Will Brandon Marshall complete the best season ever for a Jets wide receiver?

Much like quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall is on his way to one of the best personal seasons in franchise history, perhaps setting a new benchmark for several franchise marks.

And reminder, this is just his first year with the team in what is his tenth season in the league.

Where he is going is impressive. Marshall is projected to finish the year with 111 yards, 1,416 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. These are numbers that should land him in the Pro Bowl.

They are also numbers that would rewrite the Jets record books. Al Toon with 93 receptions in 1985, currently leads the franchise with most catches in a single season meaning that Marshall will be the first Jets wide receiver to get triple-digit receptions in a year. If projections hold, he would be second behind Don Maynard’s 1,434 yards in 1967 and his projected 13 touchdowns would be just behind Maynard and Art Powell, who each had 14 receiving touchdown seasons of their own with the Jets.

It could go down as one of the best – if not the best – single seasons of any Jets receiver in history.

It has taken Marshall twelve games to already find himself pretty high up in the single-season tally for Jets wide receivers. In his first dozen games with the green and white, Marshall has 83 receptions for 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns.

And with four games left in the regular season, his reception total is already ninth best for any Jets wide receiver in a single season. Receiving yards brings him in at No. 20 all-time. Then those 10 touchdowns are tied for third best all-time. That he hasn’t completed a season yet but already ranks among the Jets all-time greats at the position is a testament to both his play but also Fitzpatrick’s efficient quarterback play and a perfect fit in offensive coordinator Chan Gailey’s offense.

Truthfully, it is hard to imagine Marshall putting up these numbers if Geno Smith was the quarterback but that is a story for another day.

His numbers point towards what a steal general manager Mike Maccagnan got this offseason in trading with the Chicago Bears to obtain one of the league’s best wide receivers. The Jets gave up just a fifth round pick to haul in Marshall, a deal that might go down as one of the best in franchise history. Oh, and they also got a seventh round pick from the Bears as well.

He isn’t cheap – the 31-year old is owed $16.5 million over the next two years – but he’s well worth it considering his production. Last year, the Jets leading receiver was Eric Decker, who had 74 catches for 962 yards and five touchdowns. Marshall in just 12 games has already soared past those stats.

Marshall leads the Jets in targets, receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, yards per game and receptions that have gone for a first down. He is a major reason why a passing offense that was among the worst in the league last year is ranked No. 15 this season.