On Thursday, Neil and I introduced you to the concept of True Receiving Yards. That’s required background reading, but in a nutshell, True Receiving Yards is designed to place all receivers since 1970 into the same environment. It starts with receiving yards, but gives a bonus for receptions and touchdowns, adjusts for how frequently a player’s team passes, adjusts for the league passing environment, and adjusts for the number of games played on the NFL schedule in that season.

Neil and I listen to your comments, and we’ve made a big tweak to the methodology: we agree that True Receiving Yards, version 1.0, was a bit biased in favor of receivers on low-volume passing teams.  Based on yesterday’s research, we are now going to limit the adjustment for how frequently a player’s team passes (relative to league average) to just 50% of the old adjustment.

This now moves Cliff Branch up to #1 on the single-season list, presented below.  Let’s run through the math one time to explain it. In 1974, Branch’s 60-1092-13 stat line translates to 1,652 Adjusted Catch Yards. The Adjusted Catch Yards to Receiving Yards ratio for the entire league that season was 65.6%, so that translates to 1,083 receiving yards for Branch.  Now, the league average team that year passed 401 times, while Oakland had just 359 dropbacks. Instead of an 11.7% adjustment in Branch’s favor (as we did in TRYv1.0), he gets a 5.85% adjustment, bringing him up to 1,146 yards. Next, we multiply that by 214.54 (the average receiving yards per game over the 43-year period) and divide by 171, which represents the low-octane era of 1974; that gives us 1,436 yards. Finally, we pro-rate to 16 games, and end up with 1,641 True Receiving Yards. That’s the most in any season since 1970:

Rk	Receiver	Year	Team	Rec	Yds	TD	ACY	A/R Ratio	Lg Avg TPA	TmPass	Lg Avg RY/G	Tm G	True Rec Yds
1	Cliff Branch	1974	OAK	60	1092	13	1652	65.6%	401	359	171	14	1641
2	Randy Moss	2003	MIN	111	1632	17	2527	64%	550	562	214	16	1605
3	Steve Smith	2005	CAR	103	1563	12	2318	64.4%	551	477	218	16	1582
4	Marvin Harrison	2002	IND	143	1722	11	2657	64%	577	614	227	16	1558
5	Wes Chandler	1982	SDG	49	1032	9	1457	65.9%	307	350	221	9	1558
6	Harold Jackson	1973	RAM	40	874	13	1334	65.5%	373	288	159	14	1543
7	Marvin Harrison	1999	IND	115	1663	12	2478	64.9%	581	560	228	16	1540
8	Jerry Rice	1995	SFO	122	1848	15	2758	64.6%	593	677	236	16	1522
9	Torry Holt	2003	STL	117	1696	12	2521	64%	550	643	214	16	1502
10	Paul Warfield	1971	MIA	43	996	11	1431	66.6%	392	318	174	14	1500
11	Michael Irvin	1995	DAL	111	1603	10	2358	64.6%	593	512	236	16	1497
12	Cliff Branch	1976	OAK	46	1111	12	1581	65.8%	403	389	173	14	1496
13	Otis Taylor	1971	KAN	57	1110	7	1535	66.6%	392	372	174	14	1480
14	Gene A. Washington	1970	SFO	53	1100	12	1605	66.2%	410	391	181	14	1475
15	Jerry Rice	1993	SFO	98	1503	15	2293	64.9%	552	559	215	16	1475
16	Sterling Sharpe	1992	GNB	108	1461	13	2261	65.3%	520	570	205	16	1475
17	Herman Moore	1995	DET	123	1686	14	2581	64.6%	593	637	236	16	1466
