10) Tim Brown – Owns every conceivable receiving record for the raiders. A tremendous threat in the return game early on in his career, he polished his skills to be one of the most dangerous players of the 1990s.
9) Jimmy Smith – Never got the full credit he deserved. He was not blessed with the most dominating physical attributes, but he always found a way to get open. Over 12,000 yards in his career speaks for itself. If he is not a first ballot hall of famer, something is definitely wrong.
Don Hutson – Obviously from a different era, but he should be on this list just for his 1942 season. He had 74 catches for 1211 yards and 17 touchdowns. May not be considered earth shattering by today’s game, but to put it in perspective, he had more receptions than some entire teams had for that year. Helped pioneer the modern passing game.
7) Isaac Bruce – If it’s at all possible for somebody to put up incredible numbers throughout his career and not to be recognized by many outside the NFL circles as top-tier player, Isaac Bruce accomplished it. His stats tower over many receivers that are in the hall of fame, yet many don’t see him being first ballot Hall of Famers.
6) Steve Largent – Proved how little importance should be made to 40 yard times and vertical jumps. He perfected the most important aspect the job. He was always able to get open and when he did, he caught the ball. Simple but effective. He was the first receiver to ever reach the 100 career touchdown mark.
5) Chris Carter – Arguably, the greatest hands to ever touch a football. If there was some kind of career statistic that measured the percentage of drops per reception attempt, this man would be king.
4) Michael Irvin – Sure, he might have gotten away with more push-offs than any other receiver in the history of the league. But you can’t argue with the results. He helped lead the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories as they became the team of the 90s.
3) Marvin Harrison – From the Jerry Rice school of wide receiver. Work! Work! Work! Hours upon hours studying game films, running routes after routes, helped Harrison become the best wide receiver of his generation.
2) Randy Moss – Distractions aside, and with the possible exception of Bo Jackson, nobody in the history of the league has been more physically dominating in his position than Randy Moss. It genuinely looks like he is a man playing amongst boys. World class speed, could jump over skyscrapers, wingspan of a pterodactyl, he is genuine freak of nature.
1) Jerry Rice – Was there every any doubt? His career receiving numbers would be impressive even if they were passing statistics. It is safe to say, these records will never even be sniffed in the next 100 years.
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