Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 5 Analysis

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 is the fifth weekly 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 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.

Week 5 Target Leaders

Davante Adams. Unstoppable.

?: #GBvsCIN on FOX
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/mvApJyWeUw

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2021

Davante Adams has emerged as the new league leader in targets through Week 5 (61). His rise has been fueled by the 45 targets that he has collected since Week 3 which is 10 more than any other wide receiver. Adams has averaged 15 per game during that three-week span, after averaging 8.0 per game in Weeks 1-2. Last week’s league leader Cooper Kupp is now second overall (56) after maintaining his streak of five consecutive weeks with 10+. Keenan Allen is third (53), after garnering 9+ targets during four of his five matchups.

Deebo Samuel joins Allen in procuring at least nine targets in four games this season, which has propelled him to fourth overall (52). Allen’s teammate Mike Williams attained a double-digit target total for the third time in five weeks and has now accumulated 51 for the season. That ties him with Tyreek Hill who has now accrued 25 targets during his last two contests. D.J. Moore completes the list of seven receivers who have collected 50 targets, even though he failed to maintain his streak of three consecutive weeks with 11+.

Terry McLaurin is next with 49 targets, after collecting 11+ for a second consecutive week. Stefon Diggs failed to reach 10 targets for the first time since Week 2 and has now accrued 47 through Week 5. He is followed by Jakobi Meyers (46) while Mike Evans and Justin Jefferson are tied at 45. Brandin Cooks is next (44), followed by Michael Pittman Jr. (43), Calvin Ridley (42), and Chris Godwin (41). Three receivers are tied at 39 – DeVonta Smith, Courtland Sutton, and Robert Woods – who will be discussed in this week’s 5 Things I Noticed section. Four receivers are also tied with 38 targets (CeeDee Lamb/D.K. Metcalf/Hunter Renfrow/Marquise Brown), while Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen have both accumulated 37.

Three receivers have collected 36 targets (Marvin Jones//Corey Davis/Jaylen Waddle), while five receivers are tied at 35 – Tyler Boyd, Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Lockett, Chase Claypool, and Amari Cooper. DeAndre Hopkins and Cole Beasley had captured 34 targets, while DeVante Parker and Sammy Watkins are next with 32. Three receivers are tied at 31 (Emmanuel Sanders, Darnell Mooney, and Laviska Shenault Jr.), while Mecole Hardman completes the list of 41 receivers who have accumulated 30+ targets from Weeks 1-5.

Adams also leads all wide receivers in total targets since Week 4 (27). Hill is second overall (25), followed by McLaurin (24), Kupp (23), Samuel (22), and rookie Kadarius Toney (22) ,who will also be featured in this week’s 5 Things I Noticed section. Four receivers have all been targeted 20 times during their last two matchups – Allen, Williams, Evans, and Woods. Four receivers have also accrued 19 targets (Moore, Sutton, Chase, and Antonio Brown), while Smith and Robby Anderson are tied with 18. Meyers is next (17), while six different receivers have collected 16 targets since Week 4 – Renfrow, Boyd, Godwin, Hopkins, Diggs, and newcomer Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Eight different receivers are averaging 10+ targets per game entering Week 6 – Adams (12.2), Kupp (11.2), Allen (10.6), Ridley (10.5), Samuel (10.4), Williams (10.2), Hill (10.2), and Moore (10.0).

Kupp is the only wide receiver who has collected 10+ targets during all five of his matchups (10/11/12/13/10). No other receiver has accomplished it four times. However, 10 different receivers have attained 10+ targets in three different games: Adams, Allen, Ridley, Samuel, Williams, Hill, Moore, McLaurin, Diggs, and Johnson.

Week 5 Weekly Changes  

13 different wide receivers collected at least 10 targets during their Week 5 matchups. That includes Adams and Williams, who both captured a league-high 16 during their games. Adams has now stockpiled 10+ targets in 13 of his last 19 games while capturing 16+ twice this season.

Justin Herbert AND MIKE WILLIAMS DID IT AGAIN! #BoltUp

?: #CLEvsLAC on CBS
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/1aT7cBWbxG

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2021

Williams established a new career-high with his target total. He has now had collected 10+ targets in three of his last five matchups, after accomplishing it just three times from 2017-2020. Woods was next with 14 targets, which represented his highest weekly total since Week 11 of 2020. It was also a massive rise from his 6.3 per game average during Weeks 1-4.

