Tonight I needed over 40 pts out of Steven Jackson to move into second place in my fantasy league. Obviously, it didn’t happen so I ended up in third which is still in the playoffs and I play the same team either way. But it got me thinking what was the best fantasy day by any player. Here’s what I found.

In recent times, when people were actually playing fantasy football:

• Jerry Rice (WR San Francisco 49ers) – Oct 14, 1990 vs. Atlanta – 41 pts
  5 receiving TDs, 225 yds
• Clinton Portis (RB Denver Broncos) – Dec 7, 2003 vs. Kansas City – 41 pts
  5 rushing TDs, 218 yds rushing, 33 yds receiving
• Shaun Alexander (RB Seatle Seahawks) – Sept 30, 2002 vs. Minnesota – 40 pts
  5 rushing TDs, 139 yds rushing, 92 yds receiving
• Peyton Manning (QB Indianapolis Colts) – Nov 25, 2004 vs. Detroit Lions – 40 pts
  6 passing TDs, 236 yds passing

Prior to fantasy foootball, plus multi-talented players:

• Gale Sayers (RB Chicago Bears) – Dec 12, 1965 vs. San Francisco – 45 pts
  5 rushing TDs, 1 receiving TD, 1 punt return TD, 113 rushing yds, 89 receiving yds
• Dub Jones (RB Cleveland Browns) – Nov 25, 1951 vs. Chicago Bears – Minimum 43 pts
  4 rushing TDs, 2 receiving TDs. I couldn’t find total yards but he had the following yards just from his touchdowns: 83 yds rushing, 77yds
• Cookie Gilchrist (RB Buffalo Bills) – Dec 8, 1963 vs. NY Jets – 42 pts
  5 rushing TDs, 243 rushing yds

And probably the greatest fantasy day in NFL history is incomplete. Ernie Nevers (RB, K – Chicago Cardinals) on Nov 28th, 1929 vs. Chicago Bears rushed for 6 TDs and kicked 4 extra points. (He missed two) Unfortunately, I can not find how many yards he rushed for so I can’t complete his score. Minimum 40 pts