eight seasons in the league, the Houston draft pick surpassed 10,000 receiving yards in 2020. Hopkins ranks second in career receiving yards (10,581) among active NFL players, trailing only Julio Jones. His 77.8 yards per game are good for sixth all-time. Consider the quarterbacks Hopkins faced before to playing alongside Deshaun Watson and Kyler Murray. In 2017, Hopkins finished fourth in the voting for Offensive Player of the Year, a year in which Tom Savage and T.J Yates started 10 of Houston’s 16 games.
DeAndre Hopkins
Elroy Hirsch
Career Stats: 127 games played (102 starts), 387 receptions, 7,029 yards, 60 TD
Elroy Hirsch, a Hall of Famer, was unquestionably one of the best athletes of his generation. He played all around the field for both the Chicago Rockets and the Los Angeles Rams. Though he began his career as a do-it-all sort of player (rushing for 226 yards and intercepting six passes as a rookie), Hirsch spent the second half of his career as one of the league’s finest wideouts. Hirsch set an NFL record with 1,495 receiving yards in 1951, which was not broken for another 20 years.
Elroy Hirsch
Chad Johnson
Career Stats: 166 games played (135 starts), 766 receptions, 11,059 yards, 67 TD
The receiver once known as “Ochocinco” set the league ablaze in his time as a distinctive character with a dynamic skill set. From 2002 to 2007, Johnson had 1,100-plus receiving yards every year, winning five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro First-Team selections along the way. Johnson could speak a big game, but he couldn’t back it up on the field. He was a skilled route runner with sure hands. His confidence was unrivaled, and he used it to gain an advantage over the league’s finest defensive backs.
Chad Johnson
Paul Warfield
Career Stats: 157 games played (152 starts), 427 receptions, 8,565 yards, 85 TD
Paul Warfield was a premier big-play threat who could score from anywhere on the field. Warfield still has the greatest yard per reception average (20.1) among players with at least 300 receptions in the NFL. Warfield was a fast runner who could blow the top off defenses at will. Warfield was a Pro Bowler every year from 1968 to 1974, averaging 1,025 yards and 11 touchdowns per season. During Miami’s unbeaten 14-0 season in 1972, he was the team’s primary receiving option. Warfield finished the 1972 season with a Super Bowl ring, one of three NFL championships he won in his career.
Paul Warfield
Drew Pearson
Career Stats: 156 games played (143 starts), 489 receptions, 7,822 yards, 48 TD
One of the best wideouts in Dallas Cowboys history, Drew Pearson finally earned the ultimate recognition when he was named a Pro Football Hall of Famer in 2021. Pearson was a career-long Cowboy, wearing the coveted “Star” on his helmet from 1973-1983. During that time, the New Jersey native was named to three All-Pro teams. His 1,105 playoff receiving yards rank 12th all-time — Pearson notably helped the Cowboys triumph in Super Bowl XII over the Denver Broncos.
Drew Pearson
Don Maynard
Career Stats: 186 games played (159 starts), 633 receptions, 11,834 yards, 88 TD
Originally a New York Giants draft pick, Don Maynard spent the majority of his career with the New York Titans (later became the Jets). The Hall of Fame wideout surely made the Giants ever regret letting him go. From 1960-1968, Maynard played in 123 games and caught 499 passes for 9,351 yards and 78 touchdowns. Maynard ended his career as the game’s all-time leader in receiving yards (11,834). Among the 50 wideouts with at least 10,000 career yards, Maynard is one of just seven whose career began before 1980 (he was drafted in ’58). Maynard set the original standard for great WR play, and dominated the league throughout the ’60s.
Don Maynard
Reggie Wayne
Career Stats: 211 games played (197 starts), 1,070 receptions, 14,345 yards, 82 TD
Although Reggie Wayne was well-regarded coming out of Miami in 2001, the talented wideout fell to the bottom of the first round — No. 30 overall — and into the Colts’ laps. Playing alongside Marvin Harrison, it was easy to overlook Wayne early on. It wasn’t until his fourth season that he truly began to take off. After hauling in 77 passes for over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2004, Wayne rattled off six more 1,000-yard seasons in a row. Thanks to picture-perfect technique and unmatched body control, Wayne transformed into a potential Hall of Famer while catching passes from Peyton Manning.
