The NFL's 10 Fastest Wide Receivers

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 21, 2007

The NFL's 10 Fastest Wide Receivers

Devin Hester

Known as the NFL's hottest kick returner, Hester (who will assume a greater role in the Bears' offense this season) holds the league record for kick-return TDs in one game (two vs. St. Louis in '06) and is the only player to open a Super Bowl (XLI) with a return touchdown.

Ted Ginn, Jr.

As a schoolboy, the Ohio native won one national track title and two state championships in the 100-meter hurdles. He also boasts a 10.5 in the 100-meter dash. As a Buckeye, he caught 125 passes for 1,943 yards and tallied 23 career touchdowns.

Santana Moss

The older brother of the Giants kick returner (Sinorice, also a speed demon), Santana is a three-time Florida state track champion (twice - triple jump; once - long jump). In 2005, he set the Redskins' club record with 1,483 receiving yards (and nine touchdowns).

Troy Williamson

A two-time South Carolina track champion in both the 100 and 200 meters, Williamson serves as the prototypical stretch-the-field receiver with the Vikings, who could not resist drafting the speedy wideout with the No. 7 overall pick in 2005.

Lee Evans

The Wisconsin alum hauled in 82 catches for 1,292 yards (15.8 yards per catch) last season with Buffalo, completing his transition from NFL blazer to redoubtable No. 1 receiver. In '06, Evans was just one of three WRs to record at least three scores of 50 yards or more.

Roy Williams

Williams almost carried Odessa-Permian High (made famous by the book/movie, Friday Night Lights) to a Texas track championship in 2000 -- winning the long jump (25 feet, 6 inches), taking second in the high jump and third in the 100 (10.48). He caught 82 passes for 1,310 yards (16 yard average) last season with Detroit.

Steve Smith

As a California schoolboy, Smith set track records in the triple jump and 300 hurdles. At Utah, he set the school record for average yards per catch (20.6). And in the NFL, Smith (who has 21 100-yard receiving games) is the Panthers' all-time leader in net yards (9,059).

Calvin Johnson

A two-time football All-American at Georgia Tech, the Lions' much-hyped rookie is blessed with a rare combination of size, speed, strength, body control and leaping ability. His 4.35 40 at the NFL combine last February was tops amongst the wide receivers.

Bernard Berrian

Berrian, who pulled down 51 catches for 775 yards (a 15.2 yard average) in 2006, is one of the NFL's top blazers but may only be the second-best sprinter in his family. (His brother, Tony, ran track at Arizona State). Bernard could surpass the 1,000-yard mark this season.

Donte' Stallworth

A state of California record-holder in the long jump, the deceptively fast Stallworth has averaged more than 19 yards per catch twice in five NFL seasons (2003, 2006) and boasts a lifetime average of 15.1 yards (233 total catches).