
NFL Power Rankings: The Best No. 2 & No. 3 Wide Receiver Options In The League
In today's NFL we always hear about the "star" receivers. The Terrell Owens', Andre Johnson's and Larry Fitzgeralds'.
But a lot of the time it's the number two and three wide receivers that make all the difference.
In this article, I break down the best 2/3 WR combos in the NFL from a statistical angle.
You might be surprised where your team's receivers landed.
Guidelines
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Before I begin, let's go over the ground-rules:
1a.) Some teams don't have a clear-cut number one wideout like the Bengals, Browns, Jaguars, Raiders, or 49ers. In this case, because it's about stats, I counted the receiver whose produced the most at this point in the season.
- Ex. Louis Murphy has 17 catches for 201 yards this season, the highest for any wideout on the Raiders, so he's considered the number one.
1b.) If a team has two wide receivers with similar numbers, I chose the household name as the number one.
- Ex. Greg Jennings has 26 catches for 390 yards with five touchdowns. Donald Driver has 28 catches for 307 yards and 3 touchdowns. The number one spot goes to Jennings.
1c.) In a few cases, similar to the one above in Green Bay, I selected a number one based on reality. If a receiver is truly the first option for his team, I picked him as the number one, even if he may not have the best numbers on the team.
- Ex. Steve Smith of the Panthers has 17 catches for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Although his numbers are a tad below David Gettis, who has 18 catches for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns, I still marked Smith as the Panthers number one. The same goes for Steve Johnson and Lee Evans in Buffalo.
If there was a considerable discrepancy between the household name and the "new" number one, I went with the new guy, as was the case in Denver. Brandon Lloyd's yards were far ahead of both Eddie Royal's and Jabar Gaffney's.
2.) I am not counting tight ends in this equation. I'm fully aware that the majority of teams today have a tight end(s) that have superior stats to that of a second or third receiver, or both. These clubs include the Cardinals, Falcons, Ravens, Bears, Bengals, Browns, Cowboys, Lions, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Vikings, Patriots, Saints, Jets, Raiders, Steelers, Chargers, 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Buccaneers, Titans and the Redskins.
Yea, that's a lot, but I solely wanted to look at how the true wide receivers are performing from each team. The guys on the outside or in the slot.
Hopefully you got all that.
Let's begin...
(I'll include a * on the team's slide if they have a tight end with better stats than the receivers named)
32. Oakland Raiders*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Darrius Heyward-Bey
14 rec. 161 yards 0 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Johnnie Lee-Higgins
3 rec. 40 yards 0 TD
Totals - 17 rec. 201 yards 0 TD
Number 1 - Louis Murphy
Not a shock here coming from the Raiders. Their passing game is 21st in the league, and only Arizona and Carolina have a worse completion percentage than Oakland's 54 percent. Murphy has performed well under the spotlight, but wasn't that spotlight supposed to be focused on Heyward-Bey, after he was selected in front of Michael Crabtree two drafts ago?
(Not to worry Raiders' Fans - Zach Miller has 33 catches for 453 yards and 4 touchdowns on the year)
31. Detroit Lions**
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Nate Burleson
12 rec. 129 yards 2 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Bryant Johnson
7 rec. 71 yards 0 TD
Totals - 19 rec. 200 yards 2 TDs
Number 1 - Calvin Johnson
The Detroit Lions have managed quite a prolific passing attack in the absence of their franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was injured in the season opener. Shaun Hill has found Calvin Johnson quite often, but as you can see, the secondary options have yet to make a solid contribution.
(Not to worry Lions' fans - The Lions have not one, but two tight ends who's numbers exceed what's shown above. Brandon Pettigrew has 33 catches for 336 yards with a score, and Tony Scheffler has 26 grabs for 227 yards and a score of his own. That's why they get the double asterisk.)
30. Kansas City Chiefs*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Dexter McCluster
15 rec. 147 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 2 - Chris Chambers
7 rec. 76 yards 0 TD
Totals - 22 rec. 223 yards 1 TD
Number One - Dwayne Bowe
The Chiefs have been one of the league's many surprises this season, but as you can see, they've been winning with their run game and a solid, yet underrated defense. Dwayne Bowe can go off any Sunday, as he's that envied combination of size and speed, but the rest of Kansas City's receiving corps hasn't been getting the job done. Matt Cassel sure isn't helping either.
