Single-Season Receiving Yards Leaders (Above Junk Levels)

by Chase Stuart on June 22, 2016

On Sunday, I discussed single-game receiving yards baselines. You can check that post to see the methodology (using Justin Blackmon as the example), but basically we just remove a certain number of receiving yards from every player in every game, and that player only gets credit for their yards above that baseline.

Based on the discussion with Brad O. in the comments, I’ve decided to use a couple of different baselines. One is a 3X baseline — that means we multiply the number of team games in the NFL (in modern times, that’s 512) by 3, and that’s the number of games in each year that are at or above the baseline. The other is a 2.5X baseline — i.e., we multiply team games by 2.5 to get the threshold number.

In 2015, the junk baseline of 3X was 32 receiving yards. For some players like Julio Jones, who had at least 32 yards in each game, that just means we remove 512 yards from his total of 1,871 receiving yards, giving him 1,359 non-junk yards last year. With a 2.5X baseline, players in 2015 only receive credit for their yards once they hit 40 yards in a game; for Jones, that means subtracting 638 yards from his total, since he had one 38-yard game last year, resulting in 1,233 non-junk yards if we use that threshold. By either standard, that ranks as the 9th best season since 1960.

I used that methodology for every player season since 1960, and pro-rated for non-16 game seasons. The best year, using either baseline, was what Charley Hennigan did in 1961. He had at least 78 yards in 13 games and 0 yards in the 14th game; that makes the calculation pretty easy. The baseline at the 2.5X level was 31 yards, so for Hennigan, we just subtract 31 yards from his total of 1,746 yards in 13 games, or 403 yards, leaving him with 1,343 yards. Then, we multiply that by 16/14 — since his Oilers played a 14-game schedule — to give him a pro-rated 1,535 yards above the baseline.

That’s the top season since 1960. You may want to downgrade him for being in the AFL, of course, but that’s another matter. The table below shows all player seasons that rank in the top 300 based on either the 2.5X measure or the 3X measure:

2.5X Rk	Player	Year	Team	Tm G	2.5X Yds	3X Rk	3X Yds
1	Charley Hennigan	1961	HOU	14	1535	1	1654
2	Wes Chandler	1982	SDG	9	1380	4	1451
3	Calvin Johnson	2012	DET	16	1360	2	1468
4	Lance Alworth	1965	SDG	14	1352	3	1462
5	Raymond Berry	1960	BAL	12	1312	5	1408
6	Jerry Rice	1995	SFO	16	1305	6	1392
7	Bill Groman	1960	HOU	14	1290	7	1386
8	Charley Hennigan	1964	HOU	14	1269	8	1381
9	Julio Jones	2015	ATL	16	1233	9	1359
10	Isaac Bruce	1995	STL	16	1232	11	1322
11	Don Maynard	1967	NYJ	14	1226	12	1295
12	Antonio Brown	2015	PIT	16	1210	10	1330
13	Torry Holt	2003	STL	16	1200	14	1280
14	Marvin Harrison	2002	IND	16	1199	13	1290
15	Randy Moss	2003	MIN	16	1146	21	1217
16	Torry Holt	2000	STL	16	1137	16	1227
17	Bobby Mitchell	1963	WAS	14	1135	17	1225
18	Herman Moore	1995	DET	16	1126	19	1222
19	Jimmy Smith	1999	JAX	16	1121	20	1219
20	Lance Alworth	1966	SDG	14	1120	18	1224
21	Marvin Harrison	1999	IND	16	1119	15	1231
22	Josh Gordon	2013	CLE	16	1118	23	1209
23	Bobby Mitchell	1962	WAS	14	1112	22	1209
24	Dwight Clark	1982	SFO	9	1111	27	1191
25	Calvin Johnson	2011	DET	16	1105	24	1203
26	Don Maynard	1968	NYJ	14	1098	30	1178
27	Rod Smith	2000	DEN	16	1097	28	1187
28	Art Powell	1964	OAK	14	1095	26	1199
29	David Boston	2001	ARI	16	1092	29	1182
30	Antonio Brown	2014	PIT	16	1090	25	1202
31	Steve Smith	2005	CAR	16	1085	32	1169
32	Lance Alworth	1968	SDG	14	1071	31	1175
33	Rob Moore	1997	ARI	16	1064	34	1152
34	Andre Johnson	2008	HOU	16	1051	35	1151
35	Demaryius Thomas	2014	DEN	16	1045	36	1143
36	Michael Irvin	1995	DAL	16	1043	37	1139
37	Michael Irvin	1991	DAL	16	1039	39	1129
38	Dave Parks	1965	SFO	14	1039	33	1158
39	Andre Johnson	2012	HOU	16	1033	40	1128
39	Roy Green	1984	STL	16	1033	47	1115
41	Don Maynard	1960	NYT	14	1030	38	1134
42	Terrell Owens	2000	SFO	16	1029	49	1107
43	Lionel Taylor	1960	DEN	14	1029	42	1123
44	Jerry Rice	1986	SFO	16	1026	43	1122
44	Victor Cruz	2011	NYG	16	1026	46	1117
46	Otis Taylor	1966	KAN	14	1025	44	1121
47	Julio Jones	2014	ATL	16	1023	40	1128
48	Jerry Rice	1990	SFO	16	1016	50	1099
49	Ben Hawkins	1967	PHI	14	1015	55	1079
50	Marvin Harrison	2001	IND	16	1012	48	1108
51	Andre Johnson	2009	HOU	16	1009	45	1121
52	Lance Alworth	1964	SDG	14	1006	52	1094
53	Wes Welker	2011	NWE	16	992	51	1097
54	Jerry Rice	1993	SFO	16	991	54	1087
55	Pat Studstill	1966	DET	14	986	53	1090
56	Anquan Boldin	2005	ARI	16	986	59	1064
57	Art Powell	1963	OAK	14	982	56	1074
58	Warren Wells	1969	OAK	14	976	57	1072
59	Homer Jones	1967	NYG	14	971	69	1040
60	Santana Moss	2005	WAS	16	971	58	1067
61	Steve Smith	2008	CAR	16	970	62	1061
62	Buddy Dial	1963	PIT	14	968	59	1064
63	Stanley Morgan	1986	NWE	16	967	64	1057
64	Reggie Wayne	2007	IND	16	966	61	1062
65	Sterling Sharpe	1992	GNB	16	965	62	1061
66	Calvin Johnson	2013	DET	16	962	66	1051
67	Jerry Rice	1989	SFO	16	961	66	1051
68	Isaac Bruce	2000	STL	16	959	65	1055
69	Randy Moss	2007	NWE	16	949	68	1045
70	Jackie Smith	1967	STL	14	946	81	1021
71	Randy Moss	2000	MIN	16	946	77	1027
72	Sterling Sharpe	1989	GNB	16	945	80	1023
73	Antonio Freeman	1998	GNB	16	944	71	1034
74	Robert Brooks	1995	GNB	16	943	72	1033
75	Jerry Rice	1994	SFO	16	941	70	1035
76	Brett Perriman	1995	DET	16	938	77	1027
77	Cliff Branch	1976	OAK	14	937	84	1013
78	Yancey Thigpen	1997	PIT	16	934	85	1012
79	Art Powell	1960	NYT	14	934	73	1030
80	Brandon Marshall	2012	CHI	16	931	74	1029
81	Chad Johnson	2005	CIN	16	930	82	1020
82	James Lofton	1984	GNB	16	927	103	993
83	Elbert Dubenion	1964	BUF	14	927	89	1007
84	Muhsin Muhammad	2004	CAR	16	926	90	1006