18	Roger Carr	1976	BAL	43	1112	11	1547	65.8%	403	391	173	14	1460
19	Isaac Bruce	1995	STL	119	1781	13	2636	64.6%	593	675	236	16	1457
20	Jerry Rice	1994	SFO	112	1499	13	2319	64.8%	571	546	227	16	1450
21	Marvin Harrison	2001	IND	109	1524	15	2369	64.5%	561	587	221	16	1449
22	Jimmy Smith	1999	JAX	116	1636	6	2336	64.9%	581	571	228	16	1438
23	Jerry Rice	1989	SFO	82	1483	17	2233	66.5%	552	528	229	16	1424
24	Harold Carmichael	1973	PHI	67	1116	9	1631	65.5%	373	513	159	14	1419
25	Randy Moss	2007	NWE	98	1493	23	2443	63.7%	567	607	228	16	1415
26	David Boston	2001	ARI	98	1598	8	2248	64.5%	561	555	221	16	1414
27	Terrell Owens	2001	SFO	93	1412	16	2197	64.5%	561	532	221	16	1412
28	Michael Irvin	1991	DAL	93	1523	8	2148	65.7%	534	538	215	16	1405
29	Dick Gordon	1970	CHI	71	1026	13	1641	66.2%	410	455	181	14	1400
30	Jerry Rice	1990	SFO	100	1502	13	2262	65.7%	521	620	211	16	1389
31	Jerry Rice	1986	SFO	86	1570	15	2300	66.1%	560	608	226	16	1388
32	Ken Burrough	1975	HOU	53	1063	8	1488	65.7%	418	374	183	14	1387
33	Brandon Marshall	2012	CHI	118	1508	11	2318	64.5%	592	529	246	16	1382
34	Andre Johnson	2008	HOU	115	1575	8	2310	64.4%	549	587	224	16	1378
35	Rod Smith	2000	DEN	100	1602	8	2262	64.7%	566	599	222	16	1375
36	Dwight Clark	1982	SFO	60	913	5	1313	65.9%	307	368	221	9	1372
37	Randy Moss	2000	MIN	77	1437	15	2122	64.7%	566	530	222	16	1371
38	John Gilliam	1973	MIN	42	907	8	1277	65.5%	373	330	159	14	1371
39	Santana Moss	2005	WAS	84	1483	9	2083	64.4%	551	512	218	16	1369
40	Fred Biletnikoff	1971	OAK	61	929	9	1414	66.6%	392	372	174	14	1364
41	John Stallworth	1984	PIT	80	1395	11	2015	66%	559	478	228	16	1355
42	Steve Smith	2008	CAR	78	1421	6	1931	64.4%	549	434	224	16	1349
43	Marvin Harrison	2000	IND	102	1413	14	2203	64.7%	566	591	222	16	1348
44	Gary Clark	1991	WAS	70	1340	10	1890	65.7%	534	456	215	16	1347
45	Roddy White	2008	ATL	88	1382	7	1962	64.4%	549	451	224	16	1341
46	Rod Smith	2001	DEN	113	1343	11	2128	64.5%	561	553	221	16	1341
47	Calvin Johnson	2012	DET	122	1964	5	2674	64.5%	592	769	246	16	1332
48	Yancey Thigpen	1997	PIT	79	1398	7	1933	65.1%	566	486	219	16	1331
49	Reggie Wayne	2007	IND	104	1510	10	2230	63.7%	567	574	228	16	1328
50	Nat Moore	1977	MIA	52	765	12	1265	65.9%	384	347	162	14	1327
51	Henry Ellard	1988	RAM	86	1414	10	2044	66.4%	542	550	218	16	1325
52	Terrell Owens	2000	SFO	97	1451	13	2196	64.7%	566	608	222	16	1325
53	Sterling Sharpe	1993	GNB	112	1274	11	2054	64.9%	552	558	215	16	1322
54	Michael Irvin	1992	DAL	78	1396	7	1926	65.3%	520	514	205	16	1321
55	Muhsin Muhammad	2004	CAR	93	1405	16	2190	64.5%	548	569	225	16	1321
56	Chad Johnson	2005	CIN	97	1432	9	2097	64.4%	551	559	218	16	1318
57	Mel Gray	1975	STL	48	926	11	1386	65.7%	418	363	183	14	1313
58	Drew Pearson	1974	DAL	62	1087	2	1437	65.6%	401	432	171	14	1300
59	Rob Moore	1997	ARI	97	1584	8	2229	65.1%	566	680	219	16	1299
60	Robert Brooks	1995	GNB	102	1497	13	2267	64.6%	593	626	236	16	1299
61	Harold Jackson	1972	PHI	62	1048	4	1438	66.2%	376	428	169	14	1299
62	John Gilliam	1972	MIN	47	1035	7	1410	66.2%	376	411	169	14	1298
