Top 10 WR Performances Since 2000
After Julio Jones’ monster week against the Panthers, I thought it might be appropriate for us to get a perspective of what a truly epic WR PPR performance looks like. Yes, Sunday was a historic day as Julio’s 300 yards rank as 6th best all-time for a single game and yet his 48 fantasy points put him slightly outside of the top ten list 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 David Johnson rewrite the record book at some point this year. My favorite historical fantasy tidbit in researching was in 2004 when Priest Holmes AND Derrick Blaylock of the Chiefs registered 4 TDs a piece on the ground against the Falcons.
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, Andre Johnson’s 273 yards in 2012, Josh Gordon’s 261 yards and 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. Alshon Jeffrey, Chicago Bears- Total PPR Points: 48.9
2013: Week 13 vs. Minnesota Vikings
You may remember this as the game in which Adrian Peterson went off for 211 yards as the Vikings won in overtime. On the other hand, Jeffrey was an absolute beast with 12 catches, 249 yards and 2 TDs with Josh McCown throwing him the ball. What’s even more amazing is that Brandon Marshall, a target hog in his own right who appears on this list later, was on the same team as Jeffrey.
9. Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals- Total PPR Points: 49
2006: Week 10 vs. San Diego Chargers
Despite losing 49-41, the lowly Bengals put up a fight as Carson Palmer connected with Chad Johnson for touchdowns of 51 and 75 yards. Ocho Cinco finished with 11 catches for 260 yards and 2 TDs and a happy day for fantasy owners.
8. 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.
7. 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.
6. 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.
5. 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 also reveals that his eventual replacement at slot receiver, Julian Edelman, caught 1 measly reception for 5 yards.
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.
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 (-1) and rushing yards count too :)