Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 7 Analysis

Your wide receivers remain essential components toward your primary goal of securing league championships. As this unique regular season continues to unfold, an expanding assortment of tools is available that can provide you with an extensive level of knowledge regarding this critical position. Those results are contained in this weekly statistical breakdown of multiple categories, which is designed to help you fulfill your championship aspirations.

This will be the seventh installment that will examine game-specific data, including updated totals for targets, first downs, red-zone targets, snap counts, and a compilation of advanced statistics. The information that is contained in this weekly report will analyze how various receivers are being utilized, and how effectively they are capitalizing on their opportunities. This massive collection of data supplies the foundation from which the numbers that are generated in various categories can be evaluated.

As the season progresses noteworthy changes in usage and production will be blended into the equation. That will bolster your efforts to determine which wide receivers should be in your lineups, and which are worthy of remaining on your rosters. Pro Football Reference, PFF, NextGenStats, Rotowire, Rotoviz, and Football Outsiders were all used as resources in compiling this data.

Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!

 

Week 7 Target Leaders 

Wide Receivers	Targets	Target %	Targ/Game	YPT
DeAndre Hopkins	73	30.93	10.4	9.6
Amari Cooper	72	23.84	10.3	8.1
Stefon Diggs	70	27.45	10	8.6
Allen Robinson	70	25.93	10	7.8
Terry McLaurin	69	29.74	9.8	8.4
Keenan Allen	64	31.07	10.5	7.6
Calvin Ridley	64	23.1	9.1	9.6
Tyler Boyd	61	21.33	8.7	8.5
Robby Anderson	60	26.55	8.4	10.6
A.J. Green	58	20.28	8.3	5.1
Tyler Lockett	58	27.75	9.7	9.3
CeeDee Lamb	55	18.21	8	8.9
D.J. Moore	53	23.45	7.6	10.7
Brandin Cooks	51	21.89	7.3	8.4
Cooper Kupp	51	23.83	7.3	8.2
Cole Beasley	49	19.22	7	9.6
Adam Thielen	49	29.17	8.2	8.5
Tyreek Hill	48	20.17	6.9	9.1
Darius Slayton	48	22.02	6.8	8.9
Will Fuller	47	20.17	6.7	10.4
Davante Adams	46	34.07	11.5	9.8
Jamison Crowder	46	31.51	11.5	8.3
Robert Woods	46	21.5	6.6	7.6
Odell Beckham Jr.	44	22.34	6.2	7.3
D.K. Metcalf	44	21.05	7.3	11.8
Russell Gage	43	15.52	6.1	8
Tee Higgins	43	15.03	6.1	9.5
Marquise Brown	42	26.42	7	9
JuJu Smith-Schuster	42	19.72	7	6.6
D.J. Chark	41	19.43	6.8	7.1
Diontae Johnson	41	21.58	8.2	5.5
Keelan Cole	40	15.81	5.7	9.4
DeVante Parker	40	20.41	6.7	9.1
Greg Ward	40	14.93	5.7	5.8
Julian Edelman	39	22.54	6.5	8.1
Mike Evans	39	15.06	5.6	8.2
Julio Jones	39	19.12	7.8	11.5
Jarvis Landry	39	19.8	5.6	9.4
Randall Cobb	38	16.31	5.4	9.8
Laviska Shenault Jr.	38	15.02	5.4	8.5
Larry Fitzgerald	37	15.68	5.3	5.6
Travis Fulgham	37	26.24	9.3	9.6
T.Y. Hilton	37	18.69	6.2	6.5
Jerry Jeudy	37	18.69	6.2	7.7
Darnell Mooney	37	13.7	5.3	6.4
Michael Gallup	36	11.92	5.1	10.3
Justin Jefferson	36	21.43	6	14.9
Emmanuel Sanders	36	21.3	7.2	8.4
Marquez Valdes-Scantling	34	17.17	5.7	7.1
Tim Patrick	33	16.67	5.5	10.7
Brandon Aiyuk	32	16.41	5.3	8.8
A.J. Brown	32	23.02	8	10.3
N'Keal Harry	32	18.5	5.3	5.4
Christian Kirk	32	15.76	5.3	8.7
Scott Miller	32	12.36	4.6	11.4
Anthony Miller	31	11.21	4.4	6.1
Kendrick Bourne	30	13.22	5	9
Marvin Jones	30	15.38	5	7.5
Hunter Renfrow	30	14.29	5	9.4

DeAndre Hopkins now leads all wide receivers with 73 targets. He is followed closely by Amari Cooper with 72. Stefon Diggs and Allen Robinson are tied for third overall (70), followed by Terry McLaurin (69), Calvin Ridley (64), Keenan Allen (64), Tyler Boyd, and Robby Anderson, who is the only other receiver that has eclipsed 60 targets through seven matchups. Tyler Lockett and A.J. Green are next with (58) followed by CeeDee Lamb (55), D.J. Moore (53), Cooper Kupp (51), and Brandin Cooks (51) - who will be discussed more extensively in the 5 Things I Noticed section. Adam Thielen and Cole Beasley are tied with 49 targets, while Darius Slayton (48), Tyreek Hill (48), and Cooks’ teammate Will Fuller (47) spearhead a group of 16 additional receivers that have been targeted at least 40 times.

