Question

Two receivers selected in the first two rounds of the draft go by their initials – D.J. Moore (Carolina) and D.J. Chark (Jacksonville). In the Super Bowl era, who are the only five players who went by their initials who have gone over 1,000 receiving yards in a season? Three come from this century. The hardest of the four played primarily in the ‘80s (helped along by his decision to not participate in the player strike in 1987, he led the league in receiving yards that year).

Answer

J.T. Smith (St. Louis Cardinals) went over 1,000 yards in both 1986 and 1987. O.J. McDuffie (Miami) in 1998. Two current players have multiple 1,000-yard seasons – T.Y. Hilton and A.J. Green. Going back about 10 years, T.J. Houshmandzadeh had a very productive five-year stretch with the Bengals that included a pair of 1,000-yard seasons. Going way back, R.C. Owens went over 1,000 yards for the 49ers in 1961. Along with Y.A. Tittle (someone say initials?) Owens was the co-founder of the Alley-Oop pass.