Eagles WR De Sean Jackson
Eagles WR De Sean Jackson

In today's NFL, it's clear that small receivers are becoming big contributors in the passing game.

Last season, Pro Bowl wide receiver WES WELKER of the New England Patriots caught a league-leading 123 passes, tied for the second-most receptions in a season in NFL history (HERMAN MOORE). He leads the NFL with 346 receptions since 2007.

New York Giants All-Star STEVE SMITH led the NFC with 107 receptions in 2009, setting the record for most receptions in a season for the 90-year old franchise. Smith was also the NFL's most productive receivers on third down in 2009, collecting a league-best 29 first-down conversions.

"He is very good and decisive, and his maneuvers are deceptive and very sharp and very sudden," says Giants quarterback ELI MANNING of Smith. "He can go from one point to the other after making a move with good suddenness."

DE SEAN JACKSON of the Philadelphia Eagles led the NFC averaging 18.6 yards per reception en route to making the 2010 Pro Bowl, and the Carolina Panthers' STEVE SMITH, a four-time All-Star selection, has led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and receiving yards per game for at least one season over the course of his career.

Even the newcomers are getting in on the action

Vikings WR Percy Harvin
Vikings WR Percy Harvin

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver PERCY HARVIN tied for the lead among all rookies with 60 catches (a team rookie record) and 790 receiving yards. He also set the club single-season record with 2,081 combined yards. Fellow 2009 rookie JEREMY MACLIN of the Eagles was second among NFC rookies with 773 receiving yards and 34 first-down receptions, trailing only Harvin in each category.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie MIKE THOMAS set the team record for rookie receptions with 48 and young wide receiver DAVONE BESS became just the fifth Miami Dolphins wide receiver with more than 75 receptions in a season (76).

"A lot of us are out there playing with that chip on our shoulders," says 5-11 wideout GREG JENNINGS of the Green Bay Packers, who has over 3,300 receiving yards since 2007. "A lot of us are saying, 'I can go up and get the deep ball. I can go up and get the fade route. I can make any catch a 6-5 guy can, and then I can give you something after the catch.'"

There is a mutual respect amongst the smaller receivers, and now that respect is starting to come from around the league as well.

"In this league, you'll see three and four receivers, one running back, and in many cases, four or five receivers with no back -- or if you've got a capable back, you're splitting him out," says Eagles offensive coordinator MARTY MORNHINWEG, who coaches sub-six foot stars Jackson and Maclin. "The game has changed that way a little bit so that the smaller stature players have a place."

Jackson, who set an NFL record with an average of 52.6 yards per touchdown (with a minimum of 10 TDs) in 2009 is making sure that the teams that passed on him in the 2008 NFL Draft because he was too small for the position are regretting their error.

"There are a lot of people eating their words right now."

 

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