It’s that time of year — when Madden ratings are dropping left, right and center.
Among the first positions to have their ratings revealed are the wide receivers. There’s plenty of star-power at the position throughout the NFL, with several young phenoms breaking out in recent years.
There has certainly been a powerful injection of youth among the top-ranked wideouts in EA Sports’ Madden 24 video game. But that doesn’t mean there still aren’t some willy vets hanging out at the top with the big boys.
So which wideouts cracked this year’s top 20 for ‘Madden 24’? And who’s the number-one rated wide receiver in this year’s game. We break it down for you right here.
20. Tee Higgins, Bengals – 87
Tee Higgins may be the number two wideout on his team, but there’s little doubt that he’d be a number one on at least half of the other teams across the NFL.
After being drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2020 Draft, Higgins has put up an impressive 3,028 yards and 19 touchdowns through his first three seasons. His ability to use his size and win 50-50 balls was captured by his ‘spectacular catch’ and ‘catch in traffic’ ratings of 95 and 94, respectively.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
19. Devonta Smith, Eagles – 87
After winning the Heisman Trophy as a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2020, Devonta Smith wasted little time making his mark at the NFL level.
A 10th-round pick for the Philadelphia Eagles, Smith has 2,112 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons. His elite speed on the field are highlighted by his ratings of 91 and 94 for ‘speed’ and ‘acceleration,’ respectively.
18. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions – 87
One of the more under-rated wideouts in the NFL right now, all Amon-Ra St. Brown has done is produce since being taken by the Lions in the fourth-round of the 2021 draft.
St. Brown really made a name for himself with his 2021 campaign, during which he put up 106 catches, 1,161 yards and six touchdowns.
His hands are some of the best in the league, which explains why the people at EA Sports gave him the fifth-highest ‘catching rating’ in the entire game, at 97.
17. Mike Williams, Chargers – 88
Injuries forced Mike Williams to take a step back in 2022 (following a breaking 2021 campaign), but when he was on the field, he still proved to be one of the league’s toughest covers.
In just 13 games, Williams had 895 yards and four touchdowns, which is quite the dip from the 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns he had one year earlier. That didn’t seem to phase the Madden ratings team too much, though, as they still gave him the second-highest ‘spectacular catch’ rating at 98 (tied with Davante Adams and just behind Justin Jefferson’s 99).
16. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins – 88
The Miami Dolphins hit the jackpot when they took Jaylen Waddle with the sixth-overall pick in 2021. After all, the type of speed possessed by the former Bama wideout doesn’t grow on trees.
Waddle has surpassed the 1,000 yard mark in each of his first two NFL seasons, and he’s done so thanks in large part to his blazing speed. It’s just crazy to think that, despite being the second-fastest wideout in the entire Madden 24 game, he’s still not even the fastest wideout on his own team.
Why? Because Tyreek Hill’s 99 ratings for ‘speed’ and ‘acceleration’ land him just ahead of his Dolphins teammate’s 98 and 97 ratings in those two categories, respectively.
15. D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks – 88
Ever since he broke into the league as a second-round pick of the Seahawks in the 2019 draft, Metcalf has dominated opposing corners with his unique blend of speed and strength.
It’s the latter that has really made him one of the modern marvels at the wide receiver position, though. Metcalf has used that superhuman strength to power him to 4,218 yards and 35 touchdowns through his first four season in the NFL.
And the Madden makers have rewarded him appropriately with the second-highest ‘strength’ rating among wideouts (79, tied with AJ Brown and just behind Deebo Samuel’s 80) and the highest ‘toughness’ rating at 96.
14. Tyler Lockett, Seahawks – 89
When it comes to catching the deep ball, few in the league have done it better for longer than Seahawks wideout Tyler Lockett.
While it’s tough not to be completely overshadowed when you line up across from DK Metcalf, Lockett has still managed to build quite the reputation as a dangerous, big-play wideout in the Emerald City.
After failing to put up 1,000 yards in his first four seasons, Lockett has reached that mark in each of his last four campaigns. His ‘catching’ rating of 98 puts him in a tie for second with Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson, and just one behind Cooper Kupp’s 99.
13. Keenan Allen, Chargers – 89
The oldest wide receiver to crack the top 20 in ‘Madden 24,’ Keenan Allen hit a bit of a snag last year. The 31-year-old was limited to 10 games and put up his lowest yardage (752) and touchdown (4) totals since his 2016 season that saw him miss all but one game.
Long regarded as one of the best route-runners in the game, the Madden ratings team rewarded the Chargers vet with ratings of 91 and 92 for his ‘short’ and ‘medium route running,’ respectively.
12. Deebo Samuel, 49ers – 89
Deebo Samuel has established himself as one of the most explosive, exciting wide receivers in the game right now. And a lot of that has to do with his ability to also line up at running back in the 49ers backfield.
In fact, Samuel’s ratings in ‘Madden 24’ clearly reflect his ability to do some serious damage from the running back position. Most notably, his ‘break tackle’ rating of 92 is three points clear of the next closest wideout (AJ Brown art 89), while his ‘truck stick’ rating of 83 sits him comfortably ahead of D.K. Metcalf’s 80.
11. Mike Evans, Buccaneers – 90
How do you reward a wide receiver who opens his career with nine straight 1,000-yard seasons? You give him the fourth-highest ‘spectacular catch’ rating (97), the second-highest -catch in traffic’ rating (96), the sixth-highest ‘awareness’ rating (95), and the 11th highest-overall rating.
