NFL Analysis
8/14/24
17 min read
2024 NFL Power Rankings: Stacking Every Team's Receiver Room
The NFL is full of talented playmakers. The surge in demand for difference-makers in recent years has caused receivers to be paid more and taken higher in drafts. As a few all-time quarterback talents dominate the league, teams feel better surrounding playmakers can help bridge the gap in their chase for a Super Bowl.
We're ranking the best wide receiver units across the NFL in 2024 from the best to the worst. Pure talent, proven production, and complementary skills help separate the closest calls. Stars carry the most value, but depth beyond one or two big names can sink a team if the margin is small.
Which teams have the best and worst receiving units in 2024?
>> READ MORE: Preseason Team Power Rankings
2024 NFL Receiving Corps Rankings
THAT 7️⃣ TO 3️⃣ CONNECTION IS SO BACK 🔥
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 9, 2024
📺: NFL Network/ABC13 pic.twitter.com/6RztbFvCdl
1. Houston Texans 
WR room: Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Noah Brown, John Metchie III
The Houston Texans already had one of the most exciting receiver units in the league after Nico Collins and Tank Dell broke out in 2023. Adding Stefon Diggs to the unit raises the floor and ceiling for the entire group.
Diggs should thrive in the slot in one of the league's most efficient and versatile offenses. No other team can match the Texans' blend of high-end talent and depth.
2. San Francisco 49ers 
WR room: Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Danny Gray
It only makes sense for the San Francisco 49ers to keep their dominant duo of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk together as long as possible. Samuel and Aiyuk bring complementary skill sets that fully maximize this creative scheme.
Now, with 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers also have great depth. Pearsall and Jauan Jennings are quality possession receivers who are likely overqualified for their roles.
3. Miami Dolphins 
WR room: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., Malik Washington, Braxton Berrios
No team has a duo as good as the Miami Dolphins' top two of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Hill's in the midst of a Hall of Fame career and has shown no signs of slowing down soon.
Waddle could easily be a team's top playmaker but fits next to Hill as a tremendous big-play threat. The knock on this group is the lack of depth, as Odell Beckham Jr. is in the waning years of his career.
Since being drafted in 2019, D.K. Metcalf leads the NFL in End Zone Targets.
— Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg) June 18, 2024
Been tracking this for a few years. Here is All 20 of them from 2023 📽️: https://t.co/ovlfsAcuyd pic.twitter.com/rI2RApUGaR
4. Seattle Seahawks 
WR room: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jake Bobo, Laviska Shenault Jr.
Combining for 2,636 yards in 2023, the trio of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is as balanced of a group as we've seen play together. Metcalf is as physically intimidating and demanding as any playmaker in the league, and Lockett's speed has tortured defenses for the last six seasons.
Adding Smith-Njigba properly addressed the team's need for a versatile and consistent complementary piece when Metcalf and Lockett get double-teamed.
5. Chicago Bears 
WR room: DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott, Velus Jones Jr.
The Chicago Bears finally recognized their weak receiving room as a major issue and rebuilt the unit with two key acquisitions this offseason.
We haven't seen the group together yet, but Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen should bring consistently impactful playmaking to a unit that was relying heavily on DJ Moore to do all of the work. Now, the Bears have an exciting and complementary Big 3 nearly on par with anyone.
6. Cincinnati Bengals 
WR room: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Jermaine Burton, Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin
The best might be yet to come for this group, as Ja'Marr Chase is entering his prime and Tee Higgins is in a contract year. Chase and Higgins have proven themselves to be a dangerous tandem, and the hope is for either Jermaine Burton or Andrei Iosivas to fill and improve upon what Tyler Boyd brought the franchise for eight seasons.
This unit could become the best in the league if Higgins has a better year than in 2023 and if one of the unproven receivers steps up.
7. Philadelphia Eagles 
WR room: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Parris Campbell, Ainias Smith, Johnny Wilson
A.J. Brown is the best receiver who regularly gets forgotten in positional rankings. He's elite, and his 1,456 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 were a good reminder of how unstoppable he can be.
