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Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 3 Analysis

brandon cooks fantasy football rankings NFL DFS lineup picks

Your wide receivers remain essential components toward your primary goal of securing league championships. As the season unfolds, an expanding collection of tools are available that can provide you with an extensive level of knowledge regarding this critical position. Those results provide the foundation for this weekly statistical breakdown of the wide receiver position, which I will be constructing for a fourth consecutive season.

This will be the third installment that will examine game-specific data, including updated totals for targets, first downs, red-zone targets, snap counts, and a blend 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. It is also designed to help with your roster decisions throughout the season.

As the season progresses noteworthy changes in usage and production will be blended into the equation. That will bolster your efforts to determine which wide receivers should be in your lineups, and which are worthy of remaining on your rosters. Statistics from our newly designed player pages at RotoBaller were included during the compilation of data, while Pro Football Reference, NextGenStats, Rotowire, Rotoviz, PFF, and Football Outsiders were also used as resources in the creation of this report.

Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including Best NFL Series, MLB Series, NBA Writer, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!

 

Week 3 Target Leaders

Wide Receiver Targets Targ/Gm YPT
Davante Adams 34 11.3 9.1
Keenan Allen 33 11 7.8
Cooper Kupp 33 11 11.1
Brandin Cooks 32 10.7 10.1
Stefon Diggs 31 10.3 6.2
Mike Williams 31 10.3 9.5
D.J. Moore 31 10.3 9.2
Deebo Samuel 30 10 11.1
Cole Beasley 30 10 6.5
Justin Jefferson 30 10 8.5
Chase Claypool 29 9.7 7.3
Calvin Ridley 29 9.7 6
Jakobi Meyers 29 9.7 6.1
Michael Pittman Jr. 28 9.3 7.9
Marvin Jones 28 9.3 6.9
CeeDee Lamb 27 9 9.3
Adam Thielen 26 8.7 7
Tyreek Hill 26 8.7 10.3
Jaylen Waddle 26 8.7 6.4
Amari Cooper 26 8.7 7.3
Chris Godwin 25 8.3 9.6
Mike Evans 25 8.3 8.2
D.K. Metcalf 25 8.3 8.8
Terry McLaurin 25 8.3 9.2
Marquise Brown 23 7.7 10.2
DeVante Parker 23 7.7 7.2
Sammy Watkins 22 7.3 9.5
Corey Davis 22 7.3 6.6
Sterling Shepard 22 7.3 10.1
Diontae Johnson 22 11 6.4
Hunter Renfrow 22 7.3 9.3
D.J. Chark 22 7.3 7
Braxton Berrios 21 7 7.1
Laviska Shenault Jr. 21 7 4.5
Allen Robinson 21 7 4.1
DeVonta Smith 21 7 5.5
Tyler Lockett 20 6.7 15.5
Emmanuel Sanders 20 6.7 9.7
Courtland Sutton 20 6.7 10.5

Davante Adams had been targeted 16 times during his first two games. But he has now vaulted into the overall lead (34) after stockpiling 18 targets during Green Bay's matchup with San Francisco. It is the first game in which Adams has attained a double-digit target total this season after he had finished 2020 as one of only three receivers to capture 10+ targets in 10 different matchups. His 18 targets also matched the second-highest weekly target total of his career.

Cooper Kupp is currently the only wide receiver who has reached a double-digit target total in each of his first three matchups this season (10/11/12), which has elevated him into second overall behind Adams (33). Kupp has already matched the total number of times that he captured 10+ targets throughout all of the 2020 regular season. Keenan Allen is tied with Kupp, and has now collected 10+ targets in 12 of his last 16 contests. Brandin Cooks is fourth overall (32), and has now accumulated 25 targets since Week 2. He is assembling an impressive compilation of numbers that will be discussed further in the 5 Things I Noticed section.

Mike Williams is one of three receivers who have collected 31 targets, and he just missed accruing 10+ for a third consecutive week (9). William’s overall total ties him with D.J. Moore who collected a season-high 12 targets in Week 3. Moore’s 30.7% target share also places him seventh overall entering Week 4. Stefon Diggs has also accumulated 31 targets, after reaching 10+ for the second time in three weeks. Three additional wide receivers have been targeted 30+ times. This includes Justin Jefferson, who collected a season-high 11 when Minnesota hosted Seattle in Week 3. He is joined by Cole Beasley who has been targeted 13 times in two of his first three games – including Buffalo’s Week 3 matchup with Washington. Deebo Samuel has also attained 30 targets after capturing 10+ for the second time this season. Samuel also completes the list of 10 receivers who have been targeted 30+ times during their first three matchups.