Reggie Wayne
Andre Johnson
Career Stats: 193 games played (187 starts), 1,062 receptions, 14,185 yards, 70 TD
The Houston Texans have not enjoyed much success during their first two decades as a franchise. Unfortunately, that means that the talents of Andre Johnson were largely wasted. At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Johnson was an absolute force for much of his career. Johnson possessed a rare combo of size and speed — corners often struggle to stay with the receiver when he took off. A two-time All-Pro, Johnson twice led the league in receptions (2006, 2008) and receiving yards (2008-09). It is a shame Johnson never played with an elite quarterback.
Andre Johnson
Fred Biletnikoff
Career Stats: 190 games played (161 starts), 589 receptions, 8,974 yards, 76 TD
There’s a reason why the best collegiate receiver is awarded the Biletnikoff Award — and that’s because of this Pro Football and College Football Hall of Famer. A four-time Pro Bowler, Biletnikoff was the recipient of 76 touchdown passes throughout his career. His sure hands led to a plethora of acrobatic catches that would make Odell Beckham Jr. jealous Biletnikoff’s production in the postseason is also cemented in Raider lore. During a six-game span early on in his career, Biletnikoff recorded eight touchdowns – including a game in which he amassed 180 yards and three touchdowns against the long-time division rival Kansas City Chiefs. He finally captured that elusive Super Bowl ring in 1976, playing for arguably the greatest Raider team of all time.
Fred Biletnikoff
Lynn Swann
Career Stats: 116 games played (96 starts), 336 receptions, 5,462 yards, 51 TD
In college, Lynn Swann became an All-American at the University of Southern California and left as one of the Trojans’ all-time greats. Unsurprisingly, Swann’s production and winning ways — 1972 National Champion — followed him to the NFL. Swann’s numbers do not do him justice. Playing in an era where keeping the ball on the ground was the norm, Swann still managed to score 11 touchdowns on two occasions and played a huge role on his team. With track speed and incredible control of his body, Swann could catch anything in his vicinity and take it to the house. The Hall of Famer was also a clutch player, finishing his career with nine postseason touchdowns — including seven during Pittsburgh’s four Super Bowl-winning seasons in the 70s.
Lynn Swann
Sterling Sharpe
Career Stats: 112 games played (112 starts), 595 receptions, 8,134 yards, 65 TD
Sharpe had an immediate impact after being taken seventh overall in the 1988 NFL Draft. Sharpe was highly featured on an upstart Packers squad from the start of his career. Sharpe led all receivers in receptions (90) and was second in receiving yards (1,423) and touchdowns in his first season (12) He excelled at avoiding press coverage and was practically unstoppable once in the open field. After a pair of dismal seasons in which the Packers struggled to win, the acquisition quarterback Brett Favre helped Sharpe and the organization regain relevance. Sharpe had the best season of his career in their debut year together, with 108 grabs for 1,461 yards and 13 touchdowns. Sharpe’s career was cut short two years later after posting a 94/1,119/18 season due to a neck ailment. Sharpe’s playing days were finished at 29 after three All-Pro selections and five Pro Bowl berths in seven seasons.
Sterling Sharpe
Steve Smith Sr.
Career Stats: 219 games played (198 starts), 1,031 receptions, 14,731 yards, 81 TD
If not for an Achilles tear at the age of 38, the future Hall of Famer may have played until the age of 40. Smith, a top wideout for many years, demonstrated that height isn’t the most crucial attribute for a receiver. The veteran Panther always played with a chip on his shoulder. With his quick feet, he could escape opponents or run right through them because he wanted it more. Smith, despite being only 5-foot-9, was an all-time great chain mover with a knack for converting on third downs. Smith returned to the NFL in 2005, just one year after losing his leg, and led the league in all major receiving statistics – 103 receptions, 1,563 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Smith embodied perseverance, tenacity, and toughness during that season.
Steve Smith Sr.
Art Monk
Career Stats: 224 games played (194 starts), 940 receptions, 12,721 yards, 68 TD
Defensive backs in the 1980s had nightmares about covering Monk. Monk, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound wideout, used his body and natural quickness to overrun DBs on his route to the end zone. At the point of assault, the former Washington Redskin was physical. In the red zone, he would intimidate lesser players, boxing them out like a basketball player going for a rebound. Monk was virtually the anti-receiver; he didn’t say much s**t and he preferred to block. Given his skill set, Monk may have been switched to tight end, but he was simply too good an athlete to stay within the numbers. The three-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer was an exceptional athlete.
