NFL Wide Receiver Rankings 2022

These are the WR rankings for 2022. There will be three sections. First off are the top 30 receivers in football heading into 2022, but then we’ll follow that with bounceback veterans — players with top-30 potential looking for a rebound — and young guys to keep an eye on — players looking to take a leap to the next step this season.

Remember that these rankings are geared toward their actual skill as football players, not their role as fantasy football assets.

(Check out my other player rankings so far: Quarterback | Cornerback | Tight Ends | Running Backs | Edge Defenders | more to come!)

1. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

An elite route runner, reliable target and versatile player, Cooper Kupp was the triple crown winner (leading the league in touchdowns, receptions and yards) and an MVP candidate last year. What is not talked about as much is his No. 1 rank in yards after the catch as well. As long as Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford are in Los Angeles, the offense will continue to run through Kupp. Not bad for a third-round pick from Eastern Washington. 

2. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders

Davante Adams is essentially “1b” in this ranking. The tiebreaker between Kupp and him is production from last season. That said, Adams is in my opinion the best route runner and release technician in the league. He can create separation with his feet and understanding of leverage and it helps that he is an incredible athlete as well. He will be without Aaron Rodgers this year, but he reunites with former college teammate Derek Carr for what can hopefully be an electric combination in the AFC west. 

3. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Despite only having one year in the league, Ja’Marr Chase is probably the best athlete in the receiver category as well as the most explosive. He had an electric 18 yards per reception last year (second in the league), 550 YAC yards and 13 touchdowns. Barring a glaring step back in 2022, I expect Chase to only get better, with his potential being the top receiver in the NFL next year.

4. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills

Stefon Diggs is the model of reliability for the Bills. In his last four seasons, he has topped 1,000 yards each year, averaging 1,227.8 yards a year. He topped 100 receptions in three of those four seasons. Plain and simple, Diggs is one of the most productive receivers of the last five years, and with the chemistry he has with Josh Allen, we can expect a similar output in 2022. 

5. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson is one of the receivers who doesn’t get talked about enough in this league. It didn’t take him much time at all to seize the No. 1 receiver role in Minnesota, filling the shoes of the departed Diggs. Essentially, the Vikings traded a 1,000-yard receiver away after 2019 and gained a younger one in Jefferson. In each of his first two seasons, he has topped 1,400 yards and gone over 15.0 yards per reception. He is one of the sharpest route runners in this league, along with some of the guys mentioned above, which is a huge reason for the strong production in his young career. 

6. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

DeAndre Hopkins had some trouble staying on the field last season and will start this season with a six-game suspension. That said, Hopkins is still an All-Pro receiver. Prior to last season, he had four straight 1,000-yard seasons, seven straight over 950. He has some of the best hands in the NFL, and with the absence of Christian Kirk, Hopkins will be leaned on quite a bit to give Kyler Murray help in Arizona.

7. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

We aren’t going to act like Michael Thomas was not at the top of all receivers before his injury-riddled last two seasons. In 2019, Thomas had a crazy 149 receptions and 1,725 yards. While he may not be the youngest, fastest or flashiest player, Thomas is one of the best receivers in the NFL when healthy. With a healthy Jameis Winston, expect Thomas to resume some type of Pro Bowl form in 2022. 

8. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers

Mr. Do It All. From a pure receiver standpoint, Deebo Samuel may not have the route-running prowess or fit the pure pure receiver archetype like some of those listed above, but he is easily the most versatile and arguably the toughest receiver in the NFL. He can line up anywhere and create separation, make catches and break tackles. He averaged 18.2 yards per catch and had 777 yards after the catch to go along with that. He also proved that he could get it done in the backfield. With the potential of Trey Lance being so dynamic, Deebo could become a bigger weapon in 2022.

9. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

Tyreek Hill moves into the AFC East this year and away from Patrick Mahomes. While he has maybe the most elite speed in the NFL, this will be something of a prove-it year for Tyreek Hill. He will look to prove that the QB doesn’t matter and that he can be just as productive (back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons) without a top-10 QB. 

10. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

A.J. Brown missed some time with injuries last season, but we shouldn’t understate how impactful he is as a receiver. He is two years removed off of a 20.2-yards-per-reception year and has topped 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in the league. Despite only playing 13 games last year, he tallied 869 yards on 63 receptions. He will look to provide some more explosiveness in an offense full of playmakers in Philadelphia. 

11. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Evans is coming off a year in which he extended his streak of 1,000-yard seasons streak to each of his first eight seasons, and he also broke the Bucs’ receiving TD record. Evans simply can’t be denied as a top-10 receiver in a league that production matters above all. 

12. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

Before last season, Dallas didn’t know necessarily where CeeDee Lamb would fit in their loaded receiving corps. However, Lamb responded in a big way, showcasing versatility, big-play potential and steady hands to the tune of 79 receptions and 1,102 yards. He became Dak Prescott’s favorite target, so much so that they traded their previous No. 1 receiver, Amari Cooper, to Cleveland this offseason. Lamb will build on a solid two years in Dallas with another big season in an offense that favors a passing approach.

13. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While Evans may be seen as the top guy to most in Tampa Bay, you can make the argument that Chris Godwin is Tom Brady’s favorite target. This is for good reason, as Godwin has posted at least 85 receptions in two of the last three years. Before the late-season ACL injury in 2021, Godwin had 1,103 yards in only 14 games. If Godwin can come back to form after the injury, the Bucs will be loaded again with pass catchers. 

14. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders

Terry McLaurin got the bag he deserved this offseason — frankly, Washington couldn’t afford to let him slip away. Despite spotty QB play throughout the year, McLaurIn was able to hall in 77 targets and 1,053 yards. He is one of the smoothest route runners in the NFL and will be a factor every year he steps onto the field.

15. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Lockett has proven to be one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL. He has provided high volume in almost every category since 2018, and it was no different in 2021 despite being without Russell Wilson for a chunk of the season. According to Player Profiler, Lockett had a 129.6 passer rating when targeted. That led to a career-high 1,175 receiving yards and 11.0 yards per target.

16. DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks

One of the true freak athletes of this era, DK Metcalf is coming off a year that saw his production slightly dip. I’m sure this is the result of the injuries and QB mishaps in Seattle. Even with a slight decline, he was able to pull in 75 receptions and 12 touchdowns. While he may be a work in progress in the technical department as a receiver, Metcalf is still one of the biggest mismatches in the NFL and an athletic phenomenon. His strength and explosiveness give him the ability to be a threat at any point in the game and his speed gives him the ability to stretch the field at an excellent rate.

17. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

Keenan Allen is one of the least talked-about receivers, but he is unquestionably one of the best true technicians of the position. Allen has an incredible ability to work through routes at any level and is one of the most reliable targets in the NFL. He excels in contested catches, garnering a 55.6% contested catch rate, per the FTN Fantasy advanced receiving stats. He has also gone over 100 receptions in four of his last five seasons. 

18. DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers

DJ Moore is the unsung hero of the Carolina offense. Year in and year out, he provides top-tier production (YPR of 18.1 in 2020) and he has gone over 1,100 yards in three straight years. With a healthy Baker Mayfield and Moore’s ability to line up everywhere and get open, expect even more production this season. 

19. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

We are starting to see Tee Higgins ascend into a No. 1 receiver in the NFL. Does having a guy like Ja’Marr Chase on the other side help? Absolutely. But it shouldn’t take away from how effective Higgins is for the Bengals. He went over 1,000 yards in his second season 2021 and did it on 74 receptions. He also provided a yards per reception of 14.7. Higgins has barely scratched the surface of his potential yet. He is a big player who makes up for his speed deficiencies with sound technical skills and strong hands. 

20. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Toledo product debuted in 2019 and finally had that breakout season that Pittsburgh expected in 2021. While drops are still somewhat an issue for Diontae Johnson, he showcased his ability to be the No. 1 guy last season with 1,161 yards on 107 receptions. If Johnson can continue to improve his ability to catch the ball, his explosiveness, intangibles and talent alone will make him a top-10 to top-15 receiver in the NFL. 

21. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

There were definite injury concerns for Jaylen Waddle coming out of Alabama in 2021. Miami rolled the dice on him anyway, and it paid off tremendously. In his rookie season, Waddle had 104 receptions and 1,015 yards with 7 touchdowns. If that doesn’t paint the picture enough, you can also add in the fact that he had 443 yards after the catch (10th most) and the sixth-highest win rate against man coverage, winning for 45% of his routes in man coverage, according to Player Profiler. Waddle provided elite speed in a way that mirrors Tyreek Hill. Now, he gets to go into his sophomore season with Hill to provide one of the fastest duos in modern NFL history. 

22. Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans

Brandin Cooks has very much been a security blanket for any quarterback he has had in his career. He is a high-volume pass catcher who understands when, where and how to get open. He also is still shifty enough to give you yards after the catch. To put in context how effective he is, Cooks has topped 1,000 yards in six of his last seven seasons and is still only 28. He was also able to do this despite never topping 100 receptions. 

23. Odell Beckham, free agent

Odell Beckham’s impact is hard to quantify. To be fair, he has not looked anywhere near the same player since he left New York after the 2018 season. That said, after Beckham landed in Los Angeles last season, he provided a much-needed threat for the Rams in place of Robert Woods. He was also on his way to a possible MVP performance in the Super Bowl before tearing up his knee again. If he does get healthy, do I think we will see Giants-era Beckham again? Probably not. But I do think you will get a reliable pass catcher, a bona fide red zone mismatch, and a high-touchdown/high-volume receiver.

24. Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers

Mike Williams is a player the Chargers simply couldn’t let walk. He complements Keenan Allen very well and could jump out as the No. 1 receiver for most teams, including these Chargers. He showcased an ability to do it all last year with 406 yards after the catch, over 1,100 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. He has an elite frame at 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds and has showcased his ability to break out and take over games in the past (2021 vs. Cleveland: 165 yards and 2 scores on 8 receptions).

25. Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders

Hunter Renfrow will get to be a part of one of the most elite groups of receiving weapons in the NFL this year with the addition of Davante Adams. Renfrow finished last season over 1,000 yards and was essentially Derek Carr’s No. 1 target due to injuries to Darren Waller and the Henry Ruggs situation. He proved to be effective in his role and showed his ability to be a strong route runner from the slot. He is not as useful lining up on the outside, but with Adams and Waller there and hopefully healthy, Renfrow will continue to get one-on-one opportunities in the slot and chances to have high production.

26. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals

The whole trio of Bengals receivers are on this list, and for good reason. All of them know their role and are effective at playing it. Tyler Boyd is no exception. Even having two 1,000-yard receivers in the lineup last year did not stop Boyd from grabbing 828 yards. What I like about Boyd is that, when he was the only guy in Cincinnati, he showed he could be the top target. He has gone over 1,000 yards twice even without Joe Burrow to throw it and has done that by being an efficient route runner at all parts of the field. He is such a strong route runner in between the hashes (slot) that the additions of Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase allow Boyd to play his natural position and not have to carry the burden of being the top guy. 

27. Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts

In the absence of Parris Campbell, Michael Pittman stepped up in 2021 and provided the ability to be a No. 1 receiver for a Colts team that needed some help. He has above-average size at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds and was able to use that size to grab 88 receptions and go over 1,000 yards last season. He provided value as a red zone target and won on 51% of his routes via Player Profiler. 

28. Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns

How Amari Cooper managed to be traded for next to nothing is still beyond me at this point. He may not have had his most productive years in Dallas, but he is still an elite route runner who can hold the spot of a team’s No. 1 receiver. He is another guy who makes my list of the top 5-7 route runners in the NFL. He has topped 1,000 receiving yards in five of his seven seasons in the league, and assuming he gets at least a decent sample of Deshaun Watson, Cooper should regain that form in 2022. 

29. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings

Adam Thielen is one of the best stories in the league and the definition of seizing an opportunity. He uses his route-running ability to create separation and when healthy, can give you high production on average volume in terms of receptions. Despite being years removed from his last 1,000-yard season (2018), he still gives you a more than reliable No. 2 option. 

30. Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots

Kendrick Bourne may be higher on this list when it is all said and done as he has grown into one of the purest route runners in the league. He brings a toughness and reliability to the Patriots that they needed in the transition to Mac Jones. Last year he provided 11.4 yards per target (second in the league to Deebo Samuel among players with at least 40 targets) and 14.5 yards per reception, totaling 800 receiving yards and adding another 125 on the ground. While he is still growing into his own since going undrafted in 2017, Bourne will continue to be a top target and safety blanket for Mac Jones in 2022. 

Bounceback Veterans

These are vets who have either battled injury or needed a change of scenery. These guys are looking to regain their form as top tier players and with a new opportunity, they can do that. 

Allen Robinson, Los Angeles Rams

I feel like it has been years since we got to see Allen Robinson torch defenses, but really he has only lacked production for one year — he topped 1,100 yards in both 2019 and 2020, averaging 100 receptions per year. He is an elite route runner and has excellent hands and technical skills. He has been hampered by injuries, inconsistent quarterback play and tough organizational situations since the start of his career. Now he joins the reigning Super Bowl champion Rams and Matthew Stafford to fill the role that Robert Woods and Odell Beckham left in 2021.

Julio Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Julio Jones battled injury issues last year in Tennessee. We were hoping to see an amazing tandem last year with him and A.J. Brown, but neither could stay healthy. Now, Jones heads to Tampa Bay to play with Tom Brady and provide another reliable target to go with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage. When he is healthy, Jones still is an excellent athlete to throw out there against just about anybody and win a route. With Brady as his QB, I don’t see how Jones doesn’t produce well in Tampa.

Robert Woods, Tennessee Titans

Robert Woods provides a clean swap for Julio Jones in Tennessee. He will be the Titans’ de facto No. 1 receiver, provided Treylon Burks does not assert his dominance early. Woods is one year removed from a 90-reception season and two removed from back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons. Coming off an ACL tear can be tough, but Woods should be able to bolster this Titans offense that already has maybe the strongest running game in the NFL. 

Young Guys to Keep an Eye On

These are young players in their first contract who were not in the top 30 receivers but will look to step into that category this season.

DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

DeVonta Smith started a little slow last season, but the Heisman winner ended up providing Jalen Hurts with some much-needed help in a lackluster receiving corps out of Philly. His best games came against the Chargers and the Chiefs, with 12 receptions on 16 targets for 238 yards in the two games combined. While he didn’t get to 1,000 yards this year, he was able to average 14.3 yards per reception. Smith will now be looked at as a main target along with A.J. Brown and will have the opportunity to be even more effective with the welcomed additions to the Philly offense. 

Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills

No one will ever forget the 4 TD game Gabe Davis put up against Kansas City in the Divisional Round last season. And rightfully so, as Davis showcased his ability to be an impact player when given the chance to be. He wasn’t a high producer in the NFL in either of his first two seasons, but he is going to be called on to fill a bigger role in 2022, and judging by his talent and explosive ability, he is on track to be a big producer in 2022.

Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears

Darnell Mooney was the lone bright spot in the Bears receiving offense last year. He has below-average size for the position but has shown that he is more than fast enough and capable of playing anywhere in that offense. He went over 1,000 yards (1,055) last year on 81 receptions. He will now look to continue to build with Justin Fields and step up as the No. 1 guy in Chicago with the departure of Allen Robinson.