The NFL's Hardest Receivers to Cover

Here’s something people tend to forget about American professional sports: In order to be drafted and proceed to make a team’s roster, you presumably have to be the best of the best. So, no one “sucks” per se—only comparatively. With that in mind, being proclaimed not just the best in the game, but straight-up unguardable by the elite, is no light bit of praise. Those types of players are very few and far between at the wide-receiver position, but a cursory football fan knows that they do exist.

Standing at over six feet tall with suspiciously sticky hands, these athletes defy the small and quick/big and strong stereotypes and encompass nearly every attribute you’d hope for in an athlete. They’re works of the devil for opposing defenders, but they account for some of football’s most exciting moments. You’ll never know whether it’s strictly natural talent or a commitment to squats that make the following 10 players so good. One can only look on and be amazed. Don’t sweat; here are The NFL’s Hardest Receivers to Cover.

Team: Detroit Lions

Age: 28

2013 Stats: 1,492 yards, 84 receptions, 12 touchdowns

There are only three surefire things that can stop Calvin Johnson on any given down: a sack, divine intervention, and the sudden re-emergence of Tupac Shakur. All of them are a maybe. To put it simply, Johnson’s combination of power, speed and magnetic hands makes him the most lethal aerial threat in the league. It’s a huge injustice if someone were to underestimate his toughness. You remember that season when Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s 17-year record for receiving yards in a season? Well, Johnson did it with broken fingers—a.k.a. those things that you use to catch the football. He’s not a human being, you see. Johnson’s the Megatron that Optimus Prime is grateful he doesn’t have to face.

Team: Houston Texans

Age: 33

2013 Stats: 1,407 yards, 109 receptions, five touchdowns

With Arian Foster’s shakiness at the running back position and the quarterback position not inspiring much confidence, Andre Johnson has been one of the few pillars of stability that the Texans have on offense. The paucity doesn’t inspire that much confidence, but look at it this way: If you only had one weapon, at least it’s Johnson. He’s far from flashy, but his discipline has helped him become one of the most consistent threats over the past 10 years. Johnson has only four sub-1,000 seasons in his 11 years in the game. The veteran could get a bit more shine if fellow wideout DeAndre Hopkins improves and draws the attention of the defense. If not, trust that Johnson is going to find a way to get his.

Team: Chicago Bears

​Age: 30

2013 Stats: 1,295 yards, 100 receptions, 12 touchdowns

Your No. 1 objective when guarding Brandon Marshall should be to never let that ball get into his hands. Granted, that should be your goal against every wide receiver, but that goes triple for Marshall because your troubles increase exponentially when he catches it. And if you’re guarding him one-on-one, God bless; it’ll take a lot to bring his large 6-4 frame down. Marshall knows this very well, too. He noted in an interview with us that he did burn the Seahawks—pretty much unanimously considered the best defense in the league—in a 2012 game where he totaled 165 yards. He can do the same, or worse, to lesser opponents.

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Age: 25

2013 Stats: 1,233 yards, 93 receptions, 13 touchdowns

These days, one of the few things that’s been saving Tony Romo from a slander-filled oblivion is Dez Bryant—because that 24th-ranked rushing attack certainly wasn’t doing it. The 25-year-old has certainly been doing a better job than others at keeping his mind on his job. His focus has paid off, too. The first-rounder leapt out as the Cowboys’ big-play wide receiver after Miles Austin’s decline and hasn’t looked back since. The proof of Bryant’s skill is in the numbers, but do get a chance to see how easily he can get separation from his defenders. And when he gets the ball, there isn’t much east to west; he goes south to north—quickly.

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Age: 31

2013 Stats: 954 yards, 82 receptions, 10 touchdowns

Unfortunately, Fitzgerald has only made the playoffs twice in his 11-year NFL career: The Super Bowl run in 2009 and the Divisional Playoffs, where his team was ousted at the hands of the Saints the year before. The shortened seasons aren’t entirely his fault, though. Fitzgerald and his hands—those sticky, ridiculously reliable hands—have been go-to weapons for a consistently mediocre Cardinals franchise. The good news is that even though last season is one of the few in which Fitzgerald didn’t cross the 1,000-yard mark, things are looking up with that 10-6 record and Carson Palmer under center. The bad news is that Commissioner Roger Goodell hasn’t moved the 49ers or the Seahawks from the NFC West.

