It’s remarkable that the Green Bay Packers have only had one player — Don Hutson — catch more passes in a game than Davante Adams did last Thursday, when he hauled in 13 of Aaron Rodgers’ throws. The legendary Hutson had a 14-catch game in 1942 (and also added a 13-catch game the same season).
Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald has had two 13-catch games in 13 years, the Patriots’ Julian Edelman has done it twice, and Atlanta’s Julio Jones has one 13-catch game. Those with best games of 12 catches include the Giants’ Odell Beckham, Jr. and Cincinnati’s A.J. Green. Those with 11-catch games include Denver’s Demaryius Thomas, New England’s Rob Gronkowski, Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins, and the Packers’ Randall Cobb. Jordy Nelson’s has had one 10-catch game.
As for the thoroughbreds, in 2015 alone, Jacksonville’s Allen Robinson caught 15 passes once, and 13 and 11 passes three times each. Also in 2015, Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown had games of 17, 16, and 13 catches.
The NFL record holder, however, is Brandon Marshall, who’s currently with the Jets – he caught 21 passes in one game playing for Denver in 2009. Terrell Owens, who had a 20-catch game with the 49ers in 2000, is second on the all-time list. NFL players have caught 16 or more passes in one game 13 times.
What is so startling is that if you talk about “possession” receivers, you wouldn’t expect Davante Adams’ name to come up. In fact, in Adams’ 34 other pro games, he has averaged only 3.03 catches per game.