Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Risers and Fallers for Week 17

Congratulations to all of you who are playing for a fantasy championship. Your wide receivers remain essential components toward your primary goal of capturing your league's title, and 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 16th 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 also supplies the foundation from which the numbers that are generated in various categories can be evaluated. This week’s article will bolster your efforts to determine which wide receivers should be in your Week 17 lineups. Pro Football Reference, PFF, NextGenStats, Rotowire, Rotoviz, and Football Outsiders were all used as resources in compiling this data. Good luck to everyone in your matchups this week.

Week 16 Target Leaders

Appreciate what @CooperKupp is doing this season.

It's going to be remembered FOREVER. #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/gLGWL6WsDo

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021

Cooper Kupp added 13 more targets to his league-high total in Week 16, which has now expanded to 177. He has collected at least 10 targets in 14 of his 15 matchups this season, including each of his last seven games. He is currently 28 targets ahead of Justin Jefferson (149), who is second overall at the position. Jefferson has now captured 10+ in four consecutive outings along with six of his last seven games. Davante Adams has assembled 13+ in five matchups, including two of his last three contests. That has elevated his season total to 148.

Tyreek Hill is now fourth overall (146), even though he has failed to exceed four targets in two of his last three games. D.J. Moore has now reached double digits in four consecutive contests while accumulating a total of 42 since Week 12. His 144 targets throughout the season ties him with Diontae Johnson who averaged a league-high 12.2 per game from Weeks 10-14, but just 7.0 per game since Week 15. Stefon Diggs is next (141) after the seventh-year receiver has captured 13 targets in two of his last three matchups.

Keenan Allen has now accumulated 140 targets even though the six that he registered in Week 16 represented his lowest total since Week 6. Marquise Brown has now accrued 130 targets while averaging 10.9 per game since Week 7. Jaylen Waddle has  collected 127 targets during an excellent rookie season that includes his 11.0 targets per game average since Week 12, and his 10.1 per game average since Week 6.

Brandin Cooks has assembled 119 targets, even though he was unavailable to the Texans during their Week 16 matchup with the Chargers (reserve/COVID-19 list). Terry McLaurin has accumulated 116 targets even though he has averaged only 4.5 per game since Week 13. That ties him with Michael Pittman who attained a double-digit total for the fifth time this season during his Week 16 matchup in Arizona. CeeDee Lamb’s season total has expanded to 114 even though he was limited to five in Week 16. That ties him with Hunter Renfrow, who was relegated to a season-low (3) when the Raiders hosted Denver.

My goodness @Real10jayy__

? CBS
pic.twitter.com/1nIaNjMitV

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) December 26, 2021

Ja’Marr Chase reached double digits for the first time since Week 9 when he captured 10 targets from Joe Burrow during Cincinnati’s Weeks 16 matchup with Baltimore. That has increased his overall total to 112. Jakobi Meyers is next (110) after he has averaged 10 per game during New England‘s last two contests.

Deebo Samuel had not attained a double-digit target total since Week 7 before he collected 11 targets during San Francisco’s Week 16 visit to Tennessee. That raised his overall total to 109 while tying him with D.K. Metcalf, who has only eclipsed 10+ targets once during his last 13 matchups. Mike Williams’ season-long total remained stationary at 108 after he was sidelined doing the Chargers Week 16 matchup in Houston (reserve/COVID-19 list).

Marvin Jones established a new season-high with his 13 targets in Week 6, which also improved his overall total to 106. Tee Higgins has now accrued 105 targets, including 13+ in two of his last four outings. Cole Beasley has captured 101 targets, even though he was unavailable during Buffalo’s AFC East showdown at New England (reserve/COVID-19 list). Mike Evans was also absent when Tampa Bay traveled to Carolina (hamstring). However, he has accumulated 100 targets while completing the list of 26 wide receivers who have attained 100+ entering their matchups in Week 17.

Kupp and Jefferson have both stockpiled a league-best 51 targets from Weeks 13-16. Amon-Ra St. Brown has accrued 46 targets and joins Kupp and Jefferson as the only three receivers to have attained double-digits in each of their last four matchups. Diggs has collected 40 targets during that four-game sequence, followed by Marquise Brown (38) and two receivers that are tied at 37 – Higgins and Lamb. Johnson and Russell Gage have both assembled 35 targets, while Adams and Metcalf have accumulated 33.

