Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 6 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 sixth 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 year.

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 6 Target Leaders

The Kupp is EXTRA full today ? @CooperKupp

? @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/DF45H3gV3I

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 17, 2021

Cooper Kupp’s weekly target totals have ranged from 10-13 through his six matchups. The consistency of Kupp's favorable usage during his first season with Matthew Stafford has elevated him into the league lead in targets entering Week 7 (68). Last week’s league leader Davante Adams is now second overall (66) after his streak of three consecutive games with 11+ targets abruptly ended. Tyreek Hill is third (63) with a total that has been fueled by three consecutive weeks with 12+ targets. That ties Hill with D.J. Moore, who has accumulated at least 11 targets in four of his last five games.

Justin Jefferson collected 10+ targets for the third time this season which has propelled his overall total to 59. Keenan Allen has also attained 10+ targets in three different contests, although he has averaged 7.0 per game in Weeks 5-6. That still ties him for sixth overall with Stefon Diggs (58), after Diggs accrued 11 targets for the second time in three games. Brandin Cooks is next, after capturing 13+ targets for the second time this season. That ties him with Terry McLaurin, who has accumulated 32 targets since Week 4. Mike Williams is next (56), followed by Courtland Sutton (53), Deebo Samuel (52), Jakobi Meyers (52), Diontae Johnson (50), and Adam Thielen (50), completing the list of 14 wide receivers who have assembled 50+ targets through Week 6.

Mike Evans is next with 49 targets, even though he is averaging 6.0 per game since Week 5. He is joined by CeeDee Lamb who accrued 11+ targets for the second time this season in Week 6. Rookie Jaylen Waddle has accrued 49 targets, while Marvin Jones is next (47) after capturing a double-digit total for the second time this season. Chris Godwin and Michael Pittman are tied at 46, followed by D.K. Metcalf (45), Robert Woods (44), and DeVonta Smith (44), who will be discussed in the 5 Things I Noticed section.

Four receivers are tied with 43 targets (Amari Cooper/Marquise Brown/Hunter Renfrow/Cole Beasley) while four receivers have also attained 42: Antonio Brown, Tyler Lockett, Calvin Ridley, and Chase Claypool. Laviska Shenault Jr. and rookie Ja’Marr Chase have each collected 41 targets, while Robby Anderson (40) completes the list of 35 receivers who have been targeted 40+ times during their matchups from Weeks 1-6.

Tyreek Hill and Courtland Sutton have accumulated the most targets since Week 5 (25), while Kupp and Jefferson have each accrued 22. Brown, Williams, and Adams have all assembled 21 targets, followed by Moore with 20. McLaurin, Woods, and Waddle have all accumulated 19 targets during their last two matchups, while Cooks and Anderson have attained 18. Lockett, Lamb, and Mecole Hardman have all collected 17 targets while six different receivers have been targeted a total of 16 times since Week 5 – Thielen, Jones, Godwin, Diggs, Chase, and Kadarius Toney.

Adams has captured the most targets among all wide receivers since Week 3 (50), followed by Kupp (47), Hill (44), Moore (44), and Jefferson (40). McLaurin is next (39), followed by Sutton (38), Meyers (37), Allen (37), Diggs (37), and two receivers that are tied with 36 targets – Cooks, and Waddle. Evans and Williams are tied with 34, followed by Thielen (33), Brown (32), Samuel (32), Woods (31), Anderson (31), and two receivers that have accumulated 30 targets during their last four matchups: Chase and Pittman.

Seven different receivers are averaging at least 10 targets per game from Weeks 1-6: Kupp (11.3), Adams (11.0), Moore (10.5), Hill (10.5), Ridley (10.5), Samuel (10.4), and Johnson (10.0).

Kupp is the only wide receiver who has accumulated 10+ targets during all six of his games this season, while no other receivers have attained a double-digit total in five of their matchups. However, four receivers have been targeted at least 10 times during four different contests – Moore, Hill, Diggs, and Johnson, while seven different receivers have collected 10+ targets in three different games (Adams/Ridley/Samuel/Jefferson/Cooks/McLaurin/Sutton).

Week 6 Weekly Changes  

We're convinced Justin Jefferson could do this in his sleep.

