Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 8 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 eighth 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.

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Week 8 Target Leaders 

Wide Receivers	Targets	Targ/Game	Target %	Yards/Targ
Stefon Diggs	79	9.9	28.94	8.8
Amari Cooper	77	9.6	22.65	7.6
Allen Robinson	77	9.6	24.76	8.2
Keenan Allen	74	10.6	29.96	7.4
DeAndre Hopkins	73	10.4	30.93	9.6
Cooper Kupp	72	9	26.47	7.3
Terry McLaurin	69	9.9	29.74	8.4
Calvin Ridley	68	8.5	21.18	9.7
Tyler Boyd	68	8.5	22.15	8.6
Robby Anderson	67	8.4	26.69	10.3
Tyler Lockett	63	9	19.63	9.1
A.J. Green	63	7.9	25.71	5
CeeDee Lamb	61	7.6	17.94	8.6
D.K. Metcalf	59	8.4	24.08	11.5
D.J. Moore	59	7.4	23.51	10.5
Davante Adams	58	11.6	33.33	8.7
Darius Slayton	56	7	21.71	8.7
Robert Woods	54	6.8	18.95	8.1
Tyreek Hill	54	6.8	19.85	9.9
Adam Thielen	53	7.6	29.28	8.3
Tee Higgins	52	6.5	16.2	9.4
Cole Beasley	51	6.4	18.68	9.7
Brandin Cooks	51	7.3	21.89	8.4
Jarvis Landry	50	6.3	22.62	8.4
JuJu Smith-Schuster	50	7.1	20.41	6.9
Julio Jones	49	8.2	20.94	11.9
Michael Gallup	48	6	14.12	9
Will Fuller	47	6.7	20.17	10.4
Jerry Jeudy	47	6.7	19.92	7.6
Jamison Crowder	46	11.5	31.51	8.3
Russell Gage	46	5.8	14.98	8
Mike Evans	46	5.8	15.38	8.1
Greg Ward	45	5.6	15.31	5.4
Diontae Johnson	44	7.3	23.78	5.3
Marquise Brown	44	6.3	26.35	8.6
Travis Fulgham	44	8.8	19.82	9.9
Darnell Mooney	43	5.4	18.3	7.1
Brandon Aiyuk	43	6.1	21.94	8.6
Odell Beckham Jr.	43	6.1	13.83	7.4
DeVante Parker	42	6	13.5	8.7
Anthony Miller	42	5.3	19.27	6.2
D.J. Chark	41	6.8	19.43	7.1
Keelan Cole	40	5.7	14.98	9.4
Kendrick Bourne	40	5	15.81	8.8
Justin Jefferson	40	5.7	22.1	14.1
A.J. Brown	39	7.8	23.21	9.1
Corey Davis	39	7.8	25.16	9.5
T.Y. Hilton	39	5.6	15.06	6.4
Julian Edelman	39	6.5	16.81	8.1

Where we ranking Stefon Diggs as a real-life WR if everybody is healthy and why is it seventhpic.twitter.com/pC5AGwTbp7

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) October 28, 2020

 

25 receivers have accumulated 50+ targets as we enter Week 9, as Stefon Diggs has ascended into the league lead with 79. Amari Cooper and Allen Robinson are tied for second (77), followed by Keenan Allen (74), DeAndre Hopkins (73), Cooper Kupp (72), Terry McLaurin (69), Calvin Ridley (68), Tyler Boyd (68), and Robby Anderson completing the top 10 with 67. Tyler Lockett and A.J. Green are tied with 63, followed by CeeDee Lamb (61), D.K. Metcalf (59), D.J. Moore (59), Davante Adams (58), and Darius Slayton (56). Robert Woods is tied with Tyreek Hill (54), followed by Adam Thielen (53), and Tee Higgins (52). Cole Beasley and Brandin Cooks are tied at 51, while Jarvis Landry and JuJu Smith-Schuster are tied at 50. No other receivers have reached 50 targets, while Julio Jones (49), Michael Gallup (48), and Will Fuller (47) spearhead the collection of 20 receivers that have registered target totals between 40 and 49.

Kupp has surged into a tie with Diggs for the most targets since Week 5 (44). Travis Fulghum continues to be one of the season’s most intriguing stories at the wide receiver position and is third overall with (41). Adams is fourth with 38, as he continues his statistical rise following a hamstring injury. Robinson is next (36), followed by Boyd (34),  Anderson (33), Lamb (32), and four receivers that are tied with 31 - Metcalf, Smith-Schuster, Landry, and A.J. Brown. Five additional receivers have collected at least 30 targets during the last four weeks - McLaurin, Cooks, Lockett, and Cincinnati teammates Green and Tee Higgins.

