RADIO
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 fifth 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 5 Target Leaders
Allen Robinson II: T-1st in contested catches since 2019 (29)
pic.twitter.com/ATn06t5Sw5— PFF (@PFF) October 8, 2020
Allen Robinson has now stockpiled 39 targets since Week 3, which is the most among all receivers during that three-game span. He has also collected at least 10 targets in eight of his last 11 regular-season matchups. His 16 targets in Week 5 tied his career-high which had originally been established in Week 7 of last season. It also propelled him to the league lead in targets for the year (57).
Amari Cooper is second overall (55), followed by DeAndre Hopkins (53), Stefon Diggs (51), Calvin Ridley (50), Keenan Allen (48), Robby Anderson (47), Terry McLaurin (46), Adam Thielen (44), and three receivers tied with 40 - Tyler Boyd, CeeDee Lamb, and Darius Slayton - who will be discussed further in the 5 Things I Noticed section. D.K. Metcalf and Odell Beckham Jr. are tied at 39, followed by Metcalf’s teammate Lockett (38), D.J. Moore (37), Cooper, (36), Marquise Brown (36), Emmanuel Sanders (36), and two receivers tied with 35 - Mike Evans, and Tyreek Hill.
A.J. Green has been targeted just 12 times during his last three matchups combined, after collecting 22 during Weeks 1-2. That raised his season total to 34, while Jamison Crowder and Brandin Cooks are next with 33. T.Y. Hilton, DeVante Parker, and Russell Gage are tied with 32, Robert Woods and Greg Ward, have been targeted 31 times, while Will Fuller, Julian Edelman, Cole Beasley, and newcomer Tee Higgins are the only other receivers that have reached 30 targets through the first five weeks.
Calvin Ridley has collected at least 10 targets in four contests which leads all receivers. Robinson’s three games of 10+ targets tie him with Cooper, Allen, Anderson, and Crowder - who has attained double digits in all three matchups that he has played in. McLaurin and Thielen have accomplished it twice, as Thielen has captured 23 targets during his last two contests (10/13).
Nelson Agholar leads all wide receivers with a 16.8 yards per target average. Justin Jefferson is second (14.8), followed by two receivers who commandeered their place within the fantasy landscape in Week 5 - Chase Claypool, and Travis Fulgham at 13.1. D.K. Metcalf is fifth (12.7), followed by Metcalf's teammate David Moore, and Michael Gallup with 12.4. Scott Miller is averaging 11.9 yards per target, followed by Stefon Diggs 11.5, Mecole Hardman (11.4), Josh Reynolds (11.3), Andy Isabella (11.3), Will Fuller (11.1), Gabriel Davis (11,0), and D.J. Chark (11.0). Lamb, Randal Cobb, and Corey Davis are next (10.8).
Carolina teammates Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore are among the 11 additional receivers that are averaging at least 10 yards per target. Moore's current 10.3 average is the highest of his career after he averaged 9.2 during his first two seasons. Anderson's average of 10.4 also exceeds his previous career-high of 8.3. There will be more discussion surrounding these two Panther receivers in the 5 things I Noticed section.
Largest Weekly Changes
| Wide Receivers | Week 4 | Week 5 | Changes |
| Chase Claypool | BYE | 11 | 11 |
| Travis Fulgham | 3 | 13 | 10 |
| Stefon Diggs | 7 | 16 | 9 |
| A.J. Brown | BYE | 9 | 9 |
| Brandin Cooks | 3 | 12 | 9 |
| Gabriel Davis | 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Mike Williams | INJ | 8 | 8 |
| Allen Robinson | 10 | 16 | 6 |
| Emmanuel Sanders | 9 | 14 | 5 |
| D.K. Metcalf | 6 | 11 | 5 |
| Calvin Ridley | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| T.Y. Hilton | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| Deebo Samuel | 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Darius Slayton | 7 | 11 | 4 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 7 | 11 | 4 |
| Larry Fitzgerald | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| John Hightower | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Darnell Mooney | 9 | 5 | -4 |
| A.J. Green | 5 | 1 | -4 |
| Olamide Zaccheaus | 9 | 4 | -5 |
| D.J. Chark | 9 | 4 | -5 |
| Sammy Watkins | 7 | 2 | -5 |
| Zach Pascal | 8 | 2 | -6 |
| Terry McLaurin | 14 | 7 | -7 |
| Hunter Renfrow | 8 | 1 | -7 |
| Scott Miller | 7 | 0 | -7 |
| Isaiah Ford | 10 | 2 | -8 |
| Keenan Allen | 11 | 2/INJ | -9 |
| DeVante Parker | 12 | 3 | -9 |
| Amari Cooper | 16 | 4 | -12 |
You cannot stop Travis Fulgham. You can only hope to contain him.#PHIvsPIT | #FlyEaglesFly
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/2ohmtu0RwW
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 11, 2020
Robinson attained the highest weekly target total when he collected the aforementioned 16 targets during Chicago’s matchup with Tampa Bay. Diggs was also targeted 16 times during Buffalo's matchup in Tennessee, which was the second time that he has attained at least 13 targets during the last four weeks. Emmanuel Sanders had averaged 4.3 targets per game from Weeks 1-3. But he has captured 23 during his last two matchups, including his highest weekly total since Week 5 of 2018.
Philadelphia’s Travis Fulgham was originally selected by Detroit in Round 6 of the 2019 NFL Draft and failed to catch a pass for the Lions throughout all of last season. But fantasy GMs have quickly become acquainted with Fulgham after Carson Wentz launched 13 passes in his direction during the Eagles’ matchup in Pittsburgh. That tied him with Thielen and Anderson for the third-highest weekly total behind Robinson and Diggs. Cooks was next with (12), which resulted in his highest weekly total since Week 3 of 2019.
Five receivers collected 11 targets during their matchups - Metcalf, Slayton, Lamb, the Jets’ Jeff Smith, and Pittsburgh rookie Chase Claypool - who has become a scorching hot waiver wire target this week. Ridley, Marquise Brown, Crowder, and Hilton were the only other receivers to eclipse 10+ targets during Week 5. Among the collection of 14 receivers that reached double-digits, new season highs were established for Robinson, Anderson, Thielen, Cooks, Slayton, Lamb, Metcalf, Smith, Hilton, Sanders, and Brown. The weekly totals for Claypool and Fulgham were also career bests.
Claypool's 11 targets following Pittsburgh's bye launched him to the largest week-to-week increase of +11. Fulgham’s 13 targets were generated one week after he collected three targets in Week 4. That difference of +10 was the second-largest week-to-week increase among all receivers. Cooks’ 12 targets were captured one week after he had been targeted just three times, which resulted in the third-largest increase for the week (+9). That also tied him with Diggs and A.J. Brown, -who performed for the first time since Week 1. Diggs' teammate, rookie Gabriel Davis, experienced an increase of +8 after collecting a career-high nine targets. That tied him with Mike Williams, while Robinson was next (+6), followed by Metcalf, Ridley, Sanders, Hilton, and Deebo Samuel, who all attained a rise of +5 in their week to week target totals.
Amari Cooper had accumulated 28 targets in weeks four and five, including the 16 that he captured last week. However, he was only targeted four times when Dallas hosted NFC East rival New York. That produced the largest week to week decrease of -12. The week five totals of DeVante Parker and Keenan Allen were both reduced by -9 although Allen’s back issue was responsible for his decline.
Isaiah Ford’s target totals have now fluctuated significantly during the past four weeks. After attaining nine targets in Week 2, his total dropped by =7 in Week 32. He was also targeted 10 times in Week 4 but received just two targets when Miami traveled to San Francisco. That created the decline of -8. The week to week totals for McLaurin, Scott Miller, and Hunter Renfrow all dropped by -7, while Zach Pascal’s two targets in Week 5 created a reduction of -6.
Week 5 Air Yards
| Wide Receivers | Air Yards | % Air Yards | aDOT |
| Calvin Ridley | 780 | 41.7 | 15.9 |
| D.K. Metcalf | 717 | 44.4 | 17.5 |
| Adam Thielen | 626 | 48.4 | 14.6 |
| Allen Robinson | 604 | 33.2 | 10.8 |
| Marquise Brown | 597 | 45.1 | 16.6 |
| Tyreek Hill | 569 | 37.7 | 16.3 |
| Stefon Diggs | 526 | 33.7 | 10.5 |
| A.J. Green | 512 | 28.8 | 15.1 |
| Amari Cooper | 510 | 27.7 | 9.3 |
| Darius Slayton | 497 | 44.2 | 12.4 |
| Odell Beckham | 490 | 39.6 | 13.2 |
| Terry McLaurin | 466 | 41.7 | 10.4 |
| Michael Gallup | 453 | 26.8 | 16.8 |
| D.J. Moore | 440 | 39.2 | 12.2 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | 437 | 31.2 | 8.2 |
| Will Fuller | 436 | 27.7 | 13.6 |
| Robby Anderson | 435 | 39 | 9.3 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | 431 | 34.5 | 17.1 |
| Keenan Allen | 410 | 31.1 | 8.4 |
| Brandin Cooks | 397 | 28.1 | 12.8 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 394 | 22.7 | 10.1 |
| T.Y. Hilton | 394 | 33.1 | 12.7 |
| Tee Higgins | 382 | 25.5 | 13.6 |
| Mike Williams | 379 | 25.8 | 17.2 |
| Mike Evans | 375 | 25.1 | 10.7 |
| Tyler Boyd | 361 | 21.7 | 9 |
| Jerry Jeudy | 353 | 25.8 | 13.6 |
| Julian Edelman | 347 | 39.4 | 11.6 |
| Tyler Lockett | 345 | 24.9 | 9.1 |
| Darnell Mooney | 341 | 19.3 | 13.7 |
| Scott Miller | 341 | 20.5 | 16.2 |
| Christian Kirk | 341 | 25.2 | 16.2 |
| Preston Williams | 340 | 24.1 | 14.8 |
| DeSean Jackson | 338 | 20.9 | 16.9 |
| Justin Jefferson | 329 | 24.1 | 13.2 |
| Emmanuel Sanders | 322 | 32.7 | 8.9 |
| DeVante Parker | 318 | 23.8 | 9.9 |
| John Brown | 302 | 27 | 13.1 |
Another big grab for @CalvinRidley1 ? pic.twitter.com/Y8qXD29o9x
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 11, 2020
Calvin Ridley has maintained his league lead in air yards (780) followed by D.K. Metcalf (717), Adam Thielen (626), and Allen Robinson (604). Marquise Brown is fifth overall (597), followed by Tyreek Hill (569), Stefon Diggs (526), A.J. Green (512), Amari Cooper (510), and Darius Slayton (497), completing the top 10. Odell Beckham (490) is next, followed by Terry McLaurin (466), Michael Gallup (453), D.J. Moore (440), DeAndre Hopkins (437), and Will Fuller (436), Robby Anderson (431), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (431), and Keenan Allen (418) complete the list of receivers that have accumulated 400+.
John Hightower leads all wide receivers in targeted air yards (18.8). Mike Williams is second overall (17.6), followed by Gallup (17.4), Valdes-Scantling (17.2), Brown (16.9), DeSean Jackson (16.8), Ridley (16.4), and three receivers that are tied at 16.3 – Metcalf, Christian Kirk, and Scott Miller. Tyreek Hill is the only other receiver that has eclipsed 16 (16.1). Higgins and teammate A.J. Green are tied with 14.9, followed by Preston Williams (14.7), Thielen (14.5) Chase Claypool (13.9), and three receivers that are tied at 13.7 - Beckham, Darnell Mooney, and Gabriel Davis.
Adam Thielen is out there shattering ankles
pic.twitter.com/dkQZz3ORSx— Vikings Central (@VikesCentral) October 12, 2020
Thielen continues to lead his position in percentage share of team air yard‘s (48.4). Marquise Brown is now second (45.1), followed by Metcalf (44.5), Slayton (44.2), McLaurin (43.2), and Ridley (41.7). Beckham is next (39.6), followed by Edelman (39.4), Moore (39.2), Moore's teammate Anderson (39.0), Tyreek Hill (37.7), Valdes-Scantling (34,5), Diggs (33.7), Robinson (33.2), Hilton (33.1), Sanders (32.6), and Hopkins (31.2). Allen (31.1) completes the list of receivers that are averaging at least 30%.
Week 5 First Downs
| Wide Receivers | First Downs |
| DeAndre Hopkins | 29 |
| Calvin Ridley | 25 |
| Tyler Boyd | 25 |
| Amari Cooper | 23 |
| Terry McLaurin | 22 |
| Stefon Diggs | 22 |
| Robby Anderson | 21 |
| Keenan Allen | 21 |
| Allen Robinson | 21 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 20 |
| D. J. Moore | 19 |
| Darius Slayton | 19 |
| Adam Thielen | 19 |
| D.K. Metcalf | 19 |
| Tyreek Hill | 18 |
| Tyler Lockett | 17 |
| Cooper Kupp | 17 |
| Russell Gage | 17 |
| Emmanuel Sanders | 17 |
| DeVante Parker | 17 |
| Marquise Brown | 16 |
| Mike Evans | 16 |
| Justin Jefferson | 16 |
| Julian Edelman | 16 |
| Laviska Shenault Jr. | 16 |
| Sammy Watkins | 16 |
| Cole Beasley | 16 |
DeAndre Hopkins leads are wide receivers with 29 first downs, while Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd are tied for second (25). Amari Cooper is fourth (23), followed by Terry McLaurin (22), Stefon Diggs (22), and three receivers that are tied with 21 first downs – Allen Robinson, Robby Anderson, and Keenan Allen. CeeDee Lamb leads rookies in yet another category with his 20 first downs, while Adam Thielen, Darius Slayton, D.K. Metcalf, and D.J. Moore, have all captured 19. Tyreek Hill is next (18), followed by five receivers that have collected 17 receptions for first downs - Tyler Lockett, Cooper Kupp, DeVante Parker, Emmanuel Sanders, and Russell Gage.
Week 5 Red Zone Targets
| Wide Receivers | Inside 20 | Inside 10 | Inside 5 | Team % |
| Emmanuel Sanders | 8 | 4 | 2 | 26.67 |
| Russell Gage | 8 | 4 | 2 | 32 |
| N'Keal Harry | 8 | 4 | 2 | 40 |
| Darius Slayton | 7 | 4 | 2 | 28 |
| Adam Thielen | 7 | 3 | 1 | 53.85 |
| Calvin Ridley | 7 | 3 | 2 | 28 |
| Mike Evans | 6 | 5 | 4 | 21.43 |
| Keenan Allen | 6 | 1 | 0 | 31.58 |
| Sammy Watkins | 6 | 5 | 2 | 22.22 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 6 | 5 | 4 | 26.09 |
| Odell Beckham | 6 | 5 | 4 | 37.5 |
| Robby Anderson | 6 | 2 | 1 | 28.57 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | 6 | 2 | 1 | 35.29 |
| DK Metcalf | 5 | 4 | 0 | 17.86 |
| Tyler Lockett | 5 | 4 | 3 | 17.86 |
| Tyreek Hill | 5 | 3 | 1 | 18.52 |
| Zach Pascal | 5 | 3 | 2 | 18.52 |
| Allen Robinson | 5 | 2 | 1 | 17.24 |
| Stefon Diggs | 5 | 2 | 2 | 15.63 |
| Cole Beasley | 5 | 4 | 2 | 15.63 |
| DJ Chark | 5 | 3 | 1 | 17.24 |
| Trent Taylor | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14.29 |
| David Moore | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14.29 |
| Greg Ward | 4 | 1 | 0 | 30.77 |
| Chris Hogan | 4 | 2 | 1 | 26.67 |
| Tre'Quan Smith | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13.33 |
| Preston Williams | 4 | 3 | 2 | 21.05 |
| Hunter Renfrow | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Cooper Kupp | 4 | 1 | 0 | 22.22 |
| Collin Johnson | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13.79 |
| T.Y. Hilton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14.81 |
| Will Fuller | 4 | 1 | 1 | 26.67 |
| Amari Cooper | 4 | 1 | 0 | 17.39 |
| Tee Higgins | 4 | 2 | 2 | 14.81 |
| Anthony Miller | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13.79 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | 4 | 3 | 2 | 14.29 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | 4 | 3 | 0 | 25 |
| Julian Edelman | 4 | 2 | 1 | 20 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14.81 |
| John Brown | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12.5 |
| Kenand ny Golladay | 4 | 1 | 0 | 18.18 |
N’Keal Harry maintained his lead in red zone targets (8). However, he is now tied with Russell Gage and Emmanuel Sanders after the Week 5 matchups. Darius Slayton, Calvin Ridley, and Adam Thielen are next (7), followed by seven receivers that have collected six targets - Odell Beckham, Robby Anderson, DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Evans, Keenan Allen, CeeDee Lamb, and Sammy Watkins (6). Eight additional receivers are tied with five targets inside the 20 - D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Tyreek Hill, Zach Pascal, Allen Robinson, Cole Beasley, D.J. Chark, and Stefon Diggs.
Beckham, Evans, Watkins, and Lamb are tied for the lead with five targets inside the 10, while eight different receivers have been targeted four times - Harry, Ridley, Sanders, Slayton, Metcalf, Beasley, Gage, Lockett, and Sanders.
Lamb, Beckham, and Evans are in a three-way tie for the league lead with four targets inside the 5. Lockett has captured three targets, while a collection of 15 receivers have been targeted twice.
Week 5 Snap Counts
| Wide Receivers | Week 5 Snaps | Total Snaps | Total Snap% |
| Michael Gallup | 64/97% | 345 | 89.84 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | 65/87% | 332 | 93.26 |
| Amari Cooper | 42/64% | 313 | 81.51 |
| Terry McLaurin | 54/100% | 309 | 94.79 |
| D.K. Metcalf | 52/96% | 304 | 95.6 |
| Tyreek Hill | 63/88% | 303 | 86.82 |
| Tyler Lockett | 52/96% | 300 | 94.34 |
| Robert Woods | 59/87% | 300 | 89.29 |
| Adam Thielen | 81/93% | 298 | 91.98 |
| Darius Slayton | 64/94% | 297 | 92.52 |
| Larry Fitzgerald | 60/80% | 295 | 82.87 |
| Mike Evans | 60/85% | 293 | 84.68 |
| Tyler Boyd | 46/69% | 291 | 77.81 |
| Cooper Kupp | 56/82% | 288 | 85.71 |
| Keenan Allen | 12/17% | 288 | 80.22 |
| Calvin Ridley | 48/74% | 287 | 80.39 |
| Allen Robinson | 55/87% | 280 | 83.09 |
| Chris Hogan | 45/65% | 274 | 82.78 |
| D.J. Moore | 51/78% | 274 | 82.28 |
| CeeDee Lamb | 36/55% | 274 | 71.35 |
| Zach Pascal | 51/92% | 266 | 79.4 |
| Odell Beckham | 63/86% | 266 | 77.78 |
| Jalen Guyton | 65/92% | 264 | 73.54 |
| Kendrick Bourne | 42/66% | 258 | 76.56 |
| Damiere Byrd | BYE | 257 | 91.79 |
| DeVante Parker | 53/79% | 255 | 75.89 |
| Stefon Diggs | 60/83% | 247 | 91.14 |
| Jarvis Landry | 56/77% | 245 | 71.64 |
| Keelan Cole | 60/80% | 244 | 73.05 |
| Robby Anderson | 47/72% | 240 | 72.07 |
| T.Y. Hilton | 53/94% | 239 | 71.34 |
| Marvin Jones | BYE | 239 | 90.19 |
| A.J. Green | 28/42% | 238 | 63.64 |
| Sammy Watkins | 26/36% | 237 | 67.91 |
| Justin Jefferson | 70/80% | 237 | 73.15 |
| Preston Williams | 40/60% | 235 | 69/94 |
| Brandin Cooks | 48/83% | 234 | 81.25 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | 57/76% | 229 | 80.63 |
| Tee Higgins | 54/81% | 229 | 61.23 |
| Mike Williams | 55/78% | 227 | 74 |
| Will Fuller | 48/83% | 226 | 78.47 |
| Emmanuel Sanders | 45/59% | 224 | 66.77 |
| Marquise Brown | 54/86% | 222 | 74 |
According to Next Gen Stats, Cowboys WR Michael Gallup converted two of the 10 lowest-probability completions of Week 5. Those came on consecutive plays late in fourth quarter to set up a game-winning FG. A 19-yard catch (29.3% probability) and 38-yard catch (15.7%). Clutch. pic.twitter.com/vUwJG3vXiH
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) October 12, 2020
Michael Gallup has now led all wide receivers in offensive snaps for two consecutive weeks (345). He is followed by DeAndre Hopkins (332), Gallup’s teammate Amari Cooper (313), Terry McLaurin (309), D.K. Metcalf (304), Tyreek Hill (303), and two receivers that have performed on exactly 300 offensive snaps - Tyler Lockett, and Robert Woods. Adam Thielen is next (298), followed by Darius Slayton (297), Larry Fitzgerald (295), Mike Evans (293), Tyler Boyd (291), Cooper Kupp (288), Calvin Ridley (287), and Allen Robinson (280).
Metcalf (95.6), leads all receivers in offensive snap percentage, followed by McLaurin (94.8), Lockett (94.3), Hopkins (93.3), Slayton (92.5), Thielen (92.0), Damiere Byrd (91.8), and Stefon Diggs (91.1). Gallup (89.9) is next, followed by Robert Woods (89.3), Tyreek Hill (86.8), Cooper Kupp (85.7), Mike Evans (84.7), and Allen Robinson (83.1).
Thielen led the position in offensive snaps during Week 5 (81). His teammate Justin Jefferson was second (70), followed by Jeff Smith (68), Hopkins (65), Jalen Guyton (65), Gallup (64), Slayton (64), and three receivers that tied with 63 - Beckham, Hill, and Olamide Zacchaeus. Three receivers were also tied with 60 snaps (Evans, Fitzgerald, Keelan Cole). They were followed by Woods (59) JuJu Smith-Schuster (57), Deebo Samuel (57), and three receivers that were tied with 56 - Kupp, Landry, and Tampa Bay rookie Tyler Johnson.
McLaurin and Gabriel Davis led all receivers in snap count percentage during Week 5, by performing on 100% of their teams’ offensive snaps. Smith was third for the week (98.6), followed by Gallup (97.0), Zacchaeus (96.9), Aiyul (96.9), Lockett (96.3), Metcalf (96.3), Hilton (94.6), and Slayton (94.1). Thielen was next (93.1), followed by Guyton (91.6), Zach Pascal (91.7), Samuel (89.1), Hill (87.5), Robinson (87.3), Woods (86.8), Hopkins (86.7), and Beckham (86.3).
Five Things I Noticed
ROBBY JUST SO SMOOTH WITH IT!@chosen1ra | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/wrFEdkzMBa
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 11, 2020
1. It has become increasingly clear that Robby Anderson has ascended beyond D.J. Moore as Carolina's true WR1 after five weeks of the regular season.
Moore entered the year in the aftermath of his 2019 breakout, in which he finished eighth among all receivers in yardage (1,175), and 10th in both targets (135) and receptions (87). He was also averaging 9.5 targets, 6.1 receptions, and 84 yards per game from Weeks 1-15, before a concussion, prematurely ended his season. This had vaulted him into high-end WR2 terrain which propelled his momentum as a Round 3 selection during the draft process. But fantasy GMs did not display a similar level of enthusiasm for drafting Robby Anderson after he signed with the Panthers during the offseason.
Anderson had finished 33rd in targets (96/6.0 per game) 43rd in receptions (52) and 37th in receiving yards (779) during 2019, although he tied for sixth in percentage of team's air yards (36.7). He appeared to provide Carolina with a downfield weapon who would primarily clear space for Moore by running deeper routes. But Anderson has thrived in the strategic approach of Matt Rhule and Joe Brady, and now enters Week 6 with 47 targets. That is 10 more than Moore and is also the league’s sixth-highest total. Anderson is also fourth overall in both receptions (36), and receiving yards (489), and has now paced Panther wide receivers in targets and receptions during each of their last three contests. That includes Week 5 when he also led Carolina in targets (12), receptions (8), and receiving yards (112).
Moore led the team in targets during their first two games, is 16th overall for the season (37), and is also 19th in receptions (22). However, he is also 10th in yardage (381), and 14th in air yards (440) - just three spots above Anderson (435). Both receivers are currently inside the top 10 in percentage share of air yards as Moore in ninth (39.2), followed directly by Anderson (39.0). However, Moore’s 57-yard touchdown in Week 5 was generated on a short reception in which nearly all yardage was generated after the catch. It was Moore’s first touchdown of the season - which ties him with Anderson.
Even though Moore’s current per-game averages (7.4 targets/4.4 receptions/76.2 yards), do not match his averages from 2019, anyone with the third-year receiver on their rosters should not become discouraged. He remains a WR2, and would still finish the season with 118 targets, 70 receptions, and 1,219 yards if he retained those averages over a 16-game schedule. Anderson has earned the distinction of WR1 status, as his combination of talent and opportunity should allow him to continue flourishing in Carolina’s restructured offense.
