The Peak Age for an NFL Wide Receiver

As fantasy owners, we’re always attempting to predict each player’s improvement. But just as important as prognosticating improvement is the ability to predict decline – especially in dynasty leagues. One of the most important variables for predictability is age. While there are outliers who can produce at an impressively old age (by NFL standards), most players at the same position tend to have similar career arcs. In this article, we’ll determine the peak age for an NFL wide receiver.

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

TL;DR:

This article explores at which ages NFL wide receivers have their most productive seasons.
For 225 PPR fantasy points per year (roughly top-24 production), the average age was 27 with nearly 80% of peak seasons falling within the age range of 23-30.
As the thresholds are raised, the average age becomes younger with peak WR seasons over the age of 30 becoming less and less frequent.
For elite top-three WR production, the average age was 26, and nearly 62% of qualifiers were between the ages of 25-29. However, the position continues to trend younger.

Defining A Peak Season

To begin, we must define a peak season for an NFL wide receiver. If a wide receiver plays all 16 games and averages just over 14 PPR points per game, he will score 225 PPR fantasy points for the season. That remains true for historical seasons – but now that there is a 17-game season, a player must average 13.2 fantasy points per game if playing the entire season to make the list.

Our first peak season will include all wide receivers since 2000 who finished with at least 225 PPR fantasy points. This gives us a sample size of 380 seasons. The list below includes all individual wide receiver seasons to meet the criteria and was generated by Pro-Football-Reference.com.

