Ranking the top 40 NFL wide receivers for 2022
Ranking the top 40 NFL wide receivers for 2022
We’ll attempt to stack the game’s top receivers while factoring in recent production, injuries, age, situation, and skill sets
Wide receiver is arguably the most talented position in the NFL today. We’ve seen multiple receivers go in the top ten selections of the past two drafts, demonstrating how much front offices value the position in today’s climate. Many of those young receivers are beginning to challenge for some of the position’s top spots.
Today, we’ll attempt to stack the game’s top receivers while factoring in recent production, injuries, age, situations, and skill sets. I’ve divided the league’s top 40 receivers into seven main tiers. The tiers are more important than the individual number ranking since most players are interchangeable in their tiers.
There are two 2021 rankings below each receiver. The first shows where I ranked the receiver among players at their position during the 2021 offseason. The second rank shows where each receiver landed on my top 200 players project last summer.
I understand these rankings will be controversial. Please remember that they are just my opinion and don’t really hold any greater meaning. You can reach me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 to tell me what I got wrong and what you would change.
*Indicates rookie player
NFL 2022: Top 40 Wide Receivers
Tier 1: Hall of Fame Peaks
1. Davante Adams, WR Las Vegas Raiders
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 1
2021 Top 200 Rank: 10
2. Cooper Kupp, WR Los Angeles Rams
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 14
2021 Top 200 Rank: 119
3. Justin Jefferson, WR Minnesota Vikings
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 5
2021 Top 200 Rank: 31
4. Tyreek Hill, WR Miami Dolphins
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 2
2021 Top 200 Rank: 15
Tier 1 consists of transcendent wide receivers who have flashed Hall of Fame potential in recent years. Kupp, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, has a legitimate claim to the top spot, but Adams has shown more consistency over the past few years. You can’t go wrong with either of them.
Adams could experience some statistical drop-off in 2022 as he reunites with his college quarterback, Derek Carr. Carr doesn’t produce at the same clip as four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, and he won’t zero in on Adams as much as Rodgers, considering Las Vegas’ plethora of other receiving options.
Hill’s numbers could also take a hit since he’s gone from a perennial MVP candidate in Patrick Mahomes to a prove-it quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa’s physical limitations will likely prevent the Dolphins from hitting as many deep passes as Mahomes and Hill connected on during their peak run. Hill already began transitioning to a possession wide receiver role last year when defenses began using two-high looks against the Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Jefferson is off to one of the best two-year starts to a career in NFL history. The LSU product turned 23 years old just over a month ago, and he’s already a two-time Second-Team All-Pro. Jefferson produced about 500 fewer yards through his first two seasons (33 games) than Kupp had in his first four years (54 games).
Tier 2: The Perennial All-Pros
5. Deebo Samuel, WR San Francisco 49ers
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
6. Ja'Marr Chase, WR Cincinnati Bengals
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 26
2021 Top 200 Rank: 196
7. Stefon Diggs, WR Buffalo Bills
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 3
2021 Top 200 Rank: 17
8. DeAndre Hopkins, WR Arizona Cardinals
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 4
2021 Top 200 Rank: 21
Tier 2 includes wide receivers who could earn All-Pro selections in any given season. These are the top offensive weapons in the game, but they’re not immune to a down year.
Samuel is the least conventional member of the group considering his usage. He has drop issues and could arguably fall to eight if this ranking relied solely on skill as a wide receiver. However, Samuel’s ability to line up as a running back and take carries makes him a unique weapon in the football landscape. He averaged 18.2 yards per reception in 2021 while generating 365 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
Chase also struggles with drops, but he hits so many home runs that his inconsistent hands don’t really matter. The former fifth overall pick reunited with Joe Burrow last season and put on a show. He averaged 18 yards per reception on his way to smashing a bunch of rookie receiving records and earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
I’ve seen some people rank Chase lower because he’s only performed at a high level for one season. I’ve never liked the “wait and see him do it again before crowning him” crowd. You want to be behind the times by a year? Fine. I won’t be.
Diggs led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards in 2020 on his way to a First-Team All-Pro selection. His career is otherwise devoid of significant accolades. I considered dropping him down a tier, but Diggs is more talented than the players in Tier 3. He should remain a top ten wide receiver so long as he and Josh Allen continue carving up defenses.
Hopkins clings to his top in Tier 2 after a subpar showing in 2021 because of injuries and receiving a six-game suspension in 2022 for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. The Clemson product turned 30 years old in early June, which could signal the beginning of a significant decline (aided by last year’s injuries and the upcoming suspension). However, it wasn’t too long ago that Hopkins strung together four consecutive All-Pro seasons (2017-2020). He stays in Tier 2 and the top ten.
