Latest news with #wideReceivers
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Garafolo breaks down the Bucs WR competition in training camp
NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo breaks down the training camp competition for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buccaneers' Receiver Depth Chart Big Training Camp Watch
Buccaneers' Receiver Depth Chart Big Training Camp Watch originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The offensive personnel that Tampa Bay Buccaneers coordinator Josh Grizzard will have at his disposal in 2025 are the envy of the NFL. Advertisement With Baker Mayfield leading the unit, he'll have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, and Sterling Shepard to get the passing attack up and rolling. But remember, there's only one football, and the depth chart will be a fascinating watch as training camp gets underway. For Sports Illustrated, that will be the biggest watch later this month. "Tampa Bay has an embarrassment of riches at wideout with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka all in the mix," Sports Illustrated writes. "Evans is the top dog, but when will Godwin be fully healthy after sustaining a dislocated ankle in Week 7 in 2024? Then there's McMillan, who caught 37 passes for 461 yards and eight scores as a rookie. Advertisement "If Egbuka shines in camp, the Buccaneers will need to figure out the depth chart behind Evans. The good news? It's a great problem to have for Tampa, which might have the best quartet of receivers in football." Chris Godwin and Mike Evans of Tampa Bay BuccaneersDouglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports The depth chart is interesting. We have Evans and Godwin as the top two (in any order), and we think McMillan will start camp as the third choice. However, Egbuka has already hit the ground running, plus Shepard and his veteran knowledge can't be forgotten either. So, exactly how it plays out is anyone's guess with Mayfield's four weapons all able to have a real impact on game day. Granted, it likely won't matter how the depth chart falls, because all receivers will get used at one time or another, but it's still fun to think about. Advertisement Mayfield, coming off a career year, has even better weapons at his disposal in 2025, with the potential to take the Buccaneers deep into the playoffs. And his star receivers will be shouldering a heavy load. Related: Bucs Rival Gives Rare Compliment to Star Defender Related: Buccaneers' Star Defender Praised for Offseason Work This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mark Kaboly shares troubling update on Steelers' wide receiver pursuit
Don't hold your breath on Pittsburgh adding additional wide receivers this offseason — as insider Mark Kaboly shed light on what position the Steelers are really after. The recent Minkah Fitzpatrick trade left the Steelers with a glaring hole at safety — and Kaboly doesn't believe FS Juan Thornhill is the long-term answer. Advertisement During Thursday's appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Kaboly was asked whether he thinks the Steelers will sign a safety over a wide receiver — here was his response: "Yeah, probably," Kaboly said. "I mean, they love Calvin Austin, man. They think Roman Wilson can step up. They're intrigued with Robert Woods. Now, at this point [in free agency], what are you going to get? Are you going to get a Keenan Allen that doesn't want to play, or Amari Cooper? … I like Calvin Austin. I don't know if he could take it to that next level that they need to take it to, but I think they're very willing to be able to take that chance to see if he can do it." It's also worth mentioning that many believe newly acquired TE Jonnu Smith could take some snaps at receiver — particularly in the slot — serving as more evidence that the Steelers value their in-house pass catchers over any more signings. Advertisement If the Steelers do pursue another safety in free agency, my money would be on four-time All-Pro Justin Simmons or Julian Blackmon. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers will pursue safety over wide receiver, says Mark Kaboly
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears All-Quarter Century Team: Wide receivers
Twenty-five years of Chicago Bears football are in the books since the turn of the century. Since the calendar turned over to 2000, the Bears have seen some success, but also plenty of woeful stretches. Early on, Chicago became a defensive force, claiming four division titles and reaching only their second Super Bowl in franchise history from 2000 to 2010. Since then, however, a 14-year playoff victory drought that is still ongoing and a one-sided fight with their rival Green Bay Packers have taken the spotlight. For all the ups and downs the Bears have seen, however, they had plenty of talent over the years across offense and defense. Multiple former Bears players are already in the Hall of Fame, while many more provided years of incredible play in the navy and orange. Advertisement Here at Bears Wire, we're celebrating the best Bears players at each position over the last 25 years. We're going position by position to name the Bears' All-Quarter Century Team for those who played from 2000 through 2024. Up