NHL Best Bets for Tuesday (11/19)
Kenneth Le
As NFL offenses continue to evolve year-over-year, the passing game continues to become more prominent. Because of this, guys on the receiving end of those passes have become increasingly valuable. Wide receivers are one of the game’s highest paid positions, and the tight ends we consider to be the best in the game are those who haul in the most passes rather than those who serve as great blockers.
Debating the top group of pass catchers in the league is a conversation that can absolutely get a little heated when you bring it up with your fellow football fans. There’s no formula that makes this an easy, clear-cut task, and numerous variables need to be considered when ranking teams because everyone has a different perception of what’s valuable.
Would you rather have a dominant No. 1 option with a few replacement level players alongside him?
Or is it better to have multiple good, but not great, options that provide you with depth and versatility rather than star power?
There are a small handful of teams fortunate enough to have both, and they find themselves at the top of these rankings. Of course, there’s also the flip side where teams have neither a true star nor a group with an abundance of depth, and those teams find themselves at the bottom of the barrel and face an uphill battle to make a deep playoff run this upcoming season.
This list includes both WRs and TEs, but RBs did not have any influence over where teams were ranked (more on them coming soon).
Track our whole position group rankings series: Offensive Line | Defensive Line | Backfield | Linebackers | Quarterbacks | Secondary | Special Teams | Coaches and Coordinators | more to come!
2024 NFL Pass-Catcher Unit Rankings
1. San Francisco 49ers
A handful of teams have an argument for the top spot here, but San Francisco takes the cake due to their combination of star power and depth. Deebo Samuel is arguably the NFL’s best player with the ball in his hands, and the explosive element he brings to this offense is invaluable. Even though he’s upset with his current contract, Brandon Aiyuk is a dominant No. 2 who could serve as a No. 1 option in many offenses who find themselves lower on this list. Rounding out a star-studded trio is George Kittle who remains an elite option at the TE position. And just in case those three weren’t enough, the 49ers also just invested a first-round pick in WR Ricky Pearsall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Fun Stat: Deebo Samuel led all WRs in yards after the catch per reception in 2023 (8.8), while George Kittle ranked second among TEs (7.4).
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia barely misses the top spot here, but taking home silver isn’t anything to get upset about, and the Eagles still have great options at three key spots. Headlining the group is A.J. Brown – a true alpha in the apex of his prime who has a strong argument to be considered a top-five WR in the league. Then there’s Devonta Smith who’s in the conversation for the best No. 2 option in the league, and rounding out a star-studded trio is Dallas Goedert – one of the more underrated pass-catching tight ends in the league. The No. 3 receiver spot is a bit shaky in Philadelphia, but they threw a few darts at the position this offseason, both in the draft and free agency, and hope for some better support there in 2024
Fun Stat: In 2022, Brown and Smith became the first Eagles duo to both pass 1,000 receiving yards in a season. They both eclipsed that mark in 2023 as well.
3. Minnesota Vikings
While Justin Jefferson – arguably the league’s best receiver – is the headliner of the group, there’s more to this Vikings group of pass catchers than just one guy. Jordan Addison was a first-round pick in 2023 who had a great rookie year where he finished the season with 911 receiving yards. On top of that, Minnesota is home to one of the game’s best tight ends in T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson may not be at the peak of his game in 2024 as he recovers from a knee injury, but once fully healthy, he makes for a dominant trio alongside Jefferson and Addison.
Fun Stat: Justin Jefferson was one of just three players to average over 100 receiving yards per game (107.4) in 2023.
4. Miami Dolphins
If we were looking strictly at the receiver position, Miami may have taken home gold here. The duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle causes nightmares for defensive coordinators across the league, and the sheer speed they bring to the table makes them a tough matchup week in and week out. Throw in the recent addition of Odell Beckham as a solid No. 3 option, and Miami’s pass catchers are nearly as good as it gets. They likely won’t get much production from their tight end room in 2024, but that shouldn’t matter with a group of receivers this dominant.
Fun Stat: Tyreek Hill led the league in receiving yards (1,799) despite missing a game in 2023.
5. Houston Texans
The Texans passing attack really came alive in 2023 largely due to the emergence of C.J. Stroud in his rookie year. However, Stroud couldn’t do it all alone, as he got plenty of help from fellow rookie Tank Dell and Year 3 breakout Nico Collins. While Dell and Collins were great in their own right, it’s the addition of Stefon Diggs that vaults this passing game into the top five on this list. Dalton Schultz doesn’t move the needle a ton at the tight end position, but he’s a fine option, and the receiver room alone will do wonders for this Texans offense in 2024.