Davante Adams makes it look effortless pic.twitter.com/n3RTDBt4eI

— Receiver Life (@ReceiverLife_) November 1, 2020

Adams also leads all wide receivers with 28 targets since Week 7. His accomplishments following his return from injury will be examined in the 5 Things I Noticed section. Kupp is second (27), followed by Lockett (25), Allen (24), Smith-Schuster (22), and four receivers that are tied with 20 - Metcalf, Boyd, Diggs, and Corey Davis. Jones is next with 19, while six receivers are tied with 18 – Fulgham, Green, Diontae Johnson, Braxton Berrios, and newcomer Brandon Aiyuk. Landry and Josh Reynolds are tied at 17 while five additional receivers have collected at least 15+ targets since Week 7.

Four receivers have maintained a target per game average of 10+ Adams (11.6), Jamison Crowder (11.4), Allen (10.6), and Hopkins 10.4. Adams has also registered 10+ targets in four of his five matchups this season. He is tied with Crowder, Allen, McLaurin, and Ridley, as the only wide receivers who have registered a double-digit target total in four different games.

 

Largest Weekly Changes

Wide Receivers	Week 7	Week 8	Changes	Total Targets
Cooper Kupp	6	21	15	72
DK Metcalf	5	15	10	59
Michael Gallup	2	12	10	48
Kendrick Bourne	1	10	9	40
Chase Claypool	1	9	8	34
Jaydon Mickens	0	8	8	10
Jeff Smith	1	8	7	33
Mecole Hardman	2	9	7	29
Willie Snead	BYE	7	7	22
Darius Slayton	3	9	6	56
Jerry Jeudy	4	10	6	47
Anthony Miller	5	11	6	42
Zach Pascal	BYE	6	6	34
Marvin Hall	1	7	6	15
Jalen Reagor	INJ	6	6	14
Auden Tate	1	7	6	14
Jarvis Landry	6	11	5	50
Mike Williams	3	8	5	33
Preston Williams	BYE	5	5	30
Mike Evans	2	7	5	46
Tee Higgins	5	9	4	52
Brandon Aiyuk	7	11	4	43
Justin Jefferson	BYE	4	4	40
Braxton Berrios	7	11	4	38
Demarcus Robinson	1	5	4	27
Jakobi Meyers	6	10	4	17
Davante Adams	16	12	-4	58
Tyreek Hill	10	6	-4	54
Russell Gage	7	3	-4	46
Travis Fulgham	11	7	-4	44
Denzel Mims	7	3	-4	10
Tyler Boyd	13	7	-6	68
JuJu Smith-Schuster	14	8	-6	50
Nelson Agholor	9	2	-7	22
A.J. Green	13	5	-8	63
Cole Beasley	12	2	-10	51
Diontae Johnson	15	3	-12	44
Tyler Lockett	20	5	-15	63

Despite the loss, Cooper Kupp had a huge day in Miami w/ 11 catches for 110 yards.

He was targeted 21 times (!), that's the most by any player in 2020.#LARams pic.twitter.com/39dM1PE4k9

— Inside Edge NFL (@IE_NFL) November 3, 2020

In Week 7, Tyler Lockett accumulated 20 targets which was the highest one week total of the season. One week later, Cooper Kupp surpassed it by stockpiling 21 targets during the Rams' matchup with Miami. That exceeded Kupp's previous career-high of 17 targets that were garnered in Week 5 last season. It was also the 12th time that Kupp has attained double-digits during his career. D.K. Metcalf registered 10+ targets for the fourth time in his career when he collected a career-high 15 during Seattle's NFC West matchup against the 49ers.

Michael Gallup registered the week's third-highest total target total (12), which was also the sixth time that he had attained 10+ targets in a regular-season game. He was tied with Davante Adams, who has now amassed 10+ targets in three straight contests, and four of the five games that he's participated in this season. Four receivers were targeted 11 times in Week 8, as  Jarvis Landry easily established a new season-high (11). He was joined by Keenan Allen, Anthony Miller, and Braxton Berrios who operated in the slot for the Jets during Jamison Crowder's absence. Five other receivers captured 10 targets during their Week 8 matchups - Julio Jones, Kendrick Bourne, Jerry Jeudy, Sterling Shepard, and Corey Davis.

The 21 targets that Kupp captured in Week 8 fueled the largest increase of the week (+15), while Metcalf and Gallup both generated the second-highest weekly increases with their Week 8 target totals (+10). Kendrick Bourne had been limited to one target in Week 7. However, he tied his career-high by collecting 10 targets in Week 8 (+9). Chase Claypool and Jaydon Mickens both registered week-to-week improvement of +8, while Jeff Smith, Mecole Hardman, and Willie Snead attained a rise of +7. A  group of seven receivers experienced a weekly increase of +6 - Jeudy, Slayton, Miller, Zach Pascal, Marvin Hall, Auden Tate, and Jalen Reagor.