Moore and Renfrow have both been targeted 32 times from Weeks 13-16, while three receivers have captured 30 targets during that span: Chase, Robby Anderson, and Christian Kirk. Zay Jones and Kenny Golladay have accrued 29 targets, while Darnell Mooney and Michael Gallup have assembled 28. Cooks and Jones have amassed 27 targets, while K.J Osborn has been targeted 26 times. Four different receivers have attained 25 targets since Week 13: Pittman Josh Reynolds, Laquon Treadwell, and Amari Cooper – who will be discussed further in the 5 Things I Noticed section.

Four different receivers are averaging at least 10 targets per game – Kupp (11.8), Adams (10.6), Johnson (10.3), and Allen (10.0). Kupp has accumulated 10+ targets in 14 different matchups, while Johnson has attained double digits in 10 contests.  Allen, Hill, Jefferson, and Moore have reached 10+ in nine contests., while Adams, Diggs, Waddle, and Marquise Brown have eclipsed 10+ in seven different matchups.

Week 16 Weekly Changes  

17 different receivers were targeted at least 10 times during their matchups in Week 16. The highest weekly total was registered by A.J. Brown, whose protracted chest injury had cemented him to the sideline from Weeks 12-15. However, he supplied fantasy managers with a highly productive outing upon his return while stockpiling a career-high 16 targets. His reemergence for the Titans and fantasy managers will be discussed in the 5 Things I Noticed section. 

Antonio Brown had been sidelined for eight games due to a protracted ankle injury, and a three-game suspension for violation of the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 protocols. He returned to the Buccaneers in Week 16, commandeered 15 targets, and has now garnered a double-digit target total in three of his six matchups this season. Five different receivers were targeted 13 times in Week 16, including Cooper Kupp. The league leader in targets has now collected 13+ in six of his last nine contests, including the 13 that he attained during the Rams’ Week 16 matchup in Minnesota. That tied him with Davante Adams, who has now averaged 11.0 per game since Week 14.

Kupp and Adams were joined by Stefon Diggs, who has assembled 13 targets in four different games during the season. He has also averaged 9.7 per game since Week 10. Tee Higgins also captured 13 targets during Cincinnati’s AFC North matchup with Baltimore. That was the second time that he has attained 13+ since Week 13, and the third time since Week 7.

TEE HIGGINS MOSSED TWO RAVENS ???

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/84NAWDjoVE

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 26, 2021

Marvin Jones had not reached a double-digit total since Week 6 before he collected 13 against the Jets in Week 16. That was the second-highest weekly total of his career and was also his highest since Week 7 of 2019. Justin Jefferson was targeted 12 times during his matchup with the Rams, and the second-year receiver has now accumulated 81 (11.6 per game) since Week 10. That is the most among all receivers during that seven-game span.

Jaylen Waddle has now captured at least 10 targets in three consecutive games, after attaining 12 in Week 16. He has also accrued a double-digit total in six of his last contests. Michael Pittman has reached double-digits in two of his last four matchups, after assembling 12 in Week 16.  Isaiah McKenzie had never exceeded nine targets during the first 62 games of his career, but he captured a career-high 12 when Buffalo visited New England.

D.J. Moore had averaged 7,3 targets per game from Weeks 8-11. However, he has averaged 10.8 per game since Week 12, while reaching double-digits in each of his last four matchups. That tied Moore with Deebo Samuel, who had failed to surpass nine targets in seven straight games, and had averaged just 3.4 per game since from Weeks 10-15.

Deebo Samuel is the king! ? #49ers || #FTTB pic.twitter.com/vP1iI8oETn

— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers_) December 24, 2021

Amon-Ra St. Brown had averaged 4.7 targets per game from Weeks 1-12 but has now captured 11+ in four consecutive matchups after assembling 11 in Week 16. That tied St. Brown with Amari Cooper, who had averaged 4.6 targets per game from Weeks 9-15 before reaching double-digits for the first time since Week 8.  Robby Anderson had averaged just 4.0 targets per game from Weeks 8-12, but the sixth-year receiver has now averaged 10 per game since Week 14. That includes the 10 that he attained in Week 16. Ja'Marr Chase's 10 targets represented his fourth double-digit total of the season, but it was also the first time that he had reached 10+ since Week 9.