(via @nfl)pic.twitter.com/jvvPbNPMID

— Bally Sports (@BallySports) October 17, 2021

Justin Jefferson accumulated 10+ targets in seven different games during his historic 2020 rookie season. However, the 14 targets that he accrued during Minnesota’s matchup in Carolina established a new career-high. It also tied him with Courtland Sutton, who has averaged 12.5 targets per game since Week 5, after averaging 6.5 per game in Weeks 3-4. Sterling Shepard also assembled a season-high 14 targets after resurfacing from the hamstring issue that had kept him sidelined in Weeks 4-5. He will be discussed further in the 5 Things I Noticed section.

Moore’s 13 receptions in Week 6 also established a season-high even though he has only failed to attain at least 11 targets twice throughout his first six matchups. That tied him with Cooks, who has collected 11+ targets during three of his last five games. Antonio Brown also achieved a new season-high when he garnered 13 targets during Tampa Bay‘s matchup at Philadelphia. He was joined by rookie Jaylen Waddle, who tied his career-high in Week 6. Diontae Johnson also captured 13 targets for the second time during his last three matchups, while Adam Thielen’s season-high 13 targets also represented his first double-digit total since Minnesota’s season opener.

Cooper Kupp’s exceptional season continued when he accumulated 12 targets during his Week 6 matchup. That tied him with Hill who has accrued 12+ during three consecutive games. CeeDee Lamb attained a double-digit total for the first time since Week 1 when he captured 11 targets during his Week 6 matchup. That tied him with Robby Anderson who has accrued 11 targets during two of his last three outings.

Dante Pettis emerged for the first time during the 2021 regular season and promptly established a career-high with his 11 targets. New York’s collection of injuries continued when Kadarius Toney aggravated his ankle injury. This placed Pettis in a position to become involved in the Giants' target distribution, and the former second-round pick capitalized on his opportunity.

The 11 targets that were collected by Diggs contributed to his 9.3 per game average since Week 3. Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault both captured 10 targets during the Jaguars matchup in London, and they also completed the list of 17 wide receivers who were targeted 10+ times in Week 6.

Another angle of Ben's Cover-2 hole shot to Diontae #Steelers pic.twitter.com/f0wFz9a928

— Steelers Depot ??‍♀️? (@Steelersdepot) October 18, 2021

The largest week-to-week increase among wide receivers who were active in Weeks 5-6 was registered by Diontae Johnson, who has collected at least 10 targets during four of his five matchups this season. Johnson was also limited to just two targets in Week 5. However, he was targeted 13 times by Ben Roethlisberger when Pittsburgh hosted Seattle which resulted in his weekly rise of +11. Adam Thielen was only targeted three times during Minnesota’s NFC North matchup with Detroit in Week 5, but the 13 targets that he collected from Kirk Cousins in Week 6 were the most since Week 5 of 2020.

Brandin Cooks did not match Thielen’s weekly increase of +10. However, Cooks also captured 13 targets in Week 6, which fueled his weekly increase of +8. Jaylen Waddle's career-high 13 targets produced a weekly rise of +7. That tied him with Shenault, whose 10 targets in Week 6 matched his season-high. It was also the first time that Shenault had achieved double digits since Jacksonville’s season opener. Cole Beasley had only been targeted twice during his matchups in Weeks 4 and 5, but his nine targets in Week 6 tied him with Waddle and Shenault at +7.

Exactly one week ago, Mike Williams registered the largest week-to-week increase of +12 after he captured a career-high 16 targets. However, Justin Herbert only targeted Williams five times when the Chargers visited Baltimore in Week 6. That fueled the largest weekly decline of -11. William's massive plunge was tied by Adams, who also received just five targets after attaining 16 targets during his Week 5 matchup. Kadarius Toney appeared destined to construct another productive outing when he immediately captured three targets in Week 6. However, his ankle issue abruptly forced him to the sideline which resulted in a decline of -10.

Robert Woods was relegated to his second-lowest weekly total of the season (5) just one week after he had attained a season-high 14. That created his weekly reduction of -9. Mecole Hardman was unable to sustain the statistical momentum from his career-high 12 targets in Week 5, after being limited to five targets during Kansas City’s Week 6 visit to Washington. That resulted in Hardman’s weekly decline of -7, which also tied him with DeAndre Carter. Chris Godwin was limited to five targets for the second time during his last three games. That reduced his week to week total by -6 after he had captured 11 targets during Tampa Bay’s matchup in Week 5.

