The NFL has abundant talent at the wide receiver position, with talented rookie pass-catchers flooding the league consistently.
Considering the league has steered toward being pass-centric, teams must possess multiple wide receivers they can rely on through the air.
Discussing the top wide receivers in the NFL is a common topic among football fans, and everyone has differing opinions on who is in the upper echelon.
While looking at the best playmakers, route-runners, and strong-handed wideouts in the league, we compiled our power rankings of the top 50 wide receivers in the NFL entering the 2023 season.
WR Rankings 50-41
50. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Collins produced career-best marks in receptions (37), receiving yards (481), and touchdowns (two) in 2022 despite the Texans having less-than-ideal play from the quarterback position.
He had a solid 18.81% share of the team’s air yards last season, and with Brandin Cooks gone, he could be in store for the No. 1 role in Houston’s new-look passing game.
49. Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
After eclipsing 1,000 yards in 2021, Mooney and the other pass catchers on the Bears saw decreased numbers in 2022 due to the run-heavy approach with Justin Fields under center.
The addition of D.J. Moore and another year for Fields to improve as a passer should aid Mooney in 2023.
48. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
When ranking Williams, we’re projecting what we believe he’ll become since the lone reception of his 2022 rookie season was a 41-yard touchdown.
Williams (suspension) will miss the first six games of the 2023 campaign, but he figures to be a valuable vertical threat for the Lions once he returns.
47. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
After Adam Thielen left in free agency, the Vikings selected Addison in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft to pair with Justin Jefferson.
Thielen ran the second-most routes among all wideouts in 2022, indicating how much usage Addison could receive as a rookie after hauling in 29 touchdowns in college.
46. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
Injuries limited Smith-Njigba in his final season at Ohio State, but he still was the first wide receiver taken in the 2023 NFL Draft – and for good reason.
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Smith-Njigba is a savvy route runner, and he understands coverages well, which should benefit him as he plays alongside D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett.
45. Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens
The last time we saw Beckham play, he was on his way to a stellar performance in Super Bowl 56 for the Rams before suffering a torn ACL.
The three-time Pro Bowler took a year off in 2022, and he could emerge as a reliable weapon for Lamar Jackson if he’s close to full health for the Ravens.
44. JuJu Smith-Schuster, New England Patriots
Smith-Schuster tallied 8.6 yards per reception in back-to-back seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020 and 2021 before returning to 12 yards per reception in 2022 with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The USC product is still only 26 years old, and he is the clear-cut No. 1 option for Mac Jones following the departure of Jakobi Meyers.
43. George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pickens is an exciting player to watch, but he’s sadly limited due to the offense he plays in. As a rookie, he hauled in 52 passes for 801 yards and four touchdowns in 2022, and those numbers could improve if Kenny Pickett and the offense take strides forward in 2023.
42. Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans
It was a shaky start in the NFL for Burks, who needed time to adjust to playing on the outside after spending most of his time at Arkansas in the slot.
Burks finished last season with 20 receptions, 291 yards, and a touchdown in his final six games, and he’s projected to be Tennessee’s second option at wide receiver.
41. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Sutton logged over 1,000 receiving yards three seasons ago, but injuries and inconsistent quarterback play have hindered him in recent years. His name has been mentioned in trade rumors since the Broncos hired Sean Payton, so his future is still being determined entering the 2023 season.
WR Rankings 40-31
40. Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
After struggling to find the end zone in his first three seasons, Meyers notched a career-best six touchdowns in 2022. Meyers led all Patriots wide receivers in air yards last season, and he should benefit from getting a chance to be the No. 2 target behind Davante Adams in Las Vegas.
39. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Thomas is tough to rank, as he has made only eight starts in the last three seasons. But when we saw him play last season, he still looked like a solid starting wide receiver.
The Saints signed Derek Carr this offseason, and if Thomas is healthy, he could come close to returning to his All-Pro form in 2023.
38. Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
All of the Ravens’ wide receivers should receive boosts in 2023, with Todd Monken taking over as the team’s new offensive coordinator.
Health is a significant concern for Bateman, who missed 11 games last season with a foot injury. But if he can remain on the field for Baltimore this season, he is primed for a breakout campaign.
37. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
The Packers were desperate for someone to step up at wide receiver in 2022 with Adams gone, and Watson registered 31 catches, 523 yards, and seven touchdowns in the final eight games of his rookie season.
With Jordan Love now starting at quarterback for the Packers, Watson hopes to solidify himself as the No. 1 threat in Green Bay’s aerial attack.
36. Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders
Dotson finished with 35 receptions for 523 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie in 2022 despite having below-average play at quarterback.
He tied for the fourth-most average targeted air yards (14.7) last season, and he could take a massive step forward with improved quarterback play in 2023.
35. Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals
Boyd would be a primary option for a decent number of NFL teams, but he’s playing alongside Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
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The veteran wideout has tallied a catch percentage of 70% or better in four of his last five seasons, and he’ll continue to excel out of the slot for the Bengals in 2023.
34. Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals
Brown understandably saw his numbers decline across the board after being traded from the Ravens to the Cardinals in 2022.
Even with Kyler Murray’s status up in the air, Brown is expected to be the primary receiving option for the Cardinals again entering the upcoming season.
33. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
London put together an impressive 2022 rookie campaign despite playing in the Falcons’ run-heavy offense.
The first-year wideout tallied the fifth-highest target share (29.1%) in the NFL and saw a bevy of uncatchable targets last season, preventing him from reaching 1,000 yards.
32. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
While the Broncos were largely disappointing in 2022, the Russell Wilson to Jerry Jeudy connection was a bright spot.
Jeudy posted career-highs in receptions (67), receiving yards (972), and receiving touchdowns (six) a season ago, and his ability to create separation should help him thrive in Payton’s offense.
31. Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars
Kirk is one of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL. In his debut season with the Jaguars, he set career-best marks in catches (84), receiving yards (1,108), and receiving touchdowns (eight).
Even with the addition of Calvin Ridley, Kirk should continue to build on his partnership with Trevor Lawrence.
WR Rankings 30-21
30. Brandin Cooks, Dallas Cowboys
Cooks is one of two wide receivers in NFL history to record 1,000-plus receiving yards with four different teams, joining Brandon Marshall.
While he’ll turn 30 during the 2023 season, Cooks has a chance to become the first player with at least one 1,000-yard season with five different teams in his first year with the Cowboys.
29. Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers
Williams is a perfect fit for Justin Herbert as he excels at winning down the field.
The big-play wideout has averaged 14-plus yards per reception in five consecutive seasons, and he now gets to play in a Kellen Moore offensive system that should allow him to see even more usage in the vertical passing game.
28. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Johnson is a wide receiver everyone has differing opinions on as he’s been a target monster for the Steelers (144 or more targets in three straight seasons), but he failed to catch a single touchdown in 2022.
He ran the fourth-most routes in the league last season, and if Pickett can improve in 2023, then Johnson is poised for a bounce-back campaign.
27. Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ridley was emerging as a premier wide receiver for the Falcons before being suspended for the 2022 season.
The 28-year-old now joins the Jaguars and should immediately become a reliable option for Lawrence to target through the air.
(See where Jacksonville sits in our latest NFL power rankings.)
26. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Inconsistent quarterback play has held Pittman back early in his career, but he’s still produced solid numbers.
Even though his production could suffer with Anthony Richardson getting acclimated to the NFL as a rookie, Pittman is still an up-and-coming wideout that continues to show improvements in his game every year.
25. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Allen has been a trustworthy option for the Chargers, having caught 97-plus passes in five of his last six seasons.
Even with the addition of Quentin Johnston this offseason, Allen should continue being Herbert’s safety blanket in the Chargers’ passing game.
24. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
2022 was an impressive rookie campaign for Olave, who registered a 14.2-yard aDOT (average depth of target) — the highest among WRs with 100-plus targets — and posted 1,042 receiving yards.
Derek Carr is an upgrade over what the Saints had at quarterback last season, giving Olave a chance to have a stellar sophomore campaign in the NFL.
23. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Consistency is crucial, and only a few wideouts have been as consistent as Lockett in recent years. Lockett has tallied over 1,000 yards and scored eight-plus touchdowns in four straight seasons, and he has a chance to extend that streak to five despite the arrival of Smith-Njigba.
22. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
After being in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse to begin his career, Aiyuk has developed into a talented wide receiver.
Last season, Aiyuk notched career-best marks in receptions (78), receiving yards (1,015), and receiving touchdowns (eight), and he could supplant those numbers in 2023.
21. Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns
For some reason, people tend to forget about Cooper when speaking about the most well-rounded receivers in the NFL.
Despite the struggles of Cleveland’s quarterbacks in 2022, Cooper produced his sixth 1,000-yard season and hauled in a career-best nine touchdowns.
WR Rankings 20-11
20. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Just because Godwin will have to catch passes from Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask in 2023 doesn’t mean we have to discredit his talent.
Godwin has recorded a catch percentage of 71% or better in four straight seasons despite seeing 121-plus targets in three of the last four years.
19. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Higgins would be the No. 1 wideout for most teams around the league, but he has excelled as the No. 2 pass catcher alongside Chase.
Higgins saw 28.88% of Cincinnati’s air yards in 2022 compared to Chase’s 30.01%, which shows how much Joe Burrow trusts both of his top wideouts.
18. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Smith is another No. 2 wideout that is a true alpha at the position. Even though he’s not the biggest wide receiver, he’s one of the best route runners in the league.