One week after generating the largest week-to-week increase, Lockett was the recipient of the most significant decline -15. Diontae Johnson's week-to-week total declined by -12  after he was targeted just three times by Ben Roethlisberger in Week 8. Cole Beasley was the only other wide receiver who experienced a double-digit decline (-10), while A.J. Green (-8), Nelson Agholor (- 7), JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyler Boyd, also registered noteworthy week-to-week declines (-6).

 

Week 8 Air Yards

Wide Receivers	Air Yards	% Air Yards	aDOT
Calvin Ridley	1023	36.9	15.3
A.J. Green	857	32.3	13.6
DK Metcalf	841	41	14.5
Stefon Diggs	816	36.6	10.5
Allen Robinson	810	30.4	10.5
Tyreek Hill	802	36.6	14.9
DJ Moore	701	40.3	11.9
Tee Higgins	697	26.3	13.2
Adam Thielen	692	41.2	13.1
Marquise Brown	672	39.8	15.6
Robby Anderson	667	38.4	9.7
Terry McLaurin	665	44.4	9.6
Darnell Mooney	663	24.9	15.4
Amari Cooper	649	25	8.7
Tyler Lockett	646	31.5	10.3
Michael Gallup	646	24.9	13.7
Jerry Jeudy	640	27.7	13.6
Keenan Allen	623	30	8.2
Will Fuller	608	31	12.9
Darius Slayton	604	41	12.6
DeAndre Hopkins	597	31.5	8.3
Marquez Valdes-Scantling	596	28.5	17.5
Julio Jones	595	21.3	11.9
Mike Williams	581	28	17.6
CeeDee Lamb	576	22.2	9
Tyler Boyd	573	21.6	8.4
Odell Beckham	572	30.5	13.3
John Hightower	567	21.1	23.6
DJ Chark	543	27.2	13.2
Tim Patrick	542	23.5	16.4
Scotty Miller	527	23.8	16.5
Davante Adams	513	24.6	9
Brandin Cooks	506	25.8	9.9
Travis Fulgham	503	18.7	11.4
Cooper Kupp	492	26	6.8
Josh Reynolds	486	25.7	12.8
Travis Kelce	479	21.9	7.1
Jarvis Landry	474	25.2	9.5
Justin Jefferson	473	28.2	11.8
Jeff Smith	458	23	13.9
Kenny Golladay	450	21	14.1
Brandon Aiyuk	447	25	10.6
Mike Evans	446	20.2	11.4
Keelan Cole	437	21.9	10.9
Chase Claypool	428	25.5	12.2
Anthony Miller	428	16.1	10.2
Christian Kirk	419	22.1	14
Robert Woods	416	22	7.8
Preston Williams	415	26.7	13.8
Mark Andrews	414	24.5	10.6
Hayden Hurst	410	14.7	8.7
Diontae Johnson	408	24.3	9.1
Marvin Jones	406	18.9	10.7
Corey Davis	405	22.4	10.4

Calvin Ridley has maintained his league lead in air yards and is the only receiver who has eclipsed 1,000 yards (1,023). A.J. Green is now second overall (857), followed by D.K. Metcalf (841), Stefon Diggs (816), Allen Robinson (810), and Tyreek Hill (802). Those are the only six receivers that have exceeded 800 yards through Week 8. D.J. Moore is next (701), followed by Tee Higgins (697), Adam Thielen (692), Marquise Brown (672), Robby Anderson (667), and Terry McLaurin (665). Rookie Darnell Mooney, and Dallas teammates Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup are among the eight additional receivers that have surpassed 600 air yards entering Week 9.

McLaurin continues to lead all receivers in percentage share of air yards (44.4). He is followed by Thielen (41.2), Metcalf (41.0), Darius Slayton (41.0), and Moore (40.3). Those are the only five receivers that are averaging  40+. Brown is next (39.8), followed by Anderson (38.4), Ridley (36.6), Hill (36.6), and Adams (34.8). Tyler Lockett and DeAndre Hopkins are among a cluster of seven additional receivers that have attained a percentage share of 30+.

John Hightower still leads all receivers in targeted air yards (23.2). He is followed by Marquez Valdes-Scantling (17.8), Mike Williams (17.3), Scott Miller (16.2), and Brown (16.5). Mooney is sixth overall (15.5), followed by Tim Patrick (15.4), Ridley (15.3), (Hill (15.0), Gabriel Davis (14.9), and Christian Kirk (14.7). Metcalf headlines a group of five receivers that are averaging 14+ - Green, Preston Williams, Chris Conley, and Kenny Golladay.

