Tag Archives: best wide receivers

H2H 78: Cris Carter vs. Marvin Harrison – Who was Better?

While Jerry Rice is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver in NFL history and holds most of the major career receiving records (receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, etc.), the title of second-best wide receiver generates significantly more debate.  From a statistical perspective, two wide receivers who have previously held the single-season receptions record and later ranked #2 all-time in career receptions upon retirement were Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Marvin Harrison.  Each player was at one point or another overshadowed by other great receivers (Carter by Rice, Harrison by Randy Moss and Terrell Owens), but was nevertheless an incredibly talented and consistent pass-catcher who retired with 1,000+ career catches, 10,000+ yards, and 100+ touchdowns.  In comparing these two legendary pass-catchers, the question is:

Who was better – Cris Carter or Marvin Harrison?

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H2H 62: Isaac Bruce vs. Torry Holt – Who was Better?

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the St. Louis Rams featured perhaps the most lethal offense the NFL had ever seen up to that point – led by back-to-back MVPs in quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk, “The Greatest Show on Turf” also featured a pair of outstanding wide receivers in Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt.  Both were consistent 1,000-yard receivers and equally dangerous in the passing game; in fact, over the course of their respective careers, each receiver accumulated 900+ receptions, 13,000+ receiving yards, and 70+ receiving touchdowns – given their similarly prolific numbers lining up together in the Rams’ offense, it is only natural to ask the question:

Who was better – Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt?

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H2H 32: Andre Johnson vs. Steve Smith – Who was Better?

Since the early 2000s, the NFL has continued to evolve towards becoming more and more of a passing league, which in turn has led to ever-increasing stats for quarterbacks and wide receivers alike.  While Hall of Fame wide receivers like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens are recognized as among the cream of the crop of this generation, this recent group of pass-catchers is deep and comes in all shapes and sizes.  Standing out among the crowded field are two prolific, yet very different players in the tall and powerful Andre Johnson and the small but shifty Steve Smith. The careers of these two All-Pro and Pro Bowl wide receivers essentially overlapped and in any given season, you could find one or the other (or both) at or near the top of the receiving board – with all of this in mind, let us ask the question:

Who was better – Andre Johnson or Steve Smith?

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