Evans may have a tough time keeping the people at EA Sports satisfied during the 2023 season, though. He’ll have to deal with a huge downgrade at quarterback, from Tom Brady to Baker Mayfield…
Then again, we’re talking about a guy who had to deal with the likes of Jameis Winston, Josh McCown, Mike Glennon and Ryan Fitzpatrick before Brady’s arrival.
10. Ceedee Lamb, Cowboys – 90
The Dallas Cowboys may not have needed a wide receiver when they took Ceedee Lamb 17th overall in 2020. But boy are they glad they got him now.
Through his first three season, Lamb has 3,344 yards and 20 touchdowns, as he’s firmly established himself as a bonafide number one wideout.
Just like his game on the field, there’s not one rating attribute that really stands out for Lamb in Madden 24. He just seems to do everything really well, despite not being the absolute best in any specific category. But if there was one area of his game that seems to really stand out, it’s his awareness (97 rating) and catching ability (94 rating).
9. Amari Cooper, Browns – 91
Coming in just ahead of Lamb is his former Cowboys teammate, Amari Cooper.
While it seems like he’s been in the league forever now, it’s surprising to remember that Cooper is only 29-years-old. He does have eight seasons under his belt, though, with the last being a 1,160–yard, nine touchdown campaign with the Cleveland Browns.
Cooper is another one of those veterans who’s established himself as one of the game’s elite route runners. His Madden 24 ratings reflect that, with scores of 91, 91 and 93 for his short, medium and deep route running, respectively.
8. A.J. Brown, Eagles – 91
After refusing to pay AJ Brown, the Tennessee Titans shipped him to the Philadelphia Eagles at the 2022 NFL Draft. And boy did he make them regret it.
All Brown did in his first season with the Philadelphia Eagles was put up 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping to lead them all the way to the Super Bowl. And his Madden 24 rating saw a major boost because of his success in 2022.
Known as one of the toughest wideouts to bring down, Brown ranks second among all players at the position in ‘strength’ (79), ‘break tackle rating’ (89), and ‘stiff arm rating’ (87).
7. Terry McLaurin, Commanders – 92
Another one of those underrated wideouts who doesn’t seem to get enough love from the masses, the people at EA Sports didn’t want to make that same mistake when they handed out their ratings for Terry McLaurin of the Washington Commanders.
Despite all the terrible quarterback play in D.C., McLaurin has still managed to rack up 4,281 yards and 21 touchdowns though his first four NFL seasons.
When you’re putting up that type of production with bad QBs throwing you the ball, you’re bound to make some spectacular catches… which explains why the Madden people gave McLaurin a 95 ‘spectacular catch’ rating.
6. Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals – 94
Ja’Marr Chase has quickly established himself as one of the game’s top young wideouts. He has everything you could want in a pass-catcher: gamebreaking speed (94 speed rating), next level awareness (98 awareness rating), big-play ability (97 spectacular catch rating), and reliable hands (94 catching ability).
His leaping ability appears to have impressed the Madden ratings people the most, though, as he ranks first among all wideouts with a ‘jumping rating’ of 98.
5. Stefon Diggs, Bills – 96
Stefon Diggs may be angry about a lot of things these days, but his Madden 24 rating shouldn’t be one of them. He earned his place as the fifth best wideout in the game following a 1,429-yard, 11 touchdown performance in 2022.
His route-running has really put him on another level, as the Bills superstar ranks within the top 4 in short, medium and deep route running (with ratings of 96, 96 and 97, respectively).
t
4. Cooper Kupp, Rams – 96
Cooper Kupp has a season for the ages in 2021. He followed it up with a rough, injury-plagued 2022 campaign, but the Madden ratings people haven’t forgotten what the Rams wideout can do.
Kupp pulled off the rare triple crown two seasons ago, leading the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16). He also won Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP honors.
With a resume like that’ it’s no surprise that Kupp was awarded perfect 99 ratings for his catching, stamina and short route running. He also leads all wideouts with a medium route running rating of 98.
3. Davante Adams, Raiders – 97
Davante Adams has been among the best at the wide receiver position for a few years now. Whether it’s Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball or Derek Carr (or, now, Jimmy Garoppolo), the 30-year-old playmaker continues to find ways to get the job done.
Despite the change of quarterback and scenery in 2022, Davante didn’t miss a beat. His 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns were both the second-highest single-season outputs of his career.
There doesn’t seem to be a single weakness in his game, but nothing stands out more about Adams’ film than his release — which is why Madden 24 gave him a league-best 99 ‘release rating.’
2. Tyreek HIll, Dolphins – 98
When you think of Tyreek Hill, one thing comes to mind: Speed.
He proved that he doesn’t need Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball by putting up a career best 119 catches and 1,710 yards, along with seven touchdowns in 2022.
Hill is widely regarded as the fastest player in the game right now, and his Madden 24 ratings reflect that. He’s the only player with a 99 rating for both ‘speed’ and ‘acceleration.’ He also has a 99 ‘change of direction’ rating, and 98 ratings for ‘agility,’ ‘juke move,’ and ‘deep route running.’
1. Justin Jefferson, Vikings – 99
Congratulations to Justin Jefferson on not only being the top rated wide receiver in the game, but also being the only one to get into Madden’s prestigious “99 club.”
It’s well deserved after 22nd overall pick from 2020 put up a league leading 1,809 yards and earning Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.
After a season like that, the Madden ratings people blessed him with a number of eye-popping ratings, including perfect 99s for his ‘awareness’ and ‘spectacular catch’ abilities. He also received 98s for his ‘catching,’ ‘stamina,’ ‘short route running,’ and ‘release.’
