Atlanta Falcons Roddy White’s Top Five WR Today: is He Right?
Roddy White’s List
#5 DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadephia Eagles
#s Last year: 47 catches for 1056 yards, 22.5 yards per catch, and 6 touchdowns
The thing that jumps out at you immediately is the very high yards per catch. Still despite having one of the most recognized quarterbacks in the game, Jackson had only 6 touchdowns. The things you don’t like about Jackson are that he’s not really going to go across the middle, and he doesn’t block well. He doesn’t run all the routes great either. But boy is he explosive.
#4 Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
#s Last year: 111 catches for 1,355 yards, 12.2 yards per catch and 6 touchdowns.
The only one on White’s list with over a 100 catches. Wayne quietly puts up big numbers every year though he seems to be overshadowed by his own quarterback play. The thing people will always wonder about Wayne is how good would he be if Wayne didn’t play with Peyton Manning.
#3 Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
#s Last Year: 77 catches for 1120 yards, 14.5 yards per reception, 12 touchdowns
Megatron is an all around producer who gets big yards per reception, has a lot of touchdowns, and can also be a possession football wide receiver.
#2 Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
#s Last Year: 90 catches for 1, 137 yards, 12.6 yards per reception and 6 touchdowns
Fitzgerald saw a big drop in quarterback play, but still had 90 catches. While Fitzgerald is generally a touchdown machine, he only had six touchdowns last year. Fitz has earned respect around the league and people recognize how brilliant he is with or without the great quarterback play.
#1 Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans
#s Last year: 86 catches, 1216 yards, 14.1 yards per reception, and 8 touchdowns
Johnson always seems to be battling nagging injuries, but that can’t slow him down. He racks up the catches and touchdowns. Despite being the focal point of the Texans offense (last year they found some balance), he is still able to dominate games.
My take: I like the list a lot. I love the inclusion of Reggie Wayne. I think he’s very underappreciated. He’s a quality player who can run routes, and catch everything. He’s good in the Red-Zone and all over the field. It’s also nice that White is humble enough to not include himself in the list, but he’s dead wrong not to. White is one of the best young players in the N.F.L.
White’s #s last year: 115 catches for 1389 yards at 12.1 yards per catch and 10 touchdowns.
My top Five:
Reggie Wayne
Calvin Johnson
Roddy White
Larry Fitzgerald
Andre Johnson
Soon to be included:
Mike Wallace-he can do many of the same things Desean Jackson can do without the diva and with going over the middle a little more. Wallace also has a bigger body to go over the middle or be a threat in the red-zone.
Hakeem Nicks-Nicks had a bit of the dropsies last year, and has battled nagging injuries in his short career, but boy what an all around player. Nicks can block. He goes over the middle, he takes short passes and takes them long ways, he’s used on reverses (and this is in the Giants unimaginative offense), he can beat defenses over the top. Last year 79 catches for 1052 yards 13.3 yards per catch and 11 touchdowns in 13 games.
Sydney Rice: Is becoming one of the best young WR in the league with his nice combination of speed and size. Predicted poor quarterback play this year from his young quarterbacks could cause a dip in his numbers though.
Could also approach this list in their careers:
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs.Is becoming a touchdown machine. Like Nicks has some inconsistency problems and big time drops.
Steve Johnson Buffalo Bills, A long way to go, but a player who is a former 7th round pick and playing in Buffalo with Ryan Fitzpatrick managed impressive numbers last year.
What are you guys thoughts?
Follow us on twitter @NFLmocks and like us on facebok