The next few days are shaping up to be thrilling with Super Bowl LX just around the corner, pitting the AFC champion New England Patriots against the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks. With the 2025 NFL season officially ending on Sunday, there’s still time to look back on the year and consider what to expect in 2026—especially at wide receiver, a position deeper than ever thanks to rule changes favoring the pass and the emphasis on receivers at every level.
Below are the top 15 NFL wide receivers right now, plus five honorable mentions. These rankings weigh 2025 production, recent track records and projected output moving forward.
Honorable mentions: DeVonta Smith (Philadelphia Eagles), Garrett Wilson (New York Jets), Teal’oa McMillan (Carolina Panthers), Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens), Jameson Williams (Detroit Lions).
15. Drake London — Age 24
London has shown substantial growth recently. Since 2024 he’s totaled 16 touchdown catches—tied for fifth in the league over that span—and has become a reliable red-zone target, with 13 of those scores coming inside the 20. Under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, and depending on quarterback play (Michael Penix Jr. or another option), London could take another step forward.
14. Jaylen Waddle — Age 27
Waddle began his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons and led the league in yards per catch in 2022, but his numbers slipped as his quarterback’s health and play declined. With a healthier and steadier signal-caller in 2026, Waddle is capable of returning to the explosive form that made him an elite perimeter threat.
13. Tee Higgins — Age 27
Higgins has been a consistent scorer—since 2024 only Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Davante Adams have more receiving TDs than his 21. He posted a career-high 11 TDs in 2025 and remains a high-end complementary receiver despite sharing targets with another star.
12. A.J. Brown — Age 28
Brown continues to pile up yards and is on pace to climb Philadelphia’s all-time receiving list. In 2025 he recorded 78 catches for 1,003 yards and seven TDs. Some of his ceiling that year was limited by a team-wide regression in efficiency and quarterback inconsistencies; with more stability under center, Brown could climb this list.
11. Chris Olave — Age 22
After battling concussion issues earlier in his career, Olave stayed healthy for 16 games in 2025 and thrived under new offensive leadership, finishing among the NFL leaders in catches, receiving yards and first downs and earning All-Pro Second Team honors. He already joins Michael Thomas as one of the few Saints to post a 100-catch season, and another similar year would push him into the top 10.
10. Malik Nabers — Age 22
Nabers played only four games in 2025 before a torn ACL ended his season, but his early-career production has been historic—127 career catches through his first 19 games ranked second all-time to Odell Beckham Jr. He averaged 18.6 yards per reception in 2025 and showed explosive playmaking ability; once healthy, Nabers projects as a long-term difference-maker.
9. Davante Adams — Age 33
Adams remains a perennial playmaker. He led the league with 14 receiving TDs in his first year with the Rams despite missing games late in the season, and his career totals place him among the all-time leaders in touchdown catches. While he may not get off the line the way he did in his peak with Green Bay, he’s still one of the most reliable and productive receivers in the league.
8. George Pickens — Age 24
Pickens made an immediate impact after moving teams, finishing 2025 with elite production: among the league leaders in receiving yards (1,429), yards per catch (15.4), catches (93) and nine touchdowns. If he can replicate those numbers, he’s on track to move into the top five.
7. Nico Collins — Age 26
Collins has become one of the most productive receivers in Texans history, posting three straight 1,000-yard seasons to match franchise greats. He’s a trusted target for CJ Stroud and a central piece of Houston’s offense.
6. CeeDee Lamb — Age 26
Lamb remains Dak Prescott’s go-to weapon and reached his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2025 despite missing multiple games. His versatility—effective both outside and in the slot—keeps him consistently among the league’s best receivers.
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown — Age 26
St. Brown delivered a remarkable 2025 with 117 catches for 1,401 yards and 11 TDs, marking his third straight season with 110+ catches and 10+ TDs—an unprecedented run. He also holds the most catches in NFL history through a player’s first five seasons, proving his reliability and volume ceiling.
4. Justin Jefferson — Age 26
Jefferson had a down year by his standards in 2025, posting career lows in receiving yards and TDs, but much of that was tied to poor quarterback play. Even so, he’s one of a select few to begin a career with six straight 1,000-yard seasons and remains an elite route-runner and big-play threat.
3. Jackson Smith-Njigba — Age 23
Smith-Njigba exploded in 2025 with a breakout campaign under new Seahawks QB Sam Darnold and OC Clint Kubiak, leading the league with 1,793 receiving yards and averaging 14.5 yards per touch. He displayed variety—producing across many route types—and led the NFL in deep receiving yards, proving he can do everything at a high level.
2. Puka Nacua — Age 24
Nacua led the NFL in catches (129) and receiving yards per game (107.2) in 2025. He’s equally dangerous over the middle and down the sideline, and his career receiving yards-per-game mark is already among the best in league history. In Sean McVay’s offense he’s poised to keep setting records.
1. Ja’Marr Chase — Age 25
Chase remains the top wide receiver in the NFL. He completed the receiving triple crown in 2024 and continued to produce elite numbers in 2025—125 catches and 1,412 yards—earning another First-Team All-Pro recognition. With back-to-back 125-catch seasons under his belt and a consistent high-level output, Chase enters 2026 as the clear No. 1 at the position.
Fan take: This wide receiver depth chart highlights how central the passing game has become to modern NFL offenses—top-tier targets now define team ceilings and playoff hopes. As teams continue to prioritize dynamic pass catchers, fans should expect even more aerial fireworks and record-chasing seasons in 2026.
