In the third part of our NFL positional rankings are the wide receivers, who are taking the league by storm. Passing is dominating many offensive schemes currently, so most teams are doing their best to have three bonafide options to pick from.
While there are plenty of household names in our 2024 NFL WR Power Rankings, the order might surprise you. While the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase, and others will see their names on this list, there are plenty of different ways to go when ranking the others.
Are there any names missing from this list? How would you rank the wide receiver position heading into the 2024 NFL season?
25. Chris Olave – New Orleans Saints
2023 Stats – 87 receptions, 1,123 receiving yards, 5 TDs
The 25th-best player on our 2024 NFL WR Power Rankings is Chris Olave, who joins the likes of Garrett Wilson, George Pickens, and others from the successful 2022 NFL Draft class. Having been one of the few bright spots on the New Orleans offense, Olave continues to produce.
Two professional seasons have netted two seasons of over 1,000 yards for Olave, and with no substantial additions made to the Saints WR room, look for a career season for the former Buckeye.
2024 Projections – 93 receptions, 1,257 receiving yards, 8 TDs
24. Jaylen Waddle – Miami Dolphins
2023 Stats – 72 receptions, 1,014 receiving yards, 4 TDs
Often overshadowed in his own offense, Jaylen Waddle has quietly put up three consecutive 1K seasons for the Miami Dolphins. While Tyreek Hill gets all of the attention, Waddle is the long-term WR solution that the Dolphins should look to lock up long-term.
Not many teams can say they have two WRs of this caliber, which is what makes Miami unique. Waddle would be the clear-cut WR1 on almost any other NFL team, but he continues to produce in his current role, which speaks to his talent.
2024 Projections – 79 receptions, 1,086 receiving yards, 7 TDs
23. Terry McLaurin – Washington Commanders
2023 Stats – 79 receptions, 1,002 receiving yards, 4 TDs
One of the more disrespected receivers in the league for a while has been Terry McLaurin, and it feels like that has been caused by abysmal QB play in Washington. With rookie Jayden Daniels up next for the Commanders, could this be the season for McLaurin to earn some respect?
Four consecutive 1K seasons has McLaurin tied for the fifth-most consecutive century-mark seasons of active WRs – that’s a mouthful. He should be able to extend that streak to five in a row, even with the early-season rough patch that Daniels could experience.
2024 Projections – 78 receptions, 1,016 receiving yards, 4 TDs
22. Nico Collins – Houston Texans
2023 Stats – 80 receptions, 1,297 receiving yards, 8 TDs
Welcome to your WR1 role, Nico Collins – the Houston Texans are happy to have you. Holding this key role for C.J. is invaluable, especially with how important Collins’ breakout was last year.
With a retooled offense around Collins, the Texans are looking like the team to beat. And while it did take three seasons for Collins to break out, things are looking up for the former Wolverine as he enters his fourth year in the league.
2024 Projections – 73 receptions, 1,067 receiving yards, 7 TDs
21. Amari Cooper – Cleveland Browns
2023 Stats – 72 receptions, 1,250 receiving yards, 5 TDs
On his third NFL team, Amari Cooper has produced wherever he has gone. Whether with the Raiders, Cowboys, or Browns, Cooper continues to produce, which makes sense why Cleveland wants to keep him around for a while.
Seven of Cooper’s nine NFL seasons have been 1K seasons, averaging just over six touchdowns per season. As the Browns look to remain a postseason threat in the AFC, Cooper is a big factor in that, so he should remain the focal part of the passing attack.
2024 Projections – 74 receptions, 1,189 receiving yards, 7 TDs
20. DeAndre Hopkins – Tennessee Titans
2023 Stats – 69 receptions, 905 receiving yards, 2 TDs
The first (of two) Titans on this list, DeAndre Hopkins put up a fairly strong season last year, even if he rarely found the end zone. With Tennessee moving forward with Will Levis as their starting QB, hopefully a relationship can begin to form between the two.
Hopkins has been the epitome of consistency across his 11-year career, which is why he is 20th on our 2024 NFL WR Power Rankings, racking up seven seasons of 1K+ receiving yards. While sharing the field with a few other veteran options, Hopkins can absolutely continue to carve out a role for himself in the Titans offense.
