The Minnesota Vikings are going to have their hands full dealing with their opponents in the NFC North. The Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers all have explosive passing attacks that will keep the purple and gold on their toes.
Minnesota has two dynamic pass catchers on their roster with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison each having big play potential but even that duo faces some still competition when stacked up against other teams in the division.
That discussion begs the question of who the best wide receivers in the NFC North are. Compiling that list is difficult since there are so many great pass-catchers in the division and some of the teams have new players joining the fold in 2024.
Ranking the 5 best WRs in the NFC North
It's hard not to look at some players in the division and not be excited about their potential. Bears rookie Rome Odunze could have a massive season in Chicago but will need to show he was worthy of the team's No. 9 overall draft pick.
Others like Christian Watson, Romeo Dobbs, and Jayden Reed of the Packers as well as Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond of the Lions are candidates to have big years while their teams compete for a division title.
Let's take a look at the top five wide receivers in the NFC North.
5 Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
Although he's a clear No. 2 in Minnesota, Jordan Addison had a breakout year as a rookie in 2023. The only wide receiver on this list not to surpass 1,000 yards last year, the athletic, young player found the end zone ten times while catching 70 passes for 911 yards. If he develops a connection with the new Vikings quarterback, he could have an even bigger year in store for 2024.
4. Keenan Allen, Chicago Bears
When healthy, Keenan Allen is a game-changer. He has made the Vikings' defense look like fools on multiple occasions and will now face Minnesota at least twice a year. In 2023, Allen had 108 catches for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games played for the Chargers and could be on track for his seventh season with over a thousand receiving yards.
3. D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears
Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is entering a great situation. Although Chicago will need to spread the ball around, D.J. Moore will make the most of his opportunities. Last season, he caught 98 passes for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns in his first year away from the Panthers.
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
St. Brown proved to be an absolute beast in 2023. He followed an excellent 2022 season with a year that saw him catch 119 passes for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns. He should find similar success during the upcoming season and would be a lock to be the best wide receiver in most divisions, but the NFC North is built differently.
1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Arguably the best player at the position in the NFL, Justin Jefferson is a joy to watch. The star pass catcher creates space, makes contested catches, runs after the catch, and changes the complexion of games on a moment's notice. He dealt with a nagging injury that limited him to 10 games, but he still caught 68 passes for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. Imagine how crazy those numbers could have been if he wasn't sidelined for seven games.