DeAndre Hopkins is down with a knee injury, which isn’t necessarily a big deal. But the injury serves as a reminder that receivers can get old in a hurry. Hopkins is 32, and that tends to be about the pull date at the position. For big-time production, anyway.
In the last 10 years, only three wide receivers who were at least 32 years old have finished with top-10 numbers. It hasn’t happened in five years (since Julian Edelman in 2019). That’s using PPR scoring.
Only four others have finished with top-20 numbers, and only four others have cracked the top 30. So that’s 11 seasons total (out of the 300 wide receivers who’ve finished with top-30 numbers in the last 10 years).
It picks up a little bit outside the top 30, with nine cracking the top 40, and another additional 10 making the top 50 (so 19 of the next 200 receivers). Of the 30 receivers (age 32 and up) who’ve posted top-50 numbers in the last 10 years, only three caught more than 6 TDs. Usually with these guys, you’re getting more reputation than production – guys past their peak.
It's something to keep in mind when considering the likes of Hopkins, Tyler Lockett, Keenan Allan and Davante Adams. All are entering their age-32 seasons.
| OLDER RECEIVERS WITH TOP-50 NUMBERS (last 10 yrs) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Age | Rec | Yds | TD | PPR | Rk |
| 2017 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ari. | 34 | 109 | 1,156 | 6 | 263.7 | 5 |
| 2019 | Julian Edelman, N.E. | 33 | 100 | 1,117 | 6 | 258.8 | 7 |
| 2015 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ari. | 32 | 109 | 1,215 | 9 | 284.5 | 7 |
| 2016 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ari. | 33 | 107 | 1,023 | 6 | 245.8 | 11 |
| 2023 | Adam Thielen, Car. | 33 | 103 | 1,014 | 4 | 231.0 | 17 |
| 2014 | Steve Smith, Balt. | 35 | 79 | 1,065 | 6 | 221.5 | 18 |
| 2014 | Anquan Boldin, S.F. | 34 | 83 | 1,062 | 5 | 219.6 | 19 |
| 2018 | Julian Edelman, N.E. | 32 | 74 | 850 | 6 | 207.9 | 21 |
| 2014 | Roddy White, Atl. | 33 | 80 | 921 | 7 | 214.1 | 21 |
| 2018 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ari. | 35 | 69 | 734 | 6 | 186.0 | 26 |
| 2014 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 33 | 85 | 936 | 3 | 196.6 | 28 |
| 2022 | Adam Thielen, Min. | 32 | 70 | 716 | 6 | 180.0 | 31 |
| 2019 | Emmanuel Sanders, Den.-S.F. | 32 | 66 | 869 | 5 | 190.7 | 32 |
| 2017 | Ted Ginn, N.O. | 32 | 53 | 787 | 4 | 159.6 | 34 |
| 2019 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ari. | 36 | 75 | 804 | 4 | 179.4 | 35 |
| 2016 | Steve Smith, Balt. | 37 | 70 | 799 | 5 | 183.9 | 37 |
| 2018 | Jordy Nelson, Oak. | 33 | 63 | 739 | 3 | 156.7 | 38 |
| 2021 | Cole Beasley, Buff. | 32 | 82 | 693 | 1 | 159.3 | 39 |
| 2015 | Anquan Boldin, S.F. | 35 | 69 | 789 | 4 | 171.9 | 40 |
| 2014 | Malcom Floyd, S.D. | 33 | 52 | 856 | 6 | 173.6 | 40 |
| 2021 | A.J. Green, Ari. | 33 | 54 | 848 | 3 | 156.8 | 41 |
| 2020 | Emmanuel Sanders, N.O. | 33 | 61 | 726 | 5 | 164.8 | 41 |
| 2016 | Anquan Boldin, Det. | 36 | 67 | 584 | 8 | 173.4 | 42 |
| 2018 | DeSean Jackson, T.B. | 32 | 41 | 774 | 4 | 151.3 | 43 |
| 2017 | Danny Amendola, N.E. | 32 | 61 | 659 | 2 | 138.9 | 44 |
| 2017 | Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 32 | 53 | 482 | 6 | 137.2 | 46 |
| 2019 | Danny Amendola, Det. | 34 | 62 | 678 | 1 | 140.8 | 49 |
| 2016 | Brandon Marshall, NYJ | 32 | 59 | 788 | 3 | 155.8 | 49 |
| 2015 | Nate Washington, Hou. | 32 | 47 | 658 | 4 | 136.8 | 49 |
| 2014 | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 36 | 64 | 779 | 2 | 153.9 | 50 |
In the case of the Titans, their pass catchers in general are old. Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd will also be 30 before the end of the year. The Titans, at least, have a more innovative play caller this season, and their offensive line should be significantly improved.
I played around some, looking at older receivers. I see one tandem of thirtysomethings in the last 10 years who both went over 1,000 yards – Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson with Washington, when Kyle Shanahan was dialing up the plays.
I see one trio of 30-plus receivers each going over 500 yards in the last 10 years – the Falcons, with Roddy White leading the way and Devin Hester and Harry Douglas sneaking over 500 yards.
—Ian Allan