White 1,000-Yard Receivers of the Past 20 Years

[Snow Plow]

3 more games to go…

Kelce: 924 yards
Hockenson: 902
Thielen: 870
Kittle: 865
LaPorta: 758
McBride: 712
Kupp: 658
Ferguson: 614
Kmet: 581
Andrews: 544 (injured)
Schultz: 513
Conklin: 524
CMAC: 509 (RB)
Kincaid: 495
Goedert: 440
Pierce: 426

 

[Warhawk_46]

I’m thinking 3 make it. I’m hoping most for Thielen. He would be well over 1,000 if he didn’t have the least talented QB throwing to him. Young is pure trash.

 

[LucasBryant]

I’m thinking 3 make it. I’m hoping most for Thielen. He would be well over 1,000 if he didn’t have the least talented QB throwing to him. Young is pure trash. Young is a rookie and nothing even remotely close to trash. He has the talent and good work ethic. He will adjust and develop just fine. Nonetheless, yes Thielen should be over 1000 and likely will be. I wish he was still in Minnesota. Great WR!

 

[Bucky]

With all due respect. Young is trash and overrated as a QB prospect we have seen in quite a while.

Thank goodness our White TEs are keeping the 1000 yard seasons going.

 

[NikoDuke]

With all due respect. Young is trash and overrated as a QB prospect we have seen in quite a while.

Thank goodness our White TEs are keeping the 1000 yard seasons going.

Bryce Young is trending to be Jamarcus Russell 2.0.. at this point no one can say otherwise..

We're really missing the slot receivers from the past who would have good seasons as this list is dominated by TE's

 

[LucasBryant]

Bryce Young is trending to be Jamarcus Russell 2.0.. at this point no one can say otherwise..Actually I can say otherwise and I did. Bryce is certainly having a shitty season but the panthers had the first pick for a reason last year. They were a horrendous team in every way. They axed their coach during the season. There is a difference between being trash and having a trash season. He’s hardly the only qb to struggle mightily during his rookie season.

Anyone that thought he wouldn’t struggle was dreaming. Rivera shouldn’t have returned and the Turner duo wrecking the offence should be booted too. If Bryce follows up next year without improvement then I’ll be shocked and gladly admit I was wrong. But he’s got a good work ethic, good character and a bright mind so we will see next year.

We're really missing the slot receivers from the past who would have good seasons as this list is dominated by TE's

 

[LucasBryant]

With all due respect. Young is trash and overrated as a QB prospect we have seen in quite a while.

Thank goodness our White TEs are keeping the 1000 yard seasons going. A very disappointing season in most ways unfortunately although TE has been excellent. Slot wrs have disappeared and where are the Jordys and Proehls.

Young isn’t a trash qb, I disagree completely but he is certainly having a trashy season. Like all qbs, he needs a team and scheme built for his skill set. We will see what happens next season assumes Carolina makes quality changes.

 

[Bucky]

9INTs and 9 fumbles from the little guy. But at least he’s finding Thielen, I will give him that! Yes Carolina is a trash organization. No arguments here.

It’s been slim pickings for WRs lately! I mentioned in another thread about a week back. That it seemed to be turning the corner a few years back with 5 selected. All have been caste holed since.. We’ll need some unsung heroes to rise up in next few years.

 

[Don Wassall]

This thread is about a very specific topic, debates about quarterbacks don't belong here.

 

[Bucky]

Heard

 

[Warhawk_46]

9INTs and 9 fumbles from the little guy. But at least he’s finding Thielen, I will give him that! Yes Carolina is a trash organization. No arguments here.

It’s been slim pickings for WRs lately! I mentioned in another thread about a week back. That it seemed to be turning the corner a few years back with 5 selected. All have been caste holed since.. We’ll need some unsung heroes to rise up in next few years.

I really think Luke McCaffrey will make a splash in the NFL. He is only in his second year playing the position and dominating in college.

Plus his brother is the the rare white skill player the media seems to really like. I think LMC will have a productive career.

 

[Snow Plow]

2 more games left. All players listed are in the top 100.

Kittle: 991
Kelce: 968
Thielen: 964
Hockenson: 960 (injured)
LaPorta: 776
McBride: 743
Kupp: 710 (only 11 games played)
Kmet: 678
Ferguson: 659
Schultz: 574
Conklin: 560
Andrews: 544 (injured)
CMAC: 537 (RB)
Kincaid: 502
Goedert: 541
Pierce: 456
Higbee: 433
Henry: 419
Watson: 419

 

[Don Wassall]

So with Hockenson potentially out for the rest of the season we're looking at three unless LaPorta has some big games. Kupp has an outside chance too but is obviously playing hurt and doesn't look like himself. I'm just hoping his ankle and hamstring injuries haven't taken a toll and he can still have some great seasons starting next year as he's now in his 30s.