Player	Season	Age	Tm	G	PPR	Rec	Yds	TD
Cooper Kupp	2021	28	LAR	17	439.5	145	1947	16
Antonio Brown	2015	27	PIT	16	388.2	136	1834	10
Antonio Brown	2014	26	PIT	16	386.9	129	1698	13
Randy Moss	2007	30	NWE	16	385.3	98	1493	23
Marvin Harrison	2002	30	IND	16	384.2	143	1722	11
Randy Moss	2003	26	MIN	16	376	111	1632	17
Julio Jones	2015	26	ATL	16	375.1	136	1871	8
Michael Thomas	2019	26	NOR	16	374.6	149	1725	9
Justin Jefferson	2022	23	MIN	17	368.7	128	1809	8
Calvin Johnson	2011	26	DET	16	359.2	96	1681	16
Torry Holt	2003	27	STL	16	359.1	117	1696	12
Davante Adams	2020	28	GNB	14	358.4	115	1374	18
Marvin Harrison	2001	29	IND	16	351.7	109	1524	15
Tyreek Hill	2022	28	MIA	17	347.2	119	1710	7
Davante Adams	2021	29	GNB	16	344.3	123	1553	11
Calvin Johnson	2012	27	DET	16	342.4	122	1964	5
Demaryius Thomas	2014	27	DEN	16	340.9	111	1619	11
Brandon Marshall	2015	31	NYJ	16	339.2	109	1502	14
Deebo Samuel	2021	25	SFO	16	339	77	1405	6
Steve Smith Sr.	2005	26	CAR	16	337.8	103	1563	12
Hines Ward	2002	26	PIT	16	337.1	112	1329	12
Wes Welker	2011	30	NWE	16	335.9	122	1569	9
Davante Adams	2022	30	LVR	17	335.5	100	1516	14
Brandon Marshall	2012	28	CHI	16	334.6	118	1508	11
Tyreek Hill	2018	24	KAN	16	334	87	1479	12
DeAndre Hopkins	2018	26	HOU	16	333.5	115	1572	11
Terrell Owens	2001	28	SFO	16	332.3	93	1412	16
DeAndre Hopkins	2015	23	HOU	16	331.1	111	1521	11
Justin Jefferson	2021	22	MIN	17	330.4	108	1616	10
Davante Adams	2018	26	GNB	15	329.6	111	1386	13
Muhsin Muhammad	2004	31	CAR	16	329	93	1405	16
Tyreek Hill	2020	26	KAN	15	328.9	87	1276	15
Stefon Diggs	2020	27	BUF	16	328.6	127	1535	8
Jordy Nelson	2014	29	GNB	16	327.9	98	1519	13
Marvin Harrison	2000	28	IND	16	327.3	102	1413	14
Julio Jones	2018	29	ATL	16	325.9	113	1677	8
Antonio Brown	2018	30	PIT	15	323.7	104	1297	15
Rod Smith	2000	30	DEN	16	322.1	100	1602	8
Terrell Owens	2002	29	SFO	14	321.9	100	1300	13
Terrell Owens	2000	27	SFO	14	321.2	97	1451	13
Andre Johnson	2008	27	HOU	16	320.5	115	1575	8
Odell Beckham Jr.	2015	23	NYG	15	319.3	96	1450	13
Demaryius Thomas	2013	26	DEN	16	319	92	1430	14
Rod Smith	2001	31	DEN	15	318	113	1343	11
Stefon Diggs	2022	29	BUF	16	316.6	108	1429	11
Roddy White	2010	29	ATL	16	316.2	115	1389	10
Dez Bryant	2014	26	DAL	16	316	88	1320	16
Michael Thomas	2018	25	NOR	16	315.5	125	1405	9
Antonio Brown	2013	25	PIT	16	314.9	110	1499	8
Andre Johnson	2009	28	HOU	16	314.9	101	1569	9
Josh Gordon	2013	22	CLE	14	314.4	87	1646	9
Randy Moss	2000	23	MIN	16	313.2	77	1437	15
Larry Fitzgerald	2008	25	ARI	16	311.1	96	1431	12
Antonio Brown	2017	29	PIT	14	310.3	101	1533	9
DeAndre Hopkins	2017	25	HOU	15	309.8	96	1378	13
Reggie Wayne	2007	29	IND	16	309.4	104	1510	10
Larry Fitzgerald	2005	22	ARI	16	308	103	1409	10
Adam Thielen	2018	28	MIN	16	307.3	113	1373	9
Antonio Brown	2016	28	PIT	15	307.3	106	1284	12
David Boston	2001	23	ARI	16	307.3	98	1598	8
Terrell Owens	2007	34	DAL	15	307	81	1355	15
A.J. Green	2013	25	CIN	16	306.6	98	1426	11
Brandon Marshall	2013	29	CHI	16	305.5	100	1295	12
Jordy Nelson	2016	31	GNB	16	304.7	97	1257	14
Ja'Marr Chase	2021	21	CIN	17	304.6	81	1455	13
Mike Evans	2016	23	TAM	16	304.1	96	1321	12
Allen Robinson	2015	22	JAX	16	304	80	1400	14
Calvin Johnson	2013	28	DET	14	303.2	84	1492	12
Joe Horn	2004	32	NOR	16	301.9	94	1399	11
Emmanuel Sanders	2014	27	DEN	16	301.8	101	1404	9
CeeDee Lamb	2022	23	DAL	17	301.6	107	1359	9
Marvin Harrison	2006	34	IND	16	301.6	95	1366	12
Braylon Edwards	2007	24	CLE	16	300.9	80	1289	16
A.J. Green	2012	24	CIN	16	299.8	97	1350	11
Dez Bryant	2012	24	DAL	16	299.7	92	1382	12
A.J. Brown	2022	25	PHI	17	299.6	88	1496	11
T.J. Houshmandzadeh	2007	30	CIN	16	297.7	112	1143	12
Chad Johnson	2005	27	CIN	16	297.5	97	1432	9
Julio Jones	2014	25	ATL	15	297.4	104	1593	6
Jimmy Smith	2001	32	JAX	16	297	112	1373	8
JuJu Smith-Schuster	2018	22	PIT	16	296.9	111	1426	7
Odell Beckham Jr.	2016	24	NYG	16	296.6	101	1367	10
Tyreek Hill	2021	27	KAN	17	296.5	111	1239	9
Andre Johnson	2012	31	HOU	16	295.8	112	1598	4
Javon Walker	2004	26	GNB	16	295.2	89	1382	12
Odell Beckham Jr.	2014	22	NYG	12	295	91	1305	12
Larry Fitzgerald	2007	24	ARI	15	294.9	100	1409	10
Randall Cobb	2014	24	GNB	16	293.4	91	1287	12
Dez Bryant	2013	25	DAL	16	292.4	93	1233	13
Demaryius Thomas	2012	25	DEN	16	291.4	94	1434	10
Torry Holt	2004	28	STL	16	291.2	94	1372	10
Mike Evans	2018	25	TAM	16	290.4	86	1524	8
Randy Moss	2002	25	MIN	16	290.3	106	1347	7
Eric Moulds	2002	29	BUF	16	289.9	100	1292	10
Wes Welker	2012	31	NWE	16	289.4	118	1354	6
Torry Holt	2005	29	STL	14	289.3	102	1331	9
Anquan Boldin	2005	25	ARI	14	288.7	102	1402	7
Ed McCaffrey	2000	32	DEN	16	288.7	101	1317	9
Victor Cruz	2011	25	NYG	16	287.9	82	1536	9
DeAndre Hopkins	2020	28	ARI	16	287.8	115	1407	6
Chad Johnson	2007	29	CIN	16	287.7	93	1440	8
Randy Moss	2009	32	NWE	16	287.4	83	1264	13
Isaac Bruce	2000	28	STL	16	287.2	87	1471	9
Brandon Lloyd	2010	29	DEN	16	286	77	1448	11
Stefon Diggs	2021	28	BUF	17	285.5	103	1225	10
Chad Johnson	2003	25	CIN	16	285.5	90	1355	10
Wes Welker	2009	28	NWE	14	285.4	123	1348	4
Marvin Harrison	2004	32	IND	16	285.3	86	1113	15
Reggie Wayne	2009	31	IND	16	284.4	100	1264	10
Jordy Nelson	2011	26	GNB	16	284.3	68	1263	15
Keenan Allen	2017	25	LAC	16	284.2	102	1393	6
Larry Fitzgerald	2009	26	ARI	16	284.2	97	1092	13
Santana Moss	2005	26	WAS	16	284	84	1483	9
Alshon Jeffery	2013	23	CHI	16	283.6	89	1421	7
Terrell Owens	2006	33	DAL	16	283	85	1180	13
Anquan Boldin	2003	23	ARI	16	282.7	101	1377	8
Marques Colston	2007	24	NOR	16	282.2	98	1202	11
Derrick Alexander	2000	29	KAN	16	281.6	78	1391	10
Calvin Ridley	2020	26	ATL	15	281.5	90	1374	9
Calvin Johnson	2008	23	DET	16	281	78	1331	12
Wes Welker	2007	26	NWE	16	280.9	112	1175	8
Larry Fitzgerald	2015	32	ARI	16	280.5	109	1215	9
Reggie Wayne	2010	32	IND	16	280.5	111	1355	6
Chad Johnson	2004	26	CIN	16	280.3	95	1274	9