McKenzie had only averaged 0.9 targets per game from Weeks 1-15 while collecting just 11 throughout the entire season. However, the placement of both Beasley and Gabriel Davis on the reserve/COVID-19 list launched him into an expanded role. He attained a season-high 85% snap share along with his career-high 12 targets. That propelled him to a weekly increase of +10 which was the highest among all wide receivers. That also tied McKenzie with Higgins, who had only been targeted three times in Week 15 but assembled 13 targets in Week 16.

Jones’ season-high 13 targets were distributed one week after he had been limited to only four. That elevated his week-to-week total by +9. Pittman had been relegated to five targets in Week 15 before the 12 targets that he received from Carson Wentz in Week 16 fueled his rise of +7. Second-year receiver James Proche entered Week 16 with 12 targets during the entire season and 15 throughout his career. However, he captured eight during Baltimore’s Week 16 visit to Cincinnati which propelled him to a weekly increase of +7.

Hill was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to Kansas City‘s Week 16 matchup with Pittsburgh. However, he was only involved on 29 offensive snaps, while being limited to two targets. That was his lowest weekly total since the Chiefs’ season opener in 2019. It also fueled the week’s largest decline of -11. Anyone who started DeVante Parker during their semi-final matchups is already aware that he failed to register a target in Week 16, even though he played on 71% of Miami’s offensive snaps. That resulted in his decline of -8.

Gage had collected 12 targets during two of his three matchups from Weeks 12-15. That was also his total in Week 15 when the Falcons hosted San Francisco, but he only registered five targets when Atlanta hosted Detroit in Week 16. That resulted in his drop of -7.

That tied Gage with Metcalf, who also finished his Week 16 matchup with just five targets after procuring 12 in Week 15. A.J. Green’s eight targets in Week 15 represented his second-highest total of the season. He was also limited to three targets from Kyler Murray in Week 16 which diminished his weekly total by -5. That matched the decline of Marquise Brown whose nine targets were assembled one week after he had tied his season-high of 14.

Week 16 Air Yards 

And we're off @JJettas2 ✈️

?: @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/ya7H49pVtw

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 21, 2021

Justin Jefferson leads all wide receivers in air yards for a fourth consecutive week after accumulating 1,898. Terry McLaurin is second overall (1,613), followed by Stefon Diggs (1,599), Cooper Kupp (1,551), D.J. Moore (1,550), Tyreek Hill (1,492), Tyler Lockett (1,477), Marquise Brown (1,458), Ja’Marr Chase (1,451), and Davante Adams (1,448). D.K. Metcalf has accrued 1,408 yards, followed by Courtland Sutton (1,406), DeVonta Smith (1,303), Mike Evans (1,291), Diontae Johnson (1,266), Marvin Jones (1,264), Tee Higgins (1,260), Brandin Cooks (1,259), Darnell Mooney (1,235), and Keenan Allen (1,187). CeeDee Lamb has assembled 1,174 air yards, followed by Michael Pittman (1,171), Mike Williams (1,157), A.J. Brown (1,109), Van Jefferson (1,103), and Jakobi Meyers (1.100), completing the list of 26 wide receivers who have accumulated 1,100+ entering Week 17.

Odell Beckham Jr. leads the position in percentage share of air yards (60%), followed by Jefferson (46.3%), Josh Reynolds (45.2%), McLaurin (43.2%) A.J. Brown (43.2%), Lockett (41.7%), Cooks (41.1%), Moore (39.3%) and Smith (37.8%). Adams is next (37.4%), followed by Chase (37.0%), Hill (36.2%), Metcalf (36.0%), and three receivers who attained a percentage share of a share of 36: Sutton, Metcalf, and Johnson. Higgins is next (35.7%), followed by a Marquez Valdes- Scantling (35.4%), Diggs (34.4%), Pittman (33.8%), Mooney (33.6%) 33.6%, and Chase Claypool (33.2%). Marquise Brown is next (33.0%), followed by DeVante Parker (32.2%), Antonio Brown (32.1%), and Keenan Allen (30.0%).