(Not to worry Chiefs' fans - Tony Moeaki has 21 catches for 236 yards and 2 scores, one of the highlight variety)
29. Arizona Cardinals*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Steve Breaston
14 rec. 183 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 2 - Stephen Williams
7 rec. 75 yards 0 TD
Totals - 21 rec. 258 yards 1 TD
Number One - Larry Fitzgerald
This is what happens when Kurt Warner retires from football. The Cardinals are still in the playoff hunt in the always-mediocre NFC West, but they aren't doing it with the aerial attack like they did the last three seasons. The quarterback position is very questionable, and you see the lack of production above from that shaky quarterback play. It's crazy how a team's identity can change so quickly.
(Maybe you should worry Cardinals' fans - Ben Patrick has better numbers: 11 rec. 88 yards 0 TD, than Stephen Williams, but not by much.)
28. Minnesota Vikings*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Randy Moss
12 rec. 166 yards 2 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Bernard Berrian
7 rec. 72 yards 0 TD
Totals - 19 rec. 238 yards. 2 TDs
Number One - Percy Harvin
I know, you may have some gripes here Viking fans, but Harvin's 25 catches, 289 yards and two TDs were far and away the highest on the team. Moss has only been with the Vikings for two games, but he's yet to have that monster game we've all been waiting for. Sure, I could have carried over his New England statistics, but I didn't, he's a Viking now. The secondary receiver's production hinges on Favre's availability down the stretch.
(Not to worry Vikings' fans - Visanthe Shiancoe has 16 catches for 227 yards and 1 TD on the year)
27. Atlanta Falcons*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Harry Douglas
15 rec. 179 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Mike Jenkins
8 rec. 124 yards 0 TD
Totals - 23 rec. 303 yards 1 TD
Number One - Roddy White
This shouldn't be too surprising, seeing that Roddy White is currently leading the NFL in receptions and yards. Matt Ryan has had his ups and downs early in the year, and needs to get his secondary receivers more involved as opposing defenses will begin to roll coverages toward Mr. White. Not sure if that will matter - White is that talented.
(Not to worry Falcons' fans - Tony Gonzalez has 29 grabs for 292 yards and 3 scores. More to come from Gonzo.)
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Sammie Stroughter
15 rec. 177 yards 0 TD
Wide Receiver No. 2 - Michael Spurloc
9 rec. 99 yards 2 TD
Totals - 24 rec. 266 yards 2 TDs
Number One - Mike Williams
The names above are not a lie, Sammie Stroughter and Michael Spurloc statistically would be considered Tampa Bay's number two and three wide receivers. And Raheem Morris thinks they're the best team in the NFC? Alrighty then. Williams has limitless potential, as does second year quarterback Josh Freeman, but the Bucs need a more potent passing game if they really want to play with the big boys of the NFC.
(Not to worry Buccaneers' fans - Kellen Winslow Jr. has 29 catches for 301 yards with three TDs, trumping Stroughter's and Spurloc's combined numbers.)
25. Cleveland Browns*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Josh Cribbs
14 rec. 85 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Mohamed Massaquoi
9 rec. 115 yards 1 TD
Totals - 23 rec. 300 yards 2 TDs
Number One- Chansi Stuckey
The Browns have pulled off some shocking upsets this year over the Bengals and the Saints, but definitely didn't do it with an intimidating passing game. Colt McCoy has stepped in to be the game manager that many rebuilding teams need, and Peyton Hillis has really become the focal point of the offense.
(Not to worry Browns' fans - Benjamin Watson has 30 catches for 336 yards and 2 TDs this season)
24. New York Jets*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Jericho Cotchery
20 rec. 154 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 2 - Santonio Holmes
7 rec. 88 yards 0 TD
Totals - 27 rec. 242 yards 1 TD
Number One - Braylon Edwards
These numbers are a bit skewed because of Santonio Holmes' four game suspension, but the Jets haven't really pushed the ball down the field too often. Mark Sanchez is growing at the quarterback position, so we could see an increase in production soon. The emphasis on the running game could be the only thing stopping these secondary receivers from making huge strides.
(Not to worry Jets' fans - Dustin Keller, who arguably is Sanchez's favorite target, has 24 catches for 343 yards and 5 TDs this year)
23. New England Patriots*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Deion Branch
13 rec. 137 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Brandon Tate
12 rec. 138 yards 0 TD
Totals - 25 rec. 275 yards 1 TD
Number One - Wes Welker
With the departure of Randy Moss, Welker has to be the first option in the Patriots offense. After a glorious return to New England against the Ravens, Branch was relatively quiet last week in the Patriots win over the Chargers. I expect Tate to see more targets and Branch to get fully acclimated to the offense in weeks to come.
