National Football League

NFL 2017: 20 Players with best chance at 2,000 receiving yards

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:19 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Dan Parzych/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

Oct 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2017 NFL season right around the corner, let's take a look at ranking of 20 players with the best chance of reaching 2,000 receiving yards.

Over the years, the NFL has made the transition of becoming a pass-happy league, and rightfully so when looking at all of the elite quarterbacks ranging from Tom Brady to Aaron Rodgers. However, with every great quarterback can only do much on their own without the proper help from reliable receivers, which is why it's time to take a look at the 20 players who have the best chance of reaching the 2,000-receiving mark during the 2017 NFL season.

Believe it or not, the milestone has never been reached in the NFL, but there have been a handful of players who have come pretty darn close over the years, with former Detroit Lions wideout Calvin Johnson setting the record in 2012 after finishing the year with 1,964 receiving yards. Even though Johnson is no longer in the league due to his surprise retirement prior to the 2016 season, the NFL has plenty of receivers capable of earning their place in NFL history by becoming the first player to accomplish 2,000 receiving yards.

In fact, there are two active NFL players in Julio Jones (1,871 receiving yards in 2015) and Antonio Brown (1,834 receiving yards in 2015 as well) who have already come close to reaching the milestone. But before jumping into their chances of making another historic run, let's take a look at the rankings of which current players, including a tight end, have the best shot of recording 2,000 receiving yards during the 2017 season.

Oct 3, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) catches a pass against New York Giants cornerback Leon Hall (25) in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

20. Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings

Before anyone freaks out over the fact that someone like Stefon Diggs is even on this list despite not even having a single 1,000-yard season over his first two years in the league, keep in mind the Minnesota Vikings wideout already seems like the type of player who gets better with experience. And now that he has a year of experience of playing with Sam Bradford under his belt, the bar is set high for Diggs heading into the 2017 season when it comes to helping the Vikings return to the level of being contenders in the NFC.

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Thanks to his blazing speed and quickness, Diggs has already proven to be the type of player who can turn that quick catch into a huge gain, which gives Minnesota a major advantage on offense. The fact that Diggs caught 26 passes for 244 yards in a two-game span at one point during the 2016 season shows how special of a player he is, and the best part for the Vikings is he seems to be just scratching the surface of what should end up being a promising career.

Even though he only appeared in 13 games during his second year with the Vikings, Diggs still managed to catch 84 of the 112 passes thrown his way on offense. Assuming he can find a way to stay healthy, don't be surprised if Diggs receives even more targets in 2017 as one of Bradford's favorite targets.

Oct 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) runs after a catch against the New Orleans Saints in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

19. Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks

During his first four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Doug Baldwin was average at best when seeing the level of impact he made at wide receiver. But when looking at Baldwin's last two years with the Seahawks, and how he's emerged as the most reliable target for Russell Wilson in the passing game, it's safe to say the patience has paid off.

One year after setting a career high with 14 touchdown catches in 2015, Baldwin followed it up with a career season last year by catching 94 passes for 1,128 yards to go along with seven touchdowns. From his three-touchdown performance against the New England Patriots to catching 13 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown in the second meeting with the Arizona Cardinals, Baldwin put together some monster performances in 2016, and certainly isn't going to be slowing down any time soon.

At the moment, Seattle is considered the early favorites to win the NFC West, and with a healthier Wilson, those chances seem even more likely to happen. Depending on how the rest of the supporting cast looks in the passing game, Baldwin has a good chance of putting together another career year in 2017 to help the Seahawks reach the postseason for the seventh time in the last eight years.

Oct 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) reacts during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

18. Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos

Three years ago, Emmanuel Sanders made a bold decision by leaving a high-powered offense in the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Denver Broncos, and it's safe to say the risk has been worth it so far since the veteran wideout was even able to earn a Super Bowl ring in the process. The Broncos knew replacing a future Hall of Fame quarterback like Peyton Manning was going to be no easy task, and after going with Trevor Siemian last year, it looks like the team is considering all options heading into 2017 with the progress made by Paxton Lynch this offseason.

