Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends Season Review

Congratulations to all team owners whose tireless dedication toward winning a league title resulted in the fulfillment of your championship aspirations. For those of you who were unsuccessful in achieving the ultimate goal of capturing your league, your diligent efforts should also be commended. Regardless of whether your teams were negatively impacted by injuries, inadequate performances, or a weekly barrage of points allowed to opposing owners, this does not diminish your ongoing commitment to secure a fantasy championship.

Your wide receivers remained integral components within your lineups throughout the season, and many of you sustained an extensive level of knowledge surrounding the usage and production of these integral components as the season progressed. This included all relevant data regarding targets, red zone targets, yards-per-target, targeted air yards, and snap counts.

Now that a full regular season of game action has been completed, we are in possession of 17 weeks of statistics that encompass each of the categories that can be essential in your planning for 2020. Pro Football Reference, NextGenStats, and Football Outsiders were all used as resources in compiling data for this season-long statistical breakdown of wide receivers during 2019.

Overall Target Leaders 

Michael Thomas not only captured the most targets among all wide receivers throughout 2019 (185) but his total exceeded second place Julio Jones by 28 (157). Allen Robinson finished third overall (154), followed by Julian Edelman (153), and DeAndre Hopkins (150). Keenan Allen was next (149), followed by Tyler Boyd (148), Robert Woods (139), Jarvis Landry (138), and D.J. Moore (135), completing the top 10.

Cooper Kupp was next (134), followed by Odell Beckham (133), Devante Parker (128), Davante Adams (127), Courtland Sutton (125), Jamison Crowder (122), Chris Godwin (121), and Amari Cooper (119), followed by D.J. Clark and Mike Evans each with 118. That finalized the top 20 in this category, while Kenny Golladay (116), John Brown (115), and Michael Gallup (113), were among 10 additional receivers that reached 100+ targets during the 2019 regular season.

Thomas’ NFL best total represented the first time that he has finished inside the top five in this category. He had previously placed 20th (121-2016), sixth (149-2017), and ninth (147-2018), during his three previous seasons. But he captured the highest total this season on the strength of an 11.6 targets-per-game average that included 12 different matchups in which he collected 10+.

Thomas also captured the most targets from Weeks 13-17, (61), followed by Woods (56), Robinson (58), Adams (58), Jones (56), and three receivers that were tied at 45 – Parker, Crowder, and Boyd. Allen was next with 42, followed by Edelman and Landry with 41, and three other receivers that were tied with 40 - Sterling Shepard, Sutton, and Steven Sims. Five additional receivers captured 38 during that span - Gage, Gallup, Anderson, Hopkins, and Cooper, while Breshad Perriman accrued 37.

The 48 targets that Jones accumulated from Weeks 15-17 led all receivers during that three-game sequence. He was followed by Adams (42), Robinson (38), Thomas (38), Parker (33), Woods (32), and Allen (30). Crowder, Boyd, and Sims were all tied with 29, followed by Sutton (28), Shepard (27), Perriman (26), Beckham 25, and Jones’ teammate Russell Gage (25). Seven different receivers also attained 23 targets from Weeks 15-17 - Golladay, Landry, Tyler Lockett, Golden Tate, Albert Wilson, A.J. Brown, and Diontae Johnson.

Jones, Adams, and Gage also tied for the highest weekly targets totals among all receivers during their Week 17 matchups (13). Robinson, Woods, D.K. Metcalf, and Buffalo's Duke Williams all collected 12 targets, while Parker commandeered 11 during his matchup. Five different receivers accrued 10 targets in Week 17 - Crowder, Allen, Shepard, Kupp, and Christian Kirk, while Thomas,  Darius Slayton, Isaiah Ford, and Hunter Renfrow all garnered nine targets

Largest Increases And Decreases 

Most owners were not involved in Week 17 matchups. This allowed the majority of you to elude the collection of abnormalities that dominate decision making as players are absent, or limited in their involvement. Since these factors create irregularities in the usage of personnel, there is little rationale for occupying your time and this space in a review of increases and decreases in Week 16-17 targets. Instead, the results for those weeks will be contained in the target tables that display how these numbers have contributed to the season-long totals for each receiver.

As a result, the focus of this section will shift toward various results that transpired during the season. That includes the inability of all other receivers to match the number of weeks in which Thomas attained a double-digit target total (12). Allen and Edelman did capture 10+ targets in 10 different games, while Moore and Adams attained double digits in eight matchups. Jones, Hopkins, Robinson, Kupp Parker, and Boyd accomplished it seven times, while Woods, Landry, and Beckham achieved it in six different contests.