Jamison Crowder crosses the goal line. Touchdown, @nyjets! #TakeFlight
?: #AZvsNYJ on FOX
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/BGCKhfX8uY pic.twitter.com/nW6CFiy82g— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2020
2. On the eve of last Sunday’s Week 5 matchups, several websites categorized “all Jet receivers” as “unplayable”.
This recommendation was due to the numerous deficiencies throughout the Jet offense, which was to be accentuated by the elevation of Joe Flacco under center. However, Crowder has repeatedly overcome the various hurdles that have permeated the Jet attack – both on and off the field. He was primed to enter the matchup having already navigated his team’s internal obstacles while accumulating 23 targets in just two contests. This should have provided fantasy GMs and analysts with sufficient confidence to keep him entrenched in the lineup, even though Flacco would be spearheading the offense.
Crowder remains the only wide receiver that has collected 10+ targets in every contest this season, as he caught eight of his 10 targets during New York’s Week 5 matchup with Arizona. That currently places him in a tie for 23rd among all receivers with 33 targets for the season, even though he was sidelined in Weeks 2-3. He is also 20th in yardage despite his two-game absence, after he assembled a season-high 116 against the Cardinals. He has now exceeded 100 yards in all three games (115/104/116). Crowder also vaulted to WR7 in scoring for the week, even though he was operating with Flacco.
Crowder’s usage and production in just three matchups have been sufficient to lead the Jets in targets (33), receptions (22), while he has also generated over 200 more receiving yards than any of his teammates (335). He is also sixth overall in yards after catch (170) and is averaging a career-high 15.2 yards per reception following his performance against the Cardinals.
The drama surrounding Le’Veon Bell provides yet another self-defeating development for the Jets, and the endless collection of issues that impact the franchise could compel fantasy GMs to overlook Crowder’s accomplishments this season. But that provides the rationale for including Crowder in this section. He has earned recognition for the excellent season that he is constructing amid the ugliness of his organization. There should be no hesitation in starting him, as he has become unrestricted by what could easily have been massive constraints in his production. He should be in all lineups moving forward. as savvy managers should know that they can place infinite trust in the sixth-year veteran.
3. The Packers were universally expected to bolster their wide receiving arsenal during the off-season.
However, it has been well documented that General Manager Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur eschewed the opportunity to provide Aaron Rodgers with additional options throughout free agency and the NFL draft. This initiated an eruption of widespread criticism, while also resulting in a Round 10 ADP for Rodgers.
Green Bay has risen to ninth in run play percentage (45.6%), after ranking 17th (40.2%) one year ago. However, the Packers also enter Week 6 bye with the league’s third-ranked passing attack (294.8 yards per game). Rodgers is QB6 in scoring, has constructed an exceptional 13:0 touchdown to interception ratio, and is second in touchdown percentage (9.4).
Rodgers accomplished this even though Green Bay ranks 24th in pass play percentage (54.4%), and has been without passing game centerpiece Davante Adams since Week 2. Adams was a strong candidate to lead the NFL in targets this season and achieved that in Week 1 (17 targets/42.5% target share). He should return this week to recapture his role as Green Bay’s target monster and could reprise his statistical surge from last season. Adams reemerged from a turf toe injury in Week 8 to finish second overall in targets (91) and receptions (58) from Weeks 8-17.
Allen Lazard generated a career-best 146 yards on eight targets in Week 3 but remains in the early stage of an extended absence following core muscle surgery. He still leads the Packers yardage (254), while Marquez Valdes-Scantling has garnered a team-high 25 targets (6.3 per game). Valdes-Scantling is also fourth among all receivers in targeted air yards (17.2), 18th in air yards (431), and 18th in percentage share of air yards (34.5). Valdez-Scantling also leads the team in target share (18.7) although that will change following Adams’ return.
Aaron Jones is second in target share (17.2). and entered his bye in a tie for third among all backs in targets (23). Third-year tight end Robert Tonyan has experienced a steady rise with his weekly target totals (0/3/5/6) which has propelled him to a 10.4 target share. Rodgers will continue to locate Jones and Tonyan as the season progresses. But Adams is easily the Packers’ primary receiver and should eventually resurface among the league leaders in each major category. Valdes-Scantling should be targeted with enough frequency to function as a WR3, even after Adams returns.
4. There were divergent opinions during the off-season surrounding the value for Giant wide receivers Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate, and Darius Slayton.
Shepard was the first member of the trio to be selected during the draft process (ADP 112), although the fantasy community was split concerning which receiver would ultimately deliver the highest level of production. But as the team enters their Week 6 matchup with division rival Washington, Slayton has separated himself by emerging as the most targeted and productive weapon among Daniel Jones’ trio of options at the position. The former fifth-round draft selection also collected the second-highest target total of his career in Week 5 (11), while his weekly total also tied him for eighth among all receivers.