Marquez Valdes-Scantling leads all wide receivers in targeted air yards (17.6), followed by Donovan Peoples-Jones (16.0), Courtland Sutton (15.6), Tyler Lockett (15.2), Emmanuel Sanders (15.0), Las Vegas teammates Bryan Edwards (14.6), and Zay Jones (14.6), and DeVonta Smith (14.5). Nelson Agholor is next (14.2), followed by Terry McLaurin (14.0), Van Jefferson (13.9), and two receivers who are tied at 13.8: Josh Reynolds, and Kenny Golladay. Gabriel Davis is next (13.7), followed by Darius Slayton (13.5), Odell Beckham (13.4), and three receivers that are tied at 13.1: Ja'Marr Chase, Mike Evans, and Quez Watkins. D.K. Metcalf is next (13.0), followed by  Marquez Callaway (12.9), Marvin Jones (12.7), Sammy Watkins (12.7), A.J. Green (12.5), and Justin Jefferson (12.4).

Week 16 First Downs

COOOOOOOOP pic.twitter.com/X9VnxXZSBe

— x - Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 26, 2021

Cooper Kupp leads all wide receivers with 81 first down receptions. Davante Adams is second overall with 73, while Tyreek Hill has collected 71. Justin Jefferson is next (68), followed by Keenan Allen (60), and two receivers who are tied at 56: Jaylen Waddle, and Stefon Diggs. D.J. Moore is next (55), followed by Diontae Johnson (53), Tee Higgins (51), CeeDee Lamb (50), and two receivers that are tied at 49: Michael Pittman, and Ja’Marr Chase. Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans have both accumulated 47 first down receptions, followed by Hunter Renfrow (45), Mike Williams (43), D.K. Metcalf (42), and two receivers who are tied at 41: Terry McLaurin, and Brandin Cooks.

Christian Kirk and Amari Cooper have both accumulated 41 first down receptions, while DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown have captured 39. Darnell Mooney is next with 38, followed by  Marquise Brown and Adam Thielen with 37. Jakobi Meyers is next (36), followed by Tyler Boyd and Marvin Jones at 35. Tyler Lockett and Tim Patrick have collected 34 receptions, followed by  Chase Claypool and A.J. Green at 33. Cole Beasley, and Courtland Sutton, have attained 32 first down receptions followed by Emmanuel Sanders with 31.

Week 16 Red Zone Targets

.@CooperKupp broke the franchise receptions record with a TD. Of course he did.

? @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/tvpetO9GAC

— x - Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 22, 2021

Cooper Kupp captured five red zone targets during the Rams’ Week 16 matchup at Minnesota. That helped him maintain his league lead for the season (35). Stefon Diggs is now second overall (26), followed by Davante Adams (24), and three receivers that are tied at 22: Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, and Keenan Allen. Hunter Renfrow and Mike Williams have both collected 21 targets, while Diontae Johnson has assembled 19.

Mike Evans and Van Jefferson have accrued 16 targets, while six different receivers have been targeted 15 times inside the 20: Michael Pittman, Marquise Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Amari Cooper, Adam Thielen, and Mecole Hardman. Three receivers have collected 14 targets (A.J. Green/Gabriel Davis/Randall Cobb), while four receivers have captured 13: Tee Higgins, Jaylen Waddle, Courtland Sutton, and Marvin Jones. Ja’Marr Chase, D.J. Moore, and Amon-Ra St. Brown are among the eight wide receivers who have accumulated 12 red zone targets entering Week 17.

Kupp also leads his position with 16 targets inside the 10-yard line. Adams is second overall (14), followed by Williams and Renfrow with 12. Cobb has accrued 11 targets, while Diggs and  Allen have captured 10. Five different receivers have been targeted nine times: Justin Jefferson, Johnson, Evans, Pittman, and Pittman’s teammate Zach Pascal, while five receivers have accumulated eight targets inside the 10 (Hill/Thielen/Green/Moore/Van Jefferson).