63	Art Monk	1984	WAS	106	1372	7	2042	66%	559	533	228	16	1297
64	Charlie Joiner	1976	SDG	50	1056	7	1446	65.8%	403	434	173	14	1296
65	Michael Irvin	1993	DAL	88	1330	7	1910	64.9%	552	504	215	16	1295
66	Wesley Walker	1978	NYJ	48	1169	8	1569	66.1%	459	431	178	16	1294
67	Calvin Johnson	2011	DET	96	1681	16	2481	65.1%	581	702	245	16	1294
68	Roy Green	1984	STL	78	1555	12	2185	66%	559	615	228	16	1293
69	Gene A. Washington	1972	SFO	46	918	12	1388	66.2%	376	402	169	14	1291
70	Isaac Curtis	1973	CIN	45	843	9	1248	65.5%	373	356	159	14	1288
71	Marvin Harrison	2006	IND	95	1366	12	2081	64.4%	549	572	219	16	1285
72	Torry Holt	2000	STL	82	1635	6	2165	64.7%	566	631	222	16	1283
73	Andre Johnson	2009	HOU	101	1569	9	2254	64.3%	567	618	232	16	1283
74	Eddie Brown	1988	CIN	53	1273	9	1718	66.4%	542	422	218	16	1282
75	Mark Clayton	1984	MIA	73	1389	18	2114	66%	559	586	228	16	1281
76	Wes Welker	2011	NWE	122	1569	9	2359	65.1%	581	644	245	16	1280
77	Anquan Boldin	2003	ARI	101	1377	8	2042	64%	550	578	214	16	1279
78	Chad Johnson	2003	CIN	90	1355	10	2005	64%	550	557	214	16	1279
79	Hines Ward	2002	PIT	112	1329	12	2129	64%	577	585	227	16	1279
80	Antonio Freeman	1998	GNB	84	1424	14	2124	65.1%	557	614	221	16	1279
81	Stanley Morgan	1986	NWE	84	1491	10	2111	66.1%	560	604	226	16	1278
82	Cris Carter	1995	MIN	122	1371	17	2321	64.6%	593	682	236	16	1277
83	Steve Largent	1978	SEA	71	1168	8	1683	66.1%	459	511	178	16	1276
84	Derrick Mason	2003	TEN	95	1303	8	1938	64%	550	527	214	16	1271
85	Randy Vataha	1971	NWE	51	872	9	1307	66.6%	392	366	174	14	1271
86	Andre Johnson	2012	HOU	112	1598	4	2238	64.5%	592	582	246	16	1270
87	Jimmy Smith	2001	JAX	112	1373	8	2093	64.5%	561	597	221	16	1270
88	Tim Brown	1997	OAK	104	1408	5	2028	65.1%	566	587	219	16	1267
89	Joe Horn	2000	NOR	94	1340	8	1970	64.7%	566	536	222	16	1266
90	Gary Garrison	1970	SDG	44	1006	12	1466	66.2%	410	444	181	14	1265
91	Mike Quick	1983	PHI	69	1409	13	2014	65.8%	545	543	225	16	1264
92	Marlin Briscoe	1970	BUF	57	1036	8	1481	66.2%	410	455	181	14	1263
93	Lee Evans	2006	BUF	82	1292	8	1862	64.4%	549	478	219	16	1261
94	Randy Moss	1998	MIN	69	1313	17	1998	65.1%	557	558	221	16	1260
95	Brett Perriman	1995	DET	108	1488	9	2208	64.6%	593	637	236	16	1255
96	Bob Hayes	1970	DAL	34	889	10	1259	66.2%	410	336	181	14	1254
97	Eric Moulds	1998	BUF	67	1368	9	1883	65.1%	557	502	221	16	1254
98	Jerry Rice	1992	SFO	84	1201	10	1821	65.3%	520	512	205	16	1252
99	Andre Reed	1989	BUF	88	1312	9	1932	66.5%	552	513	229	16	1250
100	Cris Carter	2000	MIN	96	1274	9	1934	64.7%	566	530	222	16	1250
101	Randy Moss	1999	MIN	80	1413	11	2033	64.9%	581	573	228	16	1249
102	Terrell Owens	2007	DAL	81	1355	15	2060	63.7%	567	556	228	16	1246
103	Joe Horn	2004	NOR	94	1399	11	2089	64.5%	548	583	225	16	1245
104	Herman Moore	1997	DET	104	1293	8	1973	65.1%	566	581	219	16	1239
105	Isaac Bruce	2000	STL	87	1471	9	2086	64.7%	566	631	222	16	1237
106	Roddy White	2010	ATL	115	1389	10	2164	64.2%	575	600	236	16	1235
107	Cliff Branch	1975	OAK	51	893	9	1328	65.7%	418	376	183	14	1235