 

Week 8 First Downs

Wide Receivers	First Downs
DeAndre Hopkins	36
Tyler Boyd	36
Calvin Ridley	34
Keenan Allen	33
Amari Cooper	32
Stefon Diggs	31
Tyler Lockett	31
Allen Robinson	30
Davante Adams	30
Robby Anderson	29
Terry McLaurin	28
D.K. Metcalf	28
D. J. Moore	27
Darius Slayton	27
Tee Higgins	27
Cole Beasley	26
Julio Jones	26
CeeDee Lamb	26
Tyreek Hill	24
Russell Gage	24
Cooper Kupp	24
Adam Thielen	23
Mike Evans	23
Justin Jefferson	22
Will Fuller	22
Brandin Cooks	22
Corey Davis	22

Tyler Boyd barely had enough time to turn around, much less catch it. pic.twitter.com/0HBiVsqPnJ

— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 1, 2020

DeAndre Hopkins has maintained his league lead in first down receptions (36) despite not playing in Week 8 due to Arizona’s bye week. However, Tyler Boyd captured three first-down receptions during Cincinnati’s matchup with Tennessee, which elevated him into a tie with Hopkins. Calvin Ridley is third overall (34), followed by Keenan Allen (33), Amari Cooper (32), Stefon Diggs (31), and Tyler Lockett (31). Allen Robinson (30), and Davante Adams (30) complete the group of nine receivers that have collected 30+ receptions for first downs entering Week 9. Robby Anderson is next (29), followed by Terry McLaurin (28), D.K. Metcalf (28), Tee Higgins (27), D.J. Moore (27), Darius Slayton (27), and three receivers that are tied with 26 – Cole Beasley, CeeDee Lamb, and Julio Jones. 17 additional receivers have eclipsed 20 receptions for first downs through Week 8.

 

Week 8 Red Zone Targets

Wide Receivers	Inside 20	Inside 10	Inside 5
Calvin Ridley	12	6	4
Tyler Boyd	11	5	2
Julio Jones	10	2	1
Davante Adams	10	7	6
Tyler Lockett	9	7	6
Brandon Aiyuk	9	6	4
Russell Gage	9	4	2
JuJu Smith-Schuster	9	3	0
Tyreek Hill	8	6	1
Will Fuller	8	4	1
Darius Slayton	8	5	2
Adam Thielen	8	4	2
Travis Fulgham	8	2	1
A.J. Brown	8	5	0
Emmanuel Sanders	8	4	2
DJ Chark	8	3	1
Marvin Jones	8	3	2
Zach Pascal	8	4	3
N'Keal Harry	8	4	2
DeAndre Hopkins	7	3	1
Stefon Diggs	7	3	3
DK Metcalf	7	5	1
Amari Cooper	7	3	2
Terry McLaurin	7	1	1
Keenan Allen	7	2	0
CeeDee Lamb	7	5	4
Cole Beasley	7	5	2
Robby Anderson	6	2	1
Allen Robinson	6	2	1
Tee Higgins	6	3	3
Robert Woods	6	1	0
Mike Evans	6	5	4
Kendrick Bourne	6	3	2
Odell Beckham	6	5	4
Anthony Miller	6	1	1
Diontae Johnson	6	1	0
Sammy Watkins	6	5	2

Calvin Ridley continues to lead all receivers in red zone targets after Week 8 (12). Tyler Boyd is second overall (11), while Julio Jones and Davante Adams have each been targeted 10 times. No other wide receivers have attained a double-digit target total. Four different receivers have collected nine targets inside the 20 – Tyler Lockett, Brandon Aiyuk, Russell Gage, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Tyreek Hill, Will Fuller, and Adam Thielen are among the collection of 11 receivers that have captured eight targets in the red zone.

Adams and Lockett are tied for the league lead with seven targets inside the 10, while Ridley Aiyuk, Hill, and Mike Evans have all captured six. D.K. Metcalf, Cole Beasley, and Tyler Boyd are included in the group of eight receivers who have been targeted five times inside the 10. Russell Gage and Zach Pascal are among the 10 receivers that have received four targets inside the 10.

Adams and Lockett also lead their position with six targets inside the 5-yard line, while eight receivers are tied with four – Ridley, Aiyuk, Evans, CeeDee Lamb, Pascal, Preston Williams, Stefon Diggs, and Odell Beckham.

 

