Antonio Brown announced his retirement yesterday. Like everything with Brown, you can take it with a grain of salt. He's announced it a couple of times previously, and who's to say the right contract offer a month from now won't have him back on the field. But it's certainly possible that this is it for him.
I saw him referenced as the Wide Receiver of the Decade by somebody yesterday. and my knee-jerk reaction was to dismiss it. Part of it is perhaps that he's not the most likable player, and I wanted to come up with some other candidate. My mind initially went to Larry Fitzgerald, but when I pulled out the numbers I saw that Fitzgerald's three best seasons were actually the previous decade (2005, 2007 and 2008).
In fact, if Antonio Brown wasn't the best wide receiver of the 2010s, there are only two other realistic candidates. One is still playing, and the other would have probably claimed the title hands down -- had he not retired early. (What is it about the Lions?)
Table below shows the top 100 seasons (PPR scoring) by wide receivers over the past decade. Only three players show up more than four times on the list: Brown (six), Julio Jones (six) and Calvin Johnson (five). Johnson retired after the 2015 season at just 30 years old. There's no doubt in my mind he'd show up 2-3 more times in this top 100 had he kept on playing.
TOP 100 WIDE RECEIVERS, 2010-2019 (PPR SCORING) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | PPR | Rk |
2015 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 193 | 136 | 1834 | 13.5 | 10 | 392.2 | 1 |
2014 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 181 | 129 | 1698 | 13.2 | 13 | 391.1 | 1 |
2015 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 203 | 136 | 1871 | 13.8 | 8 | 377.1 | 2 |
2019 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 185 | 149 | 1725 | 11.6 | 9 | 374.6 | 1 |
2011 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 158 | 96 | 1681 | 17.5 | 16 | 361.2 | 1 |
2012 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 204 | 122 | 1964 | 16.1 | 5 | 348.4 | 1 |
2015 | Brandon Marshall, NYJ | 173 | 109 | 1502 | 13.8 | 14 | 343.2 | 3 |
2014 | Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 184 | 111 | 1619 | 14.6 | 11 | 340.9 | 2 |
2018 | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 163 | 115 | 1572 | 13.7 | 11 | 337.5 | 1 |
2011 | Wes Welker, N.E. | 173 | 122 | 1569 | 12.9 | 9 | 335.9 | 2 |
2012 | Brandon Marshall, Chi. | 192 | 118 | 1508 | 12.8 | 11 | 334.6 | 2 |
2018 | Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 137 | 87 | 1479 | 17.0 | 12 | 334.0 | 2 |
2015 | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 192 | 111 | 1521 | 13.7 | 11 | 331.1 | 4 |
2018 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 170 | 113 | 1677 | 14.8 | 8 | 329.9 | 3 |
2018 | Davante Adams, G.B. | 169 | 111 | 1386 | 12.5 | 13 | 329.6 | 4 |
2014 | Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 151 | 98 | 1519 | 15.5 | 13 | 327.9 | 3 |
2018 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 168 | 104 | 1297 | 12.5 | 15 | 323.7 | 5 |
2018 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 147 | 125 | 1405 | 11.2 | 9 | 319.5 | 6 |
2015 | Odell Beckham, NYG | 158 | 96 | 1450 | 15.1 | 13 | 319.3 | 5 |
2013 | Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 142 | 92 | 1430 | 15.5 | 14 | 319.0 | 1 |
2010 | Roddy White, Atl. | 179 | 115 | 1389 | 12.1 | 10 | 318.2 | 1 |
2014 | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 136 | 88 | 1320 | 15.0 | 16 | 316.0 | 4 |
2013 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 167 | 110 | 1499 | 13.6 | 8 | 315.1 | 2 |
2013 | Josh Gordon, Cle. | 159 | 87 | 1646 | 18.9 | 9 | 314.4 | 3 |