Edelman had stockpiled double-digit target totals in eight consecutive games from Weeks 6-14 but averaged 6-per game from Weeks 15-17. Kupp had accumulated double-digit totals in seven contests from Weeks 1-12. But he did not exceed six targets in four straight matchups before receiving 10 in Week 17. Parker averaged 9.5 targets per game from Weeks 10-17 while achieving a double-digit total and six of those eight contests.

Jones averaged 16 targets-per-game from Weeks 15-17, which coincided with the absence of Calvin Ridley from Atlanta’s receiving arsenal (abdomen). Shepard accumulated 10+ targets in two of his final three matchups after failing to reach a double-digit target total from Weeks 1-14. Diontae Johnson averaged 7.7 targets per game from Weeks 15-17 after averaging 5.3 per game from Weeks 1-14.

Yards-Per-Target Leaders

A.J. Brown led the NFL with a 12.5 yards-per-target average during his 2019 rookie season. He was followed by Stefon Diggs (12.0), Mike Williams (11.1), Chris Godwin (11.0), Kenny Golladay (10.3), Tyrell Williams (10.2), Kenny Stills (10.2), and Dallas teammates Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb each with an average of 10.0.

Rookies Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel were next at 9.9, followed by Mike Evans (9.8), Michael Gallup (9.8), Tyreek Hill (9.7), Tyler Lockett (9.6), Devante Parker (9.4), Will Fuller (9.4), and a trio of receivers that completed the top 20 with an average of 9.3 - Michael Thomas, Calvin Ridley, and Breshad Perriman. Second-year receivers Courtland Sutton and James Washington led a cluster of six other players that reached an average of 9.0+ during the regular season.

Samuel's average rose from 9.2 to 9.9 after he attained his second-highest average of the season in Week 17 (20.4). Lockett’s 9,6 average tied for the second-highest of his career. However, it was well below last year’s career-high of 13.8. Parker had attained an average of 6.8 in 2017-2018 before that number climbed to 9.4 during his breakout season.

Landry’s 8.5 average was the second-highest of his career while representing an increase of 2.9 over his 2018 average (6.6). Jamison Crowder had averaged 8.0 during his first four seasons. But the 6.8 that he accrued in 2019 was the lowest of his career. Sammy Watkins’ average of 7.5 was the lowest since his 2014 rookie season.

Targeted Air Yards Leaders 

Mike Williams finished as the league leader in targeted air yards for 2019 with a 17.4 average. Marquez Valdes-Scantling was second overall (16.6), followed by Ted Ginn and Breshad Perriman each with (16.1), James Washington was fifth (15.6), followed by Kenny Golladay (15.4), Robby Anderson (15.3), Mike Evans (15.3), John Ross (14.9), Stefon Diggs (14.9), Darius Slayton (14.5), Curtis Samuel (14.5), Preston Williams (14.3), and Chris Conley (14.3).

John Brown was next (14.2), followed by Terry McLaurin (14.1), Will Fuller (14.0), Phillip Dorsett (13.9), Brandin Cooks (13.8), and Devante Parker (13.8), completing the top 20 in targeted air yards during the season. Tyrell Williams (13.5), Calvin Ridley (13.5), and former college teammates A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf spearheaded the list of eight additional receivers that attained 13+ during the year.

Julio Jones accumulated the largest number of air yards during the season (1,917), which was propelled by the league-high 420 yards that he accrued from Weeks 15-17. Mike Evans finished second with 1,779 yards and would have assembled the highest yardage total if he had eluded the hamstring issue that sidelined him in Week 14. Kenny Golladay finished third (1,750), followed by Devante Parker (1,713), Odell Beckham (1,706), and Allen Robinson (1,686). John Brown (1,633), Mike Williams (1,546), DeAndre Hopkins (1,541), and Keenan Allen (1,521) completed the top 10.

Curtis Samuel was next with 1,516, followed by Amari Cooper (1,512), D.J. Moore (1,505), Michael Thomas (1,491), Courtland Sutton (1,452), and Robby Anderson (1,448). DJ. Chark was next with 1,421, followed by Michael Gallup (1,405), Stefon Diggs (1,396), and Julian Edelman (1,393). Four additional receivers eclipsed 1,300 air yards, while 14 other receivers accumulated 1,000+ air yards during the 2019 regular season.