Brandon Marshall	2007	23	DEN	16	280.2	102	1325	7
Eric Decker	2013	26	DEN	16	279.8	87	1288	11
Andre Johnson	2013	32	HOU	16	279.7	109	1407	5
Marvin Harrison	2003	31	IND	15	279.5	94	1272	10
Miles Austin	2009	25	DAL	16	278.8	81	1320	11
Dwayne Bowe	2010	26	KAN	16	278.6	72	1162	15
Terrell Owens	2004	31	PHI	14	278.5	77	1200	14
Torry Holt	2000	24	STL	16	278.2	82	1635	6
Roddy White	2011	30	ATL	16	277.6	100	1296	8
Pierre Garcon	2013	27	WAS	16	277.5	113	1346	5
Hines Ward	2003	27	PIT	16	277.4	95	1163	10
Joe Horn	2000	28	NOR	16	277	94	1340	8
Brandon Marshall	2009	25	DEN	15	276.9	101	1120	10
Drew Bennett	2004	26	TEN	16	276.9	80	1247	11
Jeremy Maclin	2014	26	PHI	16	276.8	85	1318	10
Chris Godwin	2019	23	TAM	14	276.1	86	1333	9
Jarvis Landry	2015	23	MIA	16	275.4	110	1157	4
Cris Carter	2000	35	MIN	16	275.4	96	1274	9
Diontae Johnson	2021	25	PIT	16	274.4	107	1161	8
Greg Jennings	2010	27	GNB	16	274.4	76	1265	12
Derrick Mason	2003	29	TEN	16	274.4	95	1303	8
Justin Jefferson	2020	21	MIN	16	274.2	88	1400	7
Julio Jones	2019	30	ATL	15	274.1	99	1394	6
T.Y. Hilton	2016	27	IND	16	273.8	91	1448	6
A.J. Green	2015	27	CIN	16	273.7	86	1297	10
Reggie Wayne	2006	28	IND	16	273	86	1310	9
Joey Galloway	2005	34	TAM	16	272.1	83	1287	10
D.K. Metcalf	2020	23	SEA	16	271.3	83	1303	10
Donald Driver	2006	31	GNB	16	271.1	92	1295	8
Steve Smith	2009	24	NYG	16	271	107	1220	7
Cooper Kupp	2019	26	LAR	16	270.5	94	1161	10
Randy Moss	2001	24	MIN	16	270.3	82	1233	10
Troy Brown	2001	30	NWE	16	270	101	1199	5
Peerless Price	2002	26	BUF	16	269.9	94	1252	9
Torry Holt	2006	30	STL	16	269.8	93	1188	10
Reggie Wayne	2004	26	IND	16	269.6	77	1210	12
DeSean Jackson	2013	27	PHI	16	269.4	82	1332	9
Eric Decker	2012	25	DEN	16	269.4	85	1064	13
Tim Brown	2001	35	OAK	16	269.4	91	1165	9
Roddy White	2012	31	ATL	16	269.1	92	1351	7
Larry Fitzgerald	2011	28	ARI	16	269.1	80	1411	8
Reggie Wayne	2012	34	IND	16	269	106	1355	5
Doug Baldwin	2015	27	SEA	16	268.9	78	1069	14
Marvin Harrison	2005	33	IND	15	268.6	82	1146	12
DeAndre Hopkins	2019	27	HOU	15	268.5	104	1165	7
Percy Harvin	2011	23	MIN	16	268.2	87	967	6
Amon-Ra St. Brown	2022	23	DET	16	267.6	106	1161	6
Demaryius Thomas	2015	28	DEN	16	267.4	105	1304	6
Roddy White	2009	28	ATL	16	266.5	85	1153	11
Stefon Diggs	2018	25	MIN	15	266.3	102	1021	9
Chad Johnson	2006	28	CIN	16	266.3	87	1369	7
Calvin Johnson	2010	25	DET	15	266.2	77	1120	12
Robert Woods	2018	26	LAR	16	265.6	86	1219	6
Tyler Lockett	2020	28	SEA	16	265.4	100	1054	10
Greg Jennings	2008	25	GNB	16	265.2	80	1292	9
Chris Chambers	2005	27	MIA	16	265	82	1118	11
Roddy White	2008	27	ATL	16	264.6	88	1382	7
Amani Toomer	2002	28	NYG	16	264.5	82	1343	8
Jordy Nelson	2013	28	GNB	16	264.4	85	1314	8
Steve Smith Sr.	2011	32	CAR	16	264	79	1394	7
Joe Horn	2001	29	NOR	16	263.9	83	1265	9
Joe Horn	2002	30	NOR	16	263.4	88	1312	7
Allen Robinson	2020	27	CHI	16	262.9	102	1250	6
Mike Evans	2021	28	TAM	16	262.5	74	1035	14
Julio Jones	2012	23	ATL	16	261.8	79	1198	10
Alshon Jeffery	2014	24	CHI	16	261.6	85	1133	10
Keenan Allen	2019	27	LAC	16	261.5	104	1199	6
Larry Fitzgerald	2017	34	ARI	16	261.4	109	1156	6
Calvin Johnson	2015	30	DET	16	261.4	88	1214	9
DeSean Jackson	2009	23	PHI	15	261.3	62	1156	9
Vincent Jackson	2012	29	TAM	16	260.4	72	1384	8
Jimmy Smith	2000	31	JAX	15	260.3	91	1213	8
Sidney Rice	2009	23	MIN	16	260.2	83	1312	8
Keenan Allen	2018	26	LAC	16	260.1	97	1196	6
Brandon Marshall	2008	24	DEN	15	260.1	104	1265	6
Jarvis Landry	2017	25	MIA	16	260	112	987	9
Julio Jones	2016	27	ATL	14	259.9	83	1409	6
Steve Smith Sr.	2006	27	CAR	14	259.7	83	1166	8
Anquan Boldin	2008	28	ARI	12	259.5	89	1038	11
Torry Holt	2001	25	STL	16	259.3	81	1363	7
Marty Booker	2001	25	CHI	16	259.3	100	1071	8
Jaylen Waddle	2022	24	MIA	17	259.2	75	1356	8
Hunter Renfrow	2021	26	LVR	17	259.1	103	1038	9
Golden Tate	2014	26	DET	16	259.1	99	1331	4
Eric Moulds	2000	27	BUF	16	259	94	1326	5
Michael Thomas	2017	24	NOR	16	258.5	104	1245	5
T.Y. Hilton	2014	25	IND	15	258.5	82	1345	7
Steve Smith Sr.	2008	29	CAR	14	258.1	78	1421	6
Keenan Allen	2021	29	LAC	16	257.8	106	1138	6
Marty Booker	2002	26	CHI	16	257.7	97	1189	6
Muhsin Muhammad	2000	27	CAR	16	257.5	102	1183	6
Lee Evans	2006	25	BUF	16	257.2	82	1292	8
Donald Driver	2004	29	GNB	16	257.2	84	1208	9
Andre Johnson	2010	29	HOU	13	256.6	86	1216	8
Julian Edelman	2019	33	NWE	16	256.3	100	1117	6
Tim Brown	2000	34	OAK	16	256	76	1128	11
Torry Holt	2007	31	STL	16	255.9	93	1189	7
Michael Thomas	2016	23	NOR	15	255.7	92	1137	9
Victor Cruz	2012	26	NYG	16	255.2	86	1092	10
Jerry Rice	2002	40	OAK	16	255.1	92	1211	7
Allen Robinson	2019	26	CHI	16	254.9	98	1147	7
DeVonta Smith	2022	24	PHI	17	254.6	95	1196	7
Derrick Mason	2004	30	TEN	16	254.5	96	1168	7
Marques Colston	2012	29	NOR	16	254.4	83	1154	10
Adam Thielen	2020	30	MIN	15	254	74	925	14
Doug Baldwin	2016	28	SEA	16	253.6	94	1128	7
Brandin Cooks	2015	22	NOR	16	253.6	84	1138	9
Keenan McCardell	2003	34	TAM	16	253.4	84	1174	8
Eric Decker	2015	28	NYJ	15	252.7	80	1027	12
T.J. Houshmandzadeh	2006	29	CIN	14	252.7	90	1081	9
Plaxico Burress	2002	25	PIT	16	252.5	78	1325	7
Julio Jones	2017	28	ATL	16	251.9	88	1444	3
Julian Edelman	2013	27	NWE	16	251.7	105	1056	6
Laveranues Coles	2002	25	NYJ	16	251.3	89	1264	5
Roy Williams	2006	25	DET	16	251.2	82	1310	7
Steve Smith Sr.	2003	24	CAR	16	251.2	88	1110	7
Jerry Rice	2001	39	OAK	16	250.9	83	1139	9
Michael Crabtree	2012	25	SFO	16	250.3	85	1105	9
Hakeem Nicks	2010	22	NYG	13	250.2	79	1052	11
Antonio Bryant	2008	27	TAM	16	250	83	1248	7
Mike Wallace	2010	24	PIT	16	249.6	60	1257	10
Andre Johnson	2006	25	HOU	16	249.1	103	1147	5
Darrell Jackson	2004	26	SEA	16	248.9	87	1199	7
Mike Evans	2020	27	TAM	16	248.6	70	1006	13
Wes Welker	2008	27	NWE	16	248.1	111	1165	3
Kenny Golladay	2019	26	DET	16	248	65	1190	11
Kevin Johnson	2001	25	CLE	16	247.7	84	1097	9
A.J. Brown	2020	23	TEN	14	247.5	70	1075	11
