Factoid

July 08, 2024

Older wide receivers

How might 30-somethings fare?

A reader asked a question regarding older wide receivers. He mentioned Adam Thielen (34 in August), Brandin Cooks (31 in September), and a few others of that ilk. This is something I've looked at before (an Odell Beckham item, I think) but I'm going to try a different approach.

Previously I just pulled all the older-than-30 wideouts who had put up top 30 or 40 numbers in the past. There were usually about a handful a year, showing it does happen. But that doesn't really show the odds of it happening, just that it's possible.

This time I went to the files to pull the numbers from all wide receivers aged 31 or older who have started at least 10 games. If an older guy is going somewhere to be the No. 3 or 4, like Beckham, you're not expecting him to put up great numbers. So let's look at all the older guys who at the start of the season figured to be in the 60-70 players anticipated to be regular starters for their teams. How did they work out?

In the last decade, there have been 63 wide receivers aged 31 or older to start at least 10 games in a season. About a quarter of them (15) ranked in the top 25 at the position (PPR scoring). That includes four guys from last year: Thielen, Davante Adams, Keenan Allen and DeAndre Hopkins (pictured).

About half (29) of the 63, though, didn't rank in the top 40. The 42nd-ranked wide receiver in PPR leagues has value; maybe he's a semi-regular starter in a typical 12-team league that starts three wide receivers. But probably not a league-winner.

Those 62 31-year-old (or older) wideout to start at least 10 games the 10 seasons are shown in the table below, sorted by PPR ranking.

31-YEAR-OLD (OR OLDER) WIDE RECEIVERS, 10-PLUS STARTS (2014-2023)
Year	Player	Age	GS	Tgt	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Rk
2016	Jordy Nelson, G.B.	31	16	152	97	1257	13.0	14	2
2015	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	31	16	173	109	1502	13.8	14	3
2017	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	34	16	161	109	1156	10.6	6	5
2019	Julian Edelman, N.E.	33	13	153	100	1117	11.2	6	7
2015	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	32	16	145	109	1215	11.2	9	7
2023	Keenan Allen, LAC	31	13	150	108	1243	11.5	7	8
2023	Davante Adams, L.V.	31	17	175	103	1144	11.1	8	10
2016	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	33	16	150	107	1023	9.6	6	11
2023	Adam Thielen, Car.	33	17	137	103	1014	9.8	4	17
2014	Steve Smith, Balt.	35	16	134	79	1065	13.5	6	18
2014	Anquan Boldin, S.F.	34	16	130	83	1062	12.8	5	19
2018	Julian Edelman, N.E.	32	12	108	74	850	11.5	6	21
2014	Roddy White, Atl.	33	14	125	80	921	11.5	7	21
2023	DeAndre Hopkins, Ten.	31	16	137	75	1057	14.1	7	22
2018	Emmanuel Sanders, Den.	31	12	98	71	868	12.2	5	23
2018	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	35	16	112	69	734	10.6	6	26
2020	Cole Beasley, Buff.	31	10	107	82	967	11.8	4	27
2021	Adam Thielen, Min.	31	13	95	67	726	10.8	10	28
2014	Andre Johnson, Hou.	33	15	146	85	936	11.0	3	28
2015	James Jones, G.B.	31	15	99	50	890	17.8	8	30
2022	Adam Thielen, Min.	32	17	107	70	716	10.2	6	31
2019	Emmanuel Sanders, 2TM	32	16	97	66	869	13.2	5	32
2023	Tyler Lockett, Sea.	31	17	122	79	894	11.3	5	33
2014	Vincent Jackson, T.B.	31	16	142	70	1002	14.3	2	33
2021	Marvin Jones, Jac.	31	16	120	73	832	11.4	4	34
2017	Ted Ginn, N.O.	32	10	70	53	787	14.9	4	34
2019	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	36	16	109	75	804	10.7	4	35
2016	Steve Smith Sr., Balt.	37	14	101	70	799	11.4	5	37
2014	Marques Colston, N.O.	31	13	100	59	902	15.3	5	37
2018	Jordy Nelson, Oak.	33	14	88	63	739	11.7	3	38
2017	Mike Wallace, Balt.	31	14	92	52	748	14.4	4	38
2018	Demaryius Thomas, 2TM	31	15	89	59	677	11.5	5	39
2015	Anquan Boldin, S.F.	35	13	111	69	789	11.4	4	40
2014	Malcom Floyd, S.D.	33	16	92	52	856	16.5	6	40
2020	T.Y. Hilton, Ind.	31	15	93	56	762	13.6	5	42
2016	Anquan Boldin, Det.	36	16	95	67	584	8.7	8	42
2014	Greg Jennings, Min.	31	13	92	59	742	12.6	6	42
2018	DeSean Jackson, T.B.	32	10	74	41	774	18.9	5	43
2019	Golden Tate, NYG	31	10	85	49	676	13.8	6	45
2017	DeSean Jackson, T.B.	31	13	90	50	668	13.4	3	45
2017	Jordy Nelson, G.B.	32	15	88	53	482	9.1	6	46
2019	Danny Amendola, Det.	34	10	97	62	678	10.9	1	49
2016	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	32	15	128	59	788	13.4	3	49
2015	Nate Washington, Hou.	32	14	94	47	658	14.0	4	49
2014	Reggie Wayne, Ind.	36	15	116	64	779	12.2	2	50
2014	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	31	13	103	63	784	12.4	2	51
2021	Emmanuel Sanders, Buff.	34	13	72	42	626	14.9	4	54
2017	Brandon LaFell, Cin.	31	15	89	52	548	10.5	3	55
2018	Michael Crabtree, Balt.	31	16	100	54	607	11.2	3	56
2018	Danny Amendola, Mia.	33	15	79	59	575	9.8	1	57
2022	Marvin Jones, Jac.	32	10	81	46	529	11.5	3	58
2015	Andre Johnson, Ind.	34	14	77	41	503	12.3	4	58
2014	Nate Washington, Ten.	31	11	72	40	647	16.2	2	66
2020	A.J. Green, Cin.	32	14	104	47	523	11.1	2	68
2014	Jerricho Cotchery, Car.	32	13	78	48	580	12.1	1	69
2015	Malcom Floyd, S.D.	34	13	68	30	561	18.7	3	70
2015	Roddy White, Atl.	34	16	70	43	506	11.8	1	73
2020	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.	37	13	72	54	409	7.6	1	74
2023	Robert Woods, Hou.	31	11	75	40	426	10.7	1	78
2019	Demaryius Thomas, NYJ	32	10	58	36	433	12.0	1	83
2015	Harry Douglas, Ten.	31	12	72	36	411	11.4	2	83
2021	Julio Jones, Ten.	32	10	48	31	434	14.0	1	93
2022	A.J. Green, Ari.	34	10	47	24	236	9.8	2	104

