James Lofton is the Yards Per Catch King

by Chase Stuart on July 27, 2014

in Receiving, Statgeekery

Yesterday, we looked at which quarterbacks were the best at yards per completion after adjusting for league average. Today, we’ll do the same thing for wide receivers and yards per completion.

Lofton tries to hide from the creamsicle uniforms.

A small tweak is necessary to the formula. You can skip down to the results section if you don’t care about the math, but I suppose most of my readers want to know what goes in the sausage. We can’t just use league-wide yards per completion rates, since that average includes receptions by non-wide receivers. One way around this is to calculate the league average YPC for wide receivers only; that’s easy to do for 2013, but less easy to do for the earlier years of NFL history when the distinction among the positions was not so clear. So, after playing around with a few different methods, I’ve decided to instead use 120% of the league average YPC rate, and give wide receivers credit for their yards over expectation using that inflated number.

For example, in 1983, James Lofton caught 58 passes for 1,300 yards for the Packers, a 22.4 YPC average. That year, the average reception went for 12.63 yards; 120% of that average is 15.2, which means we would give Lofton credit only for his yards over the product of 15.2 and 58, or 879. Since Lofton actually had 1,300 yards, he gets credit for 421 yards over expectation.

The next year, Lofton caught 62 passes for 1,361 yards (22.0). Since the average reception went for 12.66 yards, Lofton gets credit for his yards over (120% * 12.66 * 62), or 942. Lofton therefore is credited with 419 yards over expectation, nearly identical to his performance in the prior year. In fact, those were the 10th and 11th best season in NFL history by this method.

The Results

Here’s a list of the top 200 single-season performers.