Three different receivers have attained 29 targets. This included Chase Claypool, who captured 15 in Week 3 after averaging seven per game in Weeks 1-2. Jakobi Meyers has also accumulated 29 targets after 14 were distributed by the struggling Mac Jones. in Week 3. Meyers had entered New England's matchup with New Orleans averaging 7.5 per game. Calvin Ridley has also accrued 29 targets after he collected a season-high 11 in Week 3. Ridley is now 21st among wide receivers in target share (25%) and is currently tied for 11th in targets, after entering Week 1 as a logical candidate to lead the league in each category.

Michael Pittman Jr. has accrued 12 targets during each of his last two games after failing to reach 10 targets during any of his 13 matchups last season. Pittman’s season total (28) ties him with Marvin Jones, whose eight targets in Week 3 represented his lowest weekly total of the season. Anyone who invested a first-round draft selection in Tyreek Hill does not want to be reminded that he has now collected just 11 targets during his last two games combined. It is the first time that Hill has performed in two consecutive games without reaching 10 targets since Weeks 5-6 of 2020.

Hill’s season-long total (26) ties him with Jaylen Waddle. who leads all rookie receivers in that category. Both Hill and Waddle are currently tied with Adam Thielen who has now been targeted 9+ times in two of his first three outings. Amari Cooper has also collected 26 targets. However, he has only averaged 4.5 per game since Week 1. Chris Godwin, Terry McLaurin, D.K. Metcalf, and Mike Evans, complete the list of 24 receivers who have accumulated 25+ targets entering Week 4.

 

Week 3 Weekly Changes  

Wide Receiver Week 2 Week 3 Changes
Davante Adams 9 18 +9
Cole Beasley 4 13 +9
Jakobi Meyers 6 14 +8
Kalif Raymond 2 10 +8
Chase Claypool 9 15 +6
Jaylen Waddle 8 13 +5
Corey Davis 5 10 +5
Nelson Agholor 3 8 +5
Kendrick Bourne 3 8 +5
Mohamed Sanu 1 6 +5
Kendrick Bourne 3 8 +5
Keenan Allen 8 12 +4
Christian Kirk 4 8 +4
Byron Pringle 2 6 +4
Tyler Johnson 2 6 +4
James Washington 1 5 +4
Brandon Aiyuk 2 6 +4
Darnell Mooney 8 4 -4
Julio Jones 8 4 -4
K.J. Osborn 6 2 -4
Mecole Hardman 8 4 -4
Adam Humphries 8 4 -4
Dyami Brown 6 2 -4
Robby Anderson 6 2 -4
Amon-Ra St. Brown 5 1 -4
Darius Slayton 6 1 -5
CeeDee Lamb 9 3 -6
Rondale Moore 8 2 -6
Quintez Cephus 7 1 -6
Terry McLaurin 14 7 -7
Sterling Shepard 10 3 -7
Tyler Lockett 11 4 -7
Courtland Sutton 12 5 -7
A.J. Brown 9 2 -7
Braxton Berrios 11 3 -8

For the second consecutive week, exactly 17 wide receivers were targeted at least 10 times during their matchups. Adams' 18 targets led all receivers, as he soared to a 60% target share after entering the matchup with a 26.7% share.

Chase Claypool accrued the week’s second-highest target total (15), as he operated without the usual level of competition for targets. Claypool registered a 25.9% target share, as Diontae Johnson was sidelined (knee), and JuJu Smith-Schuster was limited to 33 snaps (ribs).

Jakobi Meyers registered the fourth double-digit target total of his career in Week 3 (14), while Cole Beasley’s 13 targets in Week 3 were collected just one week after he had been relegated to just four. That tied Beasley with Jaylen Waddle, who had entered the week averaging 6.5 per game.

Keenan Allen been targeted at least 12 times by Justin Herbert in two of the Chargers' first three contests, which includes his Week 3 target total (12). Cooper Kupp also registered 12 targets, after he captured a 31.6% share in Week 3.

D.J. Moore also captured 12 targets in Week 3 and will easily surpass the career-high season 135 that he attained in 2019 if he sustains his current 10.3 per game average. Michael Pittman also collected 12 targets and has now registered the highest two-game total of his career in Weeks 2/3 (24).

