Best Active NFL Deep Threat Wide Receivers: Is Randy Moss Still the Best?
One of the most glamorous plays in american football is the deep pass. These plays are made possible by the deep threat wide receiver. With speed, amazing ball skills, height and springs on their feet, they physically dominate defensive backs and change the tide of games with 40+ yard touchdowns.
For the past decade, Randy Moss has been the gold standard for deep threat wide receivers. He is quick, tall, wins almost every jump ball situation, and has very sticky fingers.
I am grading wide outs on three main areas. Firstly, the ability to get open deep, either through out and out speed, size or just having a knack for it. Secondly, the stats to back up the claim. The important statistics are yards per catch, touchdowns and receptions over 40 yards. Thirdly, their overall effect on the game. This can make up for lack of statistical success, because if the player draws constant double coverage then they make a vital impact on the game and aid other players.
Feel free to comment if you think I missed one.
10. Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers)
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Who would have thought a tight end would be one of the top ten deep threats? Even I didn't until I looked at the numbers. Over the last two seasons he has averaged 15.6 yards per catch, and caught 17 touchdowns!
Although most receivers in San Diego have abnormally high yards per catch statistics due to the deep ball style offense they run, Gates is something special. Weighing in at 260 pounds and standing 6'4", he can get open deep through his size, and he also has enough speed to run away from linebackers and safeties. He doesn't drop many passes either.
His presence also forces defences to push more players into the middle of the field to plug up the seams that Gates exploits. This is the main reason why no matter who Philip River's has been throwing too this season, they have always been getting open.
9. Brandon Lloyd (Denver Broncos)
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After being a third or fourth string wide receiver for most of his career, Brandon Lloyd has suddenly exploded onto the scene catching passes for Kyle Orton. So far in 2010, he has made 42 catches at an average of 20.9 yards per catch. He also has 7 plays longer than 40 yards.
Lloyd's resurgence can be attributed to his chemistry with Orton. When they were in Chicago, they started well before Lloyd was injured, and now the two have renewed that link with surprising success.
Brandon Lloys is able to get open deep with his speed, and with improved hands he is finally keeping hold of catches. It is also just a matter of time before teams start to consistently double team him, partly for his success, and also because he is the only elite threat on the Denver roster.
8. Braylon Edwards (New York Jets)
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Regardless of his suspect hands and off-field dramas, Braylon Edwards is one of the scariest match ups for corner backs to line up against. With 4.37 speed and good size (6'3", 214 pounds), he can physically overpower and outrun defenders, and although he drops his fair share of catches, he also reels in stunning grabs.
Edwards showed his ability to be a number one receiver in Cleveland when Derek Anderson was passing to him, but even recently he has still been a quality deep threat. He has made five plays over 40 yards, and had yards per catch averages of 15.5 and 18.1 for 2009 and 2010.
His inconsistency means he will never change the defense to a major degree like Moss can, but his big play potential cannot be denied.
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7. Sidney Rice (Minnesota Vikings)
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Although injured so far in 2010, Sidney Rice excelled last season as Brett Favre's new favourite deep threat wide receiver. Although he lacks prototypical speed for the position, he has a knack for getting open deep, and standing at 6'4", he can win all the jump ball situations that are thrown his way with his great vertical leap.
In 2009, he caught 83 passes for eight touchdowns, which included seven plays greater than 40 yards. All of this was done at an average of 15.8 yards per catch. The large number of catches he hauled in indicates his catching ability, and he would draw exotic coverage schemes if it wasn't for Adrian Peterson.
With Rice billed to return to the Vikings team soon, we can expect him to continue this rich vein of form, and challenge cornerbacks as the Vikings make a push for another playoff appearance.
6. Andre Johnson (Houston Texans)
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Andre Johnson is the current best wide receiver in the NFL, after a monster 2009. Although this is due to his abilities as a route runner, he is also one of the best exponents of the deep catch. He has safe hands, great body control, speed and size (6'3", 225 pounds). In short, he is one of the most physically talented players in the NFL.
His production over the last two seasons is also second to none. He has caught 12 touchdowns and made 11 plays over 40 yards. He has also averaged 15.15 yards per catch over 2009 and 2010.