Fun Stat: Both Nico Collins (16.2) and Tank Dell (15.1) averaged over 15 yards per reception in 2023.
6. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati is another team with a strong case to be home to the best receiver duo in the league. Ja’Marr Chase is a bona fide stud, and Tee Higgins could be a No. 1 option for about 20 other NFL teams. Those two alone make Cincinnati’s group of pass-catching weapons one of the top groups in the league. Yes, the loss of Tyler Boyd in the slot will hurt them a tiny bit, but in the grand scheme of things, this pass catching room will still be one of the hardest in the league to defend due to the two studs who stand atop the pecking order.
Fun Stat: Ja’Marr Chase has led the Bengals in receiving and eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in each of his three NFL seasons.
7. Chicago Bears
The Bears absolutely surged up the rankings this offseason with two key additions. Keenan Allen will bring a veteran presence and a knack for getting open that will help this Chicago passing game consistently move the sticks through the air. Then they also used a top-10 pick on Rome Odunze – a stud receiver out of Washington – to round out a suddenly fantastic trio alongside DJ Moore, who had his best season as a pro in his first year in Chicago last year.
Fun Stat: DJ Moore’s 1,364 receiving yards were 645 more than the next closest Bear in 2023 (Cole Kmet had 719).
8. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks extended Tyler Lockett this offseason to keep him in Seattle for the next few seasons. This addition means the trio of Lockett, DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will remain a top 10 unit for the foreseeable future. The Seahawks don’t get much from their tight end room in the passing game, but they have more than enough juice at receiver to make up for the lack of production there, and each of their top 3 guys possess different skill sets that complement each other well stylistically.
Fun Stat: Jaxon Smith-Njigba was one of just four players to have double-digit drops in 2023.
9. Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua’s eruption onto the scene in 2023 was arguably the biggest surprise from any 2023 rookie. He wasted no time emerging as a dominant receiver right out of the gates, and (assuming good health), he and Cooper Kupp should form one of the best receiving duos in the league. The Rams lack an exciting third option at either WR or TE to put this receiver room over the top, but these two alone make Los Angeles a top pass-catching unit in the NFL.
Fun Stat: Puka Nacua’s 1,486 receiving yards broke the NFL’s record for a rookie.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another dynamic duo rounds out the top 10 on this list. The Mike Evans/Chris Godwin pairing is one that football fans have become quite familiar with over the past few seasons who really bolster this passing attack. There are some promising young options in the Bucs pass-catcher group as well – no household names just yet, but guys like Cade Otton and Trey Palmer have each provided flashes that help round out a solid group.
Fun Stat: Mike Evans has now eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in all 10 of his NFL seasons.
11. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have a very unique group of pass catchers on their team, but it’s a talented group nonetheless. Even though he may be a bit past his prime, Davante Adams is still an elite receiver who causes nightmares for opposing secondaries. Jakobi Meyers makes for a solid-yet-unspectacular No. 2 option next to him. The tight end room, though, is where things really get interesting in Vegas. In back-to-back years, the Raiders have invested high picks in Michael Mayer (35th pick in ‘23) and Brock Bowers (13th pick in ‘24) to help build a dynamic duo that can cause matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. It’ll be fun to see how the Raiders new coaching staff deploys these two young tight ends this upcoming season.
Fun Stat: Bowers was the highest drafted tight end since Kyle Pitts went fourth overall in 2021.
12. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have invested a ton in their pass-catching group in recent years, so it’s a bit underwhelming seeing them outside the top 10 on this list. Still, there’s plenty of reason to believe the arrow is pointing up as this group is still extremely young and extremely talented. Drake London looks the part of a legitimate star on the outside, and Kyle Pitts still had one of the best rookie seasons of any tight end in NFL history a few years back. The ceiling for this duo is astronomically high, and the hope in Atlanta is that Kirk Cousins (or maybe Michael Penix?) can help the team reach that sky high ceiling. There’s not another star in this pass-catching group, but Rondale Moore and Darnell Mooney are both NFL vets who help provide solid depth.
Fun Stat: Pitts is still one of only two tight ends (Mike Ditka) to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in their rookie season.
