17. Andre Johnson
Johnson has only been retired for a few years, but it’s not too soon to consider him as one of the all-time best receivers. At 6’3’’ and 220 lbs., few receivers have Johnson’s size and strength, and even fewer receivers knew how to use it as well as he did. Johnson could bully opposing cornerbacks, who no doubt had nightmares about defending him, particularly in the red zone when Johnson’s size made him impossible to stop at times.
People often forget that Johnson was the 3rd overall pick and joined a team in its second year of existence. The Texans needed him to immediately step in as their top receiver, and Johnson did just that. He’s the only receiver in NFL history with 60 or more catches in each of his first eight seasons in the league. Johnson had seven seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving and three with over 1,500 yards. He did it all without playing alongside elite quarterbacks or always having much help around him. Johnson was one of the rare receivers who could put a team on his back and carry them throughout a season.