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11 hours ago
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Best NFL receiving corps 2025: Ranking the 10 best NFL receiving corps right now
Who has the best receiving corps in the NFL? The National Football League showed signs last season of emphasizing the run game more, but this is still an era dominated by passing. While quarterbacks get the majority of the spotlight, some of the best NFL receiving corps stir the proverbial drink for their offenses. Let's dive into our list of the best NFL receiving corps right now. Of note, we're collectively focusing on wide receivers and tight ends for this list. 1. Cincinnati Bengals Credit: Sam Greene / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Cincinnati Bengals' receiving corps is almost entirely carried by Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. While they lack the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' receiver depth and don't have a tight end like the Philadelphia Eagles' Dallas Goedert, Cincinnati has two true No. 1 wide receivers who defenses have to fear. The duo combined for 20 games with either 80-plus receiving yards or a touchdown last season, and they now rank among the highest-paid NFL players at receiver. It's also worth acknowledging that tight end Mike Gesicki (665 receiving yards) had a bounce-back season, and the Bengals' offense was one of the best in the NFL using 2-TE sets. Advertisement Read More: NFL defense rankings 2025, evaluating all 32 defenses 2. Philadelphia Eagles Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Eagles came through in the postseason, combining for 407 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl. A.J. Brown (4 games missed), DeVonta Smith (4 games missed), and Dallas Goedert (7 games missed) all missed significant time in 2025, but Smith and Brown still combined for 1,912 yards in 13 regular-season games. While Goedert might be due for some age regression entering his age-30 season, Brown and Smith are in their prime. If they can stay healthy this year, Philadelphia can have a more consistent and explosive passing game than it did a year ago. Advertisement Related: Best NFL corners 2025, ranking the best NFL cornerbacks right now 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the best NFL receiving corps, even with Chris Godwin returning from a dislocated ankle. He's currently on track to play in Week 1, but it might be a little longer before he returns to what we saw pre-injury. He averaged 82.3 receiving yards per game from Weeks 1-7, nearly the same pace as A.J. Brown (83.0). With Godwin producing at an elite level out of the slot, wide receiver Mike Evans will have a clear path to breaking the NFL record for consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards (12). Behind the duo, 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka's skill set is very similar to Godwin's and Tampa Bay has Jalen McIllan (8 touchdowns, 461 yards as a rookie) as its fourth wideout. Even tight end Cade Otton, coming off a career-best season, is a nice complementary weapon for Baker Mayfield. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL running backs 2025, ranking 10 best running backs in NFL 4. Minnesota Vikings Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Having Justin Jefferson certainly elevates the Minnesota Vikings among the best receiving corps in the NFL. The No. 1 wide receiver is on a Hall of Fame pace, but he's not single-handedly carrying this group. In just 32 career games, Jordan Addison has nearly 1,800 receiving yards with 20 total touchdowns. Behind this tremendous receiver tandem, Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson has averaged 55.3 receiving yards per game since being traded to Minnesota. The trio alone is a phenomenal supporting cast for J.J. McCarthy, but there's also an added boost from having Jalen Nailor as the No. 3 receiver, with gadget weapon Rondale Moore now added to Kevin O'Connell's offense. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL quarterbacks 2025, ranking 10 best NFL QBs right now 5. Detroit Lions Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images The Detroit Lions have the All-Pro offensive weapon in Amon-Ra St. Brown, who might be one of the most quarterback-friendly receivers in football. What elevated this unit in 2024 was the breakout season from Jameson Williams, 1,001 receiving yards, 17.3 yards per reception, and 8 total touchdowns, who finally played up to his potential. St. Brown and Williams complement one another perfectly, and tight end Sam LaPorta elevates this receiving corps as a chain mover and red-zone threat. We also love Tim Patrick as Detroit's No. 3 wideout, and there's long-term upside with rookie Isaac TeSlaa. When you have an All-Pro, depth, and a Pro Bowl tight end, your receiving corps is nearly unstoppable. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL wide receivers 2025, ranking 10 best NFL receivers right now 6. Los Angeles Rams Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Rams upgraded at wide receiver this offseason with the switch from Cooper Kupp to Davante Adams. For as great a rapport as Kupp had with Matthew Stafford, Adams is far and away the better receiving threat at this stage of their careers. Adams will also stand to benefit from the presence of Puka Nacua, who has averaged 1,238 receiving yards per season and 88.4 receiving yards per game since entering the league. Los Angeles doesn't have much dependable receiving depth behind Adams and Nacua, but the tight end tandem of Tyler Higbee and Terrance Ferguson makes up for it in Sean McVay's offense. Advertisement Read More: NFL power rankings 2025, evaluating all 32 teams 7. Miami Dolphins Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Miami Dolphins' tandem of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle saw a steep drop in their production last season, totaling 1,703 receiving yards with 8 touchdowns on 206 targets. That pales in comparison to their 2,813 yards and 17 touchdowns on 275 targets in 2023. Health was an issue, but the Dolphins' offensive line and a concussed Tua Tagovailoa also played a part. The Dolphins' offense reportedly plans to get the football out even quicker in 2025 (Cameron Wolfe), but that worked out poorly a season ago. The plan would be even more suspect if tight end Jonnu Smith is traded. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL coaches 2025 8. Dallas Cowboys Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys certainly wouldn't have ranked among the best NFL receiving corps right now if not for the George Pickens trade. CeeDee Lamb is a perennial All-Pro who had the fifth-most yards after catch (537) in the NFL last season, even with injuries. Now, Dallas has a high-end No. 2 receiver in Pickens who can stretch the field and make catches along the sideline. While he comes with volatility, there's some added incentive to avoid issues in a contract year. Pickens' presence also pushes everyone down in the order for targets, making tight end Jake Ferguson a high-end No. 3 pass-catching option while Kavontae Turpin adds a home-run threat for Dak Prescott. Advertisement Also Read: Best NFL pass rushers 2025, ranking 10 best edge rushers 9. Kansas City Chiefs Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Kansas City Chiefs' placement on this list is heavily dependent on the availability of Rashee Rice. Since the second half of his rookie season, Rice has led the NFL in yards after catch. When he was healthy in 2024, he had one of the highest yards per route run (3.39) in the NFL. He fits perfectly in the Chiefs' offense, with his presence allowing Xavier Worthy to be a far more effective deep threat. Those two alone put Kansas City in a very good place, with a healthy Hollywood Brown adding another element to this passing game. Pair all that with Travis Kelce's rapport with Patrick Mahomes and you have a passing game with a top-six ceiling this fall. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL general managers 2025 10. Green Bay Packers Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images The Green Bay Packers don't have an 'alpha' No. 1 receiver, which often keeps them from being mentioned among the 10 best receiving corps in the NFL. With that said, there's a compelling case to be made that Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed are both quality No. 2 receivers. Reed offers the explosive YAC ability, while Doubs has proven himself as a trusted target for Jordan Love. While Christian Watson (ACL) is going to be sidelined, first-round pick Matthew Golden can be that field stretcher and a lot more. On top of that, there's still a lot of upside with Dontayvion Wicks with rookie wideout Savion Williams having some Cordarrelle Patterson to his game. When you round out a deep receiving corps with the tight end tandem of Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, that collective helps make this a top-10 receiving corps. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL tight ends 2025, ranking 10 best NFL tight ends right now Related Headlines
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Best NFL receiving corps 2025: Ranking the 10 best NFL receiving corps right now
Who has the best receiving corps in the NFL? The National Football League showed signs last season of emphasizing the run game more, but this is still an era dominated by passing. While quarterbacks get the majority of the spotlight, some of the best NFL receiving corps stir the proverbial drink for their offenses. Let's dive into our list of the best NFL receiving corps right now. Of note, we're collectively focusing on wide receivers and tight ends for this list. 1. Cincinnati Bengals Credit: Sam Greene / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Cincinnati Bengals' receiving corps is almost entirely carried by Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. While they lack the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' receiver depth and don't have a tight end like the Philadelphia Eagles' Dallas Goedert, Cincinnati has two true No. 1 wide receivers who defenses have to fear. The duo combined for 20 games with either 80-plus receiving yards or a touchdown last season, and they now rank among the highest-paid NFL players at receiver. It's also worth acknowledging that tight end Mike Gesicki (665 receiving yards) had a bounce-back season, and the Bengals' offense was one of the best in the NFL using 2-TE sets. Advertisement Read More: NFL defense rankings 2025, evaluating all 32 defenses 2. Philadelphia Eagles Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Eagles came through in the postseason, combining for 407 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl. A.J. Brown (4 games missed), DeVonta Smith (4 games missed), and Dallas Goedert (7 games missed) all missed significant time in 2025, but Smith and Brown still combined for 1,912 yards in 13 regular-season games. While Goedert might be due for some age regression entering his age-30 season, Brown and Smith are in their prime. If they can stay healthy this year, Philadelphia can have a more consistent and explosive passing game than it did a year ago. Advertisement Related: Best NFL corners 2025, ranking the best NFL cornerbacks right now 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the best NFL receiving corps, even with Chris Godwin returning from a dislocated ankle. He's currently on track to play in Week 1, but it might be a little longer before he returns to what we saw pre-injury. He averaged 82.3 receiving yards per game from Weeks 1-7, nearly the same pace as A.J. Brown (83.0). With Godwin producing at an elite level out of the slot, wide receiver Mike Evans will have a clear path to breaking the NFL record for consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards (12). Behind the duo, 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka's skill set is very similar to Godwin's and Tampa Bay has Jalen McIllan (8 touchdowns, 461 yards as a rookie) as its fourth wideout. Even tight end Cade Otton, coming off a career-best season, is a nice complementary weapon for Baker Mayfield. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL running backs 2025, ranking 10 best running backs in NFL 4. Minnesota Vikings Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Having Justin Jefferson certainly elevates the Minnesota Vikings among the best receiving corps in the NFL. The No. 1 wide receiver is on a Hall of Fame pace, but he's not single-handedly carrying this group. In just 32 career games, Jordan Addison has nearly 1,800 receiving yards with 20 total touchdowns. Behind this tremendous receiver tandem, Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson has averaged 55.3 receiving yards per game since being traded to Minnesota. The trio alone is a phenomenal supporting cast for J.J. McCarthy, but there's also an added boost from having Jalen Nailor as the No. 3 receiver, with gadget weapon Rondale Moore now added to Kevin O'Connell's offense. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL quarterbacks 2025, ranking 10 best NFL QBs right now 5. Detroit Lions Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images The Detroit Lions have the All-Pro offensive weapon in Amon-Ra St. Brown, who might be one of the most quarterback-friendly receivers in football. What elevated this unit in 2024 was the breakout season from Jameson Williams, 1,001 receiving yards, 17.3 yards per reception, and 8 total touchdowns, who finally played up to his potential. St. Brown and Williams complement one another perfectly, and tight end Sam LaPorta elevates this receiving corps as a chain mover and red-zone threat. We also love Tim Patrick as Detroit's No. 3 wideout, and there's long-term upside with rookie Isaac TeSlaa. When you have an All-Pro, depth, and a Pro Bowl tight end, your receiving corps is nearly unstoppable. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL wide receivers 2025, ranking 10 best NFL receivers right now 6. Los Angeles Rams Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Rams upgraded at wide receiver this offseason with the switch from Cooper Kupp to Davante Adams. For as great a rapport as Kupp had with Matthew Stafford, Adams is far and away the better receiving threat at this stage of their careers. Adams will also stand to benefit from the presence of Puka Nacua, who has averaged 1,238 receiving yards per season and 88.4 receiving yards per game since entering the league. Los Angeles doesn't have much dependable receiving depth behind Adams and Nacua, but the tight end tandem of Tyler Higbee and Terrance Ferguson makes up for it in Sean McVay's offense. Advertisement Read More: NFL power rankings 2025, evaluating all 32 teams 7. Miami Dolphins Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Miami Dolphins' tandem of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle saw a steep drop in their production last season, totaling 1,703 receiving yards with 8 touchdowns on 206 targets. That pales in comparison to their 2,813 yards and 17 touchdowns on 275 targets in 2023. Health was an issue, but the Dolphins' offensive line and a concussed Tua Tagovailoa also played a part. The Dolphins' offense reportedly plans to get the football out even quicker in 2025 (Cameron Wolfe), but that worked out poorly a season ago. The plan would be even more suspect if tight end Jonnu Smith is traded. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL coaches 2025 8. Dallas Cowboys Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys certainly wouldn't have ranked among the best NFL receiving corps right now if not for the George Pickens trade. CeeDee Lamb is a perennial All-Pro who had the fifth-most yards after catch (537) in the NFL last season, even with injuries. Now, Dallas has a high-end No. 2 receiver in Pickens who can stretch the field and make catches along the sideline. While he comes with volatility, there's some added incentive to avoid issues in a contract year. Pickens' presence also pushes everyone down in the order for targets, making tight end Jake Ferguson a high-end No. 3 pass-catching option while Kavontae Turpin adds a home-run threat for Dak Prescott. Advertisement Also Read: Best NFL pass rushers 2025, ranking 10 best edge rushers 9. Kansas City Chiefs Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Kansas City Chiefs' placement on this list is heavily dependent on the availability of Rashee Rice. Since the second half of his rookie season, Rice has led the NFL in yards after catch. When he was healthy in 2024, he had one of the highest yards per route run (3.39) in the NFL. He fits perfectly in the Chiefs' offense, with his presence allowing Xavier Worthy to be a far more effective deep threat. Those two alone put Kansas City in a very good place, with a healthy Hollywood Brown adding another element to this passing game. Pair all that with Travis Kelce's rapport with Patrick Mahomes and you have a passing game with a top-six ceiling this fall. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL general managers 2025 10. Green Bay Packers Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images The Green Bay Packers don't have an 'alpha' No. 1 receiver, which often keeps them from being mentioned among the 10 best receiving corps in the NFL. With that said, there's a compelling case to be made that Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed are both quality No. 2 receivers. Reed offers the explosive YAC ability, while Doubs has proven himself as a trusted target for Jordan Love. While Christian Watson (ACL) is going to be sidelined, first-round pick Matthew Golden can be that field stretcher and a lot more. On top of that, there's still a lot of upside with Dontayvion Wicks with rookie wideout Savion Williams having some Cordarrelle Patterson to his game. When you round out a deep receiving corps with the tight end tandem of Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, that collective helps make this a top-10 receiving corps. Advertisement Read More: Best NFL tight ends 2025, ranking 10 best NFL tight ends right now Related Headlines