Cooper Kupp not only won the league’s Triple Crown of receiving – catches, yards, touchdowns – he also put up the best per-game receiving numbers of the 32-team era.

The league went to the eight-division format in 2002 – that’s 20 seasons. In the most recent year, teams had the advantage of playing an extra game, but Kupp’s per-game numbers also come in ahead of anything that’s been done recently.

Using PPR scoring, Kupp last year averaged 25.9 points per game. That finishes just ahead of what Davante Adams did in 2020, and only a half-dozen receivers in the last 20 years have started at least half the time and come within 2 points per week of Kupp.

Randy Moss caught 23 TDs back in 2007; he averaged almost 2 fewer points per game. Antonio Brown has had a bunch of great seasons but has never come within a point per game of Kupp.

Since 2002, 50 wide receivers have started over half the season and averaged at least 20 points per game. Again, that’s using PPR scoring.

The following list involves some judgement decisions. For a few of the players (2014 Odell Beckham, 2009 Miles Austin) they initially played as reserves, but those stats aren’t included – the stats show only how they performed after being elevated into a full-time, starter or starter-type role.

Three players from 2021 make the list: Kupp, Adams and Deebo Samuel.

WIDE RECEIVERS AVERAGING 20 POINTS PER GAME
YearPlayerStNoRecRunTDPPR
2021Cooper Kupp, LAR178.5114.51.1.9625.9
2020Davante Adams, G.B.148.298.1.01.2925.7
2014Odell Beckham, NYG117.9114.63.21.0025.7
2015Antonio Brown, Pitt.168.5114.61.8.7324.5
2014Antonio Brown, Pitt.168.1106.1.8.9424.4
2007Randy Moss, N.E.166.193.3.01.4424.1
2002Marvin Harrison, Ind.168.9107.6.6.7124.0
2003Randy Moss, Minn.166.9102.01.11.0623.6
2015Julio Jones, Atl.168.5116.9.0.5623.6
2019Michael Thomas, N.O.169.3107.8-.6.5623.4
2002Terrell Owens, S.F.147.192.95.61.0023.0
2011Calvin Johnson, Det.166.0105.1.71.0022.6
2013Josh Gordon, Clev.146.2117.66.3.6422.5
2003Torry Holt, St.L.167.3106.0.3.7522.4
2017Antonio Brown, Pitt.147.2109.5.0.6722.2
2008Anquan Boldin, Ariz.127.486.55.6.9222.1
2018Davante Adams, G.B.157.492.4.0.8922.0
2020Tyreek Hill, K.C.155.885.18.21.1321.9
2013Calvin Johnson, Det.146.0106.6.0.8621.8
2012Calvin Johnson, Det.167.6122.8.0.3121.8
2009Miles Austin, Dall.126.3103.3-.2.8321.6
2018Antonio Brown, Pitt.156.986.5.01.0021.6
2021Davante Adams, G.B.167.797.1.0.6921.5
2007Andre Johnson, Hou.96.794.6.0.8921.5
2015Brandon Marshall, NYJ166.893.9.0.8821.5
2014Demaryius Thomas, Den.166.9101.2.0.7121.3
2015Odell Beckham, NYG156.496.7.2.8721.3
2005Steve Smith, Car.166.497.71.6.8121.2
2021Deebo Samuel, S.F.164.887.822.8.8821.1
2018DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.167.298.3-.4.6921.1
2002Hines Ward, Pitt.167.083.18.9.8121.1
2011Wes Welker, N.E.167.698.11.9.5621.0
2012Brandon Marshall, Chi.167.494.3-.1.6920.9
2018Tyreek Hill, K.C.165.492.49.4.8820.9
2017DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.156.491.9.0.8720.8
2005Anquan Boldin, Ariz.147.3100.13.2.5220.8
2004Muhsin Muhammad, Car.165.887.8.91.0020.7
2015DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.166.995.1.0.7120.7
2005Torry Holt, St.L.147.395.1.1.6420.7
2018Julio Jones, Atl.167.1104.8.8.5020.6
2020Stefon Diggs, Buff.167.995.9.1.5020.5
2014Jordy Nelson, G.B.166.194.9.0.8120.5
2016Antonio Brown, Pitt.157.185.6.6.8020.5
2007Terrell Owens, Dall.155.490.3.31.0020.5
2011Victor Cruz, NYG145.7108.5.2.6420.4
2009Wes Welker, N.E.148.896.32.6.2920.4
2007Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.156.793.9.0.6720.1
2004Terrell Owens, Phil.145.585.7-.41.0020.0
2008Andre Johnson, Hou.167.298.4.0.5020.0
2018Michael Thomas, N.O.167.887.8.0.5620.0

—Ian Allan