Ranking The NFL's Top WR Trios Entering 2022 Season
The 2022 NFL offseason has largely been highlighted by wide receiver moves. From the high-profile trades of Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill to big-money deals and six receivers being drafted in Round 1, the position has stayed in the headlines.
Teams have been racing to stockpile receiver talent, and the landscape looks quite a bit different than it did in 2021. Which teams' receiving corps have risen to the top? That's what we're here to examine.
Last November, we ranked the top seven wide receiver trios of the 2021 season. Here, we'll revisit that exercise and take a fresh look at the league's top groups. We're considering receivers only, so top pass-catching tight ends like Travis Kelce and Darren Waller won't qualify.
We're also looking at the trios as overall units, though we'll certainly weigh the value of elite No. 1 receivers. Rankings are based on 2021 performance, past production, player health, upside and any relevant team-specific factors.
7. Los Angeles Chargers: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Jalen Guyton
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Combined 2021 Receiving Numbers: 213 Receptions, 2,732 Yards and 18 Touchdowns
There's something to be said for having an established receiver trio with preexisting chemistry, a topic we'll visit several times on this list.
The Los Angeles Chargers have that, plus two top-end receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Both have proved themselves to be go-to targets for quarterback Justin Herbert, and each topped the 1,100-yard mark in 2021.
However, the Chargers group comes in at No. 7 because it lacks a top-notch third option. Jalen Guyton was fourth among Chargers wideouts in 2021 with 31 receptions, 448 yards and three touchdowns. Those are respectable numbers, and while Guyton isn't a full-time player, he's a fine complementary deep threat with 4.35 speed.
Guyton may actually share the No. 3 role with 2021 third-round pick Josh Palmer—who started five of the final six games last season—this year. However, Guyton saw significantly more playing time in 2021—54 percent of the offensive snaps versus 38 percent—so we're penciling him into the trio for now.
While Los Angeles ranked second in passing last season, running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Jared Cook contributed heavily.
Still, this is a tremendous overall group headlined by one of the top receiver tandems in the league. And while it's obviously boosted by the play of rising star Herbert, Williams and Allen were standouts before the Oregon product arrived in 2020.
Allen and Williams were both 1,000-yard receivers in 2019, which shows that their production isn't merely a product of Herbert's (5,014 yards and 38 TDs in 2021) greatness.
6. Miami Dolphins: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Cedrick Wilson Jr.
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Combined 2021 Receiving Numbers: 260 Receptions, 2,856 Yards and 21 Touchdowns
The Miami Dolphins don't have the same established chemistry at receiver that the Chargers possess, as Tyreek Hill and slot specialist Cedrick Wilson Jr. are both newcomers. What the Dolphins do have is a ton of upside.
Jaylen Waddle was a revelation for the Dolphins as a rookie in 2021, topping both 100 receptions and 1,000 yards. Wilson had a career year with the Dallas Cowboys, topping 600 yards and providing a passer rating of 130.6 when targeted.
Hill is a perennial Pro Bowler and one of the game's most dangerous deep threats. However, it is perfectly fair to wonder how much of his production has been due to having Patrick Mahomes under center with the Kansas City Chiefs.
That's a question that lingers heading into 2022, though Hill has been vocal in his support of Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
During an appearance on ESPN's First Take, Hill called Tagovailoa the "most accurate quarterback in the NFL."
Tagovailoa actually ranked seventh in completion percentage, but Hill's support shouldn't be discounted. If the three-time first-team All-Pro continues being a star in South Beach and elevates Tagovailoa's play, this trio has the potential to rank near the top by season's end.
5. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn
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Combined 2021 Receiving Numbers: 225 Receptions, 2,997 Yards and 27 Touchdowns
Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson established himself as a force as a rookie in 2020, finishing with 1,400 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He was even better last season—tallying 1,616 yards and 10 scores—and is looking to be the best in the league.
"I think that I'll become the best receiver after this year," Jefferson said, per Kameron Hay of Complex.
Minnesota also has a solid No. 2 in Adam Thielen. While the soon-to-be 32-year-old may be on the decline, he still caught 10 touchdown passes in 2021.
The 2021 emergence of No. 3 receiver K.J. Osborn (655 yards, seven TD) really put this trio into elite company last season. No trio on our list produced more touchdowns a year ago than Minnesota's.
The rapport these three pass-catchers have already established with quarterback Kirk Cousins gives them the edge over Miami's high-upside trio. It should also give Minnesota a very potent offense in 2022.
There may be some questions about how the Vikings offense will operate under new offensive coordinator Wes Phillips this season. Minnesota should have no questions, however, about its top three receivers.
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4. Las Vegas Raiders: Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Mack Hollins
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Combined 2021 Receiving Numbers: 240 Receptions, 2,814 Yards and 24 Touchdowns
The Las Vegas Raiders' trade to acquire Davante Adams was one of the biggest moves of the offseason—along with Miami's trade to get Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Adams is arguably the league's top receiver and finished the 2021 season with 123 receptions for 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns in 16 games. He had the benefit of playing with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay but will reunite with his college quarterback, Derek Carr, in Las Vegas.