Being the best wide receiver in the NFL also means that teams are trying their hardest to shut him down, which has opened up the field for other players this season, especially Arian Foster.
5. Vincent Jackson (San Diego Chargers)
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Once again, one of the best deep threat wide receivers has been inactive so far in the 2010 season. However, Jackson shows all the skills to be a top deep threat, and was the second best from the 2009 season. Once he gets back on the field this year, he will move right back up to the top of the field.
For starters, he plays for the Chargers, who are the best deep ball offense. Then, there is V-Jax's physical prowess. He stands at 6'5" and weighing 230 pounds, Jackson has one of the biggest frames outside of the "box". He also has amazing leaping ability and surprising speed.
In 2009, Jackson averaged 17.2 yards per catch and scored nine touchdowns. No doubt when he returns to the Chargers he will continue his domination and give Rivers' another prime target to throw to.
4. Kenny Britt (Tennesse Titans)
7 of 10
Before getting injured in week eight, Kenny Britt was one of the hottest wide receivers in the league. He had a monster break out game with over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns in just three quarters.
Britt combines decent speed with size and good ball skills. He also has the ability to break tackles in the open field. To be honest, I think he looks more like a tight end than a wide receiver, which gives him a huge advantage against corner backs.
In 2009, Britt had a bad year adjusting to the NFL, but still made four plays over 40 yards at an average of 16.7 yards per catch. Then so far this season he has an average of 18.1 yards per catch with 7 touchdowns.
I would say that the greatest compliment to his game is that when the Titan's realised he would be out for at least six weeks, the replacement they got for him is Randy Moss. Enough said.
3. Randy Moss (New England Patriots/Minnesota Vikings/Tennesse Titans)
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There we are. Moss isn't the number one, but then again who would have thought it after his lack of production this season. This could be attributed to his chopping and changing teams this season.
Moss still is physically superior to most players in the NFL, and has the perfect abilities for a deep threat. He is quick, he stands at 6'5", he has great hands and knows all the tricks to get open down field.
His effect is also obvious. Tom Brady has gone from a fantasy superstar to just a good player. This is entirely due to what Moss offered the offense as a deep threat.
Everyone knows what Moss offers an offense, so I wont go on about it, but he scores a perfect 10 for it. No one in the NFL has his effect on the game.
In 2009 he had an average of 15.2 yards per catch with seven plays over 40 yards and 13 touchdowns. If his production comes back then he goes to number one on this list.
2. Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh Steelers)
9 of 10
For the last two years, he has lead the NFL in yards per catch. He ran a 4.33 at the combine and seems even faster in pads. Mike Wallace has turned into one of the best pure deep threats in the NFL.
He suits the role perfectly with his aforementioned speed, leaping ability and ball skills. He reminds me of the young Randy Moss. A player who may only make four catches in a game, but end up with two touchdowns and 100 yards.
Wallace has quickly become Ben Roethlisberger's favourite target, and is starting to draw extra attention from defenders. It is just a matter of time before he becomes a household name.
In 2009, he only caught 39 passes. However, 6 of those were longer than 40 yards, and it was done at an average of 19.4 yards per catch. In 2010 Wallace was a no show for the first four weeks with Big Ben's suspension, but since then in 6 weeks, he has made 22 catches, 5 plays over 40 yards and 5 touchdowns. And the cherry on top of this is his yards per catch, a massive 23.0.
1. DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia Eagles)
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D-Jax is number one. Although he was out with concussion for a few weeks, Jackson competes with Chris Johnson for the title of the biggest "Big Play Threat", and I reckon he wins. In the last two years he has made 15 plays longer than 40 yards.
He can take it to the house returning punts and running wide receiver reverses, but his main skill is as a wide receiver. Every year he has been in the league he has been stretching defenses and making big touchdowns.
He is one of the fastest players in the league, and also is a good route runner. He adjusts well to the ball in the air, and comes down with it more often that not.
In 2009, he broke out, making more than 1,000 receiving yards at an average of 18.6 yards per catch. So far in 2010, while missing games with that concussion, he has an average of 19.4 yards per catch. His youth also means that there will be plenty more years of splitting deep safeties for the pocket rocket.
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