Footballs are flying this year. The rules have been adjusted to favor the passing game, so we’re seeing more yards and touchdowns thru the air. In most years, about 5-6 players catch 100 passes in a season. This year, 10 players right now are on pace to hit that mark.
Julio Jones leads the way. He’s in contention to maybe top Marvin Harrison’s all-time record (143 receptions). Keenan Allen and DeAndre Hopkins aren’t far behind, but Allen is now out for the year with a kidney injury.
| ON PACE FOR 100-PLUS CATCHES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | No | Yards | Avg | TD |
| Julio Jones, ATL | 140 | 1,784 | 12.7 | 12.0 |
| Keenan Allen, SD (inj.) | 134 | 1,450 | 10.8 | 8.0 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, HOU | 132 | 1,740 | 13.2 | 12.0 |
| Demaryius Thomas, DEN | 128 | 1,589 | 12.4 | 2.3 |
| Julian Edelman, NE | 119 | 1,335 | 11.2 | 13.7 |
| Brandon Marshall, NYJ | 114 | 1,568 | 13.7 | 9.1 |
| Larry Fitzgerald, ARI | 110 | 1,412 | 12.8 | 14.0 |
| A.J. Green, CIN | 105 | 1,483 | 14.1 | 9.1 |
| Antonio Brown, PIT | 104 | 1,436 | 13.8 | 6.0 |
| Odell Beckham, NYG | 100 | 1,308 | 13.1 | 14.0 |
| Calvin Johnson, DET | 96 | 1,318 | 13.7 | 6.0 |
| Jarvis Landry, MIA | 96 | 1,065 | 11.1 | 4.6 |
| Steve Smith, BAL (inj.) | 92 | 1,340 | 14.6 | 6.0 |
| Emmanuel Sanders, DEN | 91 | 1,255 | 13.7 | 6.9 |
| Rob Gronkowski, NE | 91 | 1,477 | 16.2 | 16.0 |
| Michael Crabtree, OAK | 91 | 1,104 | 12.1 | 6.9 |
—Ian Allan