527 replies to this topic

[Mackus]

I'd definitely view it over a shorter time period than a player's entire career.  Yearly or a short period of years.  Not many guys are #1s for their entire career, those guys go to the Hall of Fame.  Certainly you could make that you definition, this is all subjective, but I think that's too narrow to be meaningful.  Another example for why I wouldn't need to define it over a many years stretch is because you kind of know right away and you also know when a former great has lost it.  What a guy did last year doesn't matter, only what they are doing now.  Ja'marr Chase and Justin Jefferson sure look like #1s to me, and they haven't done it very long.  Julio Jones and AJ Green aren't #1 any longer, but they sure were for most of a decade.

 

I like the idea of defining it as someone an opposing defense needs to gameplan to control.  I think that applies to more receivers than you are seeming to indicate here.  And of course that also depends heavily on the defense in question, a team with Jalen Ramsey or another shutdown corner doesn't need to do very complex gameplanning against a top receiver, you just hope your guy outplays theirs.

[Slidemaster]

I'd definitely view it over a shorter time period than a player's entire career. Yearly or a short period of years. Not many guys are #1s for their entire career, those guys go to the Hall of Fame. Certainly you could make that you definition, this is all subjective, but I think that's too narrow to be meaningful. Another example for why I wouldn't need to define it over a many years stretch is because you kind of know right away and you also know when a former great has lost it. What a guy did last year doesn't matter, only what they are doing now. Ja'marr Chase and Justin Jefferson sure look like #1s to me, and they haven't done it very long. Julio Jones and AJ Green aren't #1 any longer, but they sure were for most of a decade.

I like the idea of defining it as someone an opposing defense needs to gameplan to control. I think that applies to more receivers than you are seeming to indicate here. And of course that also depends heavily on the defense in question, a team with Jalen Ramsey or another shutdown corner doesn't need to do very complex gameplanning against a top receiver, you just hope your guy outplays theirs.

Maybe the best way to do this is to have a set of criteria that tends to indicate a true No.1, and if he checks enough boxes he probably qualifies.

I'd like to also add the criteria of being multifaceted and skilled enough to line up all over the offense. They probably have a diverse route tree and aren't easily schemed out of producing. One trick pony, I-can-run-faster-than-you-can-run receivers aren't No.1s to me, even if their numbers look good on the surface.

[jamesdean]

You can have all the No.1 receivers in the world but if you don't have an elite quarterback, it isn't going to amount to much.  I'll take the elite quarterback after suffering through two full decades of mediocrity to downright futility.  The Ravens have enough receivers to collectively do the same amount of damage one All-Pro would. 

[Mackus]

Maybe the best way to do this is to have a set of criteria that tends to indicate a true No.1, and if he checks enough boxes he probably qualifies.

I'd like to also add the criteria of being multifaceted and skilled enough to line up all over the offense. They probably have a diverse route tree and aren't easily schemed out of producing. One trick pony, I-can-run-faster-than-you-can-run receivers aren't No.1s to me, even if their numbers look good on the surface.

 

So how many #1 guys do you think there are? Just Hopkins, Adams, and Hill meet all your criteria.  They have size (except Hill), speed, line up everywhere, currently dangerous (eliminates emeritus #1s like Thomas, Jones, Brown and Green), and have done it for more than a few years. 

 

I guess you included Evans and Godwin earlier...Godwin has only had one good year before this season, so who else qualifies if he qualifies?  That would seem to let in another ten or so guys.  For example I think Diggs, Brown, Ridley, Moore, Cooper, Kupp, Jefferson, Allen, Metcalf, and maybe some others are in the mix with Godwin.  I consider all of those guys #1s, by the way.  I'd say there are between 15-20 legit #1 WR in the league.  Not every team has one.  A few teams have two.

[Slidemaster]

So how many #1 guys do you think there are? Just Hopkins, Adams, and Hill meet all your criteria. They have size (except Hill), speed, line up everywhere, currently dangerous (eliminates emeritus #1s like Thomas, Jones, Brown and Green), and have done it for more than a few years.

I guess you included Evans and Godwin earlier...Godwin has only had one good year before this season, so who else qualifies if he qualifies? That would seem to let in another ten or so guys. For example I think Diggs, Brown, Ridley, Moore, Cooper, Kupp, Jefferson, Allen, Metcalf, and maybe some others are in the mix with Godwin. I consider all of those guys #1s, by the way. I'd say there are between 15-20 legit #1 WR in the league. Not every team has one. A few teams have two.

I don't think every guy has to meet every criteria, but the one I'm the most willing to budge on is having done it for several years. If they can continue it into the second year then I'm more or less convinced, especially considering a player's prime is rarely longer than 5-6 years.

With that in mind I'd say Hopkins, Adams, Hill, Jefferson, Godwin, Evans, Cooper, Diggs, Kupp. I think Lamb, Metcalf, McLaurin, and Chase are more arguable, but I could probably be convinced on them. Hollywood is close. Moore is just out for me, and that may be a quarterback issue. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone.

[Mackus]

You argument definitely loses points for not putting Cooper and Kupp sequentially in your list of current #1s.

[Slidemaster]

You argument definitely loses points for not putting Cooper and Kupp sequentially in your list of current #1s.

I'm ashamed of myself.

[jamesdean]

I'm ashamed of myself.

You should be, you bad seed.