NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Ranking the Top 32 Wide Receivers in the NFL
Itās that time of the week again, time to take another look at the top 32 wide receivers in the NFL following Week 7.Ā This week we see some moving up and/or down the list as some receivers stepped up and had big games while others have gone down a bit thanks to their quarterback or team situation.
Please keep in mind that these rankings are not based on the careers including what they have done in the past or what they could do āifā they had this or āifā they did the same thing that they did last year.Ā For example, both Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson may be much better than Danny Amendola but in all reality, if those guys arenāt as productive as the other guys are then they are going to sit lower on this poll.Ā In addition, we arenāt looking at potential rather we are looking at real tangible production.
So without further delay, here are the top 32 wide receivers in the NFL starting from 32 working our way down to number one.
No. 32: Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints
1 of 33
Last Week: 20
Itās hard to believe that there is just one wide receiver from the New Orleans Saints on this list but such is the way that things are happening with the Saints these days.Ā Colston is having a good season, the best of any of their receivers but he isnāt getting enough passes thrown his way in that offense.
No. 31: Davone Bess, Miami Dolphins
2 of 33
Last Week: Unranked
Bess is solid in a somewhat productive offense and is starting to play better than his teammate, Brandon Marshall.Ā Heās had three touchdowns already this season and is poised to have a lot more as 2010 rolls on.
No. 30: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
3 of 33
Last Week: 31
Itās not really Fitzgeraldās fault that heās not cranking out the yards or touchdowns this season.Ā The quarterback situation is not the best in Arizona and heās feeling it.Ā Perhaps things will get better and he will move up on our power rankings as the season moves on.
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No. 29: Johnny Knox, Chicago Bears
4 of 33
Last Week: 16
Sure, Knox may not be the most productive wide receiver in terms of scoring touchdowns, but heās an asset on a team that has very few playmakers at the wide receiver position.Ā Heās become a reliable target for quarterback Jay Cutler and could end up being their number one wide receiver in time.
No. 28: Danny Amendola, St. Louis Rams
5 of 33
Last Week: 23
On a team without many other solid options, Amendola continues to be a bright spot for the Rams in their passing game.Ā Quarterback Sam Bradford trusts him and he rarely lets him down.
No. 27: Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers
6 of 33
Last Week: Unranked
The āold reliableā has been just that this season, reliable.Ā Wardās contributions are not only strong but his blocking is a big help.Ā Heās the consummate receiver and one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for the Steelers.
No. 26: Eddie Royal, Denver Broncos
7 of 33
Last Week: 19
Royal is starting to show some of the same characteristics he had when he was a rookie with the Broncos, coming through in the clutch for quarterback Kyle Orton when heās needed.Ā Royal could end up being one of the better wide receivers in the AFC before all is said and done.
No. 25: Brandon Marshall, Miami Dolphins
8 of 33
Last Week: 9
Marshall is a solid option for the Dolphins and should be a player that helps quarterback Chad Henne grow and learn in this offense.Ā If those two can connect often the Miami passing offense could be dangerous.
No. 24: Mike Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9 of 33
Last Week: Unranked
Many experts felt that Williams, after having a troubled collegiate career, wouldnāt be able to do what he has already managed to do in the NFL.Ā Heās becoming quarterback Josh Freemanās favorite target and barring any off the field issues or breakdowns, could become one of the Bucs best receivers in a long time.
No. 23: Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals
10 of 33
Last Week: 25
The combination of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco has helped make the Bengals offense better.Ā Itās just too bad that their defense hasnāt been able to help them win games.Ā In the meantime, these guys should continue to shine in Cincinnati.
No. 22: Santana Moss, Washington Redskins
11 of 33
Last Week: 10
Moss continues to be quarterback Donovan McNabbās most reliable target even if he isnāt putting up huge numbers.Ā He runs great routes and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
No. 21: Steve Smith, New York Giants
12 of 33
Last Week: 18
Smith along with Hakeem Nicks, help create one of the best wide receiver combinations in the NFL. As long as Eli Manning can get the ball down the field to Smith and not turn it over, both receivers should have a good season with the Giants.
No. 20: Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills
13 of 33
Last Week: Unranked
Has anyone here heard of Johnson?Ā Not many, but this Buffalo Bills wide receiver is making a splash on a team that no one really talks about.Ā People should start paying more attention to him because heās really making waves up in lonely Buffalo.
No. 19: DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
14 of 33
Last Week: 14
Hopefully Jackson makes it back it back from his concussion soon because the NFL is currently missing one of its most exciting players.Ā Heās definitely one of the biggest playmakers at the position and helps make the Eagles that much better.
No. 18: Malcolm Floyd, San Diego Chargers
15 of 33
Last Week: 3
Along with the rest of Chargers, Floyd appears to be dropping a little bit.Ā He plays well and has a great quarterback but things arenāt going to well in San Diego. His value is not as strong as it used to be.
