Analysis
9/21/23
10 min read
Ranking NFL's Top 11 Wide Receiver Rooms of 2023
The NFL is loaded with talented wide receivers. The league is in great shape, with many young stars breaking out and a few older receivers (Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams) playing better than ever.
But which team has the best wide receiver unit after Week 2 of the NFL season? Let’s look at the top 11 wide receiver corps in the NFL.
Top 11 WR Groups
11. New Orleans Saints
The most difficult team to rank here is the New Orleans Saints. When Michael Thomas is healthy, he is one of the best 10 receivers in the league. He’s missed a ton of time during the past few years, but he’s on the field now and looks pretty solid.
But the Saints’ new No. 1 receiver is Chris Olave, averaging nearly 100 yards per game this season. He's one of the NFL’s bright young stars with his polished route running with blazing speed.
But the reason the Saints make the list here over other teams like the Bills, Jets, Buccaneers and Lions is because of their No. 3 receiver, Rashid Shaheed.
In each of the last two weeks, Shaheed has made a game-changing reception to help the Saints get a win. He’s got incredible speed and is averaging more than 17 yards per reception for his career. While he’s not the most polished receiver, he is exactly what the Saints needed with Olave and Thomas.
10. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers aren't as flashy as some other units listed above, but they are highly effective and have a pretty solid résumé. Keenan Allen is still the team’s top receiver and is a threat to catch double-digit passes any week.
He's dealt with some injuries in the past few seasons, but he's already off to a hot start with 14 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Allen is primarily a slot-only receiver at this career stage, but he is still productive with Justin Herbert.
Mike Williams is a dynamic No. 2 receiver who can stretch the field with his size and speed. Like Allen, he's struggled with his durability in the past few years. But he is still a force when he's healthy.
The Chargers also have Josh Palmer, a solid No. 3 option in the middle of the field. He's not overly dynamic, but he is a rugged receiver who brings some toughness to the offense.
The Chargers are hopeful that 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston can make the unit more dangerous after the catch. But that hasn't happened yet, as he's totaled just 16 yards from scrimmage. His role in the offense will undoubtedly increase, but he's operating as the clear No. 4 receiver.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
It took two years, but the Jacksonville Jaguars have rebuilt their wide receiver corps into one of the league's best. The first significant addition was Christian Kirk, who had a breakout season in 2022.
Kirk mainly plays in the slot, but his ability to stretch the field with his speed makes him incredibly dangerous. Zay Jones was another welcomed addition because of his size and athleticism to make plays down the field.
But the most important addition was Calvin Ridley — who is already making a huge impact. Ridley has never looked better despite not playing at all during the 2022 season (suspension).
In his first two games with the Jaguars, he racked up 10 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown. He is still finding his way in the offense, but he is exactly what the Jaguars needed to take this offense to the next level.
8. Dallas Cowboys
Through two games, it’s been the CeeDee Lamb show in Dallas. Lamb has caught 15 of 17 targets for 220 yards, helping lead the Dallas Cowboys to the No. 1 scoring offense in the league (35 PPG).
Lamb has been one of the most efficient receivers in the league for several years, averaging 9.2 yards per target since 2021. That is despite playing six games with Cooper Rush. Lamb is a stud who continues to improve every season.
The only reason Dallas isn’t higher on this list is because of everyone outside of Lamb. The potential is certainly there for this group to be inside the top five.
Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup are quality players. But Cooks has missed time because of a knee injury, and Gallup is trying to find a role in the offense as the team’s No. 3 receiver. I like the upside of Jalen Tolbert, but this is a one-man show until another receiver finds a consistent role.
7. Las Vegas Raiders
Father time hasn't slowed down Davante Adams at all. In fact, his game has somehow gotten better as he's aged. Adams is coming off arguably the best season of his career when he led the NFL in receiving touchdowns.
It was his third straight season with 100-plus receptions and his second consecutive season with 1,500 or more receiving yards. He's already off to a fast start in 2023 with 12 receptions for 150 yards and a score. Adams is still one of the top receivers in the league, and that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.
The Raiders have a lot of depth at receiver, especially with the signing of Jakobi Meyers. Meyers led the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns in his first game with the Raiders. He is a fantastic fit with Adams, as he can play in the slot and on the outside.
Hunter Renfrow is the No. 3 receiver but hasn’t played much this season. The former Pro Bowl selection from 2021 is still trying to find a role in Josh McDaniels' offense, but we know he is one of the best slot-only weapons in the NFL. Don't sleep on this group; they are experienced, and all three are A+ route runners.
