The evolution of the passing game in the NFL has led to some massive numbers. Last season six players had over 1,200 receiving yards and 15 topped the 1K plateau. More of the same is expected in 2018 and there are a number of talented pass-catchers who have the ability and play in a system that will allow them to record a league-high number.
Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown is the odds on favorite at +265 to lead the NFL in receiving yards for a third time in his career. AB was rolling to an MVP season last year, compiling 1,533 yards before an injury forced him out of the final two regular season games. Brown had enough of a cushion to hold off Julio Jones for the league lead. It was also the fifth consecutive season that he had over 1,200 yards through the air.
Two years ago T.Y. Hilton led the league with 1,448 receiving yards, and although he’s a longshot at +1955, he will benefit from reuniting with Andrew Luck in the passing game. Brown is atop the odds board at +265 followed by Julio Jones ( +500 ), DeAndre Hopkins ( +750 ) and Keenan Allen ( +850 ). A tight end has never led the NFL in receiving yards, but if anybody can do it Rob Gronkowski can. Gronk has better odds at +5500 than a few other big name receivers and will be Tom Brady’s go-to guy this season.
Most Receiving Yards Odds
Antonio Brown +265
Julio Jones +500
DeAndre Hopkins +750
Keenan Allen +850
Odell Beckham Jr. +1230
Michael Thomas +1519
AJ Green +1550
Mike Evans +1762
TY Hilton +1955
Adam Thielen +2085
Field - Any Other Player +2630
Josh Gordon +3138
Davante Adams +3149
Demaryius Thomas +3756
Amari Cooper +4000
Doug Baldwin +4000
Tyreek Hill +4024
Alshon Jeffery +5000
Rob Gronkowski +5500
Larry Fitzgerald +6600
Golden Tate +7000
Stefon Diggs +7000
Allen Robinson +8000
Travis Kelce +10000
JuJu Smith-Schuster +10000
Cooper Kupp +15000
Players to Watch
Odell Beckham Jr.
Current Odds +1230
Coming off an injury that limited him to just four games and 302 yards last season, OBJ is a tantalizing pick at +1230. He makes the Giants offense go and Eli Manning isn’t shy about throwing him the football. Beckham amassed over 1,300 yards in each of his first three seasons catching over 90 balls each time. He has the explosiveness to turn a short catch into a long gain and can still out run defenders. Ankle and knee injuries are never good for a receiver and overcoming those is the first order of business, but if OBJ is 100 percent, he has plenty of value.
Adam Thielen
Current Odds +2085
Nothing’s come easy for Thielen during his NFL career. He was undrafted out of Mankato State, signed to the Vikings practice squad in 2013 and made the 53-man roster in 2014 as a special teams player before emerging as a star. He was fifth in yards with 1,276 last season and should get more chances with Kirk Cousins at quarterback. He’s deceptively fast and works as hard as anybody because he knows what it took to get to where he is. Thielen is an intriguing pick with such long odds and he’ll likely have to split catches and yards with Stefon Diggs, which will impact his ability to lead the league.
Antonio Brown
Current Odds +265
There are some great receivers in the NFL, but Brown has proven over the last five seasons that he’s the best, which is why he’s the favorite. AB led the league last season for the second time in four years despite missing the final two contests. Brown is athletic enough to make highlight-reel catches every week, fast enough to outrun defenders and fearless enough to make the difficult catch in traffic.
Julio Jones
Current Odds +500
Jones is right there along with AB as tops in the game. He’s had over 1,400 receiving yards in each of the last four seasons and his 1,871 yards in 2016 is the second-highest season total in NFL history. He hasn’t been targeted as often as he was during that record-setting season and his 88 catches last year were ninth-best. He still turned those grabs into 1,444 yards to finish behind Brown. A second season under coordinator Steve Sarkisian should help the offense and Matt Ryan needs to throw him the damn ball.
Keenan Allen
Current Odds +850
Finally healthy after injuries derailed the previous two seasons, Allen flashed the potential that made him a third-round pick in 2013 by hauling in 102 passes for 1,393 yards, the third-highest total in the league. Philip Rivers will continue to sling the ball all over the yard and Allen will be on the other end. The Bolts led the NFL in passing yards in 2017 and with Hunter Henry lost for the season some of those targets will head Allen’s way, boosting his yardage total.
Most Receiving Yards Pick: Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
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