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

jeffcorner said:
Looks like it’s going to be an incredibly disappointing year with only 1 1k receiver this year
Click to expand...
Well….it’s POSSIBLE I spoke too soon….Alec Pierce caught a 66 yard TD putting him at 937 yards for the year. I don’t want to get my hopes up but now he “only” needs 63 yards more for a 1k season and most likely a 2nd season in a row leading the NFL in Yards Per Catch (YPC)
 
Pierce does it!!!!!!!!! 0 yards last week and 132 yards early in the 3rd quarter today. So for 2025 season we have 2 1k receivers, not amazing but I think it was very important to get that 2nd one. Plus CMC had 924 receiving
 
UPDATE to add 2025 achievements. A lot of good performances by our guys but injuries, bad QB play or underuse kept our numbers below what could have been. I expect next year to bounce back up to the 3-5 range.

Legend:
(__) 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
2024 - Bowers (1st), McBride (1st), Kittle (4th), McConkey (1st): 4 total
2025 - McBride (2nd), Pierce (1st): 2 total
 
Freethinker said:
UPDATE to add 2025 achievements. A lot of good performances by our guys but injuries, bad QB play or underuse kept our numbers below what could have been. I expect next year to bounce back up to the 3-5 range.

Legend:
(__) 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
2024 - Bowers (1st), McBride (1st), Kittle (4th), McConkey (1st): 4 total
2025 - McBride (2nd), Pierce (1st): 2 total
Click to expand...
Respect to Wes for getting us out of the dark ages
 
Freethinker said:
UPDATE to add 2025 achievements. A lot of good performances by our guys but injuries, bad QB play or underuse kept our numbers below what could have been. I expect next year to bounce back up to the 3-5 range.

Legend:
(__) 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
2024 - Bowers (1st), McBride (1st), Kittle (4th), McConkey (1st): 4 total
2025 - McBride (2nd), Pierce (1st): 2 total
Click to expand...
At this point (conclusion of the 6th season of the decade) in the decade of 2010-2019 there were already 19 1,000-yard receivers. For 2020-2029, at the same juncture, there are only 14. That alone doesn't tell the story and doesn't necessarily mean things are starting to decline. I think it would be really good if I took some time this offseason and started at the merger-to-present era (1970-2025 seasons) and check how many 500 yard receivers (*Maybe 450 yards for 14 schedule through 1978, 500 yards for 16 game schedule through 2020, and 550 yards for 2021 through present??? Thoughts? Or just keep it consistent at 500?) there were each season. I think that would paint a better picture of the overall league-wide trends. Something very important to note about passing yards/receiving yards: PASSING YARDS ARE DECLINING THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS (https://www.mesapress.com/sports/2025/12/03/the-nfl-passing-yards-mystery/). The "why" is up for debate, some are saying it's the type of defenses and the shift back to running the ball (I think I saw a stat about rushing yards or attempts or TDs being the highest since 2009) but also because of the new kickoff rules implemented before the 2024 season. Teams have significantly shorter fields now and it's amounting to 200-300 yards less passing&rushing per season (I don't remember the source, saw it yesterday). So again, I think to truly understand what the real trend is (e.g. is the league trending back to the early-mid 1990s as far race for WRs or is it simply stylistic & b/c of aforementioned factors?). Taking a deep dive of 500 yard receivers over 56 seasons (1970-2025) will tell us what's really going on. I plan to do that undertaking sometime this offseason....
 
This chart shows what an outlier Alex Pierce has been this season. It will be interesting to see where he goes and how much he is paid.

 
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