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Is T.O. Among The Top 5 WR’s in the NFL?
Published by JM Van Horn on March 10, 2009
Thanks to all of the recent discussion about Terrell Owens, new life has been brought to the debate about which player is the best wide receiver in the NFL.
While the candidates are many, there are only a few who have the capability to make the big play when the team needs a momentum change.
These are what I believe to be the five best wide receivers in the NFL
5 – Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions)
One of the best kept secrets in the NFL is Calvin Johnson, hidden away on the roster of the Detroit Lions, the first team to ever experience an 0-16 season.
During the 2008-09 season, Johnson had 78 catches for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns for a team that had five different quarterbacks at the helm.
It may have taken four draft picks over several years, but it appears the Lions finally selected a premier wide receiver that can not only stretch the field, but is not afraid to catch the ball over the middle.
If you ask any Lions fans for the lone bright spot during a dismal season, without a doubt they will cite the work of Johnson.
In 2009, Johnson will be entering his third year in the league, so we should expect to see an increase in his numbers across the board. The future does look bright for Johnson, especially if the Lions are able to turn things around and actually find a capable quarterback to throw him the ball.
When that eventually happens, expect Johnson to climb the ranks and take over the top spot for best wide receiver in the NFL.
4 – Terrell Owens (Buffalo Bills)
Despite what you may think of his antics off the field, Owens remains one of the top receivers in the NFL. If you were to forget about the drama that surrounds T.O and just focus on his numbers during 2008, he had 69 receptions for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Not bad considering all the problems Dallas had this past season, especially with quarterback Tony Romo missing substantial playing time due to an injured pinkie.
Despite having his least productive year with the Cowboys, Owens was still on par with most No. 1 receivers in the NFL. Now Owens will have the chance to show whether the reduction was from the affects of aging or the Cowboys QB woes.
It will be interesting to see how things pan out for Owens, who signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. Owens has shown flashes of brilliance, especially during his first season with a new team.
If he is able to carry the Bills into the playoffs, Owens can expect to have a good deal of suitors this time next year.
Houston Texans Wide Receiver Andre Johnson
3 – Brandon Marshall (Denver Broncos)
Whoever starts the 2009 season at quarterback for Denver, they will relish the chance to throw to one of the best wide receivers in the game. Marshall began the 2008 season with a bang when he recorded 18 receptions for 166 yards in the Broncos controversial win over the San Diego Chargers.
By the time the season was over, Marshall had 104 receptions for 1,265 yards and six touchdowns. Of the eight games the Broncos lost in 2008, Marshall had six catches or less during six of those contests.
Marshall really excels for the Broncos in the red zone, where he caught five of his six touchdowns.
Since Marshall is 24 years old and entering his fourth season in the NFL, opposing defenses will have to continue to game plan for him in the years to come.
1(a) – Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals)
Before the end of the regular season in 2008, Fitzgerald was already on his way to having another monstrous season.
Fitzgerald had 96 receptions for 1,431 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. But the real magic came for Fitzgerald when the Cardinals started their improbable run to the Super Bowl.
During the post season, Fitzgerald hauled in 30 receptions for 546 yards and seven touchdowns. He had a touchdown reception in every post season game and seemingly caught every ball thrown his way.
The only knock against Fitzgerald is that he does have a Pro Bowl quarterback, Kurt Warner, tossing him the ball along with playing opposite Anquan Boldin.
Fitzgerald may find himself at the top of the list in 2009 if the Cardinals are not able to retain Boldin, and he’s able to improve on his Pro Bowl numbers.
1 – Andre Johnson (Houston Texans)
What I am sure is somewhat of a surprise to some people, Andre Johnson earned the top spot for best wide receiver in the NFL because of the season he had in 2008. Johnson had career highs with 115 receptions for 1,575 yards and eight touchdowns.
What makes his yardage total even more impressive is the fact he had five games where he did not break 60 yards. Then there is the tandem of quarterbacks Johnson had to deal with to accomplish these career numbers.
The Texans’ second leading receiver this past season was tight end Owen Daniels with 70 receptions. Considering Houston doesn’t possess another wide out that can take the pressure off him, Johnson gets a slight nod over Fitzgerald as the best wide receiver in the game.
One thing is for certain – NFL fans will have the chance to enjoy watching Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson battle to become the clear No. 1 wide receiver in the league.
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Tagged with: Andre Johnson, Arizona Cardinals, Brandon Marshall, Buffalo Bills, Calvin Johnson, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, JM Van Horn, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, T.O., Terrell Owens, Tony Romo, Wide Receivers
MoonDog on Tue, 10th Mar 2009 03:44
I personally don’t believe Andre Johnson is the best WR in the league. If you took Larry Fitzgerald out of the Cardinals lineup, they would have been lucky to win six games last season.
DMtShooter on Tue, 10th Mar 2009 05:29
Um, this is a joke, right? WRs I’d rather have, both in fantasy and real-life, just off the top of my head…
Randy Moss, Santonio Holmes, Marques Colston, Reggie Wayne, TJ Housh, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Smith, Antonio Bryant, Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson, Wes Welker, Andre Johnson, Brandon Marshall…
Well, that’s 14 right there. I’m not even sure that Terrible is the best WR on his own team, considering that Lee Evans has been playing with crud on the other side and at QB.
And this is just considering on the field, which in his case is like saying, “Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?”
bigdawg on Tue, 10th Mar 2009 08:03
And of course we forget guys like Hines Ward. Hines is a good guy, plays hard, doesn’t attempt suicide or manufacture drama like TO so many times he gets left out of the conversation. Yet, he consistently produces on a “run first” team. He blocks better than any WR in the game. He’s sure handed and clutch when it counts. He may not be top 5 any more, but he’s gotta be in the mix somewhere.
Tracer Bullet on Tue, 10th Mar 2009 08:53
Using his traditional stats, Owens isn’t in the top 10 for yards or the top five for TDs. Using FO’s advanced statistics, he’s mediocre at best. He only produced two 100-yard games, and one of them was against the Eagles in week 17 in a 38-point loss. He only went over 80 yards three other times. Plus, his catch rate is a terrible 50%. He’s not worth the heartache.
Tim on Tue, 10th Mar 2009 10:50
As a bunch of people already said, TO doesn’t really belong on that list. Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald definitely, I’d actually bump Calvin Johnson above Brandon Marshall but that’s me. If I have to go 5, it’s a mix between like Randy Moss and Greg Jennings. But Owens is just not that good.
P.S. I love that you noted both TO and Calvin Johnson’s QB issues but gave TO the higher spot even though his stats were less impressive and his team was far better.
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JM Van Horn on Tue, 10th Mar 2009 21:50
First let me off start this by saying I had a hard time placing him in the top 5 because I do not like him as a person.
I will also say I know my list is far from perfect, it is just what I feel by taking a look at various things for each receiver, like statistics, their quarterback, their offense, the other receivers, and their physicality.
Most of the receivers every listed were on my honorable mention except TJ. I think he is a second tier receiver and is going to have an uphill battle in Seattle. As for my personal favorite for receiver, it is a toss up between Ward and Boldin.
JM Van Horn on Tue, 10th Mar 2009 22:05
Oh by him, I meant TO. By the way good responses everyone
The Zoner on Tue, 10th Mar 2009 22:36
DMT– you lost me at Lee Evans. Owens is by far superior to Evans, just getting older. Plus Romo missed 3 games & wasn’t healthy in a few others.
I would definitely add Boldin to the top 5.
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Joshua on Fri, 27th Mar 2009 21:05
I have to drop T.O. off the list if for nothing else his dropped passes. He was 4th with 10 and 1st in 07 with 25.
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