2017 | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 174 | 96 | 1378 | 14.4 | 13 | 311.8 | 1 |
2017 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 163 | 101 | 1533 | 15.2 | 9 | 310.3 | 2 |
2018 | Adam Thielen, Min. | 153 | 113 | 1373 | 12.2 | 9 | 309.3 | 7 |
2016 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 154 | 106 | 1284 | 12.1 | 12 | 307.3 | 1 |
2016 | Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 152 | 97 | 1257 | 13.0 | 14 | 306.7 | 2 |
2013 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 178 | 98 | 1426 | 14.6 | 11 | 306.6 | 4 |
2013 | Brandon Marshall, Chi. | 164 | 100 | 1295 | 13.0 | 12 | 305.5 | 5 |
2013 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 156 | 84 | 1492 | 17.8 | 12 | 305.2 | 6 |
2016 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 173 | 96 | 1321 | 13.8 | 12 | 304.1 | 3 |
2015 | Allen Robinson, Jac. | 151 | 80 | 1400 | 17.5 | 14 | 304.0 | 6 |
2012 | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 138 | 92 | 1382 | 15.0 | 12 | 303.7 | 3 |
2012 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 164 | 97 | 1350 | 13.9 | 11 | 301.8 | 4 |
2014 | Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 141 | 101 | 1404 | 13.9 | 9 | 301.8 | 5 |
2014 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 163 | 104 | 1593 | 15.3 | 6 | 299.4 | 6 |
2018 | JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pitt. | 166 | 111 | 1426 | 12.9 | 7 | 298.9 | 8 |
2016 | Odell Beckham, NYG | 169 | 101 | 1367 | 13.5 | 10 | 298.6 | 4 |
2012 | Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 143 | 94 | 1434 | 15.3 | 10 | 297.4 | 5 |
2014 | Randall Cobb, G.B. | 127 | 91 | 1287 | 14.1 | 12 | 297.4 | 7 |
2014 | Odell Beckham, NYG | 130 | 91 | 1305 | 14.3 | 12 | 297.0 | 8 |
2012 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 162 | 112 | 1598 | 14.3 | 4 | 295.8 | 6 |
2013 | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 159 | 93 | 1233 | 13.3 | 13 | 294.4 | 7 |
2018 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 138 | 86 | 1524 | 17.7 | 8 | 292.4 | 9 |
2012 | Wes Welker, N.E. | 174 | 118 | 1354 | 11.5 | 6 | 291.4 | 7 |
2011 | Victor Cruz, NYG | 131 | 82 | 1536 | 18.7 | 9 | 289.9 | 3 |
2010 | Brandon Lloyd, Den. | 153 | 77 | 1448 | 18.8 | 11 | 286.0 | 2 |
2013 | Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 148 | 89 | 1421 | 16.0 | 7 | 285.6 | 8 |
2015 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 145 | 109 | 1215 | 11.2 | 9 | 284.5 | 7 |
2011 | Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 96 | 68 | 1263 | 18.6 | 15 | 284.3 | 4 |
2017 | Keenan Allen, LAC | 159 | 102 | 1393 | 13.7 | 6 | 284.2 | 3 |
2010 | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 175 | 111 | 1355 | 12.2 | 6 | 282.5 | 3 |
2013 | Eric Decker, Den. | 136 | 87 | 1288 | 14.8 | 11 | 281.8 | 9 |
2013 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 181 | 109 | 1407 | 12.9 | 5 | 279.7 | 10 |
2013 | Pierre Garcon, Was. | 181 | 113 | 1346 | 11.9 | 5 | 279.5 | 11 |
2010 | Dwayne Bowe, K.C. | 133 | 72 | 1162 | 16.1 | 15 | 278.6 | 4 |
2011 | Roddy White, Atl. | 180 | 100 | 1296 | 13.0 | 8 | 277.6 | 5 |
2014 | Jeremy Maclin, Phil. | 143 | 85 | 1318 | 15.5 | 10 | 276.8 | 9 |
2019 | Chris Godwin, T.B. | 121 | 86 | 1333 | 15.5 | 9 | 276.1 | 2 |
2015 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 132 | 86 | 1297 | 15.1 | 10 | 275.7 | 8 |
2015 | Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 166 | 110 | 1157 | 10.5 | 4 | 275.5 | 9 |
2010 | Greg Jennings, G.B. | 125 | 76 | 1265 | 16.6 | 12 | 274.4 | 5 |
2019 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 157 | 99 | 1394 | 14.1 | 6 | 274.1 | 3 |
2016 | T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 155 | 91 | 1448 | 15.9 | 6 | 273.8 | 5 |