next are wide receivers, a position that once struggled in Chicago but has seen plenty of production over the last 15 years. Brandon Marshall 2012 - 2014 279 receptions, 3,524 yards, 31 touchdowns Nov 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) celebrates his touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports For much of the 21st century, Chicago was where wide receivers went to die. At least according to Muhsin Muhammad, who failed to live up to lofty expectations when he signed as a free agent in 2005. That all changed with the arrival of Brandon Marshall, who gave the Bears their first true superstar wide receiver when he was acquired via trade in 2012 from the Miami Dolphins. Advertisement Marshall reunited with quarterback Jay Cutler and wasted no time in reliving their glory days from their time with the Denver Broncos. The star pass catcher set a team single-season record for receptions (118) and receiving yards (1,508) in 2012, earning him First-Team All-Pro honors—the first for a wide receiver in Bears history since Dick Gordon in 1970. Marshall quite literally was the Bears offense that year and followed it up with another stellar campaign in 2013 with over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns. Though Marshall's Bears career lasted just three seasons, he made a lasting impact on the field. Marshall was a beast who took over games and proved time and time again he would not be denied, whether it was in the open field, in the red zone, or even run blocking. Alshon Jeffery 2012 - 2016 304 receptions, 4,549 yards, 26 touchdowns Oct 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) during the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports The Bears weren't satisfied with adding just one big-bodied wide receiver during the 2012 offseason. After acquiring Marshall, the Bears drafted Alshon Jeffery in the second round of the 2012 draft, and it proved to be a shrewd move. Jeffery broke out his second year, totaling over 1,400 receiving yards while adding seven touchdowns. He broke the team's single-game receiving record early in the season with 218 yards, then broke his own record a couple of months later with 249 yards. Advertisement Jeffery was a stellar deep-ball specialist, making unreal catches time and again. He and Marshall were arguably the best receiving duo in the league at the time, which benefitted Jeffery's growth early in his career. Though Jeffery's play dipped in his last two seasons in Chicago due to injuries and suspensions, he was always a threat to make a big play in the passing game. Jeffery has the third-most receiving yards in Bears history, and he likely would have broken Johnny Morris' franchise record had he been able to stay on the field his final couple of seasons. Regardless, Jeffery was one of the best receivers in franchise history, and his 1,421 receiving yards in 2013 is still the second-highest total in a season behind Marshall. Allen Robinson 2018 - 2021 293 receptions, 3,561 yards, 18 touchdowns Sep 27, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson II (12) runs against Atlanta Falcons safety Damontae Kazee (27) during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports At the end of the 2010s, the Bears desperately needed a proven wide receiver to step up as a reliable option in the pass game. Allen Robinson did that and more when he signed as a free agent in 2018. Robinson wasn't the biggest or fastest player on the field, but he was technically sound and caught pretty much everything thrown his way. Advertisement From 2018 through 2020, Robinson had the best three-year stretch of his career in Chicago. He caught 255 passes for 3,151 yards and 17 touchdowns and helped get the Bears to the postseason twice. His performance in the 2018 Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles set a team record for most receiving yards in a playoff game with 143. For a moment, it looked like Robinson was going to threaten Morris' career franchise record given his production and the possibility of an extension. That didn't happen as Robinson fell off his final season and bounced around the league for the next couple of years. Like other Bears receivers, his tenure didn't end the best, but there's no denying his overall production while in Chicago. Marty Booker 1999 - 2003, 2008 310 receptions, 3,676 yards, 22 touchdowns ATLANTA - OCTOBER 12: Marty Booker #86of the Chicago Bears celebrates during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on October 12, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) The final spot in our rankings was a toss-up between Marty Booker and DJ Moore, but we opted to go with the former thanks to his Bears longevity and consistent production in an era where passing wasn't as prevalent as it is today. Booker technically joined the Bears in 1999 but didn't break out until 2001, when he totaled 100 receptions (a team record at the time) for 1,071 yards and eight touchdowns. Advertisement Booker followed that up with another stellar season, totaling 1,189 yards and six touchdowns. That earned him Pro Bowl honors, the first for a Bears receiver since Dick Gordon in 1972. Booker was on his way to climbing to the top of the Bears' career receiving records but was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2004 for Adewale Ogunleye. The trade proved to be worth it for the Bears, and Booker got his swan song in Chicago when he returned on a one-year deal in 2008. Honorable mention: DJ Moore Bears All-Quarter Century Team 6/22: Quarterbacks 6/22: Running backs 6/23: Wide receivers 6/23: Tight ends 6/24: Offensive line 6/24: Defensive tackles 6/25: Defensive ends 6/25: Linebackers 6/26: Cornerbacks 6/26: Safeties 6/27: Specialists Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears All-Quarter Century Team: Wide receivers
