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<p>Big fan of Denver football? Then check out this list of Denver Broncos wide receivers with photos and seasons as starters.&nbsp;It includes every starting wide receiver from throughout Denver Broncos history, including current wide receivers and past ones. Featuring 2018-2019 Denver Broncos&nbsp;and some of the greatest NFL&nbsp;wide receivers of all time,&nbsp;the best Broncos&nbsp;WRs include Rod Smith, Vance Johnson, Mark Jackson, and Steve Watson.</p>

<p>Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-nfl-wide-receiver/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best wide receivers</a> in Denver Broncos history? Here is every player who has ever held the position of Denver Broncos&nbsp;starting wide receiver. Vote below, then head over and check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-denver-broncos-kickers-ever/ranker-nfl" target="_blank">top Broncos kickers ever</a> and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/every-denver-broncos-tight-end-ranked/ranker-nfl" target="_blank">best Broncos tight ends</a>.</p>


The 30+ Best Denver Broncos Wide Receivers, Ranked

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FREEFORM

Rod Smith

Roderick Duane Smith (born May 15, 1970) is a former American football wide receiver who played thirteen seasons for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL).  He played college football at Missouri Southern State.  He was originally signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent and played his entire career with the team.  As of 2017's offseason, his 849 career receptions and 11,389 receiving yards ranked him 27th and 31st all-time.

Ed McCaffrey

Edward Thomas McCaffrey (born August 17, 1968) is a former professional American football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons.  McCaffrey played college football for Stanford University and earned first-team All-American honors.  The New York Giants chose him in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft.  He also played for the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.

Demaryius Thomas

Demaryius Antwon Thomas (born December 25, 1987) is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Tech, and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. With Denver, Thomas made five consecutive Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers.

Haven Moses

Haven Christopher Moses (born July 27, 1946) is a former professional American football player.  He played professionally for fourteen seasons as a wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). 
Moses initially played college football at Los Angeles Harbor College, then transferred to San Diego State University under head coach Don Coryell.

Emmanuel Sanders

Emmanuel Niamiah Sanders  (born March 17, 1987) is an American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

Steve Watson

Steve Ross Watson (born May 28, 1957) is a former American football wide receiver and current wide receivers coach.
After high school at St. Mark's High School in Wilmington, Delaware, Watson attended Temple University and entered the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 1979.
Watson played his entire nine year NFL career in Denver, appearing in 125 games. After recording only six receptions in each of his first two seasons, in 1981 Watson had 60 receptions for a career-best 1,244 yards and league-leading 13 TDs (including a 95-yard reception in game 6, the longest in the NFL that season and 3rd longest in franchise history). His 20.73 yards per catch remains a Broncos franchise record, and earned him a spot in the 1981 Pro Bowl. Watson had 555 receiving yards the 9 game strike shortened season in 1982, hauled in 59 receptions for 1,133 yards in 1983 and a career-best 69 receptions for 1,170 in 1984. The 13-3 Broncos lost to Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs, but Watson had 11 receptions for a franchise record 177 yards. Watson started 31 of 32 games over the next two years, but saw his production fall to 915 yards, then 699. After starting just one game in the 1987 season, Watson retired with career totals of 353 receptions for 6,112 yards and 36 touchdowns.

Rick Upchurch

Ricky "Rick" Upchurch (born May 20, 1952) is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for the Denver Broncos (1975–1983) of the National Football League (NFL).  Before his NFL career, he played for Centerville Community College in Centerville, Iowa and the University of Minnesota and went to high school at Springfield High School in Holland, Ohio.  In 2000, Upchurch was named one of the 300 best NFL players of all time.In his nine NFL seasons, Upchurch excelled as a receiver and a kick returner on special teams. In his rookie season, he rushed for 97 yards, caught 18 passes for 436 yards, returned 27 punts for 312 yards, and added another 1,014 yards returning kickoffs.  In his second season, he set an NFL record by returning four punts for touchdowns and made the Pro Bowl. In the 1977 season, he led the NFL with 653 punt return yards and assisted his team to their first ever Super Bowl appearance. The Broncos lost Super Bowl XII to the Dallas Cowboys 27-10, but he had a good performance in the game. Upchurch amassed 125 total offensive yards (94 kickoff return, 22 punt return, 9 receiving), including a Super Bowl record 67-yard kickoff return in the 3rd quarter that set up Denver's only touchdown of the game.
Upchurch stayed with the Broncos until the 1983 season. He led the NFL in punt return average twice (1978 and 1982), and was selected to the Pro Bowl three more times (1978, 1979, 1982). He finished his nine-season career with 49 carries for 349 rushing yards, 267 receptions for 4,369 yards, 248 punt returns for 3,008 yards, and 95 kickoff returns for 2,355 yards.  Overall, Upchurch gained 10,081 total yards and scored 35 touchdowns: eight returning punts, 24 receiving, and three rushing. He was also selected All-Pro five times. At the time of his retirement, he was the NFL's career leader in punt return yards, and his eight punt returns for touchdowns tied the NFL record shared by Jack Christiansen. He is one of five players to record a career average of over 12 yards per punt return.
After his retirement from the NFL, Upchurch coached football at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas during the early to mid-1990s. In 2005, Upchurch became the head football coach at East High School in Pueblo, Colorado in 2005, where the team posted a 1-19 record in his two seasons as head coach. Upchurch currently resides in Mesquite, Nevada, and frequently visits nearby communities such as St. George, Utah, and Logandale, Nevada, to sign autographs for Broncos fans. Upchurch is ranked the sixth-greatest return specialist in NFL history on NFL Network's NFL Top 10 Return Aces.
As of 2017's NFL off-season, Rick Upchurch held at least 11 Broncos franchise records, including:

Punt Returns: career (248), season (51 in 1977), game (8 on 1978-10-22 @BAL; with Trindon Holliday)
Punt Return Yds: career (3,008), season (653 in 1977)
Punt Return TDs: career (8), season (4 in 1976), game (2 on 1976-09-26 CLE; with Darrien Gordon)
Total Return Yds: career (5,363), playoffs (351), playoff season (222 in 1977)

Brandon Marshall

Brandon Tyrone Marshall (born March 23, 1984) is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He played college football at UCF, and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Marshall has also played for the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, New York Giants, and the Seattle Seahawks. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as a free agent on November 12, 2018, he was later released that season on December 12, 2018 without appearing in a single game for the Saints.
Marshall is known for his ability to break and dodge tackles. He led all NFL wide receivers in yards after first contact for the 2007 NFL season. Regarding Marshall's breakaway ability, cornerback Brandon Flowers said, "Brandon Marshall is a defensive lineman playing wide receiver. He wants to inflict punishment on you. He wants you to try to tackle him so he can shove you off of him and get more yards." Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said Marshall is "the toughest guy to bring down, one-on-one."On December 13, 2009, against the Indianapolis Colts, Marshall set an NFL record for receptions in a game with 21. He also is one of six players in NFL history to catch at least 100 passes in three consecutive seasons.

Eric Decker

Eric Thomas Decker (born March 15, 1987) is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 8 seasons. He played college football and college baseball at the University of Minnesota, and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. After four seasons with the Broncos, he played for the New York Jets for three years and then the Tennessee Titans for one year.

Vance Johnson

Vance Edward Johnson (born March 13, 1963), is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 174 lb. wide receiver from the University of Arizona, Johnson played his entire NFL career for the Broncos from 1985 to 1995. Johnson was a World-Class long jumper. In 1982, Johnson won the NCAA championship, as well as winning the gold medal at the Junior Pan American games. In 1984 Johnson just missed making the U.S. Olympic team, finishing fourth in the long jump at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Johnson assisted the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances in the 1980s and had an impressive performance in Super Bowl XXI, recording five catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.  His best season was in 1989, when he recorded 76 receptions for 1,095 yards and seven touchdowns.  In his 11 seasons, Johnson recorded 415 receptions for 5,695 yards and 37 touchdowns, while also rushing 17 times for 44 yards.  He also gained 689 yards on punt returns, and 1,027 yards returning kickoffs. Johnson and fellow Broncos wide receivers Ricky Nattiel and Mark Jackson all played together from 1987 to 1992 and were nicknamed "The Three Amigos."As of 2017's NFL off-season, Vance Johnson held at least 3 Broncos franchise records, including:

Punt Returns: playoffs (13), playoff season (7 in 1989; with Darrien Gordon)
100+ yard receiving games: playoffs (3; with Demaryius Thomas)

Mark Jackson

Mark Anthony Jackson (born July 23, 1963) is an American former professional football player who was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. Jackson attended high school at Terre Haute South Vigo High School and Alton Senior High School. A 5'9", 174 lb (79 kg) wide receiver from Purdue University, Jackson played in the 1984 Peach Bowl before spending nine NFL seasons from 1986 to 1994 for the Broncos, the New York Giants, and the Indianapolis Colts. Jackson played in Super Bowls XXI, XXII, and XXIV with the Broncos. Jackson caught the touchdown pass that sent the game into overtime on "The Drive" in the Broncos' January 11, 1987 AFC Championship Game victory over the Cleveland Browns. Along with Vance Johnson and Ricky Nattiel, Jackson comprised the "Three Amigos" receiving combination in the late 1980s. As of 2017's NFL off-season, Mark Jackson held the Broncos franchise record for career yards per reception in the playoffs (19.29).  Mark Jackson now endorses and Founded Mark Jackson Credit Repair at www.MarkJacksonCreditRepair.com [1] Mark Jackson Credit Repair  - National Credit Helpers
Mark Jackson Social Sites
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Brandon Stokley

Brandon Ray Stokley (born June 23, 1976) is a former American football wide receiver and current radio personality. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana.
Stokley also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos, earning two Super Bowl wins during his career.

Eddie Royal

William Edward "Eddie" Royal (born May 21, 1986) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist . He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia Tech. Royal has also played for the San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears.

