Most Dominant Fantasy Players Since 1970: Wide Receivers

by Chase Stuart on June 20, 2019

On Saturday, I looked at the top fantasy seasons by running backs since 1970. On Tuesday, I looked at the top fantasy seasons by quarterbacks, and today, we will do that for wide receivers. I am using the same scoring system throughout this series: 1 point per 20 yards passing, 1 point per 10 yards rushing/receiving, 5 points per passing TD, -2 points for each interception, 6 points per rushing/receiving TD, 0.5 points per reception.

In 1995, Jerry Rice had one of the best seasons in NFL history. He caught 122 passes for 1,848 yards and 15 touchdowns, and also rushed for 36 yards and a touchdown. That translates to 352.5 fantasy points. Meanwhile WR30 had 148.7 adjusted fantasy points (using the same system described in the running backs article). That translates to 203.8 fantasy points of VBD. That’s probably the best fantasy season by any wide receiver, with perhaps one exception.

In 1982, during the 9-game strike-shortened season, Wes Chandler of the Chargers caught 49 passes for 1,032 yards and 9 TDs, and also rushed for 32 yards. That translates to 184.9 fantasy points, a remarkable amount given that he just played in 8 games. WR36 in 1982 averaged 6.5 fantasy points per game, which means over a full 9-game season Chandler would be worth 191.4 fantasy points. That year, WR30 had 68.5 fantasy points, giving Chandler 122.9 points of VBD. If we pro-rate that to a 16-game season, that is worth 218.4 points of VBD.

Regardless of where you put Chandler, Rice’s dominance is jaw-dropping. He has 5 of the top 10 fantasy seasons by a WR, and 7 of the top 25! As good of a wide receiver as he was, he may have been an even better fantasy player due to his remarkable scoring ability. From a fantasy perspective, the only wide receiver who is within shouting distance of Rice is Randy Moss, but Rice has 7 seasons with 140+ points of VBD, while Moss has only 2 (’03, a less memorable year for him because Minnesota missed the playoffs, and ’07). The graph below shows their VBD by year:

The table below shows the top 200 fantasy seasons by a wide receiver since 1970.

