Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Risers and Fallers for Week 3 (2022)

September 23, 2022

Phil analyzes fantasy football wide receiver risers and fallers, looking at last week's targets and receptions to find Week 3 (2022) buy-lows or sell-highs.

You are already aware that wide receivers will play a critical role in the success of your teams. The undeniable volatility that exists with the running back position has also presented an increasing rationale for prioritizing wide receivers when you build your rosters - both at the onset of your drafts and as you manage your teams throughout the entire season. The numbers that are generated by all wide receivers provide the foundation for this weekly statistical breakdown of the position, which I will be constructing for the fifth consecutive season.

This will be the second installment that will examine game-specific data, including updated totals for targets, air yards, targets per route run, yards per route run, red-zone targets, and snap counts. 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.

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. Statistics from our player pages at RotoBaller were included during the compilation of data, while Pro Football Reference, NextGenStats, Rotowire, Rotoviz, PFF, and Football Outsiders were also used as resources in the creation of this report.

Week 2 Target Leaders

We don't even know what else to say about @CooperKupp at this point.

📺 @NFLonFOX | 📲 https://t.co/4beUdm4vkg pic.twitter.com/YHz4NnP2h7

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 18, 2022

14 different wide receivers have accumulated at least 20 targets during their first two matchups of the season. Last year’s overall target leader Cooper Kupp is once again pacing his position with 29 entering Week 3.

Tyreek Hill has remained prolific during his first two outings with the Dolphins which have been a byproduct of the 25 targets he has attained from Tua Tagovailoa. That ties Hill with Ja’Marr Chase, who has collected 9+ during Cincinnati’s first two matchups of the season.

Amon-Ra St. Brown was second among all wide receivers with an average of 11.2 targets per game from Weeks 13-18 last season. He has exceeded that average while accruing 12 targets during each of his first two games this season.

St. Brown’s 24 targets have tied him with fellow second-year receiver Jaylen Waddle whose overall total has been fueled by the career-high 19 that he stockpiled in Week 1. Davante Adams has also accumulated 24 targets during his first two games as a Raider with 17 of those opportunities being collected in Week 1.

Diggs going deeeeeeeeeep!

📺: @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/2RbMsRrcE1

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 20, 2022

Stefon Diggs has accumulated 23 targets after procuring 14 during Buffalo's home opener. He has now accrued 13+ during four of his last seven regular-season outings. That ties him with Justin Jefferson, who has captured 10+ targets during nine of his last 11 matchups.

Brandin Cooks has now captured 10+ targets in five of his last six regular-season matchups including the 22 that he has collected this season. That ties him with CeeDee Lamb, who has now accumulated 11 targets in both of his first two matchups.

Diontae Johnson has also received 10+ targets in 14 of his last 18 regular season matchups including the 22 that he has accumulated this season. That has sustained the extensive usage that he attained last season before Pittsburgh’s transition from Ben Roethlisberger. Garrett Wilson was the first wide receiver to be selected during April’s NFL draft and he now leads the rookie class with 22 targets entering Week 3.

A.J. Brown has been targeted 21 times during his first two games with Philadelphia and is currently second only to Cooper Kupp with a 35% target share. Curtis Samuel completes the list of wide receivers who have been targeted at least 20 times. His statistical rebound in 2022 has been sizable after he was targeted only nine times during 2021.

Jakobi Meyers has now collected 19 targets and has captured 10+ in seven games since he arrived in New England. That tied him with Drake London, who led all receivers with a 48% target share in Week 2.

Trevor Lawrence to Christian Kirk!

Lawrence goes 8-for-8 on the TD drive 🔥

📺: #INDvsJAX on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/9Dbwnh03KL pic.twitter.com/QE13WpMfZQ

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

They were followed by Christian Kirk, who has been targeted 18 times by Trevor Lawrence in his first two games with Jacksonville. Kirk is tied with Courtland Sutton whose 39.3% target share placed him fourth among all wide receivers in Week 2.

Marquise Brown has now been targeted 8+ times in 11 of his last 14 games after accruing 17 during his first two matchups as a Cardinal. That tied him with Michael Thomas, who has attained a 23.6% share since his return to the Saints.

