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The best NFL wide receiver single-game performances in history
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The best NFL wide receiver single-game performances in history

A historic Sunday can come at any time for an NFL wide receiver. Here's a look at the top wide receiver single-game performances in NFL history.

 
1 of 28

Jerry Rice: Oct. 14, 1990

Jerry Rice: Oct. 14, 1990
Gin Ellis / Getty Images

The greatest wide receiver of all time ran over the Falcons in Atlanta, catching 13 balls for 225 yards and five touchdowns.

 
2 of 28

Jimmy Smith: Sept. 10, 2000

Jimmy Smith: Sept. 10, 2000
George Gojkovich / Getty Images

Smith and the Jags fell to Baltimore, 39-36, but the team still had a huge day through the air. Smith had 15 catches for 291 yards and three scores.

 
3 of 28

Jerry Rice: Dec. 18, 1995

Jerry Rice: Dec. 18, 1995
John G. Mabanglo / AFP

Rice exceeded the yardage from his huge game in 1990, with 14 receptions for 289 yards and three scores against the Vikings.

 
4 of 28

Jerry Butler: Sept. 23, 1979

Jerry Butler: Sept. 23, 1979
Rogers Photo Archive / Getty Images

The Bills put up 46 points, as Butler had 10 catches for 255 yards and four touchdowns.

 
5 of 28

Steve Largent: Oct. 18, 1987

Steve Largent: Oct. 18, 1987
Seattle Times/JR Partners / Archive Photos

Largent and the Seahawks scored 34 points on the Lions, tearing Detroit apart through the air. He had 15 catches for 261 yards and three scores.

 
6 of 28

Harold Jackson: Oct. 14, 1973

Harold Jackson: Oct. 14, 1973
B Bennett / Bruce Bennett

The Rams won 37-31 against the Cowboys, as Jackson caught seven passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns.

 
7 of 28

Terrell Owens: Dec. 17, 2000

Terrell Owens: Dec. 17, 2000
Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images

Despite Jeff Garcia throwing for 402 yards, the 49ers scored only 17 points against Chicago. Owens caught an incredible 20 receptions for 283 yards and one touchdown.

 
8 of 28

Flipper Anderson: Nov. 26, 1989

Flipper Anderson: Nov. 26, 1989
George Rose / Getty Images

Anderson still holds the record for receiving yards with his performance in 1989, accumulating 15 receptions for 336 yards and one touchdown.

 
9 of 28

Julio Jones: Nov. 26, 2017

Julio Jones: Nov. 26, 2017
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

Known for his huge performances, Jones blew away the Bucs secondary on this day. He finished with 12 catches for 253 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons 34-20 win.

 
10 of 28

Drew Bennett: Dec. 13, 2004

Drew Bennett: Dec. 13, 2004
Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Bennett had a historic day in a 49-38 loss to the Chiefs. The Titans wideout had 12 catches for 233 yards and three scores, eventually parlaying his big day into a big contract with the Rams.

 
11 of 28

Henry Ellard: Sept.17, 1989

Henry Ellard: Sept.17, 1989
Mike Lowell / Getty Images

Ellard and the Rams scored 31 points on the Colts. He had 12 catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns.

 
12 of 28

Brandon Marshall: Dec. 13, 2009

Brandon Marshall: Dec. 13, 2009
Joe Amon / Denver Post

Marshall had his biggest day with the Broncos, catching 21 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns as the Broncos lost to Indy 28-16.

 
13 of 28

Calvin Johnson: Oct. 27, 2013

Calvin Johnson: Oct. 27, 2013
Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

Johnson had one of the biggest receiving games ever, catching 14 passes for 329 yards and one score.

 
14 of 28

Julio Jones: Oct. 2, 2016

Julio Jones: Oct. 2, 2016
Jason Getz / USA Today Sports Images

Jones reached the 300-yard mark for the first time in his career in Atlanta's 48-33 thrashing of the Panthers. He finished with 12 receptions for exactly 300 yards and one touchdown.

 
15 of 28

John Taylor: Dec. 11, 1989

John Taylor: Dec. 11, 1989
Michael Zagaris / Getty Images

Jerry Rice wasn't San Francisco's only big-time wideout. Taylor had 11 catches for 286 yards and two scores against the Rams.

 
16 of 28

Wes Welker: Sept. 25, 2011

Wes Welker: Sept. 25, 2011
Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

Welker was regularly among the NFL's reception leaders during his time in New England due to days like this one he had in 2011, when he pulled in 16 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

 
17 of 28

Kevin Curtis: Sept. 23, 2007

Kevin Curtis: Sept. 23, 2007
Drew Hallowell / Getty Images

Curtis helped the Eagles score 56 points against Detroit, with 11 receptions for 221 yards and three scores.

 
18 of 28

Stephone Paige: Dec. 22, 1985

Stephone Paige: Dec. 22, 1985
Rick Stewart / Getty Images

Paige averaged more than 38 yards per reception for the Chiefs, with eight catches for 309 yards and two scores against the Chargers.

 
19 of 28

Jerry Rice: Nov. 20, 1994

Jerry Rice: Nov. 20, 1994
Rogers Photo Archive / Getty Images

Rice had one of his biggest games against against the Rams in 1994, with 16 receptions for 165 yards and three touchdowns.

 
20 of 28

Anthony Allen: Oct. 4, 1987

Anthony Allen: Oct. 4, 1987
Nate Fine / Getty Images

Allen had a huge day for Washington, catching seven passes for 255 yards and three scores.

 
21 of 28

Earnest Gray: Sept. 7, 1980

Earnest Gray: Sept. 7, 1980
Gin Ellis / Getty Images

Gray found the end zone four times against the Cardinals and had nine receptions for 174 yards.

 
22 of 28

Andre Johnson: Nov. 3, 2013

Andre Johnson: Nov. 3, 2013
Bob Levey / Getty Images

The Colts couldn't find an answer for Johnson, who had nine receptions for 229 yards and three scores.

 
23 of 28

Qadry Ismail: Dec. 12, 1999

Qadry Ismail: Dec. 12, 1999
Mark Lyons / Getty Images

Ismail regularly beat teams deep during his NFL career, and that included his performance against the Steelers in 1999. He had six receptions for 258 yards and three scores.

 
24 of 28

Lee Evans: Nov. 19, 2006

Lee Evans: Nov. 19, 2006
Bob Levey / Getty Images

Evans had a short stint as a top receiver for the Bills, and his biggest game came against the Texans in 2006. He had 11 receptions for 265 yards and two touchdowns.

 
25 of 28

Eric Decker: Dec. 1, 2013

Eric Decker: Dec. 1, 2013
John Leyba / Denver Post

Decker had a huge game for Denver, with eight receptions for 174 yards and four scores against the Chiefs.

 
26 of 28

Wesley Walker: Sept. 21, 1986

Wesley Walker: Sept. 21, 1986
The Sporting News / Sporting News

The Jets scored 51 points against Miami, and Walker led the way as a receiver. He had six receptions for 194 yards and four touchdowns.

 
27 of 28

Terrell Owens: Nov. 18, 2007

Terrell Owens: Nov. 18, 2007
Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

T.O. had a huge game for the Cowboys in 2007, with eight receptions for 173 yards and four touchdowns as Dallas beat Washington, 28-23.

 
28 of 28

Amari Cooper: Dec. 9, 2018

Amari Cooper: Dec. 9, 2018
Matthew Emmons / USA Today Sports Images

Cooper was acquired by Dallas from Oakland at midseason but didn't waste much time making his presence felt. He had 10 receptions for 217 yards and three scores in a huge win over the rival Eagles, 29-23.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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