Week 6 Air Yards

Courtland Sutton narrows the gap in Denver. #BroncosCountry

?: #LVvsDEN on CBS
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/9jz1pLj0SC

— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2021

Courtland Sutton leads all wide receivers with 887 air yards after accumulating 243 yards in Week 6. Davante Adams is second (799), followed by Terry McLaurin (747), Brandon Cooks (738), D.J. Moore (725), Mike Evans (712), and Stefon Diggs (706). Mike Williams is next (667). followed by Justin Jefferson (662), Tyreek Hill (648), Ja’Marr Chase (643), and Cooper Kupp (629). DeVonta Smith is next (594), followed by Marvin Jones (589), Henry Ruggs (589), Marquise Brown (587), Antonio Brown (557), Robby Anderson (521), and D.K. Metcalf (520). Tyler Lockett is next (519), while Diontae Johnson (513), and Corey Davis (506) complete the list of 22 receivers who have eclipsed 500 air yards entering Week 7.

Cooks leads the position in percentage share of air yards (51.4%), followed by Calvin Ridley (49.0%), Chase (47.1%), McLaurin (46.6%), Adams (45.2%), Sutton (43.5%), and Jefferson (41.1%.) Moore is next (39.7%), followed by Metcalf (39.5%), Lockett (39.4%),  Smith (39.3%), DeVante Parker (39.3%,) Johnson (38.3%), and Williams (37.6%). Claypool is next (36.6%), followed by A.J. Brown (36.5%), Hill (36.5%), Odell Beckham (35.1%),  Allen Robinson (34.5%), Deebo Samuel (34.8%), and Cooper Kupp (34.2%). Darnell Mooney is next (34.1%), followed by Michael Pittman (34.1%), Davis (33.1%), Emmanuel Sanders (32.5%), DeAndre Hopkins (32.4%), Marvin Jones (31.5%), Marquise Brown (31.3%), and Mike Evans (30.9%). No other wide receivers have attained a share of 30+ entering Week 7.

Sanders leads all wide receivers in targeted air yards (17.6). Ruggs is second overall (17.1), followed by Sutton (16.8), Chase (16.0), and Marquez Callaway (15.0). Bryan Edwards is next (14.8), followed by Beckham (14.5), Evans (14.4), Nelson Agholor (14.4), DeVonta Smith (14.1), and three receivers that are tied at 14.0 – DeVante Parker, Elijah Moore, and Moore’s teammate Corey Davis. Kenny Golladay and Marquise Brown are tied at 13.8, while Robby Anderson and Marvin Jones are tied at 13.7. Two receivers are tied at 13.5 (Julio Jones/Dyami Brown), while Terry McLaurin and Christian Kirk are tied at 13.1.

Week 6 First Downs

Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill are tied for the league lead in first down receptions (31). Cooper Kupp is next (29), followed by D.J. Moore (27), Justin Jefferson (26), Stefon Diggs (25), CeeDee Lamb (24), and Chris Godwin (24), followed by teammates Mike Williams and Keenan Allen who are tied with (23). Five receivers have all accumulated 22 receptions (Mike Evans/Courtland Sutton/D.K. Metcalf/Robert Woods/Adam Thielen), while five additional receivers have accrued 21 first down receptions – Terry McLaurin, Brandin Cooks, DeAndre Hopkins, Emmanuel Sanders, and Amari Cooper. Marquise Brown, Antonio Brown, and Deebo Samuel are tied at 20, while Tim Patrick and Michael Pittman have both collected 19 receptions. Diontae Johnson and Ja’Marr Chase are tied with 18, followed by Jaylen Waddle (17). DeVonta Smith and Kadarius Toney are among the seven receivers who have captured 16 first down receptions entering Week 7.

Week 6 Red Zone Targets 

Chris Godwin collected three red zone targets during Tampa Bay‘s Week 6 matchup in Philadelphia. That elevated him into the league lead with 13 targets entering Week 7. Cooper Kupp is second overall (12), followed by Keenan Allen (10), and four receivers that are tied with nine targets inside the 20 (Tyreek Hill/Courtland Sutton/DeAndre Hopkins/Zach Pascal).

