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Every NFL Team’s Greatest Wide Receiver Season - All 32 Franchises
In this ranking, we will identify every NFL team’s greatest wide receiver season of all time. We will look at several parameters to determine the representative for each team such as first-team All-Pros, Pro Bowls, yards, and touchdowns. Let’s dive in.
Arizona Cardinals: Roy Green, 1984
Roy Green sits third on the single-season receiving totals in franchise history but enjoyed the most impressive campaign. Among Cardinals receivers who caught at least 75 passes in a single season, Green’s 19.9 YPR is the highest mark and over two yards higher than Larry Fitzgerald’s 2011 mark. Green led the NFL with 1,555 yards during this season and was named first-team All-Pro.
Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones, 2015
Julio Jones is the only Atlanta wideout to tally at least 1,800 yards in a single campaign. During the 2015 season, Jones led the NFL with 136 receptions and 1,871 yards. He also posted the highest mark in yards per game (116.9). Jones found the back of the end zone eight times, which tied him for the second-highest mark in his career. Joens was also named first-team All-Pro this season.
Baltimore Ravens: Michael Jackson, 1996
Michael Jackson holds the team record for the most receiving yards in franchise history among wide receivers. During the 1996 campaign, Jackson tallied 1,201 yards on 76 receptions. He averaged a strong 75.1 yards per game and 15.8 YPR. Jackson also led the NFL in receiving touchdowns this season with 14. However, he was not named to the Pro Bowl or other honors.
Buffalo Bills: Stefon Diggs, 2020
During the 2020 season, Stefon Diggs set several franchise records. He tallied 127 receptions and added 1,535 yards, which both still stand as the highest marks in a single season. Both of those marks also led the NFL as well. He found the back of the end zone eight times and averaged an impressive 95.9 yards per game. He was also named first-team All-Pro.
Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith Sr., 2005
Steve Smith Sr. is the lone Panther to eclipse 1,500 receiving yards in a single campaign. In 2005, Smith led the league with 1,563 yards and 103 receptions. In addition, he also led the NFL with 12 receiving touchdowns. Smith is only one of three Carolina receivers to tally double-digit receiving scores in a single season. Smith’s stellar 14.8 yards per touch also led the league during this season.
Chicago Bears: Brandon Marshall, 2012
Brandon Marshall is the lone Chicago Bears wideout to tally at least 1,500 yards in a single season. During the 2012 campaign, Marshall tallied 1,508 yards on 118 receptions (192 targets). He found the back of the end zone 11 times. Marshall also averaged a strong 94.3 yards per game with 12.8 YPR. He was also named first-team All-Pro.
Cincinnati Bengals: Ja'Marr Chase, 2024
Even after having contract disputes leading up to the 2024 season, Ja’Marr Chase still performed at an elite level and captured the Triple Crown. Chase led the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17). Chase averaged a stellar 100.5 yards per game and 13.4 yards per touch, which also both led the league. Chase was named first-team All-Pro and finished eighth in MVP voting and third in Offensive Player of the Year voting.
Cleveland Browns: Josh Gordon, 2013
Josh Gordon stands alone at the top of the Cleveland record books. In 2012, Gordon became the only wide receiver in team history to tally at least 1,600 receiving yards. Braaylon Edwards sits second in the record books with just 1,289 yards. During this season, Gordon caught 87 passes and led the league with 1,646 yards. He found the back of the end zone nine times and was named first-team All-Pro.
Dallas Cowboys: CeeDee Lamb, 2023
In 2023, CeeDee Lamb led the NFL with 135 receptions. His 135 receptions were also 24 more than the second-highest single-season count by a Dallas wideout (Michael Irvin, 1995). During this campaign, Lamb tallied 1,749 yards, which also stands as a team record. Lamb scored 12 touchdowns and averaged over 100 yards per game. He was named first-team All-Pro and finished third in Offensive Player of the Year.
Denver Broncos: Demaryius Thomas, 2014
Demaryius Thomas set a franchise record during the 2014 campaign when he tallied 1,619 receiving yards. This was only the second time a Denver pass catcher tallied at least 1,600 yards in a single season (Rod Smith, 2000). Thomas caught 111 passes (second-most in team history) and found the back of the end zone 11 times. He was named to the Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro.