Kupp has also collected the most targets inside the 5-yard line (10), while Williams is second overall (8). Adams is next (7), followed by three receivers that are tied with six: Justin Jefferson, Cobb, and Jones. Five receivers have accrued five targets (Allen/Johnson/Evans/ Thielen/Marquise Brown), while six different receivers have been targeted four times inside the 5-yard line: Pascal, Hill, Green, Davis, Higgins, and Van Jefferson.

Week 16 Snap Counts

Cooper Kupp leads all wide receivers with 872 offensive snaps. Former league leader Justin Jefferson is now second with 868. Terry McLaurin is next (854), followed by D.J. Moore (845), Ja’Marr Chase (830), Marvin Jones (828), Robby Anderson (828), Michael Pittman (823), Darnell Mooney (817), Stefon Diggs (809), DeVonta Smith (805), and Diontae Johnson (802). Courtland Sutton is next (792), followed by Keenan Allen (788), Mike Evans (782), Jakobi Meyers (780), Marquise Brown (775), and two receivers that are tied with 773: Tim Patrick, and Van Jefferson.

Davante Adams is next (673), followed by Tyreek Hill (757), Brandon Aiyuk (751), Zach Pascal (746), Jaylen Waddle (742), Mike Williams (731), Christian Kirk (727), and Kirk’s teammate A.J. Green (725). CeeDee Lamb has accrued 725 snaps, followed by Brandin Cooks (719), Tyler Boyd (718), Adam Thielen (715), Emmanuel Sanders (711), and Marquez Callaway (707) completing the list of 33 receivers who have accumulated 700+ offensive snaps entering Week 17.

Kupp also leads the position in snap count percentage (93.2%). Johnson is second (91.0%), followed by McLaurin (89.8%), Jones (89.7%), Chase (89.2%), Adams (88.7%), Jefferson (88.3%), Mooney (87.7%), and Allen (87.3%). Lockett is next (87.2%), followed by Pittman (87.1%), Cox (86.8%), Moore (86.7%), Sutton (85.5%), Smith (85.3%) Robby Anderson (84.9%), Pascal (84.6%), and Meyers (84.5%).

Thielen is next (83.6%), followed by Patrick (83.5%), Metcalf (83.4%), Allen Robinson (83.3%), Evans (82.7%), and Van Jefferson (82.6%).  Aiyuk (81.8%), Waddle (81.7%), Diggs (81.3%), and Samuel (80.2%), complete the list of 28 receivers who have been involved in at least 80% of their teams’ offensive snaps.

Five Things I Noticed

Who here started AJ Brown ? pic.twitter.com/eFNbZuYpaX

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) December 24, 2021

1. Anyone who had selected A.J. Brown during Round 2 of their draft process has been required to exercise patience during his recovery from multiple injuries. However, he rewarded those fantasy managers with a perfectly timed statistical explosion in Week 16. Brown stockpiled a career-high 16 targets, accumulated a career-best 11 receptions, and assembled 145 yards against San Francisco, while also generating his first touchdown since Week 8. His long-awaited statistical eruption was fueled by his 53.3% target share, while Brown also stockpiled 215 air yards, and commandeered a 79.3% share of air yards.

Brown had been contending with a lingering chest issue that had kept him affixed to the sideline from Weeks 12-15. However, Tennessee activated Brown from injured reserve just hours before the Titans’ Week 16 matchup with the 49ers, and he instantly provided Ryan Tannehill with a dynamic receiving weapon that had been severely lacking in the team’s aerial efforts. Brown also supplied a level of dependability that had also been absent in the Titans’ passing attack.

GROWN MAN FOOTBALL @1kalwaysopen_

?: Watch #SFvsTEN on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/ksNou6U07Y

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 24, 2021

Brown had also been averaging 7.8 targets, 4.6 receptions, and 61.5 receiving yards per game prior to his departure from the lineup (Weeks 1-11). He was also 10th overall in percentage share of air yards (38.9%), 17th overall in air yards (894/89.4 per game), 19th in targets (78), and 26th in both receptions (46), and receiving yards (615) during that sequence, which included his absence in Week 4 due to a hamstring issue.

