Steve Largent
NOTE: Due to the adoption of the 16-game schedule as well as rules changes that had a major effect on opening up the passing game, the 1978 and ’79 seasons significantly skew the Top 10 results. Therefore, following the Top 10 is a list of the next 5 best performances that occurred exclusively from 1970-77.
TOP 10 RECEPTIONS
1- Joe Washington, 1979 Baltimore Colts*
82 rec., 750 yards, 9.1 avg., 3 TD
2(tied)- Lydell Mitchell, 1974 Baltimore Colts*
72 rec., 544 yards, 7.6 avg., 2 TD
2(tied)- Charlie Joiner, 1979 San Diego Chargers
72 rec., 1008 yards, 14.0 avg., 4 TD
4(tied)- Lydell Mitchell, 1977 Baltimore Colts*
71 rec., 620 yards, 8.7 avg., 4 TD
4(tied)- Steve Largent, 1978 Seattle Seahawks
71 rec., 1168 yards, 16.5 avg., 8 TD
6- John Stallworth, 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers
70 rec., 1183 yards, 16.9 avg., 8 TD
7(tied)- MacArthur Lane, 1976 Kansas City Chiefs*
66 rec., 686 yards, 10.4 avg., 1 TD
7(tied)- Steve Largent, 1979 Seattle Seahawks
66 rec., 1237 yards, 18.7 avg., 9 TD
9- Rick Upchurch, 1979 Denver Broncos
64 rec., 937 yards, 14.6 avg., 7 TD
10-Dave Casper, 1978 Oakland Raiders
62 rec., 852 yards, 13.7 avg., 9 TD
*Running Back
Joe Washington
NEXT 5 (1970-77)
1(tied)- Fred Biletnikoff, 1971 Oakland Raiders
61 rec., 929 yards, 15.2 avg., 9 TD
1(tied)- Bob Chandler, 1976 Buffalo Bills
61 rec., 824 yards, 13.5 avg., 10 TD
3(tied)- Cliff Branch, 1974 Oakland Raiders
60 rec., 1092 yards, 18.2 avg., 13 TD
3(tied)- Reggie Rucker, 1975 Cleveland Browns
60 rec., 770 yards, 12.8 avg., 3 TD
3(tied)- Lydell Mitchell, 1975 Baltimore Colts*
60 rec., 544 yards, 9.1 avg., 4 TD
3(tied)- Lydell Mitchell, 1976 Baltimore Colts*
60 rec., 555 yards, 9.3 avg., 3 TD
3(tied)- Bob Chandler, 1977 Buffalo Bills
60 rec., 745 yards, 12.4 avg., 4 TD
* Running Back
Charlie Joiner
John Stallworth
BEST BY FRANCHISES NOT IN TOP 10
Cincinnati Bengals: Don Bass, 1979
58 rec., 724 yards, 12.5 avg., 3 TD
Houston Oilers: Fred Willis, 1973*
57 rec., 371 yards, 6.5 avg., 1 TD
New York Jets: Clark Gaines, 1977*
55 rec., 469 yards, 8.5 avg., 1 TD
New England Patriots: Reggie Rucker, 1973
53 rec., 743 yards, 14.0 avg., 3 TD
Miami Dolphins: Nat Moore, 1977
52 rec., 765 yards, 14.7 avg., 12 TD
* Running Back
Fred Biletnikoff
Cliff Branch
TOP 10 YARDS
1- Steve Largent, 1979 Seattle Seahawks
1237 yards, 66 rec., 18.7 avg., 9 TD
2- John Stallworth, 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers
1183 yards, 70 rec., 16.9 avg., 8 TD
3- Wesley Walker, 1978 New York Jets
1169 yards, 48 rec., 24.4 avg., 8 TD
4- Steve Largent, 1978 Seattle Seahawks
1168 yards, 71 rec., 16.5 avg., 8 TD
5- Roger Carr, 1976 Baltimore Colts
1112 yards, 43 rec., 25.9 avg., 11 TD
6- Cliff Branch, 1976 Oakland Raiders
1111 yards, 46 rec., 24.2 avg., 12 TD
7- Otis Taylor, 1971 Kansas City Chiefs
1110 yards, 57 rec., 19.5 avg., 7 TD
8- Cliff Branch, 1974 Oakland Raiders
1092 yards, 60 rec., 18.2 avg., 13 TD
9- John Jefferson, 1979 San Diego Chargers
1090 yards, 61 rec., 17.9 avg., 10 TD
10-Frank Lewis, 1979 Buffalo Bills
1082 yards, 54 rec., 20.0 avg., 2 TD
Roger Carr
NEXT 5 (1970-77)
1- Ken Burrough, 1975 Houston Oilers
1063 yards, 53 rec., 20.1 avg., 8 TD
2- Charlie Joiner, 1976 San Diego Chargers
1056 yards, 50 rec., 21.1 avg., 7 TD
3- Marlin Briscoe, 1970 Buffalo Bills
1036 yards, 57 rec., 18.2 avg., 8 TD
4- Gary Garrison, 1970 San Diego Chargers
1006 yards, 44 rec., 22.9 avg., 12 TD
5- Paul Warfield, 1971 Miami Dolphins
996 yards, 43 rec., 23.2 avg., 11 TD
Marlin Briscoe
Paul Warfield
BEST BY FRANCHISES NOT IN TOP 10
New England Patriots: Harold Jackson, 1979
1013 yards, 45 rec., 22.5 avg., 7 TD
Cleveland Browns: Dave Logan, 1979
982 yards, 59 rec., 16.6 avg., 7 TD
Denver Broncos: Haven Moses, 1979
943 yards, 54 rec., 17.5 avg., 6 TD
Cincinnati Bengals: Isaac Curtis, 1975
934 yards, 44 rec., 21.2 avg., 7 TD
Otis Taylor
Ken Burrough
