Breaking down the five best wide receiver groups in the NFL heading into the 2022 regular season and what we can expect from them this year.
These are the top 5 (projected) wide receiver groups entering the 2022 NFL season. This was a much more difficult list to amass than the worst wide receiver groups by far, mostly because so much talent was added this offseason.
Two of the top three receivers in the league went to different teams and the third name on that list is suspended for the first six games, which can change the course of any team’s season.
So let’s start with our first team on the list:
No. 5 wide receiver group in the NFL in 2022: Los Angeles Rams
- Cooper Kupp
- Allen Robinson
- Van Jefferson
- Tutu Atwell
- Marcus Johnson
Yes, you are reading that correctly. The 2021 Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams receivers are just making the list as #5.
The Rams won the Super Bowl with an arsenal consisting of Cooper Kupp, Odell Beckham Jr, and Van Jefferson with an injured Robert Woods on the sideline.
Odell is no longer on the team but there is a chance for a return, and Jefferson will remain in the WR3 position with the acquisition of former Bears receiver Allen Robinson.
Robinson has had a rocky road in the NFL as far as quarterbacks go by being paired with the likes of Blake Bortles, Mitch Trubisky, Andy Dalton, and Justin Fields.
Robinson was almost used as a decoy last season as he was only targeted 66 times in 12 games resulting in 38 receptions for 410 yards and one touchdown.
If Robinson can shake the rust off a troubled season in Chicago he should blossom in LA under the guidance of quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is easily the best quarterback Robinson has played with.
Add that combination to the already monster receiver that is Cooper Kupp who is coming off an unreal season where he ranked first in three of the four categories (receptions, total yards, touchdowns).
Big things are expected from the Rams but the unknown of how the Robinson signing will actually pan out leaves them in the 5th spot overall.
If the Rams somehow reunited OBJ with this already stacked unit their ranking would undoubtedly be raised to the top 2 spots. Let’s go to our 4th ranked unit hailing from Bourbon Street.
No. 4 wide receiver group in the NFL in 2022: New Orleans Saints
- Michael Thomas
- Jarvis Landry
- Chris Olave
- Tre’Quan Smith
- Marquez Callaway
The Saints have set the stage to have an absolutely season-altering group of wide receivers on their 2022 squad.
Granted a lot of this is dependent upon Michael Thomas recovering from the ankle injury that sidelined him for the entirety of the 2021 season but before 2020 Thomas had four consecutive seasons of 1,000+ yards.
If Thomas can be a healthy starter for the 2022 season he will be in good company alongside veteran Jarvis Landry who decided his time in Cleveland was over alongside rookie receiver Chris Olave from THE Ohio State.
The Saints traded up and beyond to secure Olave, who was routinely comped to Calvin Ridley, is a speedy option that isn’t just speed but was arguably one of the best if not the best route runner in the draft.
Now let’s combine the following; Olave’s speed and polished route running, the twitchy and physically imposing Thomas, all under the leadership of Jarvis Landry.
Landry’s skills cannot be ignored in this scenario however he is coming off of an injury in Cleveland and from his lowest production in a season with 570 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.
Landry can still be a weapon and a threat on the field if utilized properly, but his leadership will be the real key to this recipe.
Granted a lot of the Saints landing at the #4th spot relies upon two of the three starters being healthy but the potential of this trio is outstanding. And having your fourth and fifth receivers as Tre’Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway isn’t too shabby either.
Keep an eye on this group of receivers to make some noise and hopefully, Jameis Winston is healthiest above all when the season starts.
No. 3 NFL wide receiver group in 2022: Las Vegas Raiders
- Davante Adams
- Hunter Renfrow
- Demarcus Robinson
- Mack Hollins
- Keelan Cole
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Josh McDaniels comes from the Patriots, an organization that doesn’t place a huge emphasis on obtaining quality #1 receivers in the draft or in free agency.
Lucky for Derek Carr McDaniels isn’t in New England anymore because McDaniels went and scooped up Carr’s best friend in the offseason who also happens to be the best wide receiver in the NFL, Davante Adams.