13. Detroit Lions
After signing a mega contract this offseason, Amon-Ra St. Brown confirmed he’ll be leading the Lions pass-catching group for the foreseeable future. Pairing him with breakout tight end Sam LaPorta gives Detroit two guys who dominate the short and mid areas of the field. The perfect complement to these two on paper is Jameson Williams who’s an absolute burner who really threatens the deep areas of a field. Williams hasn’t quite lived up to his draft stock just yet, but there’s still time for him to breakout, and even if he’s nothing but a field stretcher, that’s a great role to fill in this Lions offense.
Fun Stat: LaPorta’s 86 catches ranked third among all tight ends in 2023.
14. Dallas Cowboys
The presence of CeeDee Lamb alone may make Dallas’ ranking here feel low, but the Cowboys lack a great No. 2 option alongside him, so they find themselves stuck in the middle of the pack in these rankings. Yes, Lamb is an elite talent who can single handedly elevate an entire passing game, but Brandin Cooks isn’t the player he once was, and no other receiver on their team has proven anything at the NFL level. Jake Ferguson is a fine, but unexciting option at tight end, but at the end of the day Dallas needs a better No. 2 option to take this receiver room to another level.
Fun Stat: CeeDee Lamb led the NFL in catches last year (135).
15. Green Bay Packers
The Packers are the first team on this list who lack a bona fide No. 1 option in their group of pass catchers. However, what they lack in star power, they make up for with an extremely well-rounded group. All four of Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are going to have a strong argument for a lot of targets in 2024, and each adds a slightly different element to the passing game. Rounding out the group there’s a strong duo of young tight ends with Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft – both 2023 rookies who showed tons of promise in 2023.
Fun Stat: The Packers have the youngest group of pass catchers in the NFL – of the six names listed above, no player is above the age of 24.
16. Tennessee Titans
The Titans had a mission this offseason to surround Will Levis with a much-improved supporting cast on offense, and they did exactly that, specifically with some investments in the pass-catcher group. While Calvin Ridley may not be the dominant No. 1 many hoped he would one day become, he’s at worst a fantastic 1B option alongside DeAndre Hopkins. Later in free agency, the Titans also added Tyler Boyd to serve as a solid option out of the slot. Throw in some intriguing YAC options in tight end in Chigoziem Okonkwo and receiver Treylon Burks, and the Titans suddenly have a top half of the league group of pass catchers.
Fun Stat: Hopkins had more than double the receiving yards (1,057) of the next closest Titan (Okonkwo, 528) last season.
17. New York Jets
While Garrett Wilson is emerging as a bona fide star in New York, the Jets desperately needed a good No. 2 receiver to pair alongside him. They didn’t go all in on the position this offseason, but they made some strategic investments that could serve as solid complements to Wilson. First, they added Mike Williams in free agency, whose contested catch skills should make him a great threat in the red zone, and a friendly target for Aaron Rodgers, who throws a beautiful back shoulder ball. Then they invested a third-round pick in Malachi Corley to bring an intriguing YAC presence to the offense. It’s far from a perfect group, but Rodgers should now have multiple exciting options to throw to in New York.
Fun Stat: 69.6% of Corley’s receiving yards in college came after the catch.
18. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have quietly been investing more and more in the pass-catching group year over year. In Week 1, their expected trio of receivers should be headlined by Amari Cooper, who will operate alongside Elijah Moore and the Browns’ newest addition, Jerry Jeudy. Both Moore and Jeudy have shown flashes of greatness throughout their careers, but neither has emerged as a consistent option. Now that they’ll be operating in a more balanced pass-catching room – that also features 2023 breakout tight end David Njoku – they should be in roles that better fit their skill sets rather than being asked to serve as No. 1 or 2 options on a team.
Fun Stat: Njoku’s 6 touchdowns tied for second among tight ends in 2023, and he didn’t score his first until Week 7.
19. Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore has an intriguing make-up in the pass-catching room, and assuming Mark Andrews comes back healthy this year, he’ll be the one leading the group. For arguably the first time ever, the Ravens have a great option at receiver to pair with Andrews as well with 2023 rookie Zay Flowers. Outside of those two, there’s not another exciting option on the depth chart, but Isaiah Likely, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor are all serviceable options who fill out the rest of the group.
Fun Stat: Mark Andrews led all tight ends in passer rating when targeted in 2023 (133.5).
