The 5 Best Wide Receivers in NFL History

Wide receivers have shaped NFL offenses with their speed, precision, and ability to change games in a single play. Ranking the best wide receivers of all time involves evaluating yardage, touchdowns, consistency, championships, and influence on the position. 

With everything taken into consideration, here are the top 5 NFL wide receivers that have ever played.

1. Jerry Rice

• Career: 1985 to 2004 (49ers, Raiders, Seahawks)
• Career Stats: 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards, 197 touchdowns
• Accolades: 3× Super Bowl Champion, 2× Offensive Player of the Year, 10× First-Team All-Pro

Jerry Rice is the undisputed GOAT of wide receivers. He holds nearly every significant record at the position, including receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. That is saying something given the NFL’s evolution into a pass-happy league, too.

Rice led the league in receiving yards six times and touchdowns six times. His dominance extended into the postseason, with 22 receiving touchdowns and over 2,200 playoff yards. 

While Rice set a standard of excellence that has yet to be matched from a statistical perspective, he was also an elite performer when it mattered most. His eye-popping numbers led to three Lombardi Trophies, while he displayed absurd longevity by still producing into his 40s and reaching the Super Bowl with the Raiders despite being well past his prime.

2. Randy Moss

• Career: 1998 to 2012 (Vikings, Raiders, Patriots, 49ers)
• Career Stats: 982 receptions, 15,292 yards, 156 touchdowns
• Accolades: Offensive Rookie of the Year, 4× First-Team All-Pro, Hall of Fame inductee

Randy Moss was the ultimate deep threat. If these NFL wide receiver rankings were focus only on sheer physical ability and dominance, he’d safely be the #1 pick.

His combination of size, speed, leaping, and ball-tracking ability made him nearly impossible to cover. Moss set the single-season touchdown record in 2007 with 23 scores from Tom Brady. He ranks second all-time in touchdown receptions and remains one of the most feared playmakers in NFL history.

Moss was known for his off-field antics and questionable character throughout his career, while he never parlayed his gaudy numbers and physical talent into championship hardware. However, Moss was an impossible matchup for opposing defenses and viewed by many as the only true challenger to Jerry Rice’s wide receiver throne.

3. Terrell Owens

• Career: 1996 to 2010 (49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bills, Bengals)
• Career Stats: 1,078 receptions, 15,934 yards, 153 touchdowns
• Accolades: 5× First-Team All-Pro, 6× Pro Bowler, Hall of Fame inductee

Terrell Owens paired physical dominance with relentless production. In terms of sheer athletic ability, the man known as T.O. is arguably the only real threat to Moss at #2 overall on this list.

He ranks third all-time in both receiving yards and touchdowns. Known for his big-game performances, Owens played through injury in Super Bowl XXXIX and still posted 122 yards. His size, strength, and competitiveness made him one of the most complete receivers of his era.

Owens is another diva-type wideout that got blasted throughout his career for questionable decision-making, but he put up huge numbers no matter where he went.

4. Larry Fitzgerald

• Career: 2004 to 2020 (Cardinals)
• Career Stats: 1,432 receptions, 17,492 yards, 121 touchdowns
• Accolades: 11× Pro Bowler, Walter Payton Man of the Year (2016)

Larry Fitzgerald was the definition of consistency. He ranks second all-time in receptions and receiving yards due to impeccable work ethic and excellent route-running. 

Fitzgerald also has one of the greatest postseason resumes, highlighted by 546 yards and seven touchdowns in the 2008 playoffs, nearly leading Arizona to a championship. His reliable hands and precise route running made him a cornerstone of the Cardinals franchise for nearly two decades.

Few people will think of Fitzgerald’s playoff accomplishments, but being a key factor in the Cardinals nearly winning a Super Bowl holds more weight than WRs on more storied franchises.

While he never found a way to bring the Lombardi Trophy to the desert, Fitzgerald put up crazy numbers and remained effective later in his career.

5. Calvin Johnson

• Career: 2007 to 2015 (Lions)
• Career Stats: 731 receptions, 11,619 yards, 83 touchdowns
• Accolades: 3× First-Team All-Pro, NFL single-season receiving yards record holder (1,964 in 2012)

Calvin “Megatron” Johnson combined rare size and speed to dominate defenses. A weekly mismatch, Johnson was the type of receiver you couldn’t hope to actually stop – you prayed you could contain him.

Despite a relatively short career, he set records that still stand, including the most receiving yards in a single season. Johnson had five seasons with at least 1,400 yards and consistently drew double and triple coverage while still producing at an elite level.

Johnson had the tall order of trying to find playoff success with a weak Detroit Lions team, and unsurprisingly failed to deliver. In terms of talent and productivity, however, he’s without a doubt one of the greatest NFL wide receivers of all-time.

Honorable Mentions

• Cris Carter – 130 career touchdowns, renowned for his hands
• Marvin Harrison – 1,102 receptions and a key piece of Peyton Manning’s Colts
• Steve Largent – Early standard-bearer for consistent excellence
• Michael Irvin – Key playmaker for the Cowboys dynasty

There have been a lot of good NFL wide receivers through the years, but few are quite as legendary as the likes of Cris Carter. Carter was known for his crisp route-running and reliable hands, which allowed him to post two seasons of 120+ receptions.

Marvin Harrison was even more productive than Carter, and he was also known for his blazing speed. He put it to good use with Peyton Manning, finishing just behind Carter in touchdown catches (128) and doing something CC never did – win a Super Bowl.

Steve Largent certainly won’t be confused with title-winning wide receivers, but he was someone who set the standard for greatness. Despite playing for middling Seahawks teams, he posted eight seasons of 1,000+ yards and ended his career with 100 touchdowns.

Lastly, there’s Michael Irvin, who didn’t always have the volume of some of the other top wide receivers in the NFL, but was an explosive big play threat that helped Dallas collect three Super Bowl wins.

Defining Wide Receiver Greatness

The best wide receivers of all time combine production, explosiveness, and the ability to elevate their teams in critical moments. Jerry Rice stands alone statistically, and when you factor everything that goes into being one of the best NFL wide receivers, he remains the easy pick for the top spot.

That said, Rice isn’t lacking competition. Randy Moss brought unprecedented deep-threat ability, Owens showcased physical dominance, Fitzgerald embodied consistency, and Johnson redefined athletic ceilings. Together, they illustrate the evolution of the wide receiver position across generations.