Terry McLaurin is ELITE ?pic.twitter.com/6OEz5rluYy

— Barstool OSU (@BarstoolOSU) October 25, 2020

McLaurin leads all receivers in targets since Week 4 (44). Diggs is second 42, followed by Robinson (39), and both Fulgham and Cooper with 37. Hopkins and Anderson are tied with 36, while Boyd is next with 35. D.J. Chark and Lamb are tied with 34, while Cooks and Jamison Crowder are next with 33. Fuller has captured 32 targets during that span while Green and Kupp are the only other receivers who have collected 30+ targets during that four-game sequence.

Adams has captured the most targets since Week 6 (26). Green is second (24), followed by McLaurin (23), while Chark, Fulghum, and Boyd are tied with 21. Lockett is next with 20 - even though he only played in one game during that sequence. That ties him with Hopkins, while no other wide receiver has collected 20+ targets during that two-game span.

Crowder and Adams are tied for the league lead in targets per game (11.5), while five other receivers retain an average of 10+ - Allen (10.5), Hopkins (10.4), Cooper (10.3), Robinson (10.0), and Diggs (10.0).

Justin Jefferson continues to lead all wide receivers with a 14.9 yards per target average. Nelson Agholor is second (14.6), followed by Chase Claypool (13.3), Mecole Hardman (12.6), Kenny Golladay (12.1), D.K. Metcalf (11.8), and Julio Jones (11.5). Scott Miller is next (11.4), followed by Robby Anderson, and both D.J. Moore and Tim Patrick at 10.7.

Will Fuller and A.J. Brown are tied at 10.4. Michael Gallup (10.3) and Danny Amendola (10.0) complete the list of 16 wide receivers that are averaging at least 10 yards per target. Davante Adams, DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Chris Godwin, are among the group of 24 additional receivers that are averaging at least 9 yards per target.

 

Largest Weekly Changes

Wide Receivers	Week 6	Week 7	Changes
Tyler Lockett	BYE	20	20
Diontae Johnson	INJ	15	15
Keenan Allen	BYE	13	13
JuJu Smith-Schuster	4	14	10
Corey Davis	COV	10	10
Marquez Callaway	BYE	10	10
Nelson Agholor	BYE	9	9
Sterling Shepard	INJ	8	8
Tyreek Hill	3	10	7
Scott Miller	2	9	7
Davante Adams	10	16	6
Randall Cobb	4	10	6
Jacobi Meyers	0	6	6
Hunter Renfrow	BYE	6	6
Curtis Samuel	INJ	6	6
Tyler Boyd	8	13	5
Cole Beasley	7	12	5
D.K. Metcalf	BYE	5	5
Christian Kirk	3	8	5
DeSean Jackson	INJ	5	5
DeAndre Hopkins	8	12	4
Larry Fitzgerald	4	8	4
Brandon Aiyuk	3	7	4
Kenny Stills	0	4	4
Laviska Shenault Jr.	7	3	-4
Michael Gallup	6	2	-4
Tim Patrick	8	4	-4
Allen Robinson	9	4	-5
Will Fuller	11	6	-5
Robert Woods	10	5	-5
Dontrelle Inman	5	0	-5
Demarcus Robinson	6	1	-5
CeeDee Lamb	11	5	-6
D.J. Moore	11	5	-6
James Washington	7	1	-6
D.J. Chark	14	7	-7
Keelan Cole	9	2	-7
Breshad Perriman	9	2	-7

 

Tyler Lockett tonight: 13 catches, 175 yards, 3 TDs.

The footwork on this last one is just... wow. pic.twitter.com/Ccord2TAbX

— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) October 26, 2020

 

Tyler Lockett’s career-high 20 targets easily exceeded his previous best (18), while also delivering the highest weekly total of any wide receiver this season. Davante Adams has now collected 10+ targets in three of his four contests, after attaining the second-highest total in Week 7 (16). Diontae Johnson (15) had the week’s third-highest total, as he also reached a double-digit total for the third time this season. It was also the first game in which he has accomplished this since Week 2, as the second-year receiver has been encumbered by a combination of back, toe, and concussion issues.

His teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster was targeted 14 times, while Allen, Boyd, and Boyd‘s teammate A.J. Green collected 13 targets during their Week 7 matchups. Cole Beasley, and Hopkins, both captured 12 targets, while McLaurin, Travis Fulgham, and Diggs were all targeted 11 times. Hill, Randall Cobb, and Corey Davis, all attained 10 targets, as did rookie Marquez Callaway during his most extensive usage of the season. No other wide receivers reached a double-digit total during Week 7.

Lockett’s 20 target-outing against the Cardinals following his Week 6 bye vaults him to the top of week to week target increases (+20). Diontae Johnson procured 15 targets during his return to Pittsburgh's lineup after a Week 6 absence (+15), while the 13 targets that Allen collected following his bye elevated him to third for the week. Smith-Schuster, Davis, and newcomer Callaway all experienced a rise of +10. Agholor returned from the Raiders' bye to capture nine targets, Sterling Shepard was targeted eight times during his first game action since Week 2 (toe), and the weekly target totals for both Hill and Miller expanded by +7.

D.J. Chark captured 14 targets in Week 6, which was the week's highest total. But he was targeted seven times by Gardner Minshew  in Week 7, which resulted in a decline of -7. His teammate Keelan Cole's week-to-week total also decreased by -7, while Breshad Perriman's two targets also placed him at -7 for the week. Moore and Lamb were both targeted five times after attaining 11 targets in Week 6 and were joined by James Washington in experiencing a weekly reduction of -6. The weekly totals for Fuller, Robinson, Dontrelle Inman, and Demarcus Robinson declined by -5, while the weekly totals for Tim Patrick, Michael Gallup, and Laviska Shenault, all decreased by -4.

 

Week 7 Air Yards

Wide Receivers	Air Yards	AY %	aDOT
Calvin Ridley	941	39.84	14.7
D.K. Metcalf	776	38.83	16.6
Stefon Diggs	761	36.28	10.4
Allen Robinson	730	30.54	10
Terry McLaurin	716	47.2	9.6
A.J. Green	709	30.18	12.2
Adam Thielen	691	42.71	14.1
Marquise Brown	674	44.61	16
D.J. Moore	669	41.19	12.6
Tyreek Hill	641	36.92	13.4
Will Fuller	630	31.14	13.4
Robby Anderson	622	38.3	10.4
Darius Slayton	618	41.98	12.9
Amari Cooper	614	27.3	8.5
Marquez Valdes-Scantling	606	35.03	17.8
Odell Beckham Jr.	603	33.71	13.7
DeAndre Hopkins	588	30.36	8.1
Tyler Lockett	581	30.9	10
Michael Gallup	570	25.34	15.8
Tee Higgins	567	24.14	13.2
Keenan Allen	556	30.57	8.7
D.J. Chark	543	32.17	13.2
Scott Miller	537	25	16.8
Darnell Mooney	533	22.3	14.4
Tim Patrick	528	26.47	16
Tyler Boyd	527	22.44	8.6
CeeDee Lamb	513	22.81	9.3
Brandin Cooks	489	24.17	9.6
Jerry Jeudy	488	24.46	13.2
Justin Jefferson	459	28.37	12.8
Christian Kirk	442	27.23	13.8
Keelan Cole	440	21.99	11
Mike Williams	433	26.63	17.3
John Hightower	433	17.84	20.6
Travis Fulgham	427	32.23	11.5
T.Y. Hilton	418	27.68	11.3
Jarvis Landry	414	23.14	10.6
Kenny Golladay	412	35.52	14.7
Julian Edelman	399	33.81	10.2
Robert Woods	396	24.35	8.6
Davante Adams	395	33.05	8.6
Jamison Crowder	395	28.81	8.6
DeSean Jackson	391	27.44	15.6
DeVante Parker	382	24.98	9.6
Preston Williams	376	24.59	15
Julio Jones	376	22.75	9.6
Russell Gage	372	15.75	8.7
Anthony Miller	370	15.48	11.9

Calvin Ridley continues to lead all wide receivers in air yards with 941. He is followed by D.K. Metcalf (776), Stefon Diggs (761), Allen Robinson (730), Terry McLaurin (716), and A.J. Green (709). No other wide receiver has eclipsed 700 yards entering Week 8. Adam Thielen is next (691), followed by Marquise Brown (674),  D.J. Moore (669), Tyreek Hill (641), Will Fuller (630), Robby Anderson (622), Darius Slayton (618), Amari Cooper (614), and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (606).

McLaurin leads the position in percentage share of air yards (47.2). Brown is second (44.6), followed by Thielen (42.7), Slayton (42.0), Moore (41.2), Ridley (39.8), Metcalf (38.8), and Anderson (38.3). Hill is next (36.9), followed by Diggs (36.2), Kenny Golladay (35.5), and Valdes-Scantling (35.0). That completes the list of 12 receivers that are averaging a percentage share of 35+. Julian Edelman is next (33.8), followed by Davante Adams (33.0), A.J. Brown (32.8), Travis Fulgham, (32.2), D.J. Chark (32.2), and Fuller (31.1). Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins, and Robinson are among the remaining group of seven receivers who have attained a percentage share of 30+.

