The wide receiver position has never been more important to the game of football.
With teams taking to the air more and more, and with quarterbacks signing huge contracts, the guys that catch all those passes are taking center stage in the NFL with some of the sport's most gifted athletes at the front of the pack.
With such a huge amount of talent at the position, picking one to single out is a tougher task than covering them.
The Patriots are well aware of the ability that Wes Welker has. The league's leading wide recevier last year in terms of receptions, the 5-foot-9 wideout has more than made up for his lack of size with his speed and agility. For those who favor size over quickness, look no further than Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The man they call "Megatron," who checks in at an imposing 6-foot-5, 239 lbs., can outjump and outmuscle just about any defensive back in the league, making him a beast to keep in check.
Andre Johnson (no relation) matches up similarly from a size standpoint (6-foot-3, 219 lbs.) but hamstring issues kept him from matching up to Calvin's numbers last season. However, playing in the high-powered Texans offense while healthy should provide Andre a chance at reasserting himself among the league's best.
One under-the-radar candidate that has shown he can produce among the league's best is Atlanta Falcons receiver Roddy White. The 2010 All-Pro receiver has connected with quarterback Matt Ryan for countless touchdowns over the years, and is the owner of several franchise records. Despite all of his talents, however, can White match up on the gridiron with the rest of the league's best?
