Which Receivers Led Their Teams In Receiving Yards Most Frequently?

by Chase Stuart on August 25, 2017

The GOAT

Jerry Rice was really, really good for many, many reasons. Here’s one: he led his teams in receiving yards a whopping 15 times in his career. In 1985, Roger Craig led the 49ers in receiving yards during Rice’s rookie season. Then, from ’86 to ’96, Rice led San Francisco in receiving yards every season. In 1997, Rice tore his ACL and was limited to just two games; as a result, Terrell Owens led the team in receiving. In ’98 and ’99, though, it was Rice again who led the 49ers in receiving yards, before a 27-year-old Owens outgained a 38-year-old Rice on the ’00 49ers.

In 2001, Rice was in Oakland, and a 35-year-old Tim Brown beat Rice by 26 receiving yards (1165-1139) to lead the Raiders in receiving. But in 2002 and 2003, Rice — at 40 and 41 years of age — led Oakland in receiving. So from 1986 to 2003, Rice led his team in receiving yards in 15 of 18 seasons, with the exceptions being due to a torn ACL, losing out to a future Hall of Famer 11 years his junior, and losing out to a Hall of Famer 4 years his junior by 26 yards. That’s why he’s the greatest of all time.

But Henry Ellard was pretty darn good, too. Ellard played for 16 seasons in the NFL, and other than his rookie season and his final two seasons, he led his team in receiving yards every other year of his career. During the prime years of Jim Everett’s career — 1988 to 1990 — Ellard ranked 1st, 1st, and 2nd in the league in receiving yards per game. But he still led the Rams in receiving yards the other years, too, finishing as the leader receiver on Los Angeles each year from ’84 to ’93. When Ellard joined the Redskins in ’94, he eclipsed the 1,000 yards mark and led Washington in receiving in ’94, ’95, and ’96. In the process, Ellard became the first and only player to lead his team in receiving yards in 13 straight seasons.

The table below shows all receivers who have led their teams in receiving yards at least four times. In addition, the table shows the first and last year that receiver pulled off that feat, the longest consecutive streak of years as his team’s top receiver, and the number of different teams he led in receiving. ^[1]Note: Trivia fans: Antonio Bryant, Brandon Lloyd, and Bo Roberson each led three different teams in receiving yards, but did so just once for each team.