Hill accrued a season-high 13 targets and has now captured 12+ in three of his last five games. Hill is joined by Toney, who has averaged 11 targets per game during his last two outings after averaging just 1.7 per game from Weeks 1-3. Hill’s teammate Mecole Hardman established a career-high while capturing 12 targets during Kansas City’s matchup with Buffalo. Hardman had never exceeded nine targets during any of his previous 36 games since entering the league in 2019. He had also entered Week 5 averaging 4.5 per game this season.

Three wide receivers accumulated 11 targets in Week 5. This includes McLaurin, who has now collected 11+ during three of his last four contests. That tied him with Godwin, who reached a double-digit target total for the first time since Tampa Bay’s season opener. Sutton was also targeted 11 times in Week 5, which was his highest season total since Week 2. Chase was one of four receivers who collected 10 targets, which was the first double-digit total of his career.

Chase was tied with Tyler Lockett, who reached a double-digit total for the second time this season. Lockett had also averaged 4.5 targets per game in Weeks 3-4. Kupp’s 10 targets tied his season-low which is a testament to the exceptional numbers that he has been assembling throughout the year. Marquise Brown had been averaging 6.0 targets per game in Weeks 3-4, but he collected 10 targets for the second time this season in Week 5. Four receivers were targeted nine times during their Week 5 matchups – Allen, Samuel, DeAndre Hopkins, and Tim Patrick. Jefferson, Smith, and St. Brown were among the nine different receivers who accrued eight targets during their Week 5 matchups.

Williams’ 16 targets were accrued just one week after he has registered a season-low (4) when Los Angeles faced AFC West rival Las Vegas. His week-to-week rise of +12 was the largest of the week. Hardman’s aforementioned career-best total from Week 5 occurred just one week after he had been relegated to three targets for the second time this season. That fueled his weekly rise of +9. Woods had failed to exceed six targets in three of his first four games, including his Week 4 matchup. However, his season-best 14 targets in Week 5 propelled him to an increase of +8.

During the first 50 games of his professional career, Jamal Agnew collected 24 targets. However, he was targeted eight times in Week 5 which created a surge of +7. That tied him with DeAndre Carter, who also accrued a career-high eight targets in Week 5. Marquez Callaway had been relegated to just two targets during two different outings this season, including New Orleans’ Week 4 matchup with the Giants. However, he was targeted eight times in Week 5, which elevated his week-to-week total by +6. That tied Callaway with four other receivers including Godwin, whose 11 targets were accumulated one week after he had been limited to just five. Claypool and A. J. Brown both accrued six targets after being sidelined in Week 4, while Donovan Peoples-Jones attained his six targets after only collecting four from Weeks 1-4.

Diontae Johnson was averaging a league-high 11.7 targets per game entering Week 5. He had also accumulated 13 targets in Week 4 before being limited to just two targets from Ben Roethlisberger last Sunday. That created the largest weekly decline of any receiver (-11). Josh Reynolds had captured nine targets during Tennessee's Week 4 matchup with the Jets, but he only received one in Week 5. That resulted in a drop of -8. It appeared that Jakobi Meyers was primed to accumulate favorable numbers when New England traveled to Houston. However, he was only targeted five times by Mac Jones, which was his lowest weekly total of the season. It also created a week-to-week decline of -7.  Diggs and Boyd both captured 11 targets in Week 4, then were targeted five times during their Week 5 matchups. All of which tied them with a weekly decline of -6.

