Good hands WRs (1 Viewer)

[Team Canada]

I really like WRs that have good hands and I'd like to compile a list of WRs who catch the ball with their hands and do not rely on their bodies. I don't have a full list and don't get to see all WRs every week. I get to see all the WRs that play my local team (Pats), but I'm looking for the insider info. I don't have a strong theory what to do with the info, other than I have a man crush on this ability. Part of my theory is that those who can catch the ball with their hands are in better position to make that one key move after the catch. They typically have their head up and have better vision as soon as they have the ball. All that translates into the homerun potential.

Think of the Pats. Wes Welker is the posession receiver and Moss is the deep threat. If you're not in a ppr then I think a little more value goes to the good hands WRs.

So far I have this Jennings, Moss, Boldin, Fitz, Wayne, Collie, Garcon, Austin,Colston.

 

[TPW]

Looking for a list of WRs who can catch the ball with their hands

Here you go.

 

[bonesman]

I would still like an expert on the position explain why & when you're supposed to hands catch again.

It makes sense that it would be in traffic because if you get hit at the same time you're trying to trap the ball it'll more easily be knocked out.

... but when a HOFer like Michael Irvin says you should catch the ball w/ your body in traffic, it forces me to reevaluate what I've always considered pretty common sense.

I think if there was a way to quantify concentration, I would take the player w/ the better that than the better hands catching technique.

 

[Jeff Haseley]

Usually WRs with good run after the catch skills, also are the ones who catch the ball away from their frame. What Michael Irvin is saying is that it is good to catch the ball with your body, if you are in heavy coverage and contact is made at the point of the reception.

There are a lot of WRs who excel in catching the ball with their hands. Proably too many to mention. It is considered a good skill to have though when scouts are evaluating talent. Reliable hands, concentration and the ability to shield defenders from the ball are all very good characteristics when recognizing talent, especially if the WR doesn't have blazing fast speed. Guys like Brandon Marshall, Anquan Boldin, Mike Sims-Walker, Miles Austin, Jerricho Cotchery and Pierre Garcon are all examples of having these skills, without top end speed. All were also drafted in the 2nd round or later. I have an article coming out soon that will delve deeper into this.

 

[jude]

Looking for a list of WRs who can catch the ball with their hands

Here you go.

Yup, if you dont catch with your hands in the NFL, you don't make it.

 

[BINGBING]

DHB / thread

 

[Garts]

Best hands catcher I ever saw was Torry Holt.

Pluck anything near him.

Now, not so much

 

[spider321]

... but when a HOFer like Michael Irvin says you should catch the ball w/ your body in traffic, it forces me to reevaluate what I've always considered pretty common sense.

That was the cocaine talking.

 

[cr8f]

Looking for a list of WRs who can catch the ball with their hands

Here you go.

This guy was on your list.

 

[Glaven]

Pretty well every top 20 WR is a hands catcher. It's pretty well a requirement to become a top notch WR. Even someone like Terrell Owens, who has below average hands, uses proper hands catching technique which allowed him to become one of the greatest WRs of all time.

 

[offdee]

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Crabtree are the best pure hands catchers in the NFL right now.

 

[sho nuff]

Jennings did not have good hands last year unfortunately...at least not to start the year.

 

[Two Deep]

James Jones is the Ultimate hands catcher. He does not let any throw into his body regardless of where he is at on the field.

 

[Multiple Scores]

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Crabtree are the best pure hands catchers in the NFL right now.

 

[Two Deep]

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Crabtree are the best pure hands catchers in the NFL right now.

James Jones

 

[bigmiiiiike]

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Crabtree are the best pure hands catchers in the NFL right now.

James Jones

Don't forget Antonio Bryant

 

[Donnybrook]

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Crabtree Sydney Rice are the best pure hands catchers in the NFL right now.

Fixed. Even Crabtree will admit that he dropped the ball too much last season.

 

[haterade]

Marshall

 

[FavreAndAwayAnIdiot]

Cris Carter= best evah.

 

[Sweet Love]

James Jones is the Ultimate hands catcher. He does not let any throw into his body regardless of where he is at on the field.

Is that necessarily a good thing? I have no clue, but just curious as that seems like a very "definitive rule".

 

[Glaven]

James Jones is the Ultimate hands catcher. He does not let any throw into his body regardless of where he is at on the field.