New York Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Fantasy football 2025 dynasty wide receiver rankings, from Ja'Marr Chase to Adam Thielen
Welcome to the third installment of my dynasty rankings review series. In case you missed it, I previously reviewed the quarterback and running back positions; now I turn my attention to the receivers. In addition to the rankings, the added tiers will help further segment the players, a useful tool during start-up drafts when trying to determine positional depth as a draft unfolds. For reference, you can find all my rankings on FantasyPros. Advertisement There's a lot of variance among fantasy analysts when ranking receivers. As is the case with other positions, I give extra priority to production, even as a player approaches an age cliff, when other analysts begin fading that player. Other factors, such as production consistency, quarterback quality, contract specifics and injury history, also factor in. As I tend to build my dynasty squads through receivers, it's the position I obsess over in my rankings. The names here won't surprise anyone, though I suspect many dynasty managers could take issue with some players not appearing in this tier. If you don't see an expected player, it's likely due to my inclusion of an existing risk factor I'm weighing. In many cases, this applies to second-year players or upside names suffering from quarterback quality issues that I want to see play out before upgrading. Most upside: Brian Thomas, JAX Most value: A.J. Brown, PHI Most risk: CeeDee Lamb, DAL There's not much to say about these elite eight receivers. If not for a new quarterback, Justin Jefferson would headline this group. CeeDee Lamb should benefit from the addition of George Pickens, but the new situation and Dak Prescott's inability to remain healthy introduce risk. There's a lot to like about Brian Thomas Jr. due to size, production and age, and, should Trevor Lawrence finally take the next step, it's not out of the question that BTJ vies for WR1 in dynasty, both in ranking and production. Any of these receivers could easily appear in the tier above. It's never my plan to control the number of players in any tier, as can be seen here with only six players represented. Instead, I allow my confidence in the players to determine where the tiers break. Most upside: Drake London, ATL Most value: Marvin Harrison Jr., ARI Most risk: Garrett Wilson, NYJ Drake London may finally be ready to make the leap into the tier above, but he'll need solid play from second-year quarterback Michael Penix for that to occur. Still only 23, London has the size and profile I look for, and he finally put it all together in 2024. Advertisement Marvin Harrison Jr. has been a frequent trade target after some managers grew frustrated with the rookie's production and consistency. Savvy managers looking to rebuild should target the high-ceiling player in his second season if any discount is offered. At some point, Garrett Wilson must produce to maintain his present premium. Paired with his collegiate quarterback, Justin Fields, Wilson needs to surpass his 2024 touchdown total (seven) to maintain this ranking. Entering his fourth season, Wilson looks primed to take the next step, but his quarterback situation remains a risk, and should Fields not pan out, it will mean yet another quarterback change for Wilson. I love everything about Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but I'm not fully confident that new quarterback Sam Darnold is the upgrade needed to vault JSN to a WR1. If he is, Smith-Njigba may sneak into my first tier by midseason. Ladd McConkey had a stellar rookie season, but, like Wilson above, I'm looking for more touchdown production lest he slip into a possession-style role that rarely makes my first tier. A broad third tier provides a mix of significant upside and established production. This is the tier that is likely to elicit the most comments from readers, as my style of ranking begins to diverge from that of many analysts. Most upside: Travis Hunter, JAX Most value: Rome Odunze, CHI Most risk: Chris Olave, NO Most underappreciated: Mike Evans, TB Biggest sleeper: Jameson Williams, DET I simply don't know how to rank rookie Travis Hunter. His ceiling is tremendous, but a combination of raw skill, role mystery and quarterback quality does create a risky situation. Rome Odunze checks nearly every box as a potential impact WR1, but competition for targets and reliance upon Caleb Williams' development saps his value. For me, all arrows are pointing up. Advertisement If not for his concussion history, Chris Olave could be vying for Tier 1 inclusion, but his health remains a concern (until it doesn't). This could be a