Week 5 Air Yards

COURTLAND SUTTON. #BroncosCountry

?: #DENvsPIT on FOX
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/GGCsGXApXB

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2021

Davante Adams accumulated 239 air yards during Green Bay’s matchup with Cincinnati. That vaulted him from fifth overall into the league lead with 728 for the season. Courtland Sutton is second overall (644), followed by Mike Evans (636), Stefon Diggs (613), Mike Williams (589), Terry McLaurin (588), and Brandin Cooks (575). Tyreek Hill is next (574), followed by Marquise Brown (545), Ja’Marr Chase (541), Justin Jefferson (528), DeVonta Smith (524), and Cooper Kupp with (507). Corey Davis has accrued 506 air yards, followed by D.J. Moore (503), Emmanuel Sanders (496), Henry Ruggs (491), D.K. Metcalf (484), Tyler Lockett (471), Marvin Jones (460), and Calvin Ridley (453). No other wide receivers have eclipsed 450 yards entering Week 6. Keenan Allen, Chase Claypool, and Deebo Samuel are among the nine additional receivers that have accumulated 400+.

Cooks leads the position in percentage share of air yards (49.9%), followed by Ridley (49.0%), Chase (47.4%), Adams (45.4%), McLaurin (44.3%), and Jefferson (42.3%). Smith is next (42.2%), followed by Sutton (41.4%), Chase Claypool (40.2%), Hill (40.0%), Metcalf (39.9%), and DeVante Parker (39.3%). Tyler Lockett is next (38.8%), followed by Williams (38.7%), Michael Pittman (36.9%), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (36.9%), Diggs (36.3%), Darnell Mooney (36.3%), and Moore (35.8%). Odell Beckham is next (35.3%), followed by DeAndre Hopkins (35.0%), A.J. Brown (34.9%), Samuel (34.8%), Diontae Johnson (34.3%), Corey Davis (33.1%), and Marquise Brown (32.0%). Kupp (31.6%), Evans (31.5%), Robby Anderson (31.4%), and CeeDee Lamb (30.8%) complete the list of 30 receivers who have attained a percentage of 30+.

Emmanuel Sanders and his former teammate Sutton lead all receivers in targeted air yards (16.5), followed by Ruggs (16.4), Chase (16.0), Anderson (15.5), Marquez Callaway (15.0), and Van Jefferson (14.8). Marquise Brown is next (14.6), followed by Darius Slayton (14.5), Nelson Agholor (14.4), Bryan Edwards (14.2), Mike Evans (14.1), and three receivers that are tied with 14 - Davis, his teammate Elijah Moore, and DeVante Parker. Lockett, Kenny Golladay, and Dyami Brown are tied at 13.8, followed by Smith (13.7), A.J. Brown (13.6), Rashard Higgins (13.6), and Antonio Brown (13.4).

Week 5 First Downs

Davante Adams has soared into the league lead with 28 first down receptions. Last week’s leader Tyreek Hill is second (25), followed by D.J. Moore (24), Justin Jefferson (24), Mike Williams (22), and Cooper Kupp (22).

COOOOOOP pic.twitter.com/hxFc1xg206

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 8, 2021

Mike Evans and his teammate Chris Godwin are next (21), followed by three receivers that are tied with 20 first down receptions: Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel, and Robert Woods. Terry McLaurin and D.K. Metcalf are tied at 19, while Marquise Brown, Amari Cooper, and DeAndre Hopkins have all collected 18 receptions. Four receivers are tied at 17:  Michael Pittman, Stefon Diggs, Tim Patrick, and Emmanuel Sanders while five receivers have accrued 16 first down receptions: Brandin Cooks, Adam Thielen, CeeDee Lamb, and Cincinnati teammates Tyler Boyd and Ja’Marr Chase.

Four different receivers have accumulated 15 catches: DeVonta Smith, Courtland Sutton, Antonio Brown, and Kenny Golladay, while three additional receivers have collected 14: Calvin Ridley, Chase Claypool, and rookie Kadarius Toney. Hunter Renfrow, Diontae Johnson, Corey Davis, and DeVante Parker have accrued 13 receptions, while Jakobi Meyers and Henry Ruggs are among the seven different receivers who have attained 12 first down receptions entering Week 6.

Week 5 Red Zone Targets 

Cooper Kupp, Keenan Allen, and Chris Godwin are tied for the league lead in red zone targets (10). Zach Pascal is next (9), followed by four receivers that are tied with eight targets inside the 20: Davante Adams, Mike Williams, Amari Cooper, and Calvin Ridley. Three receivers are tied at seven – Mike Evans, Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, while a whopping nine different receivers have been targeted six times inside the 20 – Tyreek Hill, Michael Pittman, Marquise Brown, Robert Woods, A.J. Green, Marvin Jones, Cole Beasley, Jamison Crowder, and Nick Westbrook-Ikjine. DJ Moore, D.K. Metcalf and Rondale Moore are among the nine different receivers that have collected five targets inside the 20.