Detroit Lions: Calvin Johnson, 2012
Calvin Johnson holds the single-season receiving record and is the clear choice to represent the Detroit Lions. During the 2012 season, Johnson made history as he tallied 1,964 yards on 122 receptions. Both of these marks led the league. He found the back of the end zone five times. He also led the league with a stellar 16.1 yards per touch. He was named first-team All-Pro and finished third in Offensive Player of the Year voting.
Green Bay Packers: Davante Adams, 2021
Davante Adams enjoyed several elite seasons with the Green Bay Packers. However, his 2021 stands out among his eight-year tenure in Green Bay. In 2021, Adams set a franchise record with 1,553 yards and 123 receptions. He tallied 11 receiving scores, a sharp drop from the 18 he scored the previous year. However, given that he set the franchise record in yards and receptions, this stands as his best overall season.
Houston Texans: DeAndre Hopkins, 2018
Even though DeAndre Hopkins’s 2018 season places him third-most in receiving yards in franchise history (behind two Andre Johnson campaigns), his scoring pushes him into the top spot. Hopkins’ 1,572 yards are just three behind the No. 2 spot (Andre Johnson, 2008) and 26 behind the top spot (Andre Johnson, 2012). However, in 2018, Hopkins found the back of the end zone 11 times, which was higher than Johnson’s totals. Hopkins was also named first-team All-Pro this season.
Indianapolis Colts: Marvin Harrison, 2002
In 2002, Marvin Harrison became the only Indianapolis Colts wide receiver to surpass 1,700 yards in a single season. Harrison tallied a league-leading 1,722 on 143 receptions, which also led the sport. Harrison found the back of the end zone 11 times and averaged an impressive 107.6 yards per game. He finished second in Offensive Player of the Year voting and was named first-team All-Pro.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Allen Robinson, 2014
Allen Robinson’s 14 TD campaign earned him this spot on the list. During the 2014 campaign, Robinson led the league in receiving scores. He caught just 80 passes and tallied 1,400 yards, which is the second-most in franchise history, only second to Jimmy Smith, who tallied 1,636 during the 1999 campaign. Robinson was named to the Pro Bowl and tallied the longest reception of the season (90 yards).
Kansas City Chiefs: Tyreek Hill, 2018
Tyreek Hill is the lone Kansas City wide receiver (the other being tight end Travis Kelce) to eclipse 1,400 yards in a single campaign. In 2018, Hill led the league with an impressive 15.0 yards per touch. He averaged 92.4 yards per game and tallied 13 touchdowns (12 receiving, one rushing). Hill was named first-team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl as well.
Las Vegas Raiders: Davante Adams, 2022
Davante Adams will make his second appearance on this list, but as a Raider this time. During the 2022 campaign, Adams became the first Raider wideout to tally at least 1,500 yards in a single season (1,516). He caught 100 passes and tallied 14 receiving scores, which led the league. Adams averaged a strong 89.2 YPG with a solid 15.2 YPR. He was named to the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro.
Los Angeles Chargers: Lance Alworth,1965
Lance Alworth stands alone at the top of the San Diego/Los Angeles record books. In 1965, Alworth tallied a league-leading 1,602 receiving yards, which remains a team record today. During this season, Alworth also led the league with 14 receiving scores, a number that has only been matched by one other Charger wideout (Tony Martin, 1996). This was also one of Alworth’s six first-team All-Pro campaigns.
Los Angeles Rams: Cooper Kupp, 2021
Cooper Kupp had one of the best wide receiver seasons of all time in 2021. Kupp captured the Triple Crown as he led the league in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16). This was the only time a Rams wide receiver tallied over 1,800 yards in a single season and caught at least 125 receptions. Kupp was named Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro.
Miami Dolphins: Tyreek Hill, 2023
Tyreek Hill enjoyed two impressive in Miami, but his 2023 season stands as his best. During this season, Hill set a franchise record with 1,799 receiving yards (led the league) and tied a franchise record with 119 receptions. He also found the back of the end zone 13 times and led the league with a strong 14.5 yards per touch. He was named first-team All-Pro and finished second in Offensive Player of the Year voting.
Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, 2022
Justin Jefferson has performed at an elite level throughout his five-year NFL career. During the 2022 season, Jefferson put his name in the franchise record books as he surpassed Randy Moss’ 2003 total as he tallied 1,809 receiving yards (which led the league). He also caught 128 passes, which also led the sport. Jefferson also found the back of the end zone nine times (eight receiving) and was named Offensive Player of the Year.
