Many would think it absurd to compare Victor Cruz to top receivers in the league, but in light of recent comments made by certain members of Atlanta, I think it deserves a look.

Receptions versus Number of Targets:

Victor Cruz: 82/131 (63%)

Larry Fitzgerald: 80/153 (52%)

Calvin Johnson: 96/158 (61%)

Wes Welker: 122/172 (71%)

Roddy White: 100/181 (55%) (also the league leader in dropped passes)

Say what you want about the circumstances each of these guys is presented with. The fact of the matter is that Cruz has less targets than any of the receivers in the top four for receiving yardage.

Receiving Yards:

1) Calvin Johnson (1,681)

2) Wes Welker (1,569)

3) Victor Cruz (1,536)

4) Larry Fitzgerald (1,411)

8) Roddy White (1,296)

Keep in mind that all of these guys play with Pro Bowl caliber quarterbacks and other weapons around them. Wes Welker and Calvin Johnson both have quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford that threw for well over 3,000 yards each to other receivers. The weapons that Atlanta has (Tony Gonzalez, Julio Jones) aren't too bad either.

Receptions of 20+ yards:

1) Calvin Johnson (32)

2) Steve Smith (the real one) (29)

3) Victor Cruz and Larry Fitzgerald (25)

5) Rob Gronkowski (22)

6) Wes Welker (21)

13) Roddy White (18)

Yards After Catch:

1) Wes Welker (707)

6) Victor Cruz (508)

11) Calvin Johnson (469)

19) Larry Fitzgerald (427)

34) Roddy White (336)

Stats are what you make of them. Those numbers don't indicate that Cruz is as good as Larry Fitzgerald or Calvin Johnson, but I'll just say that I would take him over Roddy White any time.

I don't know what this whole next year talk is about either. It's as if teams don't look at film at all or say "he's top five in receiving yards but let's just not game-plan for him". Crock of shit if you ask me, but I only call it how I see it.