Miles Austin vs NFL WR's

[NeonDeion21]

Figured this didnt really belong in the Fan Zone so I decided to post this here. I have a friend who is a Steeler fan and claims that he doesn't believe Miles is a Top 10 WR. His reasoning? Miles Austin gets so many targets and is rarely double teamed, hence the reason why his stats are so good. He also says that the only reason they throw to him so much is because we don't have a running game.

I try to rebut using stats like during the last 22 games, there has been no better WR in terms of yards and catches than Austin. Austin is 13th in targets in the league and still is tops in yards. Austin catches 65% of his targets, tops in the NFL.

I was just curious to see what other fans think about where Miles Austin ranks in WR in the NFL.

 

[CowboyMike]

When he doesn't have his current case of the dropsies? He is the best in the league, no doubt.

But right now, making drops on easy passes on crucial downs, he's among the Top 20.

 

[slaga]

Miles Austin has only been a really good receiver for a little more than a year. If he is consistantly good for a few years he could probably move into the elite category, but in my opinion he has not put in enough time to move up to top 10 status yet. Miles Austin is the 15th best receiver in my fantasy football league. Here are the guys that I would put above Miles Austin right now because they have done it for years. I would put Miles in the second tier of receivers and anyone can jumble them up any way they want to argue for or against Miles falling in the top 10.

Andre Johnson
Randy Moss
Reggie Wayne
Roddy White
Calvin Johnson
Larry Fitzgerald
Terrell Owens
Greg Jennings

 

[Number82]

Miles Austin has only been a really good receiver for a little more than a year. If he is consistantly good for a few years he could probably move into the elite category, but in my opinion he has not put in enough time to move up to top 10 status yet. Miles Austin is the 15th best receiver in my fantasy football league. Here are the guys that I would put above Miles Austin right now because they have done it for years. I would put Miles in the second tier of receivers and anyone can jumble them up any way they want to argue for or against Miles falling in the top 10.

Using fantasy football to determine how good a player is?

Oh wait ... you were serious ....:bang2:

 

[slaga]

Using fantasy football to determine how good a player is?

Oh wait ... you were serious ....:bang2:

Is there any difference in the OP using stats to make his point and using stats to get fantasy points? Obviously that is not the only criteria I used to base my opinion but you have to admit there is some correlation between a player being good at his position and that translating into fantasy points. My point was Austin has had 1 good year and that is not enough to rank him in the top 10 in the league, at least to me.

 

[mrwarr16]

When he doesn't have his current case of the dropsies? He is the best in the league, no doubt.

But right now, making drops on easy passes on crucial downs, he's among the Top 20.

I think Austin is a good reciever but your point here is just funny. You cant just say if a wide out didnt drop balls he would be the best. Then that goes for every reciever in the league. LOL Thats just ignorant!

 

[DFWJC]

I put Austin in the top 10 for sure and (maybe top 5). His body of work is still fairly limited. But as you pointed out, while he has been starting, he has produced.

Even guys like Andre Johnson, Roddy White, Calvin Johnson, and Reggie Wayne have had dropsie spells.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

There should be no question Miles is in the top 10 right now. The numbers don't lie, and whether your friend likes it or not, Miles is not targeted more than the other guys in the top 10. If we get our O-Line sorted out before next season, Miles could probably go for 1800+ yards. He's **** near uncoverable.

 

[Stautner]

Figured this didnt really belong in the Fan Zone so I decided to post this here. I have a friend who is a Steeler fan and claims that he doesn't believe Miles is a Top 10 WR. His reasoning? Miles Austin gets so many targets and is rarely double teamed, hence the reason why his stats are so good. He also says that the only reason they throw to him so much is because we don't have a running game.

I try to rebut using stats like during the last 22 games, there has been no better WR in terms of yards and catches than Austin. Austin is 13th in targets in the league and still is tops in yards. Austin catches 65% of his targets, tops in the NFL.

I was just curious to see what other fans think about where Miles Austin ranks in WR in the NFL.

Top 10? Easily. Top 5, probably not. If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago i would have said top 5, but he has shown some vulnerabilities in recent weeks.

When he doesn't have his current case of the dropsies? He is the best in the league, no doubt.

But right now, making drops on easy passes on crucial downs, he's among the Top 20.

This is a little silly. It's like saying a guy is the best blocker in the league except when he gives up sacks.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

No, it's like saying "Jonathan Ogden was the best tackle in the league, though he had a few tough weeks where he gave up a couple sacks."