Not only did McDaniels deliver Davante Adams to a struggling receiving corps after the Henry Ruggs disaster, but he was able to get Adams to choose Carr over Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.
Yes, the best wide receiver in the game left one of the best quarterbacks in history to come to the desert.
The Raiders wide receiver room gets an automatic letter grade bump after securing Adams who brings his immaculate skill set to the team but also his experience of working with one of the greatest of all time, Rodgers, and bringing it to Vegas.
Adams joins Hunter Renfrow, arguably one of the best slot receivers in the league. Renfrow took over the #1 receiver role in 2021 after Ruggs departed by playing in all 17 games and nailing 103 receptions on 128 targets.
Renfrow achieved his first 1,000 receiving yard season and scored 9 touchdowns (9th in the NFL in receivers).
The Raiders have complimented Adams and Renfrow by adding free agent receivers Keelan Cole and Demarcus Robinson as depth pieces that can still take the tops off defenses.
Derek Carr will be working with one of his finest groups of receivers and the timing is perfect as the AFC West is going to be an absolute warzone.
No. 2 NFL wide receiver group in 2022: Miami Dolphins
- Tyreek Hill
- Jaylen Waddle
- Cedrick Wilson
- Trent Sherfield
- Erik Ezukanma
New Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is showing that he is here to play and he really made a statement luring Super Bowl Champion receiver Tyreek Hill away from Kansas City and into the Florida sun.
Tyreek Hill, one of the top three receivers in the league I mentioned earlier, is set to cause serious disruption in the AFC East. While Hill’s stats don’t have to be constantly circulated he’s one of the fastest and most elusive deep threats playing the game.
Hill is coming off his fourth 1,000-yard season and is hoping to add a 5th with a new quarterback, Tua Tagovailova.
As if the Dolphins didn’t have enough firepower with sophomore Jaylen Waddle, adding Tyreek Hill to the mix just isn’t fair. Waddle had a fantastic rookie season amassing over 1,000 receiving yards on 104 receptions with six receiving touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.
The Cedrick Wilson signing off the Dallas Cowboys roster was also a significant addition who logged a career-high 602 receiving yards with six touchdowns with an average of 13.4 yards per reception.
The fourth-round pick selection by the Dolphins was also a receiver as if Tyreek Hill wasn’t enough of an offseason addition, but the 6’2″/209-pound Erik Ezukanma from Texas Tech can be another excellent outside target for Tua.
Coach McDaniel has assembled quite the unit, now it’s time for Tua to see if he can take control of his new weaponry or if this elite group of receivers will need a new signal caller in 2023.
No. 1 wide receiver group in the NFL in 2022: Cincinnati Bengals
This should not come as a surprise to anyone. This trio of Chase-Higgins-Boyd terrorized the AFC for most of 2021 and earned them a spot in the Super Bowl.
While they did not come away with the ultimate prize the Bengals’ front office has been working night and day to give Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow a safer offensive line to operate behind.
Burrow will have more time to find his top-tier receivers and taking the AFC North crown shouldn’t be a tall task for them this season.
Not to be outdone receiver Tyler Boyd came close to being the third Bengals receiver with 1,000 yards but fell short punching in a respectable 828 yards on 67 receptions scoring five touchdowns.
The three aforementioned receivers are a borderline unstoppable combination which is reflective of the Bengals’ offense being ranked 2nd in the league in completion percentage with 69.05%.
While the Bengals finished just shy of the ultimate prize after a brutal loss to the LA Rams in the 2021 Super Bowl their offense has remained intact while many of the other top teams had some of their big-time playmakers shuffle about the league.
The Bengals have retained their three deadly receivers while building up their offensive line to give Burrow more time and opportunity with his offense; I don’t see how this team doesn’t make the postseason at the bare minimum.
There you have it; the top 5 wide receiver units in the NFL!
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Las Vegas Raiders
New Orleans Saints
Los Angeles Rams