Player	First Yr	Last Yr	Leading Yrs	Diff Tms	Longest Streak
Jerry Rice	1986	2003	15	2	11
Henry Ellard	1984	1996	13	2	13
Terrell Owens	1997	2010	12	5	11
Steve Largent	1976	1987	12	1	12
Steve Smith	2002	2014	11	2	8
Don Hutson	1935	1945	11	1	11
Larry Fitzgerald	2004	2016	10	1	6
Andre Johnson	2003	2013	10	1	8
Jimmy Smith	1996	2005	10	1	10
Tim Brown	1992	2001	10	1	10
James Lofton	1978	1987	10	2	10
Torry Holt	2000	2008	9	1	9
Marvin Harrison	1996	2006	9	1	5
Rod Smith	1997	2005	9	1	9
Andre Reed	1988	1997	9	1	7
Stanley Morgan	1978	1988	9	1	4
Harold Jackson	1969	1979	9	3	7
Anquan Boldin	2003	2015	8	3	6
Santana Moss	2003	2010	8	2	8
Derrick Mason	2000	2009	8	2	4
Joey Galloway	1995	2007	8	3	4
Randy Moss	1998	2007	8	3	6
Eric Moulds	1998	2005	8	1	8
Michael Irvin	1991	1998	8	1	8
Irving Fryar	1990	1997	8	3	8
Tony Hill	1978	1985	8	1	8
Ken Burrough	1972	1981	8	1	6
Gene Washington	1969	1977	8	1	4
Charley Taylor	1966	1974	8	1	5
Paul Warfield	1964	1973	8	2	7
Jim Benton	1938	1947	8	1	4
Brandon Marshall	2007	2015	7	4	6
Calvin Johnson	2008	2015	7	1	6
Reggie Wayne	2004	2012	7	1	6
Chad Johnson	2002	2009	7	1	6
Hines Ward	2000	2008	7	1	5
Tony Gonzalez	1999	2008	7	1	3
Keyshawn Johnson	1997	2004	7	3	6
Anthony Miller	1989	1995	7	2	7
Gary Clark	1986	1994	7	2	4
Sterling Sharpe	1988	1994	7	1	7
Eric Martin	1986	1993	7	1	5
Harold Carmichael	1973	1982	7	1	4
Otis Taylor	1966	1973	7	1	5
Lance Alworth	1963	1969	7	1	7
A.J. Green	2011	2016	6	1	6
DeSean Jackson	2008	2014	6	2	4
Roddy White	2007	2012	6	1	6
Chris Chambers	2001	2009	6	2	5
Laveranues Coles	2001	2006	6	2	6
Terry Glenn	1996	2005	6	2	3
Amani Toomer	1999	2004	6	1	6
Jeff Graham	1992	2000	6	4	3
Tony Martin	1994	1999	6	3	6
Rob Moore	1991	1997	6	2	4
Herman Moore	1992	1997	6	1	6
Bill Brooks	1986	1995	6	2	4
Webster Slaughter	1987	1994	6	2	3
Louis Lipps	1985	1991	6	1	4
Willie Gault	1983	1990	6	2	5
Wes Chandler	1979	1987	6	2	3
Cris Collinsworth	1981	1986	6	1	6
Pat Tilley	1978	1985	6	1	5
Wesley Walker	1977	1983	6	1	3
Cliff Branch	1974	1982	6	1	3
Haven Moses	1968	1980	6	2	2
Reggie Rucker	1972	1978	6	2	4
John Gilliam	1969	1975	6	2	5
Danny Abramowicz	1967	1972	6	1	6
Carroll Dale	1966	1972	6	1	5
Don Maynard	1960	1970	6	1	4
Jimmy Orr	1958	1968	6	2	2
Tommy McDonald	1959	1967	6	3	3
Art Powell	1961	1966	6	2	6
Pete Retzlaff	1958	1966	6	1	4
Lionel Taylor	1960	1965	6	1	6
Billy Wilson	1953	1959	6	1	5
Billy Howton	1952	1957	6	1	6
Pete Pihos	1947	1955	6	1	3
Hugh Taylor	1949	1954	6	1	6
Mike Wallace	2010	2016	5	3	3
Kenny Britt	2009	2016	5	2	3
Demaryius Thomas	2012	2016	5	1	5
Greg Jennings	2008	2014	5	2	3
Vincent Jackson	2008	2013	5	2	3
Wes Welker	2008	2012	5	1	5
Marques Colston	2006	2012	5	1	2
Antonio Gates	2004	2010	5	1	4
Marty Booker	2001	2007	5	2	3
Muhsin Muhammad	1999	2006	5	2	3
Joe Horn	2000	2004	5	1	5
Sean Dawkins	1994	2000	5	3	3
Cris Carter	1991	1995	5	1	5
Brian Blades	1988	1994	5	1	2
Mark Duper	1983	1992	5	1	3
Anthony Carter	1985	1990	5	1	4
Stephone Paige	1985	1990	5	1	3
Drew Hill	1985	1989	5	1	5
Mark Clayton	1984	1989	5	1	3
John Stallworth	1979	1987	5	1	2
