6. Davante Adams: These lists seem to breeze by every year. Numbers ten through six will be a wrap after today. This next player is final guy making his debut on the list. I still remember when he was the third receiving option behind Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Now, he’s THE guy the offense is built around. I’m talking about number 17 in Green Bay. Davante Adams wraps up the first half of this project. He checks in at my sixth-best player in the NFL right now and my top receiver entering the 2021 season.
When I watch him, he makes it look effortless. He has a quiet swagger about him. What separates Davante from every other receiver in this league is that release. He’s such an elusive threat. Davante fakes as if he’s going one way and confuses the defensive back by going inside or the completely opposite direction. I can tell he has a basketball background because many of the things he does looks as if he’s on the court. It’s the way he wiggles himself and how he frees himself to get open. He makes it look like an art. For me, it’s the route running. The Packers line him up wide on the perimeter or in the slot and he runs such sharp and consistent routes. Davante may lean in on the defender, give him a fake inside then cut back outside and he’s wide open. Route running and releasing has become a science with him.
Davante is an all-around receiver. I’ve already touched on the routes he runs. He can get down the field and his quarterback will find him. He can go up and catch the ball no matter who’s defending him and in the red area of the field, Aaron Rodgers is looking his way. One play that stands out to me is in the playoffs against the Rams. The Packers were in a goal line situation. Aaron wanted Davante to run in motion Jalen Ramsey was traveling with him and Davante quickly ran back to the other side knowing Jalen would trail to get back to him and he scored. He’s a special receiver.
