In fantasy drafts, you’ll see owners use late-round picks on guys who might not even play. Josh Gordon and Justin Blackmon last year, for example. Calvin Johnson is one of those guys. He’ll be 31 in September, and if he were to come back, he might wind up being a top-10 receiver.
But Johnson seems to be very much down. He reiterated as much on Saturday at a football camp. He’s seemingly made enough money, caught enough passes, and the desire to compete seems to be gone.
So the question at this point, I guess, is whether Megatron is a Hall of Famer? Not a long career (just 9 years) and very little impact in the postseason. Detroit went 0-2 in the playoffs during his time there, though he at least came up huge in one of those games, catching 12 passes for 211 yards and 2 TDs in a 45-28 loss at the Superdome.
If you look at overall, cumulative stats, Johnson isn’t a Hall of Famer. He didn’t play much. But on the plus side, if you use standard fantasy scoring (blending touchdowns and yards) he’s had 4 of the top 30 receiving seasons of the last 10 years.
If you look at the 100 best receiving seasons of the last 10 years, Johnson is the only player with six of them. Three receivers have five of those 100 seasons – Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall and Roddy White.
BEST RECEIVING SEASONS OF THE LAST 10 YEARS | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | No | Yards | Avg | TD | Points |
2007 | Randy Moss, N.E. | 98 | 1,493 | 15.2 | 23 | 287.3 |
2011 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 96 | 1,681 | 17.5 | 16 | 265.2 |
2014 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 129 | 1,698 | 13.2 | 14 | 261.1 |
2015 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 136 | 1,834 | 13.5 | 11 | 256.2 |
2015 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 136 | 1,871 | 13.8 | 9 | 241.1 |
2015 | Brandon Marshall, NYJ | 109 | 1,502 | 13.8 | 14 | 234.2 |
2014 | Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 111 | 1,619 | 14.6 | 11 | 229.9 |
2014 | Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 98 | 1,519 | 15.5 | 13 | 229.9 |
2014 | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 88 | 1,320 | 15.0 | 16 | 228.0 |
2013 | Josh Gordon, Clev. | 87 | 1,646 | 18.9 | 9 | 227.4 |
2013 | Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 92 | 1,430 | 15.5 | 14 | 227.0 |
2012 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 122 | 1,964 | 16.1 | 5 | 226.4 |
2007 | Terrell Owens, Dall. | 81 | 1,355 | 16.7 | 15 | 226.0 |
2007 | Braylon Edwards, Clev. | 80 | 1,289 | 16.1 | 16 | 224.9 |
2015 | Allen Robinson, Jac. | 80 | 1,400 | 17.5 | 14 | 224.0 |
2015 | Odell Beckham Jr., NYG | 96 | 1,450 | 15.1 | 13 | 223.3 |
2013 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 84 | 1,492 | 17.8 | 12 | 221.2 |
2015 | DeAndre Hopkins, Hou. | 111 | 1,521 | 13.7 | 11 | 220.1 |
2012 | Brandon Marshall, Chi. | 118 | 1,508 | 12.8 | 11 | 216.6 |
2011 | Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 68 | 1,263 | 18.6 | 15 | 216.3 |
2008 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 96 | 1,431 | 14.9 | 12 | 215.1 |
2011 | Wes Welker, N.E. | 122 | 1,569 | 12.9 | 9 | 213.9 |
2009 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 101 | 1,569 | 15.5 | 9 | 212.9 |
2012 | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 92 | 1,382 | 15.0 | 12 | 211.7 |
2007 | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 104 | 1,510 | 14.5 | 10 | 211.4 |
2010 | Brandon Lloyd, Den. | 77 | 1,448 | 18.8 | 11 | 209.0 |
2013 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 98 | 1,426 | 14.6 | 11 | 208.6 |
2006 | Marvin Harrison, Ind. | 95 | 1,366 | 14.4 | 12 | 208.6 |
2011 | Victor Cruz, NYG | 82 | 1,536 | 18.7 | 9 | 207.9 |
2008 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 78 | 1,331 | 17.1 | 12 | 207.0 |
2010 | Dwayne Bowe, K.C. | 72 | 1,162 | 16.1 | 15 | 206.6 |
2014 | Randall Cobb, G.B. | 91 | 1,287 | 14.1 | 12 | 206.4 |
2009 | Randy Moss, N.E. | 83 | 1,264 | 15.2 | 13 | 206.4 |
2014 | Odell Beckham Jr., NYG | 91 | 1,305 | 14.3 | 12 | 206.0 |
2008 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 115 | 1,575 | 13.7 | 8 | 205.5 |
2013 | Brandon Marshall, Chi. | 100 | 1,295 | 13.0 | 12 | 205.5 |
2012 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 97 | 1,350 | 13.9 | 11 | 204.8 |
2013 | Antonio Brown, Pitt. | 110 | 1,499 | 13.6 | 9 | 204.3 |
