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Best of the NFC: Projecting 1000 Yard Receivers in 2026

The passing game has become a serious machine in the modern NFL. Projecting 100 Yard Receivers requires an analysis of not only a receiver’s ability to get open, but also the offensive system they are in and the skill of the quarterback. We take a close look at the receivers in the NFC who are likely to top the 1,000-yard mark, along with the probability of each making the mark.

This is the third in our ‘Projecting’ series for 2026: Projecting AFC 1000-Yard Receivers in 2026 and Projecting 2026 1,000-Yard Rushers

Projecting 1000 Yard Receivers in 2026: Yards and Probability (NFC)

Player
Team
Pos
Projected yards
Prob > 1000 yards
AFC NFC
Jaxon Smith-Njigba x SEA WR 2097 99
Puka Nacua x LAR WR 1882 99
George Pickens x DAL WR 1555 99
Justin Jefferson x MIN WR 1496 99
Amon-Ra St. Brown x DET WR 1490 99
Malik Nabers x NYG WR 1387 97
Rome Odunze x CHI WR 1308 95
Marvin Harrison Jr. x ARI WR 1306 95
DeVonta Smith x PHI WR 1150 92
Kyle Pitts x ATL TE 1105 92
CeeDee Lamb x DAL WR 1103 92
Jameson Williams x DET WR 1102 91
Chris Olave x NOR WR 1098 90
Drake London x ATL WR 1090 90
Trey McBride x ARI TE 1052 89
Chris Godwin x TAM WR 1008 74
Deebo Samuel x WAS WR 1002 70
Mike Evans x SFO  WR 1002 68
Emeka Egbuka x TAM WR 1000 68

The receiver who sits atop the list in the NFC is none other than Seattle Seahawks‘ receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. JSN led the NFC last season with 1,793 yards and is likely to top the 2,000-yard mark for 2026. Four other receivers also have a 99% chance of topping the mark: Puka Nacua(Los Angeles Rams), George Pickens(Dallas Cowboys), Justin Jefferson(Minnesota Vikings), and Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions)

The Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers each have a pair of receivers on the list: Drake London and Kyle Pitts(Atlanta), Pickens and Cee-Dee Lamb(Dallas), St. Brown and Jameson Williams(Detroit), and Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka(Tampa Bay)

The list of NFC receiving standouts includes potential MVP candidates JSN and Justin Jefferson.

Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Johnathan Baldwin (37) tackles Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Projecting 1000 Yard Receivers: 2025 NFL  Stats

Rank Player Team Pos Rec Yards
1 Jaxon Smith-Njigba SEA WR 1793
2 Puka Nacua LAR WR 1715
3 George Pickens DAL WR 1429
4 Ja’Marr Chase CIN WR 1412
5 Amon-Ra St. Brown DET WR 1401
6 Trey McBride ARI TE 1239
7 Zay Flowers BAL WR 1211
8 Chris Olave NOR WR 1163
9 Nico Collins HOU WR 1117
10 Jameson Williams DET WR 1117
11 CeeDee Lamb DAL WR 1077
12 Justin Jefferson MIN WR 1048
13 Courtland Sutton DEN WR 1017
14 Wan’Dale Robinson NYG WR 1014
15 Tetairoa McMillan CAR WR 1014
16 Stefon Diggs NWE WR 1013
17 DeVonta Smith PHI WR 1008
18 Michael Wilson ARI WR 1006
19 A.J. Brown PHI WR 1003
20 Alec Pierce IND WR 1003
21 Emeka Egbuka TAM WR 938
22 Kyle Pitts ATL TE 928
23 Christian McCaffrey SFO RB 924
24 Drake London ATL WR 919
25 Jaylen Waddle MIA WR 910
26 Juwan Johnson NOR TE 889
27 Travis Kelce KAN TE 851
28 D.K. Metcalf PIT WR 850
29 Parker Washington JAX WR 847
30 Tee Higgins CIN WR 846
31 Jakobi Meyers 2TM WR 835
32 Bijan Robinson ATL RB 820
33 Tyler Warren IND TE 817
34 Ladd McConkey LAC WR 789
35 Davante Adams LAR WR 789
36 Michael Pittman Jr. IND WR 784
37 Dalton Schultz HOU TE 777
38 Keenan Allen LAC WR 777
39 Hunter Henry NWE TE 768
40 Quentin Johnston LAC WR 735
41 Harold Fannin CLE TE 731
42 Deebo Samuel WAS WR 727
43 Romeo Doubs GNB WR 724
44 Khalil Shakir BUF WR 719
45 Colston Loveland CHI TE 713
46 Troy Franklin DEN WR 709
47 Brian Thomas JAX WR 707
48 Tre Tucker LVR WR 696
49 Rashid Shaheed 2TM WR 687
50 D.J. Moore CHI WR 682
51 Brock Bowers LVR TE 680
52 Oronde Gadsden II LAC TE 664
53 Rome Odunze CHI WR 661
54 Luther Burden CHI WR 652
55 Jauan Jennings SFO WR 643
56 George Kittle SFO TE 628
57 Jahmyr Gibbs DET RB 616
58 Christian Watson GNB WR 611
59 Jordan Addison MIN WR 610
60 Marvin Harrison Jr. ARI WR 608
61 Jerry Jeudy CLE WR 602
62 Jake Ferguson DAL TE 600
63 Cooper Kupp SEA WR 593
64 Dallas Goedert PHI TE 591
65 Marquise Brown KAN WR 587
66 Terry McLaurin WAS WR 582
67 Cade Otton TAM TE 572
68 Rashee Rice KAN WR 571
69 Dalton Kincaid BUF TE 571
70 Josh Downs IND WR 566
71 Chig Okonkwo TEN TE 560
72 Kendrick Bourne SFO WR 551
73 Kayshon Boutte NWE WR 551

About David Keech

David is a sportswriter focusing on the NFL, MLB, NBA and College Sports along with sportscard collecting. He has reported on amateur and professional sports in Wisconsin since 2013. David has degrees in education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.