Among the remaining wide receivers who collected 10+ targets in Week 3, Kalif Raymond’s name is easily the most unexpected. Raymond had never exceeded four targets in a game since entering the NFL (2016). But he accrued 10 in Week 3, exactly one week after he had only been targeted twice.

Adams also registered the largest week-to-week increase in his target totals (+9) as a byproduct of his surge to 18 in Week 3. That tied him with Beasley, who has now attained 10+ targets in five of his last seven contests. Meyers’ career-best weekly total (14) occurred one week after he was limited to six targets, which triggered a weekly rise of +8. That was also matched by Raymond’s surge of +8 after his career-best total in Week 3.

Claypool’s 15 targets also established a new career-high, while resulting in a weekly increase of +6. Waddle’s 13 targets continued a promising trend of steady improvement in his usage (5/8/13), while also resulting in a weekly rise of +5. That tied the newcomer with Corey Davis, Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor, and Mohamed Sanu.

Braxton Berrios has tied his career-high while collected 11 targets in Week 2. But Zach Wilson only distributed three targets to Berrios in Week 3, which produced the largest weekly decline (-8). Terry McLaurin's fluctuating weekly totals have now included a rise of +10 (4/14) and a decline of -7 after he was targeted seven times by Taylor Heinicke in Week 3. That tied him with Courtland Sutton, who was limited to five targets just one week after he had accumulated a career-high 12 during Denver’s first full game without Jerry Jeudy.

Tyler Lockett’s total of four targets also resulted in a weekly drop of -7, during a Week 3 matchup that included his fourth-quarter knee injury. Sterling Shepard's hamstring issue limited him to three targets during the Giants’ matchup with Atlanta, which fueled his weekly decline of -7. CeeDee Lamb's has registered a decrease of -6 for two consecutive weeks as his targets have steadily plunged since the Cowboys' season opener (15/9/3). That tied Lamb with Quintez Cephus and Rondale Moore, who was only targeted twice in Week 2.

 

Week 3 Air Yards

Wide Receiver Air Yards Air Yards % aDOT
Brandin Cooks 428 57.99 13.4
Davante Adams 410 43.11 12.1
Stefon Diggs 409 36.07 12.8
Chase Claypool 363 40.56 12.5
D.J. Chark 359 32.37 16.3
Marquise Brown 349 35.29 15.2
Marquez Valdes-Scantling 349 36.7 21.8
Mike Evans 342 30.92 13.7
Marvin Jones 339 30.57 12.1
Emmanuel Sanders 338 29.81 16.9
Courtland Sutton 335 38.11 16.8
Tyreek Hill 334 36.74 12.8
Justin Jefferson 333 47.17 11.1
D.J. Moore 330 40.79 10.6
D.K. Metcalf 318 42.23 12.7
Henry Ruggs III 309 24.7 16.3
Michael Pittman 302 47.19 10.8
Sammy Watkins 301 30.43 13.7
DeVonta Smith 301 43.1 14.3
DeVante Parker 299 36.33 13
A.J. Brown 289 34.28 15.2
Mike Williams 287 33.8 9.3
Jakobi Meyers 287 29.38 9.9
Tyler Lockett 283 37.58 14.2
CeeDee Lamb 275 37.3 10.2
Keenan Allen 274 32.27 8.3
Cooper Kupp 269 33.33 8.2
Kenny Golladay 265 29.35 13.9
Christian Kirk 265 33.33 15.6
Nelson Agholor 264 27.02 14.7
Ja'Marr Chase 264 43.85 16.5
Corey Davis 258 27.98 11.7
Calvin Ridley 255 47.31 8.8.
Julio Jones 239 28.35 13.3
Elijah Moore 235 25.49 13.1
A.J. Green 211 26.54 11.7
Amari Cooper 211 28.6 8.4
Deebo Samuel 209 38.49 7
Terry McLaurin 208 33.17 8.3
Antonio Brown 207 28.4 20.7
Bryan Edwards 205 16.39 15.8

Brandin Cooks leads all wide receivers with 428 air yards entering Week 4. Davante Adams is now second (410), followed by Stefon Diggs (409), Chase Claypool (363), D.J. Chark (359), and two receivers that are tied with 349 - Marquise Brown, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Mike Evans is seventh overall (342), followed by Marvin Jones (339), Emmanuel Sanders (338), Courtland Sutton (335), Tyreek Hill (334), Justin Jefferson (333), and D.J. Moore (330). D.K. Metcalf (318), Henry Ruggs (309), Michael Pittman (302), Sammy Watkins (301), and DeVonta Smith (301) are also among the 19 wide receivers who have accrued 300+ air yards.

