TOP 5 WIDE RECEIVERS IN THE LEAGUE

     

     There are many great receivers in the league but none as great as some receivers in this modern era. There was Jerry Rice of the 49ers but he is old now. Then there is Deion Sanders but injury slowed him. Micheal Irvin was a great wideout too, but run-ins with the law and injuries also slowed him down. These guys could all play but in this modern era of premiere receivers they would have to raise their level of play to out-of-reach expectations. There=s a new posse in town and they=re not stopping for anyone.

     Wide receiver is a spot that just no one can take and be good at it. Today wideouts need speed, hand skills, durability, and size most importantly. These guys I=m about to introduce to you are a perfect example. If I were to rate them from 5^th to 1^st this is how it would go.

     At 6-2, 204lbs, and 5 years of play, Eric Moulds is on his way to being the greatest receivers ever for the Buffalo Bills and in the NFL. Moulds has size, great hand skills, and is very durable but doesn’t have breakaway speed to get away from defenders. 1998 was Moulds breakout year. Reed was towards the end of his contract with the Bills, and they were desperate for a passing game. That=s when Moulds raised his game to exceptional levels surprising everyone in the league. He started all but 1 out of the 16 games that year, caught 67 passes for 1368 yards, for an average of 20.4 per catch, with 9TDs, and 8 catches for 40+ yards that season. Quite amazing for a player in just his third season.

     With the fifth pick down and four more to go my fourth choice is Torry Holt. Holt is a young and talented receiver who made an impressive debut in the Rams offense during his rookie season. Blessed with outstanding physical skills, Holt led all NFC rookie wide receivers and running backs in 99". Selected by Rams in first round (6^th overall) of 1999 NFL Draft. In 1999 Holt started in all but 1 game. Was third on team in receptions(52) and receiving yards and tied for third with six touchdowns. He tied or lead the Rams in receptions three times and in receiving yards three times. His receptions and receiving yards totals were second highest in team history. That=s my 4^th pick of my top five countdown.

     Down to my number 3 pick, the receiver I picked is Isaac Bruce of the St.Louis Rams. Bruce has size, speed, and hand skills. Bruce is a gifted athlete and one of the best route runners in the league. A smooth, fluid, graceful big-play receiver who is one of the best in the NFL. He made one of the most famous plays in illustrious history of Rams history, catching 73-yard touchdown pass from QB Kurt Warner with just under two minutes to play in the game to give the Rams a 23-16 victory over the Titans. Holds four Rams= single-season records, including most receiving yards(1,781), most receptions(119), most consecutive 100-yard receiving games(6), and most 100-yard receiving games(9) set in 1995. His first reception was a 34-yard touchdown; that shows how great he is.

     My second receiver is Keyshawn Johnson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson is one of the leagues fastest, toughest, and most electrifying receivers in the league. Played first four seasons with the Jets who drafted him with the top overall selection of the 1996 NFL Draft. Johnson has averaged 76 catches per season over his first four years in the NFL, earning him trips to the past two Pro Bowls. One of the leagues most charismatic figures and one that can boast 305 career catches for 4,108 yards(13.4 avg.) And 31TD=s. His 305 catches through his first four seasons rank third in the league. There=s no doubt that he=s a future Hall of Famer.

     The greatest wideout in the game to ever play is my first overall choice, Randy Moss. Moss has size, speed, and awesome hand skills like no other. Moss has earned invitations to the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons. Since entering the NFL, Moss has 44 TDs in 48 games (43 receiving and 1 punt return). In 24 games against the NFC Central Division, Moss has 124 catches for 2,495 yards (20.1) 24 touchdowns. Moss is an important part of his team and it shows. The Vikings are 24-6 when Moss gets a TD in a game. His 106 receiving yards vs. Carolina put him over the 1,000 yard mark for the 2000 season and made him the second player in NFL history to post 1,000 yards receiving in his first three seasons in the NFL. With that done those are my top 5 picks for the top 5 receivers in the NFL.             

 Darryl