Is that necessarily a good thing? I have no clue, but just curious as that seems like a very "definitive rule".

It's a very good thing. Players who try to trap the ball against their chest are making themselves susceptible to a variety of bad outcomes, some of the prominent ones are:1) It gives the defender more time to make a play on the ball2) You need to time the trapping perfectly, otherwise the ball will hit your chest and will bounce off which will more than likely lead to a dropped pass. 3) If you are able to trap the ball against your chest, the motion to then put the ball in your dominant hand to run with the ball is more difficult and takes longer than for a person who initially catches the ball with their hands. This again gives the defender more time to make a play on the ball and it can also lead to a dropped pass

 

[Team Canada]

Thanks guys. I know it's a tough thing to pin down, but when I see a few guys with the potential to lay out, reach out and trap the ball with their hands and hold onto it as they're going to the ground then it means a few good things to me.

1: Their QB knows that he can toss it out of bounds where the wr can put his hands and still have his feet in. AKA, faith to toss it where only his WR can get it. That translates into more looks in my book.

2: A ball thrown away from the body might end up in a rec as opposed to a pass attempt. An extra .5 or point in many leagues.

3: They spend less time messing with the ball and have a better opportunity to see the field.

I know it also means that it is less stable and maybe a higher percentage of a fumble.

I'm not looking for a showboat who always catches the ball away from his body, I don't like that habit. I want a WR who can protect the ball first. NOW, if I can qualify this skill and find the WRs that excell at this plus have the brains to protect the ball then I figure I have a little known fact that maybe results in the QB being more likely to take a shot and the WR more likely to pull the balls in. And with that extra split second and a less crunched body I think the wr has a better shot at the one move he needs on the corner to make the difference between a reception and a reception for a TD.

Sure we could skip all this and see the guys with the pass attempt - to - receptions percentage, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Like I say it's a skill man crush I have an want to explore. Thanks to everyone for their input and esp the guys describing the unwritten rules on WR receiving.

I'll investigate more and I was surprised to see some of the names like Crabtree, Sid Rice, and James Jones. I don't get to see everyone in action and I don't have direct tv with recorded game tape to pour over.

Cheers.

 

[Trey]

Not Ted Ginn.

 

[Team Canada]

Not Ted Ginn.

Brayle Edwards missed the cut too.

 

[lynx4ben]

I see a lot of people mentioning James Jones. He was second in the league in drop pct. last year.

 

[Demian]

Jason Avant has amazing hands.

 

[bonesman]

I see a lot of people mentioning James Jones. He was second in the league in drop pct. last year.

He dropped all those passes w/ his hands though... not his body

 

[cr8f]

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Crabtree Sydney Rice are the best pure hands catchers in the NFL right now.

Fixed. Even Crabtree will admit that he dropped the ball too much last season.

Yes. Fitz is the best right now MO. Trouble is the QB this year.

James Jones has huge hands and is a an excellent hands man but drops some too. Jennings had an injury plagued year early but Rodgers lack of throwing time was also a problem.

