Wide receiver has become the NFL’s most marquee position after quarterback. Given the boom of passing games and the importance of having at least one stellar go-to guy, the position also has seen a salary explosion to reward the elite.
Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown were among the wideouts to get paid big-time in extensions during the busy 2024 offseason. CeeDee Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase are next in line for major raises.
Find out where that formidable four and 26 other stars land in Sporting News’ wide receiver ahead of the 2024 regular season, based on a combination of recent past performance and near-future potential.
NFL wide receiver rankings 2024
1. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (age: 30)
The NFL’s resident track star isn’t showing signs of slowing down yet in an explosive passing offense made for him. He gets the top spot after a career-high and league-leading 1,799 receiving yards. He also had a league-high 13 TDs, his third time in double digits. His spike in Miami after his star turn in Kansas City puts him on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
2. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (age: 25)
Jefferson battled through his first injury-marred season, but his immeasurable impact in a pass-heavy offense was seen in smooth, quick route-running and great hands.
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (age: 24)
St. Brown is the league’s most dominant slot receiver as a reliable target all over the field for Jared Goff. He is consistent in catching everything and now has emerged as a big-time scorer.
4. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (age: 24)
Chase will replace his former LSU teammate Jefferson as the highest-paid receiver in the league sometime soon. He is a silky big-play threat who displays his devastating speed and quickness all over the field.
5. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (age: 25)
Lamb is a fluid receiver who’s difficult to cover before the catch and slow down after the catch. He’s been spectacular in the slot and led the league with 135 receptions while averaging 102.9 yards per game and scoring 14 times in 2023.
6. Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals (age: 22)
The high-pedigreed namesake son of the Colts Hall of Famer comes with massive talent credentials from Ohio State. He can already knock on the door of the top five as the best non-QB candidate by far for OROY.
7. A.J. Brown, Eagles (age: 27)
Swole Batman fell just short of 1,500 receiving yards in his first two seasons with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. His field-stretching and scoring fell off a bit, but the hopes are they can restored under Kellen Moore.
8. Puka Nacua, Rams (age: 23)
Nacua went from supersub for Cooper Kupp to an uncoverable downfield force in his own right to win Sporting News Rookie of the Year. He will look to build on 105 catches, 1,486 yards, and six TDs.
9. Nico Collins, Texans (age: 25)
Collins now has a QB, and that yielded much better results for the third-year breakout, who posted 80 catches for 1,297 yards and eight TDs last season. He took advantage of C.J. Stroud’s big-armed pocket passing to average 16.2 yards per catch.
10. Deebo Samuel, 49ers (age: 28)
Samuel went back to being rather durable and very versatile last season, with 60 catches for 892 yards and seven TDs on top of 37 rushes for 225 yards and five more scores. He remains the centerpiece of the 49ers’ passing game as the primary all-around complement to Christian McCaffrey.
11. Davante Adams, Raiders (age: 31)
Adams cooled off in his shakiest QB situation last season, but he still posted 103 catches for 1,144 yards and eight TDs. The future Hall of Famer is still every bit the alpha and can give Gardner Minshew a bigger boost.
12. Mike Evans, Buccaneers (age: 31)
Evans got better as a big-play threat again with Baker Mayfield last season, averaging 15.9 yards per catch with a league-best 13 receiving TDs, marking his fifth time in double digits in 10 seasons. He also has never had fewer than 1,000 yards receiving in a season, a testament to his Hall of Fame-caliber production and durability.
13. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (age: 25)
Waddle has gone from short-area after-catch threat to making big plays all over the field vs. favorable coverage away from Hill. Like Hill, his speed and open-field quickness are his signature strengths.
14. DJ Moore, Bears (age: 27)
Thanks to dominating targets with Justin Fields (136), Moore posted career highs with 96 catches for 1,364 yards and eight TDs in his first season out of Carolina. He has more competition for targets now, but he’ll remain a remain threat.
15. Garrett Wilson, Jets (age: 24)
Wilson will try to get big-time QB help from Aaron Rodgers after still producing well last year with lesser play at the position. He can have a huge breakout with his combination of natural big-play flair and savvy route-running.
16. Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (age: 26)
Aiyuk was indeed on fire as the primary vertical threat for Brock Purdy, posting 75 catches for 1,342 yards, 17.9 yards per catch, and seven TDs. He looks likely to stay in San Francisco with a reasonable lucrative contract in relation to his true status among other wideouts.
17. Cooper Kupp, Rams (age: 31)
Kupp has battled through some aging and injury wear since his historic 2021 season that ended with him catching the winning TD in the Super Bowl. By all accounts, Kupp is trending back toward his old self in Sean McVay’s offense, a scary thought for defensive backs and coordinators across the league.
18. DeVonta Smith, Eagles (age: 25)
Skinny Batman should love playing in a Kellen Moore offense that will use his route-running and quickness skill set more in the slot after seeing what CeeDee Lamb and Keenan Allen were able to produce with Moore. He’s had a consistently high floor, but the big ceiling is yet to come.
19. Malik Nabers, Giants (age: 21)
Nabers is another elite all-around talent right behind Harrison in a loaded wide receiver draft class. He and Harrison can be what Julio Jones and A.J. Green were from the class of 2011.
20. Terry McLaurin, Commanders (age: 28)
Terry has been pretty scary with his strong production for five seasons. He remains underrated because of not getting reliable, consistent downfield passing from a revolving door of QBs. That will change as the clear alpha for cannon-armed rookie Jayden Daniels.
21. Chris Olave, Saints (age: 24)
Olave is the classic, active No. 1 receiver who’s just a little behind his former Ohio State teammate Wilson in his smooth route-running and hands.
22. Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (age: 26)
Pittman has been more productive with each passing season in Indianapolis, coming off a career-high 109 catches on 156 targets for 1,154 yards and four TDs. The Colts could use someone to stretch the field more and help him move up the rankings with better red-zone usage and execution.
23. DK Metcalf, Seahawks (age: 26)
The intimidating physically ripped target has been rather durable and now transitioned back from intermediate outside-inside option to a deep-ball and consistent scoring threat. He averaged a career-high 16.9 yards per catch last year to keep up Geno Smith’s field-stretching passing.
24. Amari Cooper, Browns (age: 30)
Cooper was known for his steady route-running and reliable “possession” receiving for multiple teams before exploding for 1,260 yards on 72 catches thanks to averaging a career-best 17.4 yards per reception. He continues to be one of the most underappreciated modern receivers.
25. Keenan Allen, Bears (age: 32)
Allen has been a big-slot machine for many seasons and said goodbye to Southern California in style with 108 catches for 1,243 yards. and seven TDs in his final Chargers season. He might not have too much left in the tank, but his volume and catch-rate consistency keep him in the Hall discussion.
26. Stefon Diggs, Texans (age: 30)
The former go-to guy for the Vikings turned ball-demanding alpha with the Bills now gets to be a complementary piece on a different AFC title contender. Diggs is a technician in getting open on shorter downfield routes, and that can continue well with lesser volume playing off Collins and Tank Dell.
27. George Pickens, Steelers (age: 23)
Pickens had a bit of a delayed breakout with iffy quartertback play season, as his connection with Kenny Pickett was cut well short. He was the league’s premier young vertical threat with a league-best 18.1 yards per catch, though. He can be the new Metcalf for Russell Wilson in stretching the field.
28. Tank Dell, Texans (age: 24)
Dell was the ideal diminutive dasher to pair with the aggressiveness of C.J. Stroud throwing downfield to play off Collins. He was having a big rookie season and can pick up where left off once his broken leg is well behind him soon.
29. Drake London, Falcons (age: 23)
London was taken ahead of Wilson, Olave, and other wide receivers at No. 8 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. His first two seasons have been flashy with some pleasing stats as a classic No. 1 at 6-4, 213 pounds. But London also has had to deal with terrible QB play. That can change to lead to a third-year breakout with Kirk Cousins and/or Michael Penix Jr.
30. Tee Higgins, Bengals (age: 25)
Higgins had a tough, injury-riddled year in which he was hampered by drops, but he’s still proved to be an essential, high-level No. 2 playing well of Chase outside and inside for Joe Burrow.
