20 best wide receiver seasons in NFL history

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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INDIANAPOLIS – DECEMBER 22: Marvin Harrison #88 of the Indianapolis Colts is tackled from behind by Will Allen #25 of the New York Giants during the NFL game on December 22, 2002 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Giants defeated the Colts 44-27. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

12. Marvin Harrison, Colts (2002)

It was his seventh NFL season and his fifth with quarterback Peyton Manning. Prolific wide receiver Marvin Harrison is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and his career numbers speak for themselves.

He played all 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts after being the franchise’s first-round draft choice in 1996. His career totals read 1,102 receptions for 14,580 yards and 128 touchdown catches. Those totals rank fifth, ninth, and fifth, respectively, in NFL annals.

In 1999, which also happened to be Manning’s second year in the league, Harrison embarked on stretch which saw him total at least 100 receptions in four consecutive seasons, an NFL record at the time. The last year of that streak came in 2002. In 16 contests, he amassed a league-record 143 catches. He led the NFL with 1,722 receiving yards and scored 11 touchdowns.

Unfortunately for Harrison, Manning and the Colts, those gaudy totals didn’t mean a very much come the playoffs. Tony Dungy’s team would fall to the New York Jets, 41-0, in the wild card round. Harrison was limited to four catches for 47 yards in the lopsided setback.

Meanwhile, that regular-season reception milestone stood for 17 years until (next page, please).

Next: No. 11

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