DeVonta Smith is well overqualified as a No. 2, and fills the role well. The question for this unit is, who emerges as the third option? The Philadelphia Eagles are desperately searching for an answer, bringing in Parris Campbell, Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith, and John Ross this offseason.
JUSTIN JEFFERSON CATCH OF THE CENTURY. pic.twitter.com/Cos6v0yPIC
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 13, 2022
8. Minnesota Vikings 
WR room: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield, Jalen Nailor
If Justin Jefferson isn't the best individual receiver in the NFL, he's right behind Tyreek Hill. The Minnesota Vikings have a strong unit shaped around Jefferson and 2023 first-rounder Jordan Addison.
The questions come after the young duo, as there's little to be excited about beyond them. It's a good thing Minnesota doesn't rely on spread formations like others and will utilize their tight ends and backs more than receivers.
9. Los Angeles Rams 
WR room: Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington
Cooper Kupp is aging but still terrific, so while it's a concern the 31-year-old has dealt with a myriad of injuries, his high-end impact is still possible.
Puka Nacua's emergence and the addition of Jordan Whittington were perfect for the team's scheme and the demands of the position. Nacua immediately established himself as one of the league's young stars in a record-breaking rookie campaign.
10. Green Bay Packers 
WR room: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton
Unlike other teams in this general range, the Green Bay Packers don't have an obvious star headlining the unit.
But they have four very good options with dynamic skill sets. Having four explosive No. 2-type receivers has become a huge advantage for Matt LaFleur in game planning. This group could leap again if one of its young studs becomes a true star.
11. Tennessee Titans 
WR room: DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Treylon Burks, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
The Tennessee Titans decided to overhaul their receiving room during the last year, acquiring DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd.
It wasn't a cheap set of moves, but Tennessee now has a proven group of veterans who excel in specific roles. Hopkins is still a star, and Ridley and Boyd are better complementary pieces. There's not a ton of hope left for Treylon Burks to fulfill his draft expectations, but he could become a role player.
12. Cleveland Browns 
WR room: Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman, David Bell, Jamari Thrash
Even though the Cleveland Browns have a solid receiving room, they were still looking into trading for Brandon Aiyuk. Keeping Amari Cooper isn't a bad alternative, as the veteran has been playing the best football of his career since joining the Browns.
Cleveland is hoping to get the same out of Jerry Jeudy, which would help settle the rest of their depth chart's pecking order. Youngsters Cedric Tillman and Jamari Thrash are x-factors for an even higher ceiling.
13. Detroit Lions 
WR room: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Antoine Green
The Detroit Lions have an obvious superstar in Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is undoubtedly one of the NFL's most dynamic playmakers. Everyone else on this unit is obviously talented and interesting within a certain role, but also has to prove it on a yearly basis.
Jameson Williams has the speed to take the Lions to an even higher offensive level, and it's easy to forget that Donovan Peoples-Jones produced 839 yards in 2022. This is a solid group that can continue improving.
14. Kansas City Chiefs 
WR room: Rashee Rice, Marquise Brown, Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore
The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl with what was a bottom-five receiving room last year, at best. We can't count Travis Kelce into the discussion despite his usage, but it can't be argued that anyone outside of Rashee Rice was especially dangerous.
Now, the Chiefs have two new speedy options next to Rice in Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy. Brown and Worthy aren't dominant alpha receivers, but this is now a respectable unit with much more explosiveness and possibilities.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
WR room: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Trey Palmer, Jalen McMillan, Deven Thompkins
I know Chris Godwin posted 1,024 yards and had his highest yards per catch since 2020 last year, but he physically hasn't looked the same after tearing his ACL in 2021. He's a fine possession threat with little red zone upside.
That makes this unit highly dependent on Mike Evans and rookie Jalen McMillan to create spark plays. Thankfully for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Evans is still consistently good, and McMillan was one of the more pro-ready rookies in the class.