Rk	Wide Receiver	Year	Team	G	RshYd	RshTD	Rec	RecYd	RecTD	FP	VBD
1	Wes Chandler	1982	SDG	8	32	0	49	1032	9	184.9	218.4
2	Jerry Rice	1995	SFO	16	36	1	122	1848	15	352.5	203.8
3	Jerry Rice	1987	SFO	12	51	1	65	1078	22	283.4	179.1
4	Randy Moss	2003	MIN	16	18	0	111	1632	17	322.5	176.3
5	Randy Moss	2007	NWE	16	0	0	98	1493	23	336.3	172.8
6	Isaac Bruce	1995	STL	16	17	0	119	1781	13	317.3	168.6
7	Herman Moore	1995	DET	16	0	0	123	1686	14	314.1	165.4
8	Jerry Rice	1986	SFO	16	72	1	86	1570	15	304	164.6
9	Jerry Rice	1993	SFO	16	69	1	98	1503	15	302.2	163.9
10	Jerry Rice	1994	SFO	16	93	2	112	1499	13	305.2	160.3
11	Sterling Sharpe	1992	GNB	16	8	0	108	1461	13	278.9	155.1
12	Mark Clayton	1984	MIA	15	35	0	73	1389	18	284.9	154.5
13	Torry Holt	2003	STL	16	5	0	117	1696	12	300.6	154.4
14	Jerry Rice	1989	SFO	16	33	0	82	1483	17	294.6	154
15	Marvin Harrison	2002	IND	16	10	0	143	1722	11	310.7	152.7
17	Cris Carter	1995	MIN	16	0	0	122	1371	17	300.1	151.4
16	Antonio Brown	2014	PIT	16	13	0	129	1698	13	319.6	150.9
18	Calvin Johnson	2011	DET	16	11	0	96	1681	16	313.2	150
19	Cliff Branch	1974	OAK	14	0	0	60	1092	13	217.2	148.8
20	Dwight Clark	1982	SFO	9	0	0	60	913	5	151.3	147.2
22	Terrell Owens	2000	SFO	14	11	0	97	1451	13	272.7	141.9
23	Jerry Rice	1990	SFO	16	0	0	100	1502	13	278.2	141.2
24	Dick Gordon	1970	CHI	14	17	0	71	1026	13	217.8	141
25	Harold Carmichael	1973	PHI	14	42	0	67	1116	9	203.3	140.3
26	Antonio Brown	2015	PIT	16	28	0	136	1834	10	314.2	137.3
27	Gene Washington	1970	SFO	13	0	0	53	1100	12	208.5	137
28	Marvin Harrison	2001	IND	16	3	0	109	1524	15	297.2	133.5
29	Terrell Owens	2002	SFO	14	79	1	100	1300	13	271.9	132.7
30	Steve Smith	2005	CAR	16	25	1	103	1563	12	288.3	132.7
31	Robert Brooks	1995	GNB	16	21	0	102	1497	13	280.8	132.1
32	Marvin Harrison	1999	IND	16	4	0	115	1663	12	296.2	129.6
33	Marvin Harrison	2000	IND	16	0	0	102	1413	14	276.3	128.7
34	Roy Green	1984	STL	16	-10	0	78	1555	12	265.5	127.9
35	John Jefferson	1980	SDG	16	16	0	82	1340	13	254.6	127.9
51	Antonio Brown	2017	PIT	14	0	0	101	1533	9	257.8	127.1
36	Michael Irvin	1995	DAL	16	0	0	111	1603	10	275.8	127.1
37	Cliff Branch	1976	OAK	14	12	0	46	1111	12	207.3	127
38	Carl Pickens	1995	CIN	16	6	0	99	1234	17	275.5	126.8
39	Rod Smith	2000	DEN	16	99	1	100	1602	8	274.1	126.5
40	Julio Jones	2015	ATL	16	0	0	136	1871	8	303.1	126.2
42	Paul Warfield	1971	MIA	14	115	0	43	996	11	198.6	125.9
41	Josh Gordon	2013	CLE	14	88	0	87	1646	9	270.9	125.9
43	Mike Quick	1983	PHI	16	0	0	69	1409	13	253.4	125.5
44	Randy Moss	2000	MIN	16	5	0	77	1437	15	272.7	125.1
61	DeAndre Hopkins	2017	HOU	15	0	0	96	1378	13	263.8	124.6
45	Sterling Sharpe	1994	GNB	16	15	0	94	1119	18	268.4	123.5
46	Roy Green	1983	STL	16	49	0	78	1227	14	250.6	122.7
47	Terrell Owens	2001	SFO	16	21	0	93	1412	16	285.8	122.1
50	Sterling Sharpe	1989	GNB	16	25	0	90	1423	12	261.8	121.2
49	Calvin Johnson	2012	DET	16	0	0	122	1964	5	287.4	121.1
48	Odell Beckham	2014	NYG	12	35	0	91	1305	12	251.5	120.9
52	Alfred Jenkins	1981	ATL	16	0	0	70	1358	13	248.8	120.1
53	Harold Jackson	1973	RAM	14	-8	0	40	874	13	184.6	119
54	Andre Rison	1993	ATL	16	0	0	86	1242	15	257.2	118.9
55	Tyreek Hill	2018	KAN	16	151	1	87	1479	12	284.5	118.5
56	Calvin Johnson	2013	DET	14	0	0	84	1492	12	263.2	118.2
57	Nat Moore	1977	MIA	14	89	1	52	765	12	189.4	117.8
58	Antonio Freeman	1998	GNB	15	5	0	84	1424	14	268.9	117.3
59	Muhsin Muhammad	2004	CAR	16	15	0	93	1405	16	284.5	117.3
60	Roger Carr	1976	BAL	14	0	0	43	1112	11	198.7	117.2
62	Hines Ward	2002	PIT	16	142	0	112	1329	12	275.1	117.1
63	Otis Taylor	1971	KAN	14	25	1	57	1110	7	190	116
65	Davante Adams	2018	GNB	15	0	0	111	1386	13	272.1	115.8
66	Gene Washington	1972	SFO	14	0	0	46	918	12	186.8	115.6
67	Antonio Brown	2018	PIT	15	0	0	104	1297	15	271.7	115.4
68	Gary Garrison	1970	SDG	14	7	0	44	1006	12	195.3	115.3
64	Demaryius Thomas	2014	DEN	16	0	0	111	1619	11	283.4	114.7
69	Charlie Brown	1982	WAS	9	0	0	32	690	8	133	114.7
70	DeAndre Hopkins	2018	HOU	16	-7	0	115	1572	11	280	114
71	Brett Perriman	1995	DET	16	48	0	108	1488	9	261.6	112.9
73	Terrell Owens	2007	DAL	15	5	0	81	1355	15	266.5	112.1
74	Sterling Sharpe	1993	GNB	16	8	0	112	1274	11	250.3	112
75	Brandon Marshall	2015	NYJ	16	0	0	109	1502	14	288.7	111.8
72	Wes Welker	2011	NWE	16	30	0	122	1569	9	274.9	111.7
76	Stanley Morgan	1986	NWE	16	0	0	84	1491	10	251.1	111.7
77	John Jefferson	1978	SDG	14	7	0	56	1001	13	206.8	111.7
79	Terance Mathis	1994	ATL	16	0	0	111	1342	11	255.7	110.8
80	Andre Johnson	2009	HOU	16	10	0	101	1569	9	262.4	110.6
78	Jordy Nelson	2014	GNB	16	0	0	98	1519	13	278.9	110.2
81	Henry Ellard	1988	RAM	16	7	0	86	1414	10	245.1	110.1
82	Jerry Rice	1992	SFO	16	58	1	84	1201	10	233.9	110.1
84	Michael Irvin	1991	DAL	16	0	0	93	1523	8	246.8	109.5
85	Demaryius Thomas	2013	DEN	16	0	0	92	1430	14	273	109.4
83	Brandon Marshall	2012	CHI	16	-2	0	118	1508	11	275.6	109.3
86	Larry Fitzgerald	2008	ARI	16	0	0	96	1431	12	263.1	108.3
87	Andre Johnson	2008	HOU	16	0	0	115	1575	8	263	108.2
88	James Lofton	1982	GNB	9	101	1	35	696	4	129.4	108.2
89	Andre Rison	1992	ATL	15	0	0	93	1119	11	224.4	108
90	John Stallworth	1984	PIT	16	0	0	80	1395	11	245.5	107.9
91	Jerry Rice	1991	SFO	16	2	0	80	1206	14	244.8	107.5
92	Julio Jones	2018	ATL	16	12	0	113	1677	8	273.4	107.4
93	Randy Moss	1998	MIN	16	4	0	69	1313	17	268.2	107.2
94	John Gilliam	1973	MIN	14	71	1	42	907	8	172.8	105.5
95	Mark Clayton	1988	MIA	16	4	0	86	1129	14	240.3	105.3
96	Rod Smith	2001	DEN	15	27	0	113	1343	11	259.5	104.8
97	Odell Beckham	2015	NYG	15	3	0	96	1450	13	271.3	104.5
99	Steve Watson	1981	DEN	16	6	0	60	1244	13	233	104.3
98	Dez Bryant	2014	DAL	16	0	0	88	1320	16	272	103.3
102	Mel Gray	1975	STL	14	6	0	48	926	11	183.2	103
