Summary
In the modern NFL, wide receivers are known for being extremely athletic and oftentimes the most exciting players on the field. Each year, we witness players complete remarkable catches in traffic or one-handed grabs that have us thinking how it was even possible.
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The talent pool at the wide receiver position is very deep, and the top players featured inMadden 24all have ratings of 91 or higher. These are extremely gifted athletes and have the capabilities to completely take over a game offensively and be any defender’s worst nightmare. We analyze who the best pass-catchers are in the league and how their game translates to Madden 24.
10Amari Cooper - 91
After finding some success with the Dallas Cowboys for three seasons, Amari Cooper was traded to the Cleveland Browns before the 2022 season. Despite heading to a lesser offensive group in the Browns compared to the Cowboys, Cooper displayed his true value as a number-one wide receiver by collecting 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns.
If there’s one thing you’re able to count on with Cooper, it’s his availability. Throughout his eight-year career, the 29-year-old has only missed two games in a given season. He’s tied with the highest toughness rating (97) among wide receivers and is effective on short routes (91), medium routes (91), and deep routes (93).
9A.J. Brown - 91
Following the 2021 season, the Tennessee Titans made a surprising trade and sent A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles. Now in the City of Brotherly Love, Brown had the best season of his career and gained a career-high 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns. Brown’s first season with the Eagles ended with a trip to the Super Bowl but Philadelphia lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Being strong at the wide receiver position is an underrated attribute but one that Brown uses to his advantage. He has the highest strength rating (79) which impacts his ability to break tackles (89) and stiff arm (87) defenders to gain extra yards. The Eagles wide receiver is best deployed in short route formations (92) as opposed to deep passing attempts (84).
8Terry McLaurin - 92
Also known as Scary Terry, Terry McLaurin has only missed a handful of games in his four-year career with the Washington Commanders. Besides his rookie season, McLaurin has collected over 1,000 yards every year but doesn’t find the endzone as much as you’d like for a top wide receiver. His seven touchdowns in his rookie season remain his career-high after scoring five times in the last two years.
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McLaurin is the only receiver featured that does not have the highest rating in a category, but he’s an overall impactful player. He has the third-highest release rating (96) which helps him break off the line of scrimmage and into his route faster than most other players. If McLaurin gets out into the open field, his blistering speed (94) will leave defenders in the dust.
7DeAndre Hopkins - 93
For seven years, DeAndre Hopkins was a force to reckon with on the Houston Texans and was often mentioned as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. But the team elected for a full rebuild and the wide receiver was traded to the Arizona Cardinals. Unfortunately, the championship dream in the desert ended poorly, and he joined the Tennessee Titans in the 2022 offseason.
Hopkins is returning from a torn MCL injury that knocked him out of the 2022 season. While it remains to be seen if he can reach that elite level again, Hopkins still has some of the best hands in the league (96) attributed to his perfect rating in spectacular catch (99) and near-perfect rating in catching in traffic (98).
6Ja’Marr Chase - 94
Getting drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals and reuniting with college teammate Joe Burrow might’ve been the best thing that could’ve happened for Ja’Marr Chase’s professional career. Chase erupted during his rookie campaign, collecting 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl appearance. He followed that up with another 1,000-yard season, despite missing five games.
Chase has already established himself as one of the best deep (92) threats in the league, and it’s partially thanks to his jumping (98) ability. It doesn’t matter who’s guarding Chase, odds are the Bengals receiver will outleap his opponent to snag the pass (94). Chase and Burrow have the potential to be one of the greatest offensive duos in NFL history.
5Stefon Diggs - 96
For the first five years of his career, Stefon Diggs electrified the coldness of Minnesota and grew into a top receiver for the Vikings. Following his best season in 2019, Diggs was traded to the Buffalo Bills where he instantly connected with Madden 24 cover athlete Josh Allen.
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In his first season with the Bills, Diggs led the league in receptions (127) and yards (1,535). Diggs is extremely skilled in his route-running, regardless if it’s short (95), medium (95), or deep (96). He’s also one of three wide receivers featured to return kicks (85) on special teams.
4Cooper Kupp - 96
In 2021, Cooper Kupp had one of the best statistical seasons as a wide receiver in NFL history. The Los Angeles Rams playmaker amassed a whopping 1,947 yards receiving, 145 receptions, and 16 touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl victory. Kupp suffered an ankle injury that derailed his 2022 season but hopes to return to his near-MVP form.
When analyzing Kupp’s career as a whole, he hasn’t dominated games like other top-rated wide receivers until Matthew Stafford came to town in 2021. However, Kupp holds the highest catch rating (99) of any wide receiver and is nearly unstoppable on short (99) and medium (98) routes. As long as Stafford and Kupp remain healthy, the 30-year-old should experience a season similar to his 2021 campaign.
3Davante Adams - 97
The connection between Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers was unmatched in the NFL, as the duo became one of the most dominant aerial threats in the league. However, that tandem came to an end last season when Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders to team up with his former college quarterback Derrek Carr.
Although Adams led the league in touchdowns (14) and gained 1,516 receiving yards, he didn’t experience the same team success on the Raiders compared to the Green Bay Packers. But if we focus on just Adams, he remains one of the best receivers in the game. He has a perfect release rating (99) that allows him to get into his routes faster. An underrated part of Adams’s game is his ability to stay healthy (97); in his career, Adams has not missed more than four games in a season.
2Tyreek Hill - 98
Since his rookie season in 2016, Tyreek Hill has annihilated opposing defenses. Nicknamed the Cheetah for good reason, Hill possesses scorching speed (99), acceleration (99), and agility (98). In a surprising move, the Kansas City Chiefs traded Hill to the Miami Dolphins in 2022 but the wide receiver still managed to have an incredible season with the various quarterbacks the Dolphins deployed.
Hill has the highest carry rating (79) among wide receivers, which means he’s the least likely of this group to fumble the ball. Because of his incredible speed, Hill also operates as a return man on special teams (92). When in the open field, the 29-year-old possesses amazing juke skills (98) and can change direction (99) on a dime. Hill is one of the most talented athletes, let alone wide receivers, in the game.
1Justin Jefferson - 99
Leading the wide receiver group is Minnesota Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson. In just his fourth NFL season, Jefferson has achieved a perfect overall rating in Madden 24, as he led the league in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) last season.
While Jefferson isn’t as fast as Tyreek Hill or as strong as A.J. Brown, the 24-year-old utilizes a multitude of skills at a high level to reach superstar levels. He’s gained at least 1,400 yards in each season of his career and continues to improve his game every year. Whether it’s short routes (98), medium routes (97), or deep routes (97), Jefferson is going to win the battle against the defender. Based on his early career, Jefferson could finish his career as one of the greatest wide receivers ever, but for now, he can take solace in knowing that he’s the best in Madden 24.
