I’d add one additional, slightly important thing: good hands. 
I’m not convinced that Hester is a natural pass-catcher, either.
Indeed. 20 years ago or so, the Packers had a WR named Jeff Query. The guy was fast as hell, but the rap on him was that he just couldn’t learn the routes. Was an OK punt returner, but never really blossomed as a receiver.
After watching 10 or so Vikings games this year, I’m convinced Harvin has good hands.
Nah, that’s not important to a wide receiver at all.
Can’t believe I forgot that one. :smack:
Maybe he should go to work for Allstate. 
That is not uncommon. The Lions have actually given up on teaching some players because they were unable to learn the routes and the technique. That is why some kick returners stay in that dangerous spot for years. If they can break away in returns ,you would think that shiftiness and speed would be useful in a wide receiver.
Here is my humble opinion. I am very confident I missed some. LET THE ARGUING…BEGIN!!!
Here is a list of the truly elite receivers:
Andre Johnson
Larry Fitzgerald
Wes Welker
Calvin Johnson
Steve Smith
Reggie Wayne
Players who had “elite” seasons, but need to show more over time:
Miles Austin
Sidney Rice
DeSean Jackson
Players on the precipice of being elite,may make the next step:
Vincent Jackson
Brandon Marshall
Marques Colston
Roddy White
Players just outside elite for all time:
Chad Ochocinco
Greg Jennings
Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward
Formerly elite, no longer elite:
Randy Moss (still very good)
Terrel Owens
Torry Holt
Coulda/Shoulda Been Elite:
Braylon Edwards
Promising Rookies:
Percy Harvin
Johnny Knox
Kenny Britt
Michael Crabtree
Brandon Marshall has caught 100+ passes in three consecutive seasons (out of four total seasons). He is already an elite receiver, character issues aside.
Vincent Jackson and DeSean Jackson should be in the same category, whichever one that is; they were similarly productive this season, although Jackson has been in the league for three extra years.
White has three straight ~1200 yard seasons. He is a top ten receiver.
You left out Anquan Boldin entirely, which is a crime. He’s one of the five best receivers in the league without question. He’s averaged 1,075 yards and 10 touchdowns per season over 7 seasons, despite missing slightly more than a full season of playing time over that period (and essentially being the Cardinals’ entire offense as a rookie).
I originally had Marshal in the elite category but I took him out, although I am not really sure why.
I don’t agree with Jackson and Jackosn bieng the same, DeSean has had one stellar season and one very good season, I need to see more.
I agree on Roddy White, but I wanted to be pretty selective on my definition of elite.
I did forget Anquan Boldin, I would probably put him in the same category as Hines Ward.
I didn’t say it did. I was talking specifically about Harvin, not saying that all skills translate. What makes HARVIN a dangerous returner and YAC receiver is his speed combined with tackle-breaking ability. To put it most simply, he almost never goes down with the first hit, and he has breakaway speed. Those talents are just as valid whether he’s receiving or returning, and they’re the things that make him “as dangerous” as anyone in the League.
ETA he also has good hands.
Randy Moss had 1264 yards and 13 TDs (tied for the league lead). No receiver beat him in both categories this year.
The receivers who had more yards had less TDs.
Nobody had more TDs.
Say what you like about him disappearing from games, but homeboy is certainly still an elite receiver.
On the other hand, Calvin Johnson’s best year (and only good year) didn’t even match that, and he’s on the ‘elite’ list. 
Poor Calvin Johnson. I feel for the guy.
You keep saying he is a YAC receiver, yet his results do not show that he’s a YAC receiver. A YAC receiver would produce, you know, YAC. :smack:
If you ever watch him play, you will see that he is, indeed, a YAC receiver. His catches in the endzone tend to deflate his YAC numbers.
DeSean hasn’t had a stellar season yet as a wide receiver. For all his huge plays he only had 1,167 yards and 9 touchdowns receiving this year.
Vincent Jackson has had two seasons in which he was roughly as productive as DeSean was this year.
Are you high? He caught 60 passes, and only 6 of them even went into the end zone, let alone were caught there. Even if you assume that all six of his touchdown catches were from 1 yard out that would still bring down his YPC and YAC by a negligible amount.
As they do for every receiver.
I remember 1 or 2 spectacular plays from Harvin this year where he broke tackles and scored touchdowns. Given how much I’m glad we have him and how much potential I think he has, I was surprised to find out how mediocre his YAC average actually is.
Dio, you simply need to admit that the stats do not support your perception.
He had TDs of 51, 31, 15, 23, 6, and 3. I’m sure they all would have been from 99 yards if Harvin could have made it.
And, what’s odd, is that apparently only Harvin is affected by this TD limits his YAC, instead of, oh I don’t know, every other receiver in the NFL.
Give it up. It’s Dio.
The ironic part of this is that Harvin himself was complicit in preventing this by being the world’s best return man.
No one here is trying to say Harvin isn’t a very good reciever, with a lot of potential, but the hyperbole is actually quite humorous.
He isn’t elite except in relation to the entire 6 billion population of the planet. Elite is just that, elite. A VERY select group of recievers. My list above while probably containing some issues, still makes the point. Only about a half dozen recievers can be called elite.