NFL 2023 Biggest Statistical Rushing, Receiving & Passing Days
Here is a look at the biggest atatistical rushing, receiving & passing days by stats in 2023. Besides the raw number, I tried to create an algoirthm that would compare the top stat days both within their category and overall.
The Big Day Algorithm
To do this, every 10 yards was worth a point, and a TD was worth 6 points. Then I went a step further and divided that by the attempts or receptions. The resulted in a point per (att or rec) value.
To adjust values in order to compare across rushers, receivers, and passer, there need to be an adjustment to the raw pt/ (att/rec) values. Rushers on average only generate about 0.85 point per attempt. Passers generated about 1.13 points per attempt and receivers generatedd a whopping 2.29 points per reception.
In short, rushers scores were roughly increased by 33% and receivers scored were roughly halved. This basically brought them both in line with what the QB avg pt/att. You can see that there are both raw and adjusted values for rushers and receivers, but QB values are the same in each column.
Standardizing & Normalizing
The last two columns show the standardization and normalization values. While it may be a bit diffficult to see the difference between them in a huge chart full of numbers, here is a short explanation:
Stardardization – Normally this number will be between -3 and +3, though it can go out to the 4s and 5s in extreme case. As the value gets further from zero it is identifying stats that are outliers, or way out of the ordinary, especially once beyond 3.0 or -3.0.
Normalization – This will simply be a value between 0% and 100%. This is the value you would see on an SAT or ACT test to say what percentile the score, or stat, falls into.
Okay, bad analogy time. Think of a piece of chewed gum. If you rolled it out into a long string, that is normalization. If you left most of it sitting, but pulled a bit from each side and stretched it out, that is standardization.
Graphs & Charts
What you will see in the charts is that standardization is a much better way of seeing true outliers. Normalization can often bunch all the outliers into a big group near 99%-100%. It basically gives up at some point and says all these unusual things are equal. Standardization will end up excentuating the outliers. They will really stick out against even other, less unusual, outliers.
With that all said, let’s look at each group individual first, then we will try to get them all in one big group and identify the biggest days in 2023 regardless of rushing, receiving, or passing.
Because there are a bunch of entries for each indivdual stat group, I am going to post a link to a pdf wih the data above the screencaps of the actual data. To screencap required shrinking the charts to fit them into one page, or in the receiving case, three pages.
2023 Top Rushing Stat Days
Below are the biggest stat days for running back and quarterback rushing. The big two standout names are Devon Archane and Christian McCaffery who litter the top 20. Archane dominates the top 10 with 3 of the top 6 scores including #1, while McCaffery is present all through the top 40 appearing 7 times.
2023 NFL Big Stat Days – 100 Yards Rushing
2023 Top Receiving Stat Days
Below you will find the stats for all the big days receivers had in 2023. Unlike the rushing charts, we don;t see the same couple of receivers dominating the top of the chart. There are very few names that repeat in the top 40 scores. In 2023 at least, it would appear almost any receiver can pop up and have a huge day. This is probably mostly due to the games where a receiver catches one or two bombs of 70+ yards.
2023 NFL Big Stat Days – 100 Yards Receiving
2023 Top Passing Stat Days
There are three names that appear multiple times in the passer list: Purdy, Prescott & Jackson. Purdy and Prescott had a couple of big weeks each and that is reflected in the charts. What makes Jackson so special is that not only does he have the #1 passer game, but he alos appears multiple times in this list, AND he has the #6 game on the Rushers list! Basically what we have here is a guy who can be both the best passer and the best rusher in the NFL on any given day.
2023 NFL Big Stat Days – 300 Yards Passing
2023 Top Stat Days Overall
So this is the diciest part of this whole affair. The receivers have the advantage of putting up a huge day with only a couple of receptions. Passers have no shot at this(bar great start then early injury that would keep attempts low), and while it is possible a RB could break off 100 yards in 3 rushes and then sit the rest of the game(or more likely be a 3rd back type who rips one off real late), this is a fairly unlikely occurance.
Thus we see a few too many recievers at the top of the Overall list, but once pass the players who put up massive amounts of receiving yards in only a couple of catches, the list seems to start balancing out.
Both Lamar Jackson and Archane standout as the best quarterback and running back day. For WR, you could pick any one of Mims, Hopkins, Pickens, or Shaheed and have a good argument.
2023 NFL Big Stat Days – Overall
2023 NFL Top 100 Big Days
