NFL Power Rankings Week 17: Ranking the Top 32 Wide Receivers in the NFL
Well, there is just one more week left in the season and there will be a lot of playoff positioning going on. You can expect a lot out of the teams trying to make themselves fit into the playoffs the way that they would like (with seeding and so on).
You can bet that there will be a lot of passing taking place in this last week of the season and that some or most of the guys in this week’s rankings could have some big games.
So where does your favorite wide receiver rank this week? Has he moved up or down the list?
Let’s find out as we take a look at the top 32 wide receivers in the NFL as we head into Week 17.
32. Mike Williams, Seattle Seahawks
1 of 33
Last Week: 32nd
Williams falls to the bottom of the rankings this week and may not be on here next week. Things just aren’t working out well for the Seahawks or their passing game, but they are still in playoff contention and Williams may be able to help them get there.
31. Deion Branch, New England Patriots
2 of 33
Last Week: 26th
Branch didn’t have a great game on Sunday but he (and the Patriots) didn’t really have to. He’s going to be a big part of their playoff run this season and could repeat some of the same playoff success that he has had in the past.
30. Davone Bess, Miami Dolphins
3 of 33
Last Week: 29th
Bess didn’t have that great of a game this Sunday and the Dolphins aren’t going to the playoffs, but with some improvement he could be part of a pretty nice passing game in Miami next season.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
29. Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints
4 of 33
Last Week: 27th
Moore continues to be an asset to the Saints, a team that prides itself in passing the ball and winning games (for the most part) through the air. Moore continues to play well and is a nice target for quarterback Drew Brees.
28. Mike Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars
5 of 33
Last Week: 30th
The Jaguars are still in playoff contention and Thomas has been right there helping them out as much as he can. He had a pretty nice game on Sunday and should be a bright part of the Jaguars' future in 2011.
27. Mario Manningham, New York Giants
6 of 33
Last Week: Unranked
Manningham has helped pick up the slack that has been missing since Steve Smith has been out of the lineup, and he’s been doing pretty good things for the Giants. If they make the playoffs, look for him to be an important part of their passing game.
26. Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens
7 of 33
Last Week: 25th
The Ravens are heading into the playoffs with two very capable receivers and their quarterback will need all the help there that he can get. Hopefully he can use Mason and Boldin well enough to get a win or two and get to the Super Bowl.
25. Anthony Armstrong, Washington Redskins
8 of 33
Last Week: Unranked
Armstrong has been “flirting” with making these rankings for some time now and he finally cracks them. He has been quietly having a good season with the Redskins and could figure into their future plans for the passing game.
24. Jabar Gaffney, Denver Broncos
9 of 33
Last Week: 23rd
The Broncos had one of the NFL’s better passing offenses in 2010 although no one would have realized it thanks to their record. Gaffney was a part of that offense, and a quiet and somewhat unknown part at that.
23. Braylon Edwards, New York Jets
10 of 33
Last Week: 24th
Edwards didn’t have too bad of a game against the Bears this past Sunday and is starting to become one of quarterback Mark Sanchez’s favorite targets. Hopefully he will be able to perform well in the playoffs for his team.
22. Brandon Marshall, Miami Dolphins
11 of 33
Last Week: 22nd
The Dolphins are going to have to work on their passing game this offseason because they have the weapons to make them a good passing offense, but they just haven’t figured out how to use them properly. If they can get things straight, they could have a pretty deadly offense in 2011.
21. Anquan Boldin, Baltimore Ravens
12 of 33
Last Week: 18th
Boldin and the Ravens are headed for the playoffs, and Boldin has playoff experience that should help the team out. Hopefully he can be a reliable target for quarterback Joe Flacco and can help lead the Ravens towards a Super Bowl berth.
20. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals
13 of 33
Last Week: 21st
The winds of change are blowing in Cincinnati as rumors of roster moves are starting to swirl. If there are some changes, what does this mean for Ochocinco? Will he be a part of the Bengals' future or will he be cast into the wind as the team makes changes?
19. Mike Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14 of 33
Last Week: 21st
Pleasant surprises have happened frequently to the Buccaneers this year and Williams is just one of several that they have had. Look for him to continue to be an important part of the Bucs offense in the 2011 season.
18. Johnny Knox, Chicago Bears
15 of 33
Last Week: 20th
Knox had a very nice game against the Jets this Sunday, catching two touchdown passes and bumping up his total to five. Granted, he may not have put up the kind of numbers that a lot of these guys have this season, but he is turning into the most valuable asset in the passing game for the Bears.
17. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
16 of 33
Last Week: 16th
It’s been a very disappointing season for Fitzgerald and the Cardinals. The hope is that this team will be able to find a quarterback that will work well for them in the offseason and their passing game can get back to being one of the best in the NFL in 2011.
16. Wes Welker, New England Patriots
17 of 33
Last Week: 17th
The Patriots have really been doing a lot of damage through the air these past few weeks and Welker has been a big part of that passing game. Look for him to continue to be a favorite target of quarterback Tom Brady as the Patriots make a run at the Super Bowl.
15. Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills
18 of 33
Last Week: 15th
Johnson has been a nice surprise for the Bills this season and with more stability on offense he could have an even better year in 2011.
14. Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys
19 of 33
Last Week: 15th
When the Cowboys come back next season, they will have all three of their wide receivers healthy and ready to go (Roy Williams and Dez Bryant included). As long as they are set at quarterback (with a healthy Tony Romo) this team could do a lot of damage through the air.
13. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins
20 of 33
Last Week: 13th
The Redskins know that they have a good receiver in Moss and he has continued to do well despite the shakeup at the quarterback position. He will continue to be a reliable target for whoever starts at quarterback in 2011.
12. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
21 of 33
Last Week: 12th
The Maclin-Jackson combination is working very well in Philadelphia and may be a tough combination for any team that faces the Eagles in the playoffs to stop. Can these guys help take the Eagles to the Super Bowl?
11. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs
22 of 33
Last Week: 11th
Bowe still leads the NFL in touchdown receptions with one more week to go and his team is in the playoffs for the first time in a while. Will Bowe be able to hold onto the touchdown lead in Week 17 or will he lose it to someone like Calvin Johnson or Greg Jennings? Stay tuned!
10: Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants
23 of 33
Last Week: 9th
Nicks had a pretty nice game against the Packers on Sunday despite the fact that his team lost. Now the question is, can the Giants get into the playoffs and can Nicks do some damage there?
9: Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints
24 of 33
Last Week: 10th
Colston provides quarterback Drew Brees with a nice big target that can help move the ball down the field quickly. He’s very reliable and will be a big part of the offense for the Saints in the playoffs.
8: DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
25 of 33
Last Week : 8th
The Eagles are lucky to have a big-time playmaker like Jackson on the roster, and he is poised to have a good run in the playoffs as long as he is able to stay healthy.
7: Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers
26 of 33
Last Week: 8th
Wallace has been one of best wide receivers in the NFL this season and has given the Steelers passing game a much-needed boost. Now let’s see what he and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can do in the playoffs.
6: Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers
27 of 33
Last Week: 5th
Jennings has really come on strong in the last few games for the Packers and is one of the big reasons why this team is poised to earn themselves a playoff berth. He’s been a nice target for Aaron Rodgers since they lost Jermichael Finley.
5: Andre Johnson, Houston Texans
28 of 33
Last Week: 4th
It’s too bad that Johnson and the Texans didn’t have a better year. If there are indeed changes next season in Houston, hopefully they end up benefiting Johnson and the passing game.
4: Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
29 of 33
Last Week: 6th
You have to give the Lions and Johnson a lot of credit for what they have been able to do at the end of this season. Expect them to come back much stronger next year and for Johnson to be even better than he has been this season.
3: Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts
30 of 33
Last Week: 2nd
Wayne and the Colts managed to beat the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, and though Wayne didn’t have a spectacular game, he’s still one of the NFL’s best. Can he and Peyton Manning light things up in the playoffs?
2: Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons
31 of 33
Last Week: 1st
White didn’t have a spectacular game on Monday night but is still one of the best in the business. With his team heading towards the playoffs, White could really shine in the postseason.
1: Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos
32 of 33
Last Week: 3rd
It’s been a tight race between Lloyd and White this whole season but Lloyd pulls it out and is on top of the rankings once again. Will he be there when we have our final rankings next week?
Those Who Dropped Off
33 of 33
The following is a listing of players that dropped off of this week's rankings:
Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers
Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")