20. Kansas City Chiefs
While the Chiefs’ WR room was the butt of many jokes in 2024, that doesn’t mean it’s all the way at the bottom of this list. Even though he’s a bit past his prime, Travis Kelce is still an outstanding option for Patrick Mahomes, and the connection the two have with them is uncanny. Throw in the additions of two speedsters in Marquise Brown and first-round pick Xavier Worthy, and the pass-catching group in Kansas City will have an extra gear in 2024. Then there’s Rashee Rice, whose status entering the 2024 season is a bit of a question mark. That said, the 24-year-old looked like a true breakout candidate in the latter half of the ‘23 season.
Fun Stat: Rashee Rice’s 8.3 yards after the catch per reception ranked second among WRs in 2023.
21. Washington Commanders
Pass catcher is an area in Washington where the Commanders can feel pretty good but not great about the options they have in house. Terry McLaurin may not be elite, but he’s a legitimate No. 1 receiver. The Commanders are hoping that Jahan Dotson can emerge as a formidable No. 2 alongside him, but he needs to operate with more consistency to get there. Aside from those two, there’s not a ton to get excited about in this group of pass catchers in 2023, but Zach Ertz should come in and serve as a reliable safety valve for Jayden Daniels, even though Ertz’ best days are in the rear view mirror.
Fun Stat: McLaurin’s 1,002 receiving yards allowed him to just barely squeak past the 1,000-yard mark in 2023 – a threshold he’s now eclipsed in four straight seasons.
22. Arizona Cardinals
It’s hard to bank on a rookie receiver completely changing the dynamic of an entire pass-catching group, but Marvin Harrison Jr. is no ordinary rookie. The No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is expected to step in and immediately serve as a top-tier No. 1 option in Arizona. If he lives up to the hype, the Cardinals will find themselves ranked much higher on this list next year. Outside of Harrison, tight end Trey McBride is the next most exciting piece in this passing attack, and he experienced a major breakout this past season. Rounding out the core pass catchers will be Michael Wilson, who also showed flashes in his rookie season, and Zay Jones, a veteran who should serve as a safe yet unexciting No. 3 or 4 option in this offense.
Fun Stat: McBride doubled his per-game catch totals over the second half of the season (6.1) compared to the first half (3.1) in 2023.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars receiver group took a major step back when it lost Calvin Ridley to free agency this year. They’re hoping that rookie first-rounder Brian Thomas Jr. can come in and help fill much of the void left by Ridley though. Alongside Thomas, Christian Kirk makes for an explosive option out of the slot who appears to be a favorite target of Trevor Lawrence. Then there’s Evan Engram, who was quietly one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL last season. The group in Jacksonville lacks some star power, but there are solid contributors, and if Thomas can be the star they hope he can be, that will drastically raise the ceiling of this entire group.
Fun Stat: Evan Engram led all TEs in receptions in 2023 (114).
24. Indianapolis Colts
Michael Pittman had a breakout year in Indianapolis where he proved capable of serving as a legitimate No. 1 option in the passing game (and ended up getting paid accordingly). Alongside Pittman, rookie Josh Downs emerged as a solid option in the slot who should only improve more with experience. In addition to those two, the Colts added Adonai Mitchell – who many believed was a first-round talent – in the second round of this year’s draft. The Colts won’t be getting much from their tight end group in the passing game this year, but if Mitchell steps in and contributes right away and Downs continues progressing, the receiver room alone could become a group worth getting excited about.
Fun Stat: No receiver on the Colts had more than 4 receiving touchdowns (Pittman) in 2023.
25. New Orleans Saints
The Saints have an intriguing group of pass catchers, and Chris Olave is the most exciting option of the bunch. His blazing speed and crisp routes make him a nightmare to defend, but he’s still not quite in the elite category of NFL receivers, and the talent around him isn’t much to get excited about in New Orleans. Cedrick Wilson is a reliable veteran who can man the slot position, and Rashid Shaheed is an exciting young player who hasn’t quite developed into a consistent player at this point in his career but could take a step forward in 2024. The tight end room isn’t something to get excited about either – unless of course you consider Taysom Hill a tight end and love his versatility as much as Sean Payton does.
Fun Stat: Chris Olave (5.1) was the only pass catcher in New Orleans to average over 4 catches per game last season.
26. New York Giants
The Giants have sorely lacked a dominant pass-catching option ever since Odell Beckham Jr. left the team. New York fans are excited about that trend being a thing of the past now that No. 6 overall pick Malik Nabers is in town. Nabers is a dominant receiving prospect who should immediately add a much-needed explosive element to the Giants’ offense. There’s not a ton outside of Nabers to get excited about in New York’s passing catcher group though. 2023 rookie Jalin Hyatt adds an intriguing speed element to the offense, and Darren Waller (if he can stay healthy) makes for a solid option as a pass catching tight end. Outside of those names, Wan’Dale Robinson can play a role as an intriguing option in the slot.
