Record book shows Pats are the best, but other teams closing in fast

Originally Published: July 9, 2008

The record book shows the Pats are still the best, but plenty of talented receiving corps sit right behind them in the top 10.

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By Keith Kidd
Scouts Inc.
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With a group that scored 589 points and had a receiver set an NFL record for TD catches, it's tough to argue that the New England's isn't the best group of receivers in the league. But while the Patriots snag the top spot, there are plenty of great receiving corps in the top 10.

1. New England Patriots

Led by QB Tom Brady and his amazing supporting cast, the Patriots scored an NFL-record 589 points. WR Randy Moss is coming off one of the all-time great seasons by a wide receiver, with 98 catches for 1,493 yards and an NFL-record 23 TD catches. He is still a spectacular athlete who has the explosive ability to attack all levels in the passing game. Wes Welker is a very instinctive slot receiver with the knack to find soft spots and the ability to get open in the short and intermediate areas in the passing game. Jabar Gaffney is a solid No. 3 receiver who has a great rapport with Brady. He makes a lot of plays with the backend when opponents focus on stopping either Moss or Welker. Two players to keep an eye on this year are former second-round pick Chad Jackson, who has been hampered by injuries over his short career, and veteran backup Kelley Washington.

2. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are the No. 2 team due to their amazing duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Both players are big-time receivers who place a tremendous amount of pressure on opposing defenses' backend. These two thrive off of one another, and few teams in the league have a better situation at wide receiver. Fitzgerald has great size and enough speed to go along with his excellent hands and body control. He excels in the red zone and can stretch the field or eat a cornerback alive with his possession routes. Boldin is probably the No. 2 option in this offense, but he is a true No. 1 on just about any team in the league. He has great size and physicality. He is tough and makes a lot of big plays after the catch. There are a host of candidates who will compete for the No. 3 role, led by third-round pick Early Doucet, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban and Ahmad Merritt.

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