Madden 19 Ratings: All the best Wide Receivers (WR)

While passing games need a good quarterback to function, you can only go so far if you don't have good receivers on the other end of the passes. With most offenses prominently featuring at least three wide receivers on a majority of plays, it is important to get your hands on one that can dominate defenses and force the opposition to alter how they play.

How to choose the best wide receivers on Madden's Franchise Mode

There are many shapes and sizes of wide receivers, but the deadliest are always fast, strong, and agile. Quickness, precise route running, and good hands are all vital traits for wide receivers. Here are the best wide receivers on Madden 19 with an OVR rating of 86 or more.

Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (OVR 99)

Age: 30

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 4 years/$37.3 million

2018 Cap Hit: $8.98m

Best stats: Speed (92), Agility (98), Elusiveness (97), Juke Move (97), Catching (99), Catching In Traffic (99), Spectacular Catch (98), Release (97), Short Route Running (98), Medium Route Running (97), Deep Route Running (96)

Of course the cover star is the best at his position. Brown has been a monster of a wide receiver for years now. He's made the First Team All-Pro in each of the last four seasons, and has averaged 104.1 yards per game in that time span.

As a result, Brown is nearly unstoppable on Madden 19. He has perfect catching, and near-perfect spectacular catches. His route running is excellent at every level and once he has the ball in his hands, he's a nightmare to tackle. Brown is as over-powered as any receiver since Randy Moss' peak. The only thing he struggles with is jump balls (Jumping 89), but his spectacular catch stat should give him some wins on the high passes.

Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (OVR 98)

Age: 29

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 3 years/$39.2m

2018 Cap Hit: $10.7m

Best stats: Speed (93), Agility (96), Catching (96), Catching In Traffic (98), Spectacular Catch (98), Jumping (97), Short Route Running (97), Medium Route Running (93), Deep Route Running (92)

If Brown has been a monster over the last four years, so has Julio Jones. The Falcons wide out has averaged 103.6 yards over the last four seasons along with 23 touchdowns and more double coverages than you can count.

Jones does what Brown can't and leaps over defenders, but he does everything else. Jones has terrific hands and can catch everything that comes his way, and while his route running isn't quite as good as Brown, he can still create separation all over the field.

Odell Beckham Jr, New York Giants (OVR 95)

Age: 25

Development Trait: Superstar 

Contract: 1 year/$5.23m

2018 Cap Hit: $5.23m

Best stats: Speed (94), Agility (98), Juke Move (97), Spectacular Catch (99), Jumping (94), Short Route Running (96), Medium Route Running (95), Deep Route Running (93)

OBJ burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2014 with a dominant season, and since then has been nearly unstoppable. The only thing that has slowed him down is the decline of his quarterback and injury. Beckham played just four games last season before an ankle injury landed him on IR.

In Madden 19 though, that injury is a thing of the past. His juke move and agility make him a brilliant kick returner option as well as wide receiver, while that 99 spectacular catch means hanging anything up to him in the end zone is a good idea.

DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans (OVR 95)

Age: 26

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 5 years/81.4m

2018 Cap Hit: $12.7m

Best stats: Speed (92), Catching (98), Catching In Traffic (96), Spectacular Catch (98), Release (95), Short Route Running (95), Medium Route Running (93), Deep Route Running (92)

DeAndre Hopkins is not the uber-athlete that some other receivers are. He doesn't have amazing after the catch skills, but he can get open against anyone and will catch everything. He has enough speed to break away if he gets off press coverage, and enough precision in his route running at every level to give you windows to throw into.

Hopkins has been brilliant in Houston since arriving in 2013, despite having many different and awful quarterbacks throwing him the ball. Last year he caught 96 passes for 1,378 yards and a league-high 13 touchdowns.

AJ Green, Cincinnati Bengals (OVR 93)

Age: 30

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 2 years/$27.1m

2018 Cap Hit: $11m

Best stats: Speed (90), Catching (93), Catching In Traffic (95), Spectacular Catch (98), Release (93), Jumping (97), Short Route Running (93), Medium Route Running (91), Deep Route Running (90)

AJ Green was a star when he came into the league in 2011, but his draft-mate Julio Jones has somewhat eclipsed him since, as have some younger receivers that have come into the NFL. However, Green is still a deadly playmaker on his day.

Blazing speed has never been Green's forte, and that is shown in his relatively poor 89 acceleration stat, but the rest of his game is terrific. He excels at high passes with his 98 spectacular catch and 97 jumping. Throw in solid route running and you have a player that can be a real menace for any cornerback to handle. Green racked up 1,078 yards last year along with 8 touchdowns.

