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Factoid

Rookie receivers

First-year pass catchers make their mark

It's been a good year for rookie pass catchers. Barring something unexpected, four first-year players will go over 1,000 receiving yards for the first time ever. And two will finish with the most catches ever by a rookie.

Brian Thomas and Brock Bowers have already passed the 1,000-yard mark. Most likely Malik Nabers and Ladd McConkey will be joining them this week.

That will make four for the first time ever. On two other occasions, there have been three. It happened in 2021 (Chase, Waddle, Pitts), and it happened in 2014 (Beckham, Evans, Benjamin).

Nabers and Bowers are closing in on the record for most catches by a rookie. Puka Nacua caught 105 passes last year. Bowers is sitting at 101, while Nabers (despite missing two games) has 97. Most likely, they’ll both finish well above Nacua.

ROOKIES REACHING 1,000 RECEIVING YARDS
YearPlayerGNoYardsAvgTD
2023Puka Nacua, LAR171051,48614.26
1960Bill Groman, Hou.14721,47320.512
2021Ja'Marr Chase, Cin.17811,45518.013
2020Justin Jefferson, Min.16881,40015.97
2003Anquan Boldin, Ari.161011,37713.68
1998Randy Moss, Min.16691,31319.017
2014Odell Beckham, NYG12911,30514.312
1952Billy Howton, G.B.12531,23123.213
2004Michael Clayton, T.B.16801,19314.97
2016Michael Thomas, N.O.15921,13712.49
1996Terry Glenn, N.E.15901,13212.66
1986Bill Brooks, Ind.16651,13117.48
1954Harlon Hill, Chi.12451,12425.012
2022Garrett Wilson, NYJ17831,10313.34
2024Brian Thomas, Jac.15731,08814.99
1961Mike Ditka, Chi.14561,07619.212
2015Amari Cooper, Oak.16721,07014.96
2024Brock Bowers, L.V.151011,06710.64
1986Ernest Givins, Hou.15611,06217.43
2011A.J. Green, Cin.15651,05716.37
2014Mike Evans, T.B.15681,05115.512
2019A.J. Brown, Ten.16521,05120.28
2013Keenan Allen, S.D.15711,04614.78
2022Chris Olave, N.O.15721,04214.54
1995Joey Galloway, Sea.16671,03915.57
2006Marques Colston, N.O.14701,03814.88
2021Kyle Pitts, Atl.17681,02615.11
2021Jaylen Waddle, Mia.161041,0159.86
1981Cris Collinsworth, Cin.16671,00915.18
2014Kelvin Benjamin, Car.16731,00813.89
1965Bob Hayes, Dall.13461,00321.812
1978John Jefferson, S.D.14561,00117.913
2024Malik Nabers, NYG139796910.04
2024Ladd McConkey, LAC146996013.95

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index