Top 5 NFL Wide Receivers Playing on Championship Sunday
Rankings 1/24/23
If you look at the final four teams left in the playoffs, three of them have not only one but two outstanding wide receivers. In the case of the Kansas City Chiefs, well, they have maybe the best receiver in the game in tight end Travis Kelce.
Before I get into my top five wide receivers playing on Championship Sunday, one thing to know: This is not just about stats. If you make this list, you have to be an impact player. You have to have impact and value for your team, as well as production.
These five wide receivers meet the criteria:
1. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
134 Targets | 87 Catches | 1,046 Yards Receiving | 9 Total TDs
Chase has been doing this since he got into the NFL. Obviously, he was limited by a hip injury that slowed him down a little bit. He picked up where he left off in last year's Super Bowl run, being a top target for his team and quarterback. He is one of the most electrifying receivers in all of football.
2. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
145Â Targets | 88 Catches | 1,496 Yards Receiving | 11 Total TDs
Brown arguably has had the greatest impact for his of any player traded this past year. And what he's provided for DeVonta Smith is an opportunity to just have regular one-on-ones.
Brown is a big, bruising receiver that gets the ball in his hands and he's hard to bring down. He's like a running back. And once he gets the ball in his hands, we know what he can do down the field. Plus, he can get over the top of your defense and stretch the field. He's made life a lot easier for Jalen Hurts and that Eagles offense.
3. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
136 Targets | 95 Catches | 1,196 Yards Receiving | 7 Total TDs
Smith is a bona fide player in the NFL. He's showing us every bit of why he was a first-round draft pick. He's been special all season.
He's been a huge compliment to Brown, and they’ve both complemented Hurts very, very well. They're all integral parts of who and what this offense can look like when it's at its best. We saw last week against the Giants, Smith had big play after big play and was just letting his presence be felt all over the field.
4. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
109 Targets | 74 Catches | 1,029 Yards Receiving | 7 Total TDs
Higgins is a No. 1 receiver, and he has been an impact player since the moment he put on that Bengals helmet and jersey and took the field in Cincinnati. And once Joe Burrow got there, it was just like, "OK, let's kiss this and let's bless it."
Higgins has always been one of those deep-threat guys who can stretch the field. He's long, he's rangy, he can run routes and he has great hips. I love everything about Tee Higgins, and that’s why he is No. 4 on this list and playing on Championship Sunday.
5. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
87 Targets | 56 Catches | 632 Yards Receiving | 2 Total TDsÂ
Samuel might look like a hybrid running back and wide receiver, but the fact is, he's a true No. 1 wide receiver. He gets the ball in his hands, and he impacts the game. You have to know where he is at all times if you are a defensive back with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Honorable Mention: Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
113 Targets | 78 Catches | 1,015 Yards Receiving | 8 Total TDs
I love this young man. He is emerging to be one of the better receivers and definitely one of the better routes runners in all of football. He didn't make the top five, but he's right there.
Greg Jennings is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the Packers, Vikings and Dolphins. A two-time Pro Bowl player, Jennings was a member of the Packers’ Super Bowl XLV championship team and is inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame. Follow him on Twitter @GregJennings.