The Broncos might have bombed out in the first round of the playoffs again, but — sorry if this sounds like a Holiday Inn Express commercial — they did have two 1,400-yard receivers. Demaryius Thomas finished with 1,619 and free-agent addition Emmanuel Sanders with 1,404, making them the fourth such tandem in NFL history. Here’s what the group looks like:
TEAMS WITH TWO 1,400-YARD RECEIVERS IN THE SAME SEASON
| Year Team (W-L) | Receivers, Yards | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Lions (10-6) | Herman Moore 1,686, Brett Perriman 1,488 | Wild card |
| 2000 Rams (10-6) | Torry Holt 1,635, Isaac Bruce 1,471 | Wild card |
| 2005 Cardinals (5-11) | Larry Fitzgerald 1,409, Anquan Boldin 1,402 | Missed playoffs |
| 2014 Broncos (12-4) | Demaryius Thomas 1,619, Emmanuel Sanders 1,404 | Won division |
Also, for the first time this year, the NFL had three 1,000-yard rookie receivers. That makes eight rookie receivers with 1,000-plus yards since 2003. Why is this notable? Because there were only 12 in all the seasons before that (AFL included).
1,000-YARD ROOKIE RECEIVERS SINCE 2003
| Year Receiver, Team | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Odell Beckham, Giants | 91 | 1,305 | 14.3 | 12 |
| 2014 Mike Evans, Bucs | 68 | 1,051 | 15.5 | 12 |
| 2014 Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers | 73 | 1,008 | 13.8 | 9 |
| 2013 Keenan Allen, Chargers | 71 | 1,046 | 14.7 | 8 |
| 2011 A.J. Green, Bengals | 65 | 1,057 | 16.3 | 7 |
| 2006 Marques Colston, Saints | 70 | 1,038 | 14.8 | 8 |
| 2004 Michael Clayton, Bucs | 80 | 1,193 | 14.9 | 7 |
| 2003 Anquan Boldin, Cardinals | 101 | 1,377 | 13.7 | 8 |
What this suggests is that quarterbacks aren’t the only players coming out of college these days who are more advanced in the passing game. Their receivers are, too — and like the QBs, are capable of making a more immediate impact in the pros.
Consider: Since 2003, there have been eight 1,000-yard rookie receivers and 15 1,000-yard rookie rushers. From 1932 to 2002 — which is as far back as statistics go — there were 12 1,000-yard rookie receivers and 46 1,000-yard rookie rushers.
In other words, where before it was much more common for a rookie to rush for 1,000 yards (an almost 4-to-1 ratio), now it’s only somewhat more common (slightly less than 2-to-1). And as time goes on, given the devaluation of the running game, the gap may continue to shrink.
Source: pro-football-reference.com
How long before the 1,000-yard rookie receiver is more common than the 1,000-yard rookie rusher?