(Not to worry Patriots' fans - Aaron Hernandez has 27 catches for 355 yards but has yet to find the endzone.)
22. San Francisco 49ers*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Josh Morgan
20 rec. 238 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 2 - Dominique Zeigler
8 rec. 88 yards 0 TD
Totals - 28 rec. 326 yards 1 TD
Number One - Michael Crabtree
The 49ers were supposed to cruise through the NFC West this season and possibly compete for and NFC title. Yet, through seven games they sit disappointingly at 1-6 and are coming off a bad loss to the Carolina Panthers. Alex Smith has shown signs of life, but the final nail is close to being hammered home on his "bust" coffin.
(Not to worry 49ers' fans - Vernon Davis has built off his 2009 breakout year with 32 catches for 422 yards and 4 TDs)
21. Seattle Seahawks*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Deon Butler
15 rec. 171 yards 2 TD
Wide Receiver No. 2 - Golden Tate
8 rec. 115 yards 0 TD
Totals - 27rec. 286 yards 2 TDs
Number One - Mike Williams
We've seen the career-saving resurgence of Mike Williams in Seattle under former USC coach Pete Carroll. The rest of the Seahawks receiving corps hasn't played at the level some thought they would. Butler has held his own, but Seattle needs another wideout to emerge, in order to revert back to their glory years of the early-to-mid 2000s.
(Not to worry Seahawks' fans - John Carlson has 17 catches for 184 yards and a score. Still, I'd like to see more production from the tight end spot.)
20. Washington Redskins*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Anthony Armstrong
14 rec. 276 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Joey Galloway
8 rec. 139 yards 0 TD
Totals - 22 rec. 415 yards 1 TD
Number One - Santana Moss
Anthony Armstrong has been a favorite deep target of Donovan McNabb and Joey Galloway is the age-less wonder. They haven't always been squeaky clean on offense, but McNabb certainly has an unheralded group of wide receivers at his disposal.
(Not to worry Redskins' fans - Chris Cooley has 35 grabs for 392 yards and 2 touchdowns this year.)
19. Jacksonville Jaguars*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Mike Sims-Walker
21 rec. 239 yards 3 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Tiquan Underwood
7 rec. 104 yards 0 TD
Totals - 28 rec. 343 yards 3 TDs
Number One - Mike Thomas
Sims-Walker came onto the scene last season, but this year Thomas has eight more catches and over 100 more receiving yards. With Garrard hobbled and the tentative Trent Edwards also banged up, Todd Bauman might have to play much more than Jacksonville fans would like.
(Not to worry Jaguars' fans - Marcedes Lewis has hauled in 23 passes for 275 yards and 5 TDs this season.)
18. Tennessee Titans*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Nate Washington
17 rec. 234 yards 3 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Justin Gage
9 rec. 134 yards 0 TD
Totals - 26 rec. 386 yards 3 TDs
Number One - Kenny Britt
How about Britt's performance last week after he was benched for the first quarter? Unbelievable. Washington has been a perfect complement to Britt, and Gage has done enough to keep the Titans' passing attack going. With Chris Johnson in the backfield, Tennessee can still win games without using the pass that often.
(Not to worry Titans' fans - Bo Scaife has 19 catches for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns thus far.)
17. Carolina Panthers
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - David Gettis
18 rec. 244 yards 2 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Brandon LaFell
11 rec. 174 yards 0 TD
Totals - 29 rec. 418 yards 2 TDs
Number One - Steve Smith
I, myself, was a little surprised the Panthers' secondary options had such respectable numbers, but they've hardly helped out quarterbacks Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen. The Panthers entire offense has struggled. This may be one case where the numbers don't tell the whole story.
(Maybe you should worry Panthers' fans - There is no tight end on the Carolina roster with better stats than what you see above.)
16. Pittsburgh Steelers*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Mike Wallace
14 rec. 354 yards 4 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Antwaan Randle-El
8 rec. 96 yards 0 TD
Totals - 22 rec. 450 yards 4 TDs
Number One - Hines Ward
With Big Ben back, the Pittsburgh Steelers seem to be primed for another Super Bowl run. The defense is what has held it all together for the men from the Steel City, but Mike Wallace is a superb deep threat while Ward remains Roethlisberger's favorite target on an always improving offense.
(Even Better - Heath Miller adds to a potent passing game with his 15 catches, 183 yards and 1 TD.)