Five other receivers are tied with eight targets: Davante Adams, Mike Williams, Amari Cooper, A.J. Green, and Calvin Ridley. Four receivers have been targeted seven times (Justin Jefferson/Stefon Diggs/Mike Evans/Robert Woods) while D.J. Moore, CeeDee Lamb, and Marquise Brown are among the 11 wide receivers who have accrued six red zone targets from Weeks 1-6.

Kupp and Pascal are tied for the league lead with seven targets inside the 10, followed by Green (6), and four receivers who have been targeted five times Hopkins, Moore, Pittman, and Thielen. Eight different receivers have accumulated four targets inside the 10, including Godwin, Allen, and Adams.

Kupp continues to lead all wide receivers with five targets inside the 5-yard line while Hopkins, Thielen Sutton, Marvin Jones, Jaylen Waddle, and Randall Cobb have all been targeted three times inside the 5.

Week 6 Snap Counts

Adam Thielen has sustained his league lead in offensive snaps at the wide receiver position (403). His teammate Justin Jefferson is now second overall (374). Chris Godwin is next (370), followed by DeAndre Hopkins (364), Mike Evans (352), Keenan Allen (348), D.J. Moore (348), and three receivers that are tied at 348 – Keenan Allen, D.J. Moore, and CeeDee Lamb. Terry McLaurin is next (344), followed by Amari Cooper (341), Michael Pittman (339), Robert Wood (336), and Marvin Jones (336). Cooper Kupp is next (332), followed by Courtland Sutton (329), A.J. Green (328), Robby Anderson (326), Jakobi Meyers (324), and two receivers that are tied at 322 (DeVonta Smith/Tim Patrick). Zach Pascal is next (321), followed by Tyreek Hill (319), Davante Adams (309), Brandin Cooks (308), and two receivers that are tied at 303: Darnell Mooney, and Ja’Marr  Chase. That completes the list of 25 wide receivers who have been involved in at least 300 of their teams' offensive snaps entering Week 7.

THIELEN TD!!!! pic.twitter.com/wh2QkILorY

— Ben Leber (@nacholeber) October 17, 2021

Thielen also leads the position in offensive snap percentage (96.2), McLaurin is second (94.5), followed by Hopkins (92.2), Pittman (91.4), Smith (91.2), Woods (91.1), Ridley (90.5), Jones (90.1), Kupp (90.0), and Meyers (89.5). Godwin is next (89.4), followed by Jefferson (89.3), Lockett (88.4, Allen (87.9), Johnson (87.7), Mooney (87.6), and Cooks (87.0). Pascal is next (86.5), followed by Chase (86.1), Evans (85.0), and Adams (85.0). Moore, Sutton, and Metcalf are among the 12 additional receivers that have been involved in at least 80% of their teams’ offensive snaps.

Five Things I Noticed

1. Several receivers delivered prolific outings in Week 6, following a series of games in which their numbers were disappointing for fantasy managers. This certainly applies to Adam Thielen who had been averaging 6.8 targets, 4.3 receptions, and 43.8 yards per game from Weeks 2 -5. The 31-year old Thielen had also averaged 5.5 targets, 2.5 receptions, and 43 yards per game during his previous two matchups, and had been relegated to a season-lows in targets (3), and receptions (1), while assembling 40 receiving yards (40) in Week 5. Thielen had also failed to exceed 50 yards in four consecutive games before the Vikings traveled to Carolina, and was averaging 66 air yards per game during that sequence.

Adam Thielen just made one of the toughest catches you'll see all year ?

? @Vikingspic.twitter.com/t6ng3UdzQs

— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) October 17, 2021

However, he captured a season-high 13 targets (28.9% share), which was also his highest weekly total since Week 5 of 2020. He also caught 11 of those targets which were the most receptions he had accumulated since Week 6 of 2018. Thielen also accrued a season-best 126 receiving yards versus the Panthers while his 122 air yards nearly doubled his weekly average from Weeks 2-5 in that category. Thielen assembled his highest weekly totals in yards before catch (84) and yards after catch (42), after averaging 33 and 10.5 per game during his previous four matchups. Thielen had been 24th in targets entering Week 6 and was also 22nd in receptions and just 40th overall in receiving yards. However, Thielen has now vaulted to 14th in targets (50/8.3 per game), eighth in receptions (37/6.2 per game), and 24th in yardage (393/65.5 per game).