Week 8 Snap Counts

Wide Receivers	Week 8	Total Snaps	Snap %
Michael Gallup	69/87.3%	537	88.32
Robert Woods	88/92.6%	510	90.59
Cooper Kupp	92/96.8%	497	88.28
Amari Cooper	59/87.3%	493	81.09
Stefon Diggs	53/91.4%	483	91.48
Mike Evans	63/90%	469	84.81
Tyler Boyd	55/75.3%	463	77.82
DeAndre Hopkins	BYE	460	91.63
Darius Slayton	68/91.9%	460	91.45
Tyreek Hill	50/75.8%	457	84.79
Allen Robinson	68/97.1%	456	85.07
D.K. Metcalf	65/95.6%	450	95.74
Keenan Allen	85/97.7%	442	83.87
Tyler Lockett	59/86.7%	437	92.98
Terry McLaurin	BYE	437	93.38
D.J. Moore	48/88.9%	428	85.43
Calvin Ridley	23/32.9%	427	73.37
Damiere Byrd	65/100%	425	93.61
A.J. Green	62/84.9%	423	71.09
Marvin Jones	60/98.4%	417	89.68
Tee Higgins	57/78.1%	408	68.57
CeeDee Lamb	37/46.8%	402	66.12
Greg Ward	59/93.7%	402	70.9
Brandon Aiyuk	63/90%	401	82.85
Josh Reynolds	77/81.1%	400	71.05
Larry Fitzgerald	BYE	399	79.48
Adam Thielen	47/90.4%	397	91.9
Tre'Quan Smith	58/78.4%	394	82.25
Jalen Guyton	76/87.3%	394	74.76
Kendrick Bourne	60/85.7%	389	71.25
Robby Anderson	45/83.3%	384	76.65
Zach Pascal	58/75.3%	382	80.42
JuJu Smith-Schuster	41/77.3%	377	78.38
Marquez Valdes-Scantling	62/82.7%	372	78.15
Jarvis Landry	38/77.6%	367	73.4
Mike Williams	76/87.4%	364	76.79
Marquise Brown	77/93.9%	361	79.34
Will Fuller	BYE	359	83.88
Darnell Mooney	65/92.9%	358	66.79
Gabriel Davis	35/60.3%	357	67.61
Brandin Cooks	BYE	352	82.24
Jerry Jeudy	58/89.2%	345	72.63
Keelan Cole	BYE	340	73.75
Demarcus Robinson	36/54.6%	333	61.78
DeVante Parker	29/59.2%	330	74.83
Russell Gage	39/55.7%	330	56.7
Cole Beasley	36/62.1%	327	61.93
T.Y. Hilton	28/36.4%	326	68.63
D.J. Chark	BYE	321	81.27
Justin Jefferson	34/65.4%	321	74.31
Julio Jones	58/82.6%	320	71.27

Gallup has led all wide receivers in total snaps since Week 4 and extended his league-best total to 537. Robert Woods is second 510, followed by teammate Cooper Kupp (497), Amari Cooper (493), Stefon Diggs (483), and Mike Evans (469). Tyler Boyd is next (463), followed by DeAndre Hopkins, and Darius Slayton in a tie at 460. Tyreek Hill is next (457), followed by Allen Robinson (456), and D.K. Metcalf (450). Only those 12 receivers have performed on 450+ offensive snaps through Week 8. Keenan Allen is next (442), followed by Tyler Lockett (437), Terry McLaurin (437), D.J. Moore (428), and Calvin Ridley (427).

Metcalf has led all wide receivers in offensive snap count percentage for six of the last seven weeks and accomplished it again in Week 8 (95.7). He is followed by Damiere Byrd (93.6), McLaurin (93.40, Lockett (93.00, Adam Thielen (91.90, and Hopkins (91.6), while Diggs and Slayton were tied at 91.5. Woods was next (90.6), followed by Marvin Jones (89.7), Gallup (88.3), Kupp (88.3), Denzel Mims (87.7), Moore (85.4), and Robinson (85.1).

Teammates Kupp (92), and Woods (88), led all receivers in offensive snaps during their Week 8 matchup with Miami. Allen was next (85), followed by yet another Ram - Josh Reynolds - in a tie with Marquise Brown at 77. Teammates Jaylen Guyton and Mike Williams were tied at 76, followed by Adams (71), Gallup (690, and another tie with Slayton and Robinson at 68. Three receivers performed on 65 snaps – Byrd, Metcalf, and Darnell Mooney, followed by Jakobi Meyers 64., Brandon Aiyuk 63, and Mike Evans 63.

Byrd was also involved in a league-high 100% of New England’s offensive snaps in Week 8, while teammate Meyers was second overall (98.5). Marvin Jones was next 98.4), followed by Allen (97.70, Robinson (97.1), Kupp (96.8), and Denzel Mims (96.5). Metcalf was next (95.6) followed by A.J. Brown (95.2), Adams (94.7), Marquise Brown (93.9), and DaeSean Hamilton (93.9).

 

Five Things I Noticed

1. We have advanced beyond eight weeks of matchups, and injuries have remained impactful for multiple receivers along with anyone who has included them on their rosters. Here is a review of prominent receivers that have returned from health issues during the past few weeks.

Several of these high-profile players have immediately stockpiled sizable target and yardage totals, while several others have not been able to replicate that same statistical success in their usage and production.

THIS. MAN. ? pic.twitter.com/H4OQi0l6PD

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 30, 2020

Julio Jones was sidelined with a hamstring issue during Atlanta‘s matchup in Weeks 3 and 5 and was only involved on 15 of the Falcons’ offensive snaps during his attempt to perform in Week 4. But Jones has resumed his customary dominance versus overmatched defenders by capturing 23 of his 29 targets (9.7 per game) since Week 6, while also generating 371 yards (123.6 per game) during those three contests. That yardage total leads the NFL during that sequence. He is also second in receptions and completed air yards (137), and fifth in yards after catch (124) during that span.