Cooks also leads his position in percentage share of air yards (58.0), followed by Calvin Ridley (47.3), Michael Pittman (47.2), Justin Jefferson (47.2), Ja’Marr Chase (43.9), DeVonta Smith (43.1). Davante Adams (43.1)., and D.K. Metcalf (42.3). D.J. Moore is next (40.8), followed by Chase Claypool (40.6), Deebo Samuel (38.5), Courtland Sutton (38.2), Tyler Lockett (37.6), CeeDee Lamb (37.3), Tyreek Hill (36.7), and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (36.7). DeVante Parker is next (36.3), followed by Stefon Diggs (36.1), Marquise Brown (35.3), Darnell Mooney (35.2), A.J. Brown (34.3), Mike Williams (33.8), and Colin Johnson (33.6).

Valdes-Scantling also leads in targeted air yards 20.4. He is followed by Robby Anderson (18.4), Antonio Brown (17.9), Emmanuel Sanders (17.1), Ja’Marr Chase (16.4), Courtland Sutton (16.3), and D.J. Chark (16.2). Nelson Agholor is next (15.8), followed by Christian Kirk (15.4), Marquise Brown (15.3), A.J. Brown (15.3), DeVonta Smith (14.9), and Las Vegas teammates Bryan Edwards 14.8, and Henry Ruggs 14.8. The encouraging numbers that are being generated by that tandem of second-year receivers will be discussed in the 5 Things I Noticed section.

 

Week 3 First Downs

Wide Receivers First Downs
Cooper Kupp 16
D.J. Moore 16
Mike Williams 16
Keenan Allen 16
Davante Adams 15
Chris Godwin 15
Mike Evans 14
Brandin Cooks 13
Justin Jefferson 13
Deebo Samuel 13
Adam Thielen 12
Amari Cooper 12
Tyreek Hill 12
Terry McLaurin 12
CeeDee Lamb 12
Stefon Diggs 11
Sterling Shepard 11
Michael Pittman Jr. 11
D.K. Metcalf 11
Marquise Brown 11
Christian Kirk 11
Hunter Renfrow 10
Tim Patrick 10
Emmanuel Sanders 10
Calvin Ridley 9
DeAndre Hopkins 9
Marvin Jones 9
Chase Claypool 9
DeVante Parker 9
Kenny Golladay 9
Henry Ruggs III 9
Robert Woods 9
Bryan Edwards 9
Cole Beasley 8
Tyler Lockett 8
Courtland Sutton 8
Tyler Boyd 8
Julio Jones 8
Sammy Watkins 8
Ja'Marr Chase 8
Mecole Hardman 8

Four receivers are tied for the league in first down receptions, as Cooper Kupp, D.J. Moore, and Charger teammates Mike Williams and Keenan Allen have all collected 16. Davante Adams and Chris Godwin have captured 15 receptions, while Mike Evans is next with 14. Justin Jefferson, Brandin Cooks, and Deebo Samuel have all accumulated 13 receptions, while five receivers are tied with 12 - Adam Thielen, Terry McLaurin, Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper, and CeeDee Lamb. Six receivers have accrued 11 receptions - Stefon Diggs, Michael Pittman, Sterling Shepard, D.K. Metcalf, Christian Kirk, and Marquise Brown- while Hunter Renfrow, Tim Patrick, and Emmanuel Sanders complete the list of 24 receivers who have collected 10+1st down receptions entering Week 4.

 

Week 3 Red Zone Targets

Wide Receiver Inside 20 Inside 10 Inside 5
Keenan Allen 9 4 1
Mike Williams 8 4 2
Cooper Kupp 7 4 2
Calvin Ridley 7 4 2
Zach Pascal 7 6 1
Cole Beasley 6 0 0
Amari Cooper 6 1 1
Davante Adams 5 3 1
Chris Godwin 5 1 1
Mike Evans 5 2 2
Justin Jefferson 4 1 1
Sterling Shepard 4 0 0
Michael Pittman 4 3 0
Marvin Jones 4 2 2
Stefon Diggs 4 1 1
Rondale Moore 4 1 1
Adam Thielen 4 3 2
A.J. Green 4 4 1
Robert Woods 4 2 2
Allen Robinson 4 1 0
Brandin Cooks 3 1 1
CeeDee Lamb 3 0 0
Marquise Brown 3 1 0
DK Metcalf 3 1 0
Courtland Sutton 3 1 1
Hunter Renfrow 3 1 1
Tim Patrick 3 1 1
DeAndre Hopkins 3 1 1
Tee Higgins 3 2 1
Terrace Marshall 3 2 1
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine 3 0 0
Brandon Aiyuk 3 3 1