No matter who ends up playing quarterback for Denver, at least either player will be fortunate to have a reliable receiver to work with in Sanders since he's proven to find success with just about anyone throwing him the football. Seeing Sanders receive 414 targets since joining the Broncos in 2014 shows how much of a difference he's been in the passing game, and is capable of breakout out for a big game any given weekend.

What makes all of this even more impressive is Sanders has been able to accomplish this while being the No. 2 receiver behind Demaryius Thomas.  Denver may have fallen short of the playoffs last year despite a 6-2 start, but as long as Sanders continues to play at this high level, the offense should finally be able to do their part this time around to get the team back to the level of being contenders.

Jun 13, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) during mini camp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

17. Alshon Jeffery, Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are the perfect example of how quickly a plan can change in such little time when seeing how fast Carson Wentz went from learning on the sidelines as a rookie to ending up as the starter for Week 1 thanks to Sam Bradford's trade to the Minnesota Vikings. While Wentz showed plenty of potential throughout his rookie campaign, the young quarterback learned the hard way there's only so much he can do on his own without the necessary weapons around him to work with.

Luckily for Wentz, the Eagles ended up landing arguably the top wideout from this year's free agency class in Alshon Jeffery, who spent the first five years of his career as a member of the Chicago Bears. Between injuries and a suspension, Jeffery has seen his numbers on the decline over the last two seasons, but it should also be noted the wideout wasn't really in the best position with the Bears after seeing all of the struggles they dealt with on offense.

A fresh start with a new team like the Eagles along with a quarterback on the rise in Wentz seems to be just what Jeffery needs to return to the dominant player from a few years ago. Let's not forget there was a time from 2013-14 in which Jeffery hauled in 174 passes for 2,554 yards to go along with 17 touchdowns, and there's no question Wentz is going to take full advantage of this new weapon by feeding him the football as much as possible.

Jun 13, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks (14) works out during minicamp at Gillette Stadium practice field. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

16. Brandin Cooks, New England Patriots

The New England Patriots had no business adding more weapons on offense this season, yet they still managed to land one of the league's most dangerous deep threats in Brandin Cooks thanks to a trade made with the New Orleans Saints. For whatever reason, Cooks was unhappy with his role on the Saints, and now finds himself in position to be part of a team that many consider heavy favorites to repeat as Super Bowl champions in the Patriots.

On paper, New England was already loaded with some of the best talent the NFL had to offer in Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, but the addition of a playmaker like Cooks will take this unit to a completely different level. During his final two seasons in New Orleans, Cooks caught 162 passes for 2,311 yards to go along with 17 touchdowns, and it wouldn't be a surprise if he picked up right where he left off now that Tom Brady is going to be throwing him the football.

Sure, it's easy to make the case that someone like Edelman or Gronkowski deserves consideration for a list like this before Brooks, but keep in mind how much more of a deep threat he is. Obviously, Brady will most likely spread the football around as much as possible, but Cooks may have a slight advantage thanks to skills of a deep threat.

Sep 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall (23) defends Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) catch during the second half at EverBank Field. Green Bay Packers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

15. Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Allen Robinson could not have asked for a better second season with the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2015 after bursting on to the NFL scene by catching 80 passes for 1,400 yards to go along with 14 touchdowns, all while earning a trip to his first Pro Bowl. With these type of ridiculous numbers, Robinson was expected to continue working his way up to being one of the league's top receivers, but unfortunately it was tough to match those numbers in 2016.

Then again, the argument can be made that Robinson's numbers (73 catches for 883 yards with six touchdowns) would have been much better last year if it wasn't for all of the struggles surrounding Blake Bortles. But with the Jaguars quarterback entering the upcoming season knowing his job is on the line, hopefully this will help bring out the best in the offense following years of disappointment, especially at the wide receiver position.