make-or-break year for Olave in that regard. Quarterback quality also remains a significant question mark. Mike Evans is in his age-32 season, but there's no questioning his durability or production. Competitive teams should be price-checking for acquisition. He's been a frequent value-on production anchor for me in new start-up drafts. I believe 2025 is the year Jameson Williams proves he's much more than a risky deep threat. My bold prediction is he will outproduce Amon-Ra St. Brown in fantasy production in the year to come. My other favorite targets from this tier are Tee Higgins, DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy and Emeka Egbuka, for any combination of value, production and upside. I'm fading DK Metcalf, DJ Moore and Rashee Rice. A mix of value, intrigue and community groupthink helps highlight the names in this tier. Most upside: Ricky Pearsall, SF Most value: Deebo Samuel, WAS Most risk: Xavier Worthy, KC Most underappreciated: Jalen McMillan, TB Biggest sleeper: Jalen McMillan, TB Biggest sell: Tyreek Hill, MIA Davante Adams finds himself in the perfect situation and should be productive again for competitive teams. If you aren't competitive, move him immediately. Deebo Samuel has tremendous value in Washington but is also a risky asset due to injury history. Xavier Worthy is at risk of becoming just another deep-threat option who doesn't produce consistently enough in fantasy to maintain his ranking. The opportunity for Ricky Pearsall is not reflected in the rankings of most analysts and presents significant value. Tyreek Hill could populate any of these categories and is difficult to rank. Age and quarterback issues remain, but he can be acquired for competitive managers. Advertisement I'm most excited about Jalen McMillan. The arrival of rookie Emeka Egbuka has rendered McMillan an afterthought after his standout rookie season. He's a significant value-on acquisition for me, with eyes on 2026. Michael Pittman, Chris Godwin and Brandon Aiyuk are all in crossroads seasons and have a lot to gain or lose. For this reason, I'm steering clear of acquiring them. I like to think of the fifth and sixth tiers as where dynasties are solidified. Without question, your build will determine your initial success, but after the glitz of the top tiers fades, managers are left with what appear to be uninspiring options. Careful and smart selections over these next two tiers can provide significant production and, potentially, future dynasty stars. Most upside: Tre Harris, LAC Most value: Calvin Ridley, TEN Most risk: Keon Coleman, BUF Most underappreciated: Jakobi Meyers, LV Biggest sleeper: Jayden Higgins, HOU Biggest sell: Stefon Diggs, NE Tre Harris has been one of my favorite prospects for a long time, and his drafted situation is a good one. Calvin Ridley was quietly the WR29 (PPR) in 2024 and should have upside with rookie Cam Ward under center. I'm concerned that if Keon Coleman doesn't establish himself as something more than a red zone weapon, he'll fade from the radar. It's uninspiring that he had only eight receptions over his final five games of 2024. Jakobi Meyers remains completely uninteresting but quietly ranked as WR30 last season despite missing two games. Jayden Higgins has the look of a WR1 but is behind Nico Collins in the pecking order. Quarterback C.J. Stroud regressed in 2024, and target competition is present. That said, I still love Higgins' profile and have been targeting him early in the second round of rookie drafts. I have no shares of Stefon Diggs and fully expect he'll be off the dynasty radar this time next year. I'm steering clear of Josh Downs, Khalil Shakir, Rashid Shaheed and Jauan Jennings, while Cooper Kupp has enough production value for competitive teams. I'm intrigued as to whether Rashod Bateman can take the next step after his new contract. Similar to Tier 5, I'm targeting undervalued production assets and value-on developmental prospects here. Most upside: Troy Franklin, DEN Most value: Marquise Brown, KC Most risk: Christian Watson, GB Most underappreciated: Alec Pierce, IND Biggest sleeper: Marvin Mims Jr., DEN Troy Franklin had a good early camp, and I think he takes another step in Year 2 with his college (Oregon) quarterback, Bo Nix, under center. Advertisement The Chiefs badly need receiver consistency to stop the dynasty slide of Patrick Mahomes, and a fully healthy Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown should pay dividends, especially with Rashee Rice back in the fold. Christian Watson tore his ACL late in 2024 but recently posted a workout video showing good progress. That said, the injury bug remains a constant companion for Watson, and the Packers seem content to move on. Alec Pierce was PPR's WR43 last year while missing two games. I think he flirts with the 1,000-yard plateau in 2025. Don't sleep on Marvin Mims, who finished 2024 with 13 receptions on 13 targets and four touchdowns over his final two regular-season games. If he can remain healthy, he offers upside. You can find my remaining Tier 7 players at the link above at FantasyPros. If you have questions or comments, you know what to do. Please follow me on Twitter and Threads: @DLF_Jeff. (Photo of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins: Sam Greene / Imagn Images)