Dak to CeeDee for the WIN!

(Via @NFL)

pic.twitter.com/lWCOKVm6hG

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) October 17, 2021

If you were among the fantasy managers who selected CeeDee Lamb as a WR1 during your draft process (ADP 27/WR 10), then you have fully embraced his statistical reemergence in Week 6. Lamb had led the league in targets after Week 2 (24/12 per game), was fourth in receptions (15/7.5 per game), eighth in receiving yardage (185/92.5 per game), and was also WR12 in PPR scoring. Unfortunately, the second-year receiver plunged to WR40 from Weeks 3-5, while also plummeting to 55th in targets (14/4.7 per game), 51st in receptions (9/3 per game), 39th in receiving yards (163/54.3 per game), and 55th in air yards (152/50.7 per game).

However, he captured a team-high 22.5% target share when Dallas traveled to New England in Week 6. Lamb also soared to the league lead in receiving yards (149), tied for 12th in targets (11), finished fourth in receptions (9), and was 14th in air yards (117). Lamb is now 16th overall in targets from Weeks 1-6 (49/8.2 per game) following his increased involvement versus the Patriots. He is also 14th in receptions (33/5.5 per game), and ninth in receiving yards (497/82.8 per game). Both Thielen and Lamb will be unavailable this week but will return from their byes when Dallas visits Minnesota in Week 8.

2. Tampa Bay wide receivers Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown are all located among the top 22 in PPR scoring. Each player would be positioned to accumulate more targets, yardage, and fantasy points if they not contending with formidable competition for opportunities from the other two members of this trio. However, all three receivers are providing favorable numbers to anyone who has them contained on their rosters.

The range of their totals in targets (49/46/42), receptions (34/31/29), and receiving yards (420/418/409) yards) remain close. Tom Brady has been proficient in keeping all of his critical weapons involved in the Buccaneers' aerial attack, which is second in pass play percentage (67.6%). Brady is averaging a league-high 45 attempts per game while distributing 60% of his passes to Tampa Bay's wide receivers.

That includes the 18.8% share that has attained by Evans, who leads the Buccaneers in air yards (712), yards before catch (336), percentage share of our yards (30.9%), aDOT (14.5), and also in the aforementioned targets (49), and receiving yards. (420). He established new season-lows in targets (4), and receptions (2), while manufacturing 27 receiving yards during Tampa Bay’s Week 6 matchup in Philadelphia. However, he had been averaging 9.0 targets, 5.8 receptions, and 78.6 yards per game from Weeks 1-5. Evans was also 11th overall in all three categories prior to facing the Eagles. 

BOOMIN' ?

?: #TBvsPHI on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO pic.twitter.com/R9s812lnml

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 15, 2021

Brown was unavailable in Week 3 when the Buccaneers traveled to Los Angeles (COVID-19), but has still amassed comparable numbers to Evans and Godwin. He leads the Buccaneers in target share (20.3%), yards per reception (14.4), and yards per target (10.0) – which is the highest average of his career. He is tied with Evans for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (4). Brown also led Tampa Bay in targets (13), receptions (9), and receiving yards (93), in Week 6. That established new season highs in targets and receptions, while Brown also eclipsed 90+ receiving yards for the third time during his five games this season.

Godwin is pacing the team in snap share (89.3%), yards after catch (203), and first down receptions (24), and easily leads Tampa Bay in red zone targets (12). He caught all five of his targets in Week 6 but also established a new season-low in yardage (43). That was the third game that he has been targeted five times, although he has collected 11+ in two other matchups. Godwin’s season highs in targets (13), receptions (9), and receiving yards (105) were all attained during the season opener. However, his per-game averages in 2021 (7.7 targets/5.7 receptions/68.2 yards), all exceed his career averages prior to the season opener (6.1 targets/4.2 receptions/61.0 yards). Godwin also joins Evans and Brown in being capable of igniting statistically during any given matchup.

3. Former college teammates Jaylen Waddle and DaVonta Smith combined for nearly 6,000 receiving yards (5,964), and 63 touchdowns at Alabama and were also among the top 10 selections in last April’s NFL draft. Both receivers are also constructing encouraging numbers even as they operate within passing attacks that are permeated by shortcomings. Waddle and Smith currently lead all other rookies in targets, and receptions, and are also pacing their respective teams in each category. 