John Hightower has maintained his lead in targeted air yards (22.2), followed by Valdes-Scantling (17.8), Mike Williams (17.2), Brown (16.4), Scott Miller (16.3), Michael Gallup (16.3), Metcalf (16.2), and three receivers that are tied with a percentage of 15.4 - Ridley, Tim Patrick, and Darnell Mooney. Preston Williams (15.3), and DeSean Jackson (15.3)  complete the list of receivers who have exceeded 15+. 

 

Week 7 First Downs

Wide Receivers	First Downs
DeAndre Hopkins	36
Tyler Boyd	33
Calvin Ridley	32
Amari Cooper	32
Terry McLaurin	28
Stefon Diggs	28
Robby Anderson	28
Keenan Allen	28
Tyler Lockett	28
Allen Robinson	26
D. J. Moore	25
CeeDee Lamb	24
Cole Beasley	24
Davante Adams	24
Russell Gage	23
Adam Thielen	22
Justin Jefferson	22
Darius Slayton	22
Will Fuller	22
Brandin Cooks	22
Tee Higgins	22
Tyreek Hill	21
DeVante Parker	20
D.K. Metcalf	20
Cooper Kupp	20
A.J. Green	20

1 on 1 throw it up @K1 @AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/cdUywJdMzB

— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) October 28, 2020

 

DeAndre Hopkins continues to lead all wide receivers in first downs (36). Tyler Boyd is second overall (33), followed by Calvin Ridley and Amari Cooper with 32. Four different receivers have collected 28 first down receptions - Stefon Diggs, Robby Anderson, Keenan Allen, and Tyler Lockett. Allen Robinson is next (26), followed by D.J. Moore 25 and three receivers that are tied with 24 - CeeDee Lamb, Cole Beasley, and Davante Adams. Russell Gage is next with 23, while six different receivers have accumulated 22 - Adam Thielen, Justin Jefferson, Darius Slayton, Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, and Tee Higgins. Six additional receivers have accumulated a total of 20+ first down receptions.

 

Week 7 Red Zone Targets

Wide Receivers	Inside 20	Inside 10	Inside 5	Team %
Calvin Ridley	11	6	4	30.56
Tyler Boyd	9	4	2	21.95
Tyler Lockett	8	6	5	22.86
Will Fuller	8	4	1	24.24
Darius Slayton	8	5	2	23.53
Adam Thielen	8	4	2	38.1
Russell Gage	8	4	2	22.22
Emmanuel Sanders	8	4	2	23.53
DJ Chark	8	3	1	20.51
Zach Pascal	8	4	3	25
N'Keal Harry	8	4	2	40
DeAndre Hopkins	7	3	1	28
Amari Cooper	7	3	2	20.59
Terry McLaurin	7	1	1	30.43
CeeDee Lamb	7	5	4	20.59
Cole Beasley	7	5	2	17.95
Julio Jones	7	2	1	19.44
Tyreek Hill	7	5	1	19.44
Travis Fulgham	7	1	1	21.21
Robby Anderson	6	2	1	22.22
Stefon Diggs	6	3	3	15.38
Allen Robinson	6	2	1	15.79
Keenan Allen	6	1	0	26.09
Davante Adams	6	4	4	18.75
Tee Higgins	6	3	3	14.63
A.J. Brown	6	3	0	21.43
Odell Beckham	6	5	4	26.09
Mike Evans	6	5	4	13.95
Brandon Aiyuk	6	4	3	17.65
JuJu Smith-Schuster	6	3	0	20.69
Diontae Johnson	6	1	0	20.69
Sammy Watkins	6	5	2	16.67

Calvin Ridley leads all receivers with 11 red zone targets. Tyler Boyd is second overall (9),  while a whopping nine different wide receivers have collected eight targets -Tyler Lockett, Will Fuller, Darius Slayton, Russell Gage, Emmanuel Sanders, D.J. Chark, Zach Pascal, and N’Keal Harry.

DeAndre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, and Terry McLaurin spearhead a group of eight receivers that have captured seven targets inside the 20 while 13 different receivers have been targeted six times.

Ridley also leads his position with six targets inside the 10. However, Lockett has moved into a tie with Ridley, while seven different receivers have been targeted five times - Slayton, CeeDee Lamb, Cole Beasley, Tyreek Hill, Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, and Odell Beckham.