His elusiveness helps him create space with or without the ball, evidenced by his 5.2 yards after the catch per reception in 2022.
17. D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears
Moore found the end zone a career-best seven times last season, but he fell short of extending his streak of 1,000-yard seasons to four.
The good news for Moore is that he’ll now have Justin Fields as his quarterback after having a catchable target rate of only 64.4% in 2022.
16. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins used Waddle to perfection in 2022 as he saw his yards per reception jump up from 9.8 as a rookie in 2021 to 18.1 last season.
While Tyreek Hill is viewed as the best playmaker in Miami’s offense, Waddle was second among all wideouts with 7.2 yards after the catch per reception in 2022, putting him behind only Deebo Samuel.
15. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks
The blend of size and speed makes Metcalf a dangerous wideout, and he now has an improved version of Geno Smith targeting him.
Metcalf led the Seahawks in air yards target share in 2022 (37.2%), and even with Smith-Njigba likely carving out an immediate role, Metcalf will continue to be the preferred vertical threat in Seattle’s offense.
14. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Wilson was deservedly awarded Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2022 after hauling in 83 of 147 targets for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns.
The ultra-talented wideout now has Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback, which should lead to more catchable targets in 2023.
13. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Some view St. Brown as a typical slot wide receiver, but he’s far from it. The versatile wideout set career-high marks in catches (106), receiving yards (1,161), and receiving touchdowns (six) in 2022, and was fourth among all wide receivers in yards after the catch (516).
12. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It’s tough to put Evans much lower than this since he wakes up and produces 1,000 yard-seasons with ease each year.
If Evans can record his 10th straight 1,000-yard season to begin his career in 2023 with Mayfield or Trask as his quarterback, we’ll need to discuss Evans as one of the greatest receivers of all time.
11. DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans
Even though Hopkins isn’t in his prime anymore, he still showed flashes of being a true No. 1 with the Cardinals in 2022.
Hopkins has now signed with the Tennessee Titans ahead of the 2023 campaign, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to put up his usual numbers with Ryan Tannehill as his quarterback.
WR Rankings 10-1
10. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Samuel is an absolute weapon at the wide receiver position, and the 49ers ask him to do a bit of everything.
The do-it-all wideout led all players with nine yards after the catch per reception in 2022, and he has accounted for 19 touchdowns (eight receiving, 11 rushing) over the last two seasons.
9. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
McLaurin is an example of a wide receiver that would explode if he had a serviceable quarterback.
The Ohio State product has three straight seasons of 1,000 or more receiving yards, and he posted a 50% contested catch rate in 2022 despite not being the biggest wideout.
8. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Lamb has gradually improved since entering the NFL in 2020, and he seemingly put it all together during the 2022 season.
The electric pass-catcher led the Cowboys in air yards target share last season (35.4%) and tied for the fourth-most broken tackles (10) among all wide receivers in the NFL.
7. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Brown was unleashed in his debut season with the Eagles, tallying 88 receptions, 1,496 yards, and 11 touchdowns.
The physical wide receiver produced 2.89 yards per route run in 2022, the second-best among wide receivers who ran 400 or more routes.
6. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Before suffering a season-ending ankle injury, Kupp was on track for another productive campaign after leading the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in 2021.
With Matthew Stafford back healthy, Kupp could have a gigantic workload in 2023 due to the Rams having a largely inexperienced defense.
5. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Diggs has continued to thrive despite the Bills lacking a true No. 2 option in the passing game.
The veteran pass-catcher has 103-plus receptions in each of his first three seasons in Buffalo and corralled a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2022.
4. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Speed kills, and Hill remains the fastest wide receiver in the NFL despite approaching 30 years old.
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The dynamic wide receiver has shared that he plans to have 2,000 receiving yards in 2023, and after posting a career-high 1,710 yards in 2022 in his first year with the Dolphins, who is to say he can’t achieve it?
3. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Adams is the best route runner in the NFL, and he has racked up 100-plus receptions, 1,300-plus receiving yards, and 11-plus touchdowns in four of his last five seasons.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old led the NFL in target share (32.3%) in 2022 and figures to be busy again with Jimmy Garoppolo as his quarterback this season.
2. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
If he didn’t miss five games due to a hip injury in 2022, Chase would have put up video-game numbers for the Bengals.
The LSU product is a threat to score at any moment, and he has already evolved into one of the league’s best wide receivers in his first two seasons.
He could be primed for a career year in 2023 if he can stay healthy.
1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson has cemented himself as the best wide receiver in the NFL during his first three seasons, eclipsing 1,400 receiving yards or more each year.
The Vikings’ shifty wideout led the league in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) in 2022, and his 2.7% drop rate was even more impressive when you consider he saw a league-high 184 targets.