% Share Of  Team’s Air Yards Leaders

Courtland Sutton led all wide receivers in percentage share of team's air yards (42.93) and his accomplishments as a second-year receiver will be examined further in the Five Things I Noticed section. Michael Thomas finished second 41.34, followed by Stefon Diggs 41.3, Allen Robinson 39.2, Odell Beckham 39.0, Terry McLaurin (37.1), Robby Anderson (36.7), John Brown (36.1), Julio Jones (35.9), and Emmanuel Sanders completing the top 10 at 34.6.

DeAndre Hopkins was next 34.4, followed by Kenny Golladay (33.7), Devante Parker (33.1), D.J. Chark (33.1), James Washington (33.0), and Mike Williams (31.8). Julian Edelman was next (31.7), followed by Curtis Samuel (30.6), Keenan Allen (30.4), and Chris Conley (30.3), also in the top 20 at 30.3. D.J. Moore (30.2), and Tyler Lockett (30.1), were the only other wide receivers who attained a percentage share of 30+.

Tyler Boyd led Cincinnati (28.7), while Amari Cooper paced Dallas in this category by 1.9 percent over Michael Gallup (27.8/25.9). Zach Pascal led Indianapolis with a percentage of 21.8, while Robert Woods (23.6) led the Rams by 2.6 percent over Brandin Cooks (21.0), and 3.1 over Cooper Kupp (20.5). Darius Slayton paced the Giants (23.6), followed by Golden Tate (17.8) and Sterling Shepard (17.4). Tyrell Williams paced Oakland (25.6), while Deebo Samuel led San Francisco by fewer than 1 percent over Emmanuel Sanders (19.9/19.1).

Red Zone Target Leaders

Once again Michael Thomas has commandeered the league lead in yet another receiving category, as his 26 red zone targets were the most among all wide receivers. Tyler Lockett and Davante Adams tied for second with 23, followed by Julian Edelman (22), then Jarvis Landry and Cooper Kupp each with 21. Allen Robinson, Keenan Allen and Courtland Sutton all secured 20 red zone targets, while D.K. Metcalf collected 18 throughout his initial season. Julio Jones, Deebo Samuel, and Mike Evans each accrued 17 targets while Kenny Golladay and Jameson Crowder each captured 16.

Five receivers attained 15 targets - Devante Parker, D.J. Chark, Mike Williams, Curtis Samuel, and Marvin Jones, while Chris Godwin, Larry Fitzgerald, Russell Gage, and Auden Tate were tied with 14. DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham, Terry McLaurin, and Marquise Brown all captured 13 targets, while five other receivers collected 12  - D.J. Moore, Christian Kirk, Zach Pascal, Hunter Renfrow, and Sterling Shepard. Dede Westbrook accrued 11 targets, while John Brown and Tyler Boyd spearheaded a group of seven other receivers who accumulated 10 red zone targets doing 2019.

Golladay accumulated 13 targets inside the 10, which was the highest total among all receivers throughout the season. Landry and Robinson tied for second with 11, while Kupp, Godwin, and Fitzgerald all collected 10 targets. Six additional players accrued nine targets inside the 10 - Thomas, Edelman, Allen, Sutton, Evans, and Marvin Jones. Julio Jones, Deebo Samuel, and Curtis Samuel, all captured eight targets, while Lockett and Mike Williams spearheaded a group of five receivers that attained seven targets inside the 10.

Hunter Renfrow’s name emerged for the first time this season among red zone target leaders when he captured four during Oakland's Week 17 matchup with Denver. That tied him with Gage, and Seattle teammates Lockett and Metcalf, while Kupp, Adams, Steven Sims, Robinson, and Miami's Isaiah Ford all accrued three targets during their games.

Adams and Lockett both accumulated eight red zone targets from Weeks 14-17, which were the most among all wide receivers. A group of six receivers all collected seven red zone targets during that four-game span - Julio Jones, Thomas, Robinson, Sims, Kupp, and Sutton.

Adams also collected 17 of his targets during his last seven matchups, which was the most among all receivers from Weeks 10-17. Julio Jones captured seven targets from Weeks 15-17, while Parker captured five targets during Miami's last three matchups. Landry stockpiled nine targets during a four-game sequence from Weeks 9-12, then attained just five targets during the final five contests. Emmanuel Sanders received eight red zone targets from Weeks 1-3. But he was only targeted six times throughout his final 13 matchups.

Snap Count Leaders

Chris Godwin had led all wide receivers in total offensive snaps from Weeks 11-15. But DeAndre Hopkins emerged as the league leader when Godwin was sidelined in Weeks 16 (hamstring). However, the absence of both Godwin and Hopkins in Week 17 enabled Allen Robinson to accumulate the most offensive snaps for the season (1,025). Beckham finished second (1,021), followed by Julian Edelman (1,011), Robert Woods (1,010), Tyler Lockett (1,010), Jarvis Landry (1,002), Tyler Boyd (1,001), and Hopkins (1,000) completing the list of eight receivers who were involved in 1000+ offensive snaps for their teams.

Curtis Samuel was next (970), followed by Michael Thomas (959), Kenny Golladay (958), and Godwin (957), while Robby Anderson and Keenan Allen were tied with (944). D.K. Metcalf played on (940) snaps, followed by John Brown (939), D.J..Moore (925), Devante Parker (914), Cooper Kupp (907), and Larry Fitzgerald (903). No other wide receivers performed on 900+ offensive snaps throughout the season.

Beckham paced the position in snap count percentage during the year (95.4). He was followed by Robinson (94.0), Landry (93.6), Sutton (92.0), Hopkins (91.3), Anderson (91.2), Lockett (89.9), Boyd 89.1, Robert Woods (89.1), and Thomas (88.6) completing the top 10. Allen was next (88.1), followed by Edelman (87.2), Golladay (86.8), Curtis Samuel (85.7), John Brown (85.6), Larry Fitzgerald (84.8), and Devante Parker (84.).

Week 17 contained the customary quirkiness that can occur with snap counts, as several players that normally function in a backup capacity were presented with expanded roles. That includes Houston teammates DeAndre Carter and Steven Mitchell, who joined Landry as the only receivers that played on 100% of the teams’ offensive snaps.

Metcalf was involved in 98.7% of Seattle’s snaps. Christian Kirk, Parker, and Albert Wilson were next at (98.5), followed by Robert Foster (98.4), Minnesota’s Alexander Hollins (98.0), Anderson (97.0), Robinson (96.0), Woods (95.1), Breshad Perriman (94.1), and Perriman’s teammate Justin Watson also at (94.1). Keenan Allen was next at (93.5), followed by Lockett (93.3), Emmanuel Sanders (92.0), Beckham 90.7, Golden Tate (90.5), and Kelvin Harmon (90.3) completing the list of 20 receivers that were involved in at least 90% of their teams' offensive snaps in Week 17.

Five Things I Noticed

1. A.J. Brown was averaging 3.8 targets, 2.3 receptions and 45.5 yards-per-game from Weeks 1-6 when Marcus Mariota was under center for Tennessee. But after Ryan Tannehill became the Titans’ starting signal-caller, Brown averaged 6.1 targets, 3.8 receptions, and 77.8 yards-per-game, while also generating six touchdowns.

Brown also attained the NFL’s highest yards-per-target average (12.5) and led all wide receivers in yardage (605) and touchdowns (5) from Weeks 12-17. His late-season output vaulted him to the lead in fantasy scoring (WR10) and receiving yards (1,051) among all first-year receivers. while he also led newcomers in games of 100+ yards (5), receptions of 40+ yards (8), and also in yards-per-game average (65.7).

Terry McLaurin’s name is also prominent in various receiving categories among members of this year’s rookie class - even though 11 receivers were selected in the 2019 NFL draft before Washington seized McLaurin with the 76th overall pick. Despite missing two games due to injuries (Week 4-hamstring/Week 17-concussion), he finished second among first-year receivers in scoring (WR24), targets (93/6.6 per game), receptions (58), and yards-per-game average (65.6). He also led newcomers in percentage share of team’s air yards (37.09). which placed him sixth among all receivers. McLaurin was also ninth overall with a 9.9 yards-per-target average, and 16^th in targeted air yards (14.1).

Brown’s former college teammate D.K. Metcalf led rookies in targets (100), tied with McLaurin in receptions (58), and also finished third in yardage (900). Darius Slayton led first-year receivers in targeted air yards (14.5), which also placed him 11^th overall. He also tied with Brown in touchdowns (8) and was fifth in yardage (740). Deebo Samuel finished fourth in both receptions (57), and yardage (802), tied McLaurin for ninth overall in yards-per-target average (9.9), and also generated the most receptions of 20+ (17). Dontae Johnson also elevated beyond McLaurin in Week 17 to capture the most receptions (59).

