Most teams have a number one wide receiver they can go to any time they need to, whether it’s for a touchdown, a big play, or just for a vital first down that they need. Sometimes a team has two receivers that they trust. Very often, however, a sign of a versatile offense is that it has a quality third receiver who can hold his own and take pressure off the other receivers.
Adam Humphries and the Value of Third Wide Receivers
Adam Humphries provides a reliable third option for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, especially with Vincent Jackson on the downside of his career at age 33. Humphries has become more prominent now that Jackson is on injured reserve with a torn ACL. While he stands only 5’11” and weighs 195 pounds, Humphries is energetic and instinctive on his passing routes and he can scamper like a jack rabbit.
Humphries is in his second season in the NFL with Tampa Bay and he played 13 games last year, but in 2016 he has the second most targets on the team with 34, and he’s also second on the team in catches (22) and receiving yards (233).
Jameis Winston and Mike Evans are developing some of the best chemistry between a quarterback and a receiver in the NFL, but with Jackson and passing back Charles Sims on injured reserve, even more attention will be paid to Evans and that’s saying something.
The competition to be the second option in the offense will likely rotate among Humphries, Russell Shepard, who already has a touchdown on eight catches, and tight end Cameron Brate, who is third on the team with 31 targets and 20 catches and has two touchdowns.
Humphries also adds value to the Buccaneers special teams by being a kick returner and is one of the top punt returners in the NFL. He’s the secondary kick returner with two returns for an average of 14.5 yards per return. Humphries is tied for fourth in the NFL with 13 punt returns and tenth with 133 punt return yards. He averages 10.2 yards per punt return, and he’s 25th in the NFL in All-Purpose yards with 408.
With that said, there are many impactful third wide receivers who are valuable contributors to their teams. Let’s take a look at some of them.
The Top 20 Third Wide Receivers in the NFL
- Anquan Boldin, Detroit Lions: Golden Tate and Marvin Jones are the playmakers, but at age 36, Boldin is as reliable as ever. He has 32 catches, 272 yards and four touchdowns.
- Breshad Perriman, Baltimore Ravens: Kamar Aiken was a breakout player last season but Perriman has gotten more targets this year. He averages 13.1 yards per reception, second on the team.
- Michael Floyd, Arizona Cardinals: Floyd and John Brown can flip-flop but Brown has more targets, receptions, and yards. Floyd does have three touchdowns, however.
- Willie Snead, New Orleans Saints: Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas have emerged, but Snead has still chipped in with two touchdowns.
- Jamison Crowder, Washington Redskins: Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson are more talented, but Crowder has more catches and more touchdowns.
- Sterling Shepard, New York Giants: The Giants are easing Victor Cruz back into action and the rookie is reaping the benefits.
- Terrance Williams, Dallas Cowboys: Cole Beasley was the third receiver before the season but now he’s moved past Williams, who’s still productive with the injury-prone Bryant in and out.
- Marqise Lee, Jacksonville Jaguars: Lee has caught a higher percentage of his targets than either Allen Robinson or Allen Hurns.
- Dontrelle Inman, San Diego Chargers: Inman has only 17 catches, but he’ll sneak up on teams and pile up the yards. He has 237 yards on a 13.9 average.
- Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers: Jordy Nelson doesn’t look explosive coming off the ACL injury, but Adams has produced five touchdowns and leads the team with 12.5 yards per reception.
- Cameron Meredith, Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery is having a down year, Kevin White won’t return and Eddie Royal is a veteran receiver, so we could see Meredith have a breakout year.
- Seth Roberts, Oakland Raiders: It’s tough to get catches being on the same team as Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, but Roberts is second on the team with three touchdowns.
- Adam Humphries, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The competition between Humphries and Shepard to become the second receiver should be fun to watch.
- Ricardo Louis, Cleveland Browns: He filled in nicely for the injured Corey Coleman by averaging 10.8 yards per catch.
- Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks: Hasn’t quite found his stride like he did last year, but he’s still one of the premiere punt returners and kick returners in the NFL.
- Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins: Has only 16 catches, but he leads the team with three touchdowns and averages 19.8 yards per catch.
- Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings: He’s the fourth option after Stefon Diggs, Kyle Rudolph, and Adam Thielen, but he’s second on the team with two touchdowns.
- Danny Amendola, New England Patriots: Chris Hogan has surpassed him and the addition of Martellus Bennett has reduced him to 13 catches, but he still has two touchdowns.
- Kendall Wright, Tennessee Titans: Has only 17 catches, but 252 receiving yards with an average of 14.8 yards per reception. Also has two touchdowns.
- Ted Ginn Jr., Carolina Panthers: Kelvin Benjamin is back and Ginn has returned to being one of the best kick returners and punt returners in the NFL.
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