2012 | Demaryius Thomas, Den. | 94 | 1,434 | 15.3 | 10 | 203.4 |
2010 | Roddy White, Atl. | 115 | 1,389 | 12.1 | 10 | 203.2 |
2009 | DeSean Jackson, Phil. | 63 | 1,167 | 18.5 | 12 | 202.4 |
2013 | Dez Bryant, Dall. | 93 | 1,233 | 13.3 | 13 | 201.4 |
2007 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 100 | 1,409 | 14.1 | 10 | 200.9 |
2014 | Emmanuel Sanders, Den. | 101 | 1,404 | 13.9 | 9 | 200.8 |
2010 | Greg Jennings, G.B. | 76 | 1,265 | 16.6 | 12 | 198.4 |
2006 | Terrell Owens, Dall. | 85 | 1,180 | 13.9 | 13 | 198.0 |
2009 | Miles Austin, Dall. | 81 | 1,320 | 16.3 | 11 | 197.8 |
2007 | Chad Johnson, Cin. | 93 | 1,440 | 15.5 | 8 | 196.7 |
2013 | Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 89 | 1,421 | 16.0 | 7 | 196.6 |
2014 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 104 | 1,593 | 15.3 | 6 | 195.4 |
2013 | Eric Decker, Den. | 87 | 1,288 | 14.8 | 11 | 194.8 |
2014 | Jeremy Maclin, Phil. | 85 | 1,318 | 15.5 | 10 | 191.8 |
2015 | Doug Baldwin, Sea. | 78 | 1,069 | 13.7 | 14 | 190.9 |
2015 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 86 | 1,297 | 15.1 | 10 | 189.7 |
2010 | Mike Wallace, Pitt. | 60 | 1,257 | 21.0 | 10 | 189.6 |
2010 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 77 | 1,120 | 14.5 | 12 | 189.2 |
2011 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 80 | 1,411 | 17.6 | 8 | 189.1 |
2011 | Steve Smith Sr., Car. | 79 | 1,394 | 17.6 | 7 | 189.0 |
2012 | Vincent Jackson, T.B. | 72 | 1,384 | 19.2 | 8 | 188.4 |
2007 | T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cin. | 112 | 1,143 | 10.2 | 12 | 187.7 |
2013 | DeSean Jackson, Phil. | 82 | 1,332 | 16.2 | 9 | 187.4 |
2009 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 97 | 1,092 | 11.3 | 13 | 187.2 |
2006 | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 86 | 1,310 | 15.2 | 9 | 187.0 |
2009 | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 100 | 1,264 | 12.6 | 10 | 186.4 |
2007 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 98 | 1,202 | 12.3 | 11 | 186.2 |
2011 | Percy Harvin, Minn. | 87 | 967 | 11.1 | 9 | 185.2 |
2012 | Eric Decker, Den. | 85 | 1,064 | 12.5 | 13 | 184.4 |
2012 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 112 | 1,598 | 14.3 | 4 | 183.8 |
2008 | Greg Jennings, G.B. | 80 | 1,292 | 16.2 | 9 | 183.2 |
2012 | Julio Jones, Atl. | 79 | 1,198 | 15.2 | 10 | 182.8 |
2008 | Steve Smith Sr., Car. | 78 | 1,421 | 18.2 | 6 | 182.1 |
2009 | Roddy White, Atl. | 85 | 1,153 | 13.6 | 11 | 181.5 |
2006 | Chad Johnson, Cin. | 87 | 1,369 | 15.7 | 7 | 181.3 |
2008 | Roddy White, Atl. | 88 | 1,382 | 15.7 | 7 | 180.6 |
2007 | Brandon Marshall, Den. | 102 | 1,325 | 13.0 | 7 | 180.2 |
2013 | Jordy Nelson, G.B. | 85 | 1,314 | 15.5 | 8 | 179.4 |
2009 | Sidney Rice, Minn. | 83 | 1,312 | 15.8 | 8 | 179.2 |
2006 | Donald Driver, G.B. | 92 | 1,295 | 14.1 | 8 | 179.1 |
2006 | Torry Holt, St.L. | 93 | 1,188 | 12.8 | 10 | 178.8 |
2014 | T.Y. Hilton, Ind. | 82 | 1,345 | 16.4 | 7 | 178.5 |
2011 | Roddy White, Atl. | 100 | 1,296 | 13.0 | 8 | 177.6 |
2006 | Lee Evans, Buff. | 82 | 1,292 | 15.8 | 8 | 177.2 |
2014 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 68 | 1,051 | 15.5 | 12 | 177.1 |
2012 | Roddy White, Atl. | 92 | 1,351 | 14.7 | 7 | 177.1 |
2006 | Steve Smith Sr., Car. | 83 | 1,166 | 14.0 | 9 | 176.7 |
2014 | Alshon Jeffery, Chi. | 85 | 1,133 | 13.3 | 10 | 176.6 |
2008 | Anquan Boldin, Ariz. | 89 | 1,038 | 11.7 | 11 | 176.5 |
2009 | Brandon Marshall, Den. | 101 | 1,120 | 11.1 | 10 | 175.9 |
2015 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz. | 109 | 1,215 | 11.2 | 9 | 175.5 |
2015 | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 88 | 1,214 | 13.8 | 9 | 175.4 |
2012 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 83 | 1,154 | 13.9 | 10 | 175.4 |
2015 | Eric Decker, NYJ | 80 | 1,027 | 12.8 | 12 | 174.7 |
2006 | Javon Walker, Den. | 69 | 1,084 | 15.7 | 9 | 174.7 |
2007 | Plaxico Burress, NYG | 70 | 1,025 | 14.6 | 12 | 174.5 |
2012 | Wes Welker, N.E. | 118 | 1,354 | 11.5 | 6 | 173.4 |
2006 | Roy Williams, Det. | 82 | 1,310 | 16.0 | 7 | 173.2 |
2011 | Mike Wallace, Pitt. | 72 | 1,193 | 16.6 | 8 | 173.0 |
2009 | Vincent Jackson, S.D. | 68 | 1,167 | 17.2 | 9 | 171.8 |
2010 | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 111 | 1,355 | 12.2 | 6 | 171.5 |
2010 | Hakeem Nicks, NYG | 79 | 1,052 | 13.3 | 11 | 171.2 |
—Ian Allan