Steve Johnson	2010	24	BUF	16	247.3	82	1073	10
Santana Moss	2003	24	NYJ	16	247.2	74	1105	10
Davante Adams	2016	24	GNB	16	246.7	75	997	12
Mike Williams	2021	27	LAC	16	246.6	76	1146	9
Amari Cooper	2019	25	DAL	16	246.5	79	1189	8
Brandin Cooks	2016	23	NOR	16	246.3	78	1173	8
DeVante Parker	2019	26	MIA	16	246.2	72	1202	9
Isaac Bruce	2004	32	STL	16	246.2	89	1292	6
Amari Cooper	2022	28	CLE	17	246	78	1160	9
Anquan Boldin	2013	33	SFO	16	246	85	1179	7
Jaylen Waddle	2021	23	MIA	16	245.8	104	1015	6
Derrick Mason	2001	27	TEN	15	245.8	73	1128	9
Hines Ward	2009	33	PIT	16	245.7	95	1167	6
Tyreek Hill	2017	23	KAN	15	245.2	75	1183	7
Robert Woods	2020	28	LAR	16	245.1	90	936	6
Keenan Allen	2020	28	LAC	14	245.1	100	992	8
Mike Evans	2014	21	TAM	15	245.1	68	1051	12
Torry Holt	2002	26	STL	16	245	91	1302	4
Plaxico Burress	2007	30	NYG	16	244.5	70	1025	12
D.K. Metcalf	2021	24	SEA	17	244.3	75	967	12
Michael Clayton	2004	22	TAM	16	244.3	80	1193	7
Terrell Owens	2003	30	SFO	15	244	80	1102	9
Larry Fitzgerald	2016	33	ARI	16	243.8	107	1023	6
Javon Walker	2006	28	DEN	16	243.7	69	1084	8
Brandin Cooks	2018	25	LAR	16	243.2	80	1204	5
Jeremy Maclin	2015	27	KAN	15	243.2	87	1088	8
Mike Wallace	2011	25	PIT	16	243	72	1193	8
Bobby Engram	2007	35	SEA	16	242.7	94	1147	6
Amani Toomer	2000	26	NYG	16	242.5	78	1094	7
Ja'Marr Chase	2022	22	CIN	12	242.4	87	1046	9
Chris Godwin	2021	25	TAM	14	242.4	98	1103	5
Vincent Jackson	2013	30	TAM	16	242.4	78	1224	7
Laveranues Coles	2003	26	WAS	16	242.3	82	1204	6
Christian Kirk	2022	26	JAX	17	241.9	84	1108	8
Larry Fitzgerald	2010	27	ARI	16	241.7	90	1137	6
Tyler Lockett	2021	29	SEA	16	241.4	73	1175	8
Randall Cobb	2012	22	GNB	15	240.6	80	954	8
Mike Furrey	2006	29	DET	16	240.6	98	1086	6
Marques Colston	2011	28	NOR	14	240.3	80	1143	8
Keenan McCardell	2001	32	JAX	16	240	93	1110	6
Vincent Jackson	2009	26	SDG	15	239.8	68	1167	9
Adam Thielen	2017	27	MIN	16	239.7	91	1276	4
Derrick Mason	2007	33	BAL	16	239.7	103	1087	5
Donald Driver	2005	30	GNB	16	239.4	86	1221	5
Michael Crabtree	2016	29	OAK	16	239.3	89	1003	8
T.Y. Hilton	2018	29	IND	14	239	76	1270	6
Rod Smith	2004	34	DEN	16	238.7	79	1144	7
Keenan McCardell	2000	31	JAX	16	238.7	94	1207	5
Michael Pittman Jr.	2021	24	IND	17	238.6	88	1082	6
Laveranues Coles	2006	29	NYJ	16	238.2	91	1098	6
Brandon Marshall	2011	27	MIA	16	237.7	81	1214	6
Koren Robinson	2002	22	SEA	16	237.6	78	1240	5
D.J. Moore	2021	24	CAR	17	237.5	93	1157	4
Jarvis Landry	2019	27	CLE	16	237.4	83	1174	6
Plaxico Burress	2005	28	NYG	16	237.4	76	1214	7
Joe Horn	2003	31	NOR	15	237.4	78	973	10
Tyler Lockett	2022	30	SEA	16	237.3	84	1033	9
Hakeem Nicks	2011	23	NYG	15	237.2	76	1192	7
Amari Cooper	2020	26	DAL	16	236.8	92	1114	5
Keyshawn Johnson	2001	29	TAM	15	236.6	106	1266	1
Larry Fitzgerald	2013	30	ARI	16	236.2	82	954	10
Kevin Curtis	2007	29	PHI	16	236	77	1110	6
Santana Moss	2010	31	WAS	16	235.9	93	1115	6
Steve Smith Sr.	2007	28	CAR	15	235.8	87	1002	7
Terrell Owens	2008	35	DAL	16	235.5	69	1052	10
Nate Burleson	2004	23	MIN	16	235.5	68	1006	9
Donald Driver	2002	27	GNB	16	235.4	70	1064	9
Tyler Lockett	2019	27	SEA	16	235.2	82	1057	8
Curtis Conway	2001	30	SDG	16	235.1	71	1125	6
Roddy White	2007	26	ATL	16	235	83	1202	6
Reggie Wayne	2008	30	IND	16	234.5	82	1145	6
Santonio Holmes	2009	25	PIT	16	234.4	79	1248	5
JuJu Smith-Schuster	2020	24	PIT	16	234.1	97	831	9
Brandon Stokley	2004	28	IND	16	233.7	68	1077	10
Darrell Jackson	2003	25	SEA	16	233.7	68	1137	9
Robert Woods	2019	27	LAR	15	232.9	90	1134	2
CeeDee Lamb	2021	22	DAL	16	232.8	79	1102	6
Mike Evans	2019	26	TAM	13	232.7	67	1157	8
Amari Cooper	2016	22	OAK	16	232.3	83	1153	5
Brandin Cooks	2020	27	HOU	15	232	81	1150	6
Brandin Cooks	2021	28	HOU	16	231.8	90	1037	6
Randy Moss	2008	31	NWE	16	231.8	69	1008	11
Hines Ward	2005	29	PIT	15	231.5	69	975	11
Jarvis Landry	2016	24	MIA	16	231.3	94	1136	4
Michael Crabtree	2015	28	OAK	16	231.2	85	922	9
DeAndre Hopkins	2014	22	HOU	16	231	76	1210	6
Jordan Matthews	2015	23	PHI	16	230.7	85	997	8
D.J. Moore	2019	22	CAR	15	230.5	87	1175	4
Odell Beckham Jr.	2018	26	NYG	12	230.3	77	1052	6
Julian Edelman	2016	30	NWE	16	230.3	98	1106	3
Dwayne Bowe	2008	24	KAN	16	230.2	86	1022	7
Anquan Boldin	2006	26	ARI	16	230.1	83	1203	4
Marques Colston	2009	26	NOR	16	230	70	1074	9
Chad Johnson	2009	31	CIN	16	229.9	72	1047	9
Eddie Royal	2008	22	DEN	15	229.9	91	980	5
Lance Moore	2008	25	NOR	16	229.8	79	928	10
Vincent Jackson	2011	28	SDG	16	229.7	60	1106	9
Terry McLaurin	2022	27	WAS	17	229	77	1191	5
Julian Edelman	2014	28	NWE	14	228.6	92	972	4
Miles Austin	2010	26	DAL	16	228.4	69	1041	7
Marques Colston	2010	27	NOR	15	228.4	84	1023	7
Andre Johnson	2004	23	HOU	16	228.4	79	1142	6
Rod Smith	2005	35	DEN	16	228.2	85	1105	6
Dwayne Bowe	2011	27	KAN	16	228.1	81	1159	5
Jeremy Maclin	2010	22	PHI	16	228	70	964	10
Brandon Aiyuk	2022	24	SFO	17	227.8	78	1015	8
Marvin Jones	2020	30	DET	16	227.8	76	978	9
Hines Ward	2008	32	PIT	16	227.7	81	1043	7
David Boston	2000	22	ARI	16	227.5	71	1156	7
Amon-Ra St. Brown	2021	22	DET	17	227.3	90	912	5
Chris Chambers	2003	25	MIA	16	227.3	64	963	11
Darrell Jackson	2001	23	SEA	16	227	70	1081	8
Jimmy Smith	2002	33	JAX	16	226.9	80	1027	7
D.K. Metcalf	2022	25	SEA	17	226.8	90	1048	6
A.J. Green	2017	29	CIN	16	226.8	75	1078	8
Calvin Johnson	2014	29	DET	13	226.7	71	1077	8
James Jones	2012	28	GNB	16	226.4	64	784	14
Marquise Brown	2021	24	BAL	16	226.3	91	1008	6
Demaryius Thomas	2016	29	DEN	16	226.3	90	1083	5
Isaac Bruce	2002	30	STL	16	226.3	79	1075	7
Santana Moss	2008	29	WAS	16	226.1	79	1044	6
DJ Chark	2019	23	JAX	15	225.8	73	1008	8
Kelvin Benjamin	2014	23	CAR	16	225.8	73	1008	9
T.J. Houshmandzadeh	2005	28	CIN	14	225.8	78	956	7
Mike Evans	2022	29	TAM	15	225.4	77	1124	6
Jimmy Smith	2004	35	JAX	16	225.2	74	1172	6
Marvin Jones	2017	27	DET	16	225.1	61	1101	9
Allen Hurns	2015	24	JAX	15	225.1	64	1031	10

