Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson: that was quite a receiving tandem back at LSU in 2019. But the school’s most recent pair of wide receivers, Brian Thomas and Malik Nabers, has been almost as good.
Nabers has caught 104 passes for the Giants, despite working with suspect quarterbacking. He’s looked better than the other two wide receivers picked in the top 10 (Marvin Harrison, Rome Odunze). He’s more athletic than Harrison, who had a slightly disappointing rookie receiver despite scoring 7 TDs.
Thomas, meanwhile, has been the most productive of the rookie receivers, with 1,179 yards and 10 TDs. Only three other receivers in league history have gone for 1,100 yards as a rookies while catching double-digit touchdowns: Chase, Odell Beckham and Randy Moss.
There’s still a game to play, but it’s looking like Thomas and Nabers might both finish among the top half dozen most productive rookie receivers of the last 20 years.
Since the move to 32 teams (in 2002), only 35 wide receivers have finished with at least 200 points in fantasy leagues using PPR scoring. Three 2024 rookies are on that list, with two others not far back with a week to go.
ROOKIE WIDE RECEIVERS WITH 200 PPR POINTS | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | G | Receiving | Rushing | TD | PPR |
2021 | Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 17 | 81-1455-13 | 7-21-0 | 13 | 306.6 |
2023 | Puka Nacua, LAR | 17 | 105-1486-6 | 12-89-0 | 6 | 298.5 |
2014 | Odell Beckham, NYG | 12 | 91-1305-12 | 7-35-0 | 12 | 297.0 |
2003 | Anquan Boldin, Ari. | 16 | 101-1377-8 | 5-40-0 | 8 | 290.7 |
2020 | Justin Jefferson, Min. | 16 | 88-1400-7 | 1-2-0 | 7 | 274.2 |
2024 | Brian Thomas, Jac. | 16 | 80-1179-10 | 6-48-0 | 10 | 262.7 |
2016 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 15 | 92-1137-9 | 0-0-0 | 9 | 259.7 |
2024 | Malik Nabers, NYG | 14 | 104-1140-6 | 5-2-0 | 6 | 254.2 |
2021 | Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 16 | 104-1015-6 | 2-3-1 | 7 | 247.8 |
2014 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 15 | 68-1051-12 | 0-0-0 | 12 | 245.1 |
2004 | Michael Clayton, T.B. | 16 | 80-1193-7 | 5-30-0 | 7 | 244.3 |
2008 | Eddie Royal, Den. | 15 | 91-980-5 | 11-109-0 | 5 | 231.9 |
2014 | Kelvin Benjamin, Car. | 16 | 73-1008-9 | 0-0-0 | 9 | 227.8 |
2010 | Mike Williams, T.B. | 16 | 65-964-11 | 0-0-0 | 11 | 227.4 |
2021 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 17 | 90-912-5 | 7-61-1 | 6 | 227.3 |
2024 | Ladd McConkey, LAC | 15 | 77-1054-7 | 0-0-0 | 7 | 224.4 |
2013 | Keenan Allen, S.D. | 15 | 71-1046-8 | 0-0-0 | 8 | 223.6 |
2006 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 14 | 70-1038-8 | 0-0-0 | 8 | 221.8 |
2023 | Jordan Addison, Min. | 17 | 70-911-10 | 1-2-0 | 10 | 221.3 |
2020 | CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 16 | 74-935-5 | 10-82-1 | 7 | 219.7 |
2016 | Tyreek Hill, K.C. | 16 | 61-593-6 | 24-267-3 | 12 | 219.0 |
2011 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 15 | 65-1057-7 | 5-53-0 | 7 | 218.0 |
2022 | Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 17 | 83-1103-4 | 4-4-0 | 4 | 217.7 |
2023 | Jayden Reed, G.B. | 16 | 64-793-8 | 11-119-2 | 10 | 217.2 |
2019 | A.J. Brown, Ten. | 16 | 52-1051-8 | 3-60-1 | 9 | 217.1 |
2020 | Chase Claypool, Pitt. | 16 | 62-873-9 | 10-16-2 | 11 | 216.9 |
2015 | Amari Cooper, Oak. | 16 | 72-1070-6 | 3-(-3)-0 | 6 | 214.7 |
2023 | Rashee Rice, K.C. | 16 | 79-938-7 | 1-(-3)-0 | 7 | 214.5 |
2018 | Calvin Ridley, Atl. | 16 | 64-821-10 | 6-27-0 | 10 | 208.8 |
2023 | Zay Flowers, Balt. | 16 | 77-858-5 | 8-56-1 | 6 | 206.4 |
2011 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 13 | 54-959-8 | 6-56-0 | 8 | 203.5 |
2022 | Chris Olave, N.O. | 15 | 72-1042-4 | 0-0-0 | 4 | 202.2 |
2014 | Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 16 | 67-872-8 | 0-0-0 | 8 | 202.2 |
2009 | Percy Harvin, Min. | 15 | 60-790-6 | 15-135-0 | 8 | 200.5 |
2014 | Sammy Watkins, Buff. | 16 | 65-982-6 | 2-8-0 | 6 | 200.0 |
2024 | Also: Worthy, K.C. | 16 | 59-638-6 | 20-104-3 | 9 | 187.2 |
2024 | Also: Harrison, Ari. | 16 | 57-822-7 | 0-0-0 | 7 | 181.2 |
—Ian Allan