Rk	Wide Receiver	Year	Tm	Rec	RecYd	YPC	Exp Yd	Yds Ov Exp
1	Warren Wells	1969	OAK	47	1260	26.81	763	497
2	Torry Holt	2000	STL	82	1635	19.94	1141	494
3	Flipper Anderson	1989	RAM	44	1146	26.05	676	470
4	Eddie Brown	1988	CIN	53	1273	24.02	810	463
5	Roger Carr	1976	BAL	43	1112	25.86	656	456
6	Wesley Walker	1978	NYJ	48	1169	24.35	730	439
7	Josh Gordon	2013	CLE	87	1646	18.92	1215	431
8	Elbert Dubenion	1964	BUF	42	1139	27.12	711	428
9	Mike Wallace	2010	PIT	60	1257	20.95	830	427
10	James Lofton	1983	GNB	58	1300	22.41	879	421
11	James Lofton	1984	GNB	62	1361	21.95	942	419
12	Lance Alworth	1965	SDG	69	1602	23.22	1190	412
13	Cliff Branch	1976	OAK	46	1111	24.15	701	410
14	DeSean Jackson	2010	PHI	47	1056	22.47	650	406
15	Michael Haynes	1991	ATL	50	1122	22.44	720	402
16	Homer Jones	1967	NYG	49	1209	24.67	810	399
17	Eric Moulds	1998	BUF	67	1368	20.42	973	395
18	Brandon Lloyd	2010	DEN	77	1448	18.81	1065	383
19	Vincent Jackson	2012	TAM	72	1384	19.22	1005	379
20	Roy Green	1984	STL	78	1555	19.94	1185	370
21	Randy Moss	2000	MIN	77	1437	18.66	1072	365
22	Mike Quick	1983	PHI	69	1409	20.42	1045	364
23	Bucky Pope	1964	RAM	25	786	31.44	423	363
24	Henry Ellard	1994	WAS	74	1397	18.88	1035	362
25	Alvin Harper	1994	DAL	33	821	24.88	462	359
26	Victor Cruz	2011	NYG	82	1536	18.73	1179	357
27	Harlon Hill	1954	CHI	45	1124	24.98	768	356
28	Devery Henderson	2008	NOR	32	793	24.78	437	356
29	Steve Smith	2008	CAR	78	1421	18.22	1065	356
30	Bob Hayes	1970	DAL	34	889	26.15	537	352
31	Stanley Morgan	1981	NWE	44	1029	23.39	680	349
32	Don Currivan	1947	BOS	24	782	32.58	434	348
33	Anthony Carter	1987	MIN	38	922	24.26	579	343
34	Don Maynard	1968	NYJ	57	1297	22.75	956	341
35	Elroy Hirsch	1951	RAM	66	1495	22.65	1157	338
36	Harlon Hill	1956	CHI	47	1128	24	792	336
37	Jimmy Orr	1958	PIT	33	910	27.58	574	336
38	Bobby Duckworth	1984	SDG	25	715	28.6	380	335
39	Charley Hennigan	1961	HOU	82	1746	21.29	1411	335
40	Chris Sanders	1995	HOU	35	823	23.51	489	334
41	Santana Moss	2005	WAS	84	1483	17.65	1150	333
42	Flipper Anderson	1990	RAM	51	1097	21.51	765	332
43	Stanley Morgan	1979	NWE	44	1002	22.77	670	332
44	Mervyn Fernandez	1988	RAI	31	805	25.97	474	331
45	Gary Clark	1991	WAS	70	1340	19.14	1009	331
46	Otis Taylor	1966	KAN	58	1297	22.36	967	330
47	Jerry Rice	1988	SFO	64	1306	20.41	978	328
48	Harold Jackson	1979	NWE	45	1013	22.51	686	327
49	Ashley Lelie	2004	DEN	54	1084	20.07	765	319
50	Calvin Johnson	2013	DET	84	1492	17.76	1173	319
51	Jake Reed	1996	MIN	72	1320	18.33	1002	318
52	Stanley Morgan	1980	NWE	45	991	22.02	673	318
53	Steve Watson	1981	DEN	60	1244	20.73	927	317
54	Billy Howton	1952	GNB	53	1231	23.23	914	317
55	Bill Groman	1961	HOU	50	1175	23.5	860	315
56	Theo Bell	1980	PIT	29	748	25.79	434	314
57	Paul Warfield	1971	MIA	43	996	23.16	682	314
58	James Jett	1993	RAI	33	771	23.36	458	313
59	Gary Garrison	1970	SDG	44	1006	22.86	695	311
60	Randy Moss	1998	MIN	69	1313	19.03	1002	311
61	Kevin House	1981	TAM	56	1176	21	865	311
62	Bernard Berrian	2008	MIN	48	964	20.08	656	308
63	Bob Boyd	1954	RAM	53	1212	22.87	904	308
64	Henry Ellard	1989	RAM	70	1382	19.74	1076	306
65	Derrick Alexander	2000	KAN	78	1391	17.83	1085	306
66	Devery Henderson	2006	NOR	32	745	23.28	440	305
