NFL Power Rankings: Calvin Johnson and Other Dominant Offensive Weapons

Each NFL season brings with it the promise of new superstars and familiar faces making plays, which leave us waiting for the replay to confirm what our eyes just witnessed.

They are dynamic play-makers and some of the best athletes found in any sport worldwide.

Their blend of talent, determination and heart lead to special plays that stand out in our memories. They can carry their team offensively and seem to will them to victory.

Many of these young men seem to have no fear of the biggest moments in the game and elevate their play accordingly.

The ability to take over the game appears natural to these highly gifted athletes. 

Defenses may game plan to slow them down, but nobody can truly stop them. They can beat defensive coverages just once and alter the outcome of a game instantly.

Let's take a look at some of the most key players affecting the landscape of the NFL in 2011.  

WR Andre Johnson: Houston Texans

It's true Andre Johnson is injured. He needed a procedure on his hamstring that was reportedly meant to prevent scar tissue from forming.

Before his injury in Week 4 against Pittsburgh, Johnson was lighting up the NFL with his typically dominant performance. 

Andre Johnson has been building an impressive career, beginning in his rookie year of 2003.

Johnson hauled in 66 passes that year for 976 yards and a star was born.

Johnson reached elite status over his past three seasons. He went over 1,500 yards in 2008 and 2009. He might have hit those numbers last year if not for missing three games.

He still finished 2010 with over 1,200 yards.

Johnson may not be the downfield threat some speedsters are, but he is always finding ways to break coverage and rarely disappears from the stat line.

He makes tough catches over the middle and with his size, 6'3" and 226 pounds, he is not easy to tackle.

In just over three games this season, he had already hauled in 25 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns. He does not have a legitimate No. 2 receiver opposite him in Houston and continues to put up big numbers.

He faces double-teams and fights through them routinely, something all teams look for in a superstar wide receiver.   

TE Jason Witten: Dallas Cowboys

You wouldn't think it would be easy for a team to lose track of a 6'5" 265-pound tight end, but Witten consistently shakes coverage to find open field. 

The main thing that lands Witten on this list is his consistency.

It doesn't matter what the score of the game is or who he plays against—he always puts up stellar numbers. 

A big-bodied target with reliable hands that doesn't shy away from contact are features that define one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league. 

He has gone over 1,000 yards in three of his last four seasons and is off to a great start so far in 2011. 

In his first four games against the likes of the Jets, 49ers, Redskins and Lions, he has racked up 27 catches for 366 yards and a touchdown

The Cowboys' offense still has a lot to figure out. The offensive line is a patchwork unit that has not done much to protect Tony Romo.

But one thing that can be counted on is Witten's production. 

WR DeSean Jackson: Philadelphia Eagles

His numbers might not truly reflect how explosive DeSean Jackson actually is.

He has hauled in only 21 passes for 410 yards through his first five games, but many of his numbers have taken a hit due to the struggles of Michael Vick.

Vick has shown he is not yet capable of diagnosing and handing the blitz. This leaves less time than ever for Jackson to do what he does best—and that is stretching the field vertically.

Last season, he averaged 22.5 yards per catch on his way to eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark for the second straight season. 

Jackson is a burner and his acceleration is off the charts. If he gets the ball in space, he is one of the most elusive players in the game and is always a threat to take it in for six. 

At only 5'10" and 175 pounds, many questioned his long-term durability in the NFL.

Don't let his size fool you. He fights for position and elevates to win jump balls. That is, if he's not just flat out running away from cornerbacks.

Of Jackson's 21 receptions, 17 have gone for first downs and three have gone for 40 or more yards.

If Vick and the Eagles can adapt to the pressure defenses are bringing, the sky is the limit for DeSean Jackson.  

WR A.J. Green: Cincinnati Bengals

A.J. Green's rookie season has been a little up and down through his first five games, but take into account where he plays. Green and fellow rookie Andy Dalton are learning together at the same time.

They play for a Cincinnati Bengals team that seems to make at least one head-scratching move each offseason.

The Bengals' front office and coaches nailed it when they took the polished receiver from Georgia with the fourth overall pick in this year's draft.

He is a proven route runner with soft hands and premium downfield speed. 

