PFF - Top 25 Wide Receivers for 2020

PFF - Top WR 2020

9. GEORGE PICKENS, GEORGIA
Not only was George Pickens the best true freshman receiver in the country, but he was among the 20 best receivers in terms of PFF grade. He wasn’t the best in contested situations, but he had reliable hands downfield and was just one of 11 receivers who saw more than 25 catchable targets and didn't drop a single pass.


4. JAYLEN WADDLE, ALABAMA
The true sophomore saw a dip in usage from his freshman campaign in 2018, but he still showed why he'd be one of the top receivers in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Waddle has been one of top slot receivers college football has seen over the last few seasons, as his two-year PFF grade at the alignment trails only Ceedee Lamb over that span. On top of that, he trails only Ceedee once again in both yards after the catch per reception and passer rating generated in the slot.

In 2019 specifically, Waddle was the third-most valuable non-quarterback in college football, according to PFF WAA. That bumped his career total to fourth among wide receivers in the PFF College era.


2. DEVONTA SMITH, ALABAMA
Smith had to share the field with surefire first-round picks Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs this year, but that didn’t stop him from dominating, as he averaged 3.52 yards per route run on the year, sixth among 359 qualifying wide receivers. When you turn on Smith’s tape, the first thing you’ll notice is that he is near impossible to guard in press coverage.

Against press coverage, Smith owns the highest raw PFF grade among qualifying wide receivers and has racked up 29.7 yards per reception, which is the most in the nation by over four yards.


1. JA’MARR CHASE, LSU
Ja’Marr Chase’s true sophomore season could not have gone much better. His 90.6 overall grade is the fifth-best at his position, and his PFF WAA was among the 30 best in college football, regardless of position. Chase's biggest strength is his ability to go toe-to-toe against press coverage, either torching his coverage defender off the line or winning in a contested situation downfield. As shown in the above table, Chase was tested several times in press coverage, and it clearly was not a good idea. Nine of those 10 touchdowns against press coverage came on a 20-plus yard target. For perspective, only one receiver had more than nine deep catches against press coverage altogether in 2019.

Chase’s numbers are staggering across the board. He’s hauled in 14 of his 16 catchable contested targets, his 41 plays of 15-plus yards are four more than any other wide receiver in the FBS and his 21 broken tackles after the catch are the seventh-most in the country.