I notice that teams are spreading the ball around more than they have in the past – especially in the red zone. The Bills, for example, might have been the worst culprits last year; despite putting up big passing numbers, they didn’t have any of the 38 players last year with at least 8 targets inside the 10 (instead, Buffalo had four players with 6-7 targets, and another 19 pass attempts going to other players).
I miss the good old days, when many teams would have a go-to receiver they would try to get the ball too around the end zone.
As I was looking at the league-wide numbers, I noticed that last year was the first season in league history in which no player caught more than 40 percent of his team’s touchdowns. Adam Thielen hit 40 percent exactly (14 of 35), but nobody went higher. (Davante Adams might have gone higher, but he missed a couple of games.).
So then I started looking at numbers from the best, and you can really see the difference. If you go back and look at the years 2000-2009, there are 8-10 guys most years who caught at least 40 percent of the touchdown passes on their teams.
On all of the figures below, by the way, I’m looking at just wide receivers. Numbers would be a little higher if tight ends were also included (Logan Thomas was the No. 1 tight end last year, at 38 percent (6 of 16).
| 40% OF TOUCHDOWNS (by year) | |
|---|---|
| Year | No |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
The rundown of all of those players with at least 40 percent is below. There have been 125 guys since 2000. If you want to see Thielen, you need to scroll down near the bottom; he’s tied for last at the 40 percent cutoff.
| CATCHING 40 PERCENT OF TEAM'S TOUCHDOWNS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Ind | Team | Pct |
| 2008 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 12 | 18 | 67% |
| 2000 | Peter Warrick, Cin. | 4 | 6 | 67% |
| 2003 | Chris Chambers, Mia. | 11 | 17 | 65% |
| 2005 | Brandon Lloyd, S.F. | 5 | 8 | 63% |
| 2010 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 6 | 10 | 60% |
| 2005 | Joey Galloway, T.B. | 10 | 17 | 59% |
| 2014 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 12 | 21 | 57% |
| 2004 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 8 | 14 | 57% |
| 2002 | Terrell Owens, S.F. | 13 | 23 | 57% |
| 2010 | Dwayne Bowe, K.C. | 15 | 27 | 56% |
| 2001 | Marvin Harrison, Ind. | 15 | 27 | 56% |
| 2011 | Brandon Lloyd, St.L. | 5 | 9 | 56% |
| 2004 | Muhsin Muhammad, Car. | 16 | 29 | 55% |
| 2007 | Braylon Edwards, Clev. | 16 | 29 | 55% |
| 2002 | Corey Bradford, Hou. | 6 | 11 | 55% |
| 2018 | Zay Jones, Buff. | 7 | 13 | 54% |
| 2005 | Roy Williams, Det. | 8 | 15 | 53% |
| 2001 | Darrell Jackson, Sea. | 8 | 15 | 53% |
| 2003 | Randy Moss, Min. | 17 | 32 | 53% |
| 2003 | Hines Ward, Pitt. | 10 | 19 | 53% |
| 2012 | Brandon Marshall, Chi. | 11 | 21 | 52% |
| 2008 | Randy Moss, N.E. | 11 | 21 | 52% |
| 2004 | Joe Horn, N.O. | 11 | 21 | 52% |
| 2005 | Hines Ward, Pitt. | 11 | 21 | 52% |
| 2007 | Plaxico Burress, NYG | 12 | 23 | 52% |
| 2003 | Torry Holt, St.L. | 12 | 23 | 52% |
| 2018 | Davante Adams, G.B. | 13 | 25 | 52% |
| 2001 | Terrell Owens, S.F. | 16 | 32 | 50% |
| 2006 | Terrell Owens, Dall. | 13 | 26 | 50% |
| 2005 | Chris Chambers, Mia. | 11 | 22 | 50% |
| 2003 | Santana Moss, NYJ | 10 | 20 | 50% |
| 2001 | Kevin Johnson, Clev. | 9 | 18 | 50% |
| 2006 | Joey Galloway, T.B. | 7 | 14 | 50% |
| 2009 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 13 | 27 | 48% |
| 2005 | Steve Smith, Car. | 12 | 25 | 48% |
| 2005 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 10 | 21 | 48% |
| 2009 | Brandon Marshall, Den. | 10 | 21 | 48% |
| 2009 | Mike Sims-Walker, Jac. | 7 | 15 | 47% |
| 2005 | Donte Stallworth, N.O. | 7 | 15 | 47% |
| 2017 | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 13 | 28 | 46% |
| 2009 | Randy Moss, N.E. | 13 | 28 | 46% |
| 2010 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 12 | 26 | 46% |
| 2007 | T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin. | 12 | 26 | 46% |