Even with a rookie tossing the ball his direction, Green leads all rookies with 402 receiving yards and has three touchdowns to boot. He already has logged seven catches of more than 20 yards, and three of those went for more than 40. 

Green may be a rookie but he is playing like a seasoned veteran.

With Dalton, Green and Jermaine Gresham, the future looks bright for the Bengals and I'm excited to see where this talented receiver stands when the season ends. 

WR Mike Wallace: Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Wallace is yet another receiver stuck on a struggling offense.

Ben Roethlisberger wears concrete boots, and his offensive line has been decimated by injuries. All this leaves little time for Wallace to get downfield for big plays.

I guess it's a good thing he's so fast. 

He has made a living of getting behind the secondary for long touchdowns, and even with the Steelers struggling to protect Big Ben, he has hauled in four passes of more than 40 yards.

This includes an 81-yard strike that came in a stellar Week 3 game against the Colts, when he went for 144 yards on five receptions.

Wallace has hauled in a 40-plus-yard catch in four of his first five games this season and currently ranks third in the NFL with 536 yards.

Wallace broke out last year in his second season, going for over 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has established himself as one of the premier deep threats in the league and is a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Many questioned the move when the Steelers let Santonio Holmes walk following the 2009 season.

It appears the Steel City boys knew exactly what they had in Wallace.  

TE Jimmy Graham: New Orleans Saints

Jimmy Graham showed promise last season and has delivered on that promise this season. 

Even though he played only one year of football at Miami, he has quickly adapted to life in the NFL. He is quickly becoming the most legitimate threat at the tight end position.

He is 6'6" and 260 pounds and like Antonio Gates, he comes with a basketball background.

Graham blocked over 100 shots in his basketball career at Miami. That stat lends itself to someone with size and explosive jumping power, both of which Graham has utilized in making some very acrobatic catches. 

On a team that historically spreads the ball around, Graham has asserted himself as the favorite target of future Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees.

He currently stands at fourth in the NFL in receiving yards. For a tight end, his numbers look a lot more like a top tier wide receiver. 

He has hauled in 32 passes this year for 496 yards and three touchdowns. His 15.5 average per reception showcases his ability to get down the field. He has 10 catches on the season that have gone for more than 20 yards. 

Graham is only 24 years old and relatively new to this level of football, yet he doesn't appear to be intimidated by any matchup. He has great hands and his athletic ability is off the charts.

Barring injury, he is locked in to be a top tight end for years to come. 

WR Greg Jennings: Green Bay Packers

No surprise here as Greg Jennings makes another list of top wide receivers.

He is the model of consistency on one of the most high-powered offenses in the NFL.

The Packers spread the ball around as much as any team in the league, but one thing is for sure—Greg Jennings is going to get the top share of Aaron Rodgers's completions. 

Jennings, now in his sixth year, didn't take long to establish himself as one of the elite receivers in the NFL. In the last three seasons, Jennings has eclipsed 1,100 yards.

This season appears to be no different. 

Jennings has an innate ability to find the end zone. He has uncanny vision and is able to elude defenders while making it look easy and smooth. He runs precise routes and has excellent speed. He catches nearly anything thrown in his direction and excels at picking up yards after the catch. 

He ranks sixth in the NFL this season with 448 yards on 29 receptions. I expect Jennings to continue his steady production, making it four seasons in a row topping the 1,100 mark.

His results leave little room for argument that Jennings is one of the elite offensive weapons in the NFL.

WR Steve Smith: Carolina Panthers

Steve Smith is nowhere near the biggest receiver in the league, but you wouldn't know it from the way he plays the game.

He has electric speed to get downfield and the strength of a linebacker packed into his 5'9" 185-pound frame. 

Cam Newton has exploded onto the NFL scene and continues to pile up yards in a hurry. Steve Smith has caught for more than 150 yards in three of five games. His 22.6 average per reception is the highest of anyone in the NFL with more than eight receptions. 

He makes explosive plays with regularity. He has a reception of more than 50 yards in four of his first five games and his 13 receptions of 20 or more yards tie him for the league lead. 

He has just three touchdowns on the season, and the red zone is where his targets inevitably take a dip.

Cam Newton is a gifted runner as a QB and with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart splitting carries, it's hard for Smith to score unless he hauls in a deep pass. 