Based off what he was able to produce as a sophomore in the league, just imagine what Robinson would be able to accomplish if Bortles finally started to play at an elite level. Plus, Robinson could also benefit from defenders focusing on the whereabouts of Allen Hurns since the wideout posted similar numbers to his teammate (1,031 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns) during his sophomore season as well in 2015.

Oct 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) is defended by Seattle Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead (35) in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won, 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

14. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

Even though the New Orleans Saints felt confident about selecting Michael Thomas in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, it's safe to say they never could have predicted he would have made the impact he did as a rookie. At the time, the Saints already felt fortunate enough to have one of the most explosive receivers the NFL had to offer in Brandin Cooks, but bringing on another weapon for Drew Brees to work with in Thomas is one of the reasons why this offense was considered one of the top units from last season.

Cooks may no longer be in the picture as mentioned before thanks his offseason trade to the New England Patriots, but as difficult as this was to deal with, at least New Orleans should still be in good shape by having Thomas in the picture. If anything, the situation that went down with Cooks provides Thomas with an unexpected promotion since the passing game will revolve around him moving forward.

Brees has always been the type of quarterback who makes the players around him better, but not even the future Hall of Famer could have predicted Thomas would record 92 catches as a rookie while finding the end zone nine times. Thanks to Cooks, those numbers could increase for Thomas during his sophomore campaign in New Orleans.

Jan 1, 2017; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14) dives in for the score against New England Patriots strong safety Patrick Chung (23) during the second quarter of an NFL football game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

13. Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins

Isn't it crazy to think how there was once a time where Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. spent time together in college playing for the LSU Tigers? What's even more crazy to think about is how quickly both of these former teammates have developed into NFL stars, and while Beckham's time on this list will eventually come, it's time to focus on Landry for now.

Not only has Landry appeared in all 16 games for the Dolphins over his first three years in the NFL, but he's also been one of the most consistent receivers on offense by catching 288 of the 409 passes thrown in his direction. Even though there were concerns surrounding Miami possibly losing Kenny Stills in free agency this offseason, at least the offense would still have been in amazing shape thanks to the presence of Landry.

Stills will obviously be used as much as possible when looking at the type of speed he possesses, but that's not going to stop Landry from receiving a majority of the passes from Ryan Tannehill, assuming there are no delays in the quarterback's recovery process. After topping at least 1,100 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons, don't be surprised if Landry figures out a way to make sure he crushes those types of numbers in 2017.

Sep 25, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Broncos won 29-17. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

12. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos

For obvious reasons, it would nearly be impossible to have two teammates break 2,000 receiving yards in the same season, but what's great about the Denver Broncos is even if Emmanuel Sanders falls short of the milestone, at least Demaryius Thomas is still capable of doing so. With that being said, Thomas has clearly been the bigger and more dominant receiver when compared to Sanders over the years, but most importantly, the two provide the Broncos with one of the deadliest duos at wide receiver in the NFL.

Hopefully, Denver can figure out their quarterback situation between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch to help Thomas recover from his most disappointing year since 2011. The fact that Thomas watched his streak of four years with at least 1,300 receiving yards come to an end after finishing the 2016 season with just 90 passes for 1,083 yards with five touchdowns shows how much the Broncos struggled at times to adjust to Siemian at quarterback.

Most quarterbacks would do anything to find them in a position like Denver in which they get to play with two dominant receivers who basically could be the No. 1 option on any team, and if Siemian does end up winning the job, at least he'll have a year of experience under his belt. Thomas is simply too talented of a wide receiver to be playing with an ineffective quarterback who is going to hold him back of reaching his true potential, and it should be a shame to see him go through another season like 2016, but hopefully it won't be an issue.

Dec 26, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) celebrates scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

11. Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys

Critics can say whatever they want about Dez Bryant's numbers being down last year since the truth is, the offense of the Dallas Cowboys is loaded with so much talent, they didn't need as much from their beloved wideout. Thanks to the emergence of two young stars in the making in Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, there wasn't nearly as much pressure on Bryant to produce like he's been forced to do in the past.