Waddle’s usage and output received a boost in Week 6, when he tied his season-high in targets (13), accumulated 10 receptions, and established a new season-high in receiving yards (70). Waddle commandeered a 27.7% target share during the Dolphins’ matchup in London, while his numbers have now propelled him to 16th among all wide receivers in targets (49/8.2 blank per game) while vaulting him into a tie for eighth in receptions (37/6.2 per game). Waddle also scored two touchdowns, which propelled him to WR4 in scoring for the week.

JAYLEN WADDLE BREAKOUT GAME pic.twitter.com/Gindxevdbf

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 17, 2021

Waddle was operating with yet another former college teammate, as Tua Tagovailoa resurfaced after a three-game absence (ribs). The Dolphins selected Waddle with the sixth overall pick in part because they viewed him as an explosive playmaker. However, Miami has yet to capitalize on his capabilities as a dynamic downfield presence, even though he could infuse a vertical element into a passing attack that ranks just 28th in yardage (218.5 per game), and dead last in yards per attempt (6.0). Waddle is just 45th overall in receiving yardage while his 6.1 yards per target average and his 5.3 aDOT leave him well outside the top 100 in each category. However, Waddle should stockpile targets and receptions for fantasy managers even if Miami continues to deploy him frequently on shorter routes.

Perfect throw to @DeVontaSmith_6 ?@JalenHurts | #FlyEaglesFly

?: #TBvsPHI on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/ZBjji44biD

— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2021

Smith has been constructing an impressive rookie season as he operates in an offense that contains deficiencies in offensive strategy, and inadequacies that persist with Jalen Hurts, who remains more effective as a fantasy quarterback than he does for Philadelphia. Smith entered Week 6 averaging 8.0 targets, 5.0 receptions, and 62.8 receiving yards per game. He was also tied for 11th overall in targets from Weeks 4-5 (19/9.5 per game), fifth in receptions (14/7 per game), and eighth in yardage during that span (199/99.5 per game).

That also propelled him into the lead in targets among all rookies before the Eagles hosted Tampa Bay in Week 6. However, Smith was limited to a season-low four targets (16.7% share) versus the Buccaneers, which also relegated him to two receptions and 31 yards. Smith still leads the Eagles in multiple categories from Weeks 1-6: targets (44/7.3 per game/22.2% share), receptions (27/4.5 per game), receiving yards (345/57.5 per game), air yards (594), percentage share of air yards (39.3%), yards before catch (247), and aDOT (13.8). Smith is also 14th among all receivers in air yards, 11th in percentage share of air yards, and 11th in targeted air yards (14.1). He should continue to operate as the primary receiving weapon for Philadelphia while assembling numbers that keep him near the top of his class in each major category.

4. If you are among the fantasy managers who invested a Round 6 selection in Brandon Aiyuk during draft season and are unable to include him in your starting lineups, you are not alone. His ADP (63/WR26) elevated him to into high-end WR3 territory, amid optimism that he would build upon the promising results from his 2020 rookie season. The former first-round pick led the 49ers in multiple categories: targets (96/8 per game), red zone targets (14), receptions (60/5 per game)), receiving yards (748/60.3 per game), air yards (898), and receiving touchdowns (5). Aiyuk also led all wide receivers in targets per game from Weeks 8-15 (12.4).

Aiyuk was contending with a hamstring issue as Week 1 approached and was limited to a 47% snap share during the season opener. He also failed to register a target and appeared to have entered Kyle Shanahan’s unwanted doghouse. His snap share has improved to 69.5% since Week 2, but the results from those last four matchups remain disappointing (3.0 targets, 2.0 receptions, and 22.5 yards per game). Those per game averages lag behind the numbers that he achieved during 2020 (8.0, targets, 5.0 receptions, 62.3 yards per game.