100	Anquan Boldin	2008	ARI	12	67	0	89	1038	11	221	102.9
101	Warren Wells	1970	OAK	14	34	0	43	935	11	184.4	102.8
103	Rob Moore	1997	ARI	16	0	0	97	1584	8	254.9	102.1
104	Fred Biletnikoff	1971	OAK	14	0	0	61	929	9	177.4	101.6
105	Braylon Edwards	2007	CLE	16	0	0	80	1289	16	264.9	101.4
106	Larry Fitzgerald	2005	ARI	16	41	0	103	1409	10	256.5	100.9
110	Ken Burrough	1975	HOU	14	0	0	53	1063	8	180.8	100.3
107	Torry Holt	2005	STL	14	2	0	102	1331	9	238.3	100.2
108	Marlin Briscoe	1970	BUF	14	19	0	57	1036	8	182	100.1
109	Reggie Wayne	2007	IND	16	4	0	104	1510	10	263.4	99.9
111	Anquan Boldin	2005	ARI	14	45	0	102	1402	7	237.7	99.6
112	Bob Hayes	1970	DAL	13	34	1	34	889	10	175.3	99
113	Mark Carrier	1989	TAM	16	0	0	86	1422	9	239.2	98.6
114	Carlos Carson	1983	KAN	16	20	0	80	1351	7	226.5	98.6
115	Marvin Harrison	2006	IND	16	0	0	95	1366	12	256.1	98.4
116	Henry Ellard	1989	RAM	14	10	0	70	1382	8	222.2	98.3
117	Isaac Bruce	2000	STL	16	11	0	87	1471	9	245.7	98.1
118	Antonio Brown	2016	PIT	15	9	0	106	1284	12	254.3	97.3
119	Roddy White	2010	ATL	16	3	0	115	1389	10	256.7	97
120	Jerry Rice	1988	SFO	16	107	1	64	1306	9	232	97
121	John Gilliam	1972	MIN	14	14	0	47	1035	7	170.4	96.9
122	Marvin Harrison	2003	IND	15	3	0	94	1272	10	234.5	96.8
123	DeAndre Hopkins	2015	HOU	16	0	0	111	1521	11	273.6	96.7
124	David Boston	2001	ARI	16	35	0	98	1598	8	260.3	96.6
125	Larry Fitzgerald	2007	ARI	15	0	0	100	1409	10	250.9	96.5
126	Art Monk	1984	WAS	16	18	0	106	1372	7	234	96.4
127	Steve Largent	1981	SEA	16	47	1	75	1224	9	224.6	95.9
128	Michael Irvin	1992	DAL	16	-9	0	78	1396	7	219.7	95.9
129	Derrick Alexander	2000	KAN	16	45	0	78	1391	10	242.6	95
130	Chad Johnson	2003	CIN	16	0	0	90	1355	10	240.5	94.3
131	Charlie Brown	1983	WAS	15	53	0	78	1225	8	214.8	94.2
132	Randy Moss	2009	NWE	16	0	0	83	1264	13	245.9	94.1
133	Terrell Owens	2004	PHI	14	-5	0	77	1200	14	242	94.1
134	A.J. Green	2013	CIN	16	0	0	98	1426	11	257.6	94
135	Torry Holt	2000	STL	16	7	0	82	1635	6	241.2	93.6
136	Harold Jackson	1972	PHI	14	76	0	62	1048	4	167.4	93.4
137	Chad Johnson	2005	CIN	16	33	0	97	1432	9	249	93.4
138	Steve Largent	1978	SEA	16	0	0	71	1168	8	200.3	93.1
139	Anquan Boldin	2003	ARI	16	40	0	101	1377	8	238.2	92
140	Andre Reed	1989	BUF	16	31	0	88	1312	9	232.3	91.7
141	Gary Clark	1991	WAS	16	0	0	70	1340	10	229	91.7
142	Randy Moss	1999	MIN	16	43	0	80	1413	11	258	91.4
143	Jordy Nelson	2016	GNB	16	0	0	97	1257	14	258.2	91.2
144	Jimmy Smith	1999	JAX	16	0	0	116	1636	6	257.6	91
145	Michael Thomas	2018	NOR	16	0	0	125	1405	9	257	91
146	Tony Martin	1996	SDG	16	0	0	85	1171	14	243.6	90.6
147	Isaac Curtis	1973	CIN	14	-11	0	45	843	9	159.7	90.5
148	Antonio Brown	2013	PIT	16	4	0	110	1499	8	254.1	90.5
149	Mark Duper	1986	MIA	16	-10	0	67	1313	11	229.8	90.4
150	Sammy White	1976	MIN	14	-10	0	51	906	10	175.1	90.2
151	Tim Brown	1995	OAK	16	0	0	89	1342	10	238.7	90
