Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

The following receivers have been top five in career receiving yards at the end of a season since 1932:

Ray Flaherty
Luke Johnsos
Harry Ebding
Johnny Blood
Red Grange
Roger Grove
Bill Hewitt
Dale Burnett
Don Hutson
Charley Malone
Joe Carter
Bill Smith
Perry Schwartz
Jim Benton
Ray McLean
Ken Kavanaugh
Mac Speedie
Mal Kutner
Dante Lavelli
Tom Fears
Elroy Hirsch
Hugh Taylor
Pete Pihos
Billy Howton
Billy Wilson
Raymond Berry
Tommy McDonald
Art Powell
Don Maynard
Lance Alworth
Charley Taylor
Fred Biletnikoff
Harold Jackson
Charlie Joiner
Steve Largent
James Lofton
Stanley Morgan
Art Monk
Jerry Rice
Henry Ellard
Andre Reed
Cris Carter
Tim Brown
Isaac Bruce
Marvin Harrison
Terrell Owens
Randy Moss
Tony Gonzalez
Larry Fitzgerald

Isaac Bruce is currently fifth in career receiving yards with 15,208. The active players with the most receiving yards according to pro football reference are Julio Jones with 13,703, and DeAndre Hopkins with 12,355; though I should note that Jones is not listed as on a team’s roster in 2024, whereas Hopkins is.

I had never heard of Roger Grove or Dale Burnett.
Mal Kutner and Stanley Morgan are surprises for me.

ChrisBabcock wrote: ↑Sat Jul 13, 2024 3:08 pm I had never heard of Roger Grove or Dale Burnett.
Mal Kutner and Stanley Morgan are surprises for me.

Agreed. It seems like a lot of the earlier guys were pass targets of either Sammy Baugh or Sid Luckman. Ken Kavanaugh held Bears franchise receiving records until somewhat recently. I was surprised to see Biletnikoff on the list, as he didn't really have any monster seasons. Henry Ellard on the list is surprising considering the relative WR competition of his era, but he was really good IMO.