We’re back with our annual list of the best wide receiver groups (in our opinion) entering the 2023 NFL season. Our list of the worst wide receiver rooms has already been released so now it’s time to switch gears. The wide receiver position is one of the most exciting in the NFL and every team that made this list has earned with their consistent and dynamic play.
Before you read on, take a look at our top 5 receiving groups from 2022:
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New Orleans Saints
- Los Angeles Rams
There has been some turnover when comparing the 2022 list to 2023, especially after a year of evaluating performances, and every team’s free agency and draft additions. Let’s dive into our 2023 list.
Top 5 wide receiver units in the NFL in 2023
No. 5 best receiver group in the NFL in 2023: Los Angeles Chargers
- Keenan Allen
- Mike Williams
- Quentin Johnston
- Jalen Guyton
- Joshua Palmer
- Derius Davis
The Los Angeles Chargers receiving room is the only AFC West team to make the list, surprisingly. This group was already skilled with Keenan Allen and Michael Williams. The Chargers’ front office was not done yet and added one of the best receivers available, TCU’s Quentin Johnston. Johnston is a large and skilled target who excels in yards after the catch. The Chargers even added one of Johnston’s teammates, Derius Davis, in the fourth round. Davis is a speedy but undersized receiver when compared to his teammates in the receiver room.
The Chargers gave quarterback Justin Herbert not only one of the best receiving groups in the league but one of the biggest. Allen is the shortest of the top three receivers on the team standing at 6’2″, while Williams stands at 6’4″ and Johnston at 6’3″. Herbert is already a gunslinger but giving him a variety of tall effective targets will only increase their production in 2023.
The Chargers receiving corps was third in total receiving yards in 2022 with 4,791 and second in receptions with 485. If Allen is healthy (he missed 7 games in 2022) the Chargers will continue their passing attack with their new additions and should also finish in the top of the statistical categories.
Other teams in the AFC West (Raiders, Broncos) have a strong group of receivers but their depth is lacking. The Chargers relied heavily on Joshua Palmer in 2022 due to various injuries and logged a respectable 72 receptions out of 107 targets netting 769 yards with 3 touchdowns.
Despite the sometimes accurate phrase, “Chargers gonna Charger”, expect big things out of this unit in 2023.
No. 4 best receiver group in the NFL in 2023: Seattle Seahawks
- DK Metcalf
- Tyler Lockett
- Jaxson Smith-Njigba
- Dee Eskridge
- Dareke Young
- Cody Thompson
It was not easy only ranking the Seattle Seahawks as the fourth-best receiving unit in the NFL in 2023. DK Metcalf is a physical phenomenon capable of being a deep threat or an absolute monster when it comes to yards after the catch. Tyler Lockett has incredible ball skills and terrific reach for only being a 5’10 receiver. Both Metcalf and Lockett are coming off 1,000-yard seasons and combined for 15 receiving touchdowns.
With those high-level statistics, many would assume the Seahawks were all set at the wide receiver position. This was not the case at the 2023 NFL Draft and instead of drafting a quarterback to one day take over for Geno Smith, the Seahawks selected the best receiver in the draft with the 20th pick in the first round. Jaxson Smith-Njigba will likely line up in the slot but playing alongside Metcalf and Lockett on the outside perimeter make this unit borderline unstoppable. Smith threw for 30 touchdowns in 2022 and it would not be surprising to see him surpass that number in 2023.
One of the reasons the Seahawks did not breach the Top 3 on this list is that Smith-Njigba played in only 3 games in his final collegiate season. While not every injury is a career-ender, hamstring injuries can be a constant nuisance. If Smith-Njigba ends up not being completely healthy the depth behind those 3 aforementioned receivers is grim with Dee Eskridge leading the pack with only 7 receptions in 2022.
If the Seahawks receivers can stay healthy in 2023 (Lockett missed one game in 2022, Metcalf missed none) this group could climb the charts before 2024.
No. 3 best wide receiver group in the NFL in 2023: Philadelphia Eagles
- AJ Brown
- Devonta Smith
- Quez Watkins
- Olamide Zaccheaus
- Britain Covey
- Tyrie Cleveland
If you think it’s hard to rank the wide receivers in 3rd that played in the Super Bowl last season keep in mind that the Kansas City Chiefs made our list for the worst 5 wide receiving groups in 2023. The Philadelphia Eagles hands down won the AJ Brown/Tennessee Titans trade on draft day in 2021. AJ Brown quickly became a part of the nucleus of the Eagles and made a trip to the Super Bowl in his first season in Philly. Similar to the Dolphins (who we have yet to get to). Devonta Smith was the de-facto #1 receiver in Philadelphia and while he is listed as WR2, the Eagles have two WR1’s on their roster.