Pascal has sustained his league lead for a third consecutive week by accumulating seven targets inside the 10. Kupp and Green are tied for second (6), followed by Pittman (5), and seven receivers who have been targeted four times inside the 10 – Allen, Adams, Williams, Ridley, Hopkins, Moore, and Marvin Jones. Diggs, Woods, and Sutton are among the 12 receivers who have accrued three targets.

Kupp continues to lead all receivers with four targets inside the 5-yard line. Four receivers are tied for second (Hopkins/Jones/Sutton/ Randall Cobb), while 13 different receivers have been targeted twice inside the five.

Week 5 Snap Counts

Adam Thielen has maintained his league lead in offensive snaps among all wide receivers (321). Chris Godwin and DeAndre Hopkins are tied for second (303), followed by Keenan Allen (300), Justin Jefferson (295), Jakobi Meyers (294), Michael Pittman (293), Terry McLaurin (289), and D.J. Moore (286). Mike Evans is next (284), followed by Marvin Jones (283), Zach Pascal (280), Robert Woods (278), CeeDee Lamb (278), Cooper Kupp (277), and two receivers that are tied at 276 – Tyreek Hill, and DeVonta Smith.

Talk about BEAUTIFUL.

?: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/4Q8GpskOlZ

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 11, 2021

Emmanuel Sanders has played on 275 offensive snaps, followed by teammate Stefon Diggs (271), Amari Cooper, (268), Robby Anderson (268), Mike Williams (267), Deebo Samuel (267), and A.J. Green (266). Courtland Sutton is next (262), followed by Davante Adams (261), Bryan Edwards (257), Tim Patrick (253), and Darnell Mooney (250) completing the list of 29 receivers that have been involved in 250 of their teams’ offensive snaps.

Thielen also leads the position in snap count percentage (95.8%), followed by McLaurin (94.4%), Meyers (94.2%), Hopkins (92.9%), Woods (91.8%), Kupp (91.4%), and Jones (91.0%). Pittman is next (90.7%), followed by Ridley (90.5%), Smith (90.2%), Godwin (88.9%), Tyler Lockett (88.2%), Jefferson (88.1%), and Jefferson’s collegiate teammate Ja’Marr Chase (87.7%).

Allen is next (87.4%), followed by Pascal (86.7%), Diontae Johnson (86.5%), Mooney (86.5%), Brandin Cooks (86.1%), D.K. Metcalf (85.6%), and Adams (85.0%). Hill is next (84.2%), followed by Samuel (83.7%), Sutton (83.4%), Evans (83.3%), Moore (83.1%), Corey Davis (83.0%), Allen Robinson (82.4%), A.J. Green (81.6%), and Lamb (80.6%).

Five Things I Noticed

Robert Woods this season

Weeks 1-4:
?15 Catches
?172 Yards

Week 5:
?12 Catches
?150 Yards

HE’S BACK ? pic.twitter.com/Cw9VNr3PRg

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 8, 2021

1. Robert Woods had been selected early in Round 4 during the majority of drafts, as most managers made that investment with the belief that they had secured their WR2. Woods' snap share had not been an issue in Weeks 1-4, as only nine wide receivers had attained a higher percentage (90.2%), but he entered Week 5  just 39th in targets (25/6.3 per game), 44th in receptions (15/3.8 receptions), and only 55th in receiving yards (172/43 yards per game) during his first four matchups, He was also a distant second to Cooper Kupp in each category (46 targets/11.5 per game), (30 receptions/7.5 per game), (431 yards/107.8 per game).

However, anyone who exercised patience by retaining Woods in their starting lineups was finally rewarded in Week 5 when the Rams visited Seattle. He commandeered a 40% target share while capturing 12 of the 14 targets that were distributed by Matthew Stafford. Woods also generated 150 yards against the Seahawks. Those were Woods’ highest target and reception totals since Week 11 of 2020, while his 150 yards were the most since Week 13 of 2019.  He also led the Rams in air yards for just the second time this season (142), paced the team in percentage share of air yards (32.0%), and yards after catch (47), and also achieved his highest yards per target average of the season (10.7).

