Top 3 Receiving Corps in the NFL
We will take a look at the top 3 receiving options for each of the teams included.
Sources used in this article will be numbered (1) - (4). The number used corresponds to the source listed at the end of the article.
3. Arizona Cardinals
Yes, you read that right. The team that finished 22nd in the league last season averaging 217.3 passing yards per game (1) has a top 3 receiving corps. There is one clear-cut difference between last season and this upcoming season, and that is the acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins. Arguably the best receiver in the league, Hopkins finished last season with 104 receptions, 1,165 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns in 15 games (2). Along with the arrival of Hopkins, the soon to be 37 year old Cardinals legend is returning for his 17th (yes, 17th) season with the team. Larry Fitzgerald has been unbelievably reliable for the Cardinals, starting in every game for the past 5 seasons. He finished last season with 75 receptions, 804 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns (2), and has never finished a season with less than 700 receiving yards. The 3rd member of this corps is Christian Kirk. The young wideout is entering his 3rd season with the Cardinals, and despite missing 3 games last season with an ankle injury he finished the season with 68 receptions, 709 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns (2). Tasked with distributing the ball to these receivers will be 2019 number 1 overall pick Kyler Murray. Murray finished last season with 3,722 passing yards (ranked 15th in the league), 20 passing touchdowns (three-way tie for 11th in the league), and a completion percentage of 64.4% (ranked 12th among QBs with at least 350 attempts) (3). With 1 year under his belt, look for these numbers to improve in the upcoming season.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs were the most talked about team this off-season due to the additions of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. These two players joined a team that already had the most productive duo of wide receivers in the league last season in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. Godwin finished last season with 86 receptions, 1,333 receiving yards, and 9 touchdowns in 14 games (2). Evans did not finish far behind, with 67 receptions, 1,157 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns in 13 games (2). The wild card of this corps is tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronk came out of retirement to continue his career with Brady. If he is able to stay healthy, and play near his highest level, the Bucs aerial attack will be near impossible to stop. Replacing the ultimate loose cannon quarterback Jameis Winston is 6-time super bowl champion Tom Brady. Although Brady wasn’t at his best statistically last season he still finished with 4,057 passing yards (ranked 7th in the league), and 24 passing touchdowns (tied for 7th in the league) (3). He did however have one of the most inaccurate years of his career, with a completion percentage of 60.8% (ranked 22nd among QBs with at least 350 attempts) (3). You may be able to blame this accuracy issue on the lack of weapons around him, as the Patriots only had one receiver over 1,000 yards (Julian Edelman), running back James White had 645 receiving yards, and no other Patriot surpassed 400 receiving yards (4). Brady will enter this season with an almost unfair amount of offensive weapons, this will allow him to push the ball downfield more than he has in recent years with Arians’ home run style offense.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are our pick for the team with the best receiving corps in the NFL. Last season both Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup surpassed 1,100 receiving yards. Cooper finished the season with 79 receptions, 1,189 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns (2). Gallup finished the season with 66 receptions, 1,107 receiving yards, and 6 touchdowns (2) while appearing in 14 games and starting 12. With the 17th pick of the 2020 NFL draft the Cowboys added CeeDee Lamb. Lamb was the 3rd receiver taken in the draft, and many didn’t expect him to fall to the Cowboys. The 6’2, 200 pound receiver attacks the football in the air, and can catch in traffic. Lamb is talented enough to contribute largely to the Dallas passing attack in his rookie season and beyond. Back to lead the offense for the Cowboys is Dak Prescott. Last season Dak finished with 4,902 passing yards (ranked 2nd in the league), 30 passing touchdowns (ranked 4th in the league), and a completion percentage of 65.1% (ranked 11th among QBs with at least 350 attempts) (3). The Cowboys’ place at the top of this list doesn’t necessarily mean we believe they are more talented than the Bucs, but they may be more productive. Dallas has the edge with quarterback/receiver chemistry, the better offensive line, and the luxury of having a quarterback who doesn’t have to learn a new system. These reasons combined with their 3 young and talented receivers put Dallas at the top of this list.
Did we get this list right? Let us know what you think in the comments!
Sources:
(1) Team Passing Yards Per Game: …………..……. here
(2) Individual Receiving Stats: …………………...…. here
(3) 2019 Regular Season Passing Stats: ...…….….. here
(4) 2019 Patriots Receiving Stats: …………………... here