67	DeSean Jackson	2009	PHI	62	1156	18.65	853	303
68	Stanley Morgan	1978	NWE	34	820	24.12	517	303
69	Homer Jones	1968	NYG	45	1057	23.49	755	302
70	Flipper Anderson	1994	RAM	46	945	20.54	644	301
71	Calvin Johnson	2011	DET	96	1681	17.51	1380	301
72	Wes Chandler	1982	SDG	49	1032	21.06	731	301
73	Mark Duper	1986	MIA	67	1313	19.6	1015	298
74	Buddy Dial	1960	PIT	40	972	24.3	674	298
75	Charlie Joiner	1976	SDG	50	1056	21.12	762	294
76	Vincent Jackson	2008	SDG	59	1098	18.61	806	292
77	John Gilliam	1972	MIN	47	1035	22.02	744	291
78	Henry Ellard	1996	WAS	52	1014	19.5	724	290
79	Ben Hawkins	1967	PHI	59	1265	21.44	975	290
80	Terry Glenn	2005	DAL	62	1136	18.32	849	287
81	Jordy Nelson	2011	GNB	68	1263	18.57	977	286
82	Bob Hayes	1971	DAL	35	840	24	555	285
83	Jessie Hester	1986	RAI	23	632	27.48	348	284
84	Stephone Paige	1985	KAN	43	943	21.93	662	281
85	Mark Clayton	1984	MIA	73	1389	19.03	1109	280
86	Jackie Smith	1967	STL	56	1205	21.52	926	279
87	Michael Irvin	1992	DAL	78	1396	17.9	1118	278
88	Alvin Harper	1993	DAL	36	777	21.58	499	278
89	Shawn Jefferson	1998	NWE	34	771	22.68	494	277
90	Randy Moss	1999	MIN	80	1413	17.66	1136	277
91	Alfred Jenkins	1981	ATL	70	1358	19.4	1082	276
92	Wesley Walker	1986	NYJ	49	1016	20.73	742	274
93	Jack Snow	1967	RAM	28	735	26.25	463	272
94	John Gilliam	1973	MIN	42	907	21.6	635	272
95	Plaxico Burress	2002	PIT	78	1325	16.99	1054	271
96	Yancey Thigpen	1997	PIT	79	1398	17.7	1129	269
97	Harold Jackson	1973	RAM	40	874	21.85	605	269
98	Jerry Rice	1986	SFO	86	1570	18.26	1302	268
99	Michael Westbrook	1999	WAS	65	1191	18.32	923	268
100	Anthony Miller	1994	DEN	60	1107	18.45	839	268
101	Ron Sellers	1969	BOS	27	705	26.11	439	266
102	Calvin Johnson	2008	DET	78	1331	17.06	1065	266
103	Terrell Owens	2007	DAL	81	1355	16.73	1090	265
104	Chris Burkett	1986	BUF	34	778	22.88	515	263
105	Gene Washington	1970	SFO	53	1100	20.75	837	263
106	Anthony Armstrong	2010	WAS	44	871	19.8	609	262
107	Calvin Johnson	2012	DET	122	1964	16.1	1702	262
108	Isaac Curtis	1975	CIN	44	934	21.23	672	262
109	Billy Howton	1956	GNB	55	1188	21.6	926	262
110	Lance Rentzel	1969	DAL	43	960	22.33	699	261
111	Larry Fitzgerald	2011	ARI	80	1411	17.64	1150	261
112	Paul Warfield	1970	MIA	28	703	25.11	442	261
113	Homer Jones	1965	NYG	26	709	27.27	448	261
114	Ron Jessie	1976	RAM	34	779	22.91	518	261
115	Don Maynard	1967	NYJ	71	1434	20.2	1174	260
116	Isaac Bruce	2000	STL	87	1471	16.91	1211	260
117	Bill Groman	1960	HOU	72	1473	20.46	1213	260
118	Willie Gault	1989	RAI	28	690	24.64	430	260
119	Frank Lewis	1979	BUF	54	1082	20.04	823	259
120	Carroll Dale	1966	GNB	37	876	23.68	617	259
121	Steve Smith	2011	CAR	79	1394	17.65	1135	259
122	Ron Shanklin	1973	PIT	30	711	23.7	454	257
123	Jimmy Orr	1968	BAL	29	743	25.62	486	257
124	Jim Benton	1945	RAM	45	1067	23.71	810	257
125	Ray McLean	1942	CHI	19	571	30.05	315	256
126	Warren Wells	1970	OAK	43	935	21.74	679	256
127	James Lofton	1987	RAI	41	880	21.46	625	255
128	Anthony Miller	1995	DEN	59	1079	18.29	824	255
129	Johnny Knox	2010	CHI	51	960	18.82	705	255
130	Hugh Taylor	1952	WAS	41	961	23.44	707	254
131	Ken Burrough	1975	HOU	53	1063	20.06	810	253
132	Albert Connell	1999	WAS	62	1132	18.26	881	251
133	James Lofton	1991	BUF	57	1072	18.81	821	251
134	Irving Fryar	1994	MIA	73	1270	17.4	1021	249
135	Mel Gray	1971	STL	18	534	29.67	285	249
136	Warren Wells	1968	OAK	53	1137	21.45	889	248
137	David Boston	2001	ARI	98	1598	16.31	1351	247
138	Joey Galloway	2007	TAM	57	1014	17.79	767	247
139	Mal Kutner	1948	CRD	41	943	23	697	246
140	Torry Holt	2001	STL	81	1363	16.83	1117	246
141	Buddy Dial	1963	PIT	60	1295	21.58	1050	245
142	Homer Jones	1966	NYG	48	1044	21.75	800	244
143	Vincent Jackson	2011	SDG	60	1106	18.43	862	244
144	Drew Hill	1987	HOU	49	989	20.18	746	243
145	Tony Hill	1981	DAL	46	953	20.72	711	242
146	Santonio Holmes	2007	PIT	52	942	18.12	700	242
147	Mark Clayton	1986	MIA	60	1150	19.17	909	241
148	John Gilliam	1970	STL	45	952	21.16	711	241
149	Willie Davis	1992	KAN	36	756	21	516	240
150	Ken Kavanaugh	1947	CHI	32	818	25.56	578	240
151	Joe Morgan	2012	NOR	10	379	37.9	140	239
152	Reggie Rucker	1978	CLE	43	893	20.77	654	239
153	Steve Watson	1983	DEN	59	1133	19.2	894	239
154	Don Hutson	1939	GNB	34	846	24.88	607	239
155	Roy Jefferson	1966	PIT	32	772	24.13	534	238
156	Malcom Floyd	2011	SDG	43	856	19.91	618	238
157	Webster Slaughter	1989	CLE	65	1236	19.02	999	237
158	Derrick Alexander	1996	BAL	62	1099	17.73	863	236
159	Harold Carmichael	1978	PHI	55	1072	19.49	836	236
160	Herman Moore	1992	DET	51	966	18.94	731	235
161	Willie Gault	1990	RAI	50	985	19.7	750	235
162	Amani Toomer	2002	NYG	82	1343	16.38	1108	235
163	Bob Trumpy	1969	CIN	37	835	22.57	601	234
164	Chad Johnson	2002	CIN	69	1166	16.9	933	233
165	Vincent Jackson	2009	SDG	68	1167	17.16	935	232
166	Steve Largent	1979	SEA	66	1237	18.74	1006	231
167	Gary Garrison	1968	SDG	52	1103	21.21	872	231
168	Mark Duper	1983	MIA	51	1003	19.67	773	230
169	Willie Gault	1983	CHI	40	836	20.9	606	230
170	James Jett	1998	OAK	45	882	19.6	654	228
171	Paul Warfield	1968	CLE	50	1067	21.34	839	228
172	Bobby Mitchell	1963	WAS	69	1436	20.81	1208	228
173	Mark Nichols	1984	DET	34	744	21.88	516	228
174	Mark Duper	1984	MIA	71	1306	18.39	1079	227
175	Ray Jarvis	1976	DET	39	822	21.08	595	227
176	Leonard Thompson	1980	DET	19	511	26.89	284	227
177	Willie Green	1995	CAR	47	882	18.77	656	226
178	Louis Lipps	1985	PIT	59	1134	19.22	909	225
179	Isaac Bruce	2001	STL	64	1106	17.28	882	224
180	Gary Garrison	1971	SDG	42	889	21.17	666	223
181	Henry Ellard	1995	WAS	56	1005	17.95	782	223
182	Jerry Rice	1989	SFO	82	1483	18.09	1260	223
183	Tony Martin	1998	ATL	66	1181	17.89	958	223
184	Darnay Scott	1994	CIN	46	866	18.83	644	222
185	Chris Chambers	2001	MIA	48	883	18.4	662	221
186	Frank Clarke	1962	DAL	47	1043	22.19	822	221
187	Torrey Smith	2013	BAL	65	1128	17.35	908	220
188	Mike Wallace	2009	PIT	39	756	19.38	537	219
189	Albert Connell	2000	WAS	39	762	19.54	543	219
190	Earl McCullouch	1971	DET	21	552	26.29	333	219
191	Stanley Morgan	1986	NWE	84	1491	17.75	1272	219
192	Ray Renfro	1957	CLE	21	589	28.05	370	219
193	Wesley Walker	1979	NYJ	23	569	24.74	350	219
194	Charles Wilson	1994	TAM	31	652	21.03	434	218
195	Ken Burrow	1971	ATL	33	741	22.45	523	218
196	Ron Shanklin	1970	PIT	30	691	23.03	474	217
197	Horace Copeland	1993	TAM	30	633	21.1	416	217
198	Rich Caster	1972	NYJ	39	833	21.36	617	216
199	Darrell Jackson	2003	SEA	68	1137	16.72	921	216
200	Fred Biletnikoff	1967	OAK	40	876	21.9	661	215

Calculate these grades for every season of each wide receiver’s career, and you get the following career numbers. Here’s how to read Lofton’s line, who checks in at number one. He played from 1978 to 1993, and for his career, caught 764 passes for 14,004 yards, an 18.33 YPC average. Based on 120% of the league average YPC rate in each year, this means Lofton exceeded his expected number of yards (based on his receptions) by 2,502 yards, the most in NFL history. Stanley Morgan, the man who propelled Steve Grogan to the top of yesterday’s list, comes in at number two. The rest of the top five isn’t a surprise: Henry Ellard and Randy Moss were legendary deep threats, and we all know about Paul Warfield and his unique career. Homer Jones, who ranks 1st in average length of receiving touchdown, checks in at #14.

Rk	Receiver	First Yr	Last Yr	Rec	Rec Yd	YPC	Rec Yd Ovr Exp
1	James Lofton	1978	1993	764	14004	18.33	2502
2	Stanley Morgan	1977	1990	557	10716	19.24	2252
3	Henry Ellard	1983	1998	814	13777	16.93	1824
4	Randy Moss	1998	2012	982	15292	15.57	1740
5	Paul Warfield	1964	1977	427	8565	20.06	1708
6	Wesley Walker	1977	1989	438	8306	18.96	1646
7	Willie Gault	1983	1993	333	6635	19.92	1624
8	Vincent Jackson	2005	2013	422	7362	17.45	1507
9	Flipper Anderson	1988	1995	267	5357	20.06	1474
10	Harold Jackson	1969	1983	579	10372	17.91	1416
11	Calvin Johnson	2007	2013	572	9328	16.31	1375
12	Bob Hayes	1965	1975	371	7414	19.98	1348
13	Mel Gray	1971	1982	351	6644	18.93	1309
14	Homer Jones	1964	1970	224	4986	22.26	1265
15	Lance Alworth	1962	1972	542	10266	18.94	1215
16	Joey Galloway	1995	2010	701	10950	15.62	1215
17	Don Maynard	1958	1973	633	11834	18.7	1208
18	Michael Irvin	1988	1999	750	11904	15.87	1204
19	Mark Duper	1983	1992	511	8869	17.36	1193
20	DeSean Jackson	2008	2013	356	6117	17.18	1161
21	Haven Moses	1968	1981	448	8091	18.06	1139
22	Derrick Alexander	1994	2002	417	6971	16.72	1100
23	Cliff Branch	1972	1984	501	8685	17.34	1093
24	Jimmy Orr	1958	1970	400	7914	19.79	1084
25	Warren Wells	1964	1970	158	3655	23.13	1075
26	Gary Garrison	1966	1977	405	7538	18.61	1060
27	John Gilliam	1967	1977	382	7056	18.47	1053
28	Terrell Owens	1996	2010	1078	15934	14.78	1008
29	Carroll Dale	1960	1973	438	8277	18.9	1005
30	Carlos Carson	1980	1989	353	6372	18.05	1003
31	Isaac Bruce	1994	2009	1024	15208	14.85	996
32	Devery Henderson	2005	2012	245	4377	17.87	991
33	Roger Carr	1974	1983	271	5071	18.71	964
34	Mike Quick	1982	1990	363	6464	17.81	938
35	Buddy Dial	1959	1966	261	5436	20.83	934
36	Plaxico Burress	2000	2012	553	8499	15.37	904
37	Gene Washington	1969	1979	385	6856	17.81	868
38	Malcom Floyd	2004	2013	239	4133	17.29	807
39	Chris Sanders	1995	2001	177	3285	18.56	801
40	Ken Kavanaugh	1940	1950	162	3626	22.38	800
