Who has the most fantasy points in a game? Here are the best single-game performances in football history

Michael OHara

Who has the most fantasy points in a game? Here are the best single-game performances in football history image

It's a great feeling to see your favorite player from your hometown team have an explosive performance to lead your team to victory. But it's arguably an even better feeling to have someone on your fantasy roster dominate your matchup with a 40-plus point performance to crush your opponent's hopes of winning. Those who had Alvin Kamara in their fantasy championship matchup in 2020 know this feeling all too well. But where does Kamara's legendary Christmas Day game stack up against the greatest fantasy performances of all time?

Our data comes from Football Reference's Game Finder tool. We set our parameters to date back to the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, so Johnny Unitas and Jim Brown won't be on this list. But a few old-school names made the cut with performances that would likely be remembered by more fans if fantasy football had been prominent in the 1970s.

The list of quarterbacks is littered with (future) Hall-of-Fame signal callers, including Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. Oddly enough, the year 2002 was the year for 50-point days for running backs; four of the games on our list come from '02. It shouldn't come as a shock that the list of pass catchers is dominated by more Hall-of-Fame talent. Jerry Rice and Kellen Winslow lead the way at wide receiver and tight end.

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QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STsKickers

Note: The scoring accounts for 4-point passing touchdowns, 6-point rushing and receiving touchdowns, 0.04 points per passing yard, 0.1 points per rushing and receiving yard, and 1 point per reception.

Most fantasy points in a game by a QB

No.PlayerFantasy PointsPassing YardsPassing TDsRushing YardsRushing TDs
1Michael Vick, Eagles (11/15/10)49.323334802
2Mark Rypien, Washington (11/10/91)48.08442641
3Peyton Manning, Broncos (9/5/13)46.284627-20
4Aaron Rodgers, Packers (10/2/11)45.924084362
5Nick Foles, Eagles (11/3/13)45.244067100
6Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (10/26/14)44.785226-10
7Drew Brees, Saints (11/1/15)44.3505710
8Randall Cunningham, Eagles (11/4/90)4424041241
9Aaron Rodgers, Packers (10/20/19)43.76429561
10Mitchell Trubisky, Bears (9/30/18)43.463546530

Most fantasy points in a game by a RB

No.PlayerFantasy PointsRushing YardsRushing TDsReceptionsReceiving YardsReceiving TDs
1Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (12/15/13)59.5020181954
2Clinton Portis, Broncos (12/7/03)57.4021852360
3Alvin Kamara, Saints (12/25/20)56.2015563170
4Shaun Alexander, Seahawks (9/29/02)56.1013943921
5LaDanian Tomlinson, Chargers (12/1/02)56.1022031151 
6Priest Holmes, Chiefs (11/24/02)55.70197271101
7Chris Johnson, Titans (9/20/09)55.4019729871
8Doug Martin, Buccaneers (11/4/12)55.2025144210
9Joe Mixon (11/6/22)55.1015344581
10Marshall Faulk, Rams (10/20/02)54.5018337521

Most fantasy points in a game by a WR

No.PlayerFantasy PointsReceptionsReceiving YardsReceiving TDs
1Jerry Rice, 49ers (10/14/90)65.50132255
2Jimmy Smith, Jaguars (9/10/00)62.10152913
3Jerry Butler, Bills (9/23/79)60.70102554
4Jerry Rice, 49ers (12/18/95)59.90142893
5Steve Largent, Seahawks (10/18/87)59.10152613
6Tyreek Hill, Chiefs (11/29/20)57.90132693
7Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals (1/2/22)55.60112663
8Harold Jackson, Rams (10/14/73)54.8072384
9Terrell Owens, 49ers (12/17/00)54.80202831
10Flipper Anderson, Rams (11/26/89) 54.60153361

Most fantasy points in a game by a TE

No.PlayerFantasy PointsReceptionsReceiving YardsReceiving TDs
1Kellen Winslow, Chargers (11/22/81)57.40131445
2Kellen Winslow, Chargers (12/11/83)48.20141623
3Shannon Sharpe, Broncos (10/6/96)46.30131533
4Shannon Sharpe, Broncos (10/20/02)45.40122142
5Darren Waller, Raiders (12/6/20)45.00132002
6Rich Caster, Jets (9/24/72)44.4062043
7Todd Christensen, Raiders (10/16/83)44.20111523
8Jimmie Giles, Buccaneers (10/20/85)42.6071164
9Keith Jackson, Eagles (9/17/89)42.60121263
10Antonio Gates, Chargers (10/30/05)42.50101453

Most fantasy points in a game by a Kicker

No.PlayerFantasy Points
1Rob Bironas, Titans (10/21/07)28
2Jay Feely, Cardinals (12/19/10)27.5
3Billy Cundiff, Cowboys (9/15/03)25
4Cairo Santos, Chiefs (10/4/15)25
5Stephen Gostkowski, Titans (9/27/20)25
6Matt Gay, Colts (9/24/23)24
7Jason Myers, Seahawks (10/14/18)24
8Blair Walsh, Vikings (12/16/12)24
9-12Four players tied (Jason Sanders '19, Blair Walsh '15, Jeff Wilkins '00, Greg Zurlein '17)23

Michael OHara

Michael OHara Photo

Michael O'Hara is a Fantasy Sports Intern at The Sporting News, with a focus on fantasy football. Michael has been a fan of the NFL since childhood and began writing for fantasy football websites as a student at Ohio State University, including the Roto Street Journal and Fantasy Football Today.