Amari Cooper, Chris Olave, and Hunter Renfrow have all been targeted 16 times, while Tyler Lockett has collected 15 from Geno Smith. Five different receivers have collected 14 targets: (Sterling Shepard/Jarvis Landry/ Corey Davis/Noah Brown/Mike Williams) while seven different receivers have been targeted 13 times D.K. Metcalf /Deebo Samuel/A.J. Brown/Greg Dortch/Robby Anderson/Michael Pittman and Pittman’s teammate Ashton Dulin.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Brandon Aiyuk, and Marvin Jones are among the seven receivers who have been targeted 11 times, while Mecole Hardman, Jerry Jeudy, and rookie Jahan Dotson have captured 10.

Week 2 Target Risers And Fallers 

TUA TO WADDLE. @MIAMIDOLPHINS LEAD.

📺: #MIAvsBAL on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LqzAxQaA7Q pic.twitter.com/Em9iy53QIS

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

A total of 21 wide receivers were targeted at least 10 times during their Week 2 matchups. This group was spearheaded by Jaylen Waddle, whose 19 targets exceeded his previous career high (13). It was also the eighth time that Waddle has attained 10+ during the first 18 games of his career.

Double-digit target totals have become a weekly occurrence with Cooper Kupp, which was sustained when he captured 14 in Week 2. He began the 2021 regular season by accumulating at least 10 targets during 14 of his first 15 matchups and has started the 2022 regular season by accruing 14+ during his first two outings.

Trevor Lawrence to Christian Kirk!

Lawrence goes 8-for-8 on the TD drive 🔥

📺: #INDvsJAX on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/9Dbwnh03KL pic.twitter.com/QE13WpMfZQ

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

That tied him with Garrett Wilson who attained double digits during the second game of his career. Wilson’s Week 2 numbers will be examined further in the Five Things I Noticed section. Stefon Diggs also collected 14 targets when the Bills hosted Tennessee, as Diggs' commandeered a 36.8% share.

Waddle’s teammate Tyreek Hill was targeted 13 times when Miami visited Baltimore as Hill has now reached 12+ in each of his first games as a Dolphin. Jakobi Meyers also captured 13 targets which represented the second highest weekly total of his career. It was also his largest total since Week 3 of 2021.

Chris Olave also collected 13 targets which was a substantial rise from his Week 1 total (3). Drake London was next with 12 targets, which were nine more than any other Falcon in Week 2. That tied London with his former college teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown who has now eclipsed 10+ targets in eight consecutive regular-season matchups. Justin Jefferson has now accumulated 11+ targets during seven of his last eight contests, after being targeted 12 times by Kirk Cousins in Week 2.

CeeDee Lamb has now accumulated 11 targets in both of his first two matchups after only accomplishing that during two of his final 10 contests in 2021. That tied Lamb with Courtland Sutton whose 11 targets were the most since Week 6 of 2021. Marquise Brown also accrued 11 targets during his second game as an Arizona Cardinal. That was the first time that Brown had eclipsed 10+ since Week 15 of 2021.

Waddle’s league-high 19 targets easily propelled him to the largest weekly rise when contrasted with Week 1 (+14). Olave's 13 targets in Week 2 expanded his previous total by +10, which was the week's second highest increase.

Tee Higgins suffered a concussion during Cincinnati's season opener, which limited him to 26 snaps and just two targets. However, Higgins captured a team-high 10 targets in Week 2 which fueled his weekly increase of +8.

Last year, Jakobi Meyers had a 24.4% target share, 20th-highest among all WRs.

Through 2 games this year, he is pulling 29.7% of his team’s targets.

Another year, another great value.pic.twitter.com/ommMawED5W

— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) September 19, 2022

Meyers was targeted 13 times when New England traveled to Pittsburgh while capturing a 38.2% share. That launched his weekly increase of +7. It also tied him with Tyler Lockett, who attained double digits in Week 2 after being targeted only four times during Seattle’s initial matchup. Mack Hollins's snap shares were essentially even in Weeks 1 and 2 (87%/88%). However, his target total rose by +7 during his second game as a Raider.

The weekly target totals for five different receivers rose by +6 (Wilson/London/Sterling Shepard/Mike Williams/Nico Collins) while three wide receivers attained weekly increases of +5: Marquise Brown/Brandon Aiyuk/Courtland Sutton.