Davante Adams resurfaced in Week 6 after his recovery from a hamstring issue and promptly resumed his collection of double-digit target totals. He leads all receivers in targets since his return (37/12.3 per game) and has captured 10+ in all three outings (10/16/12). Adams is also first in receptions (26), receiving touchdowns (5), and point per game scoring, and is second in receiving yardage (310). and target share (40,0). He has also attained a 37.8 percentage share of air yards during that span.

A.J. Brown reemerged from a knee issue in Week 5 and is fifth with 317 yards since his return. He is also tied for ninth in targets (31/7.8 per game), with a week-to-week range from 7-9, and is also 12^th in receptions (22). Brown is also fifth in air yards (274) and leads the Titans in percentage share of air yards (36.7).

Brown’s teammate Corey Davis had accumulated 19 targets (6.3 per game), 15 receptions, and 206 yards during Tennessee’s first three matchups. But he was placed on the reserve COVID-19 list, which forced him to the sideline until Week 7. But he is tied for sixth overall in targets (20) since his reemergence and is sixth in target share (33.3). That percentage is 6.6 higher than Brown during that two-game sequence, although Brown leads the Titans in percentage share of air yards during those contests (36.7/34.8).

Sterling Shepard was sidelined from Weeks 3-6 with a toe injury. But after capturing a season-high 10 targets in Week 8, he has now collected 18 since his return. This ties him for 11^th overall during that two-game span. He is also tied for eighth overall in receptions (14), and easily leads the Giants in target share (26.7) and percentage share of air yards (32.3) since his reappearance.

 

2. Several other receivers delivered promising results initially following their return from health issues. But fantasy GMs did not receive the same favorable numbers during these players’ Week 8 matchups.

Kenny Golladay resurfaced in Week 3 following his hamstring injury and accumulated 28 targets (7 per game), 20 receptions (5 per game), and 338 yards (84.5 per game) during his next four matchups. Golladay had also averaged a 30.5 in percentage share of air yards before he was sidelined by a hip issue in Week 8. Golladay was limited to a 30% snap share after incurring the injury during the first half and departed the game with four targets and no receptions.

It appears likely that anyone with Golladay on their rosters will be forced to navigate without Detroit’s WR1 once again. Marvin Hall performed on 69% of the Lions’ offensive snaps in Week 8 and registered new career highs in targets (7), receptions (4), and receiving yards (113).

Matthew Stafford goes deep to Marvin Hall for a gain of 73 yards! #OnePride

?: #INDvsDET on CBS
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/J6oAb5WnGm pic.twitter.com/55yIc1Rfp4

— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2020

However, Marvin Jones also received seven targets and should be Detroit’s primary receiving option during Golladay’s absence.

Diontae Johnson was tied for second among all receivers in targets (23) and ninth overall in receptions (14) entering Week 3. Since that time, he has contended with a cluster of health issues (hamstring/back/toe/concussion). This has resulted in massive fluctuations in his usage and production, He did register the league’s third-highest target total in Week 7 (15) while assembling a season-high nine receptions, and generating 80 yards. But Johnson encountered a hamstring issue and was absent for a sizable portion of Pittsburgh’s Week 8 matchup with AFC North rival Baltimore. Johnson was limited to just three targets, managed only one reception, and manufactured six yards.

Johnson’s status for Pittsburgh’s Week 9 matchup with the Cowboys is currently uncertain. Chase Claypool attained a career-high 77% snap share during the contest and led the Steelers with nine targets. It was his highest target total since Week 5, and the rookie would join JuJu Smith-Schuster in performing as Pittsburgh’s primary receiving options if Johnson is sidelined on Sunday.

The setbacks that occurred with Golladay and Johnson had also been experienced by other receivers in recent weeks after their returns from previous injuries. That includes Jamison Crowder, who was unavailable in Weeks 2-3 due to a hamstring issue. He returned in Week 4, and collected 10+ targets in three consecutive matchups (Weeks 4-6), but has been sidelined once again with a groin injury.

Crowder’s second health issue has provided Braxton Berrios with the opportunity to run routes in the slot. Berrios has attained an 84% snap share during Crowder’s two-game absence and has accumulated 18 targets. He can supply managers with a WR3 option if injuries and bye weeks have depleted your options.

 

3. Now that we have progressed through eight weeks of the regular season, here is a review of the top 50 receivers in targets that is contrasted with where these receivers were selected during the draft process.  