Mike Quick	1983	1987	5	1	5
Steve Watson	1981	1985	5	1	5
Ozzie Newsome	1981	1985	5	1	5
Charlie Joiner	1971	1984	5	2	2
Dwight Clark	1980	1984	5	1	5
Frank Lewis	1974	1982	5	2	2
Alfred Jenkins	1975	1981	5	1	3
Nat Moore	1974	1979	5	1	4
Isaac Curtis	1973	1978	5	1	4
Bob Tucker	1971	1976	5	1	4
Roy Jefferson	1966	1971	5	3	4
Bob Hayes	1965	1971	5	1	3
Homer Jones	1965	1969	5	1	5
Bernie Casey	1962	1968	5	2	3
Elbert Dubenion	1960	1966	5	1	3
Del Shofner	1958	1963	5	2	3
Max McGee	1958	1962	5	1	5
Tom Fears	1948	1955	5	1	3
Mac Speedie	1947	1952	5	1	3
Doug Baldwin	2011	2016	4	1	3
Antonio Brown	2013	2016	4	1	4
Jordy Nelson	2011	2016	4	1	2
T.Y. Hilton	2013	2016	4	1	4
Braylon Edwards	2006	2010	4	2	3
Isaac Bruce	1995	2008	4	2	2
Plaxico Burress	2001	2007	4	2	3
Donald Driver	2002	2007	4	1	3
Travis Taylor	2002	2006	4	2	3
Darrell Jackson	2001	2006	4	1	2
David Boston	2000	2003	4	2	4
Derrick Alexander	1994	2000	4	3	2
Antonio Freeman	1996	1999	4	1	4
Ricky Proehl	1990	1998	4	3	2
Chris Calloway	1995	1998	4	1	4
Carl Pickens	1994	1998	4	1	3
Andre Rison	1990	1997	4	2	2
Mark Carrier	1989	1996	4	2	2
Michael Jackson	1992	1996	4	2	2
Willie Davis	1992	1995	4	1	4
Mark Jackson	1986	1993	4	2	2
Al Toon	1986	1990	4	1	3
J.T. Smith	1979	1987	4	2	2
Todd Christensen	1983	1986	4	1	4
Art Monk	1980	1985	4	1	2
Kevin House	1981	1985	4	1	3
James Scott	1976	1980	4	1	3
Lynn Swann	1975	1978	4	1	4
Riley Odoms	1973	1978	4	1	3
Drew Pearson	1974	1977	4	1	4
Bob Chandler	1973	1977	4	1	3
Rich Caster	1971	1975	4	1	2
Gary Garrison	1970	1974	4	1	3
Jackie Smith	1966	1973	4	1	3
Jack Snow	1969	1972	4	1	4
Gene Washington	1967	1970	4	1	4
Al Denson	1966	1970	4	1	2
Paul Flatley	1963	1969	4	2	2
Boyd Dowler	1963	1967	4	1	3
Gino Cappelletti	1961	1966	4	1	3
Bobby Mitchell	1962	1965	4	1	4
Charley Hennigan	1961	1964	4	1	4
Frank Clarke	1961	1964	4	1	4
Red Phillips	1960	1963	4	1	4
Buddy Dial	1960	1963	4	1	4
Chris Burford	1960	1963	4	1	4
Sonny Randle	1960	1963	4	1	4
Raymond Berry	1957	1961	4	1	3
Kyle Rote	1953	1960	4	1	3
Don Stonesifer	1952	1956	4	1	2
Dan Edwards	1949	1954	4	3	3
Dante Lavelli	1946	1954	4	1	2
Elbie Nickel	1949	1953	4	1	2
Al Baldwin	1947	1950	4	2	4
Jack Ferrante	1945	1950	4	1	2
Jim Keane	1947	1950	4	1	4
Alyn Beals	1946	1949	4	1	4
John Greene	1945	1948	4	1	4
Tony Bova	1943	1946	4	3	4
Perry Schwartz	1939	1942	4	1	4
Bill Smith	1934	1939	4	1	3
Charley Malone	1934	1938	4	1	2
Joe Carter	1934	1938	4	1	2

Terrell Owens led five different teams in receiving yards; that’s an NFL record, although Brandon Marshall could tie it this year with the Giants. The more shocking name is Jeff Graham, who did it four times. He led the ’92 Steelers in receiving yards, the ’94 and ’95 Bears, the ’98 Eagles (breaking Fryar’s streak), and the ’99 and ’00 Chargers. More on Graham tomorrow.

What stands out to you?

References[+]

References
↑1	Note: Trivia fans: Antonio Bryant, Brandon Lloyd, and Bo Roberson each led three different teams in receiving yards, but did so just once for each team.

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