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December 29, 2007

Randy Moss: (Not Quite) the Best Fantasy WR Season Ever

Filed under: AFC East, Data Dominator, NFL, Footballguys, History, WR, News, Stats, Patriots — Jason Wood @ 11:48 pm

Randy Moss just completed an insane 23-TD season; breaking Jerry Rice’s single-season mark in the process. As it stands, Moss also broke Rice’s record for most fantasy points by a WR in a season:

Rank First Last Year Age Gms Recs Yards YPR TDs FPTs
1 Randy Moss 2007 30 16 98 1,493 15.1 23 287.3
2 Jerry Rice 1995 33 16 122 1,848 15.2 15 284.4
3 Randy Moss 2003 26 16 111 1,632 14.7 17 267.0
4 Jerry Rice 1986 24 16 86 1,570 18.3 15 260.2
5 Isaac Bruce 1995 23 16 119 1,781 15.0 13 257.8
6 Jerry Rice 1989 27 16 82 1,483 18.1 17 253.6
7 Jerry Rice 1993 31 16 98 1,503 15.3 15 253.2
8 Herman Moore 1995 26 16 123 1,686 13.7 14 252.6
9 Jerry Rice 1987 25 12 65 1,078 16.6 22 250.9
10 Mark Clayton 1984 23 15 73 1,389 19.0 18 249.4
11 Jerry Rice 1994 32 16 112 1,499 13.4 13 249.2
12 Charlie Hennigan 1961 26 14 82 1,746 21.3 12 246.6
13 Lance Alworth 1965 25 14 69 1,602 23.2 14 243.0
14 Marvin Harrison 2001 29 16 109 1,524 14.0 15 242.7
15 Torry Holt 2003 27 16 117 1,696 14.5 12 242.1
16 Terrell Owens 2001 28 16 93 1,412 15.2 16 239.3
17 Marvin Harrison 2002 30 16 143 1,722 12.0 11 239.2
18 Cris Carter 1995 30 16 122 1,371 11.2 17 239.1
19 Marvin Harrison 1999 27 16 115 1,663 14.5 12 238.7
20 Muhsin Muhammad 2004 31 16 93 1,405 15.1 16 238.0
21 Steve Smith 2005 26 16 103 1,563 15.2 12 236.8
22 Randy Moss 2000 23 16 77 1,437 18.7 15 234.2
23 Randy Moss 1998 21 16 69 1,313 19.0 17 233.7
24 Robert Brooks 1995 25 16 102 1,497 14.7 13 229.8
25 Jerry Rice 1990 28 16 100 1,502 15.0 13 228.2

As you can see, Rice’s 22-TD season wasn’t even the record holder (it ranked 8th prior to Moss’ 2007 campaign); but rather it was Rice’s 1995 season (122 catches for 1,849 yards and 15 TDs) that was the former standard bearer. Moss’ 2007 numbers give him a 2.9 point edge using standard fantasy scoring.

While this is AMONG the best receiving seasons in football history, it’s really not the best FANTASY season. Remember, the year Rice caught 22 TD receptions, he only played 12 games due to the strike. Imagine what his numbers might have looked like over a full 16-game season.

Here is a list of the best fantasy seasons on a POINTS PER GAME basis (minimum: 12 games played)

Rank First Last Year Gms Recs Yards YPR TDs FPTs PPG
1 Jerry Rice 1987 12 65 1,078 16.6 22 250.9 20.91
2 Lance Alworth 1964 12 61 1,235 20.3 13 219.5 18.29
3 Randy Moss 2007 16 98 1,493 15.1 23 287.3 17.96
4 Jerry Rice 1995 16 122 1,848 15.2 15 284.4 17.78
5 Charlie Hennigan 1961 14 82 1,746 21.3 12 246.6 17.61
6 Lance Alworth 1965 14 69 1,602 23.2 14 243.0 17.36
7 Lance Alworth 1966 13 73 1,383 19.0 13 217.3 16.72
8 Randy Moss 2003 16 111 1,632 14.7 17 267.0 16.69
9 Mark Clayton 1984 15 73 1,389 19.0 18 249.4 16.63
10 Charley Taylor 1966 14 72 1,119 15.5 12 228.1 16.29
11 Jerry Rice 1986 16 86 1,570 18.3 15 260.2 16.26
12 Lionel Taylor 1960 12 92 1,235 13.4 12 194.9 16.24
13 Art Powell 1963 14 73 1,304 17.9 16 226.4 16.17
14 Bill Groman 1961 14 50 1,175 23.5 17 225.7 16.12
15 Isaac Bruce 1995 16 119 1,781 15.0 13 257.8 16.11
16 Terrell Owens 2000 14 97 1,451 15.0 13 224.2 16.01
17 Jerry Rice 1989 16 82 1,483 18.1 17 253.6 15.85
18 Terrell Owens 2002 14 100 1,300 13.0 13 221.9 15.85
19 Jerry Rice 1993 16 98 1,503 15.3 15 253.2 15.83
20 Herman Moore 1995 16 123 1,686 13.7 14 252.6 15.79
21 Bill Groman 1960 14 72 1,473 20.5 12 219.3 15.66
22 Jerry Rice 1994 16 112 1,499 13.4 13 249.2 15.58
23 Charley Taylor 1964 14 53 814 15.4 5 216.9 15.49
24 Warren Wells 1969 14 47 1,260 26.8 14 212.4 15.17
25 Marvin Harrison 2001 16 109 1,524 14.0 15 242.7 15.17

Three things to chew on from this list:

  1. Jerry Rice’s 22-TD season season is now back in its rightful place as the best ever
  2. Lance Alworth’s brilliance comes to the forefront (he has three of the top 7 seasons all time in FPPG)
  3. Moss’ 2007 season stands 3rd in PPG; and is indeed AMONG the best ever :)

3 Comments »

  1. I still dont believe Rice played against the type of defenses that Moss
    had to put up with. Rice was playing against shitty Dbs. moss is playing
    against the Best Dbs, against teams with coaches who make Defense plans
    JUST FOR HIM AND BRADY.
    Rice’s 22 TDs in 12 games was a Fluke. He never got anywhere NEAR that mark again in 16 games. Why not? because After the strike, the good D was back.

    Comment by rhspv17 — December 30, 2007 @ 6:21 pm

  2. […] Footballguys and hosts Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom wrote a fantastic post today on “Randy Moss: (Not Quite) the Best Fantasy WR Season Ever”Here’s ONLY a quick extractRandy Moss just completed an insane 23-TD season; breaking Jerry Rice’s single-season mark in the process. As it stands, Moss also broke Rice’s record for most fantasy points by a WR in a season: … […]

    Pingback by Football » Randy Moss: (Not Quite) the Best Fantasy WR Season Ever — January 25, 2008 @ 10:23 pm

  3. […] allowed Randy Moss to enter unrestricted free agency without some protection. After all, he did enjoy (almost) the best season by a WR in league […]

    Pingback by Footballguys Blog » Randy Moss: Not tagged, but (probably) re-signed — February 21, 2008 @ 11:22 pm

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