Top 5 WR's

[Shane]

http://nfl-facts-and-rumors.blogs.c...3213828?tag=coverlist_active;coverlist_footer

 

[snowthedirtbub]

Why is Andre Johnson so overrated? He's great but not better than Fitz imo.

 

[kerouac9]

Why is Andre Johnson so overrated? He's great but not better than Fitz imo.

It's hard to be overrated when you're #1 in the NFL. He's like Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald combined with Randy Moss's wheels. He's the prototype.

No one who had seen Andre Johnson play could say this with a straight face.

Andre Johnson had nearly 500 more yards receiving than Fitz on FOUR MORE receptions. He averaged over 4 yards more per reception than Fitz did last year. With no one playing across the field from him.

 

[Gee!]

The real question is how the ****** did Reggie Wayne get ranked #2????

 

[Gee!]

It's hard to be overrated when you're #1 in the NFL. He's like Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald combined with Randy Moss's wheels. He's the prototype.

No one who had seen Andre Johnson play could say this with a straight face.

Andre Johnson had nearly 500 more yards receiving than Fitz on FOUR MORE receptions. He averaged over 4 yards more per reception than Fitz did last year. With no one playing across the field from him.

Fitz should have a longer career than Andre though..

 

[187]

Pretty hard to be overrated when you have been the league leader in receiving yards two years in a row. I would take Fitz over Andre because he has better hands and is a better redzone target (and he plays for my team...), but Andre is more than deserving of being ranked #1 as well. Him and Fitz are 1a/1b. Reggie Wayne being #2 makes zero sense, I'd be more upset about him being ranked over Fitz, not Andre. And ranking lists don't mean a damn thing anyways, so who really cares. If we lived in Houston and were Texans fans I guarantee that we would all rank him over Fitz, just how all the Cardinals fans rank Fitz over him.

Fitz should have a longer career than Andre though..

Which has zero relevance when making a current top 5 list.

 

[WarnerHOF]

Andre Johnson doesn't have consistent hands like Larry or the body control to make the spectacular grabs in tight double coverage. I think people exaggerate his speed, he is nowhere as fast as Randy Moss was in his prime or Desean Jackson today but he can still run past DBs alittle better than Larry.

It's all a matter of preference of which WR you prefer but in my opinion Andre Johnson doesn't have the killer instinct or clutchness of Larry. Larry could definately have replicated AJ's production if Warner threw it downfield as much as Schaub as shown by his 05/07/08 seasons.

 

[Gee!]

Which has zero relevance when making a current top 5 list.

Never said it did.. But when its all said and done, Fitz will be the top one of any of these guys..

 

[snowthedirtbub]

It's hard to be overrated when you're #1 in the NFL. He's like Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald combined with Randy Moss's wheels. He's the prototype.

No one who had seen Andre Johnson play could say this with a straight face.

Andre Johnson had nearly 500 more yards receiving than Fitz on FOUR MORE receptions. He averaged over 4 yards more per reception than Fitz did last year. With no one playing across the field from him.

You could debate this two forever, but I choose Fitz as number one because he has proven he can come up big in big games. Ill admit overrated probably was the wrong term.

 

[kerouac9]

Andre Johnson doesn't have consistent hands like Larry or the body control to make the spectacular grabs in tight double coverage. I think people exaggerate his speed, he is nowhere as fast as Randy Moss was in his prime or Desean Jackson today but he can still run past DBs alittle better than Larry.

It's all a matter of preference of which WR you prefer but in my opinion Andre Johnson doesn't have the killer instinct or clutchness of Larry. Larry could definately have replicated AJ's production if Warner threw it downfield as much as Schaub as shown by his 05/07/08 seasons.

I understand backing Larry because he's on the Cards, but give me a break.

Did you miss the part where he had 500 more yards on 4 more catches? Larry goes down when he can't get more yardage. Andre runs through people with regularity. Just ask Gerald Hayes.

 

[DoTheDew]

I have no problem with Andre Johnson being #1. But Fitz should be 1a. There's no way in hell he's worse than Wayne. Peyton Manning makes Reggie Wayne an elite WR. Without him he's on the Boldin level at best IMO.

 

[WarnerHOF]

Andre Johnson drops a lot of easy balls, he has a 20 combined dropped passes in the last two seasons while Larry only has 7. Andre had a QB who threw it deep consistently last year. Larry did not hence why AJ had more yards on 4 more receptions. Andre is a good jumpball receiver but he isn't elite like Larry who is better than everyone at snagging the ball out of the air in double and triple coverage and adjusting to poorly thrown balls..

I will agree though that Andre has better YAC.

 

[PoolBoy]

WarnerHOF is spot on with this one. Andre drops VERY catchable balls in big situations more than "the best WR in the NFL" should.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Andre Johnson is generally considered the toughest guy to cover and best overall WR in the game. That shouldn't be considered a knock on Larry Fitzgerald. Those guys are probably the top 2,although if you put being a headcase aside, Brandon Marshall is right there too. My top 5 would be:
1-Johnson,A
2-Fitzgerald
3-Marshall
4-Wayne
5-Johnson, C

 

[Arizona's Finest]

It's hard to be overrated when you're #1 in the NFL. He's like Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald combined with Randy Moss's wheels. He's the prototype.