His numbers during that sequence were propelled by his performances in Weeks 7-8. Brown captured 18 of his 20 targets (33.9% share), tied for the league lead in receptions, and exploded for a league-high 288 yards. He was also second in percentage share of air yards (52.9%) and fourth in air yards (238).

Tannehill was seventh among all signal-callers in attempts (368/33.5 per game), seventh in completions (245/22.3 per game), and eighth in yardage (2,681/243.7 per game) from Weeks 1-11. Tannehill was also averaging 7.3 yards per attempt while assembling an uninspiring 13:12 touchdown to interception ratio during that sequence.

However, Tannehill’s numbers decreased while Brown was sidelined. He averaged 28 attempts, 18 completions, and just 145.7 yards per game from Weeks 12-15. Tannehill’s yards per attempt average also dropped to 5.2, while he only generated one touchdown during that span.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine led Tennessee in targets (16), receptions (9), and receiving yards (88), air yards (186), and percentage share of air yards (38.5%) during that sequence, as Tannehill operated with a limited receiving arsenal. Julio Jones had also reemerged from injured reserve during that span (Weeks 14/15). However, he only accrued seven targets, four receptions, and 33 yards, as his protracted hamstring issue limited him to a 39.5% snap share.

Jones's usage and output remained minimal versus the 49ers,(1 target/1 reception/7 yards), and he cannot be trusted in any Week 17 lineups. However, Brown can be started confidently as a borderline WR1 this week.

2. Brown was not the only second-round draft selection whose prolific Week 16 performance was delivered at an opportune for fantasy managers. Amari Cooper was the seventh wide receiver to be selected during the majority of drafts, although his usage and production in 2019-2020 justified that level of confidence in the seven-year veteran. Cooper had accumulated 249 targets (7.8 per game), 171 receptions (5.3 per game), and 2,303 yards (72 per game) during that sequence – which comprised his first two full seasons with Dallas.

Fantasy managers were immediately rewarded for their decision during the Cowboys’ season-opener when Cooper led all wide receivers in targets (17), and receptions (13), accumulated 139 yards, generated two touchdowns and finished the week at WR1. Cooper also delivered a highly-productive performance in Week 8, as he accrued 13 targets, collected eight receptions, assembled 122 yards, scored a touchdown, and finished at WR5.

However, those were the only two games in which he had attained double-digit target totals, eclipsed 100 yards, or finished as a WR1 from Weeks 1-15. Cooper was sidelined in Weeks 11-12 (reserve/COVID-19 list). His per-game averages when he was available had also plunged to just 4.1 targets, and 35.2 yards per game during that span – if you extract his two excellent outings.

As a result, he was averaging 6.6 targets, 4.4 targets, and 56.9 yards per game from Weeks 1-15, and was just WR27 in point per game scoring. His numbers became even more concerning from Weeks 9-15, as his target shares ranged between 5.0% and 13.5% while he averaged 4.6/3.0/37.6 yards per game during that span.

Cowboys WR Amari Cooper has stated in multiple interviews today that he wants the ball on third-down to help the team's struggling offense

— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) December 23, 2021

Cooper openly discussed his desire to garner more opportunities and was promptly targeted during the Cowboys' first offensive play in Week 16. Dak Prescott continued to locate Cooper with consistency throughout the team's NFC East matchup with Washington, and he accumulated his highest weekly totals in targets (11), receptions (7), and receiving yards (85), since Week 8. He also generated a touchdown against the Football Team.

COOP in slow mo! ?

? : #WASvsDAL ? @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/tFtSHT046D

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 27, 2021

Cooper also captured a 27.5% target share, which was his highest since Week 8. He also finished second among all wide receivers in air yards (166) – after averaging 72.2 air yards per game from Weeks 1-15, and just 39.8 from Weeks 9-15. His numbers were assembled during the first three quarters and would have been even more impressive if the Cowboys had been compelled to leave their starters in throughout the one-sided contest.