162	Wes Welker	2009	NWE	14	36	0	123	1348	4	223.9	90
152	Steve Largent	1979	SEA	15	0	0	66	1237	9	210.7	89.9
153	Anthony Miller	1995	DEN	14	5	0	59	1079	14	221.9	89.8
154	Ricky Sanders	1988	WAS	16	14	0	73	1148	12	224.7	89.7
156	Eric Metcalf	1995	ATL	16	133	1	104	1189	8	238.2	89.5
158	Randy Vataha	1971	NWE	14	0	0	51	872	9	166.7	89.4
155	Dez Bryant	2012	DAL	16	-5	0	92	1382	12	255.7	89.4
159	Steve Largent	1983	SEA	15	0	0	72	1074	11	210	89.3
160	Calvin Johnson	2008	DET	16	-1	0	78	1331	12	244	89.2
161	Michael Jackson	1996	BAL	16	0	0	76	1201	14	242.1	89.1
163	Steve Largent	1984	SEA	16	10	0	74	1164	12	226.4	88.8
164	Andre Reed	1994	BUF	16	87	0	90	1303	8	233.6	88.7
168	Cliff Branch	1975	OAK	14	18	0	51	893	9	170.6	88.6
165	Ed McCaffrey	2000	DEN	16	0	0	101	1317	9	236.2	88.6
166	Santana Moss	2005	WAS	16	-3	0	84	1483	9	244	88.4
167	Mike Quick	1985	PHI	16	0	0	73	1247	11	227.2	88.3
157	Julio Jones	2014	ATL	15	1	0	104	1593	6	247.4	88.2
169	Jerry Rice	1996	SFO	16	77	1	108	1254	8	241.1	88.1
170	Andre Reed	1991	BUF	16	136	0	81	1113	10	225.4	88.1
171	Brandon Marshall	2013	CHI	16	0	0	100	1295	12	251.5	87.9
172	Brandon Lloyd	2010	DEN	16	-18	0	77	1448	11	247.5	87.8
173	Carl Pickens	1996	CIN	16	2	0	100	1180	12	240.8	87.8
178	Lynn Swann	1975	PIT	14	13	0	49	781	11	169.9	87.8
174	Bob Chandler	1976	BUF	14	0	0	61	824	10	172.9	87.7
176	Javon Walker	2004	GNB	16	0	0	89	1382	12	254.7	87.5
177	Charlie Joiner	1976	SDG	14	0	0	50	1056	7	172.6	87.4
175	Jordy Nelson	2011	GNB	16	0	0	68	1263	15	250.3	87.1
180	Wesley Walker	1982	NYJ	9	0	0	39	620	6	117.5	87.1
181	Allen Robinson	2015	JAX	16	0	0	80	1400	14	264	87.1
179	A.J. Green	2012	CIN	16	38	0	97	1350	11	253.3	87
182	Miles Austin	2009	DAL	16	-2	0	81	1320	11	238.3	86.5
184	Gary Clark	1989	WAS	15	19	0	79	1229	9	218.3	86.1
183	Victor Cruz	2011	NYG	16	3	0	82	1536	9	248.9	85.7
185	Joe Horn	2004	NOR	16	0	0	94	1399	11	252.9	85.7
186	Antonio Freeman	1997	GNB	16	14	0	81	1243	12	238.2	85.4
187	Mike Evans	2016	TAM	16	0	0	96	1321	12	252.1	85.1
188	Adam Thielen	2018	MIN	16	30	0	113	1373	9	250.8	84.8
189	Andre Rison	1990	ATL	16	0	0	82	1208	10	221.8	84.8
190	Steve Smith	2008	CAR	14	40	0	78	1421	6	221.1	84.7
191	Tim Brown	1994	RAI	16	0	0	89	1309	9	229.4	84.5
193	Dez Bryant	2013	DAL	16	1	0	93	1233	13	247.9	84.3
194	Anthony Miller	1989	SDG	16	21	0	75	1252	10	224.8	84.2
195	James Lofton	1981	GNB	16	0	0	71	1294	8	212.9	84.2
192	Demaryius Thomas	2012	DEN	16	0	0	94	1434	10	250.4	84.1
196	Larry Fitzgerald	2009	ARI	16	0	0	97	1092	13	235.7	83.9
197	Hines Ward	2003	PIT	16	61	0	95	1163	10	229.9	83.7
198	Cris Carter	1994	MIN	16	0	0	122	1256	7	228.6	83.7
199	Louis Lipps	1985	PIT	16	16	1	59	1134	12	222.5	83.6
200	Herman Moore	1996	DET	16	0	0	106	1296	9	236.6	83.6

Tagged as: VBD

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