The greatest receiver in Lions history is Calvin Johnson, of course. The greatest rookie receiver in Lions history is Amon-Ra St. Brown. It’s no longer up for debate.
With a 17-yard reception early in Sunday’s game against the Packers, St. Brown broke the franchise rookie record for receiving yards, which previously belonged to Roy Williams (817). This comes a month after St. Brown broke the franchise rookie record for receptions, which previously belonged to Jahvid Best (58).
St. Brown added a touchdown in the second quarter Sunday — of course he did — to push his season totals to 87 receptions for 868 yards and five touchdowns. Not even Dan Campbell knew knew he was this good.
But Campbell did have a hunch. With the Lions struggling to do much of anything on offense in the first half of the season, Campbell said he would "look long and hard at St. Brown" during the team's Week 9 bye.
"Are there ways that we can use him, things that we can do that will really help him help us?" Campbell said.
St. Brown had 27 catches for 250 yards and zero touchdowns at the time. He has 60 catches for 618 yards and five touchdowns since. He entered Sunday's game with more catches over the last five weeks than all but one NFL receiver: MVP candidate Cooper Kupp. He's also seventh among NFL receivers in yards and tied for fifth in touchdowns over that span.
Williams, by the way, was the seventh overall pick in 2004. Best was a first-round pick in 2010. St. Brown was drafted 112th overall last year, after 16 other receivers. He has more catches this season than all but one of them — sixth overall pick Jaylen Waddle — and more yards than all but three of them — Waddle, 5th overall pick Ja’Marr Chase and 10th overall pick Devonta Smith.
Not bad, kid.