| 2002 | Hines Ward, Pitt. | 12 | 26 | 46% |
| 2008 | Justin Gage, Ten. | 6 | 13 | 46% |
| 2007 | Randy Moss, N.E. | 23 | 50 | 46% |
| 2000 | Randy Moss, Min. | 15 | 33 | 45% |
| 2019 | Cooper Kupp, LAR | 10 | 22 | 45% |
| 2010 | Mike Wallace, Pitt. | 10 | 22 | 45% |
| 2015 | Tavon Austin, St.L. | 5 | 11 | 45% |
| 2012 | Andre Roberts, Ariz. | 5 | 11 | 45% |
| 2005 | Laveranues Coles, NYJ | 5 | 11 | 45% |
| 2003 | Anquan Boldin, Ariz. | 8 | 18 | 44% |
| 2006 | Donald Driver, G.B. | 8 | 18 | 44% |
| 2000 | Keyshawn Johnson, T.B. | 8 | 18 | 44% |
| 2001 | David Boston, Ariz. | 8 | 18 | 44% |
| 2007 | Roydell Williams, Ten. | 4 | 9 | 44% |
| 2010 | Brandon Lloyd, Den. | 11 | 25 | 44% |
| 2004 | Terrell Owens, Phil. | 14 | 32 | 44% |
| 2000 | David Boston, Ariz. | 7 | 16 | 44% |
| 2008 | Roddy White, Atl. | 7 | 16 | 44% |
| 2009 | Steve Smith, Car. | 7 | 16 | 44% |
| 2004 | Torry Holt, St.L. | 10 | 23 | 43% |
| 2001 | Randy Moss, Min. | 10 | 23 | 43% |
| 2014 | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 16 | 37 | 43% |
| 2018 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 15 | 35 | 43% |
| 2004 | Lee Evans, Buff. | 9 | 21 | 43% |
| 2009 | Chad Ochocinco, Cin. | 9 | 21 | 43% |
| 2000 | Antonio Freeman, G.B. | 9 | 21 | 43% |
| 2011 | Pierre Garcon, Ind. | 6 | 14 | 43% |
| 2002 | Joey Galloway, Dall. | 6 | 14 | 43% |
| 2002 | Antonio Bryant, Dall. | 6 | 14 | 43% |
| 2008 | Santana Moss, Was. | 6 | 14 | 43% |
| 2006 | Randy Moss, Oak. | 3 | 7 | 43% |
| 2015 | Brandon Marshall, NYJ | 14 | 33 | 42% |
| 2000 | Marvin Harrison, Ind. | 14 | 33 | 42% |
| 2018 | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 11 | 26 | 42% |
| 2010 | Mike Williams, T.B. | 11 | 26 | 42% |
| 2009 | Roddy White, Atl. | 11 | 26 | 42% |
| 2009 | Miles Austin, Dall. | 11 | 26 | 42% |
| 2001 | Rod Smith, Den. | 11 | 26 | 42% |
| 2004 | Roy Williams, Det. | 8 | 19 | 42% |
| 2006 | Steve Smith, Car. | 8 | 19 | 42% |
| 2002 | Amani Toomer, NYG | 8 | 19 | 42% |
| 2006 | Lee Evans, Buff. | 8 | 19 | 42% |
| 2007 | Terrell Owens, Dall. | 15 | 36 | 42% |
| 2010 | Steve Johnson, Buff. | 10 | 24 | 42% |
| 2013 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 10 | 24 | 42% |
| 2002 | Eric Moulds, Buff. | 10 | 24 | 42% |
| 2006 | Torry Holt, St.L. | 10 | 24 | 42% |
| 2006 | Plaxico Burress, NYG | 10 | 24 | 42% |
| 2007 | Lee Evans, Buff. | 5 | 12 | 42% |
| 2000 | Marcus Robinson, Chi. | 5 | 12 | 42% |
| 2009 | Donnie Avery, St.L. | 5 | 12 | 42% |
| 2016 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 12 | 29 | 41% |
| 2013 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 12 | 29 | 41% |
| 2012 | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 12 | 29 | 41% |
| 2015 | Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 14 | 34 | 41% |
| 2009 | Lee Evans, Buff. | 7 | 17 | 41% |
| 2001 | Laveranues Coles, NYJ | 7 | 17 | 41% |
| 2019 | DeVante Parker, Mia. | 9 | 22 | 41% |
| 2014 | Torrey Smith, Balt. | 11 | 27 | 41% |
| 2002 | Marvin Harrison, Ind. | 11 | 27 | 41% |
| 2004 | Drew Bennett, Ten. | 11 | 27 | 41% |
| 2000 | Terrell Owens, S.F. | 13 | 32 | 41% |
| 2015 | Allen Robinson, Jac. | 14 | 35 | 40% |
| 2020 | Adam Thielen, Min. | 14 | 35 | 40% |
| 2014 | Odell Beckham, NYG | 12 | 30 | 40% |
| 2007 | Greg Jennings, G.B. | 12 | 30 | 40% |
| 2017 | Davante Adams, G.B. | 10 | 25 | 40% |
| 2003 | Joe Horn, N.O. | 10 | 25 | 40% |
| 2005 | Joe Jurevicius, Sea. | 10 | 25 | 40% |
| 2015 | Jeremy Maclin, K.C. | 8 | 20 | 40% |
| 2011 | Eric Decker, Den. | 8 | 20 | 40% |
| 2006 | Javon Walker, Den. | 8 | 20 | 40% |
| 2001 | Jimmy Smith, Jac. | 8 | 20 | 40% |
| 2001 | Marty Booker, Chi. | 8 | 20 | 40% |
| 2018 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 6 | 15 | 40% |
| 2014 | Allen Hurns, Jac. | 6 | 15 | 40% |
| 2008 | Steve Smith, Car. | 6 | 15 | 40% |
| 2000 | Oronde Gadsden, Mia. | 6 | 15 | 40% |
| 2007 | Laveranues Coles, NYJ | 6 | 15 | 40% |
| 2006 | Braylon Edwards, Clev. | 6 | 15 | 40% |
| 2009 | Louis Murphy, Oak. | 4 | 10 | 40% |
—Ian Allan