Top 5 WR Performances of Week 7

The Denver Broncos thrashing of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football was the most impressive performance of the week, even considering the fact that the 49ers defense was broken down by injuries with Patrick Willis out. Peyton Manning set records, and he earned a spot as one of our top five quarterbacks of the week. Demaryius Thomas joined him as his right-hand man, as he caught two of Manning’s touchdown passes, including the record-setting eight-yarder.

Denver Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas

There’s no doubt that Thomas is one of the best wide receivers in the game, and he tore up a red-hot Perrish Cox, who is a former Bronco, on Sunday night, with his 40-yard touchdown being a highlight. While the ball was still in the air, Thomas raced past Cox, and he continues to show that he is arguably the best receiver in the league at accelerating. His hook-up with Manning is nearly as good as the Jordy Nelson–Aaron Rodgers connection, and his physical tools are even more prolific than Nelson’s.

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Thomas finished his Week 7 up with eight receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns on just nine targets, making him the best WR of the week (and there were plenty of fantastic performances to choose from). He is getting hot at the right time, and Thomas is on unstoppable form. Vontae Davis was our Player of the Week this week and memorably shut Thomas down last year, but I don’t think he could replicate that performance now with Thomas playing this well.

Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant

The Dallas Cowboys triumvirate of Tony Romo, DeMarco Murray, and Dez Bryant nearly propelled the team to a playoff birth last year, and they probably would have pulled it off if Romo didn’t suffer a back injury. Murray and Romo have been in the spotlight more often, but both Bryant and the Cowboys elite offensive line are getting plenty of credit for their own scintillating displays. Even with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie pushing through an injury, the New York Giants secondary isn’t some rag-tag group, as Prince Amukamara showed his credentials by picking off a pass, which was Romo’s lone blemish. Bryant bested the Giants defensive backfield with nine receptions for 151 yards, as he hoarded 13 targets compared to 23 total attempts by Romo.

Detroit Lions WR Golden Tate

Call me crazy, but I think there’s a chance Golden Tate could be the league’s most underrated wide receiver, because I think he could be a true No. 1 wideout for several teams. Tate put in another vintage performance, as the New Orleans Saints predictably couldn’t handle him. The crazy thing is that with Calvin Johnson out, the Saints had to know what was coming; a heavy dose of Golden Tate. Matthew Stafford hit him up 13 times (yes, the same number of targets as Bryant), and Tate had even better numbers than Bryant with ten receptions for 154 yards and a TD. Tate has amazing hands, is a preciser route-runner, can win inside or outside, has plenty of long speed, and can make tough catches over the middle.

Buffalo Bills WR Sammy Watkins

As expected, Watkins has become one of the most recognizable and fun-to-watch wide receivers in the game, and he is giving the Bills organization something to hope for. They barely escaped with a 17-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings, with both C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson sustaining significant injuries (the Bills have stashed Spiller on the short-term IR in the hopes that he can return at some point). Watkins was thrown at a whopping 14 times and came up with nine receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning two-yard reception to steal the game from the Vikings at the death. There’s no doubt that he is already a top wideout, and Watkins is deserving of just about every superlative in the book; he’s exactly the player we came to love at Clemson.

Seattle Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin

Even when Percy Harvin was around, Doug Baldwin was the team’s unquestioned No. 1 wide receiver after assuming the role following Golden Tate’s departure. Paul Richardson is the team’s best big-play threat with Harvin gone, but Baldwin remains the team’s most consistent receiver and should continue to receive the majority of the targets from Russell Wilson, who was terrific in the losing effort. Baldwin was equally impressive, as the efficient wideout displayed his chops in the 28-26 loss by catching seven passes for 123 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets.