Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 13 Analysis

December 5, 2019

Phil Clark looks back at Week 13 targets, snaps, receptions trends for fantasy football WRs to find risers and fallers who are possible buy-lows or sell-highs.

Wide receivers are essential components toward your ultimate goal of securing league championships. As many of you prepare for your Week 14 matchups, an expanding collection of tools are available that can provide you with an extensive level of knowledge. Those results provide the foundation for this weekly statistical breakdown of the wide receiver position, which is designed to help you fulfill your championship aspirations.

This will be the 13th installment that examines game-specific data, including updated totals for targets, 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 week’s article will be functioning with 13 weeks of data, which bolsters the foundation from which the numbers that are generated in various categories can be evaluated. All 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 during your critical postseason matchup. Pro Football Reference, NextGenStats, and Football Outsiders were all used as resources in compiling this data.

Week 13 Target Leaders 

Michael Thomas sustained his league lead in overall targets for the season 132. Julian Edelman is second 124, followed by DeAndre Hopkins (120), Mike Evans (116), D.J. Moore (115), Tyler Boyd (113), and Keenan Allen (113). Cooper Kupp (110) is next, followed by Allen Robinson (108), Jarvis Landry (108), Chris Godwin (104), Odell Beckham (103), and Julio Jones (101). No other receivers have reached 100 targets through Week 13.

Robert Woods (99), D.J. Chark (96), John Brown (93), Devante Parker (93), Amari Cooper (92), and Courtland Sutton (90), comprise the group of six receivers that have collected between 90-99 targets for the season. Calvin Ridley (88), Jamison Crowder (86), and Kenny Golladay (85) spearhead the group of eight additional receivers that have received 80+ targets for the season.

Thomas failed to achieve a double-digit target total for the first time since Week 5. However, he has still accomplished it during nine of his 12 matchups. That ties him with Edelman for the most among all wide receivers. Edelman also has the longest active streak of double-digit target games, as he has collected 10+targets in seven consecutive matchups. Moore has captured 10+ targets in seven different contests, while Hopkins has achieved it six times. Moore has also reached double digits in three of his last four matchups.

Moore’s escalating usage in recent weeks has also propelled him into the overall lead in targets since Week 10 (47). Thomas is second (43), followed by Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker with 41. Parker has assembled an impressive collection of numbers throughout the season, which will be examined further in the Five Things I Noticed section.

Woods has vaulted to fifth with 39 targets since Week 10, followed by Ridley and Robinson with 37. Beckham (36), Gallup (35), Miller (35), and Cooper (35), complete the top 10. Edelman (34), John Brown (33), Evans (33), Godwin (32), Adams (32), Darius Slayton (31), and Boyd (30) complete the list of 18 wide receivers that have captured 30+ targets since Week 10.

Woods has accumulated the highest target total during the last two weeks (28). He is followed by Landry, Edelman, and Ridley with 24. Miller, Adams, and Robinson are next with 22, followed by Parker, and Moore with 21. No other receivers have been targeted 20+ times since Week 12 although Thomas, Boyd, and Evans have each collected 19. Atlanta’s Christian Blake is next with 18, which is among the most surprising stats when examining the recent target results.

Largest Weekly Changes

Robert Woods had entered Week 13 with 51 targets for the season, and an 8.0 per game target-per-game average. But he stockpiled 19 targets during the Rams’ Week 13 evisceration of Arizona, which established a new career-high for the seventh-year receiver. It also resulted in the highest target total for the week. Prior to Week 13, Alshon Jeffery had accumulated 55 targets throughout the entire season while averaging 16.9 per game. He had also had been sidelined since Week 9 with an ankle issue, but his 16 targets against the Dolphins represented his highest weekly total since Week 8 of the 2015 regular season. It also represented the week’s second-highest total.

Jeffery was followed by Anthony Miller with 13, while Moore, Edelman, and Robinson all tied with 12. Evans, Landry, and Cooper each collected 11, while Davante Adams, Parker, Boyd, Robby Anderson, Ridley, and Zach Pascal all captured 10 targets during their Week 13 matchups. Russell Gage and Christian Blake spearheaded a group of four receivers that attained nine targets during their contests, as the tandem of Atlanta receivers ascended into more significant roles during Julio Jones’ absence. That will be discussed further in the 5 Things I Noticed section

While Jeffery’s Week 13 target total (16) did not qualify as a Week-to-Week variance, it is worthy of mention. The 19 targets that were collected by Woods represented an increase of 10 from his Week 12 total which was the most significant rise for the week.

After receiving just one target in Week 12, it is understandable that Zach Pascal’s week to week total would increase. However, the 10 targets that attained in Week 13 tied his career-best total, while also initiating a surge of +9. John Brown’s 11 targets expanded his week to week total by +7, while Jamison Crowder, Jet teammate Robby Anderson, Danny Amendola, and Emmanuel Sanders all experienced an increase of +5 in with their weekly totals.

Will Fuller returned to Houston‘s lineup in Week 12 and promptly registered 11 targets. Unfortunately for his owners, he was only targeted twice in Week 13. That drop of -9 was the largest among all wide receivers in Week 13. Terry McLaurin‘s reduction of -8 was the second-highest decrease, while the totals for Marquise Brown and Marvin Jones each declined by -5.

Week 13 Yards-Per-Target Leaders

Stefon Diggs leads all wide receivers with a 13.5 yard per target average. Mecole Hardman is second at 12.2. He is followed by A.J. Brown (11.6) Mike Williams (11.3), Kenny Golladay (11.2), Kenny Stills (11.2), Chris Godwin (10.8), Tyler Lockett (10.7), James Washington (10.7), and Amari Cooper (10.6) completing the top 10.

Courtland Sutton (10.2), Randall Cobb (10.1), Michael Thomas (9.8), Michael Gallup (9.8), Will Fuller (9.6), Curtis Samuel (9.6), Deebo Samuel (9.6), John Brown (9.5), Mike Evans (9.4), and Julio Jones (9.4) complete the top 20.

Parker’s yards-per-target average rose from 8.4 to 9.2, after he averaged a whopping 15.9 yards per target in Week 13. It was the third time that he has attained an average of 13.5+ this season.

Mike Williams has averaged 21.8 yards-per-target since Week 9, including the 6.7 per target average that he attained against the Broncos in Week 13. Alshon Jeffery’s overall yards-per-target average rose from 6.4 to 6.9 as a result of his 8.6 average in Week 13.

Jamison Crowder had been averaging 7.5 yards-per-target entering Week  13. However, that average dropped to 6.8 per target after the averaged just 0.8 against the Bengals. Marquise Brown’s average dropped from 9.4 to 8.7 after his season-worst 0.5 average versus the 49ers.

Week 13 Targeted Air Yards Leaders 

Mike Williams leads all wide receivers in targeted air yards (16.8) followed closely by Ted Ginn (16.7). Kenny Golladay is next (16.5), followed by Marquez Valdes-Scantling (16.2), then James Washington and Robby Anderson at 16. Mike Evans is seventh (15.1), followed by Curtis Samuel (14.9), Stefon Diggs (14.9), Chris Conley (14.8), Terry McLaurin (14.6), Will Fuller (14.4), Brandin Cooks (14.3), Tyrell Williams (14.3), and Demarcus Robinson (14.2). A group of 11 additional receivers has attained an average of 13+, including John Brown (13.9), and a trio of players that are tied at 13.7 - DeVante Parker, Tyreek Hill, and D.K. Metcalf.

Mike Evans has maintained his overall lead in total air yards (1,743), while Kenny Golladay is second with (1,369). D.J. Chark is third (1,291), followed by John Brown (1,279), Julio Jones (1,273), D.J. Moore (1,268), Curtis Samuel (1,264), DeAndre Hopkins (1,248, Keenan Allen (1,247, DeVante Parker (1,228), and Odell Beckham (1,226). No other receivers have eclipsed (1,200) air yards during their first 12 matchups. Amari Cooper (1,185), Allen Robinson (1,184), Calvin Ridley (1,174), Marvin Jones (1,167) and Mike Williams (1,146) spearhead a group of 14 additional receivers that have accumulated at least 1,000 air yards during the season.

% Share Of  Team’s Air Yards Leaders

Courtland Sutton remains the league leader in percentage share of their team’s air yards (44.7). McLaurin has retained the second-highest percentage (41.4), followed by Diggs (40.2), Brown (40.0), Beckham (38.0), Evans (37.6), Thomas (37.4), Chark (37.4), Anderson (37.1), Robinson (37.0), Hopkins (35.8), Curtis Samuel (34.1), and Samuel’s teammate D.J. Moore (30.0.).

Emmanuel Sanders is next 33.9), followed by DeVante Parker (33.6), Kenny Golladay (33.6), Julian Edelman (32,6). Tyrell Williams (32.1), Jarvis Landry (31.5) and Keenan Allen (31.5) complete the top 20 in this category.

Tyler Boyd leads Cincinnati with his 31.3 share, while Auden Tate is second at 26.1. Davante Adams has now surpassed Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the largest share of Green Bay’s air yards (25.2/22.9), while Zach Pascal has emerged with the largest share for Indianapolis (22.4).

D.J. Chark’s 37.4 team-high share is 6.7 percent higher than Jacksonville teammate Chris Conley’s 28.7 share, while Dede Westbrook is third at 16.7. Keenan Allen (32.5) has retained a slight lead over Mike Williams (29.8) for the top share among all Chargers

Week 13 Red Zone Target Leaders

Julian Edelman leads all wide receivers in red zone targets, while Michael Thomas is second with (19), Mike Evans is third (17), followed by Jarvis Landry and Keenan Allen with 16. Marvin Jones, Davante Adams, and Tyler Lockett have captured 15 targets, while Chris Godwin, Cooper Kupp, and Auden Tate have all attained 14. Courtland Sutton, Allen Robinson, Marquise Brown and D.K. Metcalf have accrued 13 targets, while D.J. Moore, Kenny Golladay, and D.J. Chark all currently have 12 red zone targets through Week 13.

Adams stockpiled five red zone targets in Week 13, which was the highest total among all wide receivers. Robert Woods, Alshon Jeffery, Dede Westbrook, Russell Gage, and Sterling Shepard were each targeted three times, while DeVante Parker, Allen Robinson, and D.J. Moore were included in a group of eight wide receivers that received two red zone targets during their Week 13 matchups.

Landry leads his position with 11 targets inside the 10, while Godwin and Golladay have been targeted 10 times. Evans and Marvin Jones have accumulated nine targets inside the 10, while Edelman, Thomas, Robinson, and Larry Fitzgerald have all accrued eight targets. Allen, Tate, and Terry McLaurin have captured seven targets, while Sutton, Marquise Brown, and T.Y. Hilton have all garnered six targets inside the 10.

10 of Edelman’s 20 red zone targets were collected during a three-game span (Weeks 7-9). However, he has only failed to register at least one red zone target twice during his 12 matchups. Adams has now assembled nine red zone targets during his last three games, along with 13 targets during his last five contests.

After accumulating eight red zone targets from Weeks 1-4, Sutton has been targeted just five times during his last eight matchups. His former teammate Emmanuel Sanders accrued eight red zone targets from Weeks 1-3 but has only been targeted five times since Week 4.

Week 13 Snap Count Leaders

Chris Godwin continues to lead all wide receivers in total offensive snaps for the season (837). Odell Beckham joins him as the only receivers that have reached 800+ snaps. Julian Edelman is third (799), followed by DeAndre Hopkins (792), Mike Evans (792), Jarvis Landry (780), D.J. Moore (779), Tyler Lockett (779), Marvin Jones (766), and Kenny Golladay (760) completing the top 10.

John Brown is next (753), followed by Tyler Boyd (748), Allen Robinson (743), Curtis Samuel (740), Michael Thomas (734), Cooper Kupp (727), Robert Woods (720), Keenan Allen (719), Courtland Sutton (718), Nelson Agholor (706), and D.K. Metcalf (702). Only those 21 receivers have performed on 700+ offensive snaps through Week 13.

Beckham leads in offensive snap percentage (96.51) just ahead of Hopkins (96.47). Godwin is third (94.9), followed by Landry (94.0), Robinson (93.3), Sutton (92.7), Moore (92.0), Thomas (91.2), Boyd (91.0), and Lockett (90.8).

Evans is next with 89.8, followed Brown (89.8), Robby Anderson (89.7), Edelman (89.5), Marvin Jones (89.2), Allen (89.0), Golladay (88.6), DeVante Parker (87.6), Curtis Samuel (87.3), and Cooper Kupp (86.7) completing the top 20.

Zach Pascal was the only wide receiver to perform on 100% of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 13. Emmanuel Sanders and Courtland Sutton both played on 98.25% of their team’s snaps. Landry was next (97.1), followed by Deebo Samuel (96.5), Marvin Jones (96.1), Kenny Golladay (96.1), Keenan Allen (95.5), Christian Kirk (95.3), Moore  (94.7), Stefon Diggs (94.6), Beckham (94.2), Darius Slayton (94.0), Calvin Ridley (93.6), Marcus Johnson (93.1), Allen Robinson (92.3), Larry Fitzgerald (92.2), Godwin (92.1), Curtis Samuel (92.0), and Julian Edelman (92.0).

