The Cincinnati Bengals have come a long way since the 2-14 and 4-11-1 days at the beginning of the Zac Taylor era in 2019. Now, they're one of the NFL's best teams. 

Wide receiver play has been a huge factor in the Bengals' turnaround. However, this isn't about who most would think is, All-Pro Ja'Marr Chase. Instead, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd take center stage.

Nick Shook of NFL.com listed the top 10 receivers from the 2022 season, but the formula is unique. Using Next Gen Stats' catch rate over expected (CROE) metric, Shook came up his rankings by factoring in separation from the nearest defender, depth of target, and speed after figuring out which receivers consistently hauled in passes that weren't expected to be completed.

Higgins landed in the No.7 spot while Boyd was No.6 in the rankings. 

Shook on Higgins:

Make no mistake: Higgins is a vital part of this Bengals attack. He finished second in target share, trailing Chase by 4.2 percentage points, and he nearly matched Chase's yardage total despite seeing 25 less targets. Higgins also helped Joe Burrow post a premier passer rating when targeting him (115.6). Add in 225 receiving yards gained over expected — the third-most among any receiver on this list — and you have a receiver who is clearly making an impact in a number of crucial departments.

Shook on Boyd:

Despite coming in third in target share among his fellow Bengals (Chase led the group with 22.6%), Boyd landed in the top 10 here because of — surprise! — an ability to make unlikely catches. Boyd caught 7.2 percent more of his targets than expected, helping Burrow post a 94.7 passer rating when targeting him. Boyd thrived on post routes, which helps explain his 151 receiving yards over expected. He also found success operating out of the slot (where he logged 79 percent of his targets) while sharing the field with Chase, who often occupied defensive attention outside. Thus, Boyd was able to put up strong overall numbers despite seeing a target rate of just 15.4 percent. And he came through in the clutch, catching four of his five end-zone targets on the year, presumably while defenses were again concerning themselves with the threats of Chase and Higgins.

I think it's easy to say that Burrow is one spoiled quarterback, and I'm sure he doesn't care who doesn't like it.

Feature image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK