Who is the best WR in the NFL? Ranking the 5 best wideouts on basis of 22 NFL regular season
The 2022 NFL regular season has come and gone. This year has had some memorable moments. Teams' receiving records across the league were broken. Needless to say, many accolades must be given. In terms of NFL wide receivers, several players have had remarkable campaigns that merit recognition.
NFL WRs: Top 5 in 2022
With the NFL playoffs approaching, let's review and rank the top five wide receivers we saw in 2022. We're going to exclude Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp from this ranking. He only played in nine games—that's half of his team's regular-season games. While he's healthy, Kupp is in the upper echelon of pass catchers, but such a long absence will excuse him this past season.
NFL WR No. 1: Las Vegas Raiders WR Davante Adams
In terms of sheer impact, Davante Adams is still the best in the business. Yes, the Raiders missed the playoffs, but that doesn't take away from Adams' monstrous impact. He led the league in receiving touchdowns with 14 and also caught seven receptions that went for 40 yards or more. On more than one occasion, Adams was the driving force behind Silver and Black's offense; he recorded 65 first-down conversions. Despite his age (30 yards), Adams continues to outperform younger wide receivers, many of whom are included in this ranking.
NFL WR No. 2: Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
Speaking of younger guys, one player who has already made a name for himself as one of the best is Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.
Jefferson, a Pro Bowler for the last three years in a row, has caught eight touchdowns on 128 total receptions this season. In the process, Jefferson also led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,809. Despite being just 25 years of age, Jefferson has quickly established himself as a true offensive juggernaut in his own right. He's going to get even better as he continues to gain experience, most likely even surpassing Adams as the best wide receiver in the league.
NFL WR No. 3: Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill
Once thought to have been as fast as a cheetah, Tyreek Hill proved in 2022 that he's still up there with the big boys. After getting traded from the Kansas City Chiefs, many wondered if there'd be a production drop-off, mostly because he was going from Patrick Mahomes to Tua Tagovailoa. Well, that didn't happen.
A 2022 Pro Bowler (his seventh time receiving that recognition), Hill was second behind Jefferson in terms of receiving yards. He accumulated 1,710 yards through the air along with seven touchdowns. Much like Adams, Hill had a knack for big plays, as he amassed seven plays of 40 yards or more as well. You can also add a rushing touchdown to this total as head coach Mike McDaniel showed his ability to use Hill creatively, just as Andy Reid once did.
NFL WR No. 4: Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs had another solid year alongside Bills franchise quarterback Josh Allen. He has recorded 108 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns in 2022, which is not bad at all. Where Diggs did a lot of damage this past season was in helping the Bills move the chains as he totaled 72 first down conversions, which was fourth in the league.
NFL WR No. 5: Philadelphia Eagles WR A.J. Brown
One of the most baffling trades last year was when the Tennessee Titans decided that A.J. Brown wasn't worth the money. After shipping him off to the Philadelphia Eagles, Brown went on a mission. Boy, he ended up proving the Titans wrong in the 2022 regular season.
Alongside DaVonta Smith, Brown formed part of one of the most potent offenses in the league with quarterback Jalen Hurts at the helm. Brown proved to be the perfect mix of speed, strength, and sizzle, a true No. 1 wide receiver. Contributing to the Eagles' turnaround with 11 touchdown receptions and 23 plays for 20 yards or more, he was easily one of their most important offensive catalysts.