Ranking the NFL's 10 Best Rookie Wide Receivers in 2014

The 2014 season has been a great one for rookie wide receivers. The immense amount of talent was noticed by scouts early on as five wide receivers were taken in the first round.

But some teams managed to come away with a good receiver in later rounds, as well.

Many rookie receivers take a year or two to flourish into elite playmakers, but this draft class has seen wide receivers turn into immediate impact players.

In this slideshow, we will rank the top 10 rookie wide receivers. As always, chime in below with your thoughts.

10. Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Drafted: Second round, 61st overall
Stats: 48 catches, 548 yards and two touchdowns

Despite missing more than a month of action due to injury, Allen Robinson has done enough to earn a spot and be considered as one of the best rookie receivers in the league. Even though he has been away for a while, Robinson still leads the Jacksonville Jaguars in receptions (48) and first-down receptions (26) during a tough season with the team.

Though the team is young and limited in wins this year, Robinson is a player the Jaguars can work with down the road.

In a year with plenty of good rookie receivers, the Jaguars got a good deal in drafting Robinson in the second round after a productive year.

9. Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Drafted: Fourth round, 118th overall
Stats: 24 catches, 484 yards and seven touchdowns

You won’t find Martavis Bryant in the top 10 in receptions or yards among all rookie receivers. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been using wide receiver Antonio Brown, running back Le’Veon Bell and tight end Heath Miller quite a lot in the passing game.

However, even though Bryant has been limited to just 24 catches and began playing in Week 7, he is second on the Steelers in touchdowns and tied for fourth among all rookie receivers in touchdown grabs.

He’s been a big end-zone threat and had multi-touchdown games in back-to-back contests.

Had Bryant been given a chance to play from the start of the season, his position on this list could be higher.

8. Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints

Bill Haber/Associated Press

Drafted: First round, 20th overall
Stats: 53 catches, 550 yards and three touchdowns

Even though the New Orleans Saints offense is crowded with plenty of pass-catchers in wide receivers Kenny Stills and Marques Colston and tight end Jimmy Graham, quarterback Drew Brees still finds a way to distribute the ball to everyone on the field, including rookie Brandin Cooks.

Cooks started off his career with a bang, with seven receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown in the season opener.

Although Cooks’ rookie campaign ended early due to injury, he had a successful year on an offense loaded with talent. Expect Brees to use him more next season.

7. Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars

USA TODAY Sports

Drafted: Undrafted
Stats: 46 catches, 636 yards, six touchdowns

Plenty of NFL teams found talented wide receivers, but the Jaguars got lucky by snagging two good rookies. Allen Hurns went undrafted but has been the biggest surprise out of all the receivers on this list.

Hurns quickly made a lot of noise when he caught four passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns in his first game. He had another monster game in Week 9 against Cincinnati, logging a season-high seven receptions and 112 yards to go alongside his two touchdown grabs.

With Hurns leading the team in touchdown receptions, he and Robinson look to be a focal point in Jacksonville’s offense in the future.

6. Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles

USA TODAY Sports

Drafted: Second round, 42nd overall
Stats: 56 catches, 709 yards and seven touchdowns

The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the most versatile offenses in the NFL, being just one of three teams to rank in the top 10 in rushing and receiving.

Jordan Matthews has been a big part of Chip Kelly’s offense. While Jeremy Maclin has bounced back as one of the team's top receivers, Matthews has helped complement Maclin in Philadelphia’s passing game.

Matthews was quiet until midway through the year. Following the team’s bye in Week 7, Matthews made strides and performed at a higher level.

In addition to being key for the Eagles in receptions and yards, he has also been an end-zone threat by pulling in seven touchdowns, which is tied for fourth most in the league by rookie receivers.

5. Sammy Watkins, Buffalo Bills

USA TODAY Sports

Drafted: First round, fourth overall
Stats: 59 catches, 850 yards and five touchdowns

Although the Buffalo Bills made a quarterback change during the season, it did not affect Sammy Watkins on the field, as he has remained consistent.

Watkins has caught five touchdowns and is fourth among all rookie wide receivers in catches and yards—he leads the Bills in all three categories. Watkins has four 100-yard-receiving games, the second best by an NFL rookie, according to Sporting Charts.

Despite the offensive struggles, even while the team is in playoff contention, Watkins has earned his keep and a lot of respect in his first year in the league. If Buffalo can secure a reliable quarterback in the near future, Watkins will turn into an elite receiver.

4. Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins

USA TODAY Sports

Drafted: Second round, 63rd overall
Stats: 71 catches, 672 yards and five touchdowns

Like the Bills, the Miami Dolphins have been in the playoff hunt all season but could fall just short with a talented rookie receiver on the roster.

One of the team’s highlights in 2014 was snatching Jarvis Landry before the end of the second round of the draft and seeing him develop into a viable wide receiver.

Even with veteran Mike Wallace on the team, quarterback Ryan Tannehill has completed nine more passes to Landry than he has to Wallace.

Landry is one of the more prominent rookie wide receivers and currently co-leads the draft class in receptions.

3. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

USA TODAY Sports

Drafted: First round, seventh overall
Stats: 59 catches, 948 yards and 11 touchdowns

Josh McCown has been a hit-and-miss addition for Tampa Bay, but drafting Mike Evans and pairing him with Vincent Jackson was one of the very few highlights for the Buccaneers.

Evens had a big first year in Tampa Bay, collecting 948 yards and 11 touchdowns, which is a team high. His 11 touchdowns is the most by a rookie, and he sits in the top five in receptions and yards.

Evans also leads the rookie receiving group in catches of 20 yards or more with 19 and has four receptions that have gone for 40 yards or more.

2. Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers

Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Drafted: First round, 28th overall
Stats: 67 catches, 952 yards and nine touchdowns

Going through a season where you have just five wins going into Week 16 is never an ideal year for a rookie, but the Carolina Panthers still have a chance at making the playoffs—and Kelvin Benjamin has had a role in helping the Panthers contended in the NFC South.

Consistency has been Benjamin’s biggest strength as he has not gone more than two weeks without a touchdown catch. Like a couple of wide receivers on this list, Benjamin has spent time with both Cam Newton and Derek Anderson under center, and he continues to do his job well.

Benjamin is in the top three in all three of the main receiving categories among rookies and could become one of the best wide receivers in the NFL for years to come.

1. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

Al Bello/Getty Images

Drafted: First round, 12th overall
Stats: 71 catches, 972 yards and nine touchdowns

To no one's surprise, Odell Beckham Jr. is the best rookie wide receiver this year. His statistics make it easy to say he deserves to be No. 1 on this list, since he has more catches and receiving yards and the second-most touchdowns grabs out of every rookie.

But his numbers came even after missing a majority of training camp, preseason and the first four games due to a hamstring injury.

Ever since Victor Cruz suffered a season-ending injury in Week 6, Beckham became Eli Manning's biggest target. Beckham has recorded a 100-yard game in five of the last seven weeks and has the most 100-yard performances by a rookie wideout.

His big catch against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football is a candidate for sports play of the year.

Beckham's presence has even helped Manning play better. Prior to Beckham's debut, Manning threw five interceptions in the first four weeks. Since Beckham's Week 5 debut against Atlanta, Manning went four consecutive games without throwing an interception.

Beckham is the clear-cut winner in this slideshow and should receive serious consideration for Rookie of the Year honors.

Follow Farzin Vousoughian on Twitter at @Farzin21.