2024 Projections – 69 receptions, 972 receiving yards, 4 TDs
19. Michael Pittman Jr. – Indianapolis Colts
2023 Stats – 109 receptions, 1,152 receiving yards, 4 TDs
Re-signing this offseason keeps Michael Pittman Jr. with the Indianapolis Colts for the foreseeable future. Giving Anthony Richardson a top target will be great for both the development of the Indy’s franchise QB and the offense as a whole.
Pittman has succeeded basically with whichever QB the Colts have had – just look at his stats from last year catching passes from Gardner Minshew. As long as both Pittman and Richardson are healthy, we should see the establishment of a fun QB-WR duo moving forward.
2024 Projections – 93 receptions, 987 receiving yards, 6 TDs
18. Calvin Ridley – Tennessee Titans
2023 Stats – 76 receptions, 1,016 receiving yards, 8 TDs
The youth movement has taken a back seat in Tennessee, as Tyler Boyd, Hopkins, and Calvin Ridley make up the main receivers for the Titans. Having come over from the Jaguars, Ridley is looking to put up another strong season, his second since returning from his season-long suspension.
Ridley is clear and away the top target for Will Levis, so seeing if those two can create a good relationship will be a storyline to follow this offseason for Tennessee.
2024 Projections – 68 receptions, 987 receiving yards, 6 TDs
17. DeVonta Smith – Philadelphia Eagles
2023 Stats – 81 receptions, 1,066 receiving yards, 7 TDs
As the first of two receivers for the Eagles on this list, DeVonta Smith was handsomely rewarded with a new contract this offseason. Having easily shed concerns about his size, his NFL production has been quite impressive.
His past two seasons have been over 1,000 yards and seven TDs, acting as a compliment to A.J. Brown. His rapport with Jalen Hurts shows through in pretty much every game, and there is more where that came from for Smith moving forward.
2024 Projections – 82 receptions, 1,103 receiving yards, 6 TDs
16. DK Metcalf – Seattle Seahawks
2023 Stats – 66 receptions, 1,114 receiving yards, 8 TDs
Seattle has a treasure trove of receiver talent at their disposal, which is led by DK Metcalf, who falls into our 16th spot on the 2024 NFL WR Power Rankings. Having recorded 900+ receiving yards in all five professional seasons, Metcalf is the definition of steady, even if his numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page.
With second-year pro Jaxon Smith-Njigba and veteran Tyler Lockett vying for targets, Metcalf has his work cut out for him. But as the clear WR1 in this offense, Metcalf should be able to put up another 1,000-yard season in 2024.
2024 Projections – 64 receptions, 1,009 receiving yards, 7 TDs
15. Stefon Diggs – Houston Texans
2023 Stats – 107 receptions, 1,183 receiving yards, 8 TDs
Having been traded for the second time in his career, Stefon Diggs now finds himself as a key member of the Houston offense. Sharing the receiver room with Nico Collins and Tank Dell, Diggs will look to carve out his role catching passes from C.J. Stroud.
Needing to fight more for his workload this season, Diggs won’t have the predetermined WR1 workload like he is accustomed to. That isn’t to say he won’t have a big role in the Houston offense, but he will need to get used to sharing (which could be tough).
2024 Projections – 86 receptions, 1,078 receiving yards, 5 TDs
14. Puka Nacua – Los Angeles Rams
2023 Stats – 105 receptions, 1,486 receiving yards, 6 TDs
Having burst onto the scene in his rookie campaign, it could be thought of as premature to have Puka Nacua this high on our NFL WR Power Rankings. But receivers don’t just trip and fall into a 1,400-yard season as they enter the league, so there is definitely something there with Nacua.
The former BYU product looks excellent in Sean McVay’s offense, and he should look to reclaim that role for the 2024 season. Look for defenses to cue in on shutting Nacua down more, but that shouldn’t really slow him down all that much.
2024 Projections – 93 receptions, 1,387 receiving yards, 7 TDs
13. DJ Moore – Chicago Bears
2023 Stats – 96 receptions, 1,364 receiving yards, 8 TDs
While he showed plenty while with the Panthers, DJ Moore has looked like an even better version of himself in Chicago. As Justin Fields’ favorite target last season, Moore was exactly what the Bears wanted him to be, and probably more.
