Top 10 wide openers in the NFL | Talent like never before

Until the turn of the millennium, running backs were the most important offensive players except for quarterbacks. In the early 2000s, it was the blockers on the left who held the attention. These days, however, it’s receivers who follow quarterbacks in the hierarchy of importance, with the top quarterbacks now earning annual salaries of $25 million. That’s good, since there have never been so many talented wide receivers in the NFL. Here is the cream.

Miguel Bujold
The Press

1 – Cooper Kupp (Rams) – Hard to believe Kupp was only picked in the third round of the 2017 draft. He was first in catches, yards and touchdowns in 2021. Even though there’s no another leading receiver for the Rams, Kupp is still as productive, he who already has 64 catches, 686 yards and 5 touchdowns after 7 games.

2 – Tyreek Hill (Dolphins) – Hill was already known to be the fastest receiver in the league, but he was quick to prove to the Dolphins that his success wasn’t solely down to Patrick Mahomes’ arm and Andy’s offensive genius. Reid and Eric Bieniemy. After the 8^e week of activity, he had 961 yards on the clock, 197 more than anyone else.

3 – Justin Jefferson (Vikings) – Jefferson is the receiver with the most passing yards in his first two seasons in NFL history (3,016). If he played for a more popular team, we would hear a lot more about him. He may not be as spectacular a player as some of the others on this list, but Jefferson is remarkably consistent.

4 – Deebo Samuel (49ers) – Too high ? Judging by statistics alone, yes. But Samuel is as dangerous on the pass as he is on the ground and is the heart and soul of the 49ers. The fact that he cried after they were knocked out in the conference finals in January just confirmed that he was real. The Hines Ward of his time, but in a more explosive version.

5 – Stefon Diggs (Bills) – Diggs has the advantage playing with his pal Josh Robocop Allen, of course, but he was already shining in Minnesota. He almost always finds a way to get rid of his cover and sometimes it makes you wonder how he can find himself so often alone in the end zone. Passing-wise, Diggs and Kupp are in a class of their own.

6 – AJ Brown (Eagles) – In my humble opinion, Brown is the most underrated wide receiver in the NFL and that’s not even close. His name is never mentioned when talking about the elite. Still, his stats since joining the league speak for themselves and he consistently shines when it matters. Built like a linebacker, he is extremely difficult to contain.

7 – Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals) – Chase has quickly established himself as a superstar and his talent is above that of most players on this list. We were also able to see the importance he had for the attack of the Bengals, Monday evening … Without him, she was shut out in the first 45 minutes of play. The chances are good that he will occupy the number one if we repeat this exercise in two years.

8 – Davante Adams (Raiders) – Indeed, that’s surprisingly low for a player who was considered the best in his profession a year or two ago. That’s more down to the number of top-notch receivers the NFL currently has than a decline in Adams, who is having a respectable first season with the Raiders.

9 – Mike Evans (Buccaneers) – Although already in his ninth season, Evans is only 29 years old. In his first eight years, Tom Brady’s favorite target got a minimum of 1,000 yards. Evans is a reliable player, having missed only seven career games and having only two fumbles lost.

10 – DeAndre Hopkins (Cardinals) – His suspension for doping tarnishes his record, but we quickly remembered the impact he could have on his return to the game. In 2 games, he caught 22 passes for 262 yards and scored 1 touchdown.

Honorable Mentions: DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett (Seahawks) – We ran out of room for these two veterans, who have been an excellent pair for a long time in Seattle. Isn’t it, Russell?

Three games to watch

Los Angeles Rams v. Tampa Bay
Sunday, 4:25 p.m.

It’s crazy how quickly things can change in the NFL. This clash will pit the two most recent Super Bowl champions against each other, but also two teams that are struggling and are in danger of missing the playoffs. The Buccaneers will find two of their starters back on defense, cornerback Carlton Davis III and tackle Akiem Hicks. In contrast, quarterback rusher Shaquil Barrett tore an Achilles tendon last week and will miss the rest of the season. As for the Rams, Cooper Kupp should be in his position despite an ankle injury. The Rams tried to trade running back Cam Akers before the deadline, but were unsuccessful, so his role on the team is unclear at this time.

Tennessee vs. Kansas City
Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

The Titans have won their last five games, but they’re still trailing the Chiefs by 12.5 points at the time of this writing. If Ryan Tannehill (ankle) has to sit out again, rookie Malik Willis will get a second start. Last Sunday, Willis attempted just 14 passes and completed just 7 for 61 yards and 1 interception. But there really wasn’t a need to throw a lot of passes as the Texans were unable to stop running play and Derrick Henry. Having sacrificed two picks to get him, the Chiefs believe they can exploit Kadarius Toney’s talent better than the Giants did. The 20^e hope selected at the 2021 auction is a versatile wide receiver who stands out for his speed.

Baltimore v. New Orleans
Monday, 8:15 p.m.

The Ravens got hold of one of the league’s top inside linebackers, Roquan Smith, who leads the league in tackles with 83. At a time when players at this position are faster and nimble, but less tough than they once were, Smith is an old school player. His presence in the middle of the defense will restore the dog to a unit that is no longer as feared as it used to be. C. J. Mosley, who is now with the Jets, and Patrick Queen are good linebackers, but Smith’s style of play will be a little closer to that of Ray Lewis. For the Saints, receiver Michael Thomas’ season is over. The wide winger will have surgery on one toe. This means that Thomas will have played 10 games out of a possible 50 since he signed a five-year contract.