New Orleans WR Michael Thomas led the NFL in receiving yards last season with 1,725. Who will take home that honor this season? Below, we look at the betting odds to lead the NFL in receiving yards in 2020 and make our NFL picks and best bets.
2020 NFL receiving yards leader: Favorite
NFL betting odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 6:20 p.m. ET.
New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas (+600)
All Thomas has done since entering the NFL is get better as he has seen his reception and yardage total improve each year. Thomas saw an insane 185 targets last season as he earned the trust of QB Drew Brees and QB Teddy Bridgewater.
While the Saints did bring in other weapons this offseason, such as WR Emmanuel Sanders, Thomas is a lock to see 160 targets or more this season. Given his connection with Brees, it’s going to be tough for anyone to surpass him in receiving yardage this season. At 6-1, Thomas is still a great value bet, even as the favorite.
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2020 NFL receiving yards leader: Contender
Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones (+900)
Jones is really the one receiver who should challenge Thomas for the league lead in receiving yards. Like Thomas, Jones is one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL. Jones has at least 1,350 receiving yards in six consecutive seasons. Jones has led the NFL in receiving yards before, going over 1,600 yards in 2015 and 2018.
With the Falcons having one of the league’s worst defenses, they will be in constant shootouts. There is a bit of an age concern with Jones as he turned 31 in February, but he is still among the best receivers in the NFL. Look for Jones to rack up at least 1,400 receiving yards this season with a chance to produce even more than that in 2020.
2020 NFL receiving yards leader: Long shot
Jacksonville Jaguars WR D.J. Chark (+5000)
Typically, the league leader in receiving yards is paired with an elite quarterback. However, that isn’t always the case as there are some situations where a really good receiver is able to obtain enough volume from a mediocre passer in order to rack up the yards.
That could be the case for Chark this year as Jacksonville will be throwing a ton this season. After an impressive sophomore season in which he surpassed 1,000 yards, Chark has established himself as the team’s No. 1 receiver.
With Jacksonville expected to be among the worst teams in the NFL, it will likely be down early in a bunch of games. That could lead to Chark seeing 160-170 targets, and given his speed, he could average well over 14 yards per reception. Look for Chark to improve on his strong 2019 season and finish inside the top five in receiving yards this year.
Also see:
- FalconsWire – The latest Atlanta Falcons coverage
- JagsWire – The latest Jacksonville Jaguars coverage
- SaintsWire – The latest New Orleans Saints coverage
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