Adams’ 17 targets led all wide receivers during their season openers. However, he was targeted seven times in Week 2, which resulted in the largest weekly decline of -10. That tied him with Donovan Peoples-Jones who was relegated to just one target in Week 2 after he had collected a career-high 11 in Week 1.

Ja’Marr Chase was second among all wide receivers with 16 targets during the Bengals' season opener. That fueled his week-to-week decline of -7 after he was targeted nine times by Joe Burrow in Week 2. Christian Kirk’s 12-target outing in Week 1 was also difficult to replicate, as his six targets during Jacksonville‘s matchup with Indianapolis resulted in a weekly reduction of -6.

That tied Kirk with Corey Davis who collected 10 targets during the Jets' season opener but was only targeted four times in Week 2. Davis’ teammate Braxton Berrios failed to register a target when the New York traveled to Cleveland which also launched his decline of -6.

The weekly totals for six different receivers also dropped by -5 (A.J. Brown/Zay Jones/Greg Dortch/JuJu Smith-Schuster/Tyler Boyd/Mike Thomas).

Week 2 Air Yards

Rookie Chris Olave leads all wide receivers with 372 air yards entering Week 3. Davante Adams is second overall with (258), followed by Courtland Sutton (254), Tyreek Hill (247), Corey Davis (244), Stefon Diggs (236), Jaylen Waddle (232), Cooper Kupp (225), Garrett Wilson (224), and Diontae Johnson with 222. Justin Jefferson and D.J. Chark are tied with 211, followed by CeeDee Lamb (208), A. J. Brown (205), Jakobi Meyers (205), and Brandin Cooks completing the list of 16 wide receivers who have accumulated 200+ air yards.

Michael Thomas is next (197), followed by Marquise Brown (195), Rashod Bateman (193), Terry McLaurin (183), Drake London (182), Ashton Dulin (176), Christian Kirk (172), Marvin Jones (167), Ja’Marr Chase (165), Noah Brown (161), and three receivers who are tied at 151 - Amon-Ra At. Brown, Amari Cooper, and Mike Evans. Mike Williams is next (148), followed by three receivers that are tied
at 147: Nico Collins, Tyler Lockett, and Breshad Perriman.

Jefferson leads the position with a 51.8% share of air yards followed by A.J. Brown (49.3%), Lockett (47.3%), Sutton (46.8%), Kupp (46.1%), Adams (45.7%), Diggs (45.0%), Olave (45.0%), and Scotty Miller with a share of 44.8%. Cooper is next (42.4%,) followed by Sterling Shepard (39.9%), while Hill and Johnson are tied at 39.7%.

Corey Davis is next (38.7%), followed by Marquise Brown (38.6%) Lamb (38.5%) Gabe Davis (38.3%) Drake London (37.6%), Waddle (37.3%). Cooks (36.3%) and Richie James with a share of 36.2%. Julio Jones is next (36.1%), followed by Garrett Wilson (35.6%), Michael Pittman (35.4%), D.J. Chark (35.0%), Jakobi Meyers (34.3%), Dezmon Patmon (33.3%), and Christian Kirk with a share of (33.0%).

Week 2 Targets Per Route Run

Treylon Burks leads all wide receivers in targets per route run (36.7%) among players who have run 30+ routes.  Tyreek Hill is second (35.7%), followed by Stefon Diggs (35.3%), Amon-Ra St. Brown (35.3%), Cooper Kupp (34.9%), Jaylen Waddle (34.3%), Ashton Dulin (34.2%), Kyle Phillips (33.3%), Drake London (31.1%), Garrett Wilson (31.0%), and Jakobi Meyers (30.6%) completing the collection of receivers who have been targeted on at least 30% of their routes.

A.J. Brown is next (29.6%), followed by Davante Adams and Brandin Cooks who are tied at 28.6%. Diontae Johnson and CeeDee Lamb are tied at 28.2%, followed by Justin Jefferson (28%), Mike Evans (26.8%), Christian Kirk (26.5%), Tyler Lockett (26.3%), Rashod Bateman (26.1%), Amari Cooper (25%), Equanimeous St. Brown (25), Michael Thomas (24.6%), Deebo Samuel (24.5%), Nelson Agholor (23.4%), Curtis Samuel (23%), and two receivers that are tied at 22.9%: Chris Olave, and Hunter Renfrow.

