The receiver position is unique in that players with vastly different skill sets can thrive, as there is no one way to become a top-flight threat on the perimeter. This notion is also evident when looking at the best to play the position, as they all got the job done in different ways and had aspects of their game that set them apart from their peers.The NFL has become a passing league, and many of the league's best pass-catchers will be (and already have been) passed up on the all-time lists, but their overall impact on the game goes far beyond statistics. They were the top options in their team's passing game for several years and would be valuable contributors in any era.
10 Torry Holt
Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, members of the famous Rams Greatest Show on Turf offense, are one of the best pass-catching duos in league history. However, there is only room for one pass catcher on this list, and we gave the edge to Holt, who was arguably the better player despite not having as good of a career (Hall of Fame voters, you may voice your displeasure with this take in the comment section below).
The consistency of the seven-time Pro Bowler was unmatched, as he set an NFL record of six consecutive seasons with over 1,300 yards, including multiple seasons where he led the league with over 1,600 yards. His combination of speed and route running ability was equally rare, and he made defenses defend every blade of grass (or turf) on the field. He had over 13,000 yards in only 11 seasons and would have even more prolific statistics in today's game.​​​​​​
9 Michael Irvin
Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, and Troy Aikman, often referred to as 'The Triplets', were the most valuable members of a Cowboys dynasty that won three Super Bowls in the early-90s. Irvin, who was slowed by injuries his first few years in the NFL, established himself as one of the league's most dominant pass-catchers in his fourth season, when he had over 1,500 yards through the air.
The breakout season was a sign of things to come for Irvin, as it began a run of five straight years with over 1,200 yards for the three-time Super Bowl champion. Number 88 often gets overlooked in the debate of the best receivers of all time (anti-Cowboys bias probably plays a role here). However, he certainly deserves the recognition, as it is impossible to ignore his impact on the Cowboys' championship-winning teams.
8 Steve Largent
Steve Largent was a little-known Houston Oilers fourth-round selection who was too small and too slow to find success in the NFL. However, he quickly proved his doubters wrong and became a star with the Seahawks, who dealt an eight-round pick for the overlooked pass-catcher just months after he got drafted.
He might not have been able to beat many cornerbacks in a race, but that did not matter when he gained separation using his incredible route-running ability. Largent put up over 1,000 yards eight times in his career despite playing in an era where that was not common, and he retired as the league's all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdowns.
7 Marvin Harrison
Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning, who were one of the most prolific quarterback/receiver duos in league history, often seemed like they shared the same brain on the field. The pair connected on an NFL-record 114 touchdowns, and Harrison eclipsed the 1,100 mark and scored double-digit touchdowns in eight-straight seasons.
While he might not have been the most physically gifted receiver, Harrison's route-running ability was second to none, and he often left defenders in the dust as a result. The pass-catcher is ninth on the all-time receiving yards list with over 14,000 yards and fifth on the touchdowns list with 128.
6 Larry Fitzgerald
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
Larry Fitzgerald was one of the most productive, reliable, and downright dominant receivers in the league throughout much of his 17-year tenure with the Cardinals. Arizona could always count on him when they needed a big play, and he often carried their passing game on his back while playing with a who's who of underwhelming quarterbacks (late-career Carson Palmer and Kurt Warner notwithstanding) during his career.
Few have stuck it to father time like Fitzgerald, who reached the 1,000-yard mark on nine occasions and is second on the all-time receiving list with over 17,000 yards. There is no telling how much more he could have achieved with a dependable option under center throughout his career, and he is more than deserving of the recognition as one of the league's best receivers.
5 Terrell Owens
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
Terrell Owens may have been guilty of being a distraction, but there is no denying he is also one of the best wide receivers in NFL history. Defenders had no answer for his combination of size and speed, and he was the epitome of consistency throughout his career, as the only season he had under 750 yards was his rookie year.​​​​​​​
Owens' nose for the end zone was also unmatched, and he is the only player to catch a touchdown against all 32 teams (which becomes even more impressive when you consider that he found the end zone against everyone at least twice). He went over 1000 yards nine times and is third on the all-time receiving yards and touchdowns lists. The pass-catcher is so talented that he is still catching passes from Johnny Manziel (a match made in heaven) at 48-years-old in the Fan Controlled Football League.​​​​​​​
4 Calvin Johnson Jr.
Calvin Johnson Jr. is not only one of the league's most freakishly athletic receivers, but he is also one of the most dominant players to lace up their cleats, evidenced by the fact that he garnered more attention than T.O. did on SportsCenter throughout his career. He was taller than Myles Garrett, weighed more than Luke Kuechly, and ran faster than Justin Jefferson. Oh, and as if that were not enough, he also had the wingspan of a bald eagle and could jump out of most stadiums.
The only downside to Johnson's time in the NFL was that he had the unfortunate distinction of playing his entire career in Detroit (no one deserves that type of punishment). Despite retiring in his prime (because, you know, Detroit), Megatron had over 11,000 receiving yards and is third on the all-time list with 86 yards per game. While he may have retired seven years ago, it feels safe to say that the 36-year-old could step in and continue his reign of dominance if he were to return to the gridiron today.
3 Cris Carter
While most of the all-time great receivers sprinted out of the gates to begin their careers, Cris Carter had slightly more trouble finding his footing, and his career was on the ropes once he got released by the Eagles after his third season. Nevertheless, that was exactly the turning point that he needed, and he went on to become one of the greatest success stories in NFL history with the Vikings.​​​​​​​
Carter might be most known for his remarkable sideline catching ability, but he is also one of the most well-rounded receivers in league history. Chris Berman famously quipped 'All he does is catch touchdowns' when referencing Carter's nose for the end zone (he ranks fourth on the all-time receiving touchdowns list with 130). However, he actually did much more, as he also went over 1,000 yards for eight straight years in Minnesota. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
2 Randy Moss
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=740&dpr=1.5)
It should come as no surprise that Randy Moss received the nickname 'The Freak,' as he combined the sub-4.3-second 40-yard-dash speed of Tyreek Hill with a 6-foot-4 frame. He and Cris Carter quickly became one of the best pass-catching duos in league history, and Moss had over 1200 yards in each of his first six years, a span in which he also led the league in touchdowns three times.
Moss was an unreal vertical threat throughout his entire career (well, most of it anyway), and he stretched defenses like few other players in league history have been able to. However, he also had a well-rounded skill set (even if he might not have needed one) and is one of only two players with over 1,000 yards in 10 seasons.
1 Jerry Rice
It should also come as no surprise to see Jerry Rice at the top of a list regarding the best receiver of all time (or players for that matter), as few have achieved his level of sustained dominance. The 13-time Pro Bowler is the league's all-time leader in every receiving statistic, and there is a chance he will never be caught, as it seems unlikely that a player would be able to play at a high level for as long as he did (he had over 1,000 yards at 40 years old in 2002).
The small school pass-catcher landed in the perfect situation in San Francisco, where he played under the tutelage of one of the league's most innovative offensive minds in Bill Walsh and with two all-time great quarterbacks in Joe Montana and Steve Young. While it is hard to imagine Rice's numbers being even better, it is easy to make a case that he could have blown them out of the water if he landed in a similarly advantageous situation in today's passing league.