Career Receiving Yards Leaders (Above Junk Levels)

by Chase Stuart on June 23, 2016

[Note: Due to a scheduling blunder, you may have missed yesterday’s post on single-season leaders.]

The GOAT

On Sunday, I explained one methodology to modify receiving yards in a way to give more value to top receivers while devaluing junk games. You can read that explanation here, and see the Justin Blackmon example.

Jerry Rice, of course, will rank as the top receiver by this or any other methodology, especially if that system excludes Don Hutson (today’s data only goes back to 1960). In fact, using a 3X baseline, Rice still gained 15,314 receiving yards after removing junk yards, more than every wide receiver in NFL history has gained including junk yards other than Terrell Owens. Rice was just incredible.

Perhaps the first real surprise on the list is Don Maynard, who ranks 6th among all players since 1960 by this methodology. The Jets Hall of Famer currently ranks 26th in career receiving yards, but 30 years ago, he was the all-time leader in that category. Maynard benefits here for some era adjustments — his 14-game seasons get prorated, the baseline for junk seasons was lower in the ’60s and ’70s — and his dominant play for a long stretch is rewarded.

The table below shows the top players by this methodology since 1960. Here’s how to read the table, using the Owens line. Using a 2.5X baseline, he ranks 2nd all-time. His career began in 1996 and ended in 2010, and he had 9,386 receiving yards above that junk baseline. Using a 3X baseline, he still ranks 2nd, and had 10,493 non-junk receiving yards.