2011 | Percy Harvin, Min. | 121 | 87 | 967 | 11.1 | 6 | 272.2 | 6 |
2015 | Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 177 | 105 | 1304 | 12.4 | 6 | 271.4 | 10 |
2012 | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 195 | 106 | 1355 | 12.8 | 5 | 271.0 | 8 |
2019 | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 150 | 104 | 1165 | 11.2 | 7 | 270.6 | 4 |
2019 | Cooper Kupp, LAR | 134 | 94 | 1161 | 12.4 | 10 | 270.5 | 5 |
2013 | DeSean Jackson, Phil. | 126 | 82 | 1332 | 16.2 | 9 | 269.4 | 12 |
2012 | Eric Decker, Den. | 122 | 85 | 1064 | 12.5 | 13 | 269.4 | 9 |
2011 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 154 | 80 | 1411 | 17.6 | 8 | 269.1 | 7 |
2012 | Roddy White, Atl. | 142 | 92 | 1351 | 14.7 | 7 | 269.1 | 10 |
2015 | Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 103 | 78 | 1069 | 13.7 | 14 | 268.9 | 11 |
2011 | Steve Smith Sr., Car. | 129 | 79 | 1394 | 17.7 | 7 | 268.0 | 8 |
2018 | Stefon Diggs, Min. | 149 | 102 | 1021 | 10.0 | 9 | 266.3 | 10 |
2010 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 137 | 77 | 1120 | 14.6 | 12 | 266.2 | 6 |
2018 | Robert Woods, LAR | 130 | 86 | 1219 | 14.2 | 6 | 265.6 | 11 |
2013 | Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 127 | 85 | 1314 | 15.5 | 8 | 264.4 | 13 |
2017 | Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 161 | 112 | 987 | 8.8 | 9 | 264.0 | 4 |
2017 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 161 | 109 | 1156 | 10.6 | 6 | 263.7 | 5 |
2015 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 149 | 88 | 1214 | 13.8 | 9 | 263.4 | 12 |
2018 | Keenan Allen, LAC | 136 | 97 | 1196 | 12.3 | 6 | 262.1 | 12 |
2012 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 128 | 79 | 1198 | 15.2 | 10 | 261.8 | 11 |
2014 | Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 145 | 85 | 1133 | 13.3 | 10 | 261.6 | 10 |
2019 | Keenan Allen, LAC | 149 | 104 | 1199 | 11.5 | 6 | 261.5 | 6 |
2014 | T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 131 | 82 | 1345 | 16.4 | 7 | 260.5 | 11 |
2012 | Vincent Jackson, T.B. | 147 | 72 | 1384 | 19.2 | 8 | 260.4 | 12 |
2016 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 129 | 83 | 1409 | 17.0 | 6 | 259.9 | 6 |
2016 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 121 | 92 | 1137 | 12.4 | 9 | 259.7 | 7 |
2014 | Golden Tate, Det. | 144 | 99 | 1331 | 13.4 | 4 | 259.1 | 12 |
2019 | Julian Edelman, N.E. | 153 | 100 | 1117 | 11.2 | 6 | 258.8 | 7 |
2017 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 149 | 104 | 1245 | 12.0 | 5 | 258.5 | 6 |
2012 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 130 | 83 | 1154 | 13.9 | 10 | 258.4 | 13 |
2010 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 138 | 86 | 1216 | 14.1 | 8 | 256.6 | 7 |
2012 | Victor Cruz, NYG | 143 | 86 | 1092 | 12.7 | 10 | 255.2 | 14 |
2019 | Allen Robinson, Chi. | 154 | 98 | 1147 | 11.7 | 7 | 254.9 | 8 |
2015 | Eric Decker, NYJ | 132 | 80 | 1027 | 12.8 | 12 | 254.7 | 13 |
Those inclined to make the case for Brown can do so pretty easily. He had the two best fantasy seasons of the decade, and six of the top 30 -- damn impressive. Johnson had two of the top 6 without even playing the last four years, but you can't penalize Brown for Megatron's unfortunate decision to walk away from the game.
I don't think I buy Brown's current declaration. He just turned 32, so he's definitely got some game left, and he doesn't really present as someone who's carefully invested his money over the years. But if we have the seen the last of him, he's definitely on the very short list of the best wideouts from the last 10 years. His numbers make a pretty strong case for that No. 1 spot.
--Andy Richardson