Fansided

20 best wide receiver seasons in NFL history

By Russell S. Baxter

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after he scored a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990 at the Super Dome in New Orleans, LA. The 49ers won the Super Bowl 55-10. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 28: Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with teammates after he scored a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXIV on January 28, 1990 at the Super Dome in New Orleans, LA. The 49ers won the Super Bowl 55-10. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC. – SEPTEMBER 2: Mark Clayton #83 of the Miami Dolphins scores against the Washington Redskins during an NFL game on September 2, 1984 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Clayton played for the Dolphins from 1983-1992. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC. – SEPTEMBER 2: Mark Clayton #83 of the Miami Dolphins scores against the Washington Redskins during an NFL game on September 2, 1984 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Clayton played for the Dolphins from 1983-1992. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

10. Mark Clayton, Dolphins (1984)

In his second NFL season, Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino put on a passing display that still ranks among the best in NFL history. That was well before today’s wide-open spread-the-field offenses. He shattered the previous single-season league records for aerial yards and touchdown passes, finishing with 5,084 yards and 48 scores.

Marino had many options to get the ball to. There were tight ends Dan Johnson and Bruce Hardy, running back Tony Nathan and wideout Nat Moore. Of course, there were also the “Marks Brothers,” in wide receiver Mark Duper, a second-round pick in 1982, and Mark Clayton. The latter was drafted the same year as Marino, but in the eighth round in 1983.

In 15 games in ’84, Clayton led the club in catches (73) and receiving yards (1,389) and led the NFL with 18 touchdown receptions. He averaged a robust 19.0 yards per grab. He scored at least one touchdown in 13 contests.

In the postseason, the second-year pro caught five passes for 75 yards and one score in the win over Seattle and totaled four receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown in the AFC title game victory over Pittsburgh. The Dolphins were stifled by the 49ers in Super Bowl XIX, 38-16, but Clayton finished with six grabs for 92 yards.

Next: No. 9

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