Five Things I Noticed

1. DeVante Parker’s career from 2015-2018 was comprised primarily of promising performances that were followed far too frequently by disappointing outings. His underwhelming production also kept him from finishing higher than WR50 in scoring.

That includes last season when Parker dwelled at a lowly WR105. But even though the 26-year-old Parker's previous years are cluttered with discouraging numbers and a trail of frustrated former owners, Parker’s fifth season has been devoid of the disappointment that had plagued his tenure with Miami.

He is currently on track to perform in all 16 games for the first time in his career. This has enabled him to assemble numbers have been both consistent and beneficial to his owners. Parker is currently WR15 in standard scoring and WR20 in PPR leagues. He has already accumulated more receiving yards (854), more touchdowns (6), and a higher yards-per-game average (71.2) than he has produced in any of his previous seasons. His 93 targets and 53 receptions also place him on the verge of exceeding his previous bests in those categories (96 targets/57 receptions).

Parker has now captured double-digit target totals in four consecutive matchups (10/10/11/10) and is fourth among all wide receivers with 47 targets (9.4 per game) since Week 9. He is also fourth in receptions (29) and second only to D.J. Moore in receiving yards (511). Teammates Allen Hurns (24 targets/4.8 per game) and Albert Wilson (23 targets/4.6 per game) do not pose a threat to Parker’s ongoing responsibilities as Miami's WR1. He will sustain that role as the Dolphins advance through their final matchups, with an opportunity to assemble outstanding numbers against the Jets, Giants, and Bengals.

2. As we monitor the status of Julio Jones’ troublesome shoulder, the transition in usage for Atlanta’s receiving weaponry could become an emerging factor for owners during the next three weeks.

Jones’ lingering condition has combined with the departure of Mohamed Sanu to fuel expanded roles for both Russell Gage and Christian Blake.

Blake is an undrafted free agent who did not register his first snap until Week 8. But his involvement soared as Jones contended with his shoulder injury, including 83/89% snaps against New Orleans in Week 13. He has now collected 18 targets, eight receptions, and 73 yards since Week 12, and averaged 6.3 yards-per-target against New Orleans. His role will be impacted by Jones’ availability as the postseason advances.

However, Gage’s responsibilities should not change regardless of Jones’ status. He was discussed briefly in last week’s Five Things I Noticed section, due to his emergence in the slot for Atlanta. His role expanded when Sanu was dealt to New England, and Gage has provided a consistent presence running inside routes (71%). Since Week 8, Gage is second among Falcon receivers in targets (37/7.4 per game), and receptions (26), while also generating 241 yards and a touchdown.

Neither Sanu’s exodus or Jones' ongoing health challenge has been responsible for Calvin Ridley’s favorable production, as the second-year receiver has risen to WR16 in standard scoring and WR19 in PPR leagues. He is also 23rd in targets (88), 27th in receptions (58), and 23rd in receiving yards (790). Since Week 10, Ridley also leads the Falcons in targets (37/9.3 per game) receptions (25) and receiving yards (347/86.75 per game). Ridley should be in all lineups for his matchups against the Panthers, 49ers, and Jaguars - even though San Francisco will be imposing in Week 15. Jones remains a perpetual must-start if he is active, while Gage can provide flex scoring for owners in deeper leagues.

3. The ongoing development of Josh Allen has been both steady and unquestioned, while vaulting him to QB6 in fantasy scoring.

He has earned QB1 status as a byproduct of his improved proficiency, as the 52.8% completion percentage that he registered as a rookie in 2018, has risen to 61.5%.

That was bolstered by the career-best 79.2% that he attained in Week 13. He has also constructed an 11:1 touchdown to interception ratio since Week 7, including 6:1 during his last three matchups. He is tied for sixth in average intended air yards (9), while Buffalo’s two offseason acquisitions at wide receiver - John Brown and Cole Beasley – have also been integral components in the Bills’ surging aerial efforts.

Since Week 7, Allen has distributed 54 targets to John Brown, which places him seventh among all wide receivers in that category. He is also ninth in receptions (33) and eighth in receiving yards (492). That was propelled by an 85 yards-per-game average from Weeks 7-11. He remains fourth in percentage of team’s air yards (39.99), fourth in air yards (1,279) fifth in completed air yards (703), and his average depth of target (aDOT) resides at 13.8.