Deebo Samuel in a nutshell. #49ers pic.twitter.com/BDV4QiAlUZ

— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) October 14, 2021

Optimism surrounding Aiyuk’s projected output during his second year was hardly universal, as some within the fantasy community believed that Deebo Samuel presented the better investment during draft season. That has proven to be accurate as Samuel entered San Francisco’s bye week at WR5 in scoring, was fourth overall in targets (52/10.4 per game/32.9% share), second in receiving yardage (548/109.6 per game), and tied for seventh in receptions (31/6.2 per game). Samuel also leads all wide receivers in yards after catch (290), while commandeering responsibilities as San Francisco’s WR1.

Samuel’s exceptional five-game sequence stands in contrast to Aiyuk’s discouraging numbers, as the former first-round pick (2020) is currently just WR96 in scoring. Not only does his usage and output lag far behind Samuel, but Aiyuk also trails Mohamed Sanu in targets (16/15), receptions (10/8), and receiving yards (97/90), while Aiyuk has failed to attain a 10% target share (9.49), and his percentage share of air yards is only 12.1.

Good things happen when you throw it to Brandon Aiyuk ✍ #49ers || #FTTB pic.twitter.com/7RzRoXikRG

— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers_) October 12, 2021

Aiyuk's immense talent can propel him to highly productive outings if he is targeted with greater frequency. Anyone with Samuel on their rosters can anticipate favorable usage and output when the 49ers host Indianapolis on Sunday.

5. Several other receivers returned to their teams’ lineups in Week 6 following extended absences. That includes Sterling Shepard, who was tied for the league lead in receptions after Week 2 (16/8 per game). Shepard was also 11th among all receivers in targets (19/9.5 per game/28% share) and seventh in yardage (207/103.5 per game).

Daniel Jones to Sterling Shepard. Touchdown @Giants! #TogetherBlue

?: #DENvsNYG on FOX
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/Ob6U7CMXpQ

— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2021

However, he only performed on 24 snaps in Week 3 before a protracted hamstring issue sidelined him until Week 6. Shepard reemerged after his extended absence to capture 14 targets from Daniel Jones. That was Shepard’s highest total since Week 15 of 2017, while it also tied him with Justin Jefferson and Courtland Sutton for the most targets in Week 6. He also tied for second among all receivers in receptions (10), which was his highest total since Week 4 of 2018. Dante Pettis also received his first 11 targets of the season in Week 6 and could remain involved in the target distribution while Kadarius Toney (ankle), Kenny Golladay (knee), and Darius Slayton (hamstring) are unavailable.

Nice to have TY HILTON back ?
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/EXQlY4qGGd

— Overtime (@overtime) October 17, 2021

T.Y. Hilton also resurfaced in Week 6, after neck surgery forced him to begin the season on injured reserve. Hilton captured a team-high 22.2% target share, while leading the Colts in targets (4), receptions (4), receiving yards (80), air yards (67), and percentage share of air yards (28.5). Hilton also averaged 16.8 yards before catch per reception, which would place him second overall if that average would be sustained for multiple games. Hilton did suffer a quad injury in the fourth quarter, and his status for Sunday’s matchup in San Francisco is unknown.

Rashod Bateman’s first four NFL catches go for four first downs pic.twitter.com/b5T2NsrZqf

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) October 18, 2021

Rookie Rashod Bateman was activated from injured reserve and the Ravens’ first-round selection (27th overall) ultimately made his regular-season debut during Baltimore’s matchup with the Chargers. Bateman was involved on 45 snaps (65% share) and tied for the team lead in target share (22.2%). He also captured four of his six targets and generated 29 yards during his debut. The Ravens pass play percentage (52.5%) has increased by over 8% when contrasted with 2020 (44.1%), and Bateman's role within Baltimore’s aerial attack should rise as the season progresses.

Nico Collins on the board, Mills with a nice escape from the pocket pic.twitter.com/4r6ZeLo6K2

— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) October 17, 2021

Another member of the 2021 rookie class resurfaced in Week 6, as Nico Collins operated in Houston’s offense for the first time since Week 2. Collins made his debut during the Texans’ season opener while attaining a 55% snap share and collecting three targets. However, Collins suffered a shoulder injury and had been sidelined until the Texans visited AFC South rival Indianapolis. Collins performed on 57% of Houston’s snaps, and finished second to Brandin Cooks in targets (6/14.3% share), receptions (4), receiving yards (44), and air yards (54).  He should emerge as the Texans’ WR2 and has the size and speed to become a resource for fantasy managers.