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Age: 26

2013 Stats: 1,426 yards, 98 receptions, 11 touchdowns

Unlike many on this list, Green immediately made a splash during his 1,057-yard rookie campaign. He’s made the post-T.J. Houshmandzadeh-Chad Johnson-Carson Palmer-era of the Bengals’ aerial threat an entertaining one. In fact, he’s already reached heights in his three years that Johnson couldn’t reach in his entire career. They include two 11-touchdown seasons, five-straight 100-yard games, and three trips to the playoffs with the Bengals. The reason behind his success goes beyond discipline—many NFL players have that. If he doesn’t dazzle you with his breakaway speed, he’ll dazzle you with his hands. As a matter of fact, what about with just one hand like right here. If only that talent translated to postseason success.

Team: Denver Broncos

Age: 26

2013 Stats: 1,430 yards, 92 receptions, 14 touchdowns

Talk about an offensive slaughter. To every NFL team not named the Seahawks, the Broncos easily had the most stacked scoring unit in the league in 2013. You had Peyton Manning (of course), Knowshon Moreno, Wes Welker, Julius Thomas, and Eric Decker. But the one that shined the most out of everyone was Demaryius Thomas. The first-rounder led Georgia Tech in receiving in his three years there. He picked off where he left off in the pros—to say the least. Thomas was already physically acclimated to the professional level, as his combination of bullish strength and speed put him in the league’s elite class. However, it wasn’t until Manning put on the orange and blue in 2012 that Thomas started tapping into his potential. He’s been top five in the league in receiving yards for two straight years.

Team: Atlanta Falcons

Age: 25

2013 Stats: 580 yards, 41 receptions, two touchdowns

One of the reasons that the Falcons’ last season went so poorly was because of how badly the injury bug hit them. Julio Jones was one of them after he went through season-ending foot surgery in Week 5. That, combined with Roddy White’s injury issues, crippled Matt Ryan’s aerial threat. Jones said he wasn’t at full speed quite yet shortly before the regular season kicked off. That’s a bit unfortunate not just for Falcons fans, but also for fans of the game because Jones’ intense speed and great hands are a thrill to watch. Jones’ 10-touchdown season in 2012 wasn’t just luck.

Team: Chicago Bears

Age: 24

2013 Stats: 1,421 yards, 89 receptions, seven touchdowns

How could a Bears fan from the ’80s imagine that the storied franchise would be dead last in rushing yards allowed? But look at the potential of that passing game. Jay Cutler is a steady presence under center and Brandon Marshall is, well, one of the best receivers in the game. Then there’s the other emerging wideout from the SEC, Alshon Jeffery. What Jeffery has is impressive: A frame that’s long enough to grab what comes his way and strong enough to box out challenging defenders. It’s been consistently put to good use, too, in his short time in the league. Jeffery impressed with his 1,421 yards last season and set a Bears record for most receiving yards in a game (249 yards on Dec. 1). Then there is what couldbe—Marshall and Jeffery can really become the most powerful tandem in the league. Jeffery knows this and he doesn’t have to be modest about it.

Team: Green Bay Packers

Age: 29

2013 Stats: 1,314 yards, 85 receptions, eight touchdowns

The post-Donald Driver/Greg Jennings Packers look like they’re in pretty good hands with the emergence of the workhorse that is Jordy Nelson. His combination of speed (he ran a 4.51 at the combine) and intense focus has definitely paid off for Packers fans. Plus, he has nowhere to go but up. He’s showing no signs of slowing down and has other weapons on offense (running back Eddie Lacy) backing him. Also, not to discredit him, but with how hard Aaron Rodgers throws, you either catch the ball or the ball catches you.