Now Moore has some competition as Caleb Williams’ WR1, as Keenan Allen was brought in this offseason. Stats wise Moore could see his numbers dip with more mouths to feed, but he should still be incredibly involved in the new-look Bears offense.
2024 Projections – 75 receptions, 982 receiving yards, 6 TDs
12. Garrett Wilson – New York Jets
2023 Stats – 95 receptions, 1,042 receiving yards, 3 TDs
Being able to rack up a 1K yard season catching passes from Zach Wilson perfectly encapsulates just how talented Garrett Wilson is, which is why he checks in at 12th on our NFL WR Power Rankings. Hopefully getting a full season of catching passes from Aaron Rodgers will not only boost his skills, but have them on full display.
While it might not be substantial gains in a main statistical category, Wilson is on track to produce the best season of his NFL career so far in 2024.
2024 Projections – 104 receptions, 1,182 receiving yards, 8 TDs
11. Cooper Kupp – Los Angeles Rams
2023 Stats – 59 receptions, 737 receiving yards, 5 TDs
While his last two seasons have been hampered with injuries, Cooper Kupp is still one of the best receivers in the NFL. Pairing him with Matthew Stafford makes him very dangerous, as does having Puka Nacua in the WR room, so maybe 2024 is the year where vintage Kupp returns.
As he enters his age-30 season, Kupp will try to produce another 1,000-yard season, which would be his first since his incredible 1,947-yard season in 2021. While he will come close, this might be another sub-1K season for Kupp, which shouldn’t downplay his overall talent.
2024 Projections – 73 receptions, 963 receiving yards, 6 TDs
10. Deebo Samuel – San Francisco 49ers
2023 Stats – 60 receptions, 892 receiving yards, 7 TDs
Kicking off the top 10 of our NFL WR Power Rankings is Deebo Samuel, who is a dual-threat offensive Swiss Army Knife for the San Francisco 49ers. While both he and his running partner Brandon Aiyuk are receivers, they have very different skill sets, which helps Samuel stand out in his own way.
Used out of the backfield and on running plays, Samuel is a fun little piece that the 49ers heavily utilize in their offense. Maybe overshadowed at times by his teammates, Samuel has kind of taken on a bit of a secondary role at times, but that doesn’t mean he won’t show up in the box score.
2024 Projections – 178 rushing yards, 63 receptions, 928 receiving yards, 7 TDs
9. Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 Stats – 79 receptions, 1,255 receiving yards, 13 TDs
The receiver that never quit is a great way to describe Mike Evans, as he continues to produce for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Having just re-signed for another two years this offseason, Evans is looking to run things back with Baker Mayfield and this offense.
Forming a solid pairing with Chris Godwin, Evans managed to haul in 13 TDs last season, which feels very unexpected. But as he has seemingly done for his entire career, Evans knows what it takes to be in the right spot at the right time, so expect another dominant 2024 season for the former A&M Aggie.
2024 Projections – 73 receptions, 1,196 receiving yards, 11 TDs
8. Brandon Aiyuk – San Francisco 49ers
2023 Stats – 75 receptions, 1,342 receiving yards, 7 TDs
In search of a new contract this offseason, Brandon Aiyuk checks in at number eight on our NFL RB Power Rankings. A perfect fit in the Kyle Shanahan offense, Aiyuk has thrived alongside George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, and Deebo Samuel, catching passes from Brock Purdy.
Aiyuk is the passing game leader for the Niners, as they look to pave another path to the Super Bowl in 2024. With reports of Aiyuk searching for a deal in the neighborhood of a Lions receiver on this list, it will be interesting to see if the former Arizona State Sun Devil gets paid before the season begins.
2024 Projections – 74 receptions, 1,216 receiving yards, 7 TDs
7. Davante Adams – Las Vegas Raiders
2023 Stats – 103 receptions, 1,144 receiving yards, 8 TDs
On the surface, it seems that Davante Adams is stuck in Las Vegas with the Raiders, sent there to waste away generational talent. But when you look closer, you realize that he will thrive regardless of the situation, and that will be tested this season.
Catching passes from either Aidan O’Connell or Gardner Minshew, Adams will need to contend with even more volatility at the QB position. Adams still found paydirt eight times last season on his way to 1,144 yards, so expect more of the same from the former Fresno State Bulldog.