No. 17: Andre Johnson, Houston Texans
16 of 33
Last Week: 5
Johnson, along with the rest of the Texans, had this Sunday off so he didnāt see any action.Ā Johnson, along with the rest of the Texans passing game, needs to get going if Houston wants to make the playoffs this season.Ā Granted, they have won some games but their passing offense is not as good as it was in 2009.
No. 16: Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys
17 of 33
Last Week: 8
Austin hasnāt been seeing too many balls thrown his way thanks to the re-emergence of Roy Williams, but heās enough of a threat to keep teams double teaming him and opening things up for other receivers.Ā Hopefully his production improves as the season goes on.
No. 15: Terrell Owens, Cincinnati Bengals
18 of 33
Last Week: 7
Owens continues to make plays for the Bengals even if the team isnāt winning a lot of games.Ā For those who scoffed when he was brought to the Queen City in thinking that he would be a problem child, so far heās been nothing but productive so far this season.
No. 14: Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers
19 of 33
Last Week: 32
Wallace came into the NFL with a lot of talent and heās proving that with each game that he plays.Ā As long as the Steelers keep passing the ball as much as they have Wallace should remain one of the top wide receivers in the AFC.
No. 13: Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos
20 of 33
Last Week: 2
Lloyd continues to impress with his ability to catch the ball and make things happen.Ā Heās a solid receiver who has turned his career around and has become an asset on offense for Denver.
No. 12: Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs
21 of 33
Last Week: Unranked
The Chiefs are starting to look good on offense, and despite his problems making catches, Bowe is helping them out greatly in the passing game.Ā Perhaps after a few seasons in the NFL, heās finally starting to catch on.
No. 11: Braylon Edwards, New York Jets
22 of 33
Last Week: 21
Edwards was another player on a bye this past week but he moves up thanks to the production and value that he has had this season.Ā He may be a troubled player but heās found himself in New York and could have a good career there.
No. 10: Louis Murphy, Oakland Raiders
23 of 33
Last Week: 27
Darrius Heyward-Bey?Ā Not a factor.Ā Murphy?Ā Heās the man in Oakland.Ā Heās done very well despite the fact that the quarterback situation in Oakland is never stable.Ā Heās going to be a big factor for this team in the future and is starting things off on the right foot in Oakland.
No. 9: Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
24 of 33
Last Week: 11
On a team with little else in the passing game, Johnson has become a rock.Ā Unfortunately, he doesnāt get his due because he plays in Detroit.Ā If he was on a team like the Colts or the Packers, he would be a Pro Bowler each and every season.
No. 8: Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts
25 of 33
Last Week: 6
Like Wayne, Collie didnāt play this Sunday, but he makes up one of the better wide receiving groups in the NFL.Ā Watch Collie continue to play well this season and become one of the leaders in touchdown receptions.
No. 7: Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers
26 of 33
Last Week: 22
Jennings has become the Packers' top target now that tight end Jermichael Finley is out and heās certainly ready to step up to the challenge.Ā Look for Jennings to become one of the top receivers in the NFL the rest of this season and could end up being a Pro Bowl player before all is said and done.
No. 6: Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants
27 of 33
Last Week: 15
Nicks is the most valuable wide receiver on the Giants and is starting to blossom into one of the better ones in the NFL.Ā As long as he and quarterback Eli Manning can connect on passes, he along with the rest of the team should have a good season on offense.
No. 5: Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
28 of 33
Last Week: 12
There is no doubt that Maclin means a lot to the Eagles especially with DeSean Jackson sitting out because of a concussion.Ā Heās finally picked things up, understands the game and is turning into one of the leagueās best receivers.
No. 4: Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts
29 of 33
Last Week: 1
Even though Wayne didnāt play this past Sunday that is no reason why he fell in this weekās poll and why he shouldnāt be ranked.Ā He still means a lot to Peyton Manning and the Colts and will continue to build upon a good season so far.
No. 3: Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans
30 of 33
Last Week: Unranked
Britt burst onto the wide receiver scene over the last two weeks and he rises all the way up to the third spot in this weekās rankings.Ā Heās been the go to guy for the Titans in the passing game and has caught seven touchdowns so far this season.Ā He is certainly one of the most, if not ātheā most valuable players on the Tennessee squad right now.
No. 2: Anquan Boldin, Baltimore Ravens
31 of 33
Last Week: 13
If you want a player that means a lot to his team in how he helps the offense as well as what he means to game planning (by opposing teamās defenses), you need to look no further than Boldin. Heās a highly productive receiver and one of the leagueās best.
No. 1: Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons
32 of 33
Last Week: 4
Roddy White has had a solid season so far and is quarterback Matt Ryanās most reliable target.Ā Heās made some big plays and is a huge part of why the Falcons are now leading their division.
Those Who Dropped Off The List
33 of 33The players that dropped off of the power rankings this week are:
Jabar Gaffney, Denver Broncos
Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens
Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
Mark Clayton, St. Louis Rams
Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys
Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers
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