NFL: 25 wide receivers that should have been league MVP

NFL wide receivers that should have been league MVP: 16. Don Hutson, 1942

This one is going WAY back. And, this one actually won the MVP award. So, technically, this one might not qualify, but we had to give some love to a player who actually won the top player in the league award. Back then, the award was called the Joe F. Carr Trophy, and Don Hutson absolutely deserved it. He won it in back-to-back years, in 1941 and 1942.

Hutson was often the greatest wide receiver in the game. Like Jim Thorpe, he was iconic in this era. Nobody was on his level, and in 1942, he was as good as anyone who has ever touched a football. Hutson led the league in receiving yards seven times in his career, all for the Green Bay Packers.

There was nothing like his 1942 season. He led the league in receiving in 1941 with 738 yards. He had 1,211 in the same 11 game regular season. He Don Hutson had 74 receptions in 1942. The next leading receiver had 24. he had triple what anyone else in the league had. His 1,211 yards was almost 700 more than anyone in the league. This might have been the most dominant season of any in the history of the league. Under today’s 17-game season, Hutson would have 1,871 yards, 114 receptions, and 26 touchdowns. This would be one of the greatest seasons at any position, and it should be seen that way.

Hutson was the most dangerous weapon in the league, and that’s why he ended his season where he did. He deserved the MVP, and the only reason he is this far down the list is because he actually got to win his award.