2.5x Rk	Receiver	First Yr	Last Yr	2.5X Yards	3x Rk	3X Yards
1	Jerry Rice	1985	2004	13786	1	15314
2	Terrell Owens	1996	2010	9386	2	10493
3	Randy Moss	1998	2012	9075	3	10057
4	Isaac Bruce	1994	2009	8741	4	9826
5	Marvin Harrison	1996	2008	8729	5	9734
6	Don Maynard	1958	1973	8511	6	9517
7	James Lofton	1978	1993	8338	7	9322
8	Andre Johnson	2003	2015	8198	8	9175
9	Torry Holt	1999	2009	8062	10	8984
10	Tim Brown	1988	2004	8016	9	9105
11	Reggie Wayne	2001	2014	7861	11	8913
12	Lance Alworth	1962	1972	7840	14	8621
13	Steve Smith	2001	2015	7804	12	8825
14	Steve Largent	1976	1989	7778	13	8766
15	Henry Ellard	1983	1998	7597	15	8566
16	Cris Carter	1987	2002	7540	16	8565
17	Jimmy Smith	1992	2005	7365	19	8207
18	Michael Irvin	1988	1999	7284	21	8065
19	Larry Fitzgerald	2004	2015	7258	18	8275
20	Anquan Boldin	2003	2015	7192	20	8177
21	Tony Gonzalez	1997	2013	7079	17	8350
22	Calvin Johnson	2007	2015	6949	24	7776
23	Andre Reed	1985	2000	6917	23	7923
24	Charlie Joiner	1969	1986	6884	22	7924
25	Harold Jackson	1968	1983	6670	26	7519
26	Art Monk	1980	1995	6567	25	7559
27	Rod Smith	1995	2006	6363	28	7188
28	Stanley Morgan	1977	1990	6324	31	7094
29	Brandon Marshall	2006	2015	6268	29	7112
30	Chad Johnson	2001	2011	6241	32	7018
31	Irving Fryar	1984	2000	6227	27	7235
32	Derrick Mason	1997	2011	6159	30	7111
33	Hines Ward	1998	2011	6070	33	7001
34	Gary Clark	1985	1995	6070	34	6843
35	Art Powell	1959	1968	5930	38	6625
36	Keenan McCardell	1992	2007	5878	37	6736
37	Muhsin Muhammad	1996	2009	5873	35	6779
38	Charley Taylor	1964	1977	5869	36	6742
39	Joey Galloway	1995	2010	5759	39	6581
40	Wes Chandler	1978	1988	5741	44	6391
41	Roddy White	2005	2015	5680	40	6498
42	Paul Warfield	1964	1977	5602	41	6422
43	Keyshawn Johnson	1996	2006	5587	42	6409
44	Fred Biletnikoff	1965	1978	5511	43	6395
45	Cliff Branch	1972	1985	5503	45	6183
46	Andre Rison	1989	2000	5323	46	6059
47	Eric Moulds	1996	2007	5246	48	5995
48	Bob Hayes	1965	1975	5245	49	5893
49	Harold Carmichael	1971	1984	5198	47	6003
50	Herman Moore	1991	2002	5178	54	5820
51	Gary Garrison	1966	1977	5131	58	5813
52	Bobby Mitchell	1958	1968	5125	56	5818
53	Charley Hennigan	1960	1966	5122	62	5697
54	Drew Hill	1979	1993	5107	57	5814
55	Wes Welker	2004	2015	5100	52	5858
56	Carroll Dale	1960	1973	5061	53	5838
57	Marques Colston	2006	2015	5023	59	5805
58	Santana Moss	2001	2014	5015	55	5819
59	Rob Moore	1990	1999	5007	63	5697
60	Otis Taylor	1965	1975	4985	65	5630
61	Antonio Gates	2003	2015	4966	51	5860
62	John Stallworth	1974	1987	4963	64	5680
63	Mark Duper	1982	1992	4960	68	5587
64	Donald Driver	1999	2012	4951	60	5745
65	Terry Glenn	1996	2007	4933	69	5561
66	Wesley Walker	1977	1989	4917	70	5509
67	Lionel Taylor	1959	1968	4912	66	5602
68	Shannon Sharpe	1990	2003	4891	61	5707
69	Jason Witten	2003	2015	4877	50	5891
70	Joe Horn	1996	2007	4852	72	5469
71	Jackie Smith	1963	1978	4843	67	5599
72	Sterling Sharpe	1988	1994	4834	76	5386
73	Roy Green	1979	1992	4820	71	5494
74	Anthony Miller	1988	1997	4799	73	5463
75	John Gilliam	1967	1977	4793	79	5374
76	Drew Pearson	1973	1983	4746	77	5382
77	Mark Clayton	1983	1993	4742	75	5415
78	Roy Jefferson	1965	1976	4710	74	5441
79	Tony Hill	1977	1986	4678	82	5274
80	Amani Toomer	1996	2008	4633	78	5380
81	Tony Martin	1990	2001	4613	81	5298
82	Haven Moses	1968	1981	4593	80	5329
83	Vincent Jackson	2005	2015	4520	83	5215
84	Gene Washington	1969	1979	4462	85	5077
85	Tommy McDonald	1957	1968	4435	84	5107
86	Plaxico Burress	2000	2012	4412	87	5043
87	Laveranues Coles	2000	2009	4383	86	5065
88	Ken Burrough	1970	1981	4327	88	4962
89	DeSean Jackson	2008	2015	4248	92	4820
90	Jeff Graham	1991	2001	4241	91	4849
91	Isaac Curtis	1973	1984	4241	93	4796
92	Johnnie Morton	1994	2005	4203	90	4904
93	Mark Carrier	1987	1998	4199	89	4926
94	Raymond Berry	1955	1967	4158	94	4755
95	Antonio Brown	2010	2015	4117	102	4622
96	Anthony Carter	1985	1995	4085	101	4644
97	Greg Jennings	2006	2015	4081	95	4743
98	Mel Gray	1971	1982	4067	103	4614
99	Eddie Kennison	1996	2008	4051	98	4688
100	Jimmy Orr	1958	1970	4018	99	4673
101	Ernest Givins	1986	1995	4014	96	4695
102	Cris Collinsworth	1981	1988	3999	109	4490
103	Reggie Rucker	1970	1981	3996	100	4654
104	Antonio Freeman	1995	2003	3983	108	4497
105	Terance Mathis	1990	2002	3965	97	4693
106	Pete Retzlaff	1956	1966	3938	107	4533
107	Eric Martin	1985	1994	3925	105	4560
108	Curtis Conway	1993	2004	3907	104	4568
109	Ahmad Rashad	1972	1982	3906	110	4482
110	Kellen Winslow	1979	1987	3870	113	4414
111	Sonny Randle	1959	1968	3851	112	4425
112	Boyd Dowler	1959	1971	3846	106	4556
113	Julio Jones	2011	2015	3840	120	4262
114	Webster Slaughter	1986	1998	3838	111	4466
115	Dwight Clark	1979	1987	3771	117	4313
116	Darrell Jackson	2000	2008	3758	118	4289
117	Derrick Alexander	1994	2002	3740	121	4237
118	Frank Lewis	1971	1983	3726	115	4321
119	Demaryius Thomas	2010	2015	3724	122	4216
120	Carlos Carson	1980	1989	3714	125	4178
121	Nat Moore	1974	1986	3697	114	4367
122	Bill Brooks	1986	1996	3671	116	4320
123	Alfred Jenkins	1975	1983	3667	123	4195
124	Ozzie Newsome	1978	1990	3644	119	4287
125	Carl Pickens	1992	2000	3629	127	4170
126	Sammy White	1976	1985	3621	126	4177
127	Danny Abramowicz	1967	1974	3607	130	4107
128	Pat Tilley	1976	1986	3584	124	4191
129	Brian Blades	1988	1998	3572	128	4167
130	Buddy Dial	1959	1966	3558	134	4046
131	J.T. Smith	1978	1990	3540	133	4082
132	Mike Quick	1982	1990	3538	138	4005
133	Chris Chambers	2001	2010	3532	129	4151
134	Al Toon	1985	1992	3529	136	4025
135	Homer Jones	1964	1970	3505	144	3929
136	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	2001	2011	3504	132	4087
137	Dave Parks	1964	1973	3481	135	4030
138	Jake Reed	1991	2002	3472	139	4001
139	Steve Watson	1979	1987	3461	145	3925
140	A.J. Green	2011	2015	3460	143	3931
141	Ed McCaffrey	1991	2003	3413	141	3958
142	George Sauer	1965	1970	3395	151	3834
143	Dwayne Bowe	2007	2015	3391	137	4007
144	Bernie Casey	1961	1968	3387	146	3901
145	Frank Clarke	1957	1967	3375	147	3873
146	Ricky Proehl	1990	2006	3369	131	4105
147	Chris Burford	1960	1967	3360	142	3952
148	Jack Snow	1965	1975	3352	140	3982
149	Frank Sanders	1995	2003	3336	148	3859
150	Elbert Dubenion	1960	1968	3331	149	3853
151	John Jefferson	1978	1985	3271	157	3721
152	Red Phillips	1958	1967	3231	156	3749
153	Bobby Joe Conrad	1958	1969	3224	150	3848
154	Henry Marshall	1976	1987	3208	155	3787
155	Lynn Swann	1974	1982	3205	158	3692
156	Eddie Brown	1985	1991	3162	162	3643
157	Gail Cogdill	1960	1970	3155	153	3796
158	Bobby Engram	1996	2009	3152	152	3829
159	Ben Hawkins	1966	1974	3138	166	3567
160	Michael Haynes	1988	1997	3136	163	3635
161	Gary Ballman	1962	1973	3126	160	3674
162	Todd Christensen	1979	1988	3121	164	3610
163	Marty Booker	1999	2009	3121	161	3643
164	Wayne Chrebet	1995	2005	3114	154	3794
165	Rich Caster	1970	1982	3104	165	3595
166	Louis Lipps	1984	1992	3084	169	3512
167	Mike Ditka	1961	1972	3058	159	3675
168	Lance Rentzel	1965	1974	3033	175	3473
169	Roger Carr	1974	1983	3028	180	3432
170	Johnny Morris	1958	1967	3016	172	3484
171	Lee Evans	2004	2011	3010	176	3471
172	Deion Branch	2002	2012	3005	168	3526
173	Stephone Paige	1983	1991	3000	174	3478
174	Jordy Nelson	2008	2014	2998	177	3457
175	Gary Collins	1962	1971	2983	167	3539
176	Brett Perriman	1988	1997	2980	170	3499
177	Dez Bryant	2010	2015	2974	179	3444
178	Jeremy Maclin	2009	2015	2969	178	3448
179	Willie Gault	1983	1993	2960	173	3483
180	Del Shofner	1957	1967	2958	187	3375
181	Ricky Sanders	1986	1995	2954	171	3492
182	Bob Chandler	1971	1982	2932	181	3409
183	Dave Casper	1974	1984	2923	182	3409
184	Darnay Scott	1994	2002	2923	183	3408
185	Paul Flatley	1963	1970	2864	190	3351
186	Bob Tucker	1970	1980	2852	184	3394
187	Rob Gronkowski	2010	2015	2849	194	3279
188	Mike Wallace	2009	2015	2848	185	3393
189	Santonio Holmes	2006	2014	2835	191	3320
190	Jim Colclough	1960	1968	2833	186	3386
191	Haywood Jeffires	1987	1996	2818	189	3359
192	Freddie Solomon	1975	1985	2805	192	3315
193	Sean Dawkins	1993	2001	2789	197	3271
194	Kevin House	1980	1987	2786	204	3166
195	Roy Williams	2004	2011	2780	199	3216
196	Jerry Smith	1965	1977	2778	188	3375
197	Troy Brown	1993	2007	2773	193	3289
198	Fred Barnett	1990	1997	2761	208.5	3144
199	Duriel Harris	1976	1985	2753	203	3166
200	Antonio Bryant	2002	2009	2735	201	3201

