Around the NFL

May 12, 2024

Older wide receivers

Is it over for OBJ, others?

The Dolphins signed Odell Beckham last week. The 31-year-old was just one of several older wideouts to catch on with teams. Allen Robinson (30) signed with the Giants, and 29-year-old Zay Jones signed with the Cardinals. Will these veterans be making an impact?

For Beckham, he'd likely need an injury to either Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle to really put up significant numbers (and even then it's not certain, especially considering he's the likeliest one to get hurt). Robinson has been a non-factor for several years now and is joining a Daniel Jones-led passing game that will surely be trying to feature Malik Nabers and/or Wan'Dale Robinson -- probably won't be happening for him. Zay is a relative spring chicken, and the Cardinals don't have much besides rookie Marvin Harrison, so maybe.

In any case, 30 years old need not be a death sentence for wide receivers. Last year in particular was a good year for older wide receivers, like say Mike Evans (pictured) delivering quality production.

I looked at the last 10 years of wideouts aged 30 years or older during the season. There have been 57 to put up at least top-40 production in PPR leagues -- nearly 6 per year. Fifteen have ranked in the top 12 at their position, so 1-2 per year.

And that's on average. Based on 2023, it might be becoming more common. Last year, four wide receivers aged 30 or older ranked in the top 10, and five more at least finished with top 40 numbers.

Table shows wideouts over the age of 30 who have put up top-40 production in PPR leagues in the last 10 years. The 2023 success stories are in bold.

WIDE RECEIVERS 30 YEARS OR OLDER IN THE TOP 40 (2014-2023)
Year	Player	Age	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Rk
2016	Jordy Nelson, G.B.	31	152	97	1257	13.0	14	2
2022	Davante Adams, L.V.	30	180	100	1516	15.2	14	3
2019	Julio Jones, Atl.	30	157	99	1394	14.1	6	3
2015	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	31	173	109	1502	13.8	14	3
2018	Antonio Brown, Pitt.	30	168	104	1297	12.5	15	5
2017	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	34	161	109	1156	10.6	6	5
2023	Mike Evans, T.B.	30	136	79	1255	15.9	13	7
2019	Julian Edelman, N.E.	33	153	100	1117	11.2	6	7
2015	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	32	145	109	1215	11.2	9	7
2023	Keenan Allen, LAC	31	150	108	1243	11.5	7	8
2023	Stefon Diggs, Buff.	30	160	107	1183	11.1	8	9
2023	Davante Adams, L.V.	31	175	103	1144	11.1	8	10
2020	Adam Thielen, Min.	30	108	74	925	12.5	14	10
2016	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	33	150	107	1023	9.6	6	11
2015	Calvin Johnson, Det.	30	149	88	1214	13.8	9	12
2022	Tyler Lockett, Sea.	30	117	84	1033	12.3	9	13
2016	Julian Edelman, N.E.	30	159	98	1106	11.3	3	14
2017	Demaryius Thomas, Den.	30	140	83	949	11.4	5	16
2023	Adam Thielen, Car.	33	137	103	1014	9.8	4	17
2020	Marvin Jones, Det.	30	115	76	978	12.9	9	18
2014	Steve Smith Sr., Balt.	35	134	79	1065	13.5	6	18
2014	Anquan Boldin, S.F.	34	130	83	1062	12.8	5	19
2018	Julian Edelman, N.E.	32	108	74	850	11.5	6	21
2014	Roddy White, Atl.	33	125	80	921	11.5	7	21
2023	DeAndre Hopkins, Ten.	31	137	75	1057	14.1	7	22
2018	Emmanuel Sanders, Den.	31	98	71	868	12.2	5	23
2016	Mike Wallace, Balt.	30	116	72	1017	14.1	4	23
2016	Pierre Garcon, Was.	30	114	79	1041	13.2	3	24
2018	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	35	112	69	734	10.6	6	26
2020	Cole Beasley, Buff.	31	107	82	967	11.8	4	27
2021	Adam Thielen, Min.	31	95	67	726	10.8	10	28
2014	Andre Johnson, Hou.	33	146	85	936	11.0	3	28
2017	Michael Crabtree, Oak.	30	101	58	618	10.7	8	30
2015	James Jones, G.B.	31	99	50	890	17.8	8	30
2022	Adam Thielen, Min.	32	107	70	716	10.2	6	31
2018	Golden Tate, 2TM	30	113	74	795	10.7	4	31
2019	Emmanuel Sanders, 2TM	32	97	66	869	13.2	5	32
2023	Tyler Lockett, Sea.	31	122	79	894	11.3	5	33
2014	Vincent Jackson, T.B.	31	142	70	1002	14.3	2	33
2021	Marvin Jones, Jac.	31	120	73	832	11.4	4	34
2019	Cole Beasley, Buff.	30	106	67	778	11.6	6	34
2017	Ted Ginn, N.O.	32	70	53	787	14.9	4	34
2015	Ted Ginn, Car.	30	97	44	739	16.8	10	34
2014	Brandon Marshall, Chi.	30	106	61	721	11.8	8	34
2019	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	36	109	75	804	10.7	4	35
2016	Brandon LaFell, Cin.	30	107	64	862	13.5	6	35
2016	Steve Smith Sr., Balt.	37	101	70	799	11.4	5	37
2014	Marques Colston, N.O.	31	100	59	902	15.3	5	37
2023	Brandin Cooks, Dall.	30	81	54	657	12.2	8	38
2018	Jordy Nelson, Oak.	33	88	63	739	11.7	3	38
2017	Mike Wallace, Balt.	31	92	52	748	14.4	4	38
2014	James Jones, Oak.	30	112	73	666	9.1	6	38
2021	Cole Beasley, Buff.	32	112	82	693	8.5	1	39
2018	Demaryius Thomas, 2TM	31	89	59	677	11.5	5	39
2023	Cooper Kupp, LAR	30	95	59	737	12.5	5	40
2015	Anquan Boldin, S.F.	35	111	69	789	11.4	4	40
2014	Malcom Floyd, S.D.	33	92	52	856	16.5	6	40

In general, it's hard to get optimistic about the two 30-somethings who signed last week. Too many injuries for Beckham, and too long since Robinson did anything noteworthy. But the age in itself doesn't rule it out. Guys like Kupp and Cooks and the other 30-year-olds who produced last year -- no need to write them off for 2024.

--Andy Richardson

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