NFL Rookie Receiving Leaders: Addison and Smith-Njigba Leading the Way Among Rookie Pass Catchers

Kincaid, Gibbs Among the Non-Receivers Getting Love in the NFL Futures Markets

Time will tell if there will be multiple rookies who end up with more than 1,000 receiving yards as was the case a season ago when former Ohio State teammates Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave accomplished the feat while playing for the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints.

With four receivers, one tight end, and two running backs selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, could there be more rookies to top 1,000 yards during the upcoming season? When it comes to the NFL rookie receiving leaders, there will be plenty of candidates.

Among the pass catchers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba (+700) is just ahead of running back Jahmyr Gibbs (+800) in the odds to be NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Here’s a look at some of the top candidates to lead the rookie class in receiving yards during the upcoming season.

The Jordan and Jaxon Show

Jordan Addison, who played at Pittsburgh and Southern California, and former Ohio State receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba are very different receivers. Yet, when it comes to the NFL rookie receiving leaders, they are at the head of the class.

Addison is a 6-foot Maryland native who followed up a 100-catch season at Pittsburgh with 59 more in his lone season at USC.

Smith-Njigba is a 6-foot-1 native of Texas who had more catches and receiving yards during the 2021 season than either Olave or Wilson. Both got to catch passes from quarterbacks who were taken in the first round in the NFL Draft as Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback to go in the first round in the 2022 draft while Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud was the No. 2 overall selection by Houston this year.

USC’s Caleb Williams is being touted in the Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence category as a franchise-changing prospect so Addison got to be on the receiving end of passes from a pair of talented QBs.

Addison, who landed in Minnesota to play opposite Justin Jefferson, the NFL leader with 1,809 receiving yards in 2022, could benefit from all the attention paid to Jefferson.

Smith-Njigba will be playing with Seattle’s DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett and it is a similar story with him.

Both Addison and Smith-Njigba are priced at +250 to lead rookie pass catchers in receiving yards in 2023.

All Charged Up

Speaking of playing alongside talented receivers, former Texas Christian receiver Quentin Johnston brings a 6-foot-4 frame to the NFL and he will see plenty of single coverage with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams catching passes from Justin Herbert. It is no wonder that he is one of the front-runners when it comes to the NFL rookie receiving leaders.

With the injury history of both Allen and Williams, that could open up the door for Johnston to put up some pretty big numbers as a rookie. Unlike Addison and Smith-Njigba, not much was being said about Johnston coming into the 2022 season. He had more catches and almost as many receiving yards in 2022 as he did in the previous two years combined.

He comes in at +400 in the odds to have the most receiving yards.

Flowers Still Underrated

Despite some spotty quarterback play during his time at Boston College, all Zay Flowers did was produce.

He finished with 200 catches, 3,056 receiving yards, and 20 touchdowns in his four seasons at BC.

However, among the four receivers to go in the first round, he has the longest odds +600 to lead the way in rookie receiving yards. Some of that could do with a run-first quarterback in Lamar Jackson with the Baltimore Ravens.

Jonathan Mingo is the receiver taken outside the first round with the best odds (+800) as he joins quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young in Carolina. There aren’t many top-receiving options with the Panthers so Mingo could have big numbers.

Receivers Won’t Have All The Fun

Tight end Dalton Kincaid will become the newest pass catcher for Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Even with Dawson Knox in Buffalo, there could be ample opportunities for Kincaid to make his presence felt.

He comes in at +1400 in the odds to have the most receiving yards as a rookie. Fellow tight ends Sam LaPorta (+2400) and Michael Mayer (+2800) are other rookies to keep an eye on.

LaPorta will be joined with the Detroit Lions by running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs (+2500) led Alabama in receptions (44) as well as rushing yards (926) and he could get plenty of chances both as a runner and receiver.

It won’t take long to see them in action as the NFL schedule has Detroit playing at the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the first game of the 2023 regular season.

Kansas City leads the way in the NFL Super Bowl odds at +650.

Bijan Robinson (+2800) was the first running back off the board and he lined up at receiver at times in rookie camp with the Atlanta Falcons.

Best of the Rest

Christian Watson and George Pickens are players picked outside the first round who thrived as rookies in 2022. There are plenty of players who could join Mingo as draft steals.

Rashee Rice (+2000) will be catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, Jayden Reed (+2000) is with Green Bay, Jalin Hyatt (+2200) of the New York Giants, Marvin Mims (+2800) of the Denver Broncos are joined by Houston‘s Nathaniel Dell (+3000), the Indianapolis Colts‘ Josh Downs (+3000) and Cleveland‘s Cedric Tillman (+3500) among the other receivers to keep an eye on.

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