No one who had seen Andre Johnson play could say this with a straight face.

Andre Johnson had nearly 500 more yards receiving than Fitz on FOUR MORE receptions. He averaged over 4 yards more per reception than Fitz did last year. With no one playing across the field from him.

Awesome numbers and all but I respectfully disagree. This isn't Madden where his "rating" is the gospel. I'll take the leadership, work ethic, and team first attitude of Fitz over Johnson every day, being that the numbers and skills are relatively close.

Not to mention Johnson has made his numbers playing mostly in blow outs and for 8-8 teams. Fitzgerald is only one of the greatest post season recievers of all time.

Also you mention Johnson having attention on the other side as to a reason for his greatness. Thats great and all but I look at it the other way. Fitz's number are comprabale and he had a Pro Bowler next to him taking awy touches, as well as the best #3 in the game.

Johnson's numbers are inflated and he isn't half the team player Fitz is. I get why fantasy geeks and other players marvel at his ability proclaim him to be #1. But they are wrong.

You can have Johnson, K9.

 

[kerouac9]

Awesome numbers and all but I respectfully disagree. This isn't Madden where his "rating" is the gospel. I'll take the leadership, work ethic, and team first attitude of Fitz over Johnson every day, being that the numbers and skills are relatively close.

Not to mention Johnson has made his numbers playing mostly in blow outs and for 8-8 teams. Fitzgerald is only one of the greatest post season recievers of all time.

Also you mention Johnson having attention on the other side as to a reason for his greatness. Thats great and all but I look at it the other way. Fitz's number are comprabale and he had a Pro Bowler next to him taking awy touches, as well as the best #3 in the game.

Johnson's numbers are inflated and he isn't half the team player Fitz is. I get why fantasy geeks and other players marvel at his ability proclaim him to be #1. But they are wrong.

You can have Johnson, K9.

How are they inflated? Johnson had 4 more catches than Larry Fitzgerald last year? 4 more catches, 500 more yards.

I'm not sure how you can say that Andre Johnson isn't a good playoff receiver. He had just as many playoff receptions as Larry Fitzgerald until two years ago. Fitz didn't exactly come up huge against the Saints when the Cards needed him more last year, either.

Andre Johnson had 8 receptions for 135 yards against the best CB tandem in the NFL on the road against Cincy last year. Was that a big game? In a division road game against Indy, AJ had 10 receptions for 103 yards. Was that a big game? Fitz had 7 receptions for 76 yards against the Colts at home last year.

And then when they went head to head AJ went 8 for 101 and 2 TDs. Fitz was 5 for 79 and 2 TDs. Both are really, really good receivers, but I don't think that there are a lot of unbiased observers who would take Fitz over AJ.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

How are they inflated? Johnson had 4 more catches than Larry Fitzgerald last year? 4 more catches, 500 more yards.

I'm not sure how you can say that Andre Johnson isn't a good playoff receiver. He had just as many playoff receptions as Larry Fitzgerald until two years ago. Fitz didn't exactly come up huge against the Saints when the Cards needed him more last year, either.

Andre Johnson had 8 receptions for 135 yards against the best CB tandem in the NFL on the road against Cincy last year. Was that a big game? In a division road game against Indy, AJ had 10 receptions for 103 yards. Was that a big game? Fitz had 7 receptions for 76 yards against the Colts at home last year.

And then when they went head to head AJ went 8 for 101 and 2 TDs. Fitz was 5 for 79 and 2 TDs. Both are really, really good receivers, but I don't think that there are a lot of unbiased observers who would take Fitz over AJ.

Again you are missing my point. I am looking at things like Fitz taking Beanie in last year when he admitedly was having trouble adjusting to Az. Or Fitz defusing the situation between Rhodes and Dockett before it could become anything. Or Larry being the hardest worker on the team and leading by example. Or Larry taking guys under his wing, and putting together a camp with other NFL players and having them admire him for his practice habits and overall dedication. Or Larry being the player mouth piece for Wiz and Lott to the rest of the team. Or even things that aren't football related like him going to India and giving hearing aids to kids who couldn't otherwise afford them.

Oh yeah and he puts up pretty good numbers too.

Like I said, you can have Johnson. He only has to worry about making sure he is on point. Larry carrys the weight of a franchise on his shoulders.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

How are they inflated? Johnson had 4 more catches than Larry Fitzgerald last year? 4 more catches, 500 more yards.

They are inflated because he gets targeted more and when in doubt Schaub throws it up to him.

Larry has better players around him who get the ball spread around. If Larry played with hot garbage around him, the ball would get forced to him more, and thus he would have better numbers. They both get doubled so its not like Q and Breaston were pulling coverage off of Larry either.

But thats what you get when you have a stat loaded WR on an 8-8 team.