Week 2 Yards Per Route Run

Tyreek Hill leads the position in yards per route run (4.06), followed by Stefon Diggs (3.97), Rashod Bateman (3.63), Jaylen Waddle (3.43), Treylon Burks (3.4), Ashton Dulin (3.29), Mike Evans (3.22), A.J. Brown (3.15), Devin Duverney (3.0),  Nelson Agholor (2.94), and Christian Kirk (2.87). Cooper Kupp is next (2.84), followed by Justin Jefferson (2.83), and Sammy Watkins (2.78).

Amon-Ra St. Brown is next (2.61), followed by Drake London (2.62), Courtland Sutton (2.59), Gabe Davis (2.44), Jakobi Meyers (2.42), and Noah Brown - who is averaging 2.41 yards per route run. Garrett Wilson (2.17), Robbie Anderson (2.13), and Brandon Aiyuk (2.06) are also contained on the list of wide receivers who are averaging over 2.00 yards per route run.

Week 2 Red Zone Targets

Garrett Wilson leads all wide receivers with eight red zone targets entering Week 3. Ja’Marr Chase is second overall with six, while five receivers are tied with five targets inside the 20: Cooper Kupp, Stefon Diggs, Justin Jefferson, Christian Kirk, and Davante Adams.

Four receivers have been targeted four times Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Marquise Brown, while eight different receivers have collected three targets (Michael Thomas/ Zay Jones/Allen Robinson/ Josh Reynolds/Mecole Hardman/Josh Palmer/Demarcus Robinson/ Mike Thomas).

Wilson also leads the position with seven targets inside the 10-yard line, while four receivers have been targeted four times: Kupp, Jefferson, Adams, and Chase. Adams has garnered a league-best four targets inside the 5-yard line, while Wilson, Kupp, and Diggs have been targeted three times. Sutton, St. Brown, and Jefferson are among the nine receivers who have collected two targets inside the 5-yard line.

Week 2 Snap Counts

Cooper Kupp leads all wide receivers with a 100% snap share followed by Gabe Davis (98.3%), Ja’Marr Chase (98.2%), D.J. Moore (98.1%), Michael Pittman (97.8%), DeVonta Smith (97.2%), Robbie Anderson (96.2%), CeeDee Lamb (95.9%), and Adam Thielen with a snap share of 95.8%.

Davante Adams is next (95.7%), followed by Justin Jefferson (95%), Allen Robinson (94.5%), Marquise Brown (93.6%), Courtland Sutton (93.0%), Jahan Dotson (93.0%), Brandon Aiyuk (92.7%), Chase Claypool 91.6% completing the list of 17 wide receivers who have played on at least 90% of their team's offensive snaps. Mike Williams and Christian Kirk are tied at 89.9%, followed by Brandin Cooks (89.8%), Darnell Mooney (89.7%), Terry McLaurin (88.7%), Elijah Moore (88.3%), Ben Skowronek (87.5%), A.J. Brown (87.1%), and DeVante Parker with a snap share of 86.7%. Amon-Ra St. Brown (86.6%), Mack Hollins (86.3%), Noah Brown (86.2%), Marvin Jones (86.0%), D.K. Metcalf (85.4%), and Jakobi Meyers (85.0%) have all attained snap shares of at least 85%.

Chase leads the position in total offensive snaps (158), followed by Smith (136), Marquise Brown (132), Dotson (132), Boyd (130), Elijah Moore (128), Aiyuk (127), McLaurin (126), Williams (125), A.J. Brown (122), and Robinson with 121 snaps. Sutton is next (120), followed by Lamb (118), Palmer (117), Kirk (116), Thielen (115), Greg Dortch (115), Jefferson (114), and Cooks with 114 snaps. Green has been involved in 113 snaps, followed by four receivers who have all played on 112: Adams, Cooper, Samuel, and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

Kupp was the only wide receiver who played on all 100% of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 2. Dotson was second overall 98.6%, followed by Smith (98.5%), Jefferson (98.3%), Adams (96.7%), Thielen (96.6%), D.J. Moore (96.3%), Chase (95.5%), Lamb (94.9%), and Anderson (92.6%). Marquise Brown was next (92.3%), followed by Robinson (91.9%), Metcalf 91.5%, Lockett (91.5%), David Sills (91.4%),  Claypool (91.4%), Sutton (90.1%), Palmer (90.5%), and Darnell Mooney (90.2%). Marquise Brown led all wide receivers with 72 snaps, followed by Dotson (71), Smith (67), Palmer (67), Green (67), Williams (65), Chase (64), Sills (64), Samuel (64), McLaurin (64), Kupp (62), Shepard (61), Aiyuk (61) and three receivers who played on 60 snaps: Tee Higgins, Marvin Jones, and Christian Kirk.