 

Keenan Allen leads all wide receivers in red zone targets (9), followed by his teammate Mike Williams (8). Three receivers are tied with seven targets inside the 20 (Calvin Ridley, Cooper Kupp, Zach Pascal), while Amari Cooper and Cole Beasley have accrued six. Three receivers have been targeted five times (Davante Adams, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans), while Justin Jefferson, Michael Pittman, and Rondale Moore are among the collection of 10 receivers that have collected four targets inside the 20.

Pascal has accrued a league-high six targets inside the 10, while Allen, Williams, Kupp, Ridley, and A.J. Green have all captured four. Adam Thielen, Michael Pittman, Adams, and Brandon Aiyuk have collected three, while nine different receivers have been targeted twice inside the 10.

A total of eight wide receivers are tied for the league lead with two targets inside the 5 - Kupp, Williams, Ridley, Thielen, Evans, Marvin Jones, Robert Woods, and Quintez Cephus.


Week 3 Snap Counts

Wide Receiver Week 3 Total Snaps Total Snap %
Adam Thielen 70/95.9 208 96.3
Jakobi Meyers 68/97.1 193 95.54
Amari Cooper 60/84.5 192 89.3
Emmanuel Sanders 61/79.2 189 83.63
Justin Jefferson 60/82.2 188 87.04
Michael Pittman 53/92.9 186 93.94
Stefon Diggs 57/74 186 82.3
Chris Godwin 68/95.8 185 94.39
CeeDee Lamb 60/84.5 179 83.26
DeAndre Hopkins 59/92.2 178 92.23
Zach Pascal 50/87.7 178 89.9
Keenan Allen 51/83.6 176 86.27
Marvin Jones 64/97 175 89.29
Calvin Ridley 57/96.6 175 87.5
Terry McLaurin 48/96 172 98.85
Nelson Agholor 57/81.4 171 84.65
D.J. Moore 51/72.9 167 80.68
Bryan Edwards 62/76.5 166 71.86
Cole Beasley 50/64.9 165 73.01
Darnell Mooney 41/97.6 164 95.35
Sammy Watkins 45/79 163 84.46
Mike Evans 59/84 163 83.16
DeVonta Smith 52/98.1 160 89.39
Brandin Cooks 46/94 160 86.49
Tyreek Hill 55/72.4 160 84.21
Cooper Kupp 51/81 159 91.38
D.J. Chark 57/86.4 159 81.12
Corey Davis 50/94.3 157 84.41
DeVante Parker 59/75.6 157 77.72
Jaylen Waddle 68/87.2 156 77.23
A.J. Green 50/78.1 155 80.31
Courtland Sutton 49/76.6 154 78.17
Robert Woods 55/87.3 153 87.93
Mike Williams 44/72.1 153 75
Chase Claypool 70/90.9 152 79.58
Deebo Samuel 58/89.2 151 80.32

 

Adam Thielen leads all wide receivers with 208 offensive snaps entering Week 4. Jakobi Meyers is second (193), followed by Amari Cooper (192), Emmanuel Sanders (189), Justin Jefferson (188), Stefon Diggs (186), Michael Pittman (186), and Chris Godwin (185). CeeDee Lamb is next (179), followed by Zach Pascal (178), DeAndre Hopkins (178), Keenan Allen (176), Marvin Jones (175), Calvin Ridley (175), Terry McLaurin (172), and Nelson Agholor (171). D.J. Moore is next (167), followed by Bryan Edwards (166), Cole Beasley (165), and Darnell Mooney (164). Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans are tied with 163, While Brandon Cooks, Tyreek Hill, and DeVonta Smith, complete the list of 25 receivers who have played on 160+ offensive snaps for their teams.

