Chad Ochocinco Ranks His Top Wide Receivers in the NFL
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson has revealed who he believes is the best wide receiver in professional football.
Johnson formerly starred in the league for the Bengals, along with brief stints for the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins, before calling it a career.
He finished with 11,059 yards, which has him 44th on the all-time receiving yards list, and although he never won any Super Bowl rings, he was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro.
And like other current and former players, he regularly shares his thoughts on today’s NFL clearly, alongside his friend Shannon Sharpe, on the “Nightcap” podcast.
Recently, a list went online revealing Ochocinco’s top 10 wide receivers in the league, which includes Pro Bowl stars like Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase and Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson.
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While those two individuals ranked second and third, respectively, Ochocinco ranked the Seattle Seahawks‘ Jaxson Smith-Njigba above the rest of the league’s receivers.
That’s coming off his second-straight Pro Bowl season in which JSN had 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns, which resulted in him winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
And there’s also the significant bullet point that he helped his squad reach the Super Bowl, which they won, resulting in the young receiver’s first ring.
Having a capable quarterback in Sam Darnold, who was among the leaders for NFL quarterbacks in average yards per attempt and yards per completion, can be a huge boost for an already-talented receiver.
The fact that JSN, 24, just joined the league three years ago is definitely a plus for his Seahawks team, as they look to defend their championship in the coming season.
Meanwhile, other receivers could have a big year, overtaking him in stats and notoriety, with a lot depending on how their quarterbacks perform, how injuries unfold, and how the season plays out.
The Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua and Dallas Cowboys‘ George Pickens rounded out Ochocinco’s top five receivers, with others on the list, including the Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown and Houston Texans’ Nico Collins.
Bengals receiver Chase currently has stronger odds to win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award at +900, per Covers.
JSN sights a bit farther down at +1100 odds, which is just above Justin Jefferson, a WR looking to potentially emerge from last season’s slump with a better season in 2026-27 with the team’s new QB, Kyler Murray, throwing to him.
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This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 10:25 AM.