NFL Stats Leader 2021: Who has the most receiving yards heading into Week 16?

NFL Stats Leaders in Receiving Yards
NFL Stats Leaders in Receiving Yards

As good a quarterback might be, the NFL stats leaders in receiving yards are our men who score the bulk of the touchdowns. They are known for their speed, agility and catching ability, and we look at all the NFL stats leaders in the category of receiving yards heading into Week 16.


Also read: NFL Stats Leader 2021: Who has the most receiving yards heading into Week 15?


Each of the stat leaders come from different teams in different positions in the league. Some of their receiving yards are leading their teams' charge for the playoffs, while others are keeping them in playoff contention.

An NFL stats leader heading into next week is injured and may not only drop off the leaderboard, but is giving his team cause to worry as they enter the final stretch of the season.

All NFL stats leaders have breached the 1,100 yards mark. Here's a look at the top five NFL stats leaders in the receiving yards category.

NFL Stats Leaders after Week 15: Receiving yards

#5 - Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1,103 yards

New York Giants v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New York Giants v Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This will be Chris Godwin's farewell appearance on the NFL stats leaders list for receiving yards, as the ACL injury he sustained in the loss against the New Orleans Saints is sufficient to keep him out for the season.

But before he departed, Godwin was responsible for 1,103 receiving yards for the season in 14 games. He accumulated the total in 98 receptions which he garnered from a total of 127 targets. His 11.3 receiving yards per reception is the lowest among NFL stats leaders on this list.

Godwin scored five touchdowns and bowed out with 78.8 receiving yards per game. Where he will be sorely missed, though, is in his yards after carry, which stood second-highest among NFL stats leaders at 586 receiving yards.

#4 - Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs, 1,178 yards

Kansas City Chiefs v Las Vegas Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs v Las Vegas Raiders

The recent resurgence of the Kansas City Chiefs, which sees them sit atop the AFC pile, has been laid at the feet of Patrick Mahomes, who found his form after an indifferent start to the season. But if Patrick Mahomes has generated passing yards, the NFL stats leader on their team who has aided him the most is Tyreek Hill.

Tyreek Hill has 1,178 yards in 14 games this season, averaging 11.5 yards per reception. He has been the target 144 times and caught them 102 times. He has contributed to the team with nine touchdowns and averages 84.1 receiving yards per game. He has a total of 424 yards after carry.


Also Check Out: Complete NFL Week 16 TV Schedule


Top 3 NFL Stats Leaders after Week 15: Receiving Yards

#3 - Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers, 1,248 yards

Green Bay Packers v Cincinnati Bengals
Green Bay Packers v Cincinnati Bengals

Aaron Rodgers now finds himself back among NFL stats leaders, and a prime reason behind that is the receiving yards that Davante Adams has put in for the Green Bay Packers.

As the quarterback has gradually reinserted himself in the MVP conversation, it has been Davante Adams who has been his go-to guy most of the time.

Davante Adams has played 13 games this season and has accounted for 1,248 receiving yards. He has 96 receptions on 135 targets, averaging 13 receiving yards per catch. He has scored eight touchdowns, and his 96 yards per game are second on this list of NFL stats leaders. He also has 483 yards after carry, which is the third-highest among the NFL stats leaders listed here.

#2 - Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings, 1,335 yards

Pittsburgh Steelers v Minnesota Vikings
Pittsburgh Steelers v Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson is not just an NFL stats leader in receiving yards on this list; if he keeps up his current form, he could be a potential all-time great in the making.

In his first two years, Jefferson has eclipsed the record of Randy Moss for the number of receiving yards in the first two seasons in the Minnesota Vikings' franchise history. He is a prime reason the Vikings are still fighting for a wildcard playoff spot.

Justin Jefferson has 1,335 receiving yards in just 89 receptions out of 137 targets. That gives an average of 15 receiving yards per reception, which is the highest among all NFL stats leaders in this category. He has scored nine touchdowns and amassed 95.4 yards per game. His 409 yards after carry, though, are the lowest among the NFL stats leaders on this list.

#1 - Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams, 1,489 yards

San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams
San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams

With the Los Angeles Rams offense turbocharged by the arrival of Odell Beckham Jr., Cooper Kupp still remains the top dog. He's by far the best wide receiver in the league, and the stats bear out the claim.


Also read: Rams' Cooper Kupp on track to make Fantasy Football history


Kupp has 1,489 receiving yards this season, the only one with more than 1,400 yards. He has 12 touchdowns that make him the only NFL stats leader in receiving yards on this list to have more than ten. His 114.5 yards per game after 13 games is the highest in the league. Kupp averages 13.2 receiving yards per game, having caught 113 passes in 151 targets. His 647 yards after carry are the only numbers above 600.

Cooper Kupp has been the best wide receiver in the league for some time, and it is tough to see anyone displacing him soon.

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