Terry McLaurin leads his position in snap count percentage (98.9), followed by Thielen (96.3), Meyers (95.6), Mooney (95.4), Godwin (94.4), and Michael Pittman (93.9). Hopkins is next (92.2) followed by D.K. Metcalf (91.8), Cooper Kupp (91.4), Zach Pascal (89.9), and Tyler Lockett (89.9). DeVonta Smith is next (89.4), followed by Amari Cooper (89.3), Marvin Jones (89.3), Ja’Marr Chase (89.1), and Robert Woods (87.9). Calvin Ridley is next (87.5), followed by Allen Robinson (87.2), Justin Jefferson (87.1), Brandin Cooks (86.5), Keenan Allen (86.3), and Nelson Agholor (84.7).

 

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Five Things I Noticed

1. Brandin Cooks vaulted to fourth overall among all wide receivers with 32 targets entering Week 4, after collecting 11 during Houston‘s Week 3 matchup with Carolina. He has now captured 25 targets during his last two games and has registered 10+ targets in four of his last five regular-season matchups. Cooks is also third overall in both receptions (23) and receiving yards (320), while his current per-game averages after three games - 10.7 targets, 7.7 receptions, 107.3 yards - easily exceed his previous career highs.

Cooks also lead all receivers in air yards (428), and percentage of air yards (58.0), and is also second only to Davante Adams in target share (37.7%). Cooks also commandeered a 44% target share in Week 3, which was his first full game with Davis Mills under center. Cooks also led the Texans in targets (11), receptions (9), receiving yards (112), air yards (125), and percentage share of air yards (65.8%).

Cooks’ ability to operate proficiently despite the assortment of shortcomings within Houston’s aerial attack should not be surprising. He had already eclipsed 1,000 yards during his previous career stops with the Saints, Patriots, and Rams before he accumulated 1,150 yards with the Texans last season. He also accumulated 119 targets (7.9 per game), 81 receptions (5.4 per game), and 1,150 receiving yards (76.7 per game) during 2020. However, he would surpass those numbers if he were to sustain his torrid pace through Week 17 (171 targets/123 receptions/1,716 yards).

Cooks is also WR6 in scoring and is capable of sustaining his numbers - even as Houston’s deficiencies will prevent the team’s other skill players from functioning as reliable options for their managers. None of Cooks’ teammates have reached 10 targets for the season, while no other wide receiver has exceeded six targets or accumulated 50 receiving yards during the Texans' first three matchups combined. Danny Amendola and Anthony Miller have both been targeted six times, and Chris Conley is next with five. All six of Miller’s targets were collected in Week 3 when the former Bear performed on 63.6% of Houston’s offensive snaps. While it is conceivable that Miller could resurrect his career within a receiving unit that is operating with a dearth of dynamic talent there is no receiver that even remotely poses a threat to Cooks’ status as the primary weapon within the team’s aerial attack.

2. Henry Ruggs III was selected in Round 12 during the majority of drafts, while his teammate Bryan Edwards remained available until Round 14. But both continue to assemble promising results as the undefeated Las Vegas Raiders enter Week 4. The second-year receivers have now combined for a 24.8% target share, along with 32 targets, 21 receptions, and 447 receiving yards during their first three matchups of the season.

That includes their usage and production in Week 3 when Ruggs tied with Darren Waller for a team-high seven targets (17.5% target share). It was the second consecutive game in which Ruggs has attained seven targets, which is his career-high. He had failed to exceed five targets throughout his entire 16-game schedule as a rookie while averaging just 3.9 per game during the year. Ruggs also collected four receptions, and assembled 78 yards in Week 3, while also attaining an aDOT of 18.7.

Waller remains entrenched as the Raiders’ primary receiving weapon and currently leads the team in targets (33/11 per game), receptions (20/6.7 per game), air yards (350), percentage share of air yards (28.0), and red zone targets (5). However, Ruggs does lead Las Vegas in receiving yards (237/79 per game) and is averaging a team-high 21.5 yards per reception. That average also places him fourth among all wide receivers. His averages from Weeks 1-3 in yards per target (12.5 ) and yards per reception (21.5) have also increased when contrasted with 2020 (10.5/17.4).

Edwards accumulated a team-high 89 yards in Week 3, which was the second time that he has eclipsed 80 yards this season (Week 1-81). Those also represent the two highest yardage totals of his career, after Edwards averaged just 16.1 per game in 2020 while failing to exceed 51 in any of his matchups. His first season had been impacted by lingering injuries (ankle/foot) which also limited him to 12 games.