Lockett leads all receivers with five targets inside the 5, while Ridley, Lamb, Evans, Beckham, and Davante Adams have all been targeted four times. Rookies Tee Higgins and Brandon Aiyuk are among the five receivers that have captured three targets inside the 5.

 

Week 7 Snap Counts

Wide Receivers	Week 7	Total Snaps	Total Snap %
Michael Gallup	51.91.1	468	88.47
DeAndre Hopkins	80/95.2	460	91.63
Terry McLaurin	58/84.1	437	93.38
Amari Cooper	42/75	434	82.04
Stefon Diggs	72/97.3	430	91.49
Robert Woods	65/90.3	422	90.17
Tyler Boyd	60/80	408	78.16
Tyreek Hill	37/72.6	407	86.05
Mike Evans	62/86.1	406	84.06
Cooper Kupp	62/86.1	405	86.54
Calvin Ridley	58/77.3	404	78.91
Larry Fitzgerald	66/78.6	399	79.48
Darius Slayton	55/91.7	392	91.38
Allen Robinson	50/79.4	388	83.26
D.K Metcalf	81/96.4	385	95.77
D.J. Moore	42/91.3	380	85.01
Tyler Lockett	78/92.9	378	94.03
CeeDee Lamb	31/55.4	365	69
A.J. Green	65/86.7	361	69.16
Damiere Byrd	48/92.3	360	92.54
Will Fuller	67/98.5	359	83.88
Keenan Allen	69/85.2	357	81.14
Marvin Jones	56/90.3	357	88.37
Brandin Cooks	55/80.9	352	82.24
Tee Higgins	63/84	351	67.24
Adam Thielen	BYE	350	92.11
Greg Ward	77/95.1	343	68.06
Keelan Cole	48/76.2	340	73.75
Robby Anderson	40/87.0	339	75.84
Brandon Aiyuk	50/75.8	338	81.64
Tre'Quan Smith	57/81.4	336	82.96
JuJu Smith-Schuster	65/82.3	336	78.5
Kendrick Bourne	30//45.5	329	69.12
Jarvis Landry	40/76.9	329	72.95
Zach Pascal	BYE	324	81.41
Josh Reynolds	53/73.6	323	69.02
Gabriel Davis	70/94.6	322	68.51
D.J. Chark	55/87.3	321	81.27
Jalen Guyton	51/66.2	318	72.27
Tim Patrick	54/66.7	316	77.07
Odell Beckham	2/3.9	316	70.07
Marquez Valdes-Scantling	51/82.3	310	77.31
Christian Kirk	66/78.6	306	70.02
Laviska Shenault	47/74.6	302	65.51
DeVante Parker	BYE	301	76.79
Dontrelle Inman	20.29	300	64.1
T.Y. Hilton	BYE	298	74.87
Demarcus Robinson	34/667	297	62.79
Randall Cobb	49/72.1	296	69.16
Darnell Mooney	51/81.0	293	62.88
Cole Beasley	61/82.4	291	61.91

Michael Gallup has sustained his lead in offensive snaps (468), while DeAndre Hopkins is now second (460). Terry McLaurin is third for a second consecutive week (437), followed by Amari Cooper (434), Stefon Diggs (430), Robert Woods (422), Tyler Boyd (408), Tyreek Hill (407), Mike Evans (406), and Cooper Kupp completing the top 10 (405). Calvin Ridley is next (404), followed by Larry Fitzgerald (399), Darius Slayton (392), Allen Robinson (388), D.K. Metcalf (385), D.J. Moore (380), and Tyler Lockett (378). Will Fuller and Keenan Allen are included within a group of nine additional receivers that have performed on 350+ snaps.

Metcalf continues to lead all wide receivers in snap count percentage (95.8). His teammate Lockett is second overall (94.0), followed by McLaurin (93.4), Damiere Byrd  (92.5), Adam Thielen (92.1), Hopkins (91.6), Diggs (91.5), Slayton (91.4), Woods (90.2), and Gallup (88.5). Marvin Jones is next (88.3), followed by Kupp (86.5), Hill (86.1), Moore (85.0), Evans (84.1), and Will Fuller (83.9).

Metcalf also accumulated the highest offensive snap total during Week 7 (81), followed closely by Hopkins (80). Lockett and Travis Fulgham were tied for third (78), followed by Ward (77), Diggs (72), Gabriel Davis (70), Allen (69), Fuller (67), Fitzgerald (66), Christian Kirk (66), and three receivers that were tied with 65 offensive snaps - Woods, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and A.J. Green. Green’s teammate Tee Higgins was next (63), followed by Kupp (62), Evans (62), and three receivers that were tied with 61 – Cole Beasley, Mike Williams, and Washington’s Cam Sims. Boyd was the only other wide receiver to eclipse 60 offensive snaps during Week 7.