Top (over 50)targets

Mike Thomas JAX 62 3.9 4.4 48 453 9.4 1 77.4

Wes Welker NE 162 10.1 11.6 123 1348 11.0 4 75.9

Kevin Walter HOU70 4.4 5.0 53 611 11.5 2 75.7

Greg Camarillo MIA71 4.4 4.4 50 552 11.0 0 70.4

Robert Meachem 64 4.0 4.0 45 722 16.0 9 70.3

Hines Ward PIT 136 8.5 8.5 95 1167 12.3 6 69.9

Sidney Rice MIN 122 7.6 7.6 84 1312 15.6 8 68.9

Julian Edelman NE 54 3.4 4.9 37 359 9.7 1 68.5

Steve Smith NYG 157 9.8 9.8 107 1220 11.4 7 68.2

Davone Bess MIA 113 7.1 7.1 76 758 10.0 2 67.3

Reggie Wayne IND 149 9.3 9.3 100 1264 12.6 10 67.1

Steve Breaston ARI 82 5.1 5.5 55 712 12.9 3 67.1

Austin Collie IND 90 5.6 5.6 60 676 11.3 7 66.7

Anquan Boldin ARI128 8.0 8.5 85 1029 12.1 5 66.4

Marques Colston NO 106 6.6 6.6 70 1074 15.3 9 66.0

Percy Harvin MIN91 5.7 6.1 60 790 13.2 6 65.9

Antwaan Randle El WAS 76 4.8 4.8 50 530 10.6 0 65.8

Brandon Marshall DEN 154 9.6 10.3 101 1120 11.1 10 65.6

2008

Brandon Marshall DEN 181 11.3 12.1 104 1265 12.2 6 57.5

Andre Johnson HOU 170 10.6 10.6 115 1575 13.7 8 67.6

Dwayne Bowe KC 157 9.8 9.8 86 1022 11.9 7 54.8

Larry Fitzgerald ARI 154 9.6 9.6 96 1434 14.9 12 62.3

Calvin Johnson DET 151 9.4 9.4 78 1331 17.1 12 51.7

Wes Welker NE 150 9.4 9.4 112 1165 10.4 3 74.7

Roddy White ATL 148 9.2 9.2 88 1382 15.7 7 59.5

Terrell Owens DAL140 8.8 8.8 69 1052 15.2 10 49.3

Greg Jennings GB 140 8.8 8.8 80 1292 16.1 9 57.1

Santana Moss WAS 138 8.6 8.6 79 1044 13.2 6 57.2

Braylon Edwards CLE 138 8.6 8.6 55 877 15.9 3 39.9

T.J. Houshmandzadeh CIN 137 8.6 9.1 92 904 9.8 4 67.2

Antonio Bryant TB 137 8.6 8.6 83 1248 15.0 7 60.6

Reggie Wayne IND 131 8.2 8.2 82 1145 14.0 6 62.6

Eddie Royal DEN 129 8.1 8.6 91 980 10.8 5 70.5

Steve Smith CAR 128 8.0 9.1 78 1417 18.2 6 60.9

Hines Ward PIT 126 7.9 7.9 82 1047 12.8 7 65.1

Randy Moss NE 126 7.9 7.9 69 1008 14.6 11 54.8

Anquan Boldin ARI 126 7.9 10.5 89 1038 11.7 11 70.6

Derrick Mason BAL 121 7.6 7.6 80 1037 13.0 5 66.1

DeSean Jackson PHI 121 7.6 7.6 62 912 14.7 2 51.2

Lance Moore NO 119 7.4 7.4 79 928 11.7 10 66.4

Torry Holt STL 119 7.4 7.4 64 796 12.4 3 53.8

Laveranues Coles NYJ 116 7.2 7.2 70 850 12.1 7 60.3

Donald Driver GB 115 7.2 7.2 74 1012 13.7

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Hines Ward jumped to the front of my mind, guy is a baller. I tend to value the 30+ age WRs because practice makes perfect, right?

Miles Austin sure seems to be one of the younger WRs with some serious skills especially hands. He made some dazzling catches last season.

If I was a QB, Hines Ward would be one of the 1st names I would want lining up at WR. Great hands, uses them to block too, and he's smart. I love all three of those things/

 

[Xue]

Yes. Fitz is the best right now MO. Trouble is the QB this year.

James Jones has huge hands and is a an excellent hands man but drops some too. Jennings had an injury plagued year early but Rodgers lack of throwing time was also a problem.