It should be noted that Preston Williams was leading all rookies with 60 targets before experiencing his season-ending knee injury in Week 9. The undrafted free agent was also eighth overall in air yards (875) before the injury and also finished the season at 13^th overall in targeted air yards (14.3). Owners should remember Williams during the process of planning 2020 drafts.

2. A collection of second-year receivers also experienced a substantial rise in their production during 2019, including D.J. Moore’s unquestioned breakout season. Moore was eighth in PPR scoring entering Week 16 and was fourth in targets (133), fifth in receptions (86) and third in receiving yards (1,174).

Even though his season abruptly concluded after just six offensive snaps in Week 16, he finished among the top 10 in targets, receptions, and yardage. During a seven-game stretch from Weeks 9-15, Moore led all receivers in targets (75) and yardage (711) and was second to Michael Thomas in receptions (48). Even though his exceptional production ceased at that point, the 22-year old is firmly established as a WR1 entering 2020.

D.J. Chark was WR7 in standard scoring and 15^th in targets (106) after Week 14. He was also tied for fourth in touchdowns (8), 13th in receiving yards (956), and tied for 10th overall in percentage share of team’s air yards (37.2). His usage and output declined following an ankle injury. But Chark still finished among the top 20 in targets (118) and receptions (73), surpassed 1,000 yards (1,008) and tied for seventh in touchdowns (8).

Courtland Sutton finished 2019 as the league leader in percentage share of team's air yards (42.93), after pacing the NFL in that category from Weeks 9-17. He also finished 15th in targets (125) 17th in yardage (1,112), eighth in red zone targets, and 15th in air yards (1,452). He was ninth in yardage (805/80.5 yards-per-game) from Weeks 1-11, but his average dropped to 54.1 per game from Weeks 12-17. Sutton still overcame Denver’s evolving quarterback situation while developing into a reliable WR2.

Among significant accomplishments by other second-year receivers, Calvin Ridley was tied for seventh in touchdowns (6) and 20^th in targets (93) and 19th in receptions (63) before his abdomen injury in Week 14. Michael Gallup was fifth in receiving yards (577) and 10^th in targets from Weeks 11-17. He also led Amari Cooper in targets (57/48), receptions (33/26), yardage (577/341) and touchdowns (3/1) during that span. Anthony Miller was third in targets (52) second in receptions (33), and seventh in yardage (431) from Weeks 11-15, while James Washington was 11^th in yardage (574) and 19^th in receptions (33) between Weeks 9-16. This adds each of these players to the collection of enticing options from his draft class during the 2020 drafts.

3. Breshad Perriman exceeded 100 yards for a third consecutive game during his Week 17 matchup, which completed the final installment in a massive statistical surge from Weeks 13-17.

He collected 25 of 37 targets while tying for first among all receivers in touchdowns (5) and finishing second in yardage (506). Perriman resurrected his career during Tampa Bay’s five December contests and capitalized on the tremendous opportunity that developed when Chris Godwin and Mike Evans experienced premature conclusions to their outstanding seasons. Through Week 14, both Godwin (WR1), and Evans (WR3), were residing among the top three in scoring, had combined for 2,490 yards and 17 touchdowns, and also finished the year as league leaders with three 150-yard performances.

Godwin had emerged as an increasingly popular breakout candidate, which elevated his ADP near the onset of Round 4. But he rewarded that level of commitment by developing into the highly dependable point producer, who propelled many of his owners into league championship matchups. Following the Week 15 matchup in which Godwin experienced his hamstring issue, he was second overall in both receiving yards (1,333), and touchdowns (9), fifth in receptions (86) and fourth with an 11.0 yards-per-target average. He also finished as the league leader with 25 catches of 20+ yards.

Evans’ production was also impressive, as he eclipsed 1,000 yards for the sixth consecutive year (1,157) while attaining the second-highest yards-per-game (89.0) and yards-per-target averages (9.8) of his career. He also finished seventh overall in touchdowns (8) and established a career-high in receptions of 40+ yards (7). Evans was pacing the league in air yards by a whopping 334 yards over second-place Kenny Golladay (1,779/1,445) and was a virtual lock to sustain his lead throughout the final games. He still finished in that category and was also seventh in targeted air yards (15.3).

Perriman’s stock has risen substantially entering the offseason, and it is uncertain whether he will resign with the Buccaneers. There is greater clarity surrounding the value of Godwin and Evans, as the duo can be targeted late in Round 1 or early in Round 2 during your 2020 drafts.

