Bengals' Top Receivers Snubbed in Latest NFL Ranking

Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Andrei Iosivas ranked 3rd behind Rams and Cowboys duos

Mar. 21, 2026 at 6:55pm

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Sports Illustrated's latest ranking of the top 10 wide receiver groups in the NFL has the Cincinnati Bengals' trio of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Andrei Iosivas coming in at No. 3, behind the Los Angeles Rams and the Dallas Cowboys. The Bengals' duo of Chase and Higgins has been one of the NFL's best in recent years, but the ranking suggests the wider league landscape may be overlooking Cincinnati's receiving corps.

Why it matters

The Bengals' passing attack, led by Chase and Higgins, has been a major strength of the team in recent seasons. Being ranked behind groups like the Rams and Cowboys, who haven't had the same level of consistent success, is seen as a snub by many Bengals fans and analysts.

The details

According to the SI ranking, the Rams' duo of Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, along with rookie Konata Mumpfield, edged out the Bengals' trio. The Cowboys' group of CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy was also ranked higher. The article notes that while Chase and Higgins have been elite, the lack of playoff appearances for the Bengals in recent years may have contributed to them being overlooked in the rankings.

  • Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have been one of the NFL's best receiving duos for much of the 2020s.
  • Chase recorded his fifth straight 1,000-yard season in 2025 and has 54 receiving touchdowns in 78 NFL games.
  • Higgins led the Bengals with 11 touchdowns last year and has 21 TDs over the last two seasons.

The players

Ja'Marr Chase

A three-time All-Pro wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals who has recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in five straight seasons and has 54 receiving touchdowns in 78 NFL games.

Tee Higgins

A wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals who led the team with 11 touchdowns last year and has 21 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

Andrei Iosivas

A wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals who has developed into a dependable third option, recording eight touchdowns over the last two years.

Davante Adams

A wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams who is the league's reigning touchdown leader.

Puka Nacua

A wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams who led the NFL in receptions in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have been one of the NFL's best receiving duos for much of the 2020s, and Cincinnati broke the bank to keep both of them in town.”

— Karl Rasmussen, Sports Illustrated Writer

“The first season with the Cowboys' duo of Lamb and Pickens was a roaring success. The star tandem combined for 168 receptions, 2,506 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025, as Dallas had one of the NFL's most potent air attacks, averaging 266.3 passing yards per game, second-most in the league.”

— Karl Rasmussen, Sports Illustrated Writer

“Los Angeles has one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL, consisting of the league's reigning touchdowns leader in Adams and the 2025 receptions leader in Nacua. That tandem combined for 189 receptions, 2,504 yards, and 24 touchdowns last season.”

— Karl Rasmussen, Sports Illustrated Writer

What’s next

The Bengals will look to prove the rankings wrong and continue their offensive dominance in the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Despite the Bengals' recent success and the elite production of their receiving corps, the wider NFL landscape seems to be overlooking Cincinnati's passing attack, potentially due to their lack of playoff appearances in recent years. This ranking serves as motivation for the Bengals to reclaim their spot among the league's elite receiving groups.