He is currently 22nd among receivers in yardage (210/70 per game) and is also 14th in aDOT (15.8). His current average in yards per target (16.2). surpasses the number that he attained during his rookie year (12.9). This is also the case with his average in yards per reception (21.0/17.5). Edwards is also fifth overall in yards before catch per reception ((15.2) while Ruggs is currently eighth (14.9).

Third-year receiver Hunter Renfrow has joined Ruggs and Edwards in providing Derek Carr with a trio of additional weapons to blend into the aerial attack while Waller operates as the Raiders' most targeted option. Renfrow is averaging 7.3 targets, 5.3 receptions, and 68.0 yards per game, after entering Week 1 with career averages of 5.1 targets, 3.7 receptions, and 43.8 yards per game. His yards per target (9.3) and yards per reception (12.8) averages are also the highest of his career.

Ruggs’ advancement in versatility and reliability should be encouraging for anyone who selected him during their draft process, while Edwards’ ability to elude additional health issues has also presented managers with a viable WR3 option for their lineups. Renfrow does not present the same upside as Ruggs and Edwards. But he is a reliable option who can deliver respectable numbers as a flex.

3. Jaylen Waddle was the second wide receiver to be chosen during last April’s NFL draft when Miami selected him with the sixth overall pick. That enabled him to join Ja’Marr Chase and collegiate teammate DeVonta Smith as top 10 overall selections. Waddle has also emerged as the leader in targets among all members of his rookie class and is tied for 17th among all receivers in that category (26/8.7 per game). This was fueled largely when Waddle accumulated 50% of his season total during the Dolphins’ Week 3 matchup with the Raiders. Waddle also collected 12 of his 13 targets from Jacoby Brissett in Las Vegas and has now vaulted to fifth overall in receptions (22/7.3 per game) entering Week 4.

Waddle only averaged 4.8 yards per reception during that contest which limited him to 58 yards. That is consistent with his yards per game average from Weeks 1-3 (55.7), which has kept Waddle outside the top 40 in receiving yards (167), despite the favorable target and reception totals. He is also outside the top 100 in both yards per reception (7.6) and yards per target (6.4). However, managers should be encouraged by his team-high 23.3% target share, and Waddle’s consistent involvement in the Dolphins’ passing attack should be sustained during Tua Tagovailoa’s absence.

Smith is second among newcomers in targets (21/7.0 per game), as his overall total has been assembled with consistent weekly totals (8/7/6). His 22.6% target share leads the Eagles, while he is also first on the team in snap share (89.8%), air yards (301), and percentage share of air yards (43.1) - which also places him seventh among all receivers in that category. He is tied for third among all rookies in receptions (11/5.5 per game).

Chase is tied for second among all receivers in touchdowns (4), fifth overall in yards per reception 20.0, and is sixth with a 13.8 yards per target average. Chase is also sixth among all receivers in percentage of air yards (43.9) and is seventh overall in yards before catch per reception (15.1). Chase also leads all rookies with 220 receiving yards (73.3 per game) and is also tied with Smith with 11 receptions (5.5 per game).

Rondale Moore leads all rookies in red zone targets (4), is second in receptions (13/6.5 per game), and is also second in receiving yards (182/61 per game). He has also risen to fourth among all wide receivers in yards after catch (162), is third in yards after catch per reception (12.5), and is also 12th in yards per target (12.2).

Elijah Moore is third among rookies in targets (18/6 per game), although that has yet to translate into favorable totals in receptions (8/2.7 per game) and receiving yards (66/2.7 per game. Moore’s current catch rate is also just 44.4%, which is a byproduct of Zach Wilson’s uneven learning curve. Wilson is currently 33rd among all signal-callers in completion percentage 55.2%. Moore is third on the Jets in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, and is second in both air yards (235) and percentage share of air yards (25.5).

4If you invested in Allen Robinson or Darnell Mooney during your draft process then you have been forced to contend with ongoing disappointment during the first three weeks of the regular season. Robinson’s Round 3 ADP placed him at WR13, which was justifiable based on his clear path toward sustaining the exceptional usage and production that he delivered during 2020. Mooney was an intriguing sleeper whose enticing speed and prowess at creating separation presented the potential for him to outperform the expectations of his Round 10 ADP. But their numbers entering Week 4 have created a legitimate reason for concern.