Fuller led all receivers in snap count percentage during Week 7 matchups (98.5). Diggs with second (97.3), followed by Metcalf (96.4), Fulgham (96.3), Hopkins (95.2), Ward (95.1), Breshad Perriman (94.7), Gabriel Davis (94.6), A.J. Brown (93.0), and Lockett (92.9). Byrd was next (92.3), followed by Adams (91.9), Slayton (91.7), Moore (91.3), and Corey Davis (91.2). Gallup (91.1), Marvin Jones (90.3), and Woods (90.3) were the only other wide receivers that were involved and at least 90% of the teams’ offensive snaps during the Week 7 matchups.

 

Five Things I Noticed

1. Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks have achieved sustained health through seven games, and their ability to elude injuries has propelled a Houston aerial assault that is now ranked fourth overall. Fuller’s ability to explode for sizable production as a dynamic downfield weapon is universally unquestioned, and his home run capabilities have been displayed repeatedly since he entered the league in 2016.

Will fuller 97 speed #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/aXSdVDODDh

— Houston texans (@botds_texans21) October 22, 2020

But his big-play production has also been disrupted by multiple injuries, which had affixed Fuller to the sidelines for 22 games. Last season was a microcosm for this ongoing process, as Fuller was second in air yards (692), and contained among the top 14 in targets (48), receptions (33), and receiving yards (444) from Weeks 1-6. However, a hamstring injury forced his absence from Weeks 7-11, and Fuller collected just 15 of 22 targets for 220 yards from Weeks 12-17. There was also reason to doubt that Brandin Cooks could resurrect the production that he accumulated from 2015-2018 (477 targets/307 receptions/4,597 yards) while averaging 119 targets/77 receptions/1,149 yards per season during that span. Cooks had missed two contests due to multiple concussions last season, while his numbers plummeted in each category (72 targets/42 receptions/583 yards).

 

Brandin Cooks has quietly worked his way up to WR #25 on the year in full PPR. Don't sleep on the veteran. pic.twitter.com/SWtzbcohdq

— Chase Gardner (@CoachChaseG) October 28, 2020

 

However, Fuller and Cooks have fueled the Texans’ fourth-ranked passing attack while combining for a 42.1% target share (Fuller 20.2/Cooks 21.9), and a 58.5 percentage share of air yards (Fuller 32.4/26.1). Randall Cobb is third in each category (10.3/14.3) after collecting a season-high 10 targets in Week 7. Houston is averaging 282.7 yards per game through the air, which is a significant rise of 46.3 yards per game when compared to last season’s 15th ranked passing (236.4 per game). The Texans are also sixth in pass play percentage (63.4), which is an enormous change after ranking 23rd during 2019, with a percentage of 57.3.

Fuller resides at 20th in targets (47/6.7 per game), is 11th in air yards (630), and 14th overall in receiving yards (490/70.0 per game). He has also built a career-best average in yards per reception (15.8) and is fifth in yards before catch (391).

Cooks is 15th among all wide receivers with 51 targets (7.3 per game) and 19th with a team-high 34 receptions. He also leads all receivers in receptions since Week 5 (24), is third in targets (30), and fourth in yardage during that span (289). Cooks would accumulate 160 targets, 128 receptions, and 1,541 yards if he sustained his pace since Week 5, and would accrue 117 targets, 78 receptions, and 976 yards at his current season averages from Weeks 1-7. Fuller’s current per-game averages place him on pace to accumulate 107 targets, 71 receptions, and 1,120 yards. If both receivers continue to avoid health issues, they will also retain their ability to construct numbers that reward anyone who has included them on their rosters.

 

2. Several rookie receivers who began the season with promising usage and production have recently experienced a decline in their statistical momentum. However, there are several other newcomers whose numbers are on the rise. CeeDee Lamb still leads all first-year receivers in targets (56/8 per game), and receptions (36), and is second to Justin Jefferson in receiving yards (497). He also remains among the top 13 receivers in each category. However, he was seventh overall in targets, receptions, and yardage exactly one week ago, before being negatively impacted by the degenerating situation in Dallas.

Lamb had been averaging 9 targets, 6.2 receptions, and 87.6 yards per game from Weeks 2-6. But he was relegated to a season-low five targets in Week 7 while failing to register a reception against Washington. The Cowboys’ attack has shifted into an unrelenting freefall since Dak Prescott was forced from the lineup, and Lamb will require stability and far more effectiveness from his signal-caller in order to replicate his previous weekly averages.

Jerry Jeudy led all rookies in targets entering Week 4 (24/8 per game), which also placed him 13th among all receivers. He was also second to Lamb in receptions (13) but has only averaged 4.3 receptions, 2.0 receptions, and 36.7 yards per game since Week 4. The former first-round pick was expected to ascend into Denver’s WR1 role following Courtland Sutton’s season-ending injury (torn ACL). However, he has descended into drop candidacy in redraft leagues.

