Best receiver in the League

In recent weeks there has been much discussion about just who is the best Wide Receiver in the NFL.  Pouring fuel on the flames of this discussion would be the recent contract extensions given out in Dallas and Denver respectively, (did they collude? So what if they did?, maybe it's more probable than not, is that all the proof NFL investigators need these days?)

 

Let's just get one thing out of the way very early on here, the best receiver in the NFL right now is Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions.  Megatron reigns supreme over all the would be kings at this position.  There are several very good receivers, don’t get me wrong, out of that bunch the one currently closest to Megatron for me has to be Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The next tier is where you should find, your Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, AJ Green, and Demaryus Thomas.

 

Most of the time I think NFL players know who the best of the best actually is, the Maverick to their IceMan if you will.  The recent NFL players top 100 poll showed quite clearly that Megatron is still regarded as the best, being the only receiver to make the top 10.  The one player who seems to have a problem with this natural order of things is Dez Bryant.

 

The Cowboy can not keep himself out of the news, be for fights at training camp, contract disputes, or his own outspoken statements comparing himself to Johnson.  Dez, I am sorry but you are not consistent within one game, frequently disappearing from the game plan for chunks at a time.  When the pressure is on, your own QB looks at his tight end not towards you.

 

Johnson on the other hand is model of consistency, racking up 1,000 yard seasons, even when like last year he only saw meaningful action in 8 games.  It was Johnson who broke Jerry Rice’s single season record, no one else has got that close.  Also Johnson has achieved what he has when just about everyone knows the ball is coming to him and still can’t be stopped, even at times by triple coverage.

 

Brown is the youngster emerging from the pack, he has the benefit of having Le;Veon Bell in the backfield to loosen some coverages, but when Big Ben drops back, Brown is the man he is looking for, proven by the streak of games with at least 5 catches, which the Steelers were at pains to continue at times last year.  Brown is leading the charge of the smaller, faster receivers and can expect a big payday soon.

 

But Calvin Johnson is still the class of the field, who else could play 3 or so games as basically a walking distraction and still draw double coverage, as happened in the 2014 season.  They say it is a QB league and a passing league, but to pass the ball the QB needs a target and Megatron provides that better than anyone else.

 

The NFC West is normally regarded as the best division in football, maybe that's true when you add in the defence too, but the 3 best offensive players in the league at the 3 main offensive skill positions all belong in the NFC North. With apologies to Bears fans

 

Best QB.     Aaron Rodgers, Packers

Best RB.     Adrian Peterson, Vikings

Best WR.    Calvin Johnson, Lions

 

Will be a fun division to watch for sure, best Tight End at least is outside of the North, in the AFC East in the shape of Gronk.