NFL’s Next Gen Stats captures real time location data, speed and acceleration for every player, every play on every inch of the field. Discover Next Gen Stats News, Charts, and Statistics. For whatever reason, the 2016 NFL season didn’t produce a single receiver over 1,500 receiving yards, while just two even topped 1,400+ yards. That was a huge shift from 2015, when two wide receivers eclipsed the 1,800+ yard plateau and six different receivers had over 1,400 receiving yards. With 1,374 receiving yards in 2020, Ridley entering the Falcons’ history books as he recorded the 9th most receiving yards in a single-season. The top-10 of that list can be found below. On October 8, 2017, Kittle made seven receptions for 83 yards and his first NFL touchdown during a 26–23 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts. During a Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, Kittle caught three passes for 27 yards, before leaving the 20–10 loss with a leg injury. Sports Quiz / NFL Most Receiving Yards Without A TD Random Sports or NFL Quiz Can you name the players with more than 500 receiving yards in a season who haven't scored a touchdown (since 2000)?
© Dylan Buell/Getty ImagesIt’s been a season to forget for the Atlanta Falcons. The team entered the season with mixed optimism after finishing 7-9 in the following two seasons. Somehow, it got worse as the Falcons finished 4-12 in a year where they maneuvered through a pandemic while also relieving head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff of their duties.
One of the few bright spots this year was the further emergence of 2018 first-round draft pick wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Ridley took a noticeable jump early in the season as he recorded 109+ receiving yards in three of the team’s first four games. Overall, Ridley finished the season with 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and 9 touchdowns.
With 1,374 receiving yards in 2020, Ridley entering the Falcons’ history books as he recorded the 9th most receiving yards in a single-season. The top-10 of that list can be found below.
- WR Julio Jones (2015) - 1,871 yards
- WR Julio Jones (2018) - 1.677 yards
- WR Julio Jones (2014) - 1,593 yards
- WR Julio Jones (2017) - 1,444 yards
- WR Julio Jones (2016) - 1,409 yards
- WR Julio Jones (2019) - 1,394 yards
- WR Roddy White (2010) - 1,389 yards
- WR Roddy White (2008) - 1,382 yards
- WR Calvin Ridley (2020) - 1,374 yards
- WR Alfred Jenkins (1981) - 1,358 yards
Nfl Most Receiving Yards 2017
One thing you’ll notice about the names listed above is that they were all the team’s No. 1 wide receiver at one point, and the top receivers in franchise history. In 2020, enter Ridley who played in 15 games this season, filling the receiving gap while Julio Jones missed several games with a lingering hamstring injury. What makes Ridley’s 9th-place finish more impressive is that he did it in technically 14 games as he missed a game due to injury and recorded no stats against the Green Bay Packers in week 4.
It’s safe to also say that Ridley was snubbed from this year’s Pro Bowl as he’s the only wide receiver on the list above that wasn’t selected in the respective years. Additionally, Julio Jones (2015-2016), Roddy White (2010) and Alfred Jenkins (1981) were First-Team All-Pro selections.
Overall, Ridley’s 2020 season was tremendous and definitely the best season of his young career. To further his impressive season, he also finished with the 7th best yards per game average in Falcons history with 91.6. In his first three seasons, he has 11 games where he recorded 100+ receiving yards, and 8 of those came in 2020.
Nfl Most Receiving Yards 2017 Schedule
Going forward, I expect Julio Jones to return, as he should. But the debate of whether Calvin Ridley can be a No. 1 receiver needs to be put to rest. He can be and has for most of this season.