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Factoid

Keenan Allen's impressive debut

It can be difficult for wide receivers to make an immediate impact in the NFL. In the 35 years since the league went to a 16-game season in 1978, only 12 have gone over 1,000 receiving yards as rookies. That right there puts Chargers' rookie Keenan Allen, who turned the trick last season, into select company.

But Allen's 1,000-yard rookie campaign is even more impressive when you consider that he was just a third-round pick. In those 35 years, he's the only third-rounder to reach 1,000 yards; the only one over 900, in fact. Only two of those dozen 1,000-yard rookies were selected later than the second round: Bill Brooks, a fourth-rounder drafted by Indianapolis in 1986, and Marques Colston, a seventh-round pick by New Orleans in 2006.

Allen's season, though, is part of a growing trend. Finishing 2nd in rookie receiving yards among third-rounders in that timeframe is another recent pick -- Indianapolis wideout T.Y. Hilton (2012). Five of the top 10 performances by third-rounders in the last 35 years have come since 2007.

It's a sign not only that the league is more pass-happy than ever before, but also that rookie receivers are being asked to contribute right away, even ones selected outside the first round. The overall numbers of 1,ooo-yard rookies may advise caution, but the fact that those youngsters are putting up bigger numbers than ever before indicate you can in fact find fantasy-worthy rookie contributors even into the third round of the NFL draft.

The top performances by third-rounders over the last 35 years, sorted by yards, are presented below.

TOP 3RD-ROUND WIDEOUTS, 1978-
YearPlayer, TeamNoYdsTD
2013Keenan Allen, S.D.7110468
2012T.Y. Hilton, Ind.508617
1995Chris Sanders, Hou.358239
1991Lawrence Dawsey, T.B.558184
1990Ricky Proehl, St.L.568024
2009Mike Wallace, Pitt.397566
1990Fred Barnett, Phi.367218
2000Darrell Jackson, Sea.537136
2007James Jones, G.B.476762
2010Jordan Shipley, Cin.526003
1981Ken Margerum, Chi.395841
1991Tim Barnett, K.C.415645
1994Lake Dawson, K.C.375372
1996Terrell Owens, S.F.355204
2001Marvin Minnis, K.C.335111
2010Brandon LaFell, Car.384681
2003Nate Burleson, Minn.294552
1989Derek Hill, Pitt.284551
1978Dan Bass, Cin.274474
2007Laurent Robinson, Atl.374371
1981Michael Holston, Hou.274272
1987Mark Carrier, T.B.264233
2005Chris Henry, Cin.314226
1983Stephen Starring, N.E.173892
2010Emmanuel Sanders, Pitt.283762
1988Quinn Early, S.D.293754
2000Laveranues Coles, NYJ223701
1994Tydus Winans, Wash.193442
2011Vincent Brown, S.D.193292

--Andy Richardson

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