The average age for this group is 27.16 years old. Below is a distribution graph of the ages of qualifying WRs when they hit a peak season.

Previously, the youngest player to accomplish a peak season was Mike Evans in 2016 at 21 years old. Justin Jefferson matched Evans this season by scoring 270.2 fantasy points as a 21-year-old rookie. In the 2021 season, Ja’Marr Chase joined them with a 1,455-yard 13-touchdown rookie season. Chase presents a strong argument for why he should be at the top of the board in dynasty drafts.

Most would call Jerry Rice the greatest of all time and he didn’t disappoint at the end of his career, as the only player to meet the criteria over the age of 35. Rice incredibly accomplished the feat at 39 and 40 years old but would have also met the criteria at 32, 33, 34, and 36 had we included seasons prior to 2000. Rice falls directly in the anomaly category – it’s unfair to expect the same production from other wide receivers.

The peak age for an NFL wide receiver appears to land at ages 23 to 30, as 79.74 percent of the individual seasons fall within this range. A more magnified peak is in the 25 to 29 range, where 56.84 percent of peak seasons reside. As I do these studies annually, the average age becomes younger each season. Two years ago the average age of this group was 27.26, last year it fell to 27.16, now it sits at 27.08 years old.

There is a steady decline that takes place after the age 29 season and continues with each passing year. Just 6.32 percent of the peak seasons happen after the age 32 season and a minuscule 2.1 percent of the seasons take place after age 34.

Let’s see if the peak or drop-off changes if we raise the floor for a peak season.

Re-Defining A Peak Season

If we raise the minimum fantasy points scored for a peak season to 258 (roughly top-10 production) then the sample size drops to 212 seasons. Nine wide receivers in 2020 scored at least 258 PPR fantasy points. Since 2000, an average of 9.2 receivers make this list per season.

The full list of players to qualify is included below.