85	George Sauer	1967	NYJ	14	925	96	999
86	Jordy Nelson	2014	GNB	16	924	74	1029
87	Mark Carrier	1989	TAM	16	923	86	1011
87	Henry Ellard	1989	RAM	16	923	91	1004
89	Bob Hayes	1966	DAL	14	920	79	1024
89	Larry Fitzgerald	2007	ARI	16	920	97	998
89	Lance Alworth	1963	SDG	14	920	98	998
92	Bill Groman	1961	HOU	14	918	76	1027
93	Michael Irvin	1992	DAL	16	915	92	1003
94	Johnny Morris	1964	CHI	14	913	87	1009
95	Randy Moss	1999	MIN	16	912	93	1001
96	Marvin Harrison	2000	IND	16	910	99	997
97	Tim Brown	1997	OAK	16	909	106	990
98	Harold Carmichael	1973	PHI	14	907	108	987
99	Henry Ellard	1988	RAM	16	907	99	997
100	Larry Fitzgerald	2005	ARI	16	906	101	996
101	Del Shofner	1962	NYG	14	905	111	985
102	Sonny Randle	1962	STL	14	904	110	986
103	Roger Carr	1976	BAL	14	903	111	985
104	Don Maynard	1965	NYJ	14	902	83	1019
105	Terrell Owens	2001	SFO	16	900	101	996
106	Marcus Robinson	1999	CHI	16	899	104	992
106	Torry Holt	2005	STL	16	899	115	977
108	Warren Wells	1968	OAK	14	898	120	975
109	Joe Horn	2004	NOR	16	898	107	988
110	Chad Johnson	2007	CIN	16	896	104	992
111	Javon Walker	2004	GNB	16	893	115	977
112	Torry Holt	2004	STL	16	892	114	978
112	Marvin Harrison	2006	IND	16	892	121	973
114	Larry Fitzgerald	2008	ARI	16	890	94	999
115	Henry Ellard	1994	WAS	16	888	122	972
116	Anquan Boldin	2003	ARI	16	887	131	961
117	DeAndre Hopkins	2015	HOU	16	885	88	1009
118	Wes Welker	2009	NWE	16	884	122	972
119	Tommy McDonald	1962	PHI	14	883	124	971
120	Mark Clayton	1984	MIA	16	882	127	969
121	Brandon Lloyd	2010	DEN	16	881	128	968
122	Brandon Marshall	2015	NYJ	16	879	94	999
122	Derrick Alexander	2000	KAN	16	879	119	975
122	Chad Johnson	2006	CIN	16	879	128	968
125	Chad Johnson	2003	CIN	16	877	138	950
126	Antonio Brown	2013	PIT	16	875	109	987
126	Eric Moulds	1998	BUF	16	875	130	962
128	Pete Retzlaff	1965	PHI	14	873	113	983
129	George Sauer	1968	NYJ	14	872	117	976
130	Gene Washington	1970	SFO	14	871	143	945
131	Rod Smith	2001	DEN	16	870	136	954
132	Buddy Dial	1960	PIT	12	868	125	971
132	Terrell Owens	2007	DAL	16	868	144	945
134	Torry Holt	2001	STL	16	866	134	956
135	Odell Beckham	2014	NYG	16	863	150	936
136	Charley Taylor	1966	WAS	14	862	140	950
137	Jimmy Smith	2001	JAX	16	861	133	957
137	Steve Smith	2011	CAR	16	861	138	950
139	Tommy McDonald	1961	PHI	14	861	132	958
140	Cliff Branch	1974	OAK	14	858	166	927
141	Odell Beckham	2015	NYG	16	857	126	970
142	Demaryius Thomas	2012	DEN	16	856	134	956
142	Del Shofner	1963	NYG	14	856	149	938
142	Drew Pearson	1974	DAL	14	856	158	930
145	John Stallworth	1984	PIT	16	855	142	947
146	Joe Horn	2000	NOR	16	853	147	940
147	Otis Taylor	1971	KAN	14	853	146	942
148	Alfred Jenkins	1981	ATL	16	852	156	931
149	Germane Crowell	1999	DET	16	851	141	949
150	Harold Jackson	1969	PHI	14	850	155	933
151	Mike Quick	1983	PHI	16	849	144	945
152	Lionel Taylor	1961	DEN	14	848	117	976
152	Roddy White	2008	ATL	16	848	137	953
154	Roy Williams	2006	DET	16	847	162	928
155	Michael Irvin	1993	DAL	16	846	151	935
155	Amani Toomer	2002	NYG	16	846	160	929
157	Randy Moss	1998	MIN	16	845	160	929
158	Ed McCaffrey	2000	DEN	16	844	162	928
158	Randy Moss	2002	MIN	16	844	162	928
160	Dez Bryant	2012	DAL	16	842	154	933
160	Plaxico Burress	2002	PIT	16	842	167	926
162	Miles Austin	2009	DAL	16	841	169	925
163	Homer Jones	1968	NYG	14	840	162	928
164	Joey Galloway	2005	TAM	16	839	174	923
164	Steve Largent	1979	SEA	16	839	185	913
166	Art Powell	1962	NYT	14	839	153	935
167	Terrell Owens	2002	SFO	16	838	175	922
168	Alshon Jeffery	2013	CHI	16	837	151	935
