Madden NFL 22 hasn't been revealed yet, but that shouldn't stop fans of the long-running series to keep an eye on what teams and players they might want to use when the game is eventually unveiled sometime this summer and then likely released later this fall. Whether talking about Madden Ultimate Team dark horses, or guys players would like to be throwing the ball to in their franchise modes, there are some wide receivers that could stand out from the crowd this year.
Obviously, there are a few players like Deandre Hopkins who are going to be big-time producers on Madden NFL 22. However, there are some players who might grab as much attention for one reason or another. It is possible people have forgotten they changed some scenery and will benefit from a different supporting cast. Some receivers might be draft picks that were lost in the shuffle because they didn't get as much mention as their cohorts. Whatever the rationale, there are some wide receivers that Madden fans should absolutely keep an eye on both when the game and then throughout the season.
Julio Jones Looking To Change A Team's Fortunes In Madden NFL 22
Julio Jones has long been one of the best players in the NFL. That of course, means he's also one of the best players in the popular video game franchise. In fact, he started out last year as the number three wide receiver in Madden NFL 21 with a rating of 97. Over the course of the season, that fell to 95, but that was still plenty impressive. Jones posted those kinds of ratings with an Atlanta Falcons squad that has been mostly bad in recent years.
Thanks to a blockbuster trade this offseason, Jones will be plying his trade with the Tennessee Titans. Thanks to the Falcons agreeing to his request to send him elsewhere, Jones is going to have a lot of help on the offensive side of the ball. That includes Derrick Henry, a running back so good there were rumors earlier this season that he was going to be the cover athlete for Madden NFL 22. The Falcons finished 2021 with a 4-12 record. The Titans went 11-5. It's not a mystery why Jones wanted to get traded. This fall, he'll be someone to watch and see how he operates with a new quarterback throwing him the ball as he plays alongside a better group of teammates.
Kadarius Toney Could Have Big Premiere Season In Madden NFL 22
The rookie receiver for the New York Giants is probably the biggest question mark on this list. While he was a first-round choice in the latest NFL draft, he's being rewarded for a breakout season with the Florida Gators where he caught more passes in a single season than he had in the previous three years total. Toney hauled down 70 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and now he'll likely be asked to be the "go-to" receiver for quarterback Daniel Jones.
It's hard to know what exactly to expect from Toney in Madden NFL 22. If Jones gets to play alongside a newly healthy Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, he's got a very real chance to impress.
AJ Green Could Be Resurgent In Madden NFL 22
When Madden NFL 22 does finally get announced and then eventually launched, it stands to reason that AJ Green could be one of the top-rated receivers in the game. There was a time when the former Bengals wide receiver looked like he was headed for a sure-fire Hall-of-Fame career. Then the team ran into some quarterback trouble and Green ran into some injury problems. His production dropped precipitously the last few seasons. This offseason, the former Bengal pass-catcher signed with the Arizona Cardinals. Now there are some who think he might be able to revitalize his career for one final run at the Super Bowl.
Green started last year with a Madden NFL 20 rating of 88. Over the course of the year, that dropped like a stone and he ended up with an 81. The big reason behind that rating drop was most likely, once again, injury and the fact that he stopped being "the man" among the receiver corps. He won't be the top target for the Cardinals, as that honor falls to Deandre Hopkins, but Green could be a big contributor as a complementary player and that, in turn, could prove to be quite valuable in Madden NFL 22.
Ja'Marr Chase Looks To Take His Game To The Next Level In Madden NFL 22
AJ Green's departure is one of the reasons the Bengals chose former LSU receiver, Ja'Marr Chase, very early in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The other reason is that he's a former teammate of star quarterback Joe Burrow's. Burrow actually pushed his team to take the receiver, knowing the kind of chemistry they had together. Chase sat out last season because of the coronavirus pandemic, but when he was last on the field, he caught 84 passes for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Burrow's excitement over having his old teammate back could mean the pair are going to hook up for a big, big season. That could mean a big, big player rating for Chase in Madden NFL 22.
Antonio Brown Returns For More In Madden NFL 22
Antonio Brown has had an interesting couple of seasons. The former Pittsburgh Steelers star has gone from the cover athlete of Madden NFL 19 to journeyman receiver. Tampa Bay is the fourth team he's been a part of in the last three seasons, including the Las Vegas Raiders, who he never actually played a down with. Midway through the 2020 season, the Bucs signed him to be another weapon for Tom Brady.
While playing in just eight games, he did manage 45 catches for 483 yards and four touchdowns. Now, playing alongside Brady for a full season, Brown could be slated for a massive season. He finished with an 86 rating in Madden NFL 21 but it's not remotely out of the question that he could see that number go up quite a bit for Madden NFL 22. Of course, the mercurial receiver has a way of making himself persona non grata as well.
Madden NFL 22 is in development for unspecified platforms.