Player	Season	Age	Tm	G	PPR	Rec	Yds	TD
Cooper Kupp	2021	28	LAR	17	439.5	145	1947	16
Antonio Brown	2015	27	PIT	16	388.2	136	1834	10
Antonio Brown	2014	26	PIT	16	386.9	129	1698	13
Randy Moss	2007	30	NWE	16	385.3	98	1493	23
Marvin Harrison	2002	30	IND	16	384.2	143	1722	11
Randy Moss	2003	26	MIN	16	376	111	1632	17
Julio Jones	2015	26	ATL	16	375.1	136	1871	8
Michael Thomas	2019	26	NOR	16	374.6	149	1725	9
Justin Jefferson	2022	23	MIN	17	368.7	128	1809	8
Calvin Johnson	2011	26	DET	16	359.2	96	1681	16
Torry Holt	2003	27	STL	16	359.1	117	1696	12
Davante Adams	2020	28	GNB	14	358.4	115	1374	18
Marvin Harrison	2001	29	IND	16	351.7	109	1524	15
Tyreek Hill	2022	28	MIA	17	347.2	119	1710	7
Davante Adams	2021	29	GNB	16	344.3	123	1553	11
Calvin Johnson	2012	27	DET	16	342.4	122	1964	5
Demaryius Thomas	2014	27	DEN	16	340.9	111	1619	11
Brandon Marshall	2015	31	NYJ	16	339.2	109	1502	14
Deebo Samuel	2021	25	SFO	16	339	77	1405	6
Steve Smith Sr.	2005	26	CAR	16	337.8	103	1563	12
Hines Ward	2002	26	PIT	16	337.1	112	1329	12
Wes Welker	2011	30	NWE	16	335.9	122	1569	9
Davante Adams	2022	30	LVR	17	335.5	100	1516	14
Brandon Marshall	2012	28	CHI	16	334.6	118	1508	11
Tyreek Hill	2018	24	KAN	16	334	87	1479	12
DeAndre Hopkins	2018	26	HOU	16	333.5	115	1572	11
Terrell Owens	2001	28	SFO	16	332.3	93	1412	16
DeAndre Hopkins	2015	23	HOU	16	331.1	111	1521	11
Justin Jefferson	2021	22	MIN	17	330.4	108	1616	10
Davante Adams	2018	26	GNB	15	329.6	111	1386	13
Muhsin Muhammad	2004	31	CAR	16	329	93	1405	16
Tyreek Hill	2020	26	KAN	15	328.9	87	1276	15
Stefon Diggs	2020	27	BUF	16	328.6	127	1535	8
Jordy Nelson	2014	29	GNB	16	327.9	98	1519	13
Marvin Harrison	2000	28	IND	16	327.3	102	1413	14
Julio Jones	2018	29	ATL	16	325.9	113	1677	8
Antonio Brown	2018	30	PIT	15	323.7	104	1297	15
Rod Smith	2000	30	DEN	16	322.1	100	1602	8
Terrell Owens	2002	29	SFO	14	321.9	100	1300	13
Terrell Owens	2000	27	SFO	14	321.2	97	1451	13
Andre Johnson	2008	27	HOU	16	320.5	115	1575	8
Odell Beckham Jr.	2015	23	NYG	15	319.3	96	1450	13
Demaryius Thomas	2013	26	DEN	16	319	92	1430	14
Rod Smith	2001	31	DEN	15	318	113	1343	11
Stefon Diggs	2022	29	BUF	16	316.6	108	1429	11
Roddy White	2010	29	ATL	16	316.2	115	1389	10
Dez Bryant	2014	26	DAL	16	316	88	1320	16
Michael Thomas	2018	25	NOR	16	315.5	125	1405	9
Antonio Brown	2013	25	PIT	16	314.9	110	1499	8
Andre Johnson	2009	28	HOU	16	314.9	101	1569	9
Josh Gordon	2013	22	CLE	14	314.4	87	1646	9
Randy Moss	2000	23	MIN	16	313.2	77	1437	15
Larry Fitzgerald	2008	25	ARI	16	311.1	96	1431	12
Antonio Brown	2017	29	PIT	14	310.3	101	1533	9
DeAndre Hopkins	2017	25	HOU	15	309.8	96	1378	13
Reggie Wayne	2007	29	IND	16	309.4	104	1510	10
Larry Fitzgerald	2005	22	ARI	16	308	103	1409	10
Adam Thielen	2018	28	MIN	16	307.3	113	1373	9
Antonio Brown	2016	28	PIT	15	307.3	106	1284	12
David Boston	2001	23	ARI	16	307.3	98	1598	8
Terrell Owens	2007	34	DAL	15	307	81	1355	15
A.J. Green	2013	25	CIN	16	306.6	98	1426	11
Brandon Marshall	2013	29	CHI	16	305.5	100	1295	12
Jordy Nelson	2016	31	GNB	16	304.7	97	1257	14
Ja'Marr Chase	2021	21	CIN	17	304.6	81	1455	13
Mike Evans	2016	23	TAM	16	304.1	96	1321	12
Allen Robinson	2015	22	JAX	16	304	80	1400	14
Calvin Johnson	2013	28	DET	14	303.2	84	1492	12
Joe Horn	2004	32	NOR	16	301.9	94	1399	11
Emmanuel Sanders	2014	27	DEN	16	301.8	101	1404	9
CeeDee Lamb	2022	23	DAL	17	301.6	107	1359	9
Marvin Harrison	2006	34	IND	16	301.6	95	1366	12
Braylon Edwards	2007	24	CLE	16	300.9	80	1289	16
A.J. Green	2012	24	CIN	16	299.8	97	1350	11
Dez Bryant	2012	24	DAL	16	299.7	92	1382	12
A.J. Brown	2022	25	PHI	17	299.6	88	1496	11
T.J. Houshmandzadeh	2007	30	CIN	16	297.7	112	1143	12
Chad Johnson	2005	27	CIN	16	297.5	97	1432	9
Julio Jones	2014	25	ATL	15	297.4	104	1593	6
Jimmy Smith	2001	32	JAX	16	297	112	1373	8
JuJu Smith-Schuster	2018	22	PIT	16	296.9	111	1426	7
Odell Beckham Jr.	2016	24	NYG	16	296.6	101	1367	10
Tyreek Hill	2021	27	KAN	17	296.5	111	1239	9
Andre Johnson	2012	31	HOU	16	295.8	112	1598	4
Javon Walker	2004	26	GNB	16	295.2	89	1382	12
Odell Beckham Jr.	2014	22	NYG	12	295	91	1305	12
Larry Fitzgerald	2007	24	ARI	15	294.9	100	1409	10
Randall Cobb	2014	24	GNB	16	293.4	91	1287	12
Dez Bryant	2013	25	DAL	16	292.4	93	1233	13
Demaryius Thomas	2012	25	DEN	16	291.4	94	1434	10
Torry Holt	2004	28	STL	16	291.2	94	1372	10
Mike Evans	2018	25	TAM	16	290.4	86	1524	8
Randy Moss	2002	25	MIN	16	290.3	106	1347	7
Eric Moulds	2002	29	BUF	16	289.9	100	1292	10
Wes Welker	2012	31	NWE	16	289.4	118	1354	6
Torry Holt	2005	29	STL	14	289.3	102	1331	9
Anquan Boldin	2005	25	ARI	14	288.7	102	1402	7
Ed McCaffrey	2000	32	DEN	16	288.7	101	1317	9
Victor Cruz	2011	25	NYG	16	287.9	82	1536	9
DeAndre Hopkins	2020	28	ARI	16	287.8	115	1407	6
Chad Johnson	2007	29	CIN	16	287.7	93	1440	8
Randy Moss	2009	32	NWE	16	287.4	83	1264	13
Isaac Bruce	2000	28	STL	16	287.2	87	1471	9
Brandon Lloyd	2010	29	DEN	16	286	77	1448	11
Stefon Diggs	2021	28	BUF	17	285.5	103	1225	10
Chad Johnson	2003	25	CIN	16	285.5	90	1355	10
Wes Welker	2009	28	NWE	14	285.4	123	1348	4
Marvin Harrison	2004	32	IND	16	285.3	86	1113	15
Reggie Wayne	2009	31	IND	16	284.4	100	1264	10
Jordy Nelson	2011	26	GNB	16	284.3	68	1263	15
Keenan Allen	2017	25	LAC	16	284.2	102	1393	6
Larry Fitzgerald	2009	26	ARI	16	284.2	97	1092	13
Santana Moss	2005	26	WAS	16	284	84	1483	9
Alshon Jeffery	2013	23	CHI	16	283.6	89	1421	7
Terrell Owens	2006	33	DAL	16	283	85	1180	13
Anquan Boldin	2003	23	ARI	16	282.7	101	1377	8
Marques Colston	2007	24	NOR	16	282.2	98	1202	11
Derrick Alexander	2000	29	KAN	16	281.6	78	1391	10
Calvin Ridley	2020	26	ATL	15	281.5	90	1374	9
Calvin Johnson	2008	23	DET	16	281	78	1331	12
Wes Welker	2007	26	NWE	16	280.9	112	1175	8
Larry Fitzgerald	2015	32	ARI	16	280.5	109	1215	9
Reggie Wayne	2010	32	IND	16	280.5	111	1355	6
Chad Johnson	2004	26	CIN	16	280.3	95	1274	9
Brandon Marshall	2007	23	DEN	16	280.2	102	1325	7
Eric Decker	2013	26	DEN	16	279.8	87	1288	11
Andre Johnson	2013	32	HOU	16	279.7	109	1407	5
Marvin Harrison	2003	31	IND	15	279.5	94	1272	10
Miles Austin	2009	25	DAL	16	278.8	81	1320	11
Dwayne Bowe	2010	26	KAN	16	278.6	72	1162	15
Terrell Owens	2004	31	PHI	14	278.5	77	1200	14
Torry Holt	2000	24	STL	16	278.2	82	1635	6
Roddy White	2011	30	ATL	16	277.6	100	1296	8
Pierre Garcon	2013	27	WAS	16	277.5	113	1346	5
Hines Ward	2003	27	PIT	16	277.4	95	1163	10
Joe Horn	2000	28	NOR	16	277	94	1340	8
Brandon Marshall	2009	25	DEN	15	276.9	101	1120	10
Drew Bennett	2004	26	TEN	16	276.9	80	1247	11
Jeremy Maclin	2014	26	PHI	16	276.8	85	1318	10
Chris Godwin	2019	23	TAM	14	276.1	86	1333	9
Jarvis Landry	2015	23	MIA	16	275.4	110	1157	4
Cris Carter	2000	35	MIN	16	275.4	96	1274	9
Diontae Johnson	2021	25	PIT	16	274.4	107	1161	8
Greg Jennings	2010	27	GNB	16	274.4	76	1265	12
Derrick Mason	2003	29	TEN	16	274.4	95	1303	8
Justin Jefferson	2020	21	MIN	16	274.2	88	1400	7
Julio Jones	2019	30	ATL	15	274.1	99	1394	6
T.Y. Hilton	2016	27	IND	16	273.8	91	1448	6
A.J. Green	2015	27	CIN	16	273.7	86	1297	10
Reggie Wayne	2006	28	IND	16	273	86	1310	9
Joey Galloway	2005	34	TAM	16	272.1	83	1287	10
D.K. Metcalf	2020	23	SEA	16	271.3	83	1303	10
Donald Driver	2006	31	GNB	16	271.1	92	1295	8
Steve Smith	2009	24	NYG	16	271	107	1220	7
Cooper Kupp	2019	26	LAR	16	270.5	94	1161	10
Randy Moss	2001	24	MIN	16	270.3	82	1233	10
Troy Brown	2001	30	NWE	16	270	101	1199	5
Peerless Price	2002	26	BUF	16	269.9	94	1252	9
Torry Holt	2006	30	STL	16	269.8	93	1188	10
Reggie Wayne	2004	26	IND	16	269.6	77	1210	12
DeSean Jackson	2013	27	PHI	16	269.4	82	1332	9
Eric Decker	2012	25	DEN	16	269.4	85	1064	13
Tim Brown	2001	35	OAK	16	269.4	91	1165	9
Roddy White	2012	31	ATL	16	269.1	92	1351	7
Larry Fitzgerald	2011	28	ARI	16	269.1	80	1411	8
Reggie Wayne	2012	34	IND	16	269	106	1355	5
Doug Baldwin	2015	27	SEA	16	268.9	78	1069	14
Marvin Harrison	2005	33	IND	15	268.6	82	1146	12
DeAndre Hopkins	2019	27	HOU	15	268.5	104	1165	7
Percy Harvin	2011	23	MIN	16	268.2	87	967	6
Amon-Ra St. Brown	2022	23	DET	16	267.6	106	1161	6
Demaryius Thomas	2015	28	DEN	16	267.4	105	1304	6
Roddy White	2009	28	ATL	16	266.5	85	1153	11
Stefon Diggs	2018	25	MIN	15	266.3	102	1021	9
Chad Johnson	2006	28	CIN	16	266.3	87	1369	7
Calvin Johnson	2010	25	DET	15	266.2	77	1120	12
Robert Woods	2018	26	LAR	16	265.6	86	1219	6
Tyler Lockett	2020	28	SEA	16	265.4	100	1054	10
Greg Jennings	2008	25	GNB	16	265.2	80	1292	9
Chris Chambers	2005	27	MIA	16	265	82	1118	11
Roddy White	2008	27	ATL	16	264.6	88	1382	7
Amani Toomer	2002	28	NYG	16	264.5	82	1343	8
Jordy Nelson	2013	28	GNB	16	264.4	85	1314	8
Steve Smith Sr.	2011	32	CAR	16	264	79	1394	7
Joe Horn	2001	29	NOR	16	263.9	83	1265	9
Joe Horn	2002	30	NOR	16	263.4	88	1312	7
Allen Robinson	2020	27	CHI	16	262.9	102	1250	6
Mike Evans	2021	28	TAM	16	262.5	74	1035	14
Julio Jones	2012	23	ATL	16	261.8	79	1198	10
Alshon Jeffery	2014	24	CHI	16	261.6	85	1133	10
Keenan Allen	2019	27	LAC	16	261.5	104	1199	6
Larry Fitzgerald	2017	34	ARI	16	261.4	109	1156	6
Calvin Johnson	2015	30	DET	16	261.4	88	1214	9
DeSean Jackson	2009	23	PHI	15	261.3	62	1156	9
Vincent Jackson	2012	29	TAM	16	260.4	72	1384	8
Jimmy Smith	2000	31	JAX	15	260.3	91	1213	8
Sidney Rice	2009	23	MIN	16	260.2	83	1312	8
Keenan Allen	2018	26	LAC	16	260.1	97	1196	6
Brandon Marshall	2008	24	DEN	15	260.1	104	1265	6
Jarvis Landry	2017	25	MIA	16	260	112	987	9
Julio Jones	2016	27	ATL	14	259.9	83	1409	6
Steve Smith Sr.	2006	27	CAR	14	259.7	83	1166	8
Anquan Boldin	2008	28	ARI	12	259.5	89	1038	11
Torry Holt	2001	25	STL	16	259.3	81	1363	7
Marty Booker	2001	25	CHI	16	259.3	100	1071	8
Jaylen Waddle	2022	24	MIA	17	259.2	75	1356	8
Hunter Renfrow	2021	26	LVR	17	259.1	103	1038	9
Golden Tate	2014	26	DET	16	259.1	99	1331	4
Eric Moulds	2000	27	BUF	16	259	94	1326	5
Michael Thomas	2017	24	NOR	16	258.5	104	1245	5
T.Y. Hilton	2014	25	IND	15	258.5	82	1345	7
Steve Smith Sr.	2008	29	CAR	14	258.1	78	1421	6

