I like Antonio Brown. The dude catches a lot of passes, and opponents can’t seem to stop him. They’ve tried to double-team him and whatnot, but he’s still catch at least 5 passes in every game the last two years.

The Steelers have some other capable pass catchers – Martavius Bryant, Markus Wheaton, and maybe they get something out of Sammie Coates – but there’s a special rapport between Brown and Ben Roethlisberger.

In a PPR format, therefore, I think Brown belongs right up there at the top. Not only the top receiver, but arguably the top player overall.

Using PPR scoring, Brown piled up 390 points last year. That’s the 2nd-best by a wide receiver ever.

Some of this, of course, can be attributed to stat inflation. It’s easier to pass now than in the past. Of the top 70 wide receivers of the last 20 years, you would expect 3-4 of them to have come from the 2014 season, but instead it’s seven of them from that season.

BEST RECEIVERS OF LAST 20 YEARS (PPR)
YearPlayerNoRecRunTDPoints
1995Jerry Rice, S.F.12218483617418.4
2014Antonio Brown, Pitt.12916981314390.1
2007Randy Moss, N.E.981493023385.3
2002Marvin Harrison, Ind.14317221011384.2
1995Isaac Bruce, St.L.11917811713378.8
2003Randy Moss, Minn.11116321817378.0
1995Herman Moore, Det.1231686014375.6
2011Calvin Johnson, Det.9616811116361.2
1995Cris Carter, Minn.1221371017361.1
2003Torry Holt, St.L.1171696512359.1
1999Marvin Harrison, Ind.1151663412355.7
2001Marvin Harrison, Ind.1091524315351.7
2012Calvin Johnson, Det.122196405348.4
2014Demaryius Thomas, Den.1111619011340.9
2005Steve Smith Sr., Car.10315632513339.8
2002Hines Ward, Pitt.112132914212337.1
2011Wes Welker, N.E.1221569309335.9
2012Brandon Marshall, Chi.1181508-211334.6
2001Terrell Owens, S.F.9314122116332.3
1995Robert Brooks, G.B.10214972113331.8
1995Michael Irvin, Dall.1111603010331.3
2004Muhsin Muhammad, Car.9314051516331.0
2014Jordy Nelson, G.B.981519013327.9
2000Marvin Harrison, Ind.1021413014327.3
1995Carl Pickens, Cin.991234617325.0
2000Rod Smith, Den.1001602999324.1
2000Terrell Owens, S.F.9714511113323.2
2002Terrell Owens, S.F.10013007914321.9
2008Andre Johnson, Hou.115157508320.5
2013Demaryius Thomas, Den.921430014319.0
2010Roddy White, Atl.1151389310318.2
2001Rod Smith, Den.11313432711318.0
1999Jimmy Smith, Jac.116163606317.6
1995Brett Perriman, Det.1081488489317.6
2014Dez Bryant, Dall.881320016316.0
2007Reggie Wayne, Ind.1041510410315.4
2013Josh Gordon, Clev.871646889314.4
2013Antonio Brown, Pitt.110149949314.3
2009Andre Johnson, Hou.101156909313.9
2000Randy Moss, Minn.771437515313.2
1998Antonio Freeman, G.B.841424514312.9
2008Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.961431012311.1
2001David Boston, Ariz.981598358309.3
2005Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.10314094110308.0
2007Terrell Owens, Dall.811355515307.0
2013A.J. Green, Cin.981426011306.6
1998Randy Moss, Minn.681313417305.7
2013Brandon Marshall, Chi.1001295012305.5
1997Rob Moore, Ariz.97158408305.4
2013Calvin Johnson, Det.841492012305.2
2007Braylon Edwards, Clev.801289016304.9
2012Dez Bryant, Dall.921382-512303.7
2006Marvin Harrison, Ind.951366012303.6
1999Randy Moss, Minn.8014134312302.6
2004Joe Horn, N.O.941399011301.9
2014Emmanuel Sanders, Den.1011404449301.8
2012A.J. Green, Cin.9713503811301.8
2007Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.1001409010300.9
2004Javon Walker, G.B.891382012299.2
2005Santana Moss, Wash.971432339297.5
2014Randall Cobb, G.B.9112873712297.4
2012Demaryius Thomas, Den.941434010297.4
2014Odell Beckham Jr., NYG9113053512297.0
2013Dez Bryant, Dall.931233113294.4
1999Cris Carter, Minn.901241013292.1
2011Victor Cruz, NYG82153639289.9
2009Randy Moss, N.E.831264013289.4
2000Isaac Bruce, St.L.871471119289.2
2004Marvin Harrison, Ind.861113015287.3
2005Anquan Boldin, Ariz.84148339286.6

—Ian Allan