41	James Jett	1993	2001	256	4417	17.25	799
42	Isaac Curtis	1973	1984	416	7101	17.07	795
43	Alfred Jenkins	1975	1983	360	6267	17.41	794
44	Alvin Harper	1991	1997	191	3473	18.18	787
45	Lee Evans	2004	2011	381	6008	15.77	768
46	Ashley Lelie	2002	2008	217	3749	17.28	765
47	Eddie Kennison	1996	2007	548	8345	15.23	742
48	Harlon Hill	1954	1962	233	4717	20.24	737
49	Steve Watson	1979	1987	353	6112	17.31	736
50	Torry Holt	1999	2009	920	13382	14.55	735
51	Tony Hill	1977	1986	479	7988	16.68	708
52	Ray Renfro	1952	1963	281	5508	19.6	706
53	Otis Taylor	1965	1974	410	7306	17.82	701
54	Santonio Holmes	2006	2013	381	5963	15.65	699
55	Charlie Joiner	1969	1986	750	12146	16.19	692
56	Steve Smith	2001	2013	836	12197	14.59	685
57	Frank Lewis	1971	1983	397	6724	16.94	680
58	Jake Reed	1992	2002	450	6999	15.55	678
59	Tony Martin	1990	2001	593	9065	15.29	669
60	Jerry Rice	1985	2004	1549	22895	14.78	668
61	Ken Burrough	1970	1981	421	7102	16.87	661
62	Mike Wallace	2009	2013	308	4972	16.14	658
63	Yancey Thigpen	1992	2000	313	5081	16.23	655
64	Eddie Brown	1985	1991	363	6134	16.9	650
65	Mervyn Fernandez	1987	1992	209	3764	18.01	629
66	Steve Largent	1976	1989	819	13089	15.98	625
67	Kevin House	1980	1987	299	5169	17.29	619
68	Bob Boyd	1950	1957	176	3611	20.52	615
69	Stephone Paige	1983	1991	377	6341	16.82	613
70	Dokie Williams	1983	1987	148	2866	19.36	610
71	Don Currivan	1943	1949	78	1979	25.37	603
72	Braylon Edwards	2005	2012	359	5522	15.38	598
73	Louis Lipps	1984	1992	359	6019	16.77	594
74	Rich Caster	1970	1981	322	5515	17.13	582
75	Antonio Bryant	2002	2009	372	5685	15.28	575
76	Terry Glenn	1996	2006	593	8823	14.88	573
77	Anthony Miller	1988	1997	595	9148	15.37	570
78	John Taylor	1987	1995	347	5598	16.13	554
79	Albert Connell	1997	2001	150	2674	17.83	550
80	Jeff Graham	1991	2001	542	8172	15.08	548
81	Hugh Taylor	1947	1954	272	5233	19.24	546
82	John Stallworth	1974	1987	537	8723	16.24	542
83	Chad Johnson	2001	2011	766	11059	14.44	542
84	Antonio Freeman	1995	2003	477	7251	15.2	541
85	Josh Gordon	2012	2013	137	2451	17.89	539
86	Bobby Duckworth	1982	1986	82	1784	21.76	535
87	Mal Kutner	1946	1950	145	3060	21.1	534
88	Ben Hawkins	1966	1973	261	4764	18.25	527
89	James Scott	1976	1982	177	3202	18.09	519
90	Jack Snow	1965	1975	340	6012	17.68	519
91	Gary Clark	1985	1995	699	10856	15.53	517
92	Greg Jennings	2006	2013	493	7341	14.89	514
93	Torrey Smith	2011	2013	164	2824	17.22	514
94	Mark Jackson	1986	1994	342	5551	16.23	512
95	James McKnight	1994	2003	222	3595	16.19	507
96	Irving Fryar	1984	2000	851	12785	15.02	502
97	Anthony Carter	1985	1994	486	7733	15.91	501
98	Bill Groman	1960	1964	174	3481	20.01	500
99	Gloster Richardson	1967	1974	92	1976	21.48	498
100	Roy Green	1979	1992	559	8965	16.04	492