Top (over 50)targets

Mike Thomas JAX 62 3.9 4.4 48 453 9.4 1 77.4

Wes Welker NE 162 10.1 11.6 123 1348 11.0 4 75.9

Kevin Walter HOU70 4.4 5.0 53 611 11.5 2 75.7

Greg Camarillo MIA71 4.4 4.4 50 552 11.0 0 70.4

Robert Meachem 64 4.0 4.0 45 722 16.0 9 70.3

Hines Ward PIT 136 8.5 8.5 95 1167 12.3 6 69.9

Sidney Rice MIN 122 7.6 7.6 84 1312 15.6 8 68.9

Julian Edelman NE 54 3.4 4.9 37 359 9.7 1 68.5

Steve Smith NYG 157 9.8 9.8 107 1220 11.4 7 68.2

Davone Bess MIA 113 7.1 7.1 76 758 10.0 2 67.3

Reggie Wayne IND 149 9.3 9.3 100 1264 12.6 10 67.1

Steve Breaston ARI 82 5.1 5.5 55 712 12.9 3 67.1

Austin Collie IND 90 5.6 5.6 60 676 11.3 7 66.7

Anquan Boldin ARI128 8.0 8.5 85 1029 12.1 5 66.4

Marques Colston NO 106 6.6 6.6 70 1074 15.3 9 66.0

Percy Harvin MIN91 5.7 6.1 60 790 13.2 6 65.9

Antwaan Randle El WAS 76 4.8 4.8 50 530 10.6 0 65.8

Brandon Marshall DEN 154 9.6 10.3 101 1120 11.1 10 65.6

2008

Brandon Marshall DEN 181 11.3 12.1 104 1265 12.2 6 57.5

Andre Johnson HOU 170 10.6 10.6 115 1575 13.7 8 67.6

Dwayne Bowe KC 157 9.8 9.8 86 1022 11.9 7 54.8

Larry Fitzgerald ARI 154 9.6 9.6 96 1434 14.9 12 62.3

Calvin Johnson DET 151 9.4 9.4 78 1331 17.1 12 51.7

Wes Welker NE 150 9.4 9.4 112 1165 10.4 3 74.7

Roddy White ATL 148 9.2 9.2 88 1382 15.7 7 59.5

Terrell Owens DAL140 8.8 8.8 69 1052 15.2 10 49.3

Greg Jennings GB 140 8.8 8.8 80 1292 16.1 9 57.1

Santana Moss WAS 138 8.6 8.6 79 1044 13.2 6 57.2

Braylon Edwards CLE 138 8.6 8.6 55 877 15.9 3 39.9

T.J. Houshmandzadeh CIN 137 8.6 9.1 92 904 9.8 4 67.2

Antonio Bryant TB 137 8.6 8.6 83 1248 15.0 7 60.6

Reggie Wayne IND 131 8.2 8.2 82 1145 14.0 6 62.6

Eddie Royal DEN 129 8.1 8.6 91 980 10.8 5 70.5

Steve Smith CAR 128 8.0 9.1 78 1417 18.2 6 60.9

Hines Ward PIT 126 7.9 7.9 82 1047 12.8 7 65.1

Randy Moss NE 126 7.9 7.9 69 1008 14.6 11 54.8

Anquan Boldin ARI 126 7.9 10.5 89 1038 11.7 11 70.6

Derrick Mason BAL 121 7.6 7.6 80 1037 13.0 5 66.1

DeSean Jackson PHI 121 7.6 7.6 62 912 14.7 2 51.2

Lance Moore NO 119 7.4 7.4 79 928 11.7 10 66.4

Torry Holt STL 119 7.4 7.4 64 796 12.4 3 53.8

Laveranues Coles NYJ 116 7.2 7.2 70 850 12.1 7 60.3

Donald Driver GB 115 7.2 7.2 74 1012 13.7

Your 2008 list is sorted by Targets instead of Catch %.

 

[Team Canada]

2008 WRs with more than 75 targets sorted by rec percentage. Although interesting it doesn't pull out the good hands WRs vs body catchers. It is a good sanity check to make sure we're not missing anyone important.

Player Targ REC TD Rec%

Wes Welker 150 112 3 74.7

Anthony Gonzalez 79 57 4 72.2

Davone Bess 75 54 1 72

Anquan Boldin 126 89 11 70.6

Eddie Royal 129 91 5 70.5

Josh Reed 80 56 1 70

Steve Smith 82 57 1 69.5

Steve Breaston 113 77 3 68.1

Andre Johnson 170 115 8 67.6

T.J. Houshmandzadeh 137 92 4 67.2

Lance Moore 119 79 10 66.4

Greg Camarillo 83 55 2 66.3

Derrick Mason 121 80 5 66.1

Hines Ward 126 82 7 65.1

Donald Driver 115 74 5 64.3

Jerricho Cotchery 111 71 5 64

Kevin Walter 95 60 8 63.2

Reggie Wayne 131 82 6 62.6

Larry Fitzgerald 154 96 12 62.3

Lee Evans 102 63 3 61.8

Michael Jenkins 81 50 3 61.7

Steve Smith 128 78 6 60.9

Antonio Bryant 137 83 7 60.6

Laveranues Coles 116 70 7 60.3

Bobby Wade 88 53 2 60.2

Ted Ginn 93 56 2 60.2

Muhsin Muhammad 108 65 5 60.2

Bryant Johnson 75 45 3 60

Matt Jones 107 64 2 59.8

Roddy White 148 88 7 59.5

Bobby Engram 80 47 0 58.8

Vincent Jackson 101 59 7 58.4

Brandon Stokley 85 49 3 57.6

Brandon Marshall 181 104 6 57.5

 