In Vegas, Adams joins Pro Bowler Hunter Renfrow. The Clemson product didn't have eye-popping yardage numbers in 2021, but he did top 1,000 yards, catch nine touchdown passes and provide a passer rating of 120.6 when targeted.
Adams and Renfrow could vie to be the league's top receiving duo in 2022. However, Las Vegas doesn't crack the top three because the Raiders don't have a clear-cut third option yet. Mack Hollins, Demarcus Robinson, Keelan Cole and Tyron Johnson will likely compete for that role in camp.
Hollins, though, appears to have the inside track for now.
"He comes out there every day, and he puts in the work," running back Josh Jacobs said of Hollins, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic. "And I'm excited to see about him. He's smart, too. I don't think I've ever seen a guy pick up an offense so fast, honestly."
While Hollins didn't get a ton of run in Miami (14 catches, 223 yards last season), he's a viable deep threat who averaged 15.9 yards per reception in 2021 while catching four touchdowns. If he can break out with the Raiders, this trio could quickly rise toward the top.
3. Los Angeles Rams: Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson II and Van Jefferson
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Combined 2021 Receiving Numbers: 233 Receptions, 3,159 Yards and 23 Touchdowns
Buoyed by All-Pro wideout Cooper Kupp, the Los Angeles Rams trio of Kupp, Robert Woods and Odell Beckham Jr. earned the top spot in our rankings last November. However, this group has changed with Woods being traded to the Tennessee Titans and Beckham still unsigned.
In is Allen Robinson II, who struggled through a down year with the Chicago Bears in 2021. Third-year Rams receiver Van Jefferson also enters the top three after missing the cut last season.
Kupp, who led the league with 145 receptions, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, is still the centerpiece in L.A. Jefferson (802 yards, six TD) also proved to be a quality complement last season.
The one question mark here is Robinson. He was impacted by COVID-19 and floundered under Bears head coach Matt Nagy last season. This led to a disappointing 410-yard, one-touchdown campaign.
Two years ago, however, Robinson amassed 1,250 receiving yards and six touchdowns despite playing with the underwhelming quarterback tandem of Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky. Theoretically, he should bounce back with Matthew Stafford under center.
If Robinson returns to Pro Bowl-caliber form, this trio could wind up being the league's best. There's no guaranteeing that, though, and the uncertainty keeps L.A. out of the top two.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage
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Combined 2021 Receiving Numbers: 238 Receptions, 2,908 Yards and 23 Touchdowns
In a vacuum, Tampa Bay Buccaneers receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin might be the league's top receiving duo. Last season, they produced 172 receptions, 2,138 yards and 19 touchdowns in 30 combined games.
This year, they'll be joined by former Atlanta Falcons receiver Russell Gage, who might represent one of the most underrated additions of the entire offseason. A tremendous inside-outside receiver who caught 66 passes for 770 yards and four touchdowns last season, Gage is an ideal third option for quarterback Tom Brady.
This is another trio that could easily rise to the top by November. However, it's not there now because of Godwin's health. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 15 last season, and while he avoided opening camp on the physically unable to perform list, the Bucs aren't quite certain he'll be available for Week 1.
"Things are looking cautiously optimistic about Chris Godwin being back for Week 1, but the Bucs aren't set on him being ready just yet," The Athletic's Greg Auman told SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (h/t Michael Fabiano of Sports Illustrated).
There's a very real possibility that Tampa will have to lean on 33-year-old recent addition Julio Jones early in the season.
Still, Evans, Godwin and Gage represent three tremendous targets operating in an offense that ranked first in passing attempts, yards and touchdowns last season. With Brady throwing the ball, it would be a significant shock to see this trio, if healthy, not rank near the top in 2022 production.
1. Cincinnati Bengals: Ja'marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd
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Combined 2021 Receiving Numbers: 222 Receptions, 3,374 Yards and 24 Touchdowns
Quarterback Joe Burrow gets a ton of credit for taking the Cincinnati Bengals from the AFC North basement to the Super Bowl in 2021, and rightfully so. However, Burrow wouldn't have sparked Cincinnati's turnaround without this supremely talented trio.
Ja'Marr Chase set an NFL rookie record with 1,455 yards along with 13 touchdowns on 81 receptions. Unsurprisingly, he was a Pro Bowler and named Offensive Rookie of the Year for his efforts.
Far from a one-man show, the Bengals offense also featured Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, two of the best complementary receivers in football.
Higgins caught 74 passes for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns. Boyd, as the third option, caught 67 balls for 828 yards and five scores. Simply put, Burrow had the ability to go three-wide at receiver and find a mismatch on almost any given play last season.
While the Bengals ranked seventh in passing last year, Burrow notched a rare double feat. He led the league in both yards per attempt (8.9) and completion percentage (70.4). He did it while being sacked a league-high 51 times in the regular season.
This trio is entering its second season with Burrow under center and could reach historic heights in 2022. The Bengals addressed their biggest weakness—the offensive line—by picking up La'el Collins, Ted Karras and Alex Cappa in the offseason. If Burrow's protection holds, this trio could become only the sixth in league history to feature three 1,000-yard receivers.
The Arizona Cardinals' 2008 trio of Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Bolden and Steve Breaston was the last to accomplish the feat.
Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.
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