 

[kerouac9]

They are inflated because he gets targeted more and when in doubt Schaub throws it up to him.

Larry has better players around him who get the ball spread around. If Larry played with hot garbage around him, the ball would get forced to him more, and thus he would have better numbers. They both get doubled so its not like Q and Breaston were pulling coverage off of Larry either.

But thats what you get when you have a stat loaded WR on an 8-8 team.

Andre Johnson had about 20 more targets than Fitz last year. That's a little more than one per game.

So because Andre Johnson is so good and gets more attention paid to him by opposing DCs, it makes it more likely that he puts up better stats? Obviously it's easier to get catches when you're getting triple-teamed, right? That makes no sense whatsoever.

Do you follow Texans football enough to make any assumptions about the kind of teammate Andre Johnson is?

 

[TJ]

Andre Johnson had about 20 more targets than Fitz last year. That's a little more than one per game.

So because Andre Johnson is so good and gets more attention paid to him by opposing DCs, it makes it more likely that he puts up better stats? Obviously it's easier to get catches when you're getting triple-teamed, right? That makes no sense whatsoever.

Do you follow Texans football enough to make any assumptions about the kind of teammate Andre Johnson is?

Not sure if you watched many Cardinal games last season, but Fitz was getting bracketed on just about every play himself. So AJ getting double or triple teamed is a moot point.

In addition, Kurt played last season with a bum shoulder and couldnt go deep very often. A lot of the plays to Fitz were short slants and comeback routes. The prior season when Kurt could throw it deep, Fitz was there to make ridiculous catches. What wasnt affected was his TD receptions. He was still one of the largest targets in the endzone because of his length. Undeniably, his yards and YAC were greatly affected by this.

AJ got his yards because a) Schaub went deep on a regular basis and b) the #2 receiver Kevin Walter, although good, is no Boldin and not a threat to steal many catches/yards.

Fitz should see a significant increase in yards, receptions and YAC next season because Fitz will not have another pro bowler on the other hash and the deep ball will be in full effect once again

 

[Krangodnzr]

While I think Johnson is a fantastic talent, I think you're overrating him a bit Kerouac, and underrating the argument that Johnson played with a better deep ball QB last year.

Warner WAS terrible throwing the deep ball last year, and EVERY receiver had reduced stats from the previous season. Warner wasn't even spectacular throwing the deep ball the Super Bowl year either, and we all know that Fitz could put up huge numbers if we ever paired him with a QB that could consistently throw to him deep.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Do you follow Texans football enough to make any assumptions about the kind of teammate Andre Johnson is?

You obviously looked up the targets so I am assuming you can go find me Andre Johnson leadership detail as well. Burden of proof is on you.

I'm guessing you will come back with the typical "Andre working hard" and "Andre being a leader queitly" quote or two, but nothing like what I referenced with Fitz.

So again, with the entire package in play, I'll take what Fitz bring so the Cards opposed to what Johnson brings to the Texans.

 

[kerouac9]

Complete list of WRs who have lead the NFL in receiving consecutive seasons since the merger:

Jerry Rice
Andre Johnson

Seriously, guys. There's nothing wrong with being #2 to Andre Johnson.

Edit: And the deep pass argument is bunk. 28% of AJ's passes last year were on deep or bomb passes. The number for Fitz was 26%. Watch a few Texans games and you'll see that Schaub gets the ball to Andre closer to the LOS than the stats might suggest. He runs tons of hitches and slants. That's what he bowled over Hayes on.

 

[TJ]

Complete list of WRs who have lead the NFL in receiving consecutive seasons since the merger:

Jerry Rice
Andre Johnson

Seriously, guys. There's nothing wrong with being #2 to Andre Johnson.

Edit: And the deep pass argument is bunk. 28% of AJ's passes last year were on deep or bomb passes. The number for Fitz was 26%. Watch a few Texans games and you'll see that Schaub gets the ball to Andre closer to the LOS than the stats might suggest. He runs tons of hitches and slants. That's what he bowled over Hayes on.

I find this very hard to believe given Fitz had a 11.3 YAC with his longest catch being34 yards while AJs was 15.5. with a 72 yard long.

Furthermore, Fitz only had one game where his longest catch was 30+ yards. And once again, if you did watch Cards games, you would have realized that Warner RARELY threw deep due to his injury. This along with Q's presence did not benefit Fitz.

Where he did do better than AJ last season was in the endzone. 13 TDs to 9.

Put Fitz in the same situation and I believe he'd do a lot better. I think if you look beyond the numbers, you'd realize this.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Yet another Fitz vs Andre Johnson debate. Too funny. This debate has been raging for a few years now, and will go on for many, many more...

In terms of production, it's essentially a wash... Yes, you can argue a few finer points for either guy, however, if you're talking strictly numbers, it's a virtual wash...
The intangibles all favor Fitz however... Character, Leadership Ability, Leaping Ability and ability to make the tough catch on a consistent basis are all with Fitz. Johnson is bigger/stronger and faster... but that's it.

And as Gee noted earlier, when it's all said and done Fitz will have compiled the better career.