6. San Francisco 49ers
One of the most surprising developments from the season's first two weeks has been the development of Brandon Aiyuk in Year 4. Aiyuk had 1,000 yards last season, but his play was up and down, depending on the week. He's now the No. 1 receiver for the San Francisco 49ers and has dramatically improved as a route runner.
While Deebo Samuel is the more dynamic, flashier player, Aiyuk is the one the 49ers rely on in critical passing situations. Samuel continues to be terrifying in the open field and appears much lighter than in previous years; he has considerably more juice than last season.
He's still one of the scariest receivers in the league, and together, he and Aiyuk are one of the most fun pairings in the league.
5. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have built one of the NFL’s most fun and complete wide receiver rooms. The No. 1 weapon in the unit is DK Metcalf, who has the league’s best combination of size and speed. He's become more of a complete receiver in the last few years. He totaled 3,334 yards and 28 touchdowns in his previous three seasons.
The No. 2 receiver is Tyler Lockett – who remains one of the NFL’s most efficient players. Despite lacking great size, Lockett makes winning plays every week and is among the league’s best route runners. He scored the winning touchdown in Week 2 and remains one of the NFL’s most underrated players.
The Seahawks also added Jaxon Smith-Njigba this year to make the group more dynamic. Smith-Njigba has played primarily in the slot for the Seahawks, giving Geno Smith another weapon in the middle of the field. Outside of the Bengals, a team might not have three better options in the passing game than the Seahawks.
4. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings deserve to be high on this because of Justin Jefferson alone. Through two games, Jefferson already has 309 yards on 20 receptions and is the clear-cut best receiver in the league.
In his last 16 games, Jefferson has totaled 1,896 yards and seven touchdowns. He is nearly unstoppable in 1-on-1 coverage and just turned 24. He is a superstar in every way.
The good news for the Vikings is that Jefferson doesn't have to carry the offense alone. Jordan Addison has already made two long touchdown receptions, and his role in the offense will continue to grow.
He is a fantastic route runner with the speed to make plays down the field. K.J. Osborn is a viable No. 3 receiver, albeit unspectacular. But the Jefferson-Addison duo makes this unit special, and it’s why they are so high on the list.
3. Philadelphia Eagles
There aren’t many teams with two No. 1 receivers on their roster. But the Philadelphia Eagles certainly have that with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Brown has gotten off to a slow start, totaling just 108 yards on 16 targets. However, we know his pedigree, and it's only a matter of time before he has a monster game.
Smith has been the more productive player so far. He’s fantastic at creating chunk plays in the passing game. The only reason the Eagles aren’t higher on this list is that there isn’t a No. 3 receiver on the roster worth mentioning. Plus, they aren't quite as dynamic as Miami or Cincinnati. But the Eagles have one of the league's best one-two punches at wide receiver.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
This group hasn't had a great start, as the Cincinnati Bengals are 0-2, and their passing attack is dreadful. But there is no reason to overreact. We know what this unit can do when it's right.
Ja'Marr Chase is among the best receivers in the league and is nearly unstoppable in 1-on-1 situations. Tee Higgins bounced back in Week 2, catching eight passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
Tyler Boyd even had a strong performance against the Ravens – catching six passes for 52 yards. Better days are coming for this unit, especially once Joe Burrow overcomes his calf injury. While the Dolphins are a bit more dynamic, no team in the NFL has a better trio than the Bengals.
1. Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have now played 19 games together with the Miami Dolphins. In those 19 games, they combined for 3,541 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns.
That means the duo has averaged 186 yards per game since Hill joined the team in 2022. They are among the fastest wide receiver pairings in NFL history and are incredibly deadly after the catch.
The Dolphins don't have a clear-cut No. 3 receiver, but players such as River Cracraft and Braxton Berrios have made some plays through two games. It's still a spot they need to address moving forward, but this is the best wide receiver room in the NFL because of the two speedsters at the top.
>> READ: The Dolphins Are AFC East Favorites
Marcus Mosher is an NFL writer with a decade of experience in podcasting and writing for various NFL websites, including Bleacher Report, Pro Football Focus and The Athletic. He is currently a managing editor at USA Today Sports Media Group and the host of the Locked On Cowboys Podcast. Marcus has been working full-time covering the NFL since 2015 and works as a betting expert for Gambling.com. You can follow him at @Marcus_Mosher.