Tee Higgins with the TD!#WRU

pic.twitter.com/ifl88lSnIM

— #ClemsonNFL (@ClemsonPros) October 25, 2020

Tee Higgins is now second among rookies in targets (43/6.1 per game), third in receiving yards (410), and fourth in receptions (27). Since Week 3, Higgins is 12th among all wide receivers with 375 yards, while the newcomer is also 14th among all receivers in both targets (37/7.4 per game), and receptions (24). He also leads all rookies in air yards (567), which also places him 20th overall. Higgins is also second among Cincinnati receivers in percentage share of air yards (25.1) and third on the Bengals in target share (15.4). Higgins has also averaged 11+ yards per target in three of his last four matchups, while that average climbs to 14.9 since Week 6. He has averaged 7.2 targets per game since Week 2 and is entrenched among Joe Burrow’s primary receiving weapons.

 

Brandon Aiyuk (EYE-yook)

Get to know the name because the rookie had himself a game. Highlights from @THE2ERA's 1st career 100+ yard day.

More ? on https://t.co/vpdsX5qsi5 pic.twitter.com/RWbIX0JVxC

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 26, 2020

Since Week 3, Brandon Aiyuk leads San Francisco wide receivers in targets (29/8.9 per game), receptions (18), and receiving yards (259). He is also fourth among rookies in yardage, and fifth in receptions during that span. He also established career highs in targets (7), receptions (6), and receiving yards (115) during San Francisco's Week 7 matchup in New England. Aiyuk has now has been presented with the opportunity to perform as the 49ers' WR 1 while Deebo Samuel contends with his hamstring issue. Aiyuk will line up this week against a Seattle defensive unit that has surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. He has been deployed on the perimeter and in the slot and has the versatility to capitalize on his enticing matchup.

 

3. Chris Godwin (WR2), and Mike Evans (WR5) were both among the top 5 in points per game scoring entering Week 15  before both receivers encountered hamstring injuries that abruptly concluded their 2019 regular seasons. Many fantasy GMs advanced beyond that late-season disappointment and selected both players within the first three rounds of their drafts. Unfortunately, Godwin and Evans have contended with hurdles throughout the first seven weeks of this regular season which has dropped Godwin to WR20, and Evans to WR31 in point per game scoring.

Godwin has only performed in four matchups, as a result of his lingering hamstring issue. Now he will be forced to miss additional time while recovering from surgery on his broken finger. His per-game averages have declined to 7.3 targets, and 69.8 yards, after he had averaged 8.6 targets and 95.2 yards per game during his stellar 2019 season. Godwin's yard per target average has also diminished from 11.0 to 9.6, while his yard per reception average has dropped from 15.5 to 11.2.

Anyone with Evans on their roster is already aware that he has been limited to just four targets, three receptions, and 47 yards during his last two contests. Godwin was in the lineup for those matchups, which has been a factor in Evans’ numbers. He assembled 14 receptions and produced 226 ards in Weeks 2 and 4 when Godwin was absent. But he has averaged just 18 yards in his other five games, His current yards per game average of 45.4 is nearly half of his average during 2019 (89.0) and over 35 yards below his career average entering the season (80.6). His current average would result in a season-long yardage total of 726. That places his current streak of generating 1,000+ yards during every season of his career (1,210 per year) in jeopardy.

Antonio Brown’s newly signed one-year contract has presented another element that should affect the usage and output of Godwin and Evans, as the Buccaneers should infuse him into their receiving arsenal in Week 9. Brown’s most recent performance took place during New England’s season opener in 2019. Brown collected four of his five of his targets and accumulated 56 yards during that matchup while operating with Tom Brady under center for the Patriots. Brown should still possess enough remaining talent to function effectively on the field. This will result in the 4-time All-Pro pilfering targets that would have otherwise been distributed to Godwin and Evans, which is not a favorable development for either receiver. But that will only occur if the mercurial receiver can avoid injecting volatility into a team that has been playing with cohesiveness.

 

4. If you selected Julian Edelman in Round 7 of your drafts then you had a legitimate reason for believing that you had made a wise investment. New England would be experiencing a major transition at quarterback. But Edelman had finished 10th in point per game scoring during 2019, was also fourth in targets (156), and had averaged at least 9-targets per game in five of the past six seasons. Anyone who had seized N’Keal Harry at his Round 13 ADP, was also justified in experiencing optimism, as the second-year receiver appeared primed to operate as a starter within a Patriot passing attack that was devoid of talented receiving weaponry.

The season began favorably for both receivers, as they were tied for 10th overall in both targets (18) and receptions (13) entering Week 3. Edelman was third overall in yardage (236) while Harry established career-highs in targets (12), receptions (8), and yardage (72) during New England’s Week 2. matchup with Seattle. Cam Newton had also assembled 552 yards during those contests while utilizing Edelman and Harry as his top two options.

