How the NFL’s Receiver Revolution Is Shaping the Game—and What It Means for Every Fan’s Playbook

The NFL has always been this powerhouse of brute strength and muscle, right? We’ve all admired those quarterbacks’ toughness and brains, the running backs’ explosive agility, and those massive linemen who somehow dance on the gridiron like it’s their own ballet stage. But here’s a curveball for you this season: wide receivers — yeah, those speedsters catching balls downfield — are flipping the script on what NFL strength actually looks like. Who would’ve thought? It’s no longer just about sheer bulk or textbook power. These receivers come in all kinds of shapes — tall, muscular, skinny, lightning-fast — proving once and for all that strength isn’t one-size-fits-all. Think Mike Evans’ height, A.J. Brown’s muscle, Travis Hunter’s lean finesse, or Amon-Ra St. Brown’s all-around beast mode. Intrigued? You should be. This fresh outlook is why our second annual MH Strong All-Pro team proudly features three wide receivers — ‘cause honestly, no other position captures the evolving essence of strength quite like these guys. Ready to see who’s redefining power on the field? LEARN MORE

THE NFL HAS long been all about strength and muscle—and that’s often been showcased in the toughness and smarts of quarterbacks, the strength and agility of running backs, and the sheer power and mass (and yet, balletic footwork) of offensive and defensive linemen.

This season, a new position’s set to take center stage—and change how you perceive NFL strength. A growing number of receivers are remaking football in their image, and reminding all of us that NFL strength can come in all shapes in sizes. Because while QBs are almost always most likely to be named MVP and running backs are back (see: Barkley, Saquon), it’s receivers who are proving to be instant game-changers.

And it’s receivers who remind us all that strength doesn’t have just one single body type. There are tall targets like Tampa’s Mike Evans and muscular receivers like Philly’s A.J. Brown and skinny ones (Jacksonville rook Travis Hunter) and lightning-fast ones (Tyreek Hill). And there are receivers like Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, who can seemingly do it all (and dominate in the gym, too). This is why our second annual MH Strong All-Pro team features three receivers: No position defines and showcases NFL strength like these guys.

Check out the full team (and the receivers who will grab the spotlight this fall) below.

Additional credit: Getty Images.