Art Monk
Isaac Bruce
Career Stats: 223 games played (201 starts), 1,024 receptions, 15,208 yards, 91 TD
Bruce, the least celebrated member of the Greatest Show on Turf, was a consistent performer who helped create one of the league’s greatest offenses. Bruce was arguably the best No. 2 receiver of all time, which speaks something about his talent. It requires a particular type of player to regularly perform at a high level when they are not the team’s first choice. Bruce was widely featured when he first joined the Rams. In his second season, the Memphis product was targeted 199 times, the fifth-highest number in NFL history since targets were first recorded in 1992. However, the Rams used a first-round pick on Torry Holt in 1999. Bruce moved into a supporting position and thrived on short-to-intermediate routes. His professionalism and incredible longevity propelled him to fourth all-time in career receiving yards.
Isaac Bruce
Julio Jones
Career Stats: 145 games played (144 starts), 879 receptions, 13,330 yards, 61 TD
Julio Jones might end up in the top 15 after everything is said and done. Jones, who possesses remarkable athleticism, has been a sensation in the NFL since his debut in 2011. The two-time All-Pro led the league in receptions with 136 and yards with 1,871 in 2015. Jones caught at least 83 catches and gained at least 1,394 yards from 2014 to 2019. For someone as skilled as Jones, it’s strange that he hasn’t scored more touchdowns in his career. His current season high is ten points, which he set in his second season. Jones has struggled with injuries in previous seasons, but there is hope that he will recover his form alongside Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
Julio Jones
Antonio Brown
Career Stats: 146 games played (110 starts), 928 receptions, 12,291 yards, 83 TD
Brown has been around long enough for us to start labeling him an all-time great. Brown was not a highly ranked prospect coming out of Central Michigan. He was drafted in the sixth round by Pittsburgh and saw limited action in his rookie season. Brown took it up a notch in 2011, putting together the first of several 1,000-yard seasons. Brown had at least 100 receptions every year from 2013 to 2018, topping the league in that statistic thrice. Brown’s career has been stymied by many legal issues and overall questionable behavior. First, prior to the 2019 season, the Steelers shipped Brown to Oakland. Brown was released by the team before the season began, only to be picked up by the New England Patriots. Brown was released by the Pats after just one game owing to additional legal difficulties. Brown made an impression with the Buccaneers and helped them win the Super Bowl, but his dubious behavior led to his release.
Antonio Brown
Torry Holt
Career Stats: 173 games played (158 starts), 920 receptions, 13,382 yards, 74 TD
Holt’s selection in 1999 signals the beginning of a spectacular Rams offensive dubbed “The Greatest Show on Turf.” For the next three years, St. Louis would average more than 500 points per season. Holt was the group’s home run hitter. He could score from anywhere on the field. Because he was such an excellent route runner, double teams never worried him. Every aspiring receiver who wants to improve their double moves should watch a video of Holt’s outstanding footwork and sneaky cuts. Holt went on to have six consecutive seasons with 1,300-plus receiving yards after winning the Super Bowl in his rookie year (tied for an NFL record with Julio Jones). Holt was eclipsed by better receivers at the time, and he never earned the recognition he deserved. He will, however, be remembered as a key component of an all-time great offensive.
Torry Holt
Raymond Berry
Career Stats: 154 games played (140 starts), 631 receptions, 9,275 yards, 68 TD
If you saw Berry, you’d never guess he was a football player. He was frail, had poor eyesight, and moved terribly slowly for a receiver (4.8 40-yard dash). He did, however, have the greatest set of mitts in the league. Berry was catching everything that was thrown at her. Regardless of how tough the catch was, if it hit his hands, the ball was going in. Throughout his career, he formed a special on-field relationship with Johnny Unitas, with whom he won two NFL Championships. Berry was a six-time Pro Bowler, four-time First-Team All-Pro, and led the league in receptions and receiving yards on two occasions. Not bad for a player chosen in the 20th round of the NFL Draft.
Raymond Berry
James Lofton
Career Stats: 233 games played (212 starts), 764 receptions, 14,004 yards, 75 TD
In the NFL, speed kills, and Lofton possessed wheels like no other. The collegiate long jumper was a fantastic athlete all-around, and he was taken sixth overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 1978 NFL Draft. Lofton’s top-end pace energized audiences, often leaving opponents in the dust on go routes. Nobody in the NFL could keep up with him once he got his long legs going. It was practically impossible to overthrow him – quarterbacks would simply loft the ball as far as they could in his direction, and Lofton would scorch his defender and settle securely under the ball for large gains. He was a huge fan favorite from the beginning of his career. Lofton was named to seven Pro Bowl teams during his first eight years with the Packers. He is presently rated 12th all-time in receiving yards and first among players who began their NFL careers in the 1970s.
