Who are the best wide receivers in the NFL?
Joe Theismann's Top Five
1. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts: Nice guys do finish first, as Harrison finally has a Super Bowl ring to go with the myriad of accolades he's deservedly received every year. There aren't many receivers in the league who can terrorize an opposing defense despite their knowing exactly where he's going to be, but Harrison does just that. He plays only the right side of the field and still puts up phenomenal numbers week in and week out.
2. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers: He looks like the prototypical small receiver, but he does things you just don't expect small receivers to do. No one expects a small receiver to run slants over the middle and risk taking vicious hits, but he does. No one expects small receivers to block downfield, but he does. Smith is a terror on the field and possibly the most dangerous threat in the league when healthy.
3. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals: He's brash, cocky and probably draws too much attention to himself, but he's also one of the best receivers in the league. This is a clear case of a guy putting up big numbers that are ignored because of all the other stuff going on. He wants to be the No. 1 receiver -- not just on his team, but in the league -- and works his butt off in pursuit of his goal. An underrated blocker and route-runner, Johnson is putting in the work to be considered an all-time great.
4. Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams: Talk about underrated. Holt consistently puts up great numbers and is never truly appreciated for what he does. He may be the best route-runner in the league and has turned into a wily veteran who knows all the tricks of the trade. He always seems to be making a great catch in traffic because of his fearlessness and concentration.
5. Randy Moss, Oakland Raiders: There still is no better combination of speed and hands in the league. While Moss has had serious problems in Oakland, those around the league still view him as a dangerous threat as evidenced by Brett Favre clamoring to have Moss on the Packers next season. Hopefully Moss finds himself in a situation where he's happy and motivated again so we can see the guy who destroyed opposing defenses at the beginning of his career.