The average age ever so slightly drops by 0.02 years to 27.06. Below is a distribution graph of the ages.

With the higher parameter, no player over 35 has accomplished a peak season. The former peak range from ages 23 to 30 jumps to include 82.1 percent of the seasons, while 59.9 percent fall within the 25 to 29 age range.

What can we learn from re-defining the peak? If we’re looking for higher-end seasons, it’s helpful to learn from the characteristics of the players who have accomplished the feat.

Raising The Qualifier Again

If we raise the qualifying fantasy points scored for a peak season to 285 (on average, 4.7 receivers qualify for this list each season) then the sample size drops to 108 seasons. Out of wide receivers, only Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, CeeDee Lamb, and A.J. Brown scored over 285 PPR fantasy points this past season. Again, the players are listed below.

Player	Season	Age	Tm	G	PPR	Rec	Yds	TD
Cooper Kupp	2021	28	LAR	17	439.5	145	1947	16
Antonio Brown	2015	27	PIT	16	388.2	136	1834	10
Antonio Brown	2014	26	PIT	16	386.9	129	1698	13
Randy Moss	2007	30	NWE	16	385.3	98	1493	23
Marvin Harrison	2002	30	IND	16	384.2	143	1722	11
Randy Moss	2003	26	MIN	16	376	111	1632	17
Julio Jones	2015	26	ATL	16	375.1	136	1871	8
Michael Thomas	2019	26	NOR	16	374.6	149	1725	9
Justin Jefferson	2022	23	MIN	17	368.7	128	1809	8
Calvin Johnson	2011	26	DET	16	359.2	96	1681	16
Torry Holt	2003	27	STL	16	359.1	117	1696	12
Davante Adams	2020	28	GNB	14	358.4	115	1374	18
Marvin Harrison	2001	29	IND	16	351.7	109	1524	15
Tyreek Hill	2022	28	MIA	17	347.2	119	1710	7
Davante Adams	2021	29	GNB	16	344.3	123	1553	11
Calvin Johnson	2012	27	DET	16	342.4	122	1964	5
Demaryius Thomas	2014	27	DEN	16	340.9	111	1619	11
Brandon Marshall	2015	31	NYJ	16	339.2	109	1502	14
Deebo Samuel	2021	25	SFO	16	339	77	1405	6
Steve Smith Sr.	2005	26	CAR	16	337.8	103	1563	12
Hines Ward	2002	26	PIT	16	337.1	112	1329	12
Wes Welker	2011	30	NWE	16	335.9	122	1569	9
Davante Adams	2022	30	LVR	17	335.5	100	1516	14
Brandon Marshall	2012	28	CHI	16	334.6	118	1508	11
Tyreek Hill	2018	24	KAN	16	334	87	1479	12
DeAndre Hopkins	2018	26	HOU	16	333.5	115	1572	11
Terrell Owens	2001	28	SFO	16	332.3	93	1412	16
DeAndre Hopkins	2015	23	HOU	16	331.1	111	1521	11
Justin Jefferson	2021	22	MIN	17	330.4	108	1616	10
Davante Adams	2018	26	GNB	15	329.6	111	1386	13
Muhsin Muhammad	2004	31	CAR	16	329	93	1405	16
Tyreek Hill	2020	26	KAN	15	328.9	87	1276	15
Stefon Diggs	2020	27	BUF	16	328.6	127	1535	8
Jordy Nelson	2014	29	GNB	16	327.9	98	1519	13
Marvin Harrison	2000	28	IND	16	327.3	102	1413	14
Julio Jones	2018	29	ATL	16	325.9	113	1677	8
Antonio Brown	2018	30	PIT	15	323.7	104	1297	15
Rod Smith	2000	30	DEN	16	322.1	100	1602	8
Terrell Owens	2002	29	SFO	14	321.9	100	1300	13
Terrell Owens	2000	27	SFO	14	321.2	97	1451	13
Andre Johnson	2008	27	HOU	16	320.5	115	1575	8
Odell Beckham Jr.	2015	23	NYG	15	319.3	96	1450	13
Demaryius Thomas	2013	26	DEN	16	319	92	1430	14
Rod Smith	2001	31	DEN	15	318	113	1343	11
Stefon Diggs	2022	29	BUF	16	316.6	108	1429	11
Roddy White	2010	29	ATL	16	316.2	115	1389	10
Dez Bryant	2014	26	DAL	16	316	88	1320	16
Michael Thomas	2018	25	NOR	16	315.5	125	1405	9
Antonio Brown	2013	25	PIT	16	314.9	110	1499	8
Andre Johnson	2009	28	HOU	16	314.9	101	1569	9
Josh Gordon	2013	22	CLE	14	314.4	87	1646	9
Randy Moss	2000	23	MIN	16	313.2	77	1437	15
Larry Fitzgerald	2008	25	ARI	16	311.1	96	1431	12
Antonio Brown	2017	29	PIT	14	310.3	101	1533	9
DeAndre Hopkins	2017	25	HOU	15	309.8	96	1378	13
Reggie Wayne	2007	29	IND	16	309.4	104	1510	10
Larry Fitzgerald	2005	22	ARI	16	308	103	1409	10
Adam Thielen	2018	28	MIN	16	307.3	113	1373	9
Antonio Brown	2016	28	PIT	15	307.3	106	1284	12
David Boston	2001	23	ARI	16	307.3	98	1598	8
Terrell Owens	2007	34	DAL	15	307	81	1355	15
A.J. Green	2013	25	CIN	16	306.6	98	1426	11
Brandon Marshall	2013	29	CHI	16	305.5	100	1295	12
Jordy Nelson	2016	31	GNB	16	304.7	97	1257	14
Ja'Marr Chase	2021	21	CIN	17	304.6	81	1455	13
Mike Evans	2016	23	TAM	16	304.1	96	1321	12
Allen Robinson	2015	22	JAX	16	304	80	1400	14
Calvin Johnson	2013	28	DET	14	303.2	84	1492	12
Joe Horn	2004	32	NOR	16	301.9	94	1399	11
Emmanuel Sanders	2014	27	DEN	16	301.8	101	1404	9
CeeDee Lamb	2022	23	DAL	17	301.6	107	1359	9
Marvin Harrison	2006	34	IND	16	301.6	95	1366	12
Braylon Edwards	2007	24	CLE	16	300.9	80	1289	16
A.J. Green	2012	24	CIN	16	299.8	97	1350	11
Dez Bryant	2012	24	DAL	16	299.7	92	1382	12
A.J. Brown	2022	25	PHI	17	299.6	88	1496	11
T.J. Houshmandzadeh	2007	30	CIN	16	297.7	112	1143	12
Chad Johnson	2005	27	CIN	16	297.5	97	1432	9
Julio Jones	2014	25	ATL	15	297.4	104	1593	6
Jimmy Smith	2001	32	JAX	16	297	112	1373	8
JuJu Smith-Schuster	2018	22	PIT	16	296.9	111	1426	7
Odell Beckham Jr.	2016	24	NYG	16	296.6	101	1367	10
Tyreek Hill	2021	27	KAN	17	296.5	111	1239	9
Andre Johnson	2012	31	HOU	16	295.8	112	1598	4
Javon Walker	2004	26	GNB	16	295.2	89	1382	12
Odell Beckham Jr.	2014	22	NYG	12	295	91	1305	12
Larry Fitzgerald	2007	24	ARI	15	294.9	100	1409	10
Randall Cobb	2014	24	GNB	16	293.4	91	1287	12
Dez Bryant	2013	25	DAL	16	292.4	93	1233	13
Demaryius Thomas	2012	25	DEN	16	291.4	94	1434	10
Torry Holt	2004	28	STL	16	291.2	94	1372	10
Mike Evans	2018	25	TAM	16	290.4	86	1524	8
Randy Moss	2002	25	MIN	16	290.3	106	1347	7
Eric Moulds	2002	29	BUF	16	289.9	100	1292	10
Wes Welker	2012	31	NWE	16	289.4	118	1354	6
Torry Holt	2005	29	STL	14	289.3	102	1331	9
Anquan Boldin	2005	25	ARI	14	288.7	102	1402	7
Ed McCaffrey	2000	32	DEN	16	288.7	101	1317	9
Victor Cruz	2011	25	NYG	16	287.9	82	1536	9
DeAndre Hopkins	2020	28	ARI	16	287.8	115	1407	6
Chad Johnson	2007	29	CIN	16	287.7	93	1440	8
Randy Moss	2009	32	NWE	16	287.4	83	1264	13
Isaac Bruce	2000	28	STL	16	287.2	87	1471	9
Brandon Lloyd	2010	29	DEN	16	286	77	1448	11
Stefon Diggs	2021	28	BUF	17	285.5	103	1225	10
Chad Johnson	2003	25	CIN	16	285.5	90	1355	10
Wes Welker	2009	28	NWE	14	285.4	123	1348	4
Marvin Harrison	2004	32	IND	16	285.3	86	1113	15

The average age drops again by 0.07 years to 26.99. Below is a distribution graph of the qualifiers.

