Through five games Devin Funchess is averaging 4.6 receptions and 62.4 receiving yards per game, both of which are career-highs for the fourth-year wide receiver. If Funch can stay on this pace for the rest of the year his 16-game season totals will be 73 receptions for 998 yards. For the sake of easy math, let’s round up and say Devin ends the season with 75 receptions and 1,000 yards. Crossing this 75-1,000 threshold would put Funchess among the most productive receivers in the game.

Per Football Reference, in 2017 only 10 wide receivers had at least 75 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards, including some of the game’s elites:

WRs with 75+ rec & 1,000+ yards, 2017

Player Team G Rec Yds TD Player Team G Rec Yds TD Antonio Brown PIT 14 101 1533 9 Julio Jones ATL 16 88 1444 3 Keenan Allen LAC 16 102 1393 6 DeAndre Hopkins HOU 15 96 1378 13 Adam Thielen MIN 16 91 1276 4 Michael Thomas NOR 16 104 1245 5 Tyreek Hill KAN 15 75 1183 7 Larry Fitzgerald ARI 16 109 1156 6 A.J. Green CIN 16 75 1078 8 Golden Tate DET 16 92 1003 5

Considering Funchess is still only 24 years old and plays for a run-oriented Panthers team (Carolina’s ranks 21st in pass attempts per game this year), it’s impressive to see him on this statistical trajectory.

Advanced metrics

While traditional stats are a solid measure for wide receiver production, it also helps to see what the eggheads who grind out advanced stats think. Through Week 5, Pro Football Focus ranks Funchess at the No. 27 receiver in the league and gives hims a rating of “Good.”

Football Outsiders comes to a similar conclusion while using a different approach. The primary metric used by Football Outsiders to judge wide receivers is called DYAR, or Defense-Adjusted Yards Above Replacement. Per their website, DYAR “gives the value of the performance on plays where this WR caught the ball, compared to replacement level, adjusted for situation and opponent and then translated into yardage.” Football Outsiders also ranks Devin Funchess as the No. 27 receiver in the NFL in terms of DYAR.

I’m not exactly sure what the perfect definition of a “No. 1 receiver” is, but based on these metrics Devin Funchess would be the best wide receiver for a handful of NFL teams, which is exactly what he is for the Carolina Panthers.

Anecdotal evidence from the Washington game

Funch showed his No. 1 receiver chops on two separate plays against Washington. Both plays displayed his maturity as a route runner and his ability to channel the physical gifts found within his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame.

The first reception came on a second quarter touchdown. Funchess was split wide left and ran a beautiful route by faking an inside post then cutting out for a corner. Quinton Dunbar was in man coverage and bit on the inside move, allowing Funch to get some separation but Cam Newton underthrew the pass. Devin adjusted by slowing down, turning back toward the ball, then leaping up and over Dunbar to haul in the catch. Funchess physically dominated Dunbar like a mean older brother bullying a much younger and smaller sibling.

The second reception highlighting his No. 1 receiver credentials was when he manhandled Josh Norman on a clutch fourth quarter reception. Funch ran a simple deep post with Norman in man coverage. Cam threw the ball high where Funchess was able to elevate and haul in the reception well above J-No’s reach. In basketball terms, Funchess looked like a power forward dunking on a shooting guard.

Both traditional stats and advanced metrics show Devin Funchess is developing into a No. 1 wide receiver, as did his man-sized plays against Washington. Let’s hope the trend continues this week against the Philadelphia Eagles.