How to List the Greatest NFL Wide Receivers of All Time

The NFL wide receiver position demands precise route-running, superior eye-hand coordination to catch the football, and the elusiveness to break big plays after the catch. Besides keying the passing game, elite NFL wide receivers open up running lanes for backs. Instead of crowding the line of scrimmage, opposing defenses must drop linebackers and safeties back into coverage for fear of giving up a long touchdown. Despite the attention, a top playmaker can still score from anywhere on the field. Of course, any NFL all-time great wide receiver list must begin with Jerry Rice.

Instructions

  1. Criteria for Greatest NFL Wide Receivers of All-Time

    • 1

      List references for NFL statistics and commentary. Ideal sources include NFL.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Also, ESPN and the NFL Network regularly document the greatest NFL wide receiver of all time with video highlights.

    • 2

      Define criteria for all-time great NFL wide receivers. For receivers, important statistics include receptions, receiving yards, yards per catch and touchdowns. A Super Bowl MVP award and Hall of Fame bust at Canton, Ohio, can also confirm a receiver's status as a clutch time performer.

    • 3

      Sort all-time NFL statistics according to receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Pro-football-reference.com also allows you to organize receiving data according to single-season records. Receivers atop the record books include Andre Reed, Don Hutson, Randy Moss, Cris Carter and the Jerry Rice.

    • 4

      Identify Jerry Rice as the greatest wide receiver of all time. As of 2010, Jerry Rice owns every significant record at the wide receiver position. Rice completed his 20-year NFL career with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 receiving yards, and 208 total touchdowns --- all NFL records. Jerry Rice is also a three-time Super Bowl champion and first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee.

    • 5

      Match other lead wide receiver candidates with their teams' style of play, in order to account for statistical anomalies. Torry Holt and Marvin Harrison are examples of two wide receivers that put up big numbers in 2000's pass-first offenses --- with Kurt Warner and Peyton Manning at quarterback, respectively. Alternatively, Lynn Swann and Don Hutson's receiving totals are limited by the relatively basic passing schemes of earlier eras.

    List the Greatest NFL Wide Receivers of All-Time

    • 6

      Brainstorm a list of 25 all-time great wide receivers that have put together impressive statistical campaigns or have played prominent roles on championship teams. Additional names to consider include James Lofton, Terrell Owens, Don Maynard, Steve Largent, Tim Brown and Michael Irvin.

    • 7

      Watch NFL Network and YouTube highlights to gauge a wide receiver's pure skill level. Take special note of a receiver's ability to get open and gain yards after the catch. The greatest wide receivers of all time usually enter the NFL as big-play speedsters, before transitioning into possession receivers that work soft zone coverage to move the chains.

    • 8

      Make your list of the top-10 greatest NFL wide receivers of all-time beginning with Jerry Rice. After Rice, your list might read: 2) Don Hutson, 3) Randy Moss, 4) Michael Irvin 5) Tim Brown 6) Terrell Owens 7) Steve Largent 8) Cris Carter 9) Marvin Harrison, and 10) Andre Reed.