16. New York Jets 
WR room: Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Malachi Corley, Xavier Gipson, Jason Brownlee
A lot has to go right for the New York Jets to stay ranked this highly throughout 2024. However, it's hard to put a unit with Garrett Wilson any lower, as the 24-year-old has been electric despite horrible quarterback play.
A healthy Mike Williams is still a huge home-run threat, and rookie Malachi Corley has a lot of similarities to Randall Cobb for QB Aaron Rodgers.
17. Washington Commanders 
WR room: Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Luke McCaffrey, Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown
We know Terry McLaurin is a good playmaker who has been underutilized due to bad quarterback play. It's more likely than not this entire unit will look better a year from now than today, as rookie QB Jayden Daniels will give better opportunities to everyone within the rotation.
Jahan Dotson and Dyami Brown should benefit the most from a more daring and accurate passer, so a pair of breakouts would redefine this group.
18. Las Vegas Raiders 
WR room: Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Jalen Guyton, Kristian Wilkerson
Davante Adams is still good enough to carry a receiving corps to a near-average ranking. Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker are fine as role players but would be better suited if they were pushed one spot further on the depth chart.
The Las Vegas Raiders' decision to take a flier on Michael Gallup instead of chasing after a more physically capable option already backfired, as the veteran retired at the start of training camp.
19. Dallas Cowboys 
WR room: CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, Kavontae Turpin, Ryan Flournoy
Like Las Vegas, the Dallas Cowboys are only ranked at this spot because of their superstar receiver. CeeDee Lamb is right in with the best names across the league and defines this powerful Cowboys offense.
Brandin Cooks' eight touchdowns in 2023 notwithstanding, there's just not another difference-maker across the unit. Dallas will have to rely much more heavily on tight ends in 2024 than secondary receivers.
20. Indianapolis Colts 
WR room: Michael Pittman Jr., Adonai Mitchell, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Anthony Gould
The youngest wide receiver room in the league is dripping with potential. Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs are clear building blocks for the Indianapolis Colts offense. The question is whether rookie Adonai Mitchell can immediately make an impact or if Alec Pierce, Mitchell, and Anthony Gould will be more of a rotation.
If it's the latter, it's not a great outcome in 2024 since Pierce isn't good, and Gould is a one-trick speedster.
21. New Orleans Saints 
WR room: Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Bub Means, Cedrick Wilson, A.T. Perry
There's not a ton of name recognition with the New Orleans Saints' receiving corps, but there's more speed than what's in most rooms across the league. Chris Olave is already one of the best-producing pass-catchers in the league despite being only 24, and Rashid Shaheed and A.T. Perry are elite downfield playmakers.
Can they find a consistent secondary option and be less reliant on big plays? If they can, the Saints' offense will be much better this fall.
BTJ gonna be a problem!@BrianThomas_11 | #KCvsJAX on CBS pic.twitter.com/CVCGPyoKZV
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 10, 2024
22. Jacksonville Jaguars 
WR room: Christian Kirk, Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, Devin Duvernay, Parker Washington
It's exciting to give Trevor Lawrence a downfield target like Brian Thomas Jr., given the team's issues connecting on deep attempts last year.
If Thomas can be more than that in Year 1, the Jacksonville Jaguars' receiving corps will be less predictable than what's expected. Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis are fine but unremarkable veterans.
23. Denver Broncos 
WR room: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Tim Patrick, Josh Reynolds, Troy Franklin
In theory, the Denver Broncos have a receiving corps worth this ranking. Courtland Sutton is more of a quality No. 2 receiver than a star, and Tim Patrick was a good player before missing the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Josh Reynolds was a valuable piece in Detroit and will play a role in Denver. Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims were good and productive in college, but one or both need to make an impact right away for Denver to justify being over teams with a better No. 1 option.
24. Arizona Cardinals 
WR room: Marvin Harrison Jr., Zay Jones, Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Zach Pascal
We expect Marvin Harrison Jr. to be the league's next elite receiver, so we should see signs of his ascent early in his career. The key for the unit will be the development of Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch.
Both had moments when they looked like quality role players despite taking a backseat to Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore, respectively. The Arizona Cardinals also shored up their depth by signing Zay Jones, who will be a fine backup.