169	Derrick Mason	2003	TEN	16	836	190	909
170	A.J. Green	2013	CIN	16	834	148	939
171	Carlos Carson	1983	KAN	16	833	180	917
172	Gary Clark	1991	WAS	16	832	171	924
172	Henry Ellard	1990	RAM	16	832	181	916
174	Andre Reed	1989	BUF	16	831	183	915
175	Charley Frazier	1966	HOU	14	830	168	926
176	Art Monk	1984	WAS	16	828	171	924
176	John Jefferson	1980	SDG	16	828	171	924
178	T.Y. Hilton	2014	IND	16	827	178	918
179	Mark Duper	1984	MIA	16	826	199	898
180	Cris Carter	1995	MIN	16	825	183	915
181	Eric Moulds	2000	BUF	16	824	188	910
181	Tim Brown	1995	OAK	16	824	201	897
181	Frank Clarke	1962	DAL	14	824	202	896
184	Lee Evans	2006	BUF	16	822	196	900
185	Gary Garrison	1968	SDG	14	822	170	925
186	Kellen Winslow	1982	SDG	9	821	217	884
187	Lance Alworth	1967	SDG	14	821	227	878
188	Isaac Bruce	2004	STL	16	820	198	899
189	Larry Fitzgerald	2011	ARI	16	819	156	931
190	Lenny Moore	1960	BAL	12	816	186	912
190	Jimmy Smith	1997	JAX	16	816	194	906
192	Jimmy Smith	2000	JAX	16	815	223	881
193	Roy Jefferson	1968	PIT	14	815	182	915
193	Harold Jackson	1972	PHI	14	815	208	890
195	Roddy White	2010	ATL	16	813	190	909
195	Isaac Bruce	1996	STL	16	813	194	906
195	James Lofton	1981	GNB	16	813	207	891
198	Del Shofner	1961	NYG	14	813	159	929
199	Andre Johnson	2013	HOU	16	812	190	909
199	Donald Driver	2006	GNB	16	812	209	890
201	Reggie Wayne	2006	IND	16	811	202	896
202	Hines Ward	2002	PIT	16	810	196	900
203	Allen Robinson	2015	JAX	16	809	176	921
204	Irving Fryar	1997	PHI	16	808	199	898
204	Marvin Harrison	2003	IND	16	808	220	882
206	Charlie Joiner	1976	SDG	14	807	202	896
207	Demaryius Thomas	2013	DEN	16	806	178	918
207	Mark Duper	1986	MIA	16	806	209	890
209	Calvin Johnson	2008	DET	16	805	188	910
210	Roy Jefferson	1969	PIT	14	805	206	891
210	Ken Burrough	1975	HOU	14	805	219	882
212	Tim Brown	1999	OAK	16	804	186	912
212	Drew Bennett	2004	TEN	16	804	228	876
214	Charley Hennigan	1963	HOU	14	802	243	871
215	Lionel Taylor	1965	DEN	14	801	177	920
216	Torry Holt	2002	STL	16	800	209	890
217	Terance Mathis	1994	ATL	16	799	213	889
218	James Lofton	1983	GNB	16	798	242	871
219	Sonny Randle	1960	STL	12	797	216	887
220	Emmanuel Sanders	2014	DEN	16	796	193	908
221	Mike Ditka	1961	CHI	14	794	205	895
221	Gary Garrison	1970	SDG	14	794	255	862
223	Jake Reed	1996	MIN	16	793	214	888
223	Jerry Rice	1988	SFO	16	793	226	879
225	Brandon Marshall	2007	DEN	16	792	220	882
226	Yancey Thigpen	1995	PIT	16	791	231	875
227	John Gilliam	1972	MIN	14	790	237	873
228	Keyshawn Johnson	2001	TAM	16	789	228	876
228	Gary Clark	1986	WAS	16	789	238	873
228	Laveranues Coles	2002	NYJ	16	789	239	872
231	Marlin Briscoe	1970	BUF	14	789	250	863
232	Steve Watson	1981	DEN	16	788	256	861
233	Vincent Jackson	2012	TAM	16	785	209	890
234	A.J. Green	2012	CIN	16	784	220	882
234	Joe Horn	2002	NOR	16	784	225	880
234	Kellen Winslow	1980	SDG	16	784	235	874
234	Chad Johnson	2004	CIN	16	784	235	874
238	Roddy White	2012	ATL	16	783	223	881
238	Reggie Wayne	2010	IND	16	783	231	875
238	Eddie Brown	1988	CIN	16	783	244	868
241	Herman Moore	1997	DET	16	782	239	872
241	Andre Reed	1994	BUF	16	782	258	860
243	Cris Carter	2000	MIN	16	780	251	862
244	Red Phillips	1961	RAM	14	778	214	888
245	Bob Hayes	1967	DAL	14	777	297	829
246	Wesley Walker	1978	NYJ	16	777	256	861
246	Randy Moss	2001	MIN	16	777	269	851
248	Sidney Rice	2009	MIN	16	776	231	875
248	George Sauer	1966	NYJ	14	776	239	872
250	Tony Gonzalez	2004	KAN	16	774	259	858
251	Lionel Taylor	1963	DEN	14	774	263	856
252	Eric Moulds	2002	BUF	16	773	249	863
252	Joe Horn	2001	NOR	16	773	251	862