But there are very few weapons in the league as dynamic as Steve Smith, and he is worth his weight in gold down in Panther country.

He is one of the most devastating receivers after the catch. He is adept at breaking tackles and is not shy about throwing a stiff arm in order to take it the distance. 

WR Calvin Johnson: Detroit Lions

"Megatron" is a man amongst boys right now.

Johnson's nine touchdowns through five games set a new NFL record. That stat is directly related to his ability to elevate and take the football away from defenders.

At 6'5" and 235 pounds, Johnson is an athletic freak. He runs a 4.35 40-yard dash, and his long strides are deceptive as he glides by opponents.

He burned Chicago Bears safety Chris Harris for a 73-yard touchdown Monday night.

He currently ranks sixth in the NFL in receiving yards and can sometimes be forgotten between the 20s by quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Calvin Johnson is one of the most physically gifted players in football, and he handled being stuck on a terrible team the last few years with class and dignity.

Now that he has his franchise QB healthy, and a young talented group surrounding him, he is reaping the rewards of his patience.

Johnson showed he can perform even without a No. 1 QB taking snaps. He had more than 1,100 yards in two of the last three seasons and hauled in 12 scores in both.

He is a red zone monster due in large part to his size, but as you can see from the slide above he also has the ability to out-jump almost every corner in the league.

Jump balls rarely end up in any hands besides his. 

In just his fifth season and at only 26 years old, Calvin Johnson is establishing himself as one of the very best in the league.

Given enough time, he could be one of the best to ever play in the NFL.  

WR Wes Welker: New England Patriots

When you think of untouchable players in the NFL this season, one name stands above them all. 

Wes Welker is on a record-setting pace that could accumulate more than 2,300 yards receiving if he keeps it up.

I doubt Welker will reach that kind of yardage, but it's not entirely out of the question.

Patriots QB Tom Brady is one of the best in the league, and the two appear to be linked subconsciously to one another. 

He has already caught 45 passes this season for 740 yards. His Week 3 performance in Buffalo was truly special, as he hauled in 16 passes for 217 yards and two scores. 

And he has done it against some of the best passing defenses, such as the San Diego Chargers and New York Jets.

The dynamic duo of Tom Brady and Wes Welker appears to be immune to any defensive scheme or personnel.

Does anyone have Kryptonite? It's not likely to slow this pint-sized Superman down.

He is tied for the league lead with his 13 catches of 20 or more yards and has accounted for 33 first downs. He also ranks second in the NFL to Calvin Johnson with his five touchdowns. 

Welker has topped 100 receptions and 1,100 yards in three of his last four seasons.

But this season could be his very best and possibly set new records in the NFL for receivers.

With Tom Brady at the helm, anything is possible. 

Players I Left off This List and Why

The decision to leave Larry Fitzgerald off this list was a tough one. He is physically gifted as well and one of the best receivers in the game. Still, I don't know that I would classify him as uncoverable.

He has outstanding hands and his ability to elevate in traffic and pull down passes is rivaled by very few in the league. He does still seem to disappear in games from time to time. Last season he had five games of fewer than 50 yards receiving, and had six such games the year before. 

It's true that his QB position was in a state of flux during those years but teams do have the ability to limit Fitzgerald's impact and that's why he didn't make the list.

Dwayne Bowe is a talented WR in his own right but he can back up a monster game with one where he rarely makes a catch. His QB situation is not ideal but Bowe seems to lack the desire to be elite week in and week out. 

Vincent Jackson doesn't yet have the resume to warrant true consideration. He also has caught three or less passes in three of his teams five games this season. Philip Rivers is more than capable of hitting Jackson for big completions but cannot seem to consistently find the big-bodied WR. For that reason he is a casualty. 

Reggie Wayne in all honesty could have made this list. He is a precise route-runner and has one of the more impressive resumes of any wide receiver in the NFL. Unfortunately his stats are tied to his injured QB Peyton Manning. Wayne is now 32 years old and not that he is in his twilight but there are many weapons on the Colts offense. Peyton was a master of disguise and was good enough to hide the Colts many blatant weaknesses on both sides of the football. For that reason Wayne is a tough-luck cut from the list.  

Feel free to call me out on any of these talented wide outs or throw out a name you feel merited some press here.