Fantasy Index

Factoid

Antonio Brown

PPR player should ponder what Brown can do for them.

I like Antonio Brown. The dude catches a lot of passes, and opponents can’t seem to stop him. They’ve tried to double-team him and whatnot, but he’s still catch at least 5 passes in every game the last two years.

The Steelers have some other capable pass catchers – Martavius Bryant, Markus Wheaton, and maybe they get something out of Sammie Coates – but there’s a special rapport between Brown and Ben Roethlisberger.

In a PPR format, therefore, I think Brown belongs right up there at the top. Not only the top receiver, but arguably the top player overall.

Using PPR scoring, Brown piled up 390 points last year. That’s the 2nd-best by a wide receiver ever.

Some of this, of course, can be attributed to stat inflation. It’s easier to pass now than in the past. Of the top 70 wide receivers of the last 20 years, you would expect 3-4 of them to have come from the 2014 season, but instead it’s seven of them from that season.

BEST RECEIVERS OF LAST 20 YEARS (PPR)
YearPlayerNoRecRunTDPoints
1995Jerry Rice, S.F.12218483617418.4
2014Antonio Brown, Pitt.12916981314390.1
2007Randy Moss, N.E.981493023385.3
2002Marvin Harrison, Ind.14317221011384.2
1995Isaac Bruce, St.L.11917811713378.8
2003Randy Moss, Minn.11116321817378.0
1995Herman Moore, Det.1231686014375.6
2011Calvin Johnson, Det.9616811116361.2
1995Cris Carter, Minn.1221371017361.1
2003Torry Holt, St.L.1171696512359.1
1999Marvin Harrison, Ind.1151663412355.7
2001Marvin Harrison, Ind.1091524315351.7
2012Calvin Johnson, Det.122196405348.4
2014Demaryius Thomas, Den.1111619011340.9
2005Steve Smith Sr., Car.10315632513339.8
2002Hines Ward, Pitt.112132914212337.1
2011Wes Welker, N.E.1221569309335.9
2012Brandon Marshall, Chi.1181508-211334.6
2001Terrell Owens, S.F.9314122116332.3
1995Robert Brooks, G.B.10214972113331.8
1995Michael Irvin, Dall.1111603010331.3
2004Muhsin Muhammad, Car.9314051516331.0
2014Jordy Nelson, G.B.981519013327.9
2000Marvin Harrison, Ind.1021413014327.3
1995Carl Pickens, Cin.991234617325.0
2000Rod Smith, Den.1001602999324.1
2000Terrell Owens, S.F.9714511113323.2
2002Terrell Owens, S.F.10013007914321.9
2008Andre Johnson, Hou.115157508320.5
2013Demaryius Thomas, Den.921430014319.0
2010Roddy White, Atl.1151389310318.2
2001Rod Smith, Den.11313432711318.0
1999Jimmy Smith, Jac.116163606317.6
1995Brett Perriman, Det.1081488489317.6
2014Dez Bryant, Dall.881320016316.0
2007Reggie Wayne, Ind.1041510410315.4
2013Josh Gordon, Clev.871646889314.4
2013Antonio Brown, Pitt.110149949314.3
2009Andre Johnson, Hou.101156909313.9
2000Randy Moss, Minn.771437515313.2
1998Antonio Freeman, G.B.841424514312.9
2008Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.961431012311.1
2001David Boston, Ariz.981598358309.3
2005Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.10314094110308.0
2007Terrell Owens, Dall.811355515307.0
2013A.J. Green, Cin.981426011306.6
1998Randy Moss, Minn.681313417305.7
2013Brandon Marshall, Chi.1001295012305.5
1997Rob Moore, Ariz.97158408305.4
2013Calvin Johnson, Det.841492012305.2
2007Braylon Edwards, Clev.801289016304.9
2012Dez Bryant, Dall.921382-512303.7
2006Marvin Harrison, Ind.951366012303.6
1999Randy Moss, Minn.8014134312302.6
2004Joe Horn, N.O.941399011301.9
2014Emmanuel Sanders, Den.1011404449301.8
2012A.J. Green, Cin.9713503811301.8
2007Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.1001409010300.9
2004Javon Walker, G.B.891382012299.2
2005Santana Moss, Wash.971432339297.5
2014Randall Cobb, G.B.9112873712297.4
2012Demaryius Thomas, Den.941434010297.4
2014Odell Beckham Jr., NYG9113053512297.0
2013Dez Bryant, Dall.931233113294.4
1999Cris Carter, Minn.901241013292.1
2011Victor Cruz, NYG82153639289.9
2009Randy Moss, N.E.831264013289.4
2000Isaac Bruce, St.L.871471119289.2
2004Marvin Harrison, Ind.861113015287.3
2005Anquan Boldin, Ariz.84148339286.6

—Ian Allan

14 Reader Comments:

Moishe Steigmann

Glendale, WI
2015-06-29T23:15:06Z
In thinking of all-time great WRs, how do I always forget how good Marvin Harrison was? Wow.

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2015-06-29T23:50:53Z
I was surprised Harrison didn't make it into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Some voters may have been distracted by the shooting incident in Philadelphia, apparently.

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2015-06-30T01:09:46Z
Peyton's greatness is subtracting a bit from Harrison's rep. Properly so, a bit, I'd say. Harrison also lacks a 'wow' factor in terms of athleticism or post-season performance or what else.

David Ohmberger

Winston Salem, NC
2015-06-30T02:17:12Z
Plus Antonio had a TD pass and a couple 2 point receptions!

Moishe Steigmann

Glendale, WI
2015-06-30T02:27:20Z
If the Peyton factor is that overwhelming, how come there is only one Indy WR season on this list other than Harrison? Let's (starting with me) give Harrison his due: did he make Peyton as much as Peyton made him those years?

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2015-06-30T02:46:21Z
1. Didn't say it was "that overwhelming". Nor that it should be. Just that it was overwhelming enough to keep Harrison out of the HoF for one season anyways, and that it was "a bit" real.

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2015-06-30T02:50:52Z
2. Of course there can only be 1 receiver per year per team on this list. That's why there is only the one Wayne season on this list. Come 2008, Peyton was spreading the ball around more.

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2015-06-30T02:57:06Z
3. As to Harrison making making Peyton even one teeny weeny tiny bit, Peyton post-Harrison fell off not one teeny tiny weeny bit. The last 3 Demaryius seasons also on that list, and also one, for goodness' gracious' sake, from Emmanuel Sanders! Who produced nothing of that sort for another excellent QB, Roethlisberger.

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2015-06-30T02:57:54Z
4. I'll go away now.

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2015-06-30T03:01:23Z
5. Excepting that, why can't I download my just-bought PDF copy of FFI? Darn it, I wanted to start reading it right away!

SAMUEL DUGAN

Wilkinsburg, PA
2015-06-30T15:01:43Z
Surprised that 1995 had 7 of the top 25 and the most recievers (8) than any
other year. 2013 and 2014 had 7 each so I would expect this to continue,
unless defenses can somehow adjust.

SAM WOOD

Northborough, MA
2015-06-30T16:06:59Z
Harrison has to "wait his turn" so lesser WR's can go in. What a farce, should have clearly been in 1st ballot!

DENNIS LYONS

Elk Grove, CA
2015-06-30T19:32:14Z
To Kyle Wells. In 2012 Calvin Johnson was tackled at the 1 yard line 6 times.
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