Woods' encouraging numbers were assembled during the same matchup in which Kupp continued his streak of collecting 10+ targets during every game this season. Kupp also accrued seven receptions and eclipsed 90 receiving yards for the fourth time in five games (92). His yards per reception (13.14) and yards per target (9,2), averages also remained consistent with his results for Weeks 1-4 (14.2/9.6).

Van Jefferson was targeted four times during the matchup, but tied his season-low with just one reception. He also manufactured 16 receiving yards, which was the second time that he had failed to reach 20 yards this season. However, his production has fluctuated, as the second-year receiver has also accrued 80+ yards in two other matchups. He remains capable of assembling respectable yardage totals, but his output will remain erratic.

Woods will not exceed Kupp’s target and yardage totals on a consistent basis., but his performance should alleviate any lingering concerns regarding his ability to construct highly productive outings. Jefferson's involvement will also remain inconsistent, which will prevent him from emerging as a consistent threat to impact Woods' production.

2. Several other wide receivers joined Woods in delivering favorable results during Week 5 after beginning the season with usage and output that remained below expectations. 

Marquise Brown entered Week 5 averaging 7.0 targets, 4.8 receptions, and 81.5 yards per game. Those numbers improved when Lamar Jackson targeted Brown 10 times during Baltimore’s Monday Night matchup with Indianapolis. That tied Brown’s season-high, while he also established a new career-high in receptions (9), and generated his highest yardage total of the season (125). Brown also produced multiple touchdowns for the first time in 2021, while accruing 100 air yards, and attaining a 32.5% share of air yards on Monday Night.

From way downtown, Lamar Jackson to Marquise Brown pic.twitter.com/B8dO2T60mo

— Baltimore Ravens (@BMORE_ravens1) October 12, 2021

Brown’s output vaulted him to WR3 in scoring during Week 5, while propelling him to WR6 from Weeks 1-5. He is Brown is now 19th among wide receivers in targets for the season (38/7.6 per game), 16th in receptions (28/5.6 per game), and has soared to eighth overall in yardage (451/90.2 yards per game) following his prolific outing. Brown is also sixth among wide receivers in yards per target 11.9, 16th in yards per reception 16.1, and 10th in yards before catch (299), while his 73.7% catch rate is the highest of his career. Rashod Bateman lurks as a candidate to be activated from injured reserve. However, fantasy managers should have no hesitation in deploying Brown as a weekly starter.

A convergence of factors escorted Marquez Callaway onto the fantasy landscape during the summer, as he appeared primed to operate as the Saints’ WR1 within an offense that was facing a severe shortage of dependable receiving weaponry. However, Callaway trailed third-year receiver Deonte Harris in targets (15/13), receptions (11/9), receiving yards (164/137), and air yards (201/168) entering Week 5. He was averaging just 3.3 targets per game and had only been targeted twice during two of New Orleans' first four contests.

"WIDE OPEN IS CALLAWAY!!!"?

Winston and Callaway connect for a 2nd TD today ⚜#WASvsNO | ?: CBS pic.twitter.com/qO3SxoJ0px

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 10, 2021

However, Callaway captured a 28.6% target share when New Orleans traveled to Washington while collecting a season-high eight targets from Jameis Winston. Callaway caught four of those passes while accruing a career-high 85 yards. He also accumulated 143 air yards during the matchup, led the Saints in percentage share of air yards (41.8%), and scored multiple touchdowns for the first time in his career. Callaway has been deployed both outside and in the slot and leads New Orleans in snap share (76.6%). The Saints will return from their bye week to host Seattle in Week 7, and the return of Michael Thomas is looming. However, anyone who has been patiently waiting for Callaway to fulfill preseason expectations should be encouraged by his Week 5 performance.

KADARIUSSSS ?

