NFL's top 10 wide receivers in 2022
Wide receivers have quickly become some of the most important players in the entire NFL. The league has recently shifted to many high-flying pass-heavy offenses that feature their quarterbacks showing off their skill sets. This has increased the demand for elite wide receivers across the NFL, and many have stepped up in a big way.
The league currently has impressive players at the position, but some stand high above the rest. The top current wide receivers are ranked based on recent past performances and how they have produced so far during the ongoing 2022 NFL season.
#1 - Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson is in just his third season in the NFL and is already one of the most dominant players in the position. He set a new NFL record for the most receiving yards through the first two years of any player's career, exceeding 3,000 yards.
Jefferson finished in the top five in the NFL in receiving yards in each of his first two years in the league. He is well on his way to doing so again during the 2022 NFL season, as he currently has the third-most receiving yards following the conclusion of Week 6.
#2 - Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Cooper Kupp has a strong case for the top spot in the rankings but comes in at number two by a slight margin. Kupp has elevated his game to a new level since the Rams acquired Matthew Stafford to take over as their starting quarterback. He has gone from a reliable slot wide receiver to one of the top players in the entire league.
Kupp had a historic 2021 NFL season, becoming just the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to win the receiving triple crown. He led the league in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns while nearly surpassing Calvin Johnson for a single-season receiving yardage record.
#3 - Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill has silenced many of the doubters during the 2022 NFL season so far. Many around the league expected his production to dip severely when he was traded away from the Kansas City Chiefs and to the Miami Dolphins in the offseason. Hill has responded by leading the league in receiving yards through six weeks.
Hill has demonstrated that, contrary to popular belief, his elite numbers were not just a product of Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. He has continued his dominance with the Dolphins, although they have used three different quarterbacks this year.
#4 - Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
Stefon Diggs began his career with the Minnesota Vikings, where he exceeded 1,000 receiving yards twice in five years. He elevated his game to the next level when he joined the Buffalo Bills in 2020 to pair up with superstar quarterback Josh Allen in one of the NFL's best offenses.
Diggs led the NFL in receiving yards in his first year with the Bills and finished in eighth place during his second season. He is again one of the top wide receivers in 2022, recording the second-most receiving yards through six games.
#5 - Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Davante Adams' stock has fallen a bit during the 2022 NFL season. While he is still one of the best wide receivers in the game, his level of dominance with Derek Carr on the Las Vegas Raiders so far hasn't been quite the same as it was with Aaron Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers.
No wide receiver in the NFL has recorded more yards than Adams over the last five years. His chemistry with Rodgers was indeed something special. He has played only six games with Carr, so it could drastically improve, but he's currently averaging his fewest yards per game since 2017.
#6 - Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Ja'Marr Chase set an NFL rookie record in 2021 when he registered 1,455 receiving yards. He and Joe Burrow played college football at LSU, and their dominant chemistry has translated to a professional level. They are one of the top tandems in the NFL, and it's only been a little over a year.
Chase is again one of the most dangerous wide receivers in the NFL in 2022. He has exceeded 125 receiving yards twice in his first six games this year while currently ranking eighth in total receiving yards.
#7 - Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Not only is Deebo Samuel one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, but he's also one of the most dynamic offensive weapons. His dual-threat abilities as both a receiver and a rusher make him a truly unique player with an invaluable role within the San Francisco 49ers offense.
Samuel ranked third in scrimmage yards during the 2021 NFL season, trailing only Cooper Kupp and Jonathan Taylor. His 365 rushing yards also led all wide receivers. He ranks 21st in scrimmage yards in 2022, but he has plenty of time to get things rolling again.
#8 - Mike Evans, Tamp Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans has been one of the most consistent wide receivers in the NFL during his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was an extremely productive player long before Tom Brady took over as the quarterback. Evans has incredibly eclipsed 100 targets and 1,000 receiving yards in all eight seasons of his career so far.
Evans is one of the most reliable wide receivers in the NFL, consistently turning in solid production and rarely missing a game. Evans is off to a relatively slow start to the 2022 NFL season, but the entire Buccaneers offense has struggled through six games. History suggests that Evans will get things going at some point.
#9 - CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
CeeDee Lamb has combined to exceed 150 receptions and 2,000 receiving yards across his first two seasons in the NFL. He continues to demonstrate consistency during the 2022 NFL season, again on pace to exceed 1,000 receiving yards.
It's important to note that Lamb has only played about half of his games with the Dallas Cowboys, with Dak Prescott as the starting quarterback. The other half has mostly been made up of Andy Dalton and Cooper Rush. Missing his starting quarterback for so many games further shows how good of a wide receiver he really is.
#10 - AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
AJ Brown has spent the first three seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans. He exceeded 850 receiving yards in all three of them while also eclipsing 1,000 yards twice. He was shockingly traded to the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2022 NFL Draft.
Brown has excelled so far with his new team, providing Jalen Hurts with a legitimate, established weapon in the passing game. He has already surpassed 500 yards in his first six games and is currently on pace for a new career high.