Keenan Allen Not Ranked Among Top 16 Wide Receivers

Justin Jefferson, Davante Adams lead the ESPN WR rankings based on a survey of NFL executives, coaches, scouts and players

Here’s a bit of surprise: Former Cal wide receiver Keenan Allen is not among the top 16 wide receivers in the NFL. At least that’s the estimation of an ESPN survey of NFL executives, coaches, scouts and players.

Maybe we shouldn’t be too surprised since Allen was not ranked among the top 10 wide receivers last year. But at least the Chargers wideout was listed under honorable mention in 2022. Allen did not even receive honorable mention this year.

Two years ago, Allen was ranked sixth among wide receivers, and in 2020 he was eighth.

This year? He is among a group of 10 wide receivers who merely received some votes, putting him outside the top 10 as well as six others who received honorable mention.

Allen missed seven games last season, which took a bite out of his numbers and ended his run of five straight Pro Bowl berths. He had 66 catches in 2022, which are the fewest of his 10-year NFL career other than 2016 when he played just one game. His 752 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2022 are also among his worst season totals. However, his 6.6 catches per game ranked seventh among wide receivers in 2022, and his 75.2 receiving yards per game ranked eighth. Allen also had six catches for 61 yards in the Chargers' only postseason game last year.

Two things seem to be working against him. First he has never had elite touchdown numbers, scoring more than six TDs only once, when he had eight in 2020. Second, some NFL folks see Allen as a slot receiver, not an outside receiver. Nonetheless Allen is still considered one of the best route-runners in the game.

In any case, we are expecting the 31-year-old Allen to be on the receiving end of a lot of Justin Herbert passes this coming season.

Here are ESPN’s top 10 receivers for 2023, followed by the six honorable mentions:

1. Justin Jefferson, Vikings

2. Davante Adams, Raiders

3. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals

4. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins

5. Cooper Kupp, Rams

6. Stefon Diggs, Bills

7. A.J. Brown, Eagles

8. DK Metcalf, Seahawks

9. Terry McLaurin, Commanders

10. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys

Honorable mention:

Deebo Samuel, 49ers

Mike Evans, Buccaneers

Tee Higgins, Bengals

Garrett Wilson, Jets

Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins

DeVonta Smith, Eagles

Cover photo of Keenan Allen by Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

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