At the end of the day, the most important factor for Dallas was they received enough contribution from the offense to finish with the best record in the NFC during the regular season at 13-3. And if all goes according to plan once September rolls around, there's every reason in the world to believe that will be the case once again for the Cowboys, especially if Bryant continues to be a nightmare on offense for opponents to defend.

Don't be fooled by his numbers from the previous two seasons, and instead, focus on what Bryant was able to accomplish from 2012-14 when he managed to find the end zone a total of 41 times. The former first-round pick has always had a reputation for having some of the best hands in football, and when seeing how much improvement was made by the offense last year, just imagine what 2017 could have in store for Bryant.

Aug 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) rushes against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

10. Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders

Back in 2015, the Oakland Raiders knew Amari Cooper was too talented of a receiver to pass on with the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft, and even though it's only been two seasons, it's obvious they made the right choice. Without Cooper, who knows if the Raiders would have been able to put an end to their disastrous playoff drought last year, and with only a limited time left in Oakland, there's nothing the young wideout would love more than to help his beloved team make another postseason run.

As much as Cooper deserves credit for being one of the league's most talented players, he knows none of his success would be possible if it wasn't for the stellar play behind Derek Carr at quarterback. Watching Carr develop into an MVP-type quarterback in such short period of time has been simply amazing to witness, and the best part is he's only going to continue getting better, especially with having someone like Cooper to work with.

Not even playing alongside another talented wideout in Michael Crabtree has stopped Carr from using Cooper as much as possible in the passing game since he's been targeted a total of 262 times over his first two seasons with the Raiders. The pressure is on Oakland to build off of last year's successful playoff run, as long as Cooper continues at this rate, that shouldn't be a problem during the 2017 season.

Sep 11, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) looks on during a stop in play in the second half against the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Lions won 39-35. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

9. T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts

With all due respect to T.Y. Hilton, nobody expected him to lead the league in receiving yards during the 2016 season, but the Indianapolis Colts receiver showed he deserves to be the same category as some of the other top playmakers in the NFL. Hilton set career highs of 91 catches for his league-leading 1,448 receiving yards last year, and the wideout knows how important another big season will be, as the wideout looks to help the Colts put an end to their two-year playoff drought.

Over the years, Hilton's chemistry with quarterback Andrew Luck has been one of the biggest surprises for Indianapolis, and seeing the wideout receive double-digit targets in six of the first seven games last year shows how involved he is with the offense. Believe it or not, there have been numerous occasions over the years in which Hilton has been able to single-handedly take over games, and it's scary to think he's only going to be 27 at the official start of Week 1.

Watching Luck constantly trying to get Hilton involved on offense makes him a likely candidate to emerge out of nowhere to make a run at history by pushing for 2,000 receiving yards, and seeing him lead the league last year shows that. Indianapolis has all of that big money invested in Luck, but as mentioned a few times before, a quarterback can only do so much without the proper assistance from talented receivers like Hilton.

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Texans 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

8. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans

For years, the Houston Texans have been desperately searching for that franchise quarterback to make them serious contenders in the AFC, and despite all of the hype surrounding the addition of Brock Osweiler around this time last year, he clearly was far from the answer. No quarterback making that ridiculous amount of money that Osweiler was deserves to be the starter after throwing more interceptions than touchdowns during the regular season, but at least he's no longer the team's problem after he was traded to the Cleveland Browns.

As frustrating as the situation surrounding Osweiler was, it was also tough to see the struggles surrounding DeAndre Hopkins after seeing all of the hype surrounding the potential of the new duo. After having a career year in 2015 by catching 111 passes for 1,521 yards with 11 touchdowns, Hopkins was expected to continue that high level of play last season, only to take a step back instead thanks to all of the issues surrounding Osweiler.