 

How can the Patriots get Cam Newton comfortable again?

This screenshot (4th offensive play) is one example of Newton’s recent struggles.

Just not seeing the open receiver (N’Keal Harry/No. 15). There’s time, a big window, and the ball isn’t coming out (4-yard scramble). pic.twitter.com/IElBEt1kFK

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 26, 2020

 

However, the Patriot offense has undergone an across-the-board plunge into the statistical abyss. New England now ranks just 28th overall in passing (197.2 yards per game) and is dead last in passing touchdowns (3). Newton has averaged just 139 yards during his last three games while managing just one touchdown. This degeneration of New England's attack has also impacted Edelman and Harry, through a massive decline in usage and output that has rendered both receivers unplayable in all lineups.

They combined for an anemic two receptions and 19 yards during New England’s embarrassing Week 7 loss to San Francisco. The paltry production was hardly an aberration, as Edelman has now manufactured only eight receptions for 79 yards during his last four games combined. Harry’s second year has now unraveled completely, and any confidence that he could rebound from his forgettable rookie season has been eviscerated by growing evidence that he is not a starter at the NFL level. He has managed just six receptions since Week 3 while producing only 61 yards (15.3 per game) during those four contests.

Newton's recent struggles could be a byproduct of his recent absence (COVID-19) while he is also attempting to guide an offense that is severely lacking in difference-makers. That could sustain Edelman’s RB1 responsibilities, although he may no longer be capable of functioning proficiently in that role. Harry has not demonstrated that he can separate himself from defenders or the ongoing collection of underwhelming performances. This leaves both receivers droppable in redraft leagues, while dynasty managers need to keep both players cemented to their benches. Edelman might be resurrected as a resource in your lineups later this season if there is an indication that he can bolster your scoring.

 

5. When the Saints returned from their Week 6 bye it initially appeared that Michael Thomas would finally re-emerge in their lineup. After Week 7 exactly one year ago Thomas was leading the NFL in targets (78), receptions (62), and receiving yards (763), while assembling eye-opening averages of 11.1 targets, 8.9 receptions, and 109 yards per game. That is a massive contrast to how his 2020 season has unfolded, as Thomas’ delivered anemic production in Week 1 (3 receptions/17 yards) and has been absent since that season opener. Thomas has contended with multiple health issues (ankle/hamstring) while Drew Brees and the Saints’ passing attack have advanced through their first seven matchups with a restructured arsenal of receiving options.

This has forced Brees to spearhead the offense without having the opportunity to connect with his primary receiving weapon. However, New Orleans is currently ranked ninth in passing attack (265.7 yards per game), as the offensive unit is also 17th in pass play percentage (56.9), Brees leads the NFL in completion percentage (72.6), although his name is located consistently in the middle of most major passing categories. He is 16th in passing attempts (212), and passing yards (1,618), and 12th in completions (154). Brees is also 15^th in touchdowns, (11), although his 7.6 yards per attempt average is his lowest average since 2014.

Brees has constructed those numbers even though no wide receiver has functioned as a highly productive resource during Thomas’ absence. 27 teams are distributing targets to their wide receivers with greater frequency than New Orleans (50.9%), as Alvin Kamara leads the Saints in targets (53). receptions (46), receiving yards (460), and is tied with Jared Cook in receiving touchdowns (3). 33-year old Emmanuel Sanders has performed in five contests, is WR31 in point per game scoring, 48th in targets (36), 38th in receptions (25), and 44th in receiving yards (304). Yet, those numbers are sufficient to lead all New Orleans wide receivers in each category.

Tre’Quan Smith is a distant second at WR58 in scoring, just 76th in targets (25), 58th in receptions (20), and 59th in yardage (25). Smith’s 12.4 yards per reception average is the lowest of his career, although his 80% catch rate has established a career-high.

And if you don't know Marquez Callaway ... now you know. ?

⚜ 8 Catches
⚜ 75 Yards
⚜ 4 First Downs

Not bad for an undrafted rookie. ? pic.twitter.com/0kedDg9ma0

— SaintsNOW (@SaintsNOW) October 25, 2020

Undrafted free agent Marquez Callaway vaulted into a starting role during the Saints’ Week 7 matchup with Carolina and collected eight of his 10 targets. The 6’, 2”, 200-pound Callaway will retain an ongoing role until Thomas resurfaces - which might not occur for this week's matchup with Chicago. But the team's numbers during his absence have underscored the reality that he is their most critical receiving weapon. Whenever he does reemerge, it will be highly beneficial for the Saints, and for any fantasy GMs who have been awaiting his return.

 

 

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