NFL Player Rankings     Updated - 8-13-10

 

 

WIDE RECEIVER

 

1. ANDRE JOHNSON, HOUSTON TEXANS

-Big, strong, fast and sure handed. Rarely do you see a WR bully defensive backs like he does. Past knee problems are a concern in regards to longevity.

 

2. LARRY FITZGERALD, ARIZONA CARDINALS

-Deciding between Fitzgerald and Johnson is like splitting hairs. Fitzgerald has amazing hands and body control. He tracks the ball better than any WR in the league.

 

3. BRANDON MARSHALL, MIAMI DOLPHINS

-Tall and rangy. Attacks the ball in the air. Has the ability to dominate a game at any time. Has to show that he can be focused on a play in and play out basis.

 

4. REGGIE WAYNE, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

-Perhaps the best route runner in the NFL. Has great hands and is a perfect fit for the Colts’ offense. Not a great athlete.

 

5. RANDY MOSS, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

-Still one of the premier deep threats in the league.  Sure handed and fast with great body control. Still tends to lose focus and seem uninterested at times.

 

6. CALVIN JOHNSON, DETROIT LIONS

-May be the single best athlete in the NFL. Big, strong, great hands and blazing fast. Matt Stafford’s development will determine his progress.

 

7. STEVE SMITH, CAROLINA PANTHERS

--He’s higher on this list if he has legit QB play. He’s as quick as anyone and breaks tackles like a running back. Tough as nails.

 

8. WES WELKER, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

-Coming off ACL / MCL surgery in the offseason. Quick, and smart. Stronger than his size indicates. Skill set is not scheme diverse.

 

9. MILES AUSTIN, DALLAS COWBOYS

- Big and strong. Breaks tackles with authority. More of a straight line athlete and has had problems staying healthy in the past.

 

10. MARQUES COLTSON, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

-Possesses elite size and hands. A very good leaper and red zone target. Doesn’t post huge numbers due to so many offensive weapons around him.

 

11. CHAD OCHOCINCO, CINCINNATI BENGALS

-He makes difficult catches look easy and excels along the sidelines. Not as explosive down the field as he once was, but has become a superb route runner.

 

12. SANTONIO HOLMES, NEW YORK JETS

-­Will be suspended for first 4 weeks of 2010. Great hands, legit speed and tough enough to go over the middle. If he can keep his head on straight, he could be a superstar in NY.

 

13. SIDNEY RICE, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

-Long and rangy. Not a burner, but knows how to get separation and position his body. Has great hands and is a dangerous red zone threat.

 

14. DESEAN JACKSON, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

-May be the fastest WR in the NFL and can get deep on anyone. Extremely dangerous in the open field. Has solid hands and is developing as a route runner.

 

15. RODDY WHITE, ATLANTA FALCONS

-Strong and explosive. Runs routes with precision and is a threat all over the field. Has inconsistent hands.

 

16. VINCENT JACKSON, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

-Would be higher on this list if we knew if he’d even be playing in 2010. Classic big receiver who makes up for lack of quickness with power and positioning. Takes a while to build up speed.

 

17. HINES WARD, PITTSBURGH STEELERS

-Best blocking WR in NFL history. Solid hands. His game has never relied on speed, so age should not burden him as much as others.

 

18. GREG JENNINGS, GREEN BAY PACKERS

-Smooth route runner with deceptive speed. Has some of the better hands in the league. Effective in the open field as a ball carrier.

 

19. ANQUAN BOLDIN, BALTIMORE RAVENS

-Strong as a TE and a dominant blocker. Not a burner, but breaks tackles and has great vision to create big plays. Has trouble staying healthy.

 

20. TERRELL OWENS, CINCINNATI BENGALS

-Still in amazing shape at 36 years old and can still post big numbers. Not the deep threat he once was, but can make big plays. Inconsistent hands.

 

21. BRAYLON EDWARDS, NEW YORK JETS

-Flashes dominant ability in one instance and disappears in the next. Great instincts along the sidelines. Drops far to many easy passes.

 

22. DONALD DRIVER, GREEN BAY PACKERS

-Slick athlete with speed to get deep. Tracks the ball well and adjusts even better. Great hands on the deep ball. Not afraid of traffic.

 

23. PERCY HARVIN, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

-Speed, quickness and explosiveness wrap up his game. Can beat you from anywhere on the field, including RB. Has too many injury / health issues.

 

24. DERRICK MASON, BALTIMORE RAVENS

-Ultimate possession receiver at this point. One of the more underrated players in NFL history. Great hands and toughness. Not going to beat you deep.

 

25. HAKEEM NICKS, NEW YORK GIANTS

-A budding star. Has solid speed and route running ability. Huge hands. Has the size / strength to break lots of tackles. Plays bigger than his height indicates. Drops some easy passes, but is improving.

 

26. PIERRE GARCON, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

-Fast and explosive. Quick in and out of his cuts and catches the ball naturally. Must improve as a route runner to become elite.

 

27. MIKE SIMS-WALKER, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

-Has very good size / speed ratio. Solid hands and attacks the ball. Doesn’t get as much separation as you’d like on a consistent basis.

 

28. JEREMY MACLIN, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

-Speed and quickness are his best assets. Has solid hands and long arms. Must improve as a route runner and add strength.

 

29. MALCOLM FLOYD, SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

-Tall and rangy with a broad catch radius. Has big hands and long arms. Can out jump just about any DB in the league. Not a burner and his limited athletic ability lowers his upside.

 

30. SANTANA MOSS, WASHINGTON REDSKINS

-Still has enough quickness to gain decent separation. Solid hands and does not avoid the middle of the field. No longer has great top end speed. Too small do be truly dominant.

 

31. ROY WILLIAMS, DALLAS COWBOYS

-Not the explosive force many thought he’d be when Dallas acquired him. Has big hands and very good straight line speed. Does not break out of his cuts smoothly. Drops too many easy passes.

 

32. STEVE BREASTON, ARIZONA CARDINALS

-Deceptively fast. Can get in and out of his breaks without sacrificing much speed. Can catch the deep ball effectively. Needs to add more strength. More of a one trick pony at this point.

 

ROOKIES (WITH A CHANCE TO CRACK THE TOP 32)

 

1. DEZ BRYANT, DALLAS COWBOYS

-Will get chance to start immediately. Amazing body control and overall athleticism. Not a burner, but gains separation with consistency.

 

2. DEMARYIUS THOMAS, DENVER BRONCOS

-Has the size / speed ratio to take over a game at any time. Hands are a bit too inconsistent to make a huge leap into the elite WR’s right now.

 

3. ARRELIOUS BENN, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

-Smooth athlete. Built like a RB and has solid hands. He plays on a suspect offense with a young QB.

 

4. GOLDEN TATE, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

-Will begin the season as the slot guy, but will see lots of action. Plays with an established QB from day one.

 

5. MIKE WILLIAMS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

-Good size and great athleticism. Makes difficult catches looks easy, but loses focus on the routine play.