In this post I will be looking at the production of the top four receiving threats for each team in the NFC East .  The top four is based of of numbers of yards earned during the regular season not # of receptions.  This idea was sparked by a post over on Big Blue View. 

Eagles top four WR (Jackson, Maclin, Avant, and Celek ) Combined for 3487 yards and 24 TDs

Jackson-1156 yards, 9 TDs
Maclin-773 yards, 4 TDs
Celek-971 yards, 8 TDs
Avant-587 yards, 3 TDs

Jackson is great, very explosive. However Maclin will end up being better than Jackson. Celek is a great TE and he was Kolbs primary target in Kolbs two starts. Avant may not have the same numbers as the better WR but he has amazing hands and when its third and long I am confident he will make the catch.

Dallas’ top four (Witten, Austin, Roy, and Crayton) combined for 3568 yards and 25 TDs

Witten-1030 yards,  2 TDs
Austin-1320 yards, 11 TDs
Roy-596 yards, 7 TDs

Crayton-622 yards, 5 TDs

Witten is an amazing tight end I hate that bastard but he is good. However , in my opinion, he is on the decline.   Roy Williams has the talent to be great, however he has yet to turn that talent into production.   Maybe the addition of Dez will be able to revitalize the passing attack to spread the ball to more than just Austin and Witten

Giants top four (Smith, Manningham, Nicks and Boss) Produced 3399 yards and 23 TDs

Smith-1220 yards, 7 TDs
Ham-822 yards, 5 TDs
Nicks-790 yards, 6 TDs
Boss-567 yards, 5 TDs

The Giants are putting a great fleet of receivers out this year.  Steve Smith gets the majority of the looks and has sure hands.   Manningham is also a solid player who has great speed.  Nicks is a great wide out who should produce better now that he has a season under his belt.  Boss is good tight end with good hands, however he isnt used as much as other Tight Ends in the league.

Redskins top four.(Moss, Randle El, Davis, and Cooley) combined for 2273 yards and 11 TDs

Moss-902 yards,3 TDs

Randle El-530 yards, 0 TDs

Davis-509 6 yards, 6 TDs

Cooley-332 yards, 2 TDs

The Redskins have decent wide outs.  However, they had to play with a Qb that was constantly in a rush from sub par O-line play.  If Shanahan can get his zone blocking scheme working at 100% by the season start, the numbers should be bolstered.

Looking at the numbers, all of the teams with the exception of the Redskins have upper tiered flights of catching threats.   Not many teams in this league have a top four that can put up over 3300 yards.  The Saints top four only put up 3169 yards.  The Packers put up 3290, so the barely missed the 3300 mark.  the Vikings also barely missed this mark with their top four putting up 3286 yards.  The Patriots put up 3272 yards.

The one factor all of the teams who just barely missed the mark is that they have an amazing number one WR.  But after the first two on the depth chart the talent level drops off.  It seems that the key to being able to have a top four put up over 3300 yards is too be consistent through all four  WRs.  

The Colts top four receiving put up an astounding 3811 yards.   

So of the five teams that put up over 3300 yards with just the top four, the NFC East has three of those teams.

1. Colts 3811 yards.

2.Chargers 3597

3.Cowboys 3568 yards

4. Eagles 3487 yards

5. Giants 3399 yards

The Giants and the Eagles have the youngest four.  The potential of both squads is astronomical.  It wouldnt surprise me if the Giants and Eagles have the best corps of WR within the next 3 years.