Top 5 wide receivers in the NFC North in 2024, ranked

Few divisions have as much wide receiver talent as the NFC North. The Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings all feature in our top five rankings.

To get a better idea of just how talented the receiving depth is in the NFC North, let's consider the players who don't make our top five.

Chicago's first-round pick Rome Odunze needs to prove himself first, but he has sky-high potential in the NFL and could soon become one of the best pass-catchers in the entire league. Green Bay's Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks are all breakout candidates in 2024, and the same goes for Minnesota's second-year receiver Jordan Addison.

Which players make the top five?

Ranking the best NFC North wide receivers in 2024: Packers' Christian Watson makes top five

5. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

If any Packers receiver is going to become the "true WR1," it's Christian Watson. He is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses when healthy, but that's the crucial part: When healthy. The latest updates are encouraging about Watson's recovery from a frustrating hamstring issue.

With his size, speed, and athleticism, Watson draws attention from defenses terrified of getting burned deep downfield, which he is so good at. It often creates space underneath for the other Packers receivers, highlighting Watson's value even when the ball isn't going his way. Watson scores touchdowns for fun, with 12 in only 20 career starts.

The sky is the limit for the former second-round pick if he can avoid injury.

4. Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears

It doesn't matter that Keenan Allen recently turned 32. He is still on top of his game. Allen has consistently been one of the best route-runners in the league, making getting open look easy. Before injury cost him the final four games last season, Allen had already made 108 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns, earning his sixth Pro Bowl selection.

Allen hasn't completed a full season since 2019, but when he's available, there's little defensive backs can do to stop him.

3. DJ Moore, Chicago Bears

DJ Moore posted unbelievable numbers in his first season with the Bears despite playing in a struggling offense as the only reliable target. The addition of quarterback Caleb Williams and receivers Allen and Odunze could lead to Moore's best season yet.

Moore posted career-best numbers last year with 96 catches for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns. It's hard to believe he didn't make the Pro Bowl—that's changing sooner rather than later.

2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown just gets better and better every season. Jared Goff leaned on him all year long—St. Brown caught 119 of 164 targets for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2023.

St. Brown is phenomenal after the catch and is the go-to target in one of the league's best offenses. This offseason, the former fourth-round pick became the second-highest-paid wide receiver in football, signing a four-year deal worth $30 million annually.

1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson has been a top-five NFL wide receiver since the moment the Vikings drafted him. He isn't just the NFC North's top receiver, but the best in the entire league.

The former first-round pick is unstoppable, earning three All-Pro honors and three Pro Bowl selections in his first four seasons. Despite being limited to just 10 games last season, Jefferson still put up 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. In 2022, he led the league in receptions and receiving yards, catching 128 passes for 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns.

Jefferson can do it all and is the best wide receiver in football.

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