15. Chicago Bears*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Earl Bennett
20 rec. 211 yards 0 TD
Wide Receiver No. 2 - Devin Hester
18 rec. 182 yards 1 TD
Totals - 38 rec. 393 yards 1 TD
Number One - Johnny Knox
Knox has become the slippery speedster that the Bears hoped he'd be when they drafted him last year. In a year where we expected Devin Hester to breakout, Chicago has had so much trouble with the protection of Jay Cutler, none of Hester's deep routes have been able to materialize. On the rare occasion that he's had time to throw, Cutler's found his college buddy Earl Bennett with some regularity.
(Even Better - Greg Olsen has continued to prove to be a viable threat in the Bears passing game. He's got 18 catches for 222 yards and 2 TDs.)
14. St. Louis Rams*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Mark Clayton
23 rec. 306 yards 2 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Brandon Gibson
12 rec. 161 yards 1 TD
Totals - 35 rec. 467 yards 3 TDs
Number One - Danny Amendola
You must take this 14 ranking with a grain of salt. Mark Clayton is out for the year with a knee injury, and Danny Amendola falls into that "Wes Welker slot-guy number one option out of necessity" category.
However, Sam Bradford is miles ahead of where I thought he'd be at this juncture. His accuracy is pinpoint, he's got a very impressive arm, and can throw on the run. The Rams could be on to something.
(Even Better - Daniel Fells is another unknown that Bradford is bringing to the forefront. He's got 16 catches for 153 yards and 1 TD on the year.)
13. Baltimore Ravens*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Derrick Mason
26 rec. 372 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - T.J. Houshmandzadeh
9 rec. 129 yards 1 TD
Totals - 37 rec. 485 yards 2 TDs
Number One - Anquan Boldin
The Ravens have transitioned from being a run-first team that wins with defense, to a team that can really air it out. The addition of Boldin has paid its dividends and Derrick Mason is still producing at age 36. Houshmandzadeh hasn't lived up to the expectations many set for him after his illustrious career in Cincinnati, but he's more of the chain-moving type anyway.
(Even Better - Todd Heap has 24 receptions for 318 yards and 3 TDs on the year.)
12. San Diego Chargers*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Buster Davis
21 rec. 259 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Patrick Crayton
18 rec. 293 yards 0 TD
Totals - 39 rec. 552 yards 1 TD
Number One - Malcolm Floyd
Phillip Rivers is spearheading the most productive passing attack in the NFL, but it's not translating to wins. For the sake of his article, all the Chargers' pass-catchers are off to great starts to the season. Rivers relies on Antonio Gates most of the time, but guys like Buster Davis and Patrick Crayton are playing at a much higher level than I originally thought.
(Even Better - Antonio Gates is having another monster year. He's got 35 catches, 540 yards and 8, yes 8 touchdowns.)
11. Houston Texans
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Kevin Walter
22 rec. 266 yards 3 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Jacoby Jones
18 rec. 190 yards 1 TD
Totals - 40 rec. 456 yards 4 TDs
Number One - Andre Johnson
Matt Schaub, last year's leader in passing yards, is up to the same old tricks in Houston, but it's been a little tougher for him in 2010. Andre Johnson's battled a nagging ankle injury, and lucky for Schaub, Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones have stepped in and have become the extra weapons needed to power the Texans' offense.
(No tight end on the Texans' roster has better numbers than what's seen above.)
10. Green Bay Packers
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Donald Driver
28 rec. 307 yards 3 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - James Jones
19 rec. 284 yards 1 TD
Totals - 37 rec. 591 yards 4 TDs
Number One - Greg Jennings
Donald Driver was held without a catch for the first time since 2001 last week, but don't expect that to happen very often. Aaron Rodgers is off to a good start, but not as fantastic as some analysts predicted. The loss of Jermichael Finley was huge, and the lack of a running game hurts at some points during each game. Still, this is one of the best passing teams in the NFL.
(No tight end on the Packers' roster has better stats than what you see above.)
9. New Orleans Saints*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Lance Moore
22 rec. 317 yards 4 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Devery Henderson
19 rec. 229 yards 1 TD
Totals - 41 rec. 546 yards 5 TDs
Number One - Marques Colston
The Saints were stunned at home by the Browns last week, and Drew Brees has hardly return to 2009 form. Even with the criticism that they've received, the Saints get the ball all over the field to many different receivers. Once they correct their mistakes they will be the most dynamic offense in the NFC.
(Even Better - Jeremy Shockey has 27 catches for 277 yards and 3 TDs this season.)
