Rank our WRs

[Essex Johnson]

(05-23-2016, 08:44 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: 1. Is he, though? I like AJ a bunch, but I think it might be a stretch to call him a top 5 WR right this second.
WR yard rankings...
2015: 8th
2014: 19th
2013: 5th
2012: 10th
2011: 17th

Really think that right now people who remove their orange tinted glasses would be hard pressed to honestly say AJ is a top 5 WR. Jones, Brown, Hopkins, Marshall, OBJ, Robinson, heck.. even Thomas put up more yards with some of the worst QB play in the league. That's not counting Nelson, Bryant, and Jeffery being hurt. Plus Hilton nipping at AJ's heels.

I think this is a case of AJ has been consistently very good, but he's never taken that next step forward. It's like his floor was ridiculously high coming into the league, but his ceiling was at or right near the exact same height, so there was no room for improvement. It seems other WRs who started with a lower floor are taking that step, though, and passing him. He's still a top 10 guy.

2. Kroft finished with 11/129/1 in 16 games/6 starts. Dude started two games where he had blank stat sheets. A third where his stats were 1 catch for 4 yards. I am not quite sure that's eating crow territory, Shake.


3. Agreed with you on that, though... with a SLIGHT alteration. I don't care who else fills out the depth chart, so long as it's not Brandon Tate, Greg Little, and Dane Sanzenbacher. LOL

First once you start playing in NFL, where you got drafted has little overall meaning.  If you are good, you are good.. so I don;t consider much on comparing a 1st round pick to a 3rd round pick etc over a career. 

As for judging a player, you really need I believe 4 to 5 years as a starter to really judge you since there are so many variables year to year.  With that said.. you look at AJ's numbers over a 5 year period right now.. some of the players you mentioned don;t compare to AJ  ie Marshall and Hopkins.  Granted Hopkins could be better but lets evaluate in two more years.  Jones and Brown are similar numbers overall. 

The big difference I see in last year numbers is targets.... AJ had 132 and just 117 the year before.  Last year Jones 203, Hopkins 192  Brown 193 and Marshall 173.   Give AJ even 175 targets last year, his numbers would be even higher  based on his YPC that would give him 1,600 yards last year and 13 TDS.. 

but think about what he still has accomplished over five years of service   1,234 yards per game, 14.9 YPC and 9 TDs  a season.. that is impressive and to me warrants top 5 type status especially when we start to factor in lack of targets last couple years.  

Finally lets see what happens over the next five years but if he averages the same the  next five, he would finish with 12,340 yards, 90 TDS which would put him around top 20 in yards and around top 10 in TDS in just 10 seasons.. that is possible HOF numbers for just 10 seasons