Why don't we wait another 4-5 years are you not sure it's just injuries and pooling of WR depth on certain teams causing the rookies to have more chances? For instance in GB you have Adams who was coming along but the injury to Boykin put in on the front lines this year.
You look at Kelvin and Sammy and you see rookies who were thrust in as the primary options on team who otherwise are lacking after getting ride of last years WR1 on those teams.
I feel you have some good pieces on the board above but what happens next year? Do a lot of these rookies get replaced because veterans are coming back from injury or a new rookie comes in to town?
Why don't you go back and read the parameters.
Ummm why dont you change the title of topic? You are asking if this crop of rookies is the BEST EVER.... I am calling into question the premise that are they that great or is it more to do with the fact that teams have been forced to utilize them in their rookie year thus forcing the numbers up.Example Matt Flynn comes in during week 17 for the Packers and throws for 400+ yards and multiple TDs. Is it because he is so great? or is it because the Packers forced him into the game to rest Rodgers and the team is good?
In order to go to the numbers though I decided to run an analysis of WRs since 2000:
Requirement to make list (2 receptions per game, 40 yards per game, no TD requirement)
Reasons: for requirements
Receptions: 2 receptions was set above by another poster
Yards: 40 yards is deemed at least average in my mind for a WR (in 2014 WR68 Percy Harvin is at 40.6 yards a game)
TDs: Since this is a very team based stat for all except the elite I feel this can not be measured by
2000: 3 (Darrell Jackson JaJuan Dawson Sylvester Morris)
2001: 2 (Chris Chambers Rod Gardner)
2002: 3 (Antonio Bryant Donte' Stallworth Jason McAddley)
2003: 3 (Andre Johnson Anquan Boldin Charles Rogers)
2004: 5 (Keary Colbert Larry Fitzgerald Lee Evans Michael Clayton Roy Williams)
2005: 1 (Braylon Edwards)
2006: 3 (Greg Jennings Marques Colston Santonio Holmes)
2007: 4 (Anthony Gonzalez Calvin Johnson Dwayne Bowe James Jones)
2008: 3 (DeSean Jackson Donnie Avery Eddie Royal)
2009: 7 (Austin Collie Hakeem Nicks Jeremy Maclin Kenny Britt Michael Crabtree Mike Wallace Percy Harvin)
2010: 6 (Adrian Arrington Anthony Armstrong Dez Bryant Dezmon Briscoe Jordan Shipley Mike Williams)
2011: 8 (A.J. Green Denarius Moore Doug Baldwin Greg Little Greg Salas Julio Jones Leonard Hankerson Torrey Smith)
2012: 5 (Chris Givens Jarius Wright Justin Blackmon Kendall Wright T.Y. Hilton)
2013: 6 (Aaron Dobson DeAndre Hopkins Keenan Allen Kenny Stills Robert Woods Terrance Williams)
2014: 9 (Allen Hurns Allen Robinson Brandin Cooks John Brown Kelvin Benjamin Martavis Bryant Mike Evans Sammy Watkins Taylor Gabriel)
If we go with my viewpoint though I think an average wide receiver should actually be 3 receptions per game:
In order to go to the numbers though I decided to run an analysis of WRs since 2000:
Requirement to make list (3 receptions per game, 40 yards per game, no TD requirement)
2000: 3
2001: 1
2002: 1
2003: 3
2004: 5
2005: 1
2006: 3
2007: 2
2008: 3
2009: 5
2010: 5
2011: 7
2012: 4
2013: 3
2014: 8
So when we look at the numbers its close to how many rookies are being used this year for meaningful spots but with only half the season done they are going to have to hang in there to stay in front of the monster 2011 year of WRs, not to mention you have players like John Brown and Martavis Bryant who have not been producing all year and could fall off this list.