James Lofton
Tim Brown
Career Stats: 255 games played (202 starts), 1,094 receptions, 14,934 yards, 100 TD
Tim Brown, the first receiver to win the Heisman Trophy, is deserving of a spot on this list. Brown was as dependable as any receiver of his era, earning nine Pro Bowl nods and two First-Team All-Pro awards. Brown instantly became a contributor for the Los Angeles Raiders after his remarkable last season at Notre Dame, setting the rookie record for most total yards gained (2,317). He was first utilized mostly as a return specialist, and he excelled in that capacity. Brown was lethal in the open field and had the vision of a running back, allowing him to make big plays on special teams. Brown proceeded to establish his Hall of Fame resume after finally taking over as the team’s No. 1 receiver on offense. Brown now leads the club in touchdowns (204), receiving yards (14,734), receptions (1,070), and all-purpose yards (1,070). (19,431). When you consider how many all-time great players have worn the Silver and Black, they are extremely astounding accomplishments.
Tim Brown
Michael Irvin
Career Stats: 159 games played (147 starts), 750 receptions, 11,904 yards, 65 TD
Everywhere the Playmaker went, he won. Irvin only lost three games in three seasons at the University of Miami. The Hurricanes won the Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and National Championship during that time period. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, and his Miami coach (Jimmy Johnson) was soon to follow. The pair aided in the development of the Cowboys’ dynasty in the 1990s. Irvin was excellent enough during the regular season to make five Pro Bowls, but he kept his finest games for the playoffs. Irvin, who is currently ranked third all-time in career postseason receiving yards, made plays when it counted the most on his way to three Super Bowl rings.
Michael Irvin
Cris Carter
Career Stats: 234 games played (209 starts), 1,101 receptions, 13,899 yards, 130 TD
Carter worked as a human highlight reel for the Minnesota Vikings before making his studio debut as a Fox Sports analyst. The eight-time Pro Bowler was a catching machine, capable of making even the most difficult catches appear routine. He appeared to use only one hand to finish his catches at times merely because he was bored. Because of his catch radius, he was difficult to defend in the red zone, as he consistently scored touchdowns against tight coverage. Randy Moss was drafted by the Vikings in 1998, and the pair formed one of the league’s most lethal pairings. Carter caught 25 touchdown passes during Moss’ first two seasons. CC retired as the all-time leader in both receptions (1,101) and receiving touchdowns (130).
Cris Carter
Marvin Harrison
Career Stats: 190 games played (188 starts), 1,102 receptions, 14,580 yards, 128 TD
It’s frightening to consider what kind of stats Harrison may have put up in today’s pass-happy NFL. Peyton Manning’s favorite wideout was the ultimate safety net during his illustrious 13-year career. Harrison, who was reserved and stern, didn’t have to talk trash to get an advantage over his opponents; he just let his performance do the talking. The sly receiver was quick and fluid, with a large route tree. He and Manning have the most QB-WR touchdown connections (114), and second place isn’t far behind (92). Harrison’s constancy distinguishes him from his colleagues. From 1999 until 2006, Harrison had at least 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns in every season. In 2007, he helped Indianapolis win their second Super Bowl, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
Marvin Harrison
Calvin Johnson
Career Stats: 135 games played (130 starts), 731 receptions, 11,619 yards, 83 TD
There have been many athletic players in the NFL that have come and gone, and Johnson is possibly the most athletic of them ever. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound wideout, dubbed “Megatron,” resembled a machine more than a human being. He could outmaneuver defenders in any way possible. Johnson was massive, swift (4.3 40-yard dash), and had the ability to leap like a basketball player. Johnson was open even if opponents were wrapped all over him because he could explode like no one else and make a jaw-dropping move on the ball. Johnson, who had been heralded as the next big thing, ultimately put everything together in a decisive 2012 campaign. Johnson caught 122 catches for a career-high 1,964 yards that year. He owns nearly all of the Lions’ receiving records and will almost certainly be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the near future.
Calvin Johnson
Steve Largent
Career Stats: 200 games played (197 starts), 819 receptions, 13,089 yards, 100 TD
Largent was a star receiver for the Seattle Seahawks prior to a successful political career in the United States House of Representatives. Largent lacked the measurables that teams sought in a receiver. He wasn’t exceptionally tall, fast, or strong, but he was extremely sure-handed and played with a lot of confidence. Largent was the gold standard for receivers before Jerry Rice, setting records for career receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. With his rugged play and sticky hands, he won the hearts of a devoted Seattle fan base.