4. DeVante Parker's unexpected career resurrection arguably provided the most compelling comeback story among wide receivers during 2019.

His 137-yard evisceration of New England's pass coverage in Week 17 completed an amazing statistical resurgence for the former first-round pick (2015). It also guaranteed that his value will elevate substantially in 2020, in comparison to his ADP of just 194 during the 2019 draft process. Parker’s unforeseen career revival was examined here last week, which will enable the focus to shift toward another receiver whose stock rose considerably in 2019.

The exceptional numbers that were delivered by Allen Robinson resulted in a WR8 finish in PPR scoring, as the 26-year also finished third in targets (154/9.6 per game), sixth in receptions (98), and 13th in both receiving yards (1,147) and touchdowns (7). That enabled him to achieve the second 1,000-yard season of his career and his first since 2015. He also established new career highs in targets, receptions, and yards-per-game (71.7), while his touchdown and red zone target totals (20) were the second-highest of his career.

Robinson’s statistical success provided the latest installment in a five-year span of massively fluctuating output and value. That includes two years of WR1 production, along with three seasons that were circumvented by injury and substandard quarterback play. Robinson's previous career-best season transpired occurred in 2015 when he finished at WR4 in scoring, eighth in targets (151), tied for the NFL lead in receiving touchdowns (14) and generated the league's sixth-best yardage total (1,400). However, the pathway to 2019 also included a mammoth decline in numbers during 2016 (73 receptions/883 yards/ 6 touchdowns), followed by a 2017 season that was derailed by a torn ACL after just three offensive snaps.

Robinson signed a three-year contract with Chicago in 2018, and he accumulated 94 targets, 55 receptions, 754 yards, and four touchdowns. However, he only reached 10+ targets once, while manufacturing just one 100-yard performance. But he was both proficient and consistent this season while collecting 7+ targets in 14 different contests, and capturing 6+ receptions in 11 of his matchups. He also accrued at least one red zone target in 12 different games and finished sixth with 1,686 air yards. Robinson’s favorable usage and production should continue in 2020, which presents owners with a viable target early in Round 3 of your drafts.

5. Amid the positive storylines that emerged with some wide receivers during 2019, other players delivered massive levels of frustration for their owners. It is difficult to envision an article on insufficient production from wide receivers that does not highlight JuJu Smith-Schuster. 

His preseason ADP of 13 was justifiable, based upon the prolific season that he constructed in 2018. He finished as WR8 in scoring,  fourth in targets (166) and fifth in both receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,426). Smith-Schuster also surpassed 100 yards in eight different contests which was the third-highest total of any receiver.

There was genuine reason to question whether he could sustain or exceed his exceptional numbers without Antonio Brown absorbing significant attention. But his eventual output was devastating to anyone that had invested in the third-year receiver. Smith-Schuster finished just 59th in targets (69), 60th in receptions (42), and 60^th in yardage (552). Knee and concussion issues sidelined him for four games. But his per-game averages of 5.8 targets, and 3.5 receptions, and 46 yards were uninspiring. The absence of Brown, conspired with Ben Roethlisberger’s elbow injury to negatively impact Smith-Schuster’s usage and production, although his ability to operate as a WR1 for fantasy owners was also overestimated. While a renewed version of Smith-Schuster should surface in 2020, Diontae Johnson and James Washington have emerged as legitimate threats to confiscate targets.

Smith-Schuster was not the only receiver who suppled repeated distress to his owners. Brandin Cooks had averaged 119 targets, 77 receptions, 1,149 yards, and an 86% snap count percentage from 2015-1018. He also accumulated a career-high 1,204 yards in 2018, which enhanced the comfort level of those who drafted him in Round 3. But he proceeded to play on a career-worst 63% of the Ram’s offensive snaps while delivering his lowest output since 2014. Cooks finished outside the top 50 in targets (54th/72), receptions (59th/42), and yardage (56th/583), while also manufacturing a career-low two touchdowns.

Dante Pettis constructed a promising four-game stretch in 2018 (Weeks 12-15), during which he averaged 6.5 targets and 84.5 yards-per-game. That encouraged owners to invest a seventh-round selection on the second-year receiver. But he manufactured a grand total of 11 receptions and 109 yards with his 24 targets. Health issues contributed to the monstrous collapse in his output. However, Pettis was averaging just 2.6 targets, 1.2 receptions and 12.1 yards-per-game before he was sidelined. Kyle Shanahan has also expressed his frustration with Pettis, whose value has declined dramatically entering 2020.

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