?: @NFLonFOX & Giants App pic.twitter.com/b18KtcsNX9

— New York Giants (@Giants) October 10, 2021

3. Kadarius Toney was the fourth wide receiver to be selected during last April’s NFL draft when the Giants secured him at 20th overall. That placed him among the five newcomers who were selected in Round 1, although his usage and output were virtually nonexistent from Weeks 1-3.

Toney only played on 24 snaps in Weeks 1-2 (18% snap share) before his involvement increased to 46 snaps (66%) in Week 3. He was only targeted five times during that three-game span while collecting four receptions and manufacturing just 14 yards. That placed him just 10th in targets, eighth in receptions, and 11th in receiving yards among members of his rookie class. Toney was also averaging just 2.3 yards per reception and 1.4 yards per target during that uninspiring sequence.

However, Toney attained a 78% snap share in Week 4, captured six of his nine targets, and generated 78 yards. This launched his meteoric statistical rise during the Giants’ last two games, which has provided fantasy managers with a highly productive resource. Only four receivers have exceeded Toney’s target total during their matchups in Weeks 4-5 (22/11.0 per game). That includes the career-high 13 that he collected when during New York's matchup with NFC East rival Dallas in Week 5. He has also stockpiled 267 yards (133.5 per game), which places him second among all wide receivers - just 3 yards behind Davante Adams.

Make ? it ? happen ?

?: @NFLonFOX & Giants App pic.twitter.com/CG3sVITPbz

— New York Giants (@Giants) October 10, 2021

Toney also now leads the Giants in receptions (20/4.0 per game) from Weeks 1-5, and is a close second to Kenny Golladay in targets (29/27), and receiving yards (282/281). Toney has also soared to third among rookies in receiving yards, fourth in targets, and fifth in receptions from Weeks 1-5.

Sterling Shepard had led the Giants in targets (22/7.3 per game), receptions (18/6.0 per game), and receiving yards (223/74.3 per game from Weeks 1-3, but he encountered a hamstring injury which has cemented him to the sideline during the Giants' last two contests. Darius Slayton had been averaging 4.7 targets, 2.3 receptions, and 42.3 yards per game from Weeks 1-3 before he was also sidelined by a hamstring issue. Shepard and Slayton should reemerge during Sunday's matchup with the Rams, while Golladay will be sidelined with a knee issue.

While Toney is destined to encounter increased competition from Shepard and Slayton, he has demonstrated the ability to infuse playmaking capabilities that are desperately needed in New York’s offense. The Giants also made a hefty investment in order to secure Toney and he should remain highly involved in the attack as the season progresses.

4. Diontae Johnson was selected as a WR2 during the majority of drafts (ADP50/WR21), while Chase Claypool’s ADP placed him one round later (67/WR27). The tandem has achieved a combined target share that resides on the periphery of 50% (49,8%), and they will join Najee Harris (20.1% share) in functioning as Pittsburgh's most critical receiving options following JuJu Smith-Schuster’s season-ending shoulder injury.

They will operate within a Steelers offense that is ranked third in pass play percentage (67.1%), while Ben Roethlisberger is seventh in attempts (195/39 per game) and ninth in completions (124/24.8 per game). However, his completion percentage (63.6%) places him 25th, while he is also 16th in yardage (1287/267.2 per game). Roethlisberger‘s average of 6.6 yards per attempt relegates him to just 25th, while he is tied for 39th in intended air yards per attempt (3.9) and 42nd in completed air yards per attempt (3.0). Roethlisberger’s touchdown total (6) has also been exceeded by 20 other signal-callers, while three of his touchdowns have been collected by Johnson.

Big Ben’s going DEEP! @Juiceup__3 #HereWeGo

?: #DENvsPIT on FOX
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/hHzmzejcyI

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2021

It was mentioned previously that Johnson was limited to two targets in Week 5 after he had averaged a league-best 11.7 per game from Weeks 1-4. That was a continuation of his favorable usage in 2020 when Johnson averaged 10-per game from Weeks 1-16. However, the third-year receiver remains one of just 10 receivers who have reached a double-digit target total in at least three different games this season. He is also ninth among all wide receivers in target share (27.2%) and currently leads the Steelers in targets through Week 5 (37/9.3 per game). Johnson’s averages in yards per target (8.2), and yards per reception (12.2) are both the highest of his career, as are his averages in receptions per game (6.3), and yards per game (76.3).