[Tyrion]

I really like WRs that have good hands and I'd like to compile a list of WRs who catch the ball with their hands and do not rely on their bodies. I don't have a full list and don't get to see all WRs every week. I get to see all the WRs that play my local team (Pats), but I'm looking for the insider info. I don't have a strong theory what to do with the info, other than I have a man crush on this ability. Part of my theory is that those who can catch the ball with their hands are in better position to make that one key move after the catch. They typically have their head up and have better vision as soon as they have the ball. All that translates into the homerun potential. Think of the Pats. Wes Welker is the posession receiver and Moss is the deep threat. If you're not in a ppr then I think a little more value goes to the good hands WRs. So far I have this Jennings, Moss, Boldin, Fitz, Wayne, Collie, Garcon, Austin,Colston.

Dez Bryant.

 

[thatguy]

Marshall

+1 He is like Fitz-light in this area. Has an amazing catch radius and almost always attacks the ball with hands rather than letting it come to him. It's a thing of beauty.

 

[Deuceman]

Hines Ward jumped to the front of my mind, guy is a baller. I tend to value the 30+ age WRs because practice makes perfect, right? Miles Austin sure seems to be one of the younger WRs with some serious skills especially hands. He made some dazzling catches last season. If I was a QB, Hines Ward would be one of the 1st names I would want lining up at WR. Great hands, uses them to block too, and he's smart. I love all three of those things/

Hines Ward is not a good hands WR. He cradles the ball a lot. He jumps to catch the ball very frequently.

 

[baldbird]

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Crabtree are the best pure hands catchers in the NFL right now.

Brandon Marshall

 

[baldbird]

I really like WRs that have good hands and I'd like to compile a list of WRs who catch the ball with their hands and do not rely on their bodies. I don't have a full list and don't get to see all WRs every week. I get to see all the WRs that play my local team (Pats), but I'm looking for the insider info. I don't have a strong theory what to do with the info, other than I have a man crush on this ability. Part of my theory is that those who can catch the ball with their hands are in better position to make that one key move after the catch. They typically have their head up and have better vision as soon as they have the ball. All that translates into the homerun potential. Think of the Pats. Wes Welker is the posession receiver and Moss is the deep threat. If you're not in a ppr then I think a little more value goes to the good hands WRs. So far I have this Jennings, Moss, Boldin, Fitz, Wayne, Collie, Garcon, Austin,Colston.

Dez Bryant.

LOL only a dallas fan .. lets wait to see what this guy can do in the nfl. I have watched some tape on Dez and was not tha impressed

 

[Tyrion]

I really like WRs that have good hands and I'd like to compile a list of WRs who catch the ball with their hands and do not rely on their bodies. I don't have a full list and don't get to see all WRs every week. I get to see all the WRs that play my local team (Pats), but I'm looking for the insider info. I don't have a strong theory what to do with the info, other than I have a man crush on this ability. Part of my theory is that those who can catch the ball with their hands are in better position to make that one key move after the catch. They typically have their head up and have better vision as soon as they have the ball. All that translates into the homerun potential. Think of the Pats. Wes Welker is the posession receiver and Moss is the deep threat. If you're not in a ppr then I think a little more value goes to the good hands WRs. So far I have this Jennings, Moss, Boldin, Fitz, Wayne, Collie, Garcon, Austin,Colston.

Dez Bryant.

LOL only a dallas fan .. lets wait to see what this guy can do in the nfl. I have watched some tape on Dez and was not tha impressed

LOL only a Philly fan. The guy asked for WRs that catch the ball with their hands. A WR isn't going stop catching the ball with their hands because they are playing on an NFL field instead of a college field.

 

[Donnybrook]

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Crabtree Sydney Rice are the best pure hands catchers in the NFL right now.

Fixed. Even Crabtree will admit that he dropped the ball too much last season.

Nothing changed so far

 

[Andy Herron]

Say what you want about the guy, but Patrick Crayton is another good hands receiver.

I watched him do it for years here in Dallas, and for many of those years he graded out as having the best hands on the team.

It's a shame that many only remember the notorious drop he had against the Giants in the playoffs in 2007, which was over the shoulder by the way. Anything in front of him which allows him to extend his hands he's money in the bank.