CeeDee Lamb was limited to five targets, which was his lowest total since Week 11. He still generated 66 yards, which enabled Lamb to eclipse 1,000 yards for the season (1,006/71.9 per game). Lamb leads Dallas in that category from Weeks 1-16, along with targets (114/8.1 per game/21.8% share), receptions (74/5.3 per game), air yards (1,174), and percentage share of air yards (27.5%).

Both Cooper and Lamb should be entrenched in all lineups this week, even though they will contend with an Arizona pass defense that is yielding 210.7 yards per game.

3. Isaiah McKenzie was originally selected in Round 5 of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Broncos and he entered the 2021 regular season with career averages of 2.3 targets, 1.6 receptions, and 14.9 yards per game. McKenzie’s role within the Bills’ offense had remained modest from Weeks 1-15 this season, as he was only fifth among Buffalo wide receivers in targets (11/0.9 per game), receptions (7.0/0.5 per game), and receiving yards (38/3.2 per game) from Weeks 1-15. His snap share was only 17.2%, while his target share languished at 2.4%. However, McKenzie unexpectedly delivered a highly-productive performance during the Bills’ Week 16 matchup in New England.

Buffalo entered the AFC East showdown without Cole Beasley (reserve/COVID-19 list), and Gabriel Davis (reserve/COVID-19 list) which had eviscerated the original plans of many fantasy managers who were depending upon those receivers for a scoring boost during their fantasy playoff matchups. Their absence had also deprived Josh Allen of several receiving weapons that would have been involved in Buffalo's aerial efforts against the Patriots.

However, McKenzie easily established new career-highs in snap share (85%), target share (27.9%), targets (12), receptions (11), receiving yards (125), and percentage share of air yards (37.1%). He led the Bills in receiving yardage and was also second only to Stefon Diggs in every other category that was listed. McKenzie tied for second among all wide receivers in receptions, fourth in receiving yards, and eighth in targets. He also generated a touchdown and soared to WR4 in scoring during Week 16.

Thread it. ?

?: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/849Iya2GNB

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 26, 2021

McKenzie initially appeared to be an intriguing WR3 option this week for anyone who was contemplating alternative options to their usual starters. However, both Beasley and Davis have been activated from the reserve-COVID-19 list following the NFL's update to COVID protocols, and are now primed to return for the Bills' Week 17 matchup with Atlanta. Diggs will also remain Allen’s primary option when Buffalo hosts the Falcons on Sunday.  However, McKenzie provides a level of explosiveness to the Bills’ receiving arsenal that may be difficult for Buffalo’s offensive decision-makers to dismiss. McKenzie’s big-play potential could result in additional snaps at the expense of the increasingly disappointing Emmanuel Sanders, whose recent performances have not instilled confidence in his ability to become a reliable weapon against the Falcons.

4. Adam Thielen reemerged from a multi-game absence in Week 16 after his lingering ankle injury had sidelined him since the first quarter of Minnesota’s Week 13 matchup with Detroit. Thielen had been limited to just six snaps against the Lions before he encountered the issue and was inactive in Weeks 14-15. Thielen had been tied for the league lead with 10 touchdowns prior to his absence and was also 15th overall in targets (90/8.2 per game) 12th  in receptions (63/5.3 per game), and 22nd in receiving yards (686/57.2 per game).

Thielen’s status had been uncertain as he remained limited in practices during the week. He ultimately attempted to recapture his WR2 responsibilities for the Vikings, even though he would be operating at less than 100%. Unfortunately, Thielen re-aggravated his troublesome ankle while capturing his second reception, which forced him to the sideline. He briefly resurfaced later in the contest, but was limited to 23 snaps, collected all three of his targets, and produced 40 yards.

Adam Thielen in some pain as he was slow to get up and walked off of the field on the previous Vikings play. pic.twitter.com/JJIz8AfPmL

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 26, 2021

Thielen's problematic ankle has now required season-ending surgery, which will result in his absence during Minnesota’s NFC North showdown in Green Bay. This creates a prospective lineup issue for anyone who has him contained on their rosters, but it also provides an opportunity to seize K.J. Osborn from the waiver wire if you are searching for options at wide receiver.