108	Herman Moore	1996	DET	106	1296	9	2006	64.6%	569	587	222	16	1232
109	Joey Galloway	2005	TAM	83	1287	10	1902	64.4%	551	528	218	16	1231
110	Terrell Owens	2002	SFO	100	1300	13	2060	64%	577	593	227	16	1229
111	Jerry Rice	1987	SFO	65	1078	22	1843	65.6%	521	530	224	15	1228
112	Harold Carmichael	1978	PHI	55	1072	8	1507	66.1%	459	442	178	16	1227
113	Jerry Rice	1991	SFO	80	1206	14	1886	65.7%	534	546	215	16	1225
114	Drew Hill	1988	HOU	72	1141	10	1701	66.4%	542	452	218	16	1222
115	Antonio Freeman	1997	GNB	81	1243	12	1888	65.1%	566	549	219	16	1220
116	Sterling Sharpe	1989	GNB	90	1423	12	2113	66.5%	552	648	229	16	1220
117	Tim Brown	1994	RAI	89	1309	9	1934	64.8%	571	538	227	16	1219
118	Roy Green	1983	STL	78	1227	14	1897	65.8%	545	519	225	16	1219
119	Isaac Bruce	1996	STL	84	1338	7	1898	64.6%	569	538	222	16	1218
120	Ed McCaffrey	2000	DEN	101	1317	9	2002	64.7%	566	599	222	16	1217
121	Larry Fitzgerald	2008	ARI	96	1431	12	2151	64.4%	549	658	224	16	1217
122	Bob Chandler	1976	BUF	61	824	10	1329	65.8%	403	416	173	14	1216
123	Larry Fitzgerald	2007	ARI	100	1409	10	2109	63.7%	567	614	228	16	1215
124	Chad Johnson	2006	CIN	87	1369	7	1944	64.4%	549	559	219	16	1214
125	John Jefferson	1980	SDG	82	1340	13	2010	65.5%	526	626	214	16	1213
126	Andre Rison	1993	ATL	86	1242	15	1972	64.9%	552	613	215	16	1213
127	Chad Johnson	2007	CIN	93	1440	8	2065	63.7%	567	592	228	16	1211
128	Ken Burrough	1977	HOU	43	816	8	1191	65.9%	384	370	162	14	1209
129	Braylon Edwards	2007	CLE	80	1289	16	2009	63.7%	567	564	228	16	1207
130	Marvin Harrison	2003	IND	94	1272	10	1942	64%	550	588	214	16	1207
131	Todd Christensen	1983	RAI	92	1247	12	1947	65.8%	545	559	225	16	1205
132	Brandon Marshall	2007	DEN	102	1325	7	1975	63.7%	567	547	228	16	1205
133	Mark Carrier	1989	TAM	86	1422	9	2032	66.5%	552	613	229	16	1204
134	Javon Walker	2004	GNB	89	1382	12	2067	64.5%	548	612	225	16	1204
135	James Scott	1977	CHI	50	809	3	1119	65.9%	384	331	162	14	1204
136	Terance Mathis	1994	ATL	111	1342	11	2117	64.8%	571	666	227	16	1202
137	Rich Caster	1972	NYJ	39	833	10	1228	66.2%	376	364	169	14	1200
138	Carl Pickens	1995	CIN	99	1234	17	2069	64.6%	593	611	236	16	1200
139	Lynn Swann	1977	PIT	50	789	7	1179	65.9%	384	368	162	14	1200
140	Charley Taylor	1973	WAS	59	801	7	1236	65.5%	373	403	159	14	1199
141	Charlie Brown	1982	WAS	32	690	8	1010	65.9%	307	283	221	9	1199
142	Alfred Jenkins	1981	ATL	70	1358	13	1968	66.4%	543	600	223	16	1199
143	Cris Carter	1999	MIN	90	1241	13	1951	64.9%	581	573	228	16	1199
144	Lynn Swann	1978	PIT	61	880	11	1405	66.1%	459	405	178	16	1197
145	Calvin Johnson	2008	DET	78	1331	12	1961	64.4%	549	561	224	16	1196
146	Jerry Rice	1996	SFO	108	1254	8	1954	64.6%	569	592	222	16	1195
147	Steve Largent	1979	SEA	66	1237	9	1747	66%	501	546	199	16	1193
148	Michael Irvin	1994	DAL	79	1241	6	1756	64.8%	571	468	227	16	1192
149	Warren Wells	1970	OAK	43	935	11	1370	66.2%	410	437	181	14	1192
150	Larry Fitzgerald	2005	ARI	103	1409	10	2124	64.4%	551	715	218	16	1191
151	Randy Moss	2002	MIN	106	1347	7	2017	64%	577	607	227	16	1190