Claypool had finished second among all receivers in targets during Pittsburgh’s Week 3 matchup with AFC North rival Cincinnati (15) while also tying for fourth overall in receptions (9), and generating 96 yards – all of which represented season highs. A hamstring issue cemented him to the sideline in Week 4, but he returned to secure a team-high 24% target share, collect five of six targets, and assemble a career-best 130 yards against the Broncos in Week 5.

He is currently ninth overall in percentage share of air yards (40.2%) and is eighth in yards per reception (17.1). He also leads the Steelers in air yards (438) and has also confiscated the team lead in aDOT (12.5). Claypool’s current averages in yards per target (9.7), yards per reception (17.1), targets per game (8.8), receptions per game (5.0), and yards per game (85.3), also surpass the averages that he attained during his 2020 rookie season (6.8 targets/3.9 receptions/54.6 yards per game), (14.1 yards per reception/9.7 yards per target).

Smith-Schuster was averaging 6.8 targets per game average entering Week 5, and his unfortunate injury will create opportunities for Johnson and Claypool. Roethlisberger is launching 63.4% of his targets to wide receivers, which is the league’s 10th highest percentage. Both receivers should be the primary beneficiaries of Pittsburgh's reshaped target distribution.

5. The full impact of Russell Wilson’s finger injury (ruptured tendon) on Seattle’s passing attack is still unfolding. However, his impending absence is not a favorable development for managers who invested in D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Wilson's proficiency from Weeks 1-5 had offset the restraints that are placed on Seattle’s passing attack, due to Pete Carroll’s involvement in balancing the offense. Wilson's ability to perform effectively within an attack that ranks just 29th in passing attempts per game had also elevated Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf among the top 12 in scoring. 

There's no stopping @dkm14 ?

?: #LARvsSEA on FOX, NFLN, Prime Video pic.twitter.com/MS7n47O5Hn

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 8, 2021

The well-documented phrase "Let Russ Cook" surged during 2020 until multiple factors defused what had been a prolific aerial assault. Wilson was averaging 37.1 attempts and 26.4 completions from Weeks 1-9 last season, although he only averaged 32.6 attempts and 21.6 completions per game from Weeks 10-17. Despite the arrival of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, it has remained necessary for Wilson to remain productive while adhering to the restrictions that remain in the Seahawks’ strategic approach.

Wilson had attained a career-high 72.5% completion percentage before he tore a tendon in his finger. He also averaged a league-high 9.6 yards per attempt from Weeks 1-4 while targeting Seattle’s wide receivers on 71.6% of his passes, which placed the Seahawks’ fourth overall.

Metcalf had collected a team-high 32.3% target share entering Week 5 and was tied for the team lead in receptions with Lockett (20/5.0 per game). Metcalf also led the Seahawks in air yards (405), percentage share of air yards (46.1%). Lockett had accumulated the most receiving yards (333/83 per game), which was fueled by the 278 yards (139 per game) that he accrued in Weeks 1-2, but he had been limited to just 55 yards in Weeks 3-4 combined (31/24). Lockett targets per game average also decreased from 8.0 in Weeks 1-2 to 4.5 in Weeks 3-4.

Wilson was limited to 11 completions, 16 attempts, and 152 yards in Week 5 before his finger injury forced him from the game. Geno Smith completed 10 of his 17 attempts (58.8%) following Wilson’s departure while averaging 7.7 yards per attempt. Metcalf capitalized on his limited opportunities, by capturing all five of his targets, while generating 98 yards and two touchdowns. His 19.6-yard perception average was the highest of his five matchups, as was his 19.6 yards per target average.

Lockett registered a team-high 10 targets. However, he only accrued five receptions while producing 57 yards. His output would have been higher if not for an overthrown pass on what would have been a touchdown, while Lockett also caught a scoring pass that was nullified by penalty.

Smith might perform capably but cannot replicate Wilson's proficiency. However, Metcalf and Lockett enter Week 6 with a combined 54.5% target share. The tandem will remain Seattle's most critical receiving weapons. This should ensure their involvement in the team's aerial efforts, even if the Seahawks increase their reliance on the run.

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