Because of the way the formula works, a list of the worst receivers in this metric would be a bunch of running backs. So instead, I’ll close with a list of the 100 players with the most receptions in NFL history, and their ranks according to this formula:

Rk	Receiver	First Yr	Last Yr	Rec	Rec Yd	YPC	Rec Yd Ovr Exp
1	Jerry Rice	1985	2004	1549	22895	14.78	668
2	Tony Gonzalez	1997	2013	1325	15127	11.42	-3272
3	Marvin Harrison	1996	2008	1102	14580	13.23	-709
4	Cris Carter	1987	2002	1101	13899	12.62	-1738
5	Tim Brown	1988	2004	1094	14934	13.65	-471
6	Terrell Owens	1996	2010	1078	15934	14.78	1008
7	Isaac Bruce	1994	2009	1024	15208	14.85	996
8	Reggie Wayne	2001	2013	1006	13566	13.49	-319
9	Hines Ward	1998	2011	1000	12083	12.08	-1709
10	Randy Moss	1998	2012	982	15292	15.57	1740
11	Andre Reed	1985	2000	951	13198	13.88	-696
12	Derrick Mason	1997	2011	943	12061	12.79	-927
13	Art Monk	1980	1995	940	12721	13.53	-1362
14	Andre Johnson	2003	2013	927	12661	13.66	-148
15	Torry Holt	1999	2009	920	13382	14.55	735
16	Keenan McCardell	1992	2007	883	11373	12.88	-920
17	Jason Witten	2003	2013	879	9799	11.15	-2373
18	Jimmy Smith	1995	2005	862	12287	14.25	242
19	Muhsin Muhammad	1996	2009	860	11438	13.3	-513
20	Anquan Boldin	2003	2013	857	11344	13.24	-481
21	Irving Fryar	1984	2000	851	12785	15.02	502
22	Rod Smith	1995	2006	849	11389	13.41	-442
23	Larry Fitzgerald	2004	2013	846	11367	13.44	-336
24	Wes Welker	2005	2013	841	9358	11.13	-2285
25	Steve Smith	2001	2013	836	12197	14.59	685
26	Larry Centers	1991	2003	827	6797	8.22	-4796
27	Steve Largent	1976	1989	819	13089	15.98	625
28	Shannon Sharpe	1990	2003	815	10060	12.34	-1343
29	Henry Ellard	1983	1998	814	13777	16.93	1824
30	Keyshawn Johnson	1996	2006	814	10571	12.99	-788
31	Marshall Faulk	1994	2005	767	6875	8.96	-3843
32	Chad Johnson	2001	2011	766	11059	14.44	542
33	James Lofton	1978	1993	764	14004	18.33	2502
34	Eric Moulds	1996	2007	764	9995	13.08	-615
35	Michael Irvin	1988	1999	750	11904	15.87	1204
36	Charlie Joiner	1969	1986	750	12146	16.19	692
37	Donald Driver	1999	2012	743	10137	13.64	-87
38	Andre Rison	1989	2000	743	10205	13.73	-439
39	Santana Moss	2001	2013	722	10167	14.08	218
40	Antonio Gates	2003	2013	719	9193	12.79	-761
41	Brandon Marshall	2006	2013	712	9050	12.71	-805
42	Joey Galloway	1995	2010	701	10950	15.62	1215
43	Gary Clark	1985	1995	699	10856	15.53	517
44	Terance Mathis	1990	2002	689	8809	12.79	-903
45	Roddy White	2005	2013	685	9436	13.78	-54
46	Laveranues Coles	2000	2009	674	8609	12.77	-639
47	Herman Moore	1991	2001	670	9174	13.69	-276
48	Ricky Proehl	1990	2006	669	8878	13.27	-583
49	Amani Toomer	1996	2008	668	9497	14.22	266
50	Ozzie Newsome	1978	1990	662	7980	12.05	-2085
51	Bobby Engram	1996	2009	650	7751	11.92	-1267
52	Charley Taylor	1964	1977	649	9110	14.04	-1328
53	Drew Hill	1979	1993	634	9831	15.51	353