152	Derrick Alexander	2000	KAN	78	1391	10	1981	64.7%	566	616	222	16	1188
153	Kellen Winslow	1982	SDG	54	721	6	1111	65.9%	307	350	221	9	1188
154	Torry Holt	2005	STL	102	1331	9	2021	64.4%	551	645	218	16	1186
155	Reggie Wayne	2006	IND	86	1310	9	1920	64.4%	549	572	219	16	1186
156	John Stallworth	1979	PIT	70	1183	8	1693	66%	501	519	199	16	1184
157	Tim Brown	1995	OAK	89	1342	10	1987	64.6%	593	579	236	16	1183
158	Terrell Owens	2006	DAL	85	1180	13	1865	64.4%	549	543	219	16	1182
159	Tim Brown	1999	OAK	90	1344	6	1914	64.9%	581	569	228	16	1180
160	Victor Cruz	2011	NYG	82	1536	9	2126	65.1%	581	617	245	16	1178
161	Jimmy Smith	1997	JAX	82	1324	4	1814	65.1%	566	544	219	16	1178
162	Henry Ellard	1989	RAM	70	1382	8	1892	66.5%	552	555	229	16	1176
163	Torry Holt	2004	STL	94	1372	10	2042	64.5%	548	630	225	16	1173
164	Jerry Rice	1988	SFO	64	1306	9	1806	66.4%	542	549	218	16	1172
165	Lynn Swann	1975	PIT	49	781	11	1246	65.7%	418	368	183	14	1172
166	Sammy White	1976	MIN	51	906	10	1361	65.8%	403	473	173	14	1172
167	John Jefferson	1978	SDG	56	1001	13	1541	66.1%	459	509	178	16	1171
168	Wes Welker	2009	NWE	123	1348	4	2043	64.3%	567	610	232	16	1170
169	Demaryius Thomas	2012	DEN	94	1434	10	2104	64.5%	592	609	246	16	1168
170	Herman Moore	1994	DET	72	1173	11	1753	64.8%	571	485	227	16	1167
171	Chad Johnson	2004	CIN	95	1274	9	1929	64.5%	548	567	225	16	1165
172	Charlie Brown	1983	WAS	78	1225	8	1775	65.8%	545	498	225	16	1165
173	John Stallworth	1977	PIT	44	784	7	1144	65.9%	384	368	162	14	1164
174	Troy Brown	2001	NWE	101	1199	5	1804	64.5%	561	528	221	16	1164
175	Torry Holt	2001	STL	81	1363	7	1908	64.5%	561	591	221	16	1163
176	Rod Smith	1998	DEN	86	1222	6	1772	65.1%	557	516	221	16	1163
177	A.J. Green	2012	CIN	97	1350	11	2055	64.5%	592	586	246	16	1162
178	Amani Toomer	2002	NYG	82	1343	8	1913	64%	577	573	227	16	1161
179	Andre Rison	1992	ATL	93	1119	11	1804	65.3%	520	588	205	16	1159
180	Henry Ellard	1994	WAS	74	1397	6	1887	64.8%	571	567	227	16	1158
181	Fred Biletnikoff	1972	OAK	58	802	7	1232	66.2%	376	394	169	14	1158
182	Andre Reed	1994	BUF	90	1303	8	1913	64.8%	571	583	227	16	1157
183	Laveranues Coles	2002	NYJ	89	1264	5	1809	64%	577	517	227	16	1157
184	Charley Taylor	1972	WAS	49	673	7	1058	66.2%	376	295	169	14	1157
185	Carl Pickens	1996	CIN	100	1180	12	1920	64.6%	569	610	222	16	1157
186	Andre Rison	1990	ATL	82	1208	10	1818	65.7%	521	574	211	16	1157
187	Steve Smith	2003	CAR	88	1110	7	1690	64%	550	486	214	16	1156
188	Kellen Winslow	1980	SDG	89	1290	9	1915	65.5%	526	626	214	16	1156
189	Hines Ward	2003	PIT	95	1163	10	1838	64%	550	574	214	16	1155
190	Ken Burrough	1976	HOU	51	932	7	1327	65.8%	403	462	173	14	1155
191	Keyshawn Johnson	1999	NYJ	89	1170	8	1775	64.9%	581	513	228	16	1155
192	Marvin Harrison	2005	IND	82	1146	12	1796	64.4%	551	535	218	16	1154
193	Brandon Lloyd	2010	DEN	77	1448	11	2053	64.2%	575	620	236	16	1153
194	Jimmy Smith	1998	JAX	78	1182	8	1732	65.1%	557	502	221	16	1153
195	Steve Watson	1981	DEN	60	1244	13	1804	66.4%	543	546	223	16	1151
196	Anquan Boldin	2005	ARI	102	1402	7	2052	64.4%	551	715	218	16	1150
