Sidney Rice is coming off a torn ACL and has been released by the Seattle Seahawks, but he's reportedly healthy now. Whoever signs him will be adding a player with considerable downfield ability, as long as his knee holds up.
Over the last five years, there have been 103 1,000-yard seasons by receivers in the NFL, including Rice himself during his breakout season for Minnesota in 2009. Of those 103 campaigns, just 43 (again, including Rice in 2009) have averaged at least 15.0 yards per catch.
Rice, although he's been unable to stay healthy in three of those seasons and missed a combined 25 games, has averaged at least 15.0 yards per catch in all of them, including both of his 16-game seasons. If he can stay healthy -- and it's a big if -- that's the downfield potential he can bring to an offense.
The NFL's 1,000-yard receivers over the last five years who have averaged 15.0 yards per catch, plus Rice's averages in those seasons, are presented below.
YPC, 1,000-YARD RECEIVERS AND RICE, 2009-2013 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | No | Yds | YPC |
2010 | DeSean Jackson | 47 | 1,056 | 22.5 |
2010 | Mike Wallace | 60 | 1,257 | 21.0 |
2012 | Vincent Jackson | 72 | 1,384 | 19.2 |
2013 | Josh Gordon | 87 | 1,646 | 18.9 |
2010 | Brandon Lloyd | 77 | 1,448 | 18.8 |
2011 | Victor Cruz | 82 | 1,536 | 18.7 |
2011 | Jordy Nelson | 68 | 1,263 | 18.6 |
2009 | DeSean Jackson | 62 | 1,156 | 18.6 |
2011 | Vincent Jackson | 60 | 1,106 | 18.4 |
2013 | Calvin Johnson | 84 | 1,492 | 17.8 |
2011 | Larry Fitzgerald | 80 | 1,411 | 17.6 |
2011 | Steve Smith | 79 | 1,394 | 17.6 |
2011 | Calvin Johnson | 96 | 1,681 | 17.5 |
2013 | Torrey Smith | 65 | 1,128 | 17.4 |
2009 | Vincent Jackson | 68 | 1,167 | 17.2 |
2011 | Mike Wallace | 72 | 1,193 | 16.6 |
2010 | Greg Jennings | 76 | 1,265 | 16.6 |
2010 | Sidney Rice | 17 | 280 | 16.5 |
2009 | Greg Jennings | 68 | 1,113 | 16.4 |
2011 | A.J. Green | 65 | 1,057 | 16.3 |
2009 | Miles Austin | 81 | 1,320 | 16.3 |
2013 | DeSean Jackson | 82 | 1,332 | 16.2 |
2012 | Calvin Johnson | 122 | 1,964 | 16.1 |
2012 | Steve Smith | 73 | 1,174 | 16.1 |
2011 | Antonio Brown | 69 | 1,108 | 16.1 |
2010 | Dwayne Bowe | 72 | 1,162 | 16.1 |
2013 | Alshon Jeffery | 89 | 1,421 | 16.0 |
2013 | Michael Floyd | 65 | 1,041 | 16.0 |
2012 | Lance Moore | 65 | 1,041 | 16.0 |
2009 | Sidney Rice | 83 | 1,312 | 15.8 |
2009 | Santonio Holmes | 79 | 1,248 | 15.8 |
2013 | Vincent Jackson | 78 | 1,224 | 15.7 |
2011 | Hakeem Nicks | 76 | 1,192 | 15.7 |
2013 | Demaryius Thomas | 92 | 1,430 | 15.5 |
2013 | Jordy Nelson | 85 | 1,314 | 15.5 |
2009 | Andre Johnson | 101 | 1,569 | 15.5 |
2013 | Sidney Rice | 15 | 231 | 15.4 |
2012 | Demaryius Thomas | 94 | 1,434 | 15.3 |
2009 | Marques Colston | 70 | 1,074 | 15.3 |
2012 | Julio Jones | 79 | 1,198 | 15.2 |
2009 | Randy Moss | 83 | 1,264 | 15.2 |
2009 | Donald Driver | 70 | 1,061 | 15.2 |
2010 | Miles Austin | 69 | 1,041 | 15.1 |
2011 | Sidney Rice | 32 | 484 | 15.1 |
2012 | Sidney Rice | 50 | 748 | 15.0 |
2012 | Dez Bryant | 92 | 1,382 | 15.0 |
2011 | Brandon Marshall | 81 | 1,214 | 15.0 |
--Andy Richardson