254	Paul Warfield	1968	CLE	14	771	218	883
255	Reggie Wayne	2012	IND	16	771	228	876
255	Brandon Marshall	2008	DEN	16	771	251	862
257	Wes Welker	2012	NWE	16	770	231	875
258	Koren Robinson	2002	SEA	16	769	276	841
259	Herman Moore	1996	DET	16	768	247	864
259	Steve Largent	1985	SEA	16	768	259	858
259	Don Maynard	1962	NYT	14	768	263	856
259	Terrell Owens	2004	PHI	16	768	279	840
263	Buddy Dial	1961	PIT	14	767	245	866
264	Steve Largent	1978	SEA	16	766	270	850
265	Terry Barr	1963	DET	14	766	265	855
266	Rob Gronkowski	2011	NWE	16	763	251	862
266	Braylon Edwards	2007	CLE	16	763	267	853
266	Tim Brown	1994	RAI	16	763	267	853
269	Greg Jennings	2008	GNB	16	762	246	865
269	Sterling Sharpe	1993	GNB	16	762	259	858
271	Frank Lewis	1981	BUF	16	761	280	839
271	Art Monk	1985	WAS	16	761	281	838
273	Webster Slaughter	1989	CLE	16	760	281	838
274	Antonio Bryant	2008	TAM	16	759	262	857
275	Dick Gordon	1970	CHI	14	757	285	837
276	Jeff Graham	1995	CHI	16	755	274	845
276	DeSean Jackson	2013	PHI	16	755	281	838
276	Andre Johnson	2010	HOU	16	755	301	826
279	R.C. Owens	1961	SFO	14	754	247	864
279	John Gilliam	1973	MIN	14	754	326	811
281	Peerless Price	2002	BUF	16	752	287	834
282	Don Maynard	1969	NYJ	14	751	324	813
283	Steve Smith	2006	CAR	16	750	298	828
283	John Stallworth	1979	PIT	16	750	298	828
285	Jeremy Maclin	2014	PHI	16	749	273	847
285	Antonio Freeman	1997	GNB	16	749	281	838
285	Irving Fryar	1994	MIA	16	749	293	831
288	Dave Kocourek	1961	SDG	14	749	265	855
288	Bob Hayes	1970	DAL	14	749	341	800
290	James Lofton	1982	GNB	9	748	317	820
291	Jimmy Smith	1996	JAX	16	747	293	831
291	Andre Rison	1990	ATL	16	747	295	830
291	Gary Clark	1989	WAS	16	747	301	826
294	Cris Collinsworth	1982	CIN	9	747	318	818
295	James Lofton	1980	GNB	16	745	306	823
296	Rod Smith	1998	DEN	16	744	298	828
296	Tim Brown	1993	RAI	16	744	311	822
296	Lance Rentzel	1967	DAL	14	744	338	801
299	Muhsin Muhammad	1999	CAR	16	743	272	848
299	Dez Bryant	2014	DAL	16	743	276	841
299	Cris Carter	1999	MIN	16	743	276	841
299	Laveranues Coles	2003	WAS	16	743	321	814
303	Fred Biletnikoff	1968	OAK	14	741	271	849
309	Red Phillips	1960	RAM	12	736	275	841
309	Reggie Wayne	2009	IND	16	736	290	832
312	Santonio Holmes	2009	PIT	16	735	289	833
313	Randy Moss	2009	NWE	16	735	290	832
314	Roddy White	2011	ATL	16	734	290	832
327	Pierre Garcon	2013	WAS	16	724	287	834
330	Golden Tate	2014	DET	16	723	286	835
337	Jimmy Graham	2011	NOR	16	718	295	830

Surprisingly, Randy Moss has 8 seasons in the top 300, most of all players — including Jerry Rice! Rice is at 7 seasons, followed by Don Maynard, Lance Alworth, Marvin Harrison, and Torry Holt, who each have six.

I have included each team in the table above, which allows for some fun searching. Brandon Marshall had a great season for the Jets last year, but it was only the 5th best using this metric. Type “NYG” into the search box, and you’ll see that of the Giants four best years, none came from 1970 to 2010: they were had by Odell Beckham and Victor Cruz recently, or Homer Jones and Del Shofner in the ’60s.

Could you guess the top Eagles season? I doubt it. But Ben Hawkins led the NFL in receiving yards in 1967.

Among the Smiths….. Jimmy has 5 seasons in the top 300, Steve has 4, and Rod has 3. Meanwhile, Jackie has one, too.

The Arizona Cardinals have three top seasons, but none of them came from Larry Fitzgerald.

What stands out to you? And check back tomorrow for a career list.

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