TOP 25 WIDE RECEIVERS

By War Room Scouts

updated 10:56 p.m. ET July 24, 2008

The top wide receivers in the NFL can come with mercurial personalities and stand out as some of the league's premier prima donnas. But when they're quiet, just go out and do their jobs within their team's offense and show off their awesome athletic skills, no other position is more fun to watch.

The current crop of wide receivers features many promising youngsters, but two long-time dazzlers remain at the top:

1. Randy Moss, New England Patriots
Coming off 98 catches, 1,493 receiving yards and a league-record 23 receiving touchdowns, TD, Moss served notice that he still is the best in the game.

2. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys
Yes, Owens will be 35 in December, but he ranked in the top five in the NFL in receiving yards, yards per game, touchdowns and 20-plus yard receptions in 2007. He is truly right behind Moss.

3. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts
Wayne could make an argument for being the top receiver on this list. He adjusts well to coverage and can beat you deep or with strong route running underneath. Even with coverage rolled to him last season (with Marvin Harrison out with a knee injury), he still dominated.

4. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans
He is defined by size, speed, and a great set of hands. He needs to stay healthy, but based on pure talent and his physical tools, he deserves to be ranked this high.

5. Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts
Some will point to last season and argue he doesn't belong here. But consider Harrison had at least 85 receptions in seven of the past eight seasons and posted double-digit TDs in eight consecutive seasons before '07. If healthy -- the word we get is that he is -- he can return to being a dominant receiver.

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6. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Fitz is a do-it-all receiver who can either use his strength to overwhelm corners in press coverage or use his speed to stretch the field. He also is a dangerous red zone threat with great hands and the athleticism to make tough catches.

7. Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams
The owner of eight straight 1,000-yard seasons and at least 90 catches in each of the past six years, Holt continues to rank among the elite. Age and injuries are beginning to slow him down but haven't quite taken their toll yet.

8. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals
Johnson's offseason antics have lessened his status among the average fan, but he is an explosive player who stretches the field better than anyone. He still doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves for his route-running skills.

9. Plaxico Burress, New York Giants
What Burress did last season despite struggling through a myriad of injuries is nothing short of remarkable. Blessed with unbelievable skills and physical tools, he is definitely a top-10 receiver when his head is on straight.

10. Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers
Smith could certainly earn consideration for a higher spot on this list, but if 2007 proved anything, it's that Smith can't do it himself. With Jake Delhomme back under center, and improvements to the Panthers' receiving corps, offensive line and running game, Smith can easily reestablish himself among the upper echelon.

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