Wide Receivers	ADP	Targets	Target %
Stefon Diggs	WR27	79	28.94
Amari Cooper	WR13	77	22.65
Allen Robinson	WR9	77	24.76
Keenan Allen	WR22	74	29.96
DeAndre Hopkins	WR4	73	30.93
Cooper Kupp	WR12	72	26.47
Terry McLaurin	WR24	69	29.74
Calvin Ridley	WR16	68	22.15
Tyler Boyd	WR29	68	21.18
Robby Anderson	WR59	67	26.69
Tyler Lockett	WR21	63	19.63
A.J. Green	WR31	63	25.71
CeeDee Lamb	WR40	61	17.94
D.K. Metcalf	WR19	59	24.08
D.J. Moore	WR11	59	23.51
Davante Adams	WR2	58	33.33
Darius Slayton	WR41	56	21.71
Robert Woods	WR18	54	18.95
Tyreek Hill	WR3	54	19.85
Adam Thielen	WR15	53	29.28
Tee Higgins	WR76	52	16.2
Cole Beasley	WR77	51	18.68
Brandin Cooks	WR37	51	21.89
Jarvis Landry	WR32	50	22.62
JuJu Smith-Schuster	WR14	50	20.41
Julio Jones	WR5	49	20.94
Michael Gallup	WR30	48	14.12
Will Fuller	WR33	47	20.17
Jerry Jeudy	WR43	47	19.92
Jamison Crowder	WR42	46	31.51
Russell Gage	WR81	46	14.98
Mike Evans	WR8	46	15.38
Greg Ward	WR192	45	15.31
Diontae Johnson	WR35	44	19.82
Marquise Brown	WR28	44	26.35
Travis Fulgham	UNDRAFTED	44	19.82
Darnell Mooney	WR164	43	13.83
Brandon Aiyuk	WR61	43	18.3
Odell Beckham	WR10	43	21.94
DeVante Parker	WR25	42	19.27
Anthony Miller	WR50	42	13.5
D.J. Chark	WR23	41	19.43
Keelan Cole	WR179	40	15.81
Kendrick Bourne	WR89	40	14.98
Justin Jefferson	WR51	40	22.1
A.J. Brown	WR17	39	23.21
Corey Davis	WR78	39	25.16
T.Y. Hilton	WR26	39	16.81
Julian Edelman	WR36	39	22.54
Randall Cobb	WR68	38	17.27
Josh Reynolds	WR82	38	16.31

38 receivers that are currently among the top 50 in targets were also among the first 50 receivers drafted at the wide receiver position. But when the focus is reduced to players within the top 10, only two of the receivers with a top 10 ADP are currently contained among the top 10 in total targets – DeAndre Hopkins (WR4), and Allen Robinson (WR9). Two other top 10 receivers in ADP - Davante Adams (WR2), and Tyreek Hill (WR3)  - are both inside the top 20. Odell Beckham (WR10) was 17^th with 42 targets entering Week 7 before encountering the torn ACL that prematurely ended his season.

Anyone who invested in Michael Thomas as the first receiver to be selected during their drafts is already aware that he has only registered five targets throughout the regular season. Mike Evans was selected at WR8 but is tied for 31st in targets. Kenny Golladay (WR7) and Chris Godwin (WR6) are outside the top 65 in targets, amid seasons that have been impacted by multiple injuries for both players.  No other receivers that were drafted among the top 20 are lower than 31st in targets.

Three receivers with ADPs between 11 and 20 currently among the top 10 in targets - Cooper Kupp (WR12), Amari Cooper (WR13), and Calvin Ridley (WR16), and they are joined by four receivers with ADPS between 20-29 - Stefon Diggs (WR27), Keenan Allen (WR22), Terry McLaurin (WR24),  and Tyler Boyd (WR29). Robby Anderson is the only receiver with an ADP of 50+ that currently resides among the top 10 in targets. Four receivers that were selected between WR11 and WR20 are also contained between 11th and 20th in targets - D.K. Metcalf (WR19), D.J. Moore (WR11), Robert Woods (WR18), and Adam Thielen (WR15).

Of the 12 receivers that were originally drafted outside the top 50, Anderson is currently 10th overall, while rookie Tee Higgins (WR76), and Cole Beasley (WR77), are also among the top 25. They are joined inside the top 50 by Russell Gage (WR81), Greg Ward (WR192), Darnell Mooney (WR164), Keelan Cole (WR179), Kendrick Bourne (WR89), Corey Davis (WR78), Randall Cobb (WR68), Josh Reynolds (WR82), and Travis Fulgham (undrafted). Fulgham's meteoric rise into the fantasy landscape includes the league's 36th highest target total - despite not collecting his first target until Week 4.

Adams and Hopkins are the only receivers drafted among the top 10 that are also averaging a top 10 target share. They are joined by Anderson, who is the only top 10 receiver in target share that was not drafted among the top 50. A total of nine receivers that were selected among the top 20 receivers are also inside the top 20 in target share.

 

4. Various members of the 2020 draft class continue to supply ample rationale for providing weekly updates on their numbers. 

Tee Higgins captured nine targets in Week 8 which matched his career-high. He has now collected 46 targets and averaged 7.7 per game since Week 3. That ties him with CeeDee Lamb for the overall lead in both categories among all first-year receivers.

