Most Receiving Yards in a Single Game by a Denver Broncos Player
The Mile High air has helped launch some massive receiving days in Broncos history. Demaryius Thomas leads the pack with a scorching 226-yard effort in 2014, while Shannon Sharpe’s 2002 game still stands tall for a tight end. From old-school names like Steve Watson to new-millennium stars like Rod Smith and Brandon Marshall, this list is loaded with mile-high mayhem.
TOP 10 LIST
10. Steve Watson – 182 Yards (1981)
Watson makes his second appearance here with a standout ’81 performance that helped define his underrated career.
9. Steve Watson – 183 Yards (1982)
Back-to-back years, back-to-back bombs. Watson was the deep threat every defense feared in the early ’80s.
8. Rod Smith – 187 Yards (2000)
Smith’s consistency was his strength — and this 187-yard game proves he could dominate when needed.
7. Lionel Taylor – 199 Yards (1960)
A true pioneer of the AFL passing game, Taylor’s 199-yard day came in just the franchise’s first season.
6. Brandon Marshall – 200 Yards (2009)
Marshall was a yards-after-catch machine, and this 200-yard day was all about power, speed, and broken tackles.
5. Demaryius Thomas – 204 Yards (2012)
Thomas’s first big explosion came in 2012. He was just getting warmed up for what would come next.
4. Rod Smith – 208 Yards (2004)
Even near the tail end of his career, Smith still had juice. This 208-yard performance was one of his best.
3. Jabar Gaffney – 213 Yards (2010)
A surprise entry, Gaffney’s lone monster day came in 2010 — and he made the most of every target.
2. Shannon Sharpe – 214 Yards (2002)
This one’s wild: a tight end putting up 214 yards. Sharpe went full beast mode against the Chiefs in one of his final seasons.
1. Demaryius Thomas – 226 Yards (2014)
DT’s 226-yard day in 2014 was pure destruction. Deep routes, slants, YAC — the full arsenal was on display.
Ranking the 10 best single-game receiving yard performances in Broncos history
Top 50 Single-Game Receiving Performances in Broncos History
Demaryius Thomas and Rod Smith carved out legacies in Denver with their production — but Shannon Sharpe’s TE takeover in 2002 remains one of the most unique stat lines in NFL history. And with newer names like Brandon Marshall and Jabar Gaffney mixed in, this list is as diverse as it is dangerous.
| Rank | Player Name | Receiving Yards | Receiving Touchdowns | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Demaryius Thomas | 226 | 2 | 10/5/2014 |
| 2 | Shannon Sharpe | 214 | 2 | 10/20/2002 |
| 3 | Jabar Gaffney | 213 | 0 | 1/3/2010 |
| 4 | Rod Smith | 208 | 1 | 10/31/2004 |
| 5 | Demaryius Thomas | 204 | 1 | 1/12/2014 |
| 6 | Lionel Taylor | 199 | 2 | 12/3/1961 |
| 7 | Ashley Lelie | 197 | 2 | 10/31/2004 |
| 8 | Brandon Lloyd | 169 | 1 | 10/24/2010 |
| 9 | Courtland Sutton | 159 | 1 | 10/2/2022 |
| 10 | Brandon Marshall | 156 | 1 | 12/13/2009 |
| 11 | Vance Johnson | 154 | 2 | 9/21/1986 |
| 12 | Brandon Marshall | 154 | 1 | 10/4/2009 |
| 13 | Lionel Taylor | 153 | 2 | 9/24/1961 |
| 14 | Ashley Lelie | 152 | 1 | 10/17/2004 |
| 15 | Courtland Sutton | 151 | 0 | 11/3/2019 |
| 16 | Anthony Miller | 151 | 2 | 10/6/1996 |
| 17 | Brandon Lloyd | 169 | 1 | 12/19/2010 |
| 18 | Julius Thomas | 146 | 2 | 9/5/2013 |
| 19 | Brandon Stokley | 144 | 2 | 12/9/2007 |
| 20 | Ed McCaffrey | 143 | 2 | 10/3/1999 |
| 21 | Rick Upchurch | 142 | 1 | 11/16/1980 |
| 22 | Demaryius Thomas | 139 | 1 | 11/17/2013 |
| 23 | Shannon Sharpe | 138 | 2 | 12/27/1993 |
| 24 | Courtland Sutton | 137 | 0 | 11/1/2020 |
| 25 | Brandon Marshall | 136 | 1 | 11/2/2008 |
| 26 | Eric Decker | 133 | 1 | 12/2/2012 |
| 27 | Brandon Lloyd | 135 | 2 | 10/10/2010 |
| 28 | Steve Watson | 132 | 1 | 10/9/1983 |
| 29 | Demaryius Thomas | 130 | 2 | 11/18/2012 |
| 30 | Lionel Taylor | 130 | 1 | 11/27/1960 |
| 31 | Rod Smith | 129 | 1 | 10/15/2000 |
| 32 | Julius Thomas | 127 | 1 | 9/14/2014 |
| 33 | Vance Johnson | 127 | 2 | 11/8/1987 |
| 34 | Courtland Sutton | 125 | 0 | 9/15/2019 |
| 35 | Brandon Marshall | 124 | 1 | 10/29/2006 |
| 36 | Ashley Lelie | 124 | 1 | 9/26/2004 |
| 37 | Rod Smith | 123 | 1 | 10/27/2002 |
| 38 | Julius Thomas | 122 | 2 | 9/7/2014 |
| 39 | Ed McCaffrey | 122 | 2 | 9/26/1999 |
| 40 | Lionel Taylor | 121 | 1 | 11/12/1961 |
| 41 | Brandon Marshall | 120 | 2 | 9/14/2008 |
| 42 | Courtland Sutton | 120 | 2 | 9/18/2022 |
| 43 | Demaryius Thomas | 119 | 0 | 11/25/2012 |
| 44 | Brandon Marshall | 118 | 1 | 12/24/2007 |
| 45 | Rick Upchurch | 117 | 1 | 10/24/1976 |
| 46 | Rod Smith | 117 | 2 | 12/3/2000 |
| 47 | Courtland Sutton | 116 | 0 | 12/15/2019 |
| 48 | Brandon Stokley | 115 | 1 | 9/21/2008 |
| 49 | Ed McCaffrey | 115 | 1 | 9/12/1999 |
| 50 | Shannon Sharpe | 114 | 1 | 12/10/2000 |
Demaryius Thomas and Rod Smith carved out legacies in Denver with their production — but Shannon Sharpe’s TE takeover in 2002 remains one of the most unique stat lines in NFL history. And with newer names like Brandon Marshall and Jabar Gaffney mixed in, this list is as diverse as it is dangerous.
FAQ SECTION
Who holds the Broncos record for most receiving yards in a game?
Demaryius Thomas holds the record with 226 yards in 2014.
Are any Hall of Famers on this list?
Yes — Shannon Sharpe, who racked up 214 yards in 2002, is in the Hall of Fame.
Which player appears multiple times?
Both Demaryius Thomas, Rod Smith, and Steve Watson each appear twice in the top 10.
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