The NFC Championship Game gave fans a wide receiver showcase to remember, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua lighting up the stat sheet in a head-to-head duel. The two young stars combined for 19 catches, 318 yards, and two touchdowns, putting on a clinic and reminding everyone just how deep the receiver talent pool is in today’s NFL. Smith-Njigba’s clutch performance helped punch the Seattle Seahawks’ ticket to the Super Bowl, capping off a breakout campaign.
But if you ask Jerry Rice - the gold standard when it comes to wide receivers - the best in the game wasn’t even on the field that day.
During a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Rice didn’t hesitate when asked who currently holds the crown as the NFL’s top wideout. His answer?
Justin Jefferson. And for Minnesota Vikings fans, that’s a much-needed dose of optimism after a season that tested their patience.
“I still gotta go with Justin Jefferson,” Rice said. “Even though he hasn’t had a quarterback, this guy can do it all.
He can stretch the field. He can out-jump you.
He’s not afraid to go across the middle.”
That’s high praise from the man who redefined the position. And it’s not just lip service - Jefferson’s numbers, even in a challenging season, back it up.
Despite a rocky year under center with rookie JJ McCarthy taking the reins, Jefferson still turned in his sixth straight 1,000-yard season. He hauled in 84 catches for 1,048 yards and two touchdowns - career lows, yes, but still elite production given the circumstances.
To put it in perspective, he had more yards in just 10 games back in 2023 (1,074) than he did across a full 17-game slate this year. That’s not a knock on Jefferson - it’s a reflection of how much he had to carry an offense that struggled to find its rhythm with a first-year quarterback.
And yet, even with the drop in quarterback play from Sam Darnold to McCarthy, Jefferson continued to show why he’s in a tier of his own. He now holds the record for the most receiving yards in a player’s first six seasons - more than anyone in league history, including Rice himself.
Jefferson’s ability to produce regardless of who’s throwing him the ball is what sets him apart. He’s a complete receiver - a technician in his routes, fearless over the middle, explosive after the catch, and capable of winning contested balls downfield. He’s the kind of player who makes life easier for a young quarterback, even when the offense around him is still finding its footing.
That’s why Rice gave Jefferson the nod over Ja’Marr Chase, who also had a stellar season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Chase earned first-team All-Pro honors and finished fourth in the league in receiving yards with 1,412 - trailing only Smith-Njigba, Nacua, and George Pickens.
There’s a strong case to be made for either Jefferson or Chase as the league’s top receiver. Both are young, dynamic, and consistently productive. But for Rice - a man who knows the position better than anyone - Jefferson’s all-around game and ability to thrive despite adversity gave him the edge.
And when the greatest wide receiver of all time says you’re No. 1, it carries weight.