--Andy Richardson

Older

Newer

My dad and I have subscribed since I was 10 years old and I am 38 now. We canʼt go a season without it.

Trevor T. Sparks, Nev.

You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)

Michael B. St. Charles, Mo.

I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!

Paul L. Mequon, Wisc.

The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!

Glenn S. Olympia, Wash.

Hi, received my copy over the weekend and I think it's the best work you guys have done (I've been reading your publication since 1988). The writing is terrific and full of good humor, along with more substance than anybody else has.

Keep up the great work!

John L. Madison, Wis.

I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.

Henry G. Bartlett, Ill.

Thanks for another great season of Fantasy Index, you avoid group-think and form your own opinions, and always have. I've been using your products since 1992, and you've always been a cut above the rest.

Rob D. Wellington, Fla.

Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.

Jason C. Tulsa, Okla.

A little feedback from a long time customer.

Our fantasy pool is entering its 25^th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.

I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4^th.

Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.

Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!

Peter M. London, Ontario, Canada

I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!

Trey C. Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you for all the updates etc. In the last 14 or 15 years, we have placed in the top three 9 times winning it all 4 times. I have been a customer of yours for many years. Our success is partially due to luck, but I think your magazine with all of the good stuff has been a real contributing factor. Keep up the good work. Will be a customer until the time I can't read anymore.

Richard M. Imperial, Neb.

I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.

You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…

From the bottom of a champion's heart,

Dave M. Elma, N.Y.

I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!

The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!

I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.

All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.

I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!

I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.

Thanks again to you and your staff,

Darrell W. Holt, Mich.

I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.

Ryan M. Lynnwood, Wash.

You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.

John W. Aylett, Va.

And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17^th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.

Thanks again,

Todd S. Grand Junction, Colo.

This is my ninth year competing with my two very savey adult children and their 11 regulars to make it a 14 team draft with a $200 bid limit. Your SuperFanatic package has put me into the 6 team play- offs 4 out of the 8 years and there is no way I could compete with these guys without my cheat sheets! They still have no idea how I can be so lucky every year :-) Cheaters do prosper!!!!

Robert A.

I wanted to thank you for such an amazing product and your customer service. I ordered the wrong date for my update and called to correct the mistake. Your customer service person was very kind, helpful and took care of the issue immediately.

I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.

In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.

By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!

David R. Queen Creek, Ariz.

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Factoid

Older wide receivers

Sportsbook Bonus Of the Week

Today's Trivia

Mailbag

Member updates

Follow

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

Quick hits

Your Stuff

In-Depth

Resources

All Products

Help & Support

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Customer Service