Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams is convinced he is the best wide receiver in the NFL following another strong showing at the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday.
The Packers claimed a 34-17 victory in the Bay Area that takes them 6-2 at the halfway stage of the season, and Adams more than played his part.
Adams, a three-time Pro Bowler, recorded 10 catches for 173 yards and also got an NFL-leading eighth touchdown receipt for 2020, with the depleted 49ers unable to keep up.
The home side were without a host of key men due to injuries and COVID-19, with Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle, Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman and Deebo Samuel among those absent.
But Adams did not think anything less of his performance – far from it.
When asked if his exploits make him the NFL's best receiver, he said: "I think that's fair to say.
"I think that's not being conceited. That's just being confident. I think, obviously, what I've done and what I'm going to continue to do is going to prove that to anybody who isn't on board with that.
Putting up points. #GBvsSF | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/ozAt7TKKB4
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 6, 2020
"I truly believe that, just based off the work that I've put in [and] the connection I have between my quarterback.
"It's not just about me just running a route. If the line isn't protecting or if the quarterback doesn't look your way or if the other receivers don't do their part to pull defenders away, none of what I do can happen.
"So, at the end of the day, I'll tell you, yes, absolutely, I think I'm the best wide receiver in the game, but there's a lot of things that go into me being able to make that statement."
His aforementioned QB, Aaron Rodgers, has successfully found the WR with 76 per cent of his targets, while Adams has been the recipient of more completions (53) and touchdowns (eight) than the rest of the Packers' receivers put together.
Rodgers subsequently explained Adams' importance, lending credence to his self-proclamation as the best in the business.
"He's such a great player," Rodgers said. "He's tough on matchups, he's able to create so much space with his release pattern, and he's got enough speed to get on top, so you can't necessarily play low and expect certain routes.
"We hit him with a lot of different things tonight. Hit him on the first possession with a go ball that he made a nice adjustment on. On the last possession, we were in on an inside go route.
"He's so talented. He can do it all, handles himself the right way. Just a joy to play with. A special guy."