He also eclipsed 100 yards for the second time this year, which matches the number of 100-yard performances that he delivered during his 2019 rookie season. Slayton is now 12th overall in targets (40/8 per game), fourth in percentage share of air yards (44.2%), 10th in air yards (487), 17th in receiving yards (365), and is also tied for 17th in receptions (23). He is also tied for fourth in red zone targets (7) and leads the Giants in each of those categories. Slayton also paces the team in target share (23.7), yards per reception (15.9), and yards per target (9.1). But while Slatyon's season is progressing favorably, the results have been disappointing for anyone who invested in Shepard or Tate during the draft process.
A toe injury has cemented Shepard to the sideline since he exited New York’s matchup with Chicago in Week 2. He has been limited to just 68 snaps, has collected just eight receptions, and currently remains on injured reserve. Tate’s usage and production also remain alarmingly short of expectations. The 32-year old has accumulated just 145 yards on 18 receptions and has failed to exceed 47 yards during any of his four matchups. His current per-game averages of 5.6 targets, 4.5 receptions, and 36.3 yards would result in season-long totals of 85 targets, 68 receptions, and 545 yards if Tate retained those weekly results during his remaining matchups. That would equate to his lowest usage and output since 2012.
The Giants currently rank third in pass play percentage (65.4%), and the team will not generate an effective ground game with their current components in their backfield. This should preserve a consistent reliance on Jones and the passing game, with Slayton continuing to operate as the primary weapon in the aerial attack.
and they said Henry Ruggs could only run fast ?
pic.twitter.com/TIhtIhKL6P— PFF (@PFF) October 11, 2020
5. Henry Ruggs was one of three rookie receivers who delivered their most prolific outings of the season in Week 5.
Ruggs maximized his three targets by registering receptions of 46 and 72 yards during the Raiders' matchup in Kansas City. That resulted in astronomical averages of 59 yards per reception and 39.3 yards per target, while his 118 yards placed him eighth among all receivers in Week 5. He has been operating from the slot during 72% of his routes and is averaging 29.5 yards per reception and 16.1 yards per target. Ruggs’ exceptional speed blends favorably with his route running ability in allowing him to explode beyond defenders. Ruggs is also underrated as a competitive receiver who can prevail in contested catch situations. Volume is a concern, as he has averaged just 3.6 targets per game. But that is partially a byproduct of Ruggs playing through his knee injury in Weeks 1 and 2 If he can achieve sustained health Ruggs should justify the Raiders' decision to select him with the 12th overall pick in last April's draft.
Laviska Shenault led Jacksonville in targets (8), receptions (7), and receiving yards (79) during Jacksonville’s matchup in Houston. He has now collected 20 targets during his last three contests, which has elevated his season total to 28. That places him in a tie for the team lead with Keelan Cole. Shenault also leads the Jaguars in receptions (23) and receiving yards (270), after collecting 12 receptions and 165 yards in Weeks 4-5. Shenault is now averaging 11.7 yards per reception, after exceeding 11.3 in four of his five matchups, and has been involved in 63% of Jacksonville's offensive snaps- including his season-high 69.3% in Week 5. Shenault is also being deployed both outside and in the slot, and this versatility will blend with his physical style to expand his involvement in the offense as the season progresses.
The 6’4”, 240-pound Chase Claypool possesses the size and speed (4.42-40 yard dash) to create matchup nightmares for opponents. He had entered Week 5 with season totals of nine targets, six receptions, 151 yards, and one touchdown. But Claypool’s relevance skyrocketed when he led the Steelers in targets (11) receptions (7) and receiving yards (110) while averaging 15.7 yards per reception and generating three touchdowns. He also produced a fourth touchdown on the ground, while finishing WR1 in scoring for the week. Claypool now leads the Steelers in receiving yards (261), and the 11 targets that he procured places his season total just six behind team leader Diontae Johnson, and only four behind JuJu Smith-Schuster. He is also third overall with an average of 20.1 yards per reception. Johnson experienced a back issue that forced him to the sideline in Week 5, but he remains Pittsburgh’s WR1. However, Claypool maintains the potential to remain relevant in the upcoming weeks, even though his production could be inconsistent.
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