197	Rob Gronkowski	2011	NWE	90	1327	17	2117	65.1%	581	644	245	16	1149
198	Tim Brown	2000	OAK	76	1128	11	1728	64.7%	566	503	222	16	1148
199	Eric Moulds	2000	BUF	94	1326	5	1896	64.7%	566	605	222	16	1147
200	Terance Mathis	1998	ATL	64	1136	11	1676	65.1%	557	477	221	16	1147

Next, let’s take a look at a list of the career leaders in True Receiving Yards. Keep in mind that TRY is still just a counting stat; in other words, players who play longer will always move up the list (you can’t have negative TRY). That’s an important distinction to keep in mind when comparing this list to say, my earlier list of the best wide receivers in NFL history, which is a value-over-average-based formula. The table below shows the top 100 leaders in career True Receiving Yards since 1970: players who entered the league before 1970 are included, but their pre-1970 stats are not. ^[1]Damn you Neil and your hatred for Don Maynard.

No matter what you do, Jerry Rice is going to be #1. For each player, I’ve listed his first and last year in the league, his number of True Receiving Yards for his career, and whether he is in, not eligible, or not in the Hall of Fame.

Tim Brown fans, myself included, would use this as evidence that he should be in the Hall of Fame (of course, he’s also fifth on the list of career receiving yards). But this list, because it is simply a counting list, is not my preferred way to use True Receiving Yards. Neil has presented lists before using players’ best six seasons, and I think that strikes a nice balance between longevity and peak performance. Is it perfect? Of course not, but I think it’s better than just a career list.

In the above table, Charlie Joiner is #13 while Paul Warfield didn’t even make the top 100. I think the majority of football historians would say that Warfield was the better receiver, but he had a much shorter career. The table below presents the number of True Receiving Yards produced by each player in his best six seasons — here, Warfield is 51st, while Joiner drops to #62. And remember, only post-merger stats are included, or else Warfield would be quite a bit higher.

Lynn Swann is another player who gets hurt using career numbers: he jumps from #97 to #68 when looking at just a receiver’s top six seasons. I know Swann gets a bad rap from some folks, and I don’t disagree with much of the criticism. But he was an excellent player for a short period of time, and his stats look pretty good when you place them in the proper context. And, of course, both Swann and Warfield would jump up even higher ^[2]Swann would be 49th, Warfield 22nd. if we didn’t use only a 50% adjustment for pass attempts.

And, of course, two of my favorite Smiths appear in the top ten. Some names are a little surprising — say, Ochocinco — but I think that’s a function of him having six elite seasons and not a lot else. If we use the familiar 100-95-90 formula, he drops down to 27th:

So which list is the best? I’ll leave that to you to decide.