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers (OVR 92)

Age: 30

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 3 years/$30.56m

2018 Cap Hit: $8.73m

Best stats: Speed (88), Catching (94), Release (92), Short Route Running (94), Medium Route Running (92)

There is a drop-off after AJ green. He is the end of the elite receivers, but the next tier of wide out is extremely useful too. Keenan Allen will not pick up a ton of yards after the catch like Odell Beckham or Antonio Brown, but he will still be open a lot, thanks to terrific route running stats and a very good release stat.

Allen missed almost all of the 2016 season due to a torn ACL, but he returned to the field in 2017 and was a dominant force, catching 102 passes for 1,393 yards and six touchdowns as defensive backs struggled to keep up with his well disguised routes, while his strong hands meant anything even remotely on target was hauled in.

Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints (OVR 91)

Age: 25

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 2 years/$2.7m

2018 Cap Hit: $1.2m

Best stats: Speed (89), Acceleration (92), Catching (95), Spectacular Catch (92), Short Route Running (93), Medium Route Running (90)

A second-round pick in 2016, Michael Thomas has been a phenomenon since arriving in New Orleans. Sure, it helps to have Drew Brees throwing you the ball, but his strong rookie season allowed the Saints to trade Brandin Cooks away, and his dominant 2017 campaign only served to justify that decision further. In his two years in the NFL Thomas has caught 196 passes for 2,382 yards and 14 touchdowns.

While his top end speed (89) isn't great, Thomas gets there in a hurry thanks to his 92 acceleration. That means that coming out of his cuts he will be open very quickly, and has the burst to add yards after the catch too. He isn't quite as good in traffic (89) as others, making inside routes a little tougher, but his strong route running stats and terrific catch rating means you can have confidence in feeding Thomas the ball anywhere on the field.

Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks (OVR 90)

Age: 29

Development Trait: Quick

Contract: 3 years/$23.89m

2018 Cap Hit: $7.05m

Best stats: Speed (90), Catching (95), Catching In Traffic (93), Spectacular Catch (93), Short Route Running (92)

Doug Baldwin is a household name thanks to the recent success of the Seattle Seahawks, but his stats don't really look like he should be this high. He has gone over 1,000 yards just twice in his career, and scored over 10 touchdowns just once. He's never caught 100 passes in a season either. However, just because the Seahawks don't have a dominant passing game that focuses on him doesn't mean he isn't good, and on Madden 19 he is very good.

Baldwin has terrific catching skills (95) this year, making him incredibly sure-handed, and with good physical stats and strong short route running you can use him as a primary receiver in a quick passing game to devastating effect.

Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings (OVR 90)

Age: 24

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 1 year/$670k

2018 Cap Hit: $670k

Best stats: Speed (91), Acceleration (93), Catching (92), Spectacular Catch (94), Short Route Running (91), Medium Route Running (90)

At just 24, Diggs has a long career ahead of him. In his three years in the NFL he is yet to have a statistically remarkable season, in part due to some injuries and some poor quarterback play, but also thanks to sharing the field with a strong supporting cast. On Madden 19 though, you can easily make him the focal point of your whole offense.

Diggs has good top speed (91) but also fantastic acceleration (93), making double moves, underneath option routes, and long passes all viable routes to use with him. His release off the line (84) needs some work, but he's so young that you should be able to improve that easily.

Alshon Jeffery, Philadelphia Eagles (OVR 90)

Age: 28

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 4 years/$38.3m

2018 Cap Hit: $9.09m

Best stats: Speed (89), Catching (92), Catching In Traffic (95), Spectacular Catch (97), Release (96), Jumping (92), Short Route Running (89), Medium Route Running (86), Deep Route Running (83)

Like Diggs, Jeffery hasn't been the focal point of a passing game, at least not since 2014. Injuries have hampered his production for a while, but after signing as a free agent with the Eagles last year he played every game in 2017 he caught 57 passes for 789 yards and scored 9 touchdowns in the regular season, adding another three touchdowns in the playoffs.

Jeffery doesn't have great speed or burst, but his hands are terrific in all situations, he has a strong jumping stat, and most importantly is almost impossible to jam at the line of scrimmage thanks to his 96 release, which is behind only Julio Jones and Antonio Brown. He can create separation with his route running on all levels, and will be a threat against any cornerback thanks to his physicality.

Other star wide receivers