Miles is not a serial ball dropper. Early in his career he had struggles with it, but he didn't drop a lot last year. He just hasnt' been concentrating the ball in as well as he needs to this year. The expectations are astronomical for him, and unlike a lot of guys, I don't think his payday made him relax. I think he is motivated to live up to it, and he's trying to run before completing the catch sometimes.

 

[jimmy40]

Top 10? Easily. Top 5, probably not. If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago i would have said top 5, but he has shown some vulnerabilities in recent weeks.




This is a little silly. It's like saying a guy is the best blocker in the league except when he gives up sacks.

or Barry sanders sucked if you take away the long runs. :laugh2:

 

[Stautner]

No, it's like saying "Jonathan Ogden was the best tackle in the league, though he had a few tough weeks where he gave up a couple sacks."

Miles is not a serial ball dropper. Early in his career he had struggles with it, but he didn't drop a lot last year. He just hasnt' been concentrating the ball in as well as he needs to this year. The expectations are astronomical for him, and unlike a lot of guys, I don't think his payday made him relax. I think he is motivated to live up to it, and he's trying to run before completing the catch sometimes.

No, it's not the same, because you can make a case for Ogden being the best period. You don't have to qualify it by saying "except when he gives up a few sacks". The difference is Jonathan Ogden has been a starting player in the NFL for years, so there is no question that giving up a couple of sacks is an aberration.

The key is how it plays out over time. Austin is just in his 2nd year as a starter, so for all we know last year was the aberration, and the 2nd year is more reflective of what he will be. I personally don't expect that to be the case, but only time will tell. You will notice that I did say he was easily top 10, so I'm not treating his drops as if they are a permanent problem, but I did drop him out of my top 5 because I need to see how things play out.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

The difference between saying Miles is a top 5 guy and a top 10 guy is so negligible anyway. Every year there is a new guy who is OMG so obviously one of the top 5 best. This year Hakeem Nicks will get on the hype train of top 5 receiver because he's very good. Other people will say Andre Johnson is clearly the best because he's been consistent with the very high numbers for a couple years.

There are about 15 guys you could argue deserve to be mentioned in the top 5 best receivers. There is too much context to really say which are the best 5. It's all just hyperbole, but that's part of the fun of a forum.

 

[Stautner]

The difference between saying Miles is a top 5 guy and a top 10 guy is so negligible anyway. Every year there is a new guy who is OMG so obviously one of the top 5 best. This year Hakeem Nicks will get on the hype train of top 5 receiver because he's very good. Other people will say Andre Johnson is clearly the best because he's been consistent with the very high numbers for a couple years.

There are about 15 guys you could argue deserve to be mentioned in the top 5 best receivers. There is too much context to really say which are the best 5. It's all just hyperbole, but that's part of the fun of a forum.

I think saying there are 15 who could be argued to be among the top 5 is a bit much, but I do agree that there is no clear cut off point. This still goes back to what I was saying, which is that it's much easier to put a guy in the top 5 if he has proven a pattern of excellence over a number of years. That's why it's a little easier to call Reggie Wayne top 5 instead of Miles Austin even thought they have similar stats this year. Wayne is proven over time.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

There's no denying that. I think it's a shame that Miles' first full year as a starter had to be behind an o-line playing terribly and then Romo getting hurt. I think he could've put up some astronomical numbers given a better line and a healthy Romo. There's always next year I suppose.

 

[Stautner]

There's no denying that. I think it's a shame that Miles' first full year as a starter had to be behind an o-line playing terribly and then Romo getting hurt. I think he could've put up some astronomical numbers given a better line and a healthy Romo. There's always next year I suppose.

It is a shame, but players just have to play the hands they are dealt. I love Austin's potential, and I think he will be a very good player over time. My belief is that while Austin's athleticism is a little different than Dez's, I think it's just as good. I do think, however, that he will never be someone who is considered to have among the best hands in the game. I think he will be thought of as having good hands, but his ability to make plays with his athleticism (leaping / running) will be what makes him outstanding. I hope this proves true anyway/ He still has to prove it over time, but I believe the potential is there for him to do it.

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

Oh, there's no way Miles will ever have the hands of a guy like Dez. Some guys have it and some don't. You can practice catching the ball, but natural hands are called natural for a reason.

Miles makes a lot of tough catches in the air look easy, but he's never going to make some of the types of catches a guy like Dez can make. That being said, I think it's pretty special that these two guys at ages like 26 and 21 are going to be our starting WR tandem.