54	Don Maynard	1958	1973	633	11834	18.7	1208
55	Raymond Berry	1955	1967	631	9275	14.7	-1556
56	Rob Moore	1990	1999	628	9368	14.92	433
57	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	2001	2011	627	7237	11.54	-1371
58	Johnnie Morton	1994	2005	624	8719	13.97	-31
59	LaDainian Tomlinson	2001	2011	624	4772	7.65	-3800
60	Keith Byars	1986	1998	610	5661	9.28	-3234
61	Marques Colston	2006	2013	607	8337	13.73	-67
62	Joe Horn	1996	2007	603	8744	14.5	414
63	Anthony Miller	1988	1997	595	9148	15.37	570
64	Sterling Sharpe	1988	1994	595	8134	13.67	-504
65	Curtis Conway	1993	2004	594	8230	13.86	-58
66	Tony Martin	1990	2001	593	9065	15.29	669
67	Terry Glenn	1996	2006	593	8823	14.88	573
68	Harold Carmichael	1971	1984	590	8985	15.23	16
69	Fred Biletnikoff	1965	1978	589	8974	15.24	-348
70	Marcus Allen	1982	1997	587	5411	9.22	-3302
71	Tiki Barber	1997	2006	586	5183	8.84	-2958
72	Bill Brooks	1986	1996	583	8001	13.72	-548
73	Mark Clayton	1983	1993	582	8974	15.42	241
74	Ronnie Harmon	1986	1997	582	6076	10.44	-2338
75	Brian Blades	1988	1998	581	7620	13.12	-753
76	Wayne Chrebet	1995	2005	580	7365	12.7	-757
77	Harold Jackson	1969	1983	579	10372	17.91	1416
78	Calvin Johnson	2007	2013	572	9328	16.31	1375
79	Ernest Givins	1986	1995	571	8215	14.39	-178
80	Mark Carrier	1987	1998	569	8763	15.4	482
81	Lionel Taylor	1960	1968	567	7195	12.69	-2522
82	Roger Craig	1983	1993	566	4911	8.68	-3656
83	Ed McCaffrey	1991	2003	565	7422	13.14	-511
84	Webster Slaughter	1986	1998	563	8111	14.41	-89
85	Roy Green	1979	1992	559	8965	16.04	492
86	Wes Chandler	1978	1988	559	8966	16.04	470
87	Stanley Morgan	1977	1990	557	10716	19.24	2252
88	Troy Brown	1993	2006	557	6366	11.43	-1348
89	Plaxico Burress	2000	2012	553	8499	15.37	904
90	Eric Martin	1985	1994	553	8161	14.76	-32
91	Eddie Kennison	1996	2007	548	8345	15.23	742
92	Jeremy Shockey	2002	2011	547	6143	11.23	-1379
93	Ike Hilliard	1997	2008	546	6397	11.72	-1173
94	John Williams	1986	1995	546	4656	8.53	-3364
95	J.T. Smith	1979	1990	544	6974	12.82	-1317
96	Lance Alworth	1962	1972	542	10266	18.94	1215
97	Jeff Graham	1991	2001	542	8172	15.08	548
98	Kellen Winslow	1979	1987	541	6741	12.46	-1467
99	Eric Metcalf	1989	2001	541	5572	10.3	-2172
100	Chris Chambers	2001	2010	540	7648	14.16	242

A couple of wide receivers stand out with negative grades, and there are no surprises here. Wes Welker, Cris Carter, Hines Ward, Raymond Berry, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Art Monk, Troy Brown, etc., made their livings as possession receivers. Yards per completion, like yards per catch, is not so much a reflection of ability as it is of style. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Tagged as: Henry Ellard, James Lofton, Paul Warfield, Randy Moss, Stanley Morgan

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