25. New York Giants 
WR room: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Jalin Hyatt, Allen Robinson
If we can get a healthy season out of the New York Giants' receiving corps, this should be a competitive group that provides a massive spark to an otherwise boring offense.
Malik Nabers will be a star, and Jalin Hyatt's speed is difference-making. Darius Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson should be good role players who complement them, but health and consistency are key for them.
Ravens’ first-round pick Zay Flowers: pic.twitter.com/GEWI9Z3cyz
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 22, 2023
26. Baltimore Ravens 
WR room: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Devontez Walker, Deonte Harty
The Baltimore Ravens say they want to expand their passing game but aren't giving Todd Monken and Lamar Jackson the tools to fully evolve.
Zay Flowers demands the defense's attention, but no one else in this unit is especially dangerous. Rashod Bateman appears to be a fine possession option who lacks creativity after the catch, and neither Nelson Agholor nor Devontez Walker has the reliable hands needed to take on a bigger volume of targets.
27. Buffalo Bills 
WR room: Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mack Hollins
Losing Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are understandable pivots for the Buffalo Bills, given the dynamics that existed with the former and the inconsistencies of the latter.
Drafting Keon Coleman gives Josh Allen his first true "my ball" alpha presence, and bringing in Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins ensures the unit has a good slot option and deep-ball specialist. However, Coleman, Samuel, and Khalil Shakir are each best suited for the slot, and the group's overall athletic upside is limited. This isn't a bad group but the fit together feels a little off.
28. Atlanta Falcons 
WR room: Drake London, Darnell Mooney, KhaDarel Hodge, Ray-Ray McCloud, Jakeem Grant
The loss of Rondale Moore for the entire 2024 season hurts what the Atlanta Falcons had cooking. Drake London will be even better with Kirk Cousins than what we've seen out of him thus far, and Darnell Mooney is a good bounce-back candidate in an offense better suited for him.
However, there is a lack of talent behind them, so Atlanta will instead look toward Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson for impact plays.
29. Pittsburgh Steelers 
WR room: George Pickens, Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson, Calvin Austin III, Quez Watkins
Year 3 should be a big one for George Pickens now that Diontae Johnson isn't hogging so many targets within an anemic Pittsburgh Steelers passing game. Pickens led the NFL with 18.1 yards per catch last season, and the transition to Russell Wilson, an improved offensive line, and a much better offensive scheme, should help his trajectory even more.
The options outside of Pickens are concerning, though. Roman Wilson has the best chance to help the offense but is already dealing with an ankle injury that has caused him to miss time.
30. Carolina Panthers 
WR room: Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo, David Moore
The Carolina Panthers desperately needed a facelift to their woeful receiving corps from last year, and adding Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette qualifies.
However, it's still a questionable unit, given Johnson's decline in effectiveness during the last two years, Adam Thielen turning 34 before Week 1, and Legette being a rookie. It's possible this could become close to an average unit if Legette explodes right away and Johnson returns to form, but that seems unlikely.
31. New England Patriots 
WR room: DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn, Javon Baker
The New England Patriots don't have anyone who profiles as an obvious star, but there's a more natural pecking order and collection of skill sets tentatively in place than the bottom-ranked team.
DeMario Douglas, Ja'Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker provide a blend of sure-handedness, route-running, and positional versatility that makes it a fun trio to develop.
Veterans Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn are speedsters who can create quick separation against man coverage. No one will confuse this group as overly dangerous, but there's at least some talent that a great schemer or quarterback can elevate to be the foundation of an average unit.
32. Los Angeles Chargers 
WR room: Ladd McConkey, DJ Chark, Josh Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Brenden Rice
It's hard to have a lot of positivity around the Los Angeles Chargers' receiving corps. Ladd McConkey is hurt right now but should be a difference-maker when he's on the field.
Outside of him, DJ Chark is beating out 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston, and Josh Palmer is a mediocre contributor who has yet to fully break out entering Year 4. The Chargers will have to survive and make do with a group that lacks developmental upside and standout physical traits.
