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New York Giants: Ranking Odell Beckham, Top 5 wide receivers in NFL

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 8, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Giants fans hold up a sign supporting wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (not pictured) during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Giants fans hold up a sign supporting wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (not pictured) during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) points against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-11. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) points against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-11. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Age: 23 (8/21/1993)
2016 Season Statistics: 16 games played, 96 receptions, 1,321 yards, 12 touchdowns
Career Statistics: 46 games played, 238 receptions, 3,578 yards, 27 touchdowns

The fifth spot on this list came down to a five-man race between Mike Evans, Larry Fitzgerald, T.Y. Hilton, DeAndre Hopkins, and Jordy Nelson. All five players had a case to make for the final spot, but an ambitious evaluation is made here.

Although he’s just three seasons into his professional career, Evans has already earned a Top 5 ranking when discussing the best wide receivers in the NFL.

Evans has recorded at least 1,000 yards in each of his three NFL seasons, and recorded 10-plus touchdowns in two of the three. That isn’t the biggest of sample sizes, but Hopkins regressed in 2016, Fitzgerald slowed down a bit, and Nelson missed the entire 2015 season due to injury.

Hilton certainly has a case to make, but Evans has proven to be one of the most overwhelming covers in all of football.

Pro Football Focus ranked Evans as the No. 2 wide receiver in the NFL during the 2016 campaign. That was a product of his receiving numbers—No. 6 in receptions, No. 4 in yards, and No. 2 in touchdowns—and his strong run blocking.

It was hard to pick against Fitzgerald’s consistency, and the numbers produced by Hilton, Hopkins, and Nelson, but Evans earned a Top 5 ranking in 2016.

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