The NFL has been loaded with elite wide receivers over the past decade, and the list of players who have led the league in receiving yards is a who’s who of modern football. From established superstars to players who were just beginning to make their mark, these receivers dominated the passing game in their respective seasons. Here is every player who led the NFL in receiving yards from 2016 through 2025. MORE: Rating every NFL game on the Monday Night Football schedule in 2026 2016 — T.Y. Hilton, 1,448 Yards Jan 9, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) warms up before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports T.Y. Hilton led the NFL with 1,448 receiving yards for the Indianapolis Colts. Hilton established himself as one of the league’s premier deep threats during his time in Indianapolis. 2017 — Antonio Brown, 1,533 Yards Pittsburgh Steelers superstar Antonio Brown took the top spot in 2017, finishing with 1,533 yards. Brown was one of the most dominant receivers in football during this era. 2018 — Julio Jones, 1,677 Yards Julio Jones continued his incredible run of production in 2018, leading the league with 1,677 receiving yards for the Atlanta Falcons. 2019 — Michael Thomas, 1,725 Yards Oct 19, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports New Orleans Saints star Michael Thomas exploded in 2019, leading the NFL with 1,725 yards. It was the beginning of an historic season that saw Thomas rewrite the record book. 2020 — Stefon Diggs, 1,535 Yards After joining the Buffalo Bills, Stefon Diggs immediately became one of Josh Allen’s favorite targets. He led the league with 1,535 receiving yards in 2020. MORE: 2026 Fantasy Football wide receiver rankings, 75 players ranked first to worst 2021 — Cooper Kupp, 1,947 Yards Cooper Kupp had one of the greatest receiving seasons in NFL history in 2021. The Los Angeles Rams star finished with 1,947 yards, which ranks second all time for a single season. 2022 — Justin Jefferson, 1,809 Yards Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) reacts after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images Minnesota Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson led the league in 2022 with 1,809 receiving yards, further establishing himself as one of the NFL’s elite young stars. 2023 — Tyreek Hill, 1,799 Yards Speedster Tyreek Hill was nearly unstoppable in 2023, finishing with 1,799 yards for the Miami Dolphins. 2024 — Ja’Marr Chase, 1,708 Yards Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase captured the receiving title in 2024 with 1,708 yards. He was one of the league’s most productive pass catchers throughout the season. 2025 — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 1,793 Yards Jan 3, 2026; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) makes a catch against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images The most recent player to accomplish the feat is Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Seattle Seahawks receiver led the NFL with an incredible 1,793 receiving yards in 2025, establishing himself as one of the league’s biggest stars. Thoughts on the list: That’s an incredible collection of talent, and it shows just how much the NFL’s passing game has changed over the last decade. Several of these players are future Hall of Famers, while others are still building their legacies.
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