Osborn was elevated into another expanded role following Thielen’s latest departure, which replicated his rising responsibilities in Weeks 13-15. Osborn had played on 58.5% of the Vikings’ offensive snaps from Weeks 1-12, but his snap share soared to 88.6% from Weeks 13-15 while Thielen was affixed to the sideline. Osborn had also averaged 4.3 targets, and 33.1 receiving yards per game from Weeks 1-12 before those numbers improved to 8.0 targets/65 yards in Weeks 13-14, and 6.3 targets/50.3 yards from Weeks 13-15. Osborn had also generated two touchdowns during that three-game sequence, which matched his total from Weeks 1-11.

Quick strike to @KJ_Osborn!!

?: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/IzJmC1Oh3a

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 26, 2021

Osborn promptly added another touchdown to that total in Week 16, while attaining a 20% target share, accruing seven targets, five receptions, 68 yards, and 99 air yards. Osborn finished in each category to Justin Jefferson, who unsurprisingly led the Vikings in targets (12/34.3% share), receptions (8), receiving yards (116), air yards (156), and percentage share of air yards (53.3%).

Thielen’s placement on injured reserve will allow Osborn to sustain his role as Minnesota's WR2 on Sunday against the Packers. It also provides an opportunity for fantasy managers to insert Osborn into their lineups as a WR3 during this week's crucial postseason matchups.

5. Unfortunately, not all wide receivers have fulfilled expectations in recent weeks. In some cases, their performances have circumvented the opportunity for fantasy managers to proceed into the postseason. Other managers’ hopes have been eviscerated by substandard production that contributed to their teams’ elimination during the postseason.

Terry McLaurin just blew by Darius Slay, but had to slow up at the end of his route because the pass was a tad short. Helluva catch. pic.twitter.com/Y1UvDBABaO

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 22, 2021

This includes Terry McLaurin’s recent numbers, although the talented third-year receiver’s discouraging results are primarily a consequence of the deteriorating environment that surrounds him. Since Week 13, McLaurin has only averaged 4.5 targets per game, with target shares of: 16.7%, 12.1%, and 13.3% from Weeks 13-15.

He has also averaged 2.0 receptions per game from Weeks 13-16, without exceeding three catches in any of those four contests. McLaurin has also averaged just 28.4 yards per game during that span, without surpassing 51 yards during those matchups. He also failed to register a reception while performing on 33 snaps in Week 14, before being sidelined with a concussion.

Inefficiencies under center have neutralized McLaurin’s ability to gain separation, as that four-game sequence transpired with a blend of Taylor Heinicke, Garrett Gilbert, and Kyle Allen functioning as the Football Team’s signal-callers. Garrett Gilbert generated 194 yards during Washington's Week 15 visit to Philadelphia. Heinicke started each of the three remaining contests while completing just 53.2% of his passes. He also averaged 5.6 yards per attempt and 4.19 air yards per attempt.

Taylor Heinicke waiving an open Terry McLaurin deeper downfield before underthrowing him by 10 yards and causing an unnecessary contested-catch situation pretty much sums up their connection this season

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 12, 2021

McLaurin had accumulated 65 targets from Weeks 2-7 (10.8 per game/30.3% share), which placed him third among all wide receivers. He was also eighth in receptions (36/6 per game) and seventh in receiving yards (488/81.3 per game). He was also third in air yards (847), second in percentage share of air yards (49.3%), and eighth in touchdowns (4) during that span,

His usage earlier this season has enabled him to remain 13th overall in targets (116/7.7 per game) despite the recent statistical downturn. He also remains second only to Justin Jefferson in air yards (1,613) and is fourth in percentage share of air yards (43.2%). However, he has dropped to 24th in receptions (66/4.4 per game), and 21st in receiving yards (899/59.5 per game).

ACROBATIC from Terry McLaurin! #WashingtonFootball

?: #LACvsWAS on CBS
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/dOLGjOLlhi

— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2021

McLaurin possesses the ability to resurrect the career ascension that had occurred during his first two seasons. He can also operate as a WR1 for fantasy managers next season if he can become the recipient of improved play under center.

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