 

Brandon Aiyuk out here doing em dirty. My man's been nothing but legit. pic.twitter.com/f5VGZDCW6T

— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) November 2, 2020

 

Brandon Aiyuk captured a career-high 11 targets during Week 8 and has now accrued 46 (7 per game) since Week 3.  That places him third behind Higgins and Lamb in each category during that span. San Francisco remains inundated with injuries, which has intensified with George Kittle’s foot issue. Deebo Samuel also remains unavailable due to his hamstring injury. This should elevate Aiyuk into the 49ers' WR1 responsibilities when he returns from the reserve/COVID-19 list. He already leads the team in air yards (477), and percentage share of air yards (25.0). Aiyuk is also second only to Kittle in receiving yards (371), targets (43), and target share (15.6)  He is also tied for 16th among all receivers with 17 targets since Week 7 and is primed to deliver highly favorable usage and output as he absorbs increased responsibilities.

Darnell Mooney has been targeted 23 times during his last four matchups (5.8 per game) which is fifth among rookie receivers during that span. He is also second on the Bears in receiving yards during that sequence (160). Mooney is also second to Allen Robinson with his season-long totals in targets (43), receiving yards (305), air yards (663), and percentage share of air yards (24.9).

Denzel Mims has accumulated 10 targets since his NFL debut in Week 7 and leads the Jets in receiving yards during that two-game span (84). He was also involved in 96% of the Jets’ offensive snaps during their Week 8 matchup in Kansas City. Mims should retain his current status as an integral weapon in New York’s passing attack even after Jamison Crowder returns to the team.

Jalen Reagor resurfaced in Week 8 for his first snaps with the Eagles since a thumb issue sidelined him in Week 2. He attained a new career-high in targets during Philadelphia’s matchup with Dallas (6), and also performed on 73% of the Eagles offensive snaps. Travis Fulgham remains cemented as the Eagles’ primary weapon at wide receiver. But Reagor should commandeer WR2 responsibilities during the team’s remaining contests.

Jerry Jeudy collected a career-high 10 targets when Denver faced AFC West rival, Los Angeles, in Week 8. He has now accumulated 47 targets throughout the season (6.7 per game), which places him third among all rookie receivers. He also leads the Broncos in targets, target share (19.9), receiving yards (359), and is also tied for first in receptions (23). He also leads Denver in both percentage share of air yards (27.7) and air yards (640), while his air yard total also places him 18th overall in that category.

 

5. Fantasy GMs who had been regularly inserting Odell Beckham into their starting lineups were forced to exclude him for the first time in Week 8. However, the Browns were undergoing the same process during their matchup with Las Vegas. Prior to his injury, Beckham had been tied for 17th overall in targets (42). He was also 15th overall in air yards (538), eighth in percentage share of air yards (38.1), and was leading the Browns in multiple categories including target share (25.1) and percentage share of air yards (38.1). But he only played on two offensive snaps in Week 7 against the Bengals before experiencing the torn ACL that concluded his season.

Cleveland had also entered their matchup with the Raiders ranked 17th in passing (207.4 yards per game). They were also just 31^st in pass play percentage (50.7%), although that averaged had risen to 56.5% from Weeks 5-7. Baker Mayfield and the aerial attack did encounter adverse weather versus Las Vegas, and the Browns dropped to 27th (196.8 per game) after Mayfield only generated 122 yards on 25 attempts. But Cleveland also rose (slightly) to 28th in pass play percentage (50.9) following the Week 8 matchup. However, the sizable percentage of targets that were distributed to Jarvis Landry should be sustained during the upcoming weeks.

Jarvis Landry putting on for both him and Odell Beckham Jr. with this one-handed grab. pic.twitter.com/Pe8FYwWJTo

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) November 1, 2020

He easily led Cleveland in targets (11) during the Browns’ first full game without Beckham in the lineup. His target total established a new season-high while also propelling his target per game average from 5.6 to 6.3. The remaining target distribution consisted of Rashad Higgins (3) David Njoku (3), Harrison Bryant (3), and Kareem Hunt (3), followed by D’Ernest Johnson (1) and Andy Janovich (1). Landry already paced the Browns in multiple categories prior to Week 8 and now leads the team in targets (50/6.3 per game), target share (22.6), receptions (33), and receiving yards (419).  

Rashard Higgins was third among Cleveland's wide receivers in targets (12), receptions (11), and receiving yards (163) entering Week 8. However, he also led the team with a 13.6 yards per target average, and his snap share had also risen significantly from his average of 15.5 in Weeks 1-2 to 67% during his last three contests - including a season-high 85% in Week 7.  Fantasy GMs who expended time and energy in pursuit of Higgins on last week's waiver wire were expecting extensive targeting and production that far exceeded his Week 8 output (1 reception/14-yards). Landry will continue to function as Mayfield's primary receiving option. However, Higgins should operate as Cleveland's WR2, and will not be running routes during inclement weather on a routine basis.

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