Top 5 Wide Receivers Heading Into the 2020 Season
17 July 2022
By: Paulina Vairo
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There were many outstanding wide receiver performances in the 2019 season. Here are the top five wide receivers heading into the 2020 season:
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5. Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper’s tippy toe touchdown catch against the Minnesota Vikings on November 10, 2019 (Photo Credit: Tom Fox/Staff Photographer for the Dallas News)
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4. DeAndre Hopkins
After being traded to the Cowboys from the Raiders in the middle of the 2018 season, Cooper has become a huge help to the Cowboys offense. Cooper had a career-best season in 2019, totaling 1,189 receiving yards and 79 receptions, a career-high. He also had a 66.4 percent catching rate.
This season is projected to be Cooper’s best season yet, and he should with that five-year, $100-million contract extension he signed back in March. With offensive coordinator Kellen Moore under Mike McCarthy’s new revamped coaching staff, there will be a lot of new changes to the Cowboys offensive set up.
Watch Cooper this season operate in more spaces and get involved in more offensive plays, CBS Sports reports. Also because of his great chemistry with quarterback Dak Prescott, look for Cooper to have a monstrous 2020 season.
Hopkins has been a top 10 wide receiver for the past few seasons. Last season, Hopkins finished with 104 receptions, 1,165 receiving yards, and 11.2 yards per reception.
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It came to a surprise when Hopkins was traded to the Cardinals in exchange for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick, ESPN reported. It will be interesting to see how Hopkins will fit in the Cardinals offense with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and quarterback Kyle Murray.
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Since the Cardinals have guys who play in the slots, he may not get a lot of chances to run from the slots as he did last season, according to USA Today. However, there should not be a problem fitting the four-time pro bowler into the Cardinals offensive line with the skills and speed he will be bringing to the team.
DeAndre Hopkins in a Cardinal uniform (Photo Credit: Conor Orr/Sports Illustrated)
3. Tyreek Hill
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Despite missing four games this season due to injury, Hill was still able to produce top numbers in the league. Hill ended the year with 860 receiving yards, 65.2 catching rate and 2.45 yards per route run.
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This season the duo of Hill and Mahomes was lethal. Hill played a huge part in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl playoff run. He especially came in clutch in the AFC Championship game vs the Titans where he scored two touchdowns that led the Chiefs to its third-ever Super Bowl appearance.
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Hill said in a podcast that he vows to make this season his best season yet, “One of my goals is, in all of my Youtube videos, I’ve been saying I want to get 2,000 receiving yards.” Now that he signed a three-year, $54-million deal, which is the highest for a wide receiver today, Hill will surely continue his success on the field and with the Chiefs
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2. Julio Jones
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Even at 31 years old, Julio Jones still manages to be a top-five wide receiver in the game. This season, Jones was ranked third in yards per game in 92.9, second in receiving yards in 1,394, and fifth in receptions in 99.
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Jones has speed, quick hands and his performance is always consistent with each game. Even playing under a non-elite quarterback in Matt Ryan, Jones continues to put up impressive numbers.
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He has managed to be top two in receiving yards for the past two seasons, averaging about 1,564 receiving yards per season. He is also currently first all-time in receiving yards per game in 96.2. Age does not seem to be slowing down Jones, as he is still projected to be dangerous for opposing teams’ defenses this season.
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1. Michael Thomas
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Thomas was arguably the best wide receiver in 2019. He led the league in receptions with 149 and receiving yards in 1,725. He also had an 80.5 percent catching rate and nine touchdowns.
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Thomas was named Offensive Player of the Year for his phenomenal performance last season. He now surpasses Randy Moss for the most receiving yards among any player in their first four seasons, and he also finished with a single-season record with 10 catches in at least eight games, Saints News Network reports.
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He is proven to be one of the best wide receivers in the game today, and he should be able to continue his amazing run this season. Thomas also plays with veteran quarterback Drew Brees, who last season broke the all-time touchdown passing record with 547 last season. Most of Thomas’ success is because of the veteran quarterback, and with his quick catching ability and speed, Thomas will continue his dominating run heading into 2020.
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(Article can also be seen on https://thegamehaus.com/nfl/top-5-wide-receivers-heading-into-the-2020-season/2020/07/17/ )