The two 35-year-old seasons no longer qualify – the oldest receivers to qualify since 2000 were 34: all-time greats Terrell Owens and Marvin Harrison. Note that since 2009, the oldest receiver to qualify is 31 years old – the most recent being Jordy Nelson in 2016.

We can’t say enough good things about Ja’Marr Chase. In 2021, he became the first 21-year-old to make this list.

As is the case every year, the percentage of players under 30 rises to 81.5 percent. As we continue to raise the PPR points threshold, the age of the players continues to drop. Let’s see if it continues if we raise the requirement one more time.

Raising The Qualifier One Last Time

If we raise the qualifying fantasy points scored for a peak season to 299 PPR fantasy points, the sample size drops to 76 seasons. These are the best of the best receiver seasons – only 3.3 receivers qualify per year. Here are the studs who qualified:

Player	Season	Age	Tm	G	PPR	Rec	Yds	TD
Cooper Kupp	2021	28	LAR	17	439.5	145	1947	16
Antonio Brown	2015	27	PIT	16	388.2	136	1834	10
Antonio Brown	2014	26	PIT	16	386.9	129	1698	13
Randy Moss	2007	30	NWE	16	385.3	98	1493	23
Marvin Harrison	2002	30	IND	16	384.2	143	1722	11
Randy Moss	2003	26	MIN	16	376	111	1632	17
Julio Jones	2015	26	ATL	16	375.1	136	1871	8
Michael Thomas	2019	26	NOR	16	374.6	149	1725	9
Justin Jefferson	2022	23	MIN	17	368.7	128	1809	8
Calvin Johnson	2011	26	DET	16	359.2	96	1681	16
Torry Holt	2003	27	STL	16	359.1	117	1696	12
Davante Adams	2020	28	GNB	14	358.4	115	1374	18
Marvin Harrison	2001	29	IND	16	351.7	109	1524	15
Tyreek Hill	2022	28	MIA	17	347.2	119	1710	7
Davante Adams	2021	29	GNB	16	344.3	123	1553	11
Calvin Johnson	2012	27	DET	16	342.4	122	1964	5
Demaryius Thomas	2014	27	DEN	16	340.9	111	1619	11
Brandon Marshall	2015	31	NYJ	16	339.2	109	1502	14
Deebo Samuel	2021	25	SFO	16	339	77	1405	6
Steve Smith Sr.	2005	26	CAR	16	337.8	103	1563	12
Hines Ward	2002	26	PIT	16	337.1	112	1329	12
Wes Welker	2011	30	NWE	16	335.9	122	1569	9
Davante Adams	2022	30	LVR	17	335.5	100	1516	14
Brandon Marshall	2012	28	CHI	16	334.6	118	1508	11
Tyreek Hill	2018	24	KAN	16	334	87	1479	12
DeAndre Hopkins	2018	26	HOU	16	333.5	115	1572	11
Terrell Owens	2001	28	SFO	16	332.3	93	1412	16
DeAndre Hopkins	2015	23	HOU	16	331.1	111	1521	11
Justin Jefferson	2021	22	MIN	17	330.4	108	1616	10
Davante Adams	2018	26	GNB	15	329.6	111	1386	13
Muhsin Muhammad	2004	31	CAR	16	329	93	1405	16
Tyreek Hill	2020	26	KAN	15	328.9	87	1276	15
Stefon Diggs	2020	27	BUF	16	328.6	127	1535	8
Jordy Nelson	2014	29	GNB	16	327.9	98	1519	13
Marvin Harrison	2000	28	IND	16	327.3	102	1413	14
Julio Jones	2018	29	ATL	16	325.9	113	1677	8
Antonio Brown	2018	30	PIT	15	323.7	104	1297	15
Rod Smith	2000	30	DEN	16	322.1	100	1602	8
Terrell Owens	2002	29	SFO	14	321.9	100	1300	13
Terrell Owens	2000	27	SFO	14	321.2	97	1451	13
Andre Johnson	2008	27	HOU	16	320.5	115	1575	8
Odell Beckham Jr.	2015	23	NYG	15	319.3	96	1450	13
Demaryius Thomas	2013	26	DEN	16	319	92	1430	14
Rod Smith	2001	31	DEN	15	318	113	1343	11
Stefon Diggs	2022	29	BUF	16	316.6	108	1429	11
Roddy White	2010	29	ATL	16	316.2	115	1389	10
Dez Bryant	2014	26	DAL	16	316	88	1320	16
Michael Thomas	2018	25	NOR	16	315.5	125	1405	9
Antonio Brown	2013	25	PIT	16	314.9	110	1499	8
Andre Johnson	2009	28	HOU	16	314.9	101	1569	9
Josh Gordon	2013	22	CLE	14	314.4	87	1646	9
Randy Moss	2000	23	MIN	16	313.2	77	1437	15
Larry Fitzgerald	2008	25	ARI	16	311.1	96	1431	12
Antonio Brown	2017	29	PIT	14	310.3	101	1533	9
DeAndre Hopkins	2017	25	HOU	15	309.8	96	1378	13
Reggie Wayne	2007	29	IND	16	309.4	104	1510	10
Larry Fitzgerald	2005	22	ARI	16	308	103	1409	10
Adam Thielen	2018	28	MIN	16	307.3	113	1373	9
Antonio Brown	2016	28	PIT	15	307.3	106	1284	12
David Boston	2001	23	ARI	16	307.3	98	1598	8
Terrell Owens	2007	34	DAL	15	307	81	1355	15
A.J. Green	2013	25	CIN	16	306.6	98	1426	11
Brandon Marshall	2013	29	CHI	16	305.5	100	1295	12
Jordy Nelson	2016	31	GNB	16	304.7	97	1257	14
Ja'Marr Chase	2021	21	CIN	17	304.6	81	1455	13
Mike Evans	2016	23	TAM	16	304.1	96	1321	12
Allen Robinson	2015	22	JAX	16	304	80	1400	14
Calvin Johnson	2013	28	DET	14	303.2	84	1492	12
Joe Horn	2004	32	NOR	16	301.9	94	1399	11
Emmanuel Sanders	2014	27	DEN	16	301.8	101	1404	9
CeeDee Lamb	2022	23	DAL	17	301.6	107	1359	9
Marvin Harrison	2006	34	IND	16	301.6	95	1366	12
Braylon Edwards	2007	24	CLE	16	300.9	80	1289	16
A.J. Green	2012	24	CIN	16	299.8	97	1350	11
Dez Bryant	2012	24	DAL	16	299.7	92	1382	12
A.J. Brown	2022	25	PHI	17	299.6	88	1496	11

The average age drops yet again by 0.11 years to 26.88. Below is a distribution graph of the new qualifiers.

An incredible 84.2 percent of the seasons land within ages 23 to 30. 61.8 percent of the seasons fall between 25 and 29 years old.

Comparison of Thresholds

We can learn by comparing the results at each different threshold.

	225 PPR	258 PPR	285 PPR	299 PPR
Qualifiers	380	212	108	76
Average Qualifiers Per Season	16.5	9.2	4.7	3.3
Average Age	27.08	27.06	26.99	26.88
Percentage Under 30	78.95%	79.72%	81.48%	82.89%
Players Age 23-30	79.74%	82.08%	81.48%	84.21%
Players Age 23-29	72.89%	75.94%	75.00%	76.32%
Players Age 25-29	56.84%	59.91%	62.04%	61.84%

With each increase in PPR points, the average age dropped. In addition, the percentage of qualifiers under 30 years old rose. It’s clear that peak seasons are less likely to take place after turning 30 – definitely past the peak age for an NFL wide receiver. For most receivers, the wheels start falling off shortly thereafter.

When playing in dynasty leagues, it’s worth remembering Bill Belichick’s mantra: rather trade a player too early than too late.

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