It feels like the passing game has been down for teams across the NFL to start the 2024 season, but top-flight wide receivers are becoming more and more essential for teams to have sustained success. Early in the 2024 season, there are a number of surprising players emerging as their team's leading receivers in terms of yardage being racked up.
Looking specifically at the wide receiver position, which players are leading their respective teams in yards through the first three weeks of the season? What players could be on their way to special years overall? Keep in mind that only one player from each team is eligible to make this list, even though some teams have more than one receiver who would rank higher than receivers on other teams.
NFL wide receiver receiving yards leaders through Week 3 in 2024
Rank | Player | Team | Receiving Yards |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nico Collins | Houston Texans | 338 |
2 | Rashee Rice | Kansas City Chiefs | 288 |
3 | Jauan Jennings | San Francisco 49ers | 276 |
4 | Justin Jefferson | Minnesota Vikings | 273 |
5 | Malik Nabers | New York Giants | 271 |
6 | DK Metcalf | Seattle Seahawks | 262 |
7 | Chris Godwin | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 253 |
8 | DeVonta Smith | Philadelphia Eagles | 239 |
9 | Alec Pierce | Indianapolis Colts | 225 |
10 | CeeDee Lamb | Dallas Cowboys | 218 |
11 | Ja'Marr Chase | Cincinnati Bengals | 215 |
12 | Davante Adams | Las Vegas Raiders | 209 |
13 | Jameson Williams | Detroit Lions | 209 |
14 | Marvin Harrison Jr. | Arizona Cardinals | 198 |
15 | Jayden Reed | Green Bay Packers | 197 |
16 | Tyreek Hill | Miami Dolphins | 194 |
17 | Brian Thomas Jr. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 189 |
18 | Chris Olave | New Orleans Saints | 178 |
19 | Josh Reynolds | Denver Broncos | 174 |
20 | George Pickens | Pittsburgh Steelers | 171 |
21 | Darnell Mooney | Atlanta Falcons | 169 |
22 | Khalil Shakir | Buffalo Bills | 168 |
23 | DJ Moore | Chicago Bears | 167 |
24 | Diontae Johnson | Carolina Panthers | 156 |
25 | Garrett Wilson | New York Jets | 150 |
26 | Zay Flowers | Baltimore Ravens | 148 |
27 | Cooper Kupp | Los Angeles Rams | 147 |
28 | Terry McLaurin | Washington Commanders | 139 |
29 | Calvin Ridley | Tennessee Titans | 136 |
30 | Quentin Johnston | Los Angeles Chargers | 133 |
31 | Jerry Jeudy | Cleveland Browns | 125 |
32 | Demario Douglas | New England Patriots | 81 |
There are a couple of really interesting names to highlight on this list, but we have to start by acknowledging that even though it's only been three weeks, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings is not only leading his team in receiving yards but he has the 3rd-most receiving yards out of any WR in the NFL so far in this young season. Having 175 yards and a whopping three touchdowns against the Rams last weekend definitely helped, but he had more than 2x the amount of yards by the Patriots' leading wide receiver (Demario Douglas) has all season (81) in just one game.
Nico Collins is currently on pace for around 1,800 receiving yards at over 110 yards per game for the Texans so far this season, and he leads all other receivers right now by a whopping 50 yards.
For the time being, Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams also cracked the list with just two morem yards than Amon-Ra St. Brown, but he has 10 fewer receptions than St. Brown this season. Williams is proving to be the big-play threat the Lions hoped he could be when he was drafted.
Even with the fact that Skylar Thompson played this past weekend, it's still a little surprising to see Tyreek Hill ranked 16th on a list like this. The Dolphins will continue to scheme him touches but without Tua Tagovailoa in the lineup, it could be a bit more laborous for Hill.
It might not last much longer, but it's got to drive Chicago Bears fans a little bit nuts that Darnell Mooney -- now playing for the Atlanta Falcons -- has more receiving yards through three games this season than any of the Bears' star-studded trio of DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, or Keenan Allen.
Heck, Mooney is out-producing Cole Kmet on top of it all. He's been thriving in a new situation.
The same is true for Josh Reynolds, the former Detroit Lions receiver who has emerged as the leading receiver so far this season for the Denver Broncos. He's made some big plays for rookie quarterback Bo Nix already this season.