Tier 3: Sometimes Elite but Always Great
9. Mike Evans, WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 11
2021 Top 200 Rank: 76
10. A.J. Brown, WR Tennessee Titans
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 6
2021 Top 200 Rank: 35
11. Chris Godwin, WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 16
2021 Top 200 Rank: 129
12. Michael Thomas, WR New Orleans Saints
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 12
2021 Top 200 Rank: 80
13. Terry McLaurin, WR Washington Commanders
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 18
2021 Top 200 Rank: 142
14. Keenan Allen, WR Los Angeles Chargers
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 10
2021 Top 200 Rank: 74
15. D.K. Metcalf, WR Seattle Seahawks
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 9
2021 Top 200 Rank: 62
This is where things get controversial. Brown, Godwin, and Thomas are the three most talented wide receivers in this tier, but they’re all frequently unavailable because of injuries. That leads to a high-end, consistent option like Mike Evans leapfrogging the three usually higher-ranked options.
Brown (who has never totaled 1,100 yards in a season) is changing teams after averaging 66.8 yards per game in 2021 and battling injuries for the second straight year. Godwin was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2019, but he missed four games in 2020 and is rehabbing from a torn ACL.
Thomas has the strangest career arc of any receiver in this tier. He was on track for the Hall of Fame after back-to-back First-Team All-Pro seasons and winning the Offensive Player of the Year award in 2019. Since then, he appeared in seven games, totaling 438 yards in 2020 and missed all of 2021 because of a setback as he recovered from ankle surgery.
When healthy, Thomas is a Tier 1 wide receiver. That’s why he still ranks this high.
Similar to Evans, Allen is a consistent producer in one of the most talented offenses in the NFL. However, he’s only averaged 10.3 yards per reception since Justin Herbert arrived in Los Angeles, and the five-time consecutive Pro Bowler doesn’t come close to matching Evans as a touchdown threat.
McLaurin and Metcalf are both fourth-year players with All-Pro potential. McLaurin hasn’t had consistent quarterback play in Washington, and that might not change now that Carson Wentz is at the helm. Metcalf was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2020, but he took a significant step back in 2021 without Russell Wilson consistently feeding him bombs.
Tier 4: Ascending or Underrated
16. D.J. Moore, WR Carolina Panthers
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 21
2021 Top 200 Rank: 161
17. CeeDee Lamb, WR Dallas Cowboys
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 20
2021 Top 200 Rank: 155
18. Allen Robinson, WR Los Angeles Rams
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 8
2021 Top 200 Rank: 54
19. Tyler Lockett, WR Seattle Seahawks
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 23
2021 Top 200 Rank: 181
20. Diontae Johnson, WR Pittsburgh Steelers
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
21. Brandin Cooks, WR Houston Texans
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
22. Tee Higgins, WR Cincinnati Bengals
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
23. Jaylen Waddle, WR Miami Dolphins
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Lamb and Moore are two candidates to become All-Pros eventually. Despite playing in quarterback purgatory, Moore produced over 1,100 yards in each of the past three seasons. The former first round pick is still only 25 years old. Meanwhile, Lamb is 23 years old and the top receiving threat in an offense that loves to throw the ball over 600 times per year. The Oklahoma product made the Pro Bowl in 2021.
Johnson falls in a similar bucket to Lamb and Moore, although I think he has a slightly lower floor and ceiling. The former third round pick produced over 1,100 yards in 2021 and made the Pro Bowl despite playing with a rapidly declining and physically limited Ben Roethlisberger.
Robinson was difficult to place. I originally had him in Tier 5 before re-watching some of his games from 2019 and 2020. At his peak, Robinson was at least a top-15 wide receiver in the NFL. However, a combination of injuries, poor quarterback play, and indifference led to one of the most forgettable seasons by a “star” receiver in recent history. Robinson produced 410 yards and one touchdown in 12 games last year.
Fortunately for Robinson, he’s joining an offense in Los Angeles that is more than capable of fueling two top-20 wide receivers. He should benefit the same way Odell Beckham, Brandin Cooks, and Robert Woods did when they played in Sean McVay’s system.
Lockett and Russell Wilson had a special connection that led to the former return man becoming a low-end WR1. However, Wilson’s departure means Drew Lock or Geno Smith will quarterback Seattle in 2022. That’s not great for Lockett’s stock, but there’s hope for him to post 1,000 yards for the fourth consecutive year. After all, Cooks has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in Houston despite the team’s quarterback drama in 2021.
Higgins and Waddle are two of the NFL’s most exciting young wide receivers. Higgins already has a 1,000-yard season under his belt in which he averaged 77.9 yards per game. The former Clemson star also performed well on the biggest stages, producing 299 yards in Cincinnati’s final three playoff games.
Meanwhile, Waddle topped 100 receptions and 1,000 yards as a rookie. He’ll benefit from playing alongside Tyreek Hill as he uses his elite athleticism to create after the catch. However, Miami’s offense could cap Waddle’s ceiling if he goes through another year like his rookie season (9.8 yards per reception).
