Fantasy Football: Julio Jones & the Top 10 WR Games Since 2000
Last year I wrote a similar piece after Julio Jones‘ monster 300-yard performance against the Panthers to give us a perspective of what a truly epic WR PPR performance looks like. It’s only fitting that I update this list after Julio’s absolute nuclear outing on Sunday against the Buccaneers. Yes, Sunday was a historic day as Julio’s 50.8 PPR fantasy points barely put him inside the top ten for WRs since 2000. It’s easy to forget what has happened in years past as we annually turn the page in our fantasy lives. We will count down our list from 10th to 1st.
I could certainly add RBs to this list as they qualify as pass catchers. However, we’ll just save that article after Le’Veon Bell or Alvin Kamara rewrite the record book at some point this year.
Special shoutout to ProFootballReference.com which helped me tremendously when doing research on this article.
Honorable Mentions: Marvin Jones‘ 4 TD game in 2013, Randy Moss‘ 4 TD game in 2007, Marcus Robinson‘s 4 TD game in 2003, Joe Horn‘s 4 TD game in 2003, Chad Johnson‘s 260 yards/2 TDs in 2006, Andre Johnson‘s 273 yards in 2012, Josh Gordon‘s 261 yards/2 TDs in 2013, Alshon Jeffrey’s 249/2 TDs in 2013, DeAndre Hopkins 238 yards/2 TDs in 2014, AJ Green’s 227 yard game in 2015, and two of Antonio Brown‘s monster games in 2015.
10. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys- Total PPR Points: 49.3
2007: Week 11 vs. Washington Redskins
Owens appears on this list twice as sometimes we can forget what a dominant fantasy force he was. He torched the Redskins for 8 catches, 173 yards and an unbelievable 4 TDs as the Cowboys improved to 9-1 and eventually another disappointing post-season run.
9. Eric Decker, Denver Broncos-Total PPR Points: 49.4
2013: Week 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The touchdown machine himself, Eric Decker, had 8 catches, 174 yards, and 4 TDs from Peyton Manning during that magical 55 TD campaign of 2013. Decker ended up with the most receiving yards of his career and cashed in that offseason with a huge contract with the Jets.
8. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons- Total PPR Points- 50.8
2017: Week 12 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As a Falcons fan this was sweet. As someone playing against Julio this week, I was yelling at the the Buccaneers defense for giving more cushion than any sane person would give. It was a certain death sentence as he torched Tampa Bay for 12 catches for 253 yards and 2 TDs. He is the ONLY player in NFL history with 3 games over 250 yards. He is not human.
7. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions-Total PPR Points: 50.9
2013: Week 8 vs. Dallas Cowboys
This is MegaTron’s famous monster game in which he was tackled at the 1-yard line twice. He had 14 catches for 329 yards, a TD and a fumble lost. This would’ve topped the list if those tackles at the 1 turned into a score.
Gregory Shamus/ Getty Images Sport
6. Wes Welker, New England Patriots- Total PPR Points: 51.6
2011: Week 3 vs. Buffalo Bills
Welker and Brady were in sync to the tune of 16 catches on 20 targets, 217 receiving yards and 2 TDs. He also added in 19 on the ground although the Bills ended up winning 34-31. The boxscore on this day also reveals that his eventual replacement at slot receiver, Julian Edelman, caught 1 measly reception for 5 yards.
5. Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia Eagles- Total PPR Points: 51.8
2007: Week 3 vs. Detroit Lions
On 14 targets, Curtis went absolutely bonkers caught 11 balls for 221 yards and 3 TDs. He would top 100 yards only twice more the rest of season. Eagles fans will remember this game well while Rams fans will say “Hey didn’t we have that guy with Marc Bulger?”
4. Drew Bennett, Tennessee Titans- Total PPR Points: 52.3
2004: Week 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Bennett was an UDFA signing and former college QB at UCLA but was a towering presence at 6″5. Looking at his game logs, he actually had 3 TDs in Week 12 but followed it up against the Chiefs with 12 catches, 223 yards and 3 TDs. Checking back the boxscore makes you vomit in your mouth when you consider ole Billy Volek was behind center throwing to Bennett.
Joe Murphy /NFLPhotoLibrary
3. Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears- Total PPR Points: 53
2009: Week 14 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Marshall was a target monster catching 21 of 28 targets for 200 yards and 2 TDs from Kyle Orton. Marshall also had an 18 catch game on 20 targets the year before that failed to make this list.
2. Terrell Owens, San Francisco 49ers- Total PPR Points: 54.8
2000: Week 16 vs. Chicago Bears
As if one game on this list isn’t enough, Owens caught 20 of his 22 targets against the Bears during fantasy championship week. He hauled in 283 yards and a TD and added 5 more yards on the ground. To put it simply, Bears CB Jerry Azumah probably pondered retirement after this one.
1. Jimmy Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars- Total PPR Points: 62.1
2000: Week 2 vs. Baltimore Ravens
What is most amazing about this performance is the distance Smith is from our second place finisher. Smith caught 15 passes for 291 yards and 3 TDs! And yet it’s even more impressive when you consider he was playing against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens and their Ray Lewis-led defense. Smith was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and a perennially underrated fantasy performer.
Feel free to message me on Twitter (@kyle_borg) if I left a receiver off this list. Remember fumbles lost (-2) and rushing yards count too :)
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[…] position this season, including QBs in six-point-per-passing-TD leagues. You can read more about how Julio’s game stacks up against recent greats in Kyle Borgognini’s recent article. Suffice it to say, you would be hard-pressed to lose any […]