While the importance of the wide receiver feels like it has exploded in the last 10 years, a number of the performances that merited the most fantasy football points in a single game by a WR came prior to that offensive explosion. That pattern represents how NFL offenses have gone from largely operating through a featured WR to playing with a more spread-out style. Let’s take a look at who has scored the most fantasy points by a WR in a single game, and who makes up the rest of the top 10.
The main list is based on non-PPR scoring, but you can find the equivalent list for PPR scoring at the bottom of the article.
Who Has Scored the Most Fantasy Points at the WR Position in a Single Game?
Jerry Rice tops the list for the most fantasy points in a single game with 52.5. That game came back in 1990, Rice’s sixth in the league, against the Atlanta Falcons. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Falcons 45-35, with Rice scoring five of the six touchdowns. He finished with 225 receiving yards and five touchdowns from 13 receptions.
Most Fantasy Football Points Scored in a Single Game by a WR | 2-10
2) Jerry Butler | 50.7 fantasy points
Bills vs. Jets | Week 4 | Sept. 23, 1979
Jerry Butler topped this list for more than a decade after his Week 4 performance in 1979. Butler’s performance against the Jets saw him total 255 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 10 receptions. He also added 12 rushing yards as he guided the Bills to a 15-point win over their AFC East rivals in his rookie season.
Butler had flashed his potential in Week 2 with a 116-yard performance on seven receptions. These two massive performances in his first four weeks would have caught the eyes of fantasy managers. Unfortunately, in his other 11 games, Butler added just 463 receiving yards on 31 receptions and did not find the end zone again that year.
3) Art Powell | 48.7 fantasy points
Raiders vs. Oilers | Week 16 | Dec. 22, 1963
This is the oldest performance on the list of most fantasy points in a single game by a WR.
4) Harold Jackson | 47.8 fantasy points
Rams vs. Cowboys | Week 5 | Oct. 14, 1973
This is the oldest performance on the list of most fantasy points in a single game by a WR. Harold Jackson’s performance came in yet another close game, but this time his Rams came out on top. Jackson scored an amazing four touchdowns in the first half, two of which went more than 60 yards. He would finish the day with 238 yards and the four scores on just seven receptions.
5) Jimmy Smith | 47.1 fantasy points
Jaguars at Ravens | Week 2 | Sept. 10, 2000
The fourth spot on this list sees us find our first performance in a losing effort. Despite a 15-reception, three-touchdown, and 291-receiving yard day for Jimmy Smith, the Jaguars would go down 39-36 to the Ravens.
MORE: Which RB Has Scored the Most Fantasy Points in a Single Game?
Smith scored twice in the first quarter to open a 17-0 lead for Jacksonville. He then scored again inside two minutes to give the Jaguars a 36-32 lead. However, despite three touchdowns of more than 40 yards, he could not drag the team to a victory in Week 2 of the 2000 NFL season.
6) Jerry Rice | 45.9 fantasy points
49ers vs. Vikings | Week 16 | Dec. 18, 1995
Now we come to our first appearance of Jerry Rice on the list of the most fantasy points by a WR in a single game. The first such appearance may very well be the most important WR performance ever for fantasy managers. Coming in fantasy championship weekend, Rice posted 289 yards on 14 receptions with three touchdowns. His three scores came in the first half as the 49ers raced out to a 27-10 lead over the Vikings.
7) Tyreek Hill | 44.9 fantasy points
Chiefs at Buccaneers | Week 12 | Nov. 29, 2020
While Tyreek Hill was on the other sideline for Chase’s performance, he had his own headline-making performance for the Chiefs just over a year prior. Hill scored two first-quarter touchdowns that went for a combined 119 yards. He would not find the end zone again until the middle of the third quarter but was by no means invisible between those scores. He finished with 13 receptions for 269 yards and three touchdowns.
8) Ja’Marr Chase | 44.6 fantasy points
Bengals vs. Chiefs | Week 17 | Jan. 2, 2022
Our most recent performance on the list of most fantasy points by a WR in a single game belongs to Ja’Marr Chase, who took the league by storm as a rookie. Chase saved his very best for a Week 17 matchup with the Chiefs, which likely turned into fantasy championships. He found the end zone twice, including two plays of 60+ yards.
Chase’s first TD came with the Bengals down 14-0, his second with them down 21-7, and his third with them trailing 28-17. In a 34-31 victory, his performance would be crucial for the Bengals and fantasy managers. Chase finished the day with 266 yards and three touchdowns on 11 receptions.
9) Ja’Marr Chase | 44.4 fantasy points
Bengals vs. Ravens | Week 10 | Nov. 07, 2024
Ja’Marr Chase appears on this list twice, with the most recent being in Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season where he put up a masterclass against the Baltimore Ravens. Although it was in a losing effort, Chase’s stat line was impressive, finishing with 264 yards and three touchdowns.
10) Steve Largent | 44.1 fantasy points
Seahawks at Lions | Week 6 | Oct. 18, 1987
At the tail end of a Hall of Fame career, Steve Largent gave fantasy managers one more day of excitement in Week 6 of the 1987 season. In an exhilarating first quarter, Largent scored three touchdowns to give the Seahawks a 21-0 lead at the end of the quarter. While he would not find the end zone again, Largent would finish with 15 receptions for 261 yards and the three scores.
Most PPR Fantasy Points by a WR In a Single Game
10. Roy Jefferson | PIT @ ATL | 54.9
9. Ja’Marr Chase | CIN @ BTL | 55.4
8. Ja’Marr Chase | CIN vs. KC | 55.6
7. Tyreek Hill | KC @ TB | 57.9
6. Art Powell | OAK vs. HOU | 58.7
5. Steve Largent | SEA @ DET | 59.1
4. Jerry Butler | BUF vs. NYJ | 60.7
3. Jerry Rice | SF vs. MIN | 61.9
2. Jimmy Smith | JAX @ BAL | 62.1
1. Jerry Rice | SF @ ATL | 65.5