NFL: Can Calvin Johnson Be the First to Reach 2,000 Receiving Yards in a Season?

Last year, Calvin Johnson fell 36 yards short of becoming the first player in NFL history to amass 2,000 receiving yards in a season. Despite missing a game and being limited in a couple more, Megatron is actually 54 yards ahead of where he was at last year through eight games.

If he can replicate his 2012 finish he would not only break his own NFL record for receiving yards in a season, he would surpass the 2,000-yard barrier. Can he do it?

In the past two games Johnson has 484 yards, or 242 yards per game, to make this quest even more possible. This comes after posting three games with 44 or fewer yards and a DNP in the Detroit Lions’ first six games. After challenging Flipper Anderson’s NFL record of 336 yards, falling just seven yards shy, it’s clear that Johnson is at full strength.

So what does Calvin Johnson have to do to reach 2,000 yards? Average 147.3 yards per game over the Lions’ final eight games. Tall order, no doubt, but he averaged 149.6 yards per game to close out 2012. That would take a Herculean Effort, but can you really put it past Megatron?

You know the Lions are going to give him plenty of opportunities. Matthew Stafford is on pace to attempt 676 passes this year, which is 64 shy of the number of pass attempts the Lions had last year, but still a great deal of throws. Johnson has had 23.4 percent of the targets.

Last year, he had 27.7 percent of the target. He’s catching virtually the same percentage of his targets at 59.5 each year. He’s just doing a little more with his receptions. Last year, he averaged 16.1 yards per catch. This year he’s at 17.5 yard per catch.

The Lions’ upcoming schedule should work in his favor. He faces the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings.

Of that group, only the Steelers are in the top 15 in the league in pass defense entering Week 9. Then again, does the opponent really matter when you consider his skill set?

Averaging 147.3 yards is a daunting task for most, but he’s averaging 128.7 yards over his past 26 games. He may fall short, but it should be a heck of a run.



Also, check out Lester's Legends Week 9 Fantasy Football Rankings.