Fantasy Index

Factoid

Wide receiver production

Wide receivers haven't grown as much as you might think

Passing production has exploded in recent years. Because of rules changes, teams are passing more often and more effectively than ever before.

But the production of wide receivers, surprisingly, hasn’t skyrocketed. It’s improved over the years, but not by as much as passing in general. Quarterbacks have improved by more, and tight ends have really zoomed up.

Fifteen years ago, wide receivers averaged 329 points per season. That’s the combined total, on average, for all wide receivers on a team. The per-team and per-season total using 6 points for TD catches and 1 point for every 10 receiving yards.

Over the last two years, that number has risen to only 347 yards. That’s about 1 more touchdown and a little more than 100 more yards. Not a huge difference.

WIDE RECEIVER PRODUCTION, LAST 15 YEARS
YearRecYardsAvgTDPoints
1999174244414.114.1329.0
2000167229213.713.1307.8
2001174236313.612.8312.9
2002180238313.314.3324.4
2003166221913.413.8304.8
2004170239114.114.5326.3
2005173231813.413.2310.9
2006167226913.613.5307.7
2007182238013.114.9327.6
2008174228513.113.0306.6
2009177233113.213.5313.9
2010180238513.315.2329.4
2011178245913.814.8334.6
2012190253813.315.4346.1
2013193256713.315.1347.5

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index