Tier 5: Pro Bowl Replacements
24. Amari Cooper, WR Cleveland Browns
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 17
2021 Top 200 Rank: 141
25. Michael Pittman Jr., WR Indianapolis Colts
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
26. Darnell Mooney, WR Chicago Bears
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
27. Adam Thielen, WR Minnesota Vikings
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 15
2021 Top 200 Rank: 126
28. Courtland Sutton, WR Denver Broncos
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 24
2021 Top 200 Rank: 182
29. DeVonta Smith, WR Philadelphia Eagles
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
30. Hunter Renfrow, WR Las Vegas Raiders
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Every wide receiver in Tier 5 could lead their team in receiving yards in any given year. These players are decent top options but would preferably be featured alongside other top-30 receivers. I included a mix of veterans and rising stars in this group. Players like Mooney, Pittman, and Smith could quickly jump to Tier 4 in the future, but their evaluations still rely heavily on potential.
Cooper defines this group the best. He’s produced 7,076 yards in seven NFL seasons and finished with between 1,000 and 1,200 yards five times. That’s really good production, but ambitious teams will look to upgrade at WR1 (just like Dallas with CeeDee Lamb).
Thielen hasn’t produced a 1,000-yard season since 2018 and struggles with injuries, but he’s a touchdown machine (30 in the past three years). Sutton hasn’t hit 1,000 yards since 2019 because of injuries and poor quarterback play, but Russell Wilson loves throwing the deep ball. Sutton could become a major force in 2022.
I debated dropping Renfrow down a tier, but he’s too darn good at his job to fall outside the top 30.
Tier 6: Quality Second Options
31. Robert Woods, WR Tennessee Titans
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: Honorable Mention
32. Mike Williams, WR Los Angeles Chargers
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
33. Marquise Brown, WR Arizona Cardinals
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
34. Marvin Jones, WR Jacksonville Jaguars
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
35. D.J. Chark, WR Detroit Lions
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
36. Michael Gallup, WR Dallas Cowboys
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
Tier 6 consists of players who fit the WR2 archetype and occasionally produce 1,000-yard seasons. Woods leads the way despite returning from a torn ACL. It was difficult to order this group since some of them have served as the top receiving options on their teams in the past.
Brown and Jones were the top wide receivers on their teams last year, while Chark was a Pro Bowler and Jacksonville’s top option a few years ago. All three have decent chances to lead their teams in several major receiving categories in 2022. Age could knock Jones down a peg, but I couldn’t ignore the 32-year-old’s consistent production.
It’s hard to imagine anyone from this tier getting anywhere close to Tier 4, but Brown showed consistent growth over his first three seasons. Woods is the best player in this tier right now, but I would bet on Brown surpassing him within the next year or two.
Tier 7: Young Breakout Candidates
37. Drake London, WR Atlanta Falcons*
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: College
2021 Top 200 Rank: College
38. Rashod Bateman, WR Baltimore Ravens
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: NR
2021 Top 200 Rank: NR
39. Jameson Williams, WR Detroit Lions*
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: College
2021 Top 200 Rank: College
40. Garrett Wilson, WR New York Jets*
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: College
2021 Top 200 Rank: College
Tier 7 consists of the top wide receivers from the 2022 NFL Draft and Bateman, who missed a large chunk of his rookie season with injuries. London should see the largest target share of any receiver in this tier since Kyle Pitts is his only obvious competition. Williams and Wilson are more dynamic and explosive options than London, but Williams is working back from a torn ACL.
Tier 8: The Void
Calvin Ridley, WR Atlanta Falcons
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 13
2021 Top 200 Rank: 84
Odell Beckham Jr., WR Free Agent
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 19
2021 Top 200 Rank: 145
Kenny Golladay, WR New York Giants
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 22
2021 Top 200 Rank: 168
Julio Jones, WR Free Agent
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 7
2021 Top 200 Rank: 38
Jarvis Landry, WR New Orleans Saints
2021 Wide Receiver Rank: 25
2021 Top 200 Rank: 187
Ridley was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2020 and ranked 84th on my list of the top 200 players entering last season. However, he only played in five games last year and is suspended for the entire upcoming season because he bet on NFL games. Ridley has top-ten wide receiver potential when healthy and available, but he won’t be a factor on the football field until 2023.
Honorable Mentions
Brandon Aiyuk, WR San Francisco 49ers
Robby Anderson, WR Carolina Panthers
Tyler Boyd, WR Cincinnati Bengals
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Detroit Lions
Chase Claypool, WR Pittsburgh Steelers
Corey Davis, WR New York Jets
Jerry Jeudy, WR Denver Broncos
Christian Kirk, WR Jacksonville Jaguars
Jarvis Landry, WR New Orleans Saints
Skyy Moore, WR Kansas City Chiefs*
Chris Olave, WR New Orleans Saints*
DeVante Parker, WR New England Patriots
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Kansas City Chiefs