Seeing Thielen get there again, and on a horrible offense, is great to see. Didn't think he would reach 1,000 yards again after the Vikings drafted Justin Jefferson and methodically downsized Thielen's role, and the Panthers will likely make receiver an offseason priority in their futile effort to make Bryce Young look good, so this could be Adam's last hurrah to an excellent career after going undrafted and serving a racial apprenticeship, one that like White "outliers" at other "taboo" positions, didn't change anything as far as increasing opportunities for Whites at WR.

 

[white lightning]

To see George Kittle have such a huge second half of the season is just great! We all had discussed how little that he was thrown to
early on in the season. Talk about doing a 180 and give Brock Purdy credit for getting him back involved in the offense.

I hope Travis Kelce can get there. I think he will if Mahomes can quit throwing tantrums like a child.

Adam Thielen is just a class act and I would be really bummed out if he fell short.

Sad to see Hockenson hurt after his monster season. So close to that 1000 yards!

 

[Warhawk_46]

Theilen is also my biggest reason for excitement here. He has been overlooked his whole life and will finish his career with multiple 1’000 yard season, as well as a 900+ and a couple 700+ once the Vikings force-fed Jefferson at the expense of the others.

 

[jeffcorner]

I think Kittle and Thielen both went over 1,000 in the early games!!

 

[backrow]

Hockenson has torn both ACL and MCL so he unfortunately will not get it. Shame to be that close, hope he will come back stronger!

 

[Freethinker]

I think Kittle and Thielen both went over 1,000 in the early games!!

They did. Kittle 1,020 and Thielen 1,002. Kelce had a sh1t game and sits at 984. Hopefully he plays at least part of the final game to get over the 1K mark.

Barring a 140 yard game by LaPorta, we’ll have 3 guys this year. Would have easily been 4 if Hockenson wasn’t hurt. Also, Andrews would have likely gotten there too if not for injury. All in all not a bad season.

 

[Warhawk_46]

TE is very strong for us, but WR is on a bit of a downturn. I’m thinking/hoping next year Alex Pierce breaks out. I’d have to think Cooper Kupp will be better next year. He was clearly dominant when healthy by had injuries this year. I think he will finish around 800 yards or so.

Let’s hope Thielen can make it another 1,000 next year. He is very reliable for a young quarterback. Bryce Young had looked terrible this year but at least he knows to target Thielen.

 

[Snow Plow]

One week left

Kittle: 1,020
Thielen: 1,002
Kelce: 984
Hockenson: 960 (injured)
LaPorta: 860
McBride: 791
Kupp: 737 (only 12 games played)
Ferguson: 692
Kmet: 678
Conklin: 605
Schultz: 593
Kincaid: 589
Goedert: 588
CMAC: 564 (RB)
Andrews: 544 (injured)
Pierce: 514
Higbee: 495
Watson: 460

 

[booth]

I would like to add a WR just outside your period. Steve Watson of the Broncos. He last had a 1000 yds in 1984 but, he had 3 1000 yds seasons altogether. He was All-Pro in 81 with 60 catches and 13 TDS. A 95 TD was one of his catches that year.

 

[Warhawk_46]

I would like to add a WR just outside your period. Steve Watson of the Broncos. He last had a 1000 yds in 1984 but, he had 3 1000 yds seasons altogether. He was All-Pro in 81 with 60 catches and 13 TDS. A 95 TD was one of his catches that year.

He also had a season over 900 yards as well and, like everyone else, his 1982 season was only 9 games due to the strike. He very well could have hit 1,000 there as well. So he had a good five year run as a very prolific receiver!

 

[Don Wassall]

I would like to add a WR just outside your period. Steve Watson of the Broncos. He last had a 1000 yds in 1984 but, he had 3 1000 yds seasons altogether. He was All-Pro in 81 with 60 catches and 13 TDS. A 95 TD was one of his catches that year.

I've written about Watson at times in other threads. He was an outstanding receiver, reminiscent of George Sauer of the Jets in the 1960s -- a top big play threat who had several great seasons but ultimately had a short career (Watson finished with just 353 career catches).

