Ranking NFC East Starters: Wide Receivers
Ranking NFC East Starters: Wide Receivers
It’s important to compare the Philadelphia Eagles to their division rivals, as those teams will be their main competition for a playoff spot. This series will compare the starting rosters of the four NFC East teams, continuing with wide receivers.
1. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas was ridiculed by many (including me) for sending Oakland a first rounder for Amari Cooper, but the young receiver blossomed in the half-season he spent with Dallas. Prescott finally had a true threat to remove the attention off of Ezekiel Elliott. Cooper is only 24, and with Odell Beckham Jr. being shipped off to the opposite conference, he assumes the title of best receiver in the NFC East. He’s one of the many franchise players that Dallas is going to have to roll out the money for very soon.
2. Alshon Jeffery, Philadelphia Eagles
Jeffery’s infamous playoff drop came at the worst possible time, but fans shouldn’t easily forget that he still possesses arguably the best set of hands in football. One look back to his Super Bowl touchdown catch over Eric Rowe (with a severe shoulder injury) should erase flashbacks to the divisional game from this past January. Jeffery, a former first-round pick for the Bears, is a bona fide #1 receiver even if he hasn’t put up gaudy numbers in a while. He knows his role and performs it well, opening things up for himself and teammates as well.
3. Golden Tate, New York Giants
Tate posted his lowest yardage total since 2012 thanks to a midseason trade that found him on a team where he didn’t have much of a role. Tate is still a very productive pass catcher (three 1,000 yard seasons in the past five years), which is why the Giants paid him handsomely to help replace Beckham. Tate’s forte is breaking tackles, something he does more than any receiver in football.
4. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
Jackson returned to the NFC East to play for the team that drafted him, and places in the top half of the rankings. He’s 32 now, but he still paced the league in yards per reception (18.9) for the fourth time in his career. He remains one of the fastest receivers in the game and was a big reason for Jordan Howard’s excitement to be in Philly. The Eagles have been searching for a deep threat since Jackson left, and bringing him back may be the best way to fill that hole.
5. Sterling Shepard, New York Giants
Shepard is a good receiver who hasn’t had the opportunity to be a true #1 (and still may not with Tate now in the fold). New York clearly has faith in him, rewarding him with a nice extension after totaling just over 1,600 yards in his first two seasons. He’ll have to make his new contract worth it in 2019.
6. Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
Gallup, a 2018 third-rounder for Dallas, caught 33 balls for 507 yards in his rookie season. He had his biggest game in the playoffs, with 119 yards in the wildcard round against Seattle. Dallas hopes to see more growth in him as a complement to Cooper. New addition Randall Cobb would also fit right in this spot if he overtakes Gallup as Cooper’s second fiddle.
7. Paul Richardson, Washington Redskins
The Redskins starters bottom out the list, starting with former Seahawk Paul Richardson. He had solid #2 receiver numbers in his last season with Seattle, resulting in the Redskins giving him a $40 million contract. He only played in seven games last season before an injury shut him down, but his 700-yard performance in 2017 tops anything that his teammate Josh Doctson has ever put out.
8. Josh Doctson, Washington Redskins
Doctson was the 22nd overall pick in 2016 by Washington, and he hasn’t done anything to justify the selection. He’s flashed some potential at times, but still has zero career games over 100 yards. A breakout season isn’t likely with Case Keenum playing the role of bridge quarterback to whichever young passer the Redskins go with.
-By: Micah Jimoh