Five Things I Noticed  

1. The concept of Tom Brady spearheading a potent Tampa Bay passing attack while distributing targets to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Russell Gage, and Julio Jones suddenly became an intriguing reality when Godwin returned to the Buccaneers’ lineup during Week 1. 

The timetable for Godwin to re-emerge in the aftermath of his significant injury (torn ACL/sprained MCL) had been nebulous, but the uncertainty evaporated when he was activated before Tampa Bay’s season opener in Dallas. That enabled the Buccaneers to enter the contest with a cluster of capable weapons for Brady. However, that situation transformed quickly, as the status of all four receivers was vastly different entering the team’s NFC South showdown with the Saints in Week 2.

Godwin had only played on 19 snaps before encountering a hamstring issue in Week 1. He was unavailable when the Buccaneers visited New Orleans in Week 2 and will remain absent for multiple weeks.

Evans led the team in snap share (72.6%), targets (7), receptions (5), receiving yards (71), and was fifth among all receivers in both targets per route run (35%), and yards per route run (3.55) in Week 1. He also delivered a touchdown but was also contending with a calf issue as the team prepared for their Week 2 matchup.

THIS MIKE EVANS TOUCHDOWN CATCHpic.twitter.com/xKT58mEpuC

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) September 12, 2022

Jones had attained a 51.6% snap share during Week 1 and performed capably during his first outing as a Buccaneer. He was targeted on 25% of his routes, while his 69 receiving yards were the most since Week 2 of the 2021 regular season. The 33-year-old Jones also finished 12th overall in air yards (110) and soared to sixth in yards per route run (3.45). He also encountered his own health issue (knee) which added him to the burgeoning list of Buccaneer receivers who were candidates to miss the matchup in New Orleans.

Gage had been involved in 41.9% of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps but was limited to just two targets, 13 receiving yards, and six air yards during the opener. Gage also suffered a hamstring injury, which left him questionable as the Week 2 kickoff approached.

Jones ultimately was sidelined when Brady spearheaded the offense in New Orleans. However, Evans'calf injury did not preclude him from taking the field. Gage was also available, while Scotty Miller and Breshad Perriman were also involved in the aerial attack.

Evans led Tampa Bay in yards per target (15.3) and operated on 61.2% of the team’s offensive snaps. He also collected three of his four targets and generated 61 receiving yards before he was ejected for fighting. Evans had also run 21 routes, was targeted on 19% of those routes and was averaging 2.90 yards per route run prior to his abrupt departure.   

Gage led the Buccaneers with five receptions and was second in snap share (65.7%), and target share (18.2% share). He also ran 27 routes, was targeted on 22% of those routes, and averaged 1.0 yards per route run.

Perriman led the Buccaneers in snap share (74.6%), as the seven-year veteran caught three of his five targets, and produced a 28-yard touchdown. He also ran 23 routes, was targeted on 21.7% of his routes, and averaged 1.96 yards per route run.

.@TomBrady ➡️ @B_Perriman11

📺: #TBvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/QiXCmpkCRo

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 18, 2022

Miller captured a team-high eight targets (24.2% share), while also pacing the team in aDOT (17.4), air yards (139), and with his 44.8% share of air yards. He also ran 18 routes and was targeted on 44.4% of those routes. However, Miller did not capitalize on his expanded role, as he only manufactured 34 yards on three catches.

Evans will remain sidelined when Tampa Bay hosts Green Bay on Sunday. That will keep Perriman and Miller involved in the target distribution, while Gage is positioned to function as the Buccameers’ short-term WR1. Cole Beasley was also signed to bolster the depleted weaponry, as the Buccaneers will operate this week without both Evans and Godwin.

2. Six wide receivers from the 2022 class were selected during Round 1 of last April’s NFL Draft. Four of those players - Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jahan Dotson - have already ascended into prominence after just two games.