Since Week 10, Beasley has collected 26 targets (6.5 per game), while surpassing Brown in receptions (20), and receiving yards (298). While his 110-yard performance in Week 13 was his highest since Week 8 of 2015, Beasley has accrued 74+ yards in three of his last four matchups. Beasley has also exceeded 18 yards-per-reception in two of his last four contests. Buffalo's next three matchups will involve defensive units that have not been overly hospitable to opposing passing attacks (Ravens/Steelers/ Patriots).  But owners that have been reliant on Allen and his primary receiving weapons should not panic, because their ability to perform proficiently has been underestimated consistently throughout the season.

4. Andy Dalton was spearheading Cincinnati's passing attack from Weeks 1-8, before Ryan Finley ascended into QB1 responsibilities following the team's Week 9 bye. The rookie completed just 41 of his 87 passes for an alarmingly low 47.1% during his forgettable three-game sequence under center.

After Dalton reclaimed his starting role in Week 13, his target distribution closely resembled the percentages from his previous eight games as the signal-caller. This is definitely good news for Tyler Boyd owners.

From Weeks 1-8, Boyd collected a team-high 83 targets (10.4 per game), which propelled him to 51 receptions and 536 yards. Auden Tate was second in targets during that span (54 /7.7 per game), followed by Alex Erickson (36/4.54 game). John Ross also collected 32 targets from Weeks 1-4 before being sidelined with a broken clavicle. Dalton's target distribution in Week 13 was similar to the breakdown during his previous games, as Boyd captured a team-high 10 targets, while Tate garnered seven, and Erickson was a distant third with two.

When Miller was guiding the Bengals' aerial attack, Boyd garnered the most targets (20/ 6.7 per game) while Erickson and Tate both collected 15 (5 per game). But even though Boyd was the target leader with both quarterbacks launching passes, all six of his double-digit target totals occurred with Dalton under center. That includes five of his first seven games, along with his 10 targets in Week 13. He has also attained a 10.3 target-per-game average with Dalton, while his average dropped to 6.7 with Miller.

Boyd owners should be encouraged by the prospects of having Dalton locating Cincinnati’s top receiving option with the same frequency during the fantasy postseason. Ross has also recovered from his shoulder injury and will resurface in Cincinnati's lineup this week. He is worthy of a roster addition, although it is not recommended that you start him.

5. When I was examining this week’s trends in targets, red zone targets, and snaps, it became obvious that there was a collection of numbers for three different receivers that should be included in this final section.

The data involves players that are available in over 70% of all leagues, but all provide the potential to boost your efforts toward capturing  league championships. Particularly if your receivers are contending with brutal matchups this week.

Anthony Miller has now experienced a noteworthy surge in usage and production during his last three contests. Since Week 11, only D.J. Moore has collected more targets than Miller (33/11 per game). Miller is also third among receivers with 21 receptions, fifth with 271 receiving yards, and has captured five red zone targets during that span. His 5.6 yards-per-target average from Weeks 1-10 has also risen to 9.7 during his last two matchups. He is available on over 80% of all waiver wires and delivers the potential to help owners advance through the postseason by exceeding the output of other WR3 options.

Since Week 10, James Washington is eighth among all wide receivers with 348 yards. He is also tied for second in touchdowns (3). and has accomplished that by maximizing his opportunities. He is just 34th in targets during that span (23) and 29th in receptions (16). He will be the recipient of an appealing matchup this week, versus an Arizona defense that has been shredded by Deebo Samuel (8 receptions/134 yards) and Robert Woods (13 receptions/172 yards) during the Cardinals’ last two games.

Zach Pascal is primed to garner a favorable target total this week, and will be lining up against the vulnerable secondary of Tampa Bay. This makes him an intriguing starting option, and he is currently available in 79% of all leagues. Pascal has collected the most targets among the Colts’ wide receivers since Week 7  (39), which is 16 more than second place T.Y. Hilton. Pascal also leads Indianapolis in receptions (23), receiving yards (340), and touchdowns (3) during that sequence. Pascal has exceeded 100 yards twice during that span, including his Week 13 performance against Tennessee. Even with Parris Campbell returning from his hand injury, Pascal has an opportunity to become the ninth receiver to surpass 100 yards against the Buccaneers. He should be owned, and can be used as a WR3 during this week’s outstanding matchup

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