Top 10 returners in the NFL

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 20, 2007

Top 10 returners in the NFL

Devin Hester

For other positions, there can be debate. Manning or Brady? Tomlinson or Peterson? Moss or T.O.? When it comes to kick returners, the choice is unanimous.

Josh Cribbs

Among regular kickoff returners, no one has been better this season. He leads the NFL in total return yards, yards per return, and returns of 20-plus yards and 40-plus yards.

Leon Washington

Not as prolific as Cribbs, but he is a closer. He leads the league with three kickoff returns for touchdowns. Besides, he is by far the Jets' most exciting player.

Terrence McGee & Roscoe Parrish

There are better individual kickoff and punt returners, but it's hard to find a better duo, with McGee handling the kickoffs and Parrish taking care of the punts.

Nate Burleson

When Hester was asked what returners he most likes to watch, he immediately named "the cat in Seattle." What could be a stronger endorsement than that?

Ted Ginn

So maybe he didn't deserve to be drafted in the top 10. But watch him return a couple of kickoffs and you'll get an idea of what the Dolphins were thinking.

Yamon Figurs

Of course, the Dolphins could have just waited until the third round and nabbed this guy instead. He and Ginn are looking like the next generation of great return men.

Dante Hall

A nod to the past, the joystick is not as nimble as he used to be, but he still returns punts and kickoffs, and he is still among the most consistent in both categories.

Maurice Jones-Drew

One could argue that he doesn't deserve to be on this list. But he is the only elite returner who really stars at another position. That has to count for something.

Antonio Cromartie

Granted, he is not even the Chargers' regular return man, a position held by Darren Sproles. But the few times Cromartie has handled kicks made us want to see more.

Top 10 returners in the NFL