Their ability to deliver promising results at the onset of their professional careers has provided evidence that they have already launched down a path toward fulfilling or exceeding the expectations that surrounded their entrance into the league.

SOURCES SAY GARRETT WILSON IS HIM#NYJvsCLE on CBS | @GarrettWilson_V pic.twitter.com/l79cp2OIvg

— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 18, 2022

Wilson’s 14 targets during the Jets’ Week 2 matchup in Cleveland has fueled his surge into a tie for ninth overall among all wide receivers with 22 targets after two games. That is also the most among all first-year receivers.

He has also stockpiled a league-high eight red zone targets while leading his position in red zone percentage (53.3%). He has also risen to ninth overall with 224 air yards, 11th in yards before catch (111), and 23rd with a 35.6% share of air yards.

Wilson also led all receivers with five red zone targets in Week 2, while finishing second overall in 12 targets (14),  third overall in air yards (164), and generating two touchdowns.

Garrett Wilson received 14 targets on 43 snaps.
An insane 32% target rate while on the field.

And he should've had 3 TDs.
Back to back misses in the redzone.

Going to be a plenty of opportunity for this young stud moving forward. pic.twitter.com/AbzlCD1a50

— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) September 20, 2022

Wilson has run 71 routes and has been targeted on 31% of his routes.  He is also averaging 2,17 yards per route run entering Week 3.

Highest receiving grades among rookie WRs in Week 2:

🔴 Drake London - 81.3
🗽 Garrett Wilson - 78.0
🪖 Jahan Dotson - 73.0 pic.twitter.com/W2pvZ0doxH

— PFF (@PFF) September 19, 2022

London’s 13 targets in Week 2 propelled him into a tie for 15th overall (19) entering Week 3. That is also second among rookies behind Wilson. London is also fourth among all wide receivers in target share 33.3%, 10th in receptions (13), 12th in receiving yards (160), 19th in yards before catch and 21st in air yards (182).

.@DrakeLondon_ scores his first career touchdown! #DirtyBirds

📺: #ATLvsLAR on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/bM69Jy3G4O pic.twitter.com/ELE4lzlAWQ

— NFL (@NFL) September 18, 2022

London has run 61 routes, has been targeted on 31.1% of his routes and is averaging 2.62 yards per route run.

Jahan Dotson’s doing stuff like this in his second career game!???!?!?! pic.twitter.com/jpumww1FKS

— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) September 19, 2022

Dotson has become a resource for fantasy managers even as he operates in a Washington aerial attack that also keeps Terry McLaurin and the regenerated Curtis Samuel highly involved in the allocation of targets. However, Dotson leads the trio in snap share (93.4%) and is tied for second among all wide receivers with three touchdowns.

Most touchdowns scored by a player in his first 2 career games over last 5 seasons

Jahan Dotson 3
11 players tied 2@JahanDotson | @Commanders | @PennStateFball pic.twitter.com/5kcL8oXrxX

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 20, 2022

Dotson has also joined Wilson and London among the top 15 in PPR scoring. Wilson is currently WR12 (19.6 points per game), with London directly behind him (WR14/18.5 points per game), and Dotson in 15th (18.0 per game). Olave is averaging 10.1 points per game but his scoring is primed to rise if Jameis Winston can capitalize on his ability to attain space as he progresses downfield

13 targets for Chris Olave today. Jameis Winston said, "I missed him. I just got to hit it. When you have opportunities like that, you have to hit him. Chris did a great job of creating separation and getting open, but I'll get better. Those are going to be touchdowns real soon."

— John Hendrix (@JohnJHendrix) September 18, 2022

Olave was only targeted three times during New Orleans’ season opener. However, he tied for fifth overall with 13 targets in Week 2, while also attaining a 32.5% target share.

Chris Olave was clearly Jameis’ favorite target in week 2 👀

• 13 TGTS (led team)
• 5 REC
• 80 YDS (led team) pic.twitter.com/20hIOz1sSx

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) September 18, 2022

Olave now leads the league in both air yards (372) and aDOT (23,3). He is eighth in yards before catch per reception (13.5) and is also eighth with a 45.0% share of air yards.

He has also run 70 routes, has been targeted on 22.9% of his routes, and has averaged 1,73 yards per route run. There are multiple reasons to remain optimistic that his output will rise as the season advances.

— NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2022

3. The ADPs for Keenan Allen (32/WR13) and Mike Williams (38/WR16) were only six slots apart during draft season, as fantasy managers were predominantly optimistic about the integral roles that both receivers would maintain as Justin Herbert’s top two receiving weapons. Their teammate Josh Palmer also emerged as an intriguing receiver to target during the later rounds due to his prospects of becoming the Chargers’ unchallenged WR3.

The 30-year-old Allen began his 10th season began in a familiar fashion, as he captured all of his first four targets in Week 1, and had already generated 66 yards with 12 minutes remaining in the second quarter. However, he encountered a hamstring issue that abruptly ended his first matchup of the season after just 22 snaps.

Allen’s yardage total still led Los Angeles in Week 1 despite his extended absence. He had also been targeted on 26.7% of his routes, averaged 4.40 yards per route run, and finished in a tie for the team lead in targets and receptions. His injury kept him sidelined during the Chargers’ AFC West showdown in Kansas City, which created an opportunity for LA’s other wide receivers to garner opportunities.

The most likely recipients of expanded targeting were Williams, Palmer, and Austin Ekeler, which would allow both wide receivers to rebound statistically from the disappointing results that they provided in Week 1.

Williams had only been targeted on 12.9% of his routes during the opener while catching two of his four targets from Herbert and manufacturing an anemic 10 yards. That was his lowest yardage total since Week 7 of the 2020 regular season, while Williams also averaged just 0.32 per route run.

Josh Palmer also collected four targets in Week 1 but could only manufacture five yards with his three catches. He was also targeted on 14.8% of his routes, finishing with a lower average yards per route run than Williams (0.19).

29-year-old DeAndre Carter had also assembled the second-highest yardage total of his career (64) during the opener, and could conceivably sustain his involvement versus the Chiefs.

GO UP AND GET IT MIKE WILLIAMS
pic.twitter.com/GiuLuSJrfO

— PFF (@PFF) September 16, 2022

Herbert ultimately distributed 10 targets to Williams, whose Week 2 numbers were encouraging for anyone who had made that Round 4 investment during their drafts. Williams capitalized on his usage by collecting eight receptions and generating 113 yards - which was the fifth highest total of his career. Williams also accrued 148 air yards, was targeted on 21.3% of his routes and averaged 2.44 yards per route run.

justin mf herbert pic.twitter.com/nOpWw6Hnxc

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 16, 2022

Palmer was targeted eight times, which was the second highest total of his career. He ran 30 routes and was targeted on 16.3% of routes those routes. Palmer’s remaining results were comparatively uninspiring, as he was limited to four catches and managed only 30 yards. A late touchdown did bolster his fantasy production for anyone who had elevated him into a flex spot.

Herbert’s rib injury should be monitored prior to the Chargers’ matchup with Jacksonville, but Williams remains capable of high-quality outings when Herbert is under center. Palmer also supplies fantasy managers with a viable flex option if Allen remains unavailable due to his hamstring injury.

4. A compilation of offseason trades involving prominent wide receivers has already made an impact on the teams that seized the high-profile players, while also creating challenges for the franchises that have reconstructed their passing attacks. 

This includes the Packers, as Davante Adams is currently tied for fourth in targets (24/12 per game) after his first two matchups as a Raider, while no wide receivers from Green Bay’s restructured arsenal have exceeded eight targets during the first two weeks combined. 

Christian Watson’s first target of his career and only one for the rest of this season. pic.twitter.com/ptOJjxnF66

— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) September 11, 2022

The Packers’ reshaped passing attack is currently ranked 21st (219.0 yards per game) after finishing eighth with an average of 253.6 yards per game during 2021. Aaron Rodgers has been operating with a pair of rookies that have been blended with a trio of veterans during a transition that remains unsettled entering Week 3.

Rookie Romeo Doubs led the Packers wide receivers in targets per route run (21.7%), targets (5), receptions (4), and receiving yards (37) during the team’s season opener. Fellow first-year receiver Christian Watson garnered a 65.6% snap share while leading the unit in routes run (29), air yards (59), and yards after catch (20).

The numbers that were generated by veterans Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb were even less impressive. Watkins led all Packers in snap share (67.2%), yet manufactured only three receptions, 18 receiving yards, and averaged 0.78 yards per route run. Cobb attained a 60.7% snap share, but managed only two receptions, 14 receiving yards, and averaged 0.54 yards per route run.

