2020 NFC South WR Preview

Which NFC South team has the best starting duo of wide receivers?

The NFC South division boasts some of the best and most productive wideouts in the NFL today. Tampa Bay WR Mike Evans and Atlanta WR Julio Jones are among everyone's Top-5 receivers, while the Falcons’ Calvin Ridley and Carolina's D.J. Moore are each up-and-coming playmakers. Jones, Evans, Moore, and Ridley were all number 1 draft picks who entered the league with high expectations. The most dominant receiver in the division, the most dominant in the league, was one who entered the NFL without nearly the same fanfare.

Oct 6, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) runs the ball against Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Mike Edwards (34) in the second quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans used a 2nd round pick, the 47th overall selection, in the 2016 draft on WR Michael Thomas from Ohio State. Thomas had a solid collegiate career with the Buckeyes and was expected to be a consistent complimentary wideout at the NFL level. What the Saints got in instead was one of the league's most unstoppable offensive weapons. One who has shattered NFL records for production in his first four seasons. Thomas has increased his reception and yardage totals with each year and has done so with little support around him at the wide receiver position. Since trading away WR Brandin Cooks after the 2016 season, the Saints have had little production from their wideouts outside of Thomas. New Orleans hopes that will change in 2020 with the free agent acquisition of veteran WR Emmanuel Sanders. The addition of Sanders should eliminate one of the Saints only offensive weaknesses and allows the team to attack defenses with a talented duo of wideouts, something that the other teams in the NFC South have possessed over the last few seasons. Here is a two-year statistical comparison of the expected 2020 starting WR tandems of each NFC South team.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Dec 30, 2018; New Orleans, LA, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Moore (12) runs after a catch against the New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis (56) during the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

WR1: D.J. MOORE (5’11” 215-Lbs., 23-Yrs old)

2019 Statistics

 135 targets 87 receptions 1,175 yards 4 touchdowns

- 4 100-Yd games

2018 Statistics

- 82 targets 55 receptions 788 yards 2 touchdowns

- 1 100-Yd game

WR2: ROBBY ANDERSON (6’3” 190-Lbs., 27-Yrs old)

2019 Statistics (w/Jets)

- 96 targets 52 receptions 779 yards 5 touchdowns

- 3 100-Yd games

2018 Statistics

- 94 targets 50 receptions 752 yards 6 touchdowns

- 2 100-Yd games

Dec 8, 2019; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson (11) scores a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Moore, the 24th overall pick of the 2018 draft, came into his own last year as a playmaker and looks to have a bright future. The free agent addition of Anderson, who shined for an offensively challenged Jets team, gives the Panthers a solid route runner also capable of making plays deep. The Moore/Anderson tandem at receiver combined with the versatile abilities of RB Christian McCaffrey gives new Carolina QB Teddy Bridgewater a better trio of weapons than the Panthers ever provided for former QB Cam Newton.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Sep 9, 2018; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) hauls in a pass for a 50-yard touchdown while defended by New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) in the third quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Bucs won, 48-40. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

WR1: MIKE EVANS (6’5” 231-Lbs., 26-Yrs old)

2019 Statistics

- 118 targets 67 receptions 1,157 yards 8 touchdowns

- 3 100-Yd games

2018 Statistics

- 138 targets 86 receptions 1,524 yards 8 touchdowns

- 8 100-Yd games

WR2: CHRIS GODWIN (6’1” 209-Lbs., 24-Yrs old)

2019 Statistics

- 121 targets 86 receptions 1,333 yards 9 touchdowns

- 6 100-Yd games

2018 Statistics

- 95 targets 59 receptions 842 yards 7 touchdowns

- 3 100-Yd games

Nov 17, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) scores a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

New Tampa Bay QB Tom Brady will have perhaps the most talented arsenal of targets he’s ever had throughout his Hall of Fame career, led by this underrated duo of receivers. Evans is one of the most physical wideouts in the NFL and Godwin has come into his own as a Pro Bowl caliber receiver. The Buccaneers like to attack defenses down the field with both Godwin and Evans but each player also has the route running ability to excel underneath, something that more fits their new quarterback's skillset. Brady likes to use his tight ends and the Buccaneers have three excellent ones, but we should still expect both Evans and Godwin to put up nice numbers in 2020.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Sep 23, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs after a catch against New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) and cornerback Ken Crawley (20) in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

WR1: JULIO JONES (6’3” 220-Lbs., 31-Yrs old)

2019 Statistics

- 157 targets 99 receptions 1,394 yards 6 touchdowns

- 6 100-Yd games

2018 Statistics

- 170 targets 113 receptions 1,677 yards 8 touchdowns

- 10 100-Yd games

WR2: CALVIN RIDLEY (6’1” 190-Lbs., 25-Yrs old)

2019 Statistics

- 93 targets 63 receptions 866 yards 7 touchdowns

- 2 100-Yd games

2018 Statistics

- 92 targets 64 receptions 821 yards 10 touchdowns

- 1 100-Yd game

Nov 28, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) makes a catch against New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

The rest of the Falcons team has declined in the last two years but not QB Matt Ryan's tandem of wideouts. Jones is a physical mismatch who has been one of the league's most consistently productive receivers over his 9-Yr career. Ridley is a dangerous open field threat who is still perfecting his route tree but is a scoring threat from anywhere on the field. With questions surrounding Atlanta's running game and a defense that is expected to give up points, Jones and Ridley should still put up big numbers in 2020 for the Falcons to be successful.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Dec 9, 2018; Tampa, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) runs with the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes (24) defends during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY

WR1: MICHAEL THOMAS (6’3” 212-Lbs., 27-Yrs old)

2019 Statistics

- 185 targets 149 receptions 1,725 yards 9 touchdowns

- 10 100-Yd games

2018 Statistics

- 147 targets 125 receptions 1,405 yards 9 touchdowns

- 4 100-Yd games

WR2: EMMANUEL SANDERS (5’11” 180-Lbs., 33-Yrs old)

2019 Statistics (w/49ers+Broncos)

- 97 targets 66 receptions 869 yards 6 touchdowns

- 3 100-Yd games

2018 Statistics (w/Broncos)

- 98 targets 71 receptions 868 yards 4 touchdowns

- 3 100-Yd games

Nov 13, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) makes a catch and is defended by New Orleans Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux (40) in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Broncos won, 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Thomas led the league in receiving yards last year and led the NFL in receptions for the second straight season. His 149 catches in 2019 broke a 17-Yr NFL record and he has hauled in an incredible 82.5% of his targets over the last two years despite extra attention from defenses. Thomas is the most precise route runner in the league. That and his combination of strength, underrated athleticism, and terrific hands make him nearly impossible to guard. Thomas had at least 8 receptions and 70 or more yards in fourteen games last season.

The addition of the two-time Pro Bowler Sanders will take some of the defensive focus away from Thomas. Especially when QB Drew Brees can also target playmakers like RB Alvin Kamara and TE Jared Cook with his precision passing. Sanders is a sharp route runner with excellent hands, a great understanding of opposing defenses, and the speed to make plays deep. He’s had at least 65 receptions and over 700 yards six times in the last seven years, including three campaigns of over 1,000 yards. With so many other weapons in the Saints offense and Thomas still the focal point of the passing game, Sanders likely won't surpass 1,000 yards receiving with New Orleans. But his addition adds another dangerous dimension to one of the league's best offenses and gives the Saints a star WR tandem equal to the rest of their talented division.