Fun Stat: Jalin Hyatt was far and away the league leader in average depth of target (21.0 yards), topping the No. 2 Tre Tucker by a full 2.5 yards.
27. Pittsburgh Steelers
It feels bizarre that the Steelers, a team known for drafting receivers well, find themselves this low on the pass-catcher rankings. They’ve moved on from a lot of top receiving talent lately and are putting a lot of faith in George Pickens being able to step up as a No. 1 option. He’s been a highlight machine since entering the league, but he still needs to prove that he can be a more reliable option on a down-to-down basis. Alongside Pickens, Pat Freiermuth will serve as a solid option at tight end, and Pittsburgh fans are hoping rookie receiver Roman Wilson can bring some juice in the slot as well.
Fun Stat: Pickens’ 18.1 yards per reception ranked first in the NFL last year.
28. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are a mess across the board, and the pass-catching group is no exception here. Adam Thielen served as the No. 1 option in Carolina last year, but his age started showing in the latter half of the season, when his production really fell off a cliff. The Panthers did invest heavily in the position this offseason though, as they brought in Diontae Johnson to serve as another savvy route runner alongside Thielen. They also added Xavier Legette in Round 1 of the draft to bring a much-needed dynamic element to this group of pass catchers. The Panthers still have a long way to go before they can be considered a good group of pass catchers, but they certainly made some progress this offseason.
Fun Stat: Adam Thielen’s production nearly cut in half over the second half of the season (43.3 YPG) compared to the first (83.0).
29. Denver Broncos
It wasn’t long ago that we felt like pass catcher was a strength in Denver, but the receiving room has seen a fair bit of turnover in recent years. Courtland Sutton is the team’s No. 1 option, but he’s best suited as a good No. 2 than a true top option. There also aren’t many options alongside Sutton who pose a serious threat to opposing defenses. Marvin Mims Jr. showed flashes as a rookie, and he’ll have a great opportunity in 2024 to prove he’s capable of more now that he’s in a bigger role with Jerry Jeudy out of the picture. It’s hard to expect much from the tight end room here, but Greg Dulcich did flash some exciting versatility and pass catching chops that could make him a matchup weapon if he continues to elevate his game.
Fun Stat: Sutton (10 TDs) accounted for 35.7% of Denver’s receiving touchdowns last season.
30. Buffalo Bills
The Bills seem to be following the Chiefs model in the pass-catcher room after letting Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis walk this offseason. Second year tight end Dalton Kincaid is likely their best option in the passing game in 2024, but they’re hoping for a few more breakouts in the receiver room in 2024. Khalil Shakir has shown flashes in his first two seasons, but Buffalo is hoping for a major step forward this season. Then Buffalo also invested an early second-round pick on Keon Coleman, a wide receiver out of Florida State. The Bills are going to need a few guys in their pass catching room to step forward in a major way this year.
Fun Stat: No WR/TE returning to Buffalo this year caught more than 2 touchdowns in 2023 (though RB James Cook did have 4).
31. New England Patriots
Drake Maye certainly isn’t walking into the optimal environment for success as he enters his rookie year in New England. The receiver room is filled with a bunch of guys better suited for depth roles, many of whom wouldn’t even be a No. 2 option on the teams higher up on this list. None of Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton or Kayshon Boutte made much noise in 2023. Yes, they added two receivers in the draft – Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker – but neither was a first-round selection, so it’s hard to expect much from them in year one. At tight end, Hunter Henry is a fine but unexciting option.
Fun Stat: No player in New England had more than 600 receiving yards in 2023 (Douglas led the team with 561).
32. Los Angeles Chargers
It feels criminal that a team with Justin Herbert at quarterback has done so little to provide him with the weapons he needs to lead an elite passing game. When the most exciting pass catcher on your team is an incoming second-round rookie (Ladd McConkey), you know you’ve got some work to do. Last year’s first-round pick Quentin Johnston already looks like a bust, and Joshua Palmer – a career replacement-level player – will be fighting with McConkey for the No. 1 receiver spot on the team… not a great place to be.
Fun Stat: Keenan Allen (now with Chicago) ranked No. 2 on the Chargers all time receiving yardage leader with 10,530 yards.