Don't know if he's been mentioned in this thread or not but Jeff Chadwick just missed when he had 995 yards receiving with the Lions in 1986. Watson's three thousand yard seasons were in that same general period, early to mid-80s, as the last of the star White outside receivers were being culled for good. After Largent aged out and Collinsworth retired at a fairly young age, the Great Drought began at WR, RB and TE and lasted for roughly a decade, much longer of course for running backs as Peyton Hillis ended a 25 year drought with his big year in 2010. Hard to believe that was 14 years ago already. . .

 

[Freethinker]

Updated to include 1980-1984:
(__) to indicate # of career thousand yard seasons
** and embolden to indicate leading NFL yards leader
# and embolden to indicate leading NFL receptions leader

1980 - Largent (3rd)
1981 - S. Watson (1st), Largent (4th), Dw. Clark (1st), P. Tilley (1st), Collinsworth (1st), J. Senser (1st): 6 total
1982 - Shortened season (Dw. Clark led NFL in receptions)
1983 - Christensen# (1st), T. Smith (1st), S. Watson (2nd), Collinsworth (2nd), Largent (5th): 5 total
1984 - S. Watson (3rd), Largent (6th), T. Smith (2nd), Christensen (2nd): 4 total
1985 - Largent** (7th), Collinsworth (3rd): 2 total
1986 - Christensen# (3rd), Collinsworth (4th), Largent (8th), Bavaro (1st): 4 total
1987 - None
1988 - None
1989 - None

1990 - None
1991 - None
1992 - None
1993 - None
1994 - None
1995 – None
1996 – None
1997 – None
1998 – Chrebet (1st), E. McCaffrey (1st): 2 total
1999 - Jeffers (1st), Schroeder (1st), E. McCaffrey (2nd): 3 total

2000 – E. McCaffrey (3rd)
2001 – None
2002 – None
2003 – None
2004 – Bennett (1st), Stokley (1st): 2 total
2005 – None
2006 – Furrey (1st)
2007 – Welker# (1st), Witten (1st), Curtis (1st): 3 total
2008 – Welker (2nd)
2009 – Welker# (3rd), Da. Clark (1st), Witten (2nd): 3 total

2010 – Witten (3rd)
2011 – Welker# (4th), Gronkowski (1st), Nelson (1st): 3 total
2012 – Welker (5th), Hartline (1st), Decker (1st), Witten (4th): 4 total
2013 – Nelson (2nd), Decker (2nd), Edelman (1st), Hartline (2nd): 4 total
2014 – Nelson (3rd), Gronkowski (2nd), Olsen (1st): 3 total
2015 – Gronkowski (3rd), Olsen (2nd), Decker (3rd), Barnidge (1st): 4 total
2016 - Olsen (3rd), Kelce (1st), Edelman (2nd), Nelson (4th): 4 total
2017 - Gronkowski (4th), Kelce (2nd), Thielen (1st): 3 total
2018 - Thielen (2nd), Kelce (3rd), Kittle (1st), Ertz (1st): 4 total
2019 - Kelce (4th), Kupp (1st), Edelman (3rd), Kittle (2nd), C. McCaffrey (1st): 5 total

2020 - Kelce (5th)
2021 - Kupp**# (2nd), Andrews (1st), Kelce (6th), Renfrow (1st): 4 total
2022 - Kelce (7th)
2023 - Kittle (3rd), Thielen (3rd): 2 total

Hopefully Kelce goes over 1,000 for his 8th straight season this weekend.

 

[Freethinker]

Thanks Booth, Warhawk & Don.

I've updated the master list to include the entire 1980's. When Thrashen started this undertaking, its seems he picked 1985 because it was 30 years from when he started tracking (2015). Doing the research, you can see that 1981 was quite the year with 6 White men going over the mark. All were WRs too, except for Joe Senser who was a tight end. Tim Smith, a receiver on the Oilers, was unknown to me but seems like another good one in the early 80s, before Whites were banned from the position. I also didn't realize how prolific a receiving TE Todd Christensen was. 3 thousand yard seasons and led the NFL in receptions in both 1983 & 1986. At only 6'-3" I'm imagining him as more of a Dallas Clark type? Does anyone have any "scouting report" from seeing him play?

Edit: When you see how many White wide receivers and tight ends were dominating the early to mid 80s you can see how artificial it was that they were phased out for a decade and a half as many have noted at CF. Crazy the chutzpa of it all!