How fast does a wide receiver have to be

As much as it's popular to say that speedsters can "take the top off of a defense," it's the tall, bulky receivers who are moving the chains and putting the ball into the end zone. Take a look at the top 10 receivers in yards for The average height and weight is over and pounds. Nine out of the 10 players, a list that includes Johnson, Bryant, A. Amazingly, six of the 10 are at least Only two, Reggie Wayne and Wes Welker, weigh in below pounds.

If you want to put the ball in the end zone, the need for a big, physical receiver is even greater. The average height and weight for the league's top scorers is still , pounds, but every single one of them is over , and eight out of the 10 are at least Need more evidence?

Only one of those, Greg Jennings in , came from someone who stands shorter than Further, if we break down the NFL success of wide receivers based on their yard dash times, you can see that speed just isn't as important as it is for running backs. While the fastest running backs, those who ran in the top 33 percent of their class, have found way more success than even moderately-fast running backs, the fastest wide receivers have been only modestly more productive than slower receivers.

Will Urban Meyer Be Fire?? Urban Freaking Meyer!! Where Are We Going? Loading comments NFL Week 9: Jaguars vs. Bills live blog Josh Allen makes history during first half vs. Training camp is a grind. Main thing is taking care of your body. To do that, their personal growth over the next six months will set them on a course that will largely define their future. The next 12 months after that will either be the first chapter in a book about their fantastic NFL careers or the last chapter in careers that never were.

It's not about immediate production. Even after last season, the NFL will still have patience with receiver prospects, understanding that the position takes some learning. It is about immediate improvement, though, and a receiver who isn't getting better from day one will soon find himself on the outs. You have to be the guy the quarterback expects you to be. Follow him on Twitter. Unless otherwise noted, quotes were obtained by the author. Enjoy our content? Join our newsletter to get the latest in sports news delivered straight to your inbox!

Physical Attributes Important for Wide Receivers Attribute Description Size For receivers, this typically means height first and foremost, but scouts also look at a player's frame to see how well he'll stand up against NFL corners. Speed Typically used to denote straight-line speed. More than just a 40 time, though. Tape is always the best proof of how fast a receiver plays. Agility Also called "lateral athleticism" and can be combined with terms such as "balance" to quantify a receiver's shiftiness and natural running ability.

Explosiveness In many ways, this can be a combination of the previous two traits. It can also be shorthand for "release off the line" or "leaping ability. Triangle numbers are not elite. Drop issues in the past, better in space than with a defender on his hip. Past foot injuries, routes could be more crisp, top end speed a concern.

Off-the-field concerns after multiple suspensions and leaving Missouri. Does not play as big as he is. Josh Gordon 5 Jaelen Strong Arizona State High-points the ball and wins in the air as well as any receiver in the class; can play multiple receiver positions. Click here to get a gridiron leather football on Amazon. Want to become a better wide receiver? When it comes to speed, you need to be fast in straight lines and on angles.

Why do you need this? This means you need to outrun or outwit the defense.