Torry Holt ranks 9th (using a 2.5X baseline) and 10th (at 3x) here, and Andre Johnson ranks 8th in both. The Hall of Fame has a receiver problem, so it will be very interesting to see how their candidacies are judged. Of the two, Johnson seems to have the stronger case, given the weaker quarterbacks he played with and that Holt played on more pass-happy teams. But it’s hard not to find Holt deserving.

Steve Smith, a Football Perspective hero, ranks 13th (or 12th), and that’s before any adjustment for playing on run-heavy teams or with bad quarterbacks.

Henry Ellard ranks 15th here, and this is just looking at receiving yards and not giving Ellard any credit for his incredible first down rate. The Hall of Fame seems to have forgotten about him, but it shouldn’t.

Charlie Joiner checks in at 24th using a 2.5X baseline, 22nd with a 3X, and 22nd in raw receiving yards. That’s certainly a better showing here than he has in other systems: Joiner was very good for a very long time, and he fares better here than he does in something focused on pure dominance. That’s how to describe Joiner’s career in a nutshell: he ranked 13th in True Receiving Yards, but 62nd in TRY based on a player’s top six seasons.

What stands out to you on today’s list? I don’t advocate this as the best — or even a great — way to rank receivers. But I would say by removing junk yards and having an era adjustment, it’s got two clear advantages over regular receiving yards.

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