Quez Watkins is a decent depth piece and the Eagles also snatched one of the contributing receivers from the Atlanta Falcons in Olamide Zaccheaus. Tyrie Cleveland and Britain Covey are not contributors at this point and the injury bug striking the Eagles is always a concern. However, AJ Brown and Devonta Smith did not miss a single game in 2022. Both receivers posted 1,000-yard seasons and combined for 18 receiving touchdowns (11 for AJ and 7 for Smith).
The Eagles’ offense is so centered around quarterback Jalen Hurts’ ability to destroy defenses with his arm and his legs that this complementary receiving corps is just the icing on the cake. It is hard to find a critique with this unit. Besides some possible depth issues they did not finish in the top 5 in any category as far as receiving units go, besides 2nd in yards per reception (12.5) just behind the Miami Dolphins.
As we climb the list it’s more difficult to separate these elite squads.
No. 2 best wide receiver group in the NFL in 2023: Cincinnati Bengals
- Ja’Marr Chase
- Tee Higgins
- Tyler Boyd
- Charlie Jones
- Andre Iosivas
- Trenton Irwin
The Cincinnati Bengals were crowned the top wide receiver unit in 2022. They fall to the second position in 2023. The Bengals’ wide receiving unit, similar to the top 3 groups that make up this list, is armed with two WR1s which is a luxury only a few teams possess. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both finished the season with over 1,000 receiving yards each and Tyler Boyd came close with a respectable 762 yards with 5 touchdowns.
Already armed with such weapons the Bengals elected to draft another receiver, Purdue’s Charlie Jones in the fourth round. Jones will inevitably go through his rookie aches and pains but should be a contributor down the stretch. The Bengals also took Iosivas in the 6th round for additional depth. These rookies may hear their names called sooner rather than later considering Chase missed 5 games in 2022. Irwin can be effective and overall the Bengals receiver room is not lacking in active participants for Joe Burrow to throw to.
The Bengals, while still making a deep run in the postseason, did not make a return trip to the Super Bowl. They lost to the Chiefs by only three points (the same amount the Bengals beat the Chiefs by in 2022) missing their opportunity.
The Bengals’ lone receiving touchdown went to Higgins and no receivers were able to hit triple digits in receiving yards. The Bengals finished the regular season with an astonishingly low 10.8 yards per completion average placing them 19th in that category. The Bengals also landed 12th in completions over 20 yards with 54, falling just behind the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans surprisingly. Their saving grace was finishing second overall in receiving touchdowns with 35, just behind the Chiefs.
The Bengals wide receiver group as a whole is elite and the difference between the Bengals and the team that came in first on this year’s list is razor-thin. The Bengals could arguably maintain the #1 position two years in a row. When it comes to potential and ceiling vs floor you’ll have to read on and understand why we have a new #1 this season.
No. 1 best wide receiver group in the NFL in 2023: Miami Dolphins
- Tyreek Hill
- Jaylen Waddle
- Cedrick Wilson Jr
- Chosen (Robby) Anderson
- Braxton Berrios
- River Cracraft
Speed. Two WR1s. Depth. The Miami Dolphins have it all. Before quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained multiple concussions the Dolphins offense was an absolute machine. It is no secret that Tyreek Hill is one of the best wide receivers in the league and easily one of the fastest. Jaylen Waddle was a top receiver at the University of Alabama and before Hill arrived on the scene Waddle was the top guy in Miami. Cedrick Wilson Jr was a solid contributor with the Dallas Cowboys prior to joining the Dolphins in 2022. Despite his minimal production thus far in Miami, Wilson Jr can be a threat the team can rely on.
Head coach Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins front office staff also added former Jets receiver Braxton Berrios and if not more importantly, Chosen [Robbie] Anderson. Anderson’s most productive season came in 2020 with his only 1,000-yard season with the Carolina Panthers. Anderson has bounced around and has not found stability at the quarterback position since he entered the league. Anderson could find his place in Miami and return to form at 30 years of age.
The Dolphins have explosive and dynamic firepower in the receiving room, just how McDaniel likes it. Hill can carry a receiving corps on his own but with Waddle, Wilson Jr, Berrios, AND Anderson the sky is the limit for this speedy group. The mere potential of this unit combined with the fact that they led the league in yards per completion (13.0) and completions of 40+ yards, makes them the best in the league.
Their ceiling is limitless and have already proven themselves in 2022 with fewer playmakers. The Dolphins take the top spot in 2023 until proven otherwise. Speed kills.
There you have it, our final list of the 5 best wide receiver groups in the NFL heading into 2023.
1.) Miami Dolphins
2.) Cincinatti Bengals
3.) Philadelphia Eagles
4.) Seattle Seahawks
5.) Los Angeles Chargers
We’ll see you next season!