2024 Projections – 93 receptions, 1,186 receiving yards, 6 TDs
6. A.J. Brown – Philadelphia Eagles
2023 Stats – 106 receptions, 1,456 receiving yards, 7 TDs
The best of the two Eagles receivers in our 2024 NFL Power Rankings is A.J. Brown, who racked up over 1,400 receiving yards last season. While Philadelphia did struggle down the stretch, Brown strung together a six-game stretch of six-plus catches and 125-plus receiving yards, catching five TDs over those games.
Brown has a little more competition in the offense for targets, as offseason signee Saquon Barkley figures to play a big role in the passing game. But no worries – Brown will absolutely still get his, even if his numbers do tail off slightly from last season.
2024 Projections – 91 receptions, 1,289 receiving yards, 7 TDs
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown – Detroit Lions
2023 Stats – 119 receptions, 1,515 receiving yards, 10 TDs
Fresh off becoming the highest-paid receiver in NFL history, Amon-Ra St. Brown is looking to justify his $120 million deal, starting in 2024. Catching passes from Jared Goff is a pretty sweet gig for the Sun God, as is playing a good chunk of his upcoming schedule in a dome.
St. Brown is the clear leader on offense, with players like Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs helping form a dangerous, young core that hopes to lead the NFC North for years.
2024 Projections – 125 receptions, 1,427 receiving yards, 11 TDs
4. Tyreek Hill – Miami Dolphins
2023 Stats – 119 receptions, 1,799 receiving yards, 13 TDs
After entering last season with a public goal of reaching 2,000 receiving yards, Tyreek Hill only fell 201 yards short of that. While finding the end zone 13 times on 119 receptions, the Dolphins speedy wideout was a big-time catalyst in helping Tua Tagovailoa lead the NFL in passing yardage.
Back for another season with Miami, Hill should be able to reprise his role as the leading target in the offense. With less tread left on the tires, we could eventually see Hill slow down a bit, but all signs point to him and Waddle forming an electric combo in the AFC East.
2024 Projections – 101 receptions, 1,431 receiving yards, 9 TDs
3. Ja’Marr Chase – Cincinnati Bengals
2023 Stats – 100 receptions, 1,216 receiving yards, 7 TDs
Slowed down by Joe Burrow’s injury, Ja’Marr Chase still was able to rack up over 1,200 receiving yards while finding the end zone seven times last year. With Burrow back at it and the contract situation involving Tee Higgins still unsolved, that could mean it’s time for Chase to take on an even larger role.
If the Bengals want to make the playoffs, they will need to do so without the tutelage of Brian Callahan, who left to become the HC for the Titans. If there is any sort of downtick in production for the offense that could be seen as the issue, but expect Chase to do whatever he can to help keep this unit afloat.
2024 Projections – 105 receptions, 1,305 receiving yards, 12 TDs
2. Justin Jefferson – Minnesota Vikings
2023 Stats – 68 receptions, 1,074 receiving yards, 5 TDs
Even with question marks at quarterback, Justin Jefferson is still slated for a big-time season in 2024. Looking to put his contract issues and injury concerns behind him, Jefferson is hoping to share the field with Jordan Addison for every game to help lead the Minnesota offense.
While Sam Darnold is likely a better option at this point, J.J. McCarthy probably gives the Vikings a better chance at winning games, and would help Jefferson’s production more too. While he did eclipse the 1,000 yard mark again last year, a full workload of 100+ receptions feels more normal for JJetta this year.
2024 Projections – 111 receptions, 1,508 receiving yards, 8 TDs
1. CeeDee Lamb – Dallas Cowboys
2023 Stats – 135 receptions, 1,749 receiving yards, 12 TDs
Helping wrap up our NFL WR Power Rankings is CeeDee Lamb, who enjoyed a career year last season in Dallas. As the clear-cut top option in the offense, Lamb has every right to be unhappy with his current contract situation, but our projections point to him playing a full season in 2024.
Dak Prescott goes to his favorite target early and often in games, so expect more of the same from Lamb moving forward. While some of his numbers may decline ever so slightly, it’s only because of the development of others (Brandin Cooks, Jake Ferguson, etc.).
2024 Projections – 123 receptions, 1,589 receiving yards, 11 TDs
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