This time around, Tom Savage appears to be the early favorite to be the starter in Week 1, and even though he's inexperienced at the NFL level, Bill O'Brien seems confident he's the best fit for the offense at the moment. Who knows, maybe Savage is the type of quarterback Hopkins has been waiting all of these years to play with to finally help Houston's offense reach that elite level.

Nov 6, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) reacts after the Jacksonville Jaguars did not receive a pass interference call during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 19-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

7. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Normally, players at the wide receiver position are going to be the best candidates to make a push for 2,000 receiving yards, and rightfully so since that's basically their main jobs on the football field. However, the league has seen teams take a different approach over the years by building offenses with more effective pass-catching tight ends, and even though it seems like a long shot, Travis Kelce deserves a spot on this list.

Sure, the argument can be made that Rob Gronkowski would seem to be a likely candidate for tight ends when looking at how dominant he's been when healthy, but that's simply been the biggest concern for the New England Patriots. Between Gronkowski's health concerns along with all of the other weapons Tom Brady has to work with in the passing game, Kelce seems like a better candidate for the milestone.

Plus, unlike New England, the Kansas City Chiefs don't have the best of weapons to work with on offense since the team recently made the surprise decision to part ways with Jeremy Maclin. By playing in an offense that lacks weapons at the receiver position other than Tyreek Hill, Kelce will be heavily relied on by Alex Smith in the passing game once again while playing a key role in helping the Chiefs contend for the AFC West title for the second-straight season.

Oct 23, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) gestures after a catch against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

6. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Special doesn't even begin to describe the type of player Mike Evans has been during his first three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since not many receivers can claim they topped the 1,000-yard mark each time. Thanks to his enormous size and strength, Evans tends to have a major advantage over most of his opponents, and now that DeSean Jackson is part of the picture, it's terrifying to think how dangerous this Buccaneers' offense is going to be in 2017.

But with all due respect to Jackson, Evans is the heart and soul of this squad, as Tampa Bay looks to continue building off last year's surprise success. After falling just shy of the playoffs following a 9-7 finish to the year, the Buccaneers are one of the teams expected to make the major leap this upcoming season to become serious contenders in the NFC.

If that does happen, chances are Evans is going to be one of the main factors behind the playoff berth since Jameis Winston will most likely continue to take advantage of having such a big body to work with in the passing game. The numbers from last year alone (96 catches on 173 targets for 1,321 yards with 12 touchdowns) are the perfect example as to why Evans is a strong candidate for this list, and it's amazing to think he's only going to be 24 once Week 1 officially gets underway, meaning the best has yet to come.

Sep 29, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) looks on prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

5. A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals

Just like Mike Evans, A.J. Green is another big-body wide receiver who tends to have a major advantage over his opponents thanks to his size, and it's unbelievable to see the difference he makes for the Cincinnati Bengals on offense when he's on top of his game. In a way, it was kind of amazing to see the Bengals hit the jackpot back in 2011 when they happened to land both Green and Andy Dalton in the same draft, as the duo would play a big role in helping the team put together an impressive streak of five playoff appearances in a row.

That streak may have come to an end last year after Cincinnati only put together six wins, but all signs point to Marvin Lewis and company bouncing back in 2017, as long as all their key players manage to stay healthy. Most importantly, the Bengals will need Green to be healthy enough to last a full season after the wideout was limited to playing in just 10 games last year due to injuries.

One can only imagine what Green's final statistics would have been at the end of last year since he did record 964 receiving yards in those 10 games, which is quite impressive for any player. Green's ability as an effective wide receiver have earned him a selection to the Pro Bowl each year he's been in the league, and all signs point to that happening once again this season if he can manage to stay healthy.

Oct 16, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) catches a pass during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field. The Cowboys won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

4. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

Losing Jordy Nelson to a torn ACL during the 2015 season was absolutely crushing for the Green Bay Packers when considering the argument can be made that he's been a favorite target for Aaron Rodgers ever since the 2011 season. Recovering from an injury as serious as a torn ACL is never easy for any player to deal with, but watching Nelson pickup right where he left off last season like nothing happened was simply remarkable to witness, and made a huge difference in their late-season rally to become NFC North champions.

So just how amazing was Nelson during his first year after that devastating injury? Well, let's just say Nelson was one catch away from tying his career high in receptions (97), and finished the year with 1,257 receiving yards to go along with 14 touchdown catches.

There's no question that Green Bay is still in solid shape when it comes to their receiving corps beyond Nelson since Randall Cobb and Davante Adams have proven to be reliable targets for Rodgers to work with in the passing game. But there's just something special about Nelson's ability in the slot that sets him apart from not just his teammates, but a majority of the other players in the NFL.

Jan 1, 2017; Landover, MD, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) catches a pass during warm-ups prior to the Giants' game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. The Giants won 19-10. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

3. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

Forget all of the nonsense surrounding how much of a headache he can be for his immaturity issues, because at the end of the day, the talent alone from Odell Beckham Jr. makes it worth every penny for the New York Giants. To say Beckham has worked his way towards the top of the receiver list in the NFL would be a huge understatement when looking at the amazing numbers he's already put together in such a short period of time.

In 43 games with the Giants over the last three seasons, Beckham has caught 288 passes for 4,122 yards with 35 touchdowns, which means he's that close to actually averaging a touchdown per game during his career. Dez Bryant was praised before for having some of the best hands in football earlier on this list, but watching some of the catches Beckham has been able to pull off over the years has been absolutely insane at times.

On paper, New York has the potential to have one of the most high-powered offenses in the NFL this season thanks to having elite receivers like Beckham and Brandon Marshall. Not to mention if Sterling Shepard continues to improve with experience, this will only help open the routes even more for Beckham when it comes to seeing all of those passes from Eli Manning.

Dec 18, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

2. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the offseason with one of their top priorities being find a way to reach a new deal with wide receiver Antonio Brown, and luckily the two parties were able to come to an agreement on a lucrative five-year deal. Making someone with the skill set of Brown unhappy was the last thing the Steelers could afford to see happen, but at least they won't have to worry about that moving forward.

It's almost ridiculous to see the kind of numbers Brown has put together over the last couple of years in Pittsburgh, and with Father Time quickly catching up with Ben Roethlisberger, the wideout realizes the time table to win his beloved quarterback another Super Bowl is closing in. From his 35 touchdown catches over the last three seasons to recording nearly 1,300 yards in each of the last four years, it doesn't take much to figure out why Brown is considered one of the best at what he does.

At the beginning of this article, it was mentioned how close Brown was to hitting the 2,000-yard milestone in 2015 after finishing the year with 1,834 receiving yards. If Brown was capable of coming this close then, there's no reason why he shouldn't be able to make another run, even if Big Ben ends up spreading the football around more to the talented receiving corps of the Steelers.

Oct 2, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) stiff arms Carolina Panthers cornerback Bene' Benwikere (25) on his way to his long touchdown in the fourth quarter of their game at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 48-33. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

1. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons

First off, it's no secret that Antonio Brown could easily be in this top spot over Julio Jones based off the impressive numbers he's put together over the years. But when looking at the situation between what each team has to work with in the passing game, there's a reason why the Atlanta Falcons receiver has a slight edge when it comes to chasing history, mainly because of how valuable he is to Matt Ryan and the offense.

Just like Brown, Jones found himself on the verge of making history during the 2015 season after finishing the year with 136 catches for 1,871 receiving yards. And if that wasn't impressive enough, Jones was a key factor in the Falcons representing the NFC in the Super Bowl last season, including a phenomenal performance in the NFC Championship against the Green Bay Packers in which he caught nine passes for 180 yards with two scores.

Not many players can say they recorded 300 receiving yards in a single game, but Jones can thanks to his one performance last year against the Carolina Panthers. Atlanta made a bold decision back in 2011 when they surrendered all of those draft picks for Jones, and he's been worth every penny after seeing all of the opponents he's shredded throughout his career.

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