Billy Van Heusen

Billy Van Heusen (born August 27, 1946) is a former professional football punter and wide receiver who played for the Denver Broncos from 1968 to 1976. On Oct 6, 1968, he tied a franchise record with 12 punts against the Cincinnati Bengals

Mike Haffner

Michael Arthur Haffner (born July 7, 1942) is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for four seasons for the Denver Broncos (1968–1970) and Cincinnati Bengals (1971). As of 2017's NFL off-season, he still held the Broncos rookie franchise record for yards per reception at 30.5, for a 4 reception, 122 yard performance on 14 Dec 1968 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mike Young

Michael David Young (born February 21, 1962 in Hanford, California) is a former professional Football Player.  He was a wide receiver in the NFL for ten seasons, playing for the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Kansas City Chiefs.  Michael Young’s career in professional sports has spanned over 33 years as he is one of the very few NFL players to occupy senior level executive positions for multiple professional sports franchises.

Ricky Nattiel

Ricky Rennard Nattiel (born January 25, 1966), nicknamed "Ricky the Rocket," is an American former college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 1980s and 1990s.  Nattiel played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Denver Broncos of the NFL.

Jack Dolbin

John Tice Dolbin, Jr. (October 12, 1948 – August 1, 2019) was a professional American football wide receiver who played five seasons for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He started for the Broncos in Super Bowl XII and played in 62 consecutive games for the Broncos during his five-season tenure with the team. He is considered one of the most successful players that surged from the World Football League. Before his WFL career he played on sandlots for the semi-pro Pottstown Firebirds of the Atlantic Coast Football League and Schuylkill County Coal Crackers of the Seaboard Football League.  National College of Chiropractic graduate and nationally recognized expert on chiropractic and sports.

Butch Johnson

Michael "Butch" McColly Johnson (born May 28, 1954) is a former American football  wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He played college football at the University of California, Riverside and was drafted in the third round (87th overall) of the 1976 NFL Draft.



Jerry Simmons

Jerry Bernard Simmons (born November 14, 1942 in Nichols, Florida) is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Bethune-Cookman University, and professionally for ten seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New Orleans Saints, the Atlanta Falcons, the Chicago Bears, and the Denver Broncos.



Ashley Lelie

Ashley Jovon Lelie (; born February 16, 1980) is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos 19th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii.
Lelie has also played for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders and was briefly signed by the Kansas City Chiefs, but was released before the 2009 season began.

Rod Sherman

Rodney Jarvis "Rod" Sherman (born December 25, 1944) is a former American football wide receiver who played professionally in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL).

Javon Walker

Javon Liteff Walker (born October 14, 1978) is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 20th overall of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.
Walker also played for the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders. He was selected to the Pro Bowl with the Packers in 2004.
Walker attempted to start a clothing company called JWalk.

Anthony Miller

Anthony Miller may refer to:

Anthony Miller (basketball)
Anthony Miller (wide receiver, born 1965)
Anthony Miller (wide receiver, born 1994)
Anthony Miller (tight end)
Anthony Miller (murderer)
Anthony Miller (Australia), owner of the Big Rocking Horse, Australia
Anthony W. Miller, former United States Deputy Secretary of Education

Mike Pritchard

Michael Robert Pritchard (b. October 26, 1969) is a former American football player who played collegiately at the University of Colorado and professionally for various teams over a nine-year career.
Pritchard grew up in Las Vegas and starred as an all-purpose back.  His athletic talent attracted attention from collegiate football programs from across the nation.  Pritchard eventually accepted an athletic scholarship offer from head coach Bill McCartney of the University of Colorado.  He was part of the legendary 1987 recruiting class at Colorado that included Eric Bieniemy, George Hemingway, Alfred Williams, and Kanavis McGhee, all of whom were key players on the 1990 National Championship team.
At Colorado, Pritchard was a versatile player who excelled at a variety of positions, including wide receiver, kick returner, and running back.  He started the 1990 season opener at running back, carrying the ball 20 times for 217 yards and two touchdowns.  It was his only career start at that position.  Pritchard averaged 26.4 yards per pass reception for his career, a mark that remains a school record.  His 17.9 average per touch on offense also remains the best in school history.  
Pritchard earned a number of honors while at CU.  As a senior in 1990, he was named first-team All-Big Eight at wide receiver, also garnering honorable mention All-American honors from the UPI.  That same year he was named the most valuable player on CU's national championship team, the only one in school history.  Pritchard was later inducted into the University of Colorado sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Pritchard  was the first of nine Colorado players selected in the 1991 NFL Draft.  He was selected 13th overall by the Atlanta Falcons.  He played nine seasons in the NFL, spending time with Atlanta (1991-93), Denver (1994-95) and Seattle (1996-99).  Pritchard had his best professional season in 1992 while he was with the Falcons.  That year he caught 77 receptions for 827 yards and scored 5 touchdowns.  In 127 career NFL games, he caught 422 passes for 5,178 yards (12.3 yard average) and scored 26 touchdowns.  
After his playing career, he moved back to his hometown of Las Vegas where he embarked on a broadcasting career doing color commentary on the UNLV radio network.  He has also appeared on TV and radio as a commentator and in both the Las Vegas and Denver areas.

Big fan of Denver football? Then check out this list of Denver Broncos wide receivers with photos and seasons as starters.&nbsp;It includes every starting ...