A total of seven wide receivers were selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, including a trio of them within the top 10. A total of 10 wideouts went top 40, including the first two selections of the second round. Unsurprisingly, it's been an outstanding campaign for first-year receivers across the NFL.
With just one regular-season contest remaining on most schedules, we've decided to rank the top five rookie receiver performances of the 2024 campaign.
Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Unsurprisingly, Malik Nabers has been a workhorse for the Giants this season. He's been dominant to the very end in a lost season, torching the Indianapolis Colts for seven receptions, two touchdowns, and a season-high 171 receiving yards on Sunday. Nabers currently ranks third in the NFL in receptions (104). Having missed two games through injury this campaign, he's averaging a league-best 7.42 receptions per contest.
With one catch in the regular-season finale, Nabers will equal Puka Nacua’s rookie receptions record (105) for a wide receiver—tight end Brock Bowers is setting the pace for all rookie pass-catchers. Nabers is also on pace to break Anquan Boldin's rookie targets record (165). He's faced competition, but Nabers has been the best rookie wideout in the NFL this season.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Thomas Jr. has been a close No. 2. It's Thomas Jr., not Nabers, that actually leads all rookie pass-catchers in receiving yards (1,179). The No. 23 overall selection ranks fourth in that category in the NFL, trailing just Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb.
Thomas Jr. is also tied for fifth in the entire league in touchdown catches (10), topping all rookies in that category as well. Thomas Jr. has scored five touchdowns in his last five outings, including an ongoing streak of three consecutive contests with a score. He's already Jacksonville’s No. 1 receiver.
Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers entered the season with serious question marks at the skill positions. Luckily for them, Ladd McConkey immediately emerged as Justin Herbert's go-to weapon. With a 94-yard performance against the New England Patriots on Saturday, McConkey became the third rookie wide receiver to surpass 1,000 receiving yards this season (1,054 and counting).
McConkey has also been the safest, more sure-handed pass-catcher among all rookies. He's caught 77 of 103 targets, and his target-to-catch conversion rate of 74.8% is best among all first-year receivers (minimum qualifiers). That success rate ranks sixth in the league, veterans included (minimum 75 targets).
Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Worthy began the campaign in an incredibly slow fashion. In his first nine appearances, he recorded 25 or fewer receiving yards in six of them. Worthy has flashed legitimate growth as his rookie season has progressed and he appears poised to be a big-time postseason weapon for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' offense.
Worthy had a season-high 79 receiving yards while hauling in eight of nine targets versus the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas. Worthy has also scored touchdowns in three straight outings. His nine overall touchdowns rank second among all rookies behind just the position-leading Thomas Jr. (10).
Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
Touted as a generational talent throughout the pre-draft process, Marvin Harrison Jr. hasn't quite lived up to those lofty expectations. The fourth overall selection has been inconsistent. Harrison Jr. flashed fleeting moments of dominance versus the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, capturing six receptions for 96 targets in a losing effort.
It wasn't Harrison Jr.'s first eye-opening performance of the campaign. He totaled 111 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins earlier this season and posted a season-high 130 yards and two scores versus the Rams in Week 2. He's also been held under 40 receiving yards on seven occasions. Better week-to-week consistency will be Harrison Jr.'s focus as a sophomore.
