Titans running back Chris Johnson had a monster day Sunday against Houston. You know that.
Breaking Down Chris Johnson’s Historic Day
But what you may not know is that by accumulating 197 rushing yards, 87 receiving yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage, Johnson ripped off one of the best perofrmances in Fantasy Football history. In fact, by most measures, it was the No. 11 Fantasy performance by a running back, receiver or tight end ever.
Johnson is one of only 19 players since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to amass at least 250 yards and three scores from scrimmage in a regular season or playoff game, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. Just 14 players have done so since 1987, when Fantasy Football was in its infantile stages. The last one: If you had one guess, who would it be? Right, Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson, in 2007 against the Chargers.
Here’s more context about Johnson’s day: Only 39 players have rolled up even 250 yards and two touchdowns in a game since the merger (If you guessed that Stephon Paige, Anthony Allen and Qadry Ismail were also on that list, you know too much about football).
Following the most typical scoring format for Fantasy leagues, Johnson racked up 45 points (19 for rushing yards, 8 for receiving yards, and 18 for the three touchdowns). Only the following players have tallied more in a single game since Fantasy was born: Peterson, Priest Holmes, Jerry Rice (twice), Jimmy Smith, Corey Dillon, Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis, Shaun Alexander and Barry Sanders. (Wait, Portis once scored five touchdowns in a game? Why can’t he punch it even once nowadays?)
Kudos to Jerry Butler of the 1979 Buffalo Bills and Larry Brown of the 1973 Washington Redskins for also exceeding Johnson’s total. But “Fantasy Football” in the 1970’s was an Earth, Wind and Fire concert at halftime or the notion of employing a minority coach, not the competition it is now.
Peterson amassed 49 points in that 2007 game, when he accounted for 315 yards from scrimmage, bettering Johnson by four points. But the best ever Fantasy day for a back, receiver or tight end -- unofficially: That belongs to Southeast Jerome. In a 45-27 win over the Chiefs Dec. 7, 2003, Portis scored those five touchdowns while running for 218 yards on 22 carries. Add his 36 receiving yards, and you have 54 points.
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