New England Patriots: Randy Moss, 2007
Randy Moss set the NFL record for receiving touchdowns during the 2007 NFL campaign. Moss caught 23 touchdowns, serving as the focal point of the dominant New England offense. Moss pulled in 98 passes and tallied 1,493 yards. He averaged a strong 15.2 YPR and was named first-team All-Pro and earned the second-most votes for Offensive Player of the Year.
New Orleans Saints: Michael Thomas, 2019
Michael Thomas set the single-season reception record (149) during the 2019 campaign. Thomas also led the league in receiving yards this season (1,725) and caught nine touchdown passes. This was the first (and only time) a Saints wideout tallied at least 1,500 receiving yards in a single season and caught more than 125 receptions. Thomas was named Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro.
New York Giants: Odell Beckham Jr., 2015
After an impressive rookie season, Odell Beckham Jr. took his game to the next level during his sophomore campaign. In 2015, Beckham tallied 1,450 receiving yards (second-most in team history) and brought in 96 receptions. He found the back of the end zone 13 times, which ties him alongside Homer Jones (1967) for the most in a single season in team history. The LSU product was named second-team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl.
New York Jets: Brandon Marshall, 2015
Brandon Marshall represents the Chicago Bears on this list but also enjoyed the greatest receiving season in New York Jets history as well. In 2015, Marshall tallied a franchise-best 1,502 yards with 109 receptions. His 14 receiving scores also led the league that season and tied him alongside Don Maynard (1965) and Art Powell (1960) for the most in team history. The red zone threat was also named second-team All-Pro during this season.
Philadelphia Eagles: A.J. Brown, 2022
A.J. Brown is one of two Eagle wideouts to surpass 1,400 receiving yards in a single season (Mike Quick, 1983 being the other). However, Brown’s 2022 campaign stands as the most impressive. During this season, Brown found the back of the end zone 11 times (fourth-most in team history) and tallied 1,496 yards (most in team history). He also brought in 88 receptions, which is the fourth-highest total in team history.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Antonio Brown, 2015
Antonio Brown enjoyed several elite seasons serving as the top pass catcher in Pittsburgh. In 2015, Brown set the franchise record in receiving yards (1,834) and in receptions (136). His receptions were the most in football. During this season, he also found the back of the end zone 10 times and averaged a stellar 144.6 yards per game. Brown was named first-team All-Pro and placed second in Offensive Player of the Year voting.
San Francisco 49ers: Jerry Rice, 1995
Jerry Rice is the only San Francisco wideout to surpass 1,500 yards in a single season. During the 1995 campaign, Rice took his game to the next level as he tallied 1,848 yards, which led the league. Rice caught 122 passes (most in team history) and found the back of the end zone 15 times, which is the third-highest mark in team history. The Hall of Famer finished second in MVP voting this season and was named first-team All-Pro.
Seattle Seahawks: DK Metcalf, 2020
DK Metcalf set a franchise record in receiving yards during the 2020 season. During this campaign, Metcalf tallied 1,303 yards and found the back of the end zone 10 times. This total surpasses Steve Largent’s 1,287 yards, which stood for several decades. Metcalf averaged a strong 81.4 YPG and 15.7 YPR.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, 2018
Mike Evans became the first receiver in Tampa Bay history to surpass 1,500 yards in a single campaign during the 2018 season. Evans caught 86 passes, which is the second-highest total of his career and fifth-highest in franchise history. During this season, Evans tallied eight receiving scores and averaged 95.3 yards per game.
Tennessee Titans: Charley Hennigan, 1961
Charley Hennigan is the only wideout in Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans history to tally 1,500 in a season. Hennigan achieved this feat twice, but his 1961 campaign was his most impressive. In 1961, Hennigan led the league in receiving yards (1,746). He caught 82 passes and tallied 12 TDs, which is the second-highest mark in the franchise history. Hennigan was named to the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro at the conclusion of this season.
Washington Commanders: Bobby Mitchell, 1963
Bobby Mitchell and Santana Moss are the only Washington wideouts to tally 1,400 yards in a single season. However, Mitchell’s 1963 campaign was more efficient than Moss’ 2005 season, giving him a slight edge. In 1963, Mitchell averaged a stellar 102.6 yards per game (most in football) with a 20.8 YPR, which is three yards higher than Moss’ total. In addition, Mitchell tallied seven scores that season and was named to the Pro Bowl.