Steve Largent
Lance Alworth
Career Stats: 136 games played (127 starts), 542 receptions, 10,266 yards, 85 TD
Alworth is responsible for the invention of the vertical offense. During the 1960s, the explosive Charger receiver demonstrated to the league how effective a spread approach can be with the appropriate collection of weapons. Alworth was an outside dynamo, averaging nearly 19 yards per grab over his career. He could have scored six points every time he touched the ball. With 12 70-plus yard touchdown receptions in a career, Alworth retains the record. He led the AFL in all three major receiving categories three times and is regarded as one of the finest Chargers players in franchise history.
Lance Alworth
Larry Fitzgerald
Career Stats: 263 games played (261 starts), 1,432 receptions, 17,492 yards, 121 TD
Larry Fitzgerald does not drop throws. It’s coming down for a catch if it strikes his hands. Fitz has played in 250 games with the Cardinals since 2004. The legend has been targeted 2,263 times in the 250 fights. Fitzgerald had only 29 drops in his career — he is so sure-handed that he has more tackles (39) than drops. Allow that to sink in. Fitzgerald reinvented himself well as he aged. The former third-round pick entered the league as an outside receiver capable of blowing the top off defenses. He went closer to the ball and became a skilled short route runner once he turned 30. Fitz’s most notable achievement came in the 2008 playoffs, when he established the record for most receptions (30), receiving yards (546), and receiving touchdowns (7) by a single player in a single postseason.
Larry Fitzgerald
Terrell Owens
Career Stats: 219 games played (201 starts), 1,078 receptions, 15,934 yards, 153 TD
It was a farce that Owens had to wait three years to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The brazen receiver has several run-ins with the media, but his performance on the field speaks for itself. Most receivers falter after a set number of years, while a select few are able to notice this decline early and quit before it occurs – Owens was the exception to both of these scenarios. Owens, 46, looks like he could be on an NFL squad right now. He led the Bengals in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2010 (his 15th season). With his bodybuilder physique and explosive first stride, he was an early version of Julio Jones.
Terrell Owens
Don Hutson
Career Stats: 116 games played (60 starts), 488 receptions, 7,991 yards, 99 TD
There’s undoubtedly a good reason why you have a stadium named after you. Hutson was a downfield menace with a make-you-miss wiggle and legitimate top-end speed in his day. During the 1930s and 1940s, he lived at the end zone. Hutson averaged a touchdown every 4.9 receptions, considerably outpacing all-time greats like Jerry Rice (7.8), Randy Moss (6.2), and Terrell Owens (4.9). (7.04). Hutson was the all-time receiving touchdowns leader by a large margin when he retired – every player who has subsequently passed him did not begin their career until 1976. At the time of his retirement, he held a number of other records. His most memorable performance came during his final season, when he scored four touchdowns in a single quarter against the Detroit Lions.
Don Hutson
Randy Moss
Career Stats: 218 games played (193 starts), 982 receptions, 15,292 yards, 156 TD
“The Freak” is Moss’ nickname, and it tells you everything you need to know about his game. He was a real-life recreation of a video game character. Inside a 6-foot-4 torso, 4.3 speed and a 40-inch vertical are absolutely unfathomable. Off-the-field issues pushed him to fall in the draft, but few rookies had a greater impact than Moss. The Marshall phenom scored 17 touchdowns in his first season, laying the groundwork for a legendary career. Moss was finally teamed with gunslinger Daunte Culpepper, making for a dynamic tandem, but his true potential was not fulfilled until 2007. Moss established the record most touchdown receptions in a season with Tom Brady and the strong New England offense (23). His easygoing demeanor and ability to execute long passes earned him a fan following and a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Randy Moss
Jerry Rice
Career Stats: 303 games played (284 starts), 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards, 197 TD
Rice is the be-all and end-all of receivers. Over the last two decades, every WR in the league has attempted to model a small portion of their game after him. He wasn’t the quickest, tallest, or most athletic, but he didn’t have to be. Rice had the most sure hands in football history and ran clean patterns that made it simpler for his quarterbacks to pass. Throughout his career, he utterly destroyed every record. He is 171 receptions, 5,812 yards, and 41 touchdowns ahead of the second-place finisher in each statistic. Because of his overwhelming dominance over the rest of the position, many believe him to be the greatest player of all time, regardless of position.
Jerry Rice