8. Philadelphia Eagles
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - DeSean Jackson
19 rec. 365 yards 3 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Jason Avant
24 rec. 240 yards 0 TD
Totals - 43 rec. 635 yards 3 TDs
Number One - Jeremy Maclin
Yes, Jeremy Maclin, from a statistical standpoint, would be the Eagles number one receiver. He's got 11 more catches, over 60 more yards and three more scores than Jackson. Whether it's Kevin Kolb or Mike Vick, this Eagles team can really put some points on the board.The secondary guys are an integral part of that.
(No tight end on the Eagles' roster has better numbers than what you see above.)
7. Dallas Cowboys*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Roy Williams
21 rec. 306 yards 5 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Dez Bryant
22 rec. 265 yards 3 TD
Totals - 43 rec. 571 yards 8 TDs
Number One - Miles Austin
The Cowboys are in disarray sitting at 1-5, but the offense has kept the team in just about every game. Dez Bryant broke out last week against the Giants and Roy Williams is quietly having a big year. With Tony Romo out of the picture for a while, these numbers could drop, a lot.
(Even Better - Jason Witten has 32 receptions for 365 yards with two TDs.)
6. Miami Dolphins
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Davone Bess
32 rec. 348 yards 3 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Brian Hartline
20 rec. 234 yards 1 TD
Totals - 52 rec. 582 yards 4 TDs
Number One - Brandon Marshall
The Dolphins have seen progress from third-year quarterback Chad Henne, and have been more of an aerial team than many expecting heading into the season. They've played in a lot of tight games and the chain-moving Bess has arguably become the best third down receiver in the NFL.
(No tight end on Miami's roster has better numbers than what's seen above.)
5. Buffalo Bills
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Stevie Johnson
25 rec. 372 yards 5 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Roscoe Parrish
22 rec. 274 yards 1 TD
Totals - 47 rec. 646 yards 6 TD
Number One - Lee Evans
Chan Gailey and Ryan Fitzpatrick have revitalized the Buffalo Bills' offense, but it's yet to translate to a win, as the Bills remain the only win-less team in the NFL. Fitzpatrick isn't afraid to make any throw, and although these numbers aren't painting the exact picture because Buffalo's played a lot of garbage time in blowouts, the Bills offense isn't one to take lightly. Ask the Ravens.
(No tight end on the Bills' roster has better numbers than what's seen above)
4. Cincinnati Bengals*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Chad OchoCinco
36 yards 424 yards 2 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Jordan Shipley
21 yards 321 yards 1 TD
Totals - 57 rec. 745 yards 3 TD
Number One - Terrell Owens
This one was tough, because I consider both T.O. and Ochocino true number ones. However, Owens' numbers were better so he gets the nod. Carson Palmer has definitely spread the ball around but Mike Zimmer's defense has been a disappointment, as the Bengals sit at 2-4.
(Even Better- Jermaine Gresham has 26 catches for 184 yards and 2 TDs.)
3. Indianapolis Colts*
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Austin Collie
44 rec. 503 yards 6 TD
Wide Receiver No. 2 - Pierre Garcon
14 rec. 214 yards 1 TD
Totals - 58 rec. 717 yards 7 TDs
Number One - Reggie Wayne
Garcon missed a few games with injury, but Peyton Manning hasn't slowed a bit. The Colts are still the offensive juggernaut we've grown accustomed to, and with Garcon now healthy, expect these numbers to rise the rest of the season.
( Even Better - Dallas Clark has 37 catches for 347 yards and 3 TDs, but is likely done for the season.)
2. Denver Broncos
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Jabar Gaffney
41 rec. 462 yards 1 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Eddie Royal
34 rec. 393 yards 2 TD
Totals - 75 rec. 855 yards 3 TD
Number One - Brandon Lloyd
No wonder Kyle Orton is putting up huge numbers. He's got three speedy and elusive route runners that can get open and move the sticks. Even after their humiliating loss to the Raiders, expect the Broncos to keep lighting up the scoreboard and the statbook.
(No tight end on the Broncos' roster has better numbers than what's seen above.)
1. New York Giants
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Wide Receiver No. 2 - Steve Smith
43 rec. 471 yards 2 TD
Wide Receiver No. 3 - Mario Manningham
21 rec. 239 yards 3 TD
Totals - 64 rec. 710 yards 5 TD
Number One - Hakeem Nicks
What a group of wideouts Eli Manning has. Each player fits into their specific role perfectly and any given day one of these three can go off for a gigantic game. With this corps of receivers being rather young, expect this nucleus to be around for quite some time to cause problems in the NFC East.

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