None of Green Bay’s receivers have emerged as a dependable WR1 for Aaron Rodgers following the departure of Adams. This includes Allen Lazard who resurfaced after being sidelined with an ankle injury during the team’s season opener.

Lazard attained a team-high 80.9% snap share, although he was limited to three targets (12% share), two receptions, and just 13 receiving yards. He also averaged 4.3 yards per target, and 6,5 yards per reception, while running a team-high 20 routes, and averaging 0.65 yards per route run.

Watkins led the Packers in target share (16%) while catching three of his four targets. He easily paced the team in receiving yards (93) which was his highest total since Week 1 of the 2021 regular season. Watkins also accumulated the most air yards (70), attained the highest share of air yards (50,4%), and generated the most yards after catch (30). Watkins also ran 17 routes, was targeted on 23.5% of his routes, but averaged 5.5 yards per route run.

Cobb was limited to a 29.4% snap share and ran just 12 routes. He collected all three of his targets, but only produced 37 yards. He was targeted on 25% of his routes and averaged 3.1 yards per route run.

Doubs’ snap share dropped to 36.7% and he finished the outing with three targets,  two receptions, and only 27 yards. He also ran only 15 routes, while averaging 1.80 yards per route run. Watson finished with a 32.4% share but ran only seven routes. He caught all three of his targets, and was targeted on 25% of his routes but only managed nine yards.

None of Green Bay's receivers have separated themselves from other members of the revamped unit, which should make you hesitant to trust any of them in your lineups.

5. Amari Cooper’s numbers during Cleveland’s season opener should have been concerning for anyone who had envisioned being able to deploy him with confidence as a WR3. The deficiencies that exist when Jacoby Brissett is under center were an unquestioned factor, while Cooper’s involvement was also exceeded by Donovan Peoples-Jones in Week 1.

However, the results of Cooper’s second matchup were highly encouraging, as he was targeted more extensively, and performed proficiently when Cleveland hosted the Jets in Week 2.

Cooper had entered the regular season with career averages of 7.6 targets, 4.8 receptions, and 65.5 yards per game. That includes his usage and output during 56 games with Dallas: 7.7 targets/5.2 receptions/69.5 yards per game. His outlook surged temporarily after the Browns secured Deshaun Watson, but the potency of Cleveland’s aerial efforts was destined to decline with Brissett distributing targets to the team’s receiving weaponry.

Cooper attained an 82.5% snap share during Cleveland's season opener at Carolina. However, he was also limited to just three receptions and an anemic 17 yards. Cooper was also targeted on 19.4% of his routes while averaging only 0.55 yards per route run.

He also averaged a paltry 2.8 yards per target, and 5.7 yards per reception, after entering the game with career lows of 8.2 (2015), and 12.1 (2021) during his first seven seasons.

People-Jones matched Cooper's 82.5% snap share during the season opener but proceeded to commandeer a 36.7% target share. He also captured six of his 11 targets, while accruing 60 receiving yards, and 87 air yards. Peoples-Jones was also targeted on 34.4% of his routes while averaging 1.88 yards per route run.

Cooper’s usage and output rose substantially in Week 2, as he commandeered a 37.0% target share while attaining his first double-digit target total with the Browns (10).

all day to throw, wide open in the endzone. you love to see it

📺: #NYJvsCLE on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/5tBLYXUhpL pic.twitter.com/GavvJMWlWB

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 18, 2022

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Cooper also led all wide receivers with a 68.4% share of air yards, His nine receptions were the most since Week 1 of the 2021 regular season, while he also eclipsed 100 yards (101) for the first time since last October. Cooper ran 33 routes, was targeted on 30% of his routes, and averaged 3.06 yards per route run.

Peoples-Jones played on 77.6% of Cleveland’s offensive snaps but was unable to sustain the results that he obtained in Week 1  as his target share plummeted to a minuscule 3.7%. That was a byproduct of only receiving one target from Brissett, while Peoples-Jones also failed to register a catch. He ran 28 routes but finished with an unsightly 3.6% targets per route run.

Cooper’s promising numbers in Week 2 do not change the potential for production inhibiting quarterback play that will exist while Brissett is guiding the offense. However, fantasy managers can take a degree of solace in Brissett’s ability to locate him with frequency in Week 2.

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