NFL: 25 wide receivers that should have been league MVP

NFL wide receivers that should have been league MVP: 20. Torry Holt, 2003

Just a few years prior, Torry Holt was out of his mind. It was a strange time in the NFL. Jerry Rice was past his prime, so it seemed like NFL wide receivers kept passing the “best in the league” baton between six or seven superstars. One year it’s Randy Moss, then the next year it’s Terrell Owens. In 2005, it was Steve Smith. In 2003, there is no doubt it was Torry Holt.

This wasn’t Holt’s first monster season. He led the league in receiving in 2000 in the first year of the “Greatest Show on Turf”. In 2003, the Rams were moving on to their next era. Mark Bulger took over the starting quarterback job from Kurt Warner after taking it from him in 2002. The Rams didn’t lose much in terms of offense, and Holt had his best season.

Holt had a ridiculous 112 catches for 1,696 yards and 12 touchdowns. Holt was just extremely efficient, leading the league in yards per touch.

The Rams were starting a new era, and the team needed someone to carry them into that next era. Holt was the guy to do that. The fact that he carried an offense that was missing Marshall Faulk for five games and saw Isaac Bruce fall below 1,000 yards to 12 wins with a new quarterback under center is enough to earn the MVP award.