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Who are the top wide receivers in NFL history? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Lance Alworth: arguably the greatest wide receiver in AFL history, Alworth was the first player to average 100+ receiving yards per game in consecutive seasons and still holds a number of career receiving records, including most 200+ yard games (5) and most 70+ yard touchdowns (12).
9. Steve Largent: somewhat underrated playing his entire career with the Seattle Seahawks, Largent retired as the NFL’s leader in career receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions, and was the first player with 100 career receiving touchdowns in league history.
8. Marvin Harrison: in his prime, Harrison teamed with quarterback Peyton Manning to form one of the greatest QB-WR duos in NFL history and holds the record for most receptions in a season (143 in 2002).
7. Calvin Johnson: though he retired early at 30, Johnson was a dominant force with seven 1,000-yard campaigns in his nine NFL seasons, including a league record 1,964 receiving yards in 2012.
6. Cris Carter: though he was overshadowed for most of his career by Jerry Rice, Carter was known for his great hands and was an all-time great in his own right, ranking #2 in most career receiving categories (behind Rice of course) when he retired.
5. Don Hutson: considered the NFL’s first modern wide receiver and one of the game’s early superstars, Hutson scored 99 receiving touchdowns in his career on only 488 receptions.
4. Larry Fitzgerald: a model of consistency, Fitzgerald has an NFL-record eight seasons of 90+ receptions and is likely to be #2 in both receptions and receiving yards when he retires; also holds the record for most receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in a single postseason (2008).
3. Terrell Owens: despite his mercurial nature, Owens was one of the most feared receivers in history during his prime and is #3 all-time in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns; also set a then-NFL record with 20 receptions in a game in 2000.
2. Randy Moss: arguably the most talented wide receiver in NFL history, Moss was unstoppable when motivated, as evidenced by his 156 career receiving touchdowns, including a rookie record 17 in 1998 and a single-season record 23 in 2007.
1. Jerry Rice: not only the best wide receiver in NFL history, Rice can also stake a claim to being the greatest football player ever – he holds nearly every single notable receiving record and is also the NFL’s career leader in games played by a position player, touchdowns scored, and all-purpose yards.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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