Fantasy Index

Factoid

Antonio Brown

Steelers receiver hung with Rice and Moss in 2014

I’m just getting started looking at players closely. I like to spend one full day looking at each franchise (then I go back in and adjust the teams later after the draft). It’s early. But I’ll be surprised if Antonio Brown isn’t the No. 1 receiver on my board. He’s the right age – 27 – he’s in the right offense, and he was awfully impressive last year.

Brown wasn’t only great last year, leading the league in catches and yards. He was all-time good.

In PPR scoring, he finished with the 2nd-best numbers by a wide receiver. Ever. Only Jerry Rice (in 1995, when Steve Young and Marc Trestman fed him a ton of balls) ever had a better PPR season.

With the big workload, Brown last year finished with even better PPR numbers than 2007 Randy Moss, who caught a record 23 TDs.

Here be the top 25. Numbers are slightly off in some cases because they don’t include some ancillary stats (rushing and passing production). Brown carried the ball 4 times for 13 yards last year, and he also completed a couple passes, including one for a touchdown. Brown (and probably a couple others) are getting 4 points for their TD passes but no credit for the yards on those plays.

TOP 25 PPR WIDE RECEIVERS OF ALL TIME
YearPlayerNoYdsAvgTDPPR
1995Jerry Rice, S.F.122184815.117414.8
2014Antonio Brown, Pitt.129169813.214388.8
2007Randy Moss, N.E.98149315.223385.3
2002Marvin Harrison, Ind.143172212.011383.2
1995Isaac Bruce, St.L.119178115.013377.1
2003Randy Moss, Minn.111163214.717376.2
1995Herman Moore, Det.123168613.714375.6
1995Cris Carter, Minn.122137111.217361.1
2011Calvin Johnson, Det.96168117.516360.1
2003Torry Holt, St.L.117169614.512358.6
1999Marvin Harrison, Ind.115166314.512355.3
1994Jerry Rice, S.F.112149913.415353.9
2001Marvin Harrison, Ind.109152414.015351.4
2012Calvin Johnson, Det.122196416.15348.4
1993Jerry Rice, S.F.98150315.316344.3
2014Demaryius Thomas, Den.111161914.611340.9
1986Jerry Rice, S.F.86157018.316339.0
2005Steve Smith, Car.103156315.213337.3
2012Brandon Marshall, Chi.118150812.811334.8
2011Wes Welker, N.E.122156912.99332.9
1989Jerry Rice, S.F.82148318.117332.3
1992Sterling Sharpe, G.B.108146113.513332.1
1995Michael Irvin, Dall.111160314.410331.3
2001Terrell Owens, S.F.93141215.216330.2
1995Robert Brooks, G.B.102149714.713329.7

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index