Robinson had averaged 8.9 targets, 5.7 receptions, and 70 yards per game during his first three seasons in Chicago (2018-2020). That included his averages from last season (9.4 targets, 6.4 receptions, 78.1 yards per game) when he finished third overall in targets (151)  fourth in receptions (102), and was eighth in yardage (1,250). Robinson had also finished at WR9 in scoring and appeared primed to continue his status as a borderline WR1 for managers.

But Robinson has plunged to WR66 in scoring and is currently 35th in targets (21/7 per game), 61st in receptions (10/3.3 per game), and  71st in yardage (86/28.7 per game). He had also entered the regular season with per-game averages of 13.7 yards per reception and 8.9 yards per target. But he is averaging career lows in each category (8.6 yards per reception/4.1 yards per target). His 63.2% catch rate from 2018-2020 with Chicago has also plunged to 47.6%.

Mooney is 42nd in targets (19/6.3 per game). But he has collected more receptions (12/4 per game) and generated more yardage (101/33.7 per game) than Robinson. However, his overall numbers are also underwhelming while placing him 41st in receptions and 67th in yardage. Mooney does lead Chicago in air yards (158), and percentage share of air yards (35.2%). But his averages in yards per target (6.4/5.3), yards per reception (10.3/8.4), and aDOT (11.5/8,3) have all declined when contrasted with his rookie season.

Both receivers have been negatively impacted by the deficiencies that are permeating Chicago’s offense. This includes substandard usage of personnel by Matt Nagy, inadequate performances from the offensive line, and forgettable results from Justin Fields in Week 3. These were largely the byproduct of Fields' inexperience, Nagy’s massive failure to place the rookie in a position to succeed, and the line’s inability to safeguard Fields from Cleveland’s pass rush.

This resulted in Fields connected on just six of his 20 passes, which limited Robinson and Mooney to a combined 48 yards on four receptions. Managers should remain patent despite their frustration. Robinson and Mooney are Chicago's primary receiving weapon, and talent is not an issue with either player. They have a combined 48.2% target share, and their output will rise if Chicago's current issues are addressed by Nagy.

5. Robinson and Mooney are not the only wide receivers who have failed to operate as the productive resources that fantasy managers had anticipated. Anyone who was compelled to select Robby Anderson at his Round 6 ADP has not benefitted from his reunion with Sam Darnold in Carolina, as the sixth-year receiver had been alarmingly ineffective. 

Anderson's excruciatingly low usage and production continued in Week 3 when he caught just one of his two targets and was limited to only eight receiving yards. He has accumulated only 11 targets (3.7 per game), five receptions (1.7 per game), and 103 yards (34.3 per game). Managers are already acutely aware that those averages do not resemble his numbers during 2020 when he finished eighth overall in targets (136/8.5 per game), and receptions (95/5.9 per game), and generated nearly 1,100 yards (1,096/68.5 per game).

Anderson is averaging 20.6 yards per reception, and 9.4 yards per target, just one year after he averaged 11.5/ 8.1 in those categories.  But D.J. Moore has commandeered a 30.7% target share, while Anderson's 10.9% share is a distant fourth on the Panthers behind Moore, Christian McCaffrey (16.8%), and Terrace Marshall Jr. (13.9%).  It is premature to drop Anderson from your roster, as  Matt Rhule and Joe Brady can be expected to prioritize his increased involvement. But he should be affixed to your bench until that occurs.

Anderson’s concerning situation is not related to a health issue. However, other receivers have encountered injuries that have affected their numbers. That includes DeAndre Hopkins, who was second overall in targets (160/10 per game) during 2020, has finished inside the top five during five of his last six seasons and has averaged at least 10 per game throughout that entire sequence (2015-2020). But he is currently 52nd overall with 18 targets (6.0 per game) entering Week 4. Hopkins is now contending with a rib issue, although he has yet to exceed eight targets in any matchup since Week 1.

He also entered the year averaging 5.9 receptions and 79.4 yards during his career. But he is also 36th in receptions (13/4.3 per game), and 44th in receiving yardage (158/52.7 per game). He is tied with A.J. Green for the team lead in target share (18.0%). Christian Kirk (17.0%), and Rondale Moore (15.0%) have joined Green in siphoning opportunities from Hopkins during Arizona’s first three games. Hopkins’ exceptional track record of usage and production would indicate that his numbers will rise when he has regained his health. But competition for targets within the Cardinals passing attack is unlikely to dissipate when he does.

 

 



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