Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 7 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 seventh 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 7 Target Leaders

This 59-yard catch gives @CooperKupp his fourth 100-yard game of the season! #RamsHouse

?: #DETvsLAR on FOX
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/2dEZr6GTw5

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2021

Cooper Kupp has led all wide receivers in total targets during three of the last four weeks and he currently maintains the highest overall total entering Week 8 (81). Kupp’s collection of double-digit target totals have been unwavering, as he has captured 10+ during all seven of his matchups. Each weekly total has also ranged between 10-13, which underscores the consistency with which he is assembling an exceptional season.

D.J. Moore has moved into a tie for a second with 73 targets after he collected 10+ for the fifth time during his last six games. That ties him with Davante Adams, who has averaged 6.0 targets per game in Weeks 6-7 after averaging a league-best 15.0 per game from Weeks 3-5.
Tyreek Hill’s streak of three consecutive games with at least 12 targets concluded during his Week 7 matchup, although he still attained nine when Kansas City traveled to Tennessee. That lifted his overall total to 72, while Terry McLaurin is now fifth overall (69) after attaining a double-digit total for the third time in four games. Brandin Cooks has failed to exceed seven targets during three of his last four matchups after registering seven when Houston visited Arizona. He is still sixth overall for the season (64) followed by Deebo Samuel (63) who has now captured 10+ targets during three of his last four games.

Mike Evans has 3 TDs in the first half. ?

(Via: @NFL) pic.twitter.com/obj1BlwWPB

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 24, 2021

Three receivers are tied with 59 targets, including Mike Evans, who reached a double-digit target total for the first time since Week 4. He is joined by Jakobi Meyers, who has averaged 6.0 targets per game since Week 5. Justin Jefferson’s overall total is also stationed at 59 following Minnesota’s bye week. Three receivers are tied with 58 targets, including Courtland Sutton who has now failed to exceed five targets during three of his first seven games after being targeted five times by Teddy Bridgewater in Week 7. Fortunately for fantasy managers, he has also accrued 11+ during his other three matchups.

He is currently tied with Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen whose teams were also included in the six-team bye week that became a nightmarish hurdle for fantasy managers to navigate in Week 7. All three receivers are also included in this week’s 5 Things I Noticed section. Marquise Brown’s season-high 14 targets propelled his season-long total to 57. That tied him with Chris Godwin, who has now reached double digits in three different matchups this season.

Rookie Jaylen Waddle has also attained 57 targets, followed by Mike Williams (56), whose Chargers were included in the aforementioned bye week process. DeVonta Smith has now accumulated 53 targets, after collecting 9+ during three of his last four games. Calvin Ridley is next (52) after capturing 10+ targets in each of his last four games. Ja’Marr Chase has also accrued 10+ targets during two of his last three matchups, which has elevated his season-long total to 51.

That ties in him with Hunter Renfrow, who has collected 8+ targets during three of his last four contests. Five receivers are tied with 50 targets: Michael Pittman, Diontae Johnson, Robert Woods, D.K. Metcalf, and Adam Thielen, which completes the list of 26 wide receivers who have been targeted 50+ times following the matchups of Week 7.

Robby Anderson is next with 49 targets as he has now averaged 9.5 per game since Week 4. That ties him with CeeDee Lamb (49) while two receivers are also tied with 47 targets (DeAndre Hopkins/Marvin Jones). Tyler Boyd and Tyler Lockett are next (45), followed by Darnell Mooney (44) and four receivers that are tied with 43 targets: A.J. Brown, Tee Higgins, Cole Beasley, and Amari Cooper. Antonio Brown and Corey Davis are among the six additional receivers who have collected 40+ targets from Weeks 1-7.

Kupp also leads all wide receivers with 35 targets from Weeks 5-7. Hill is second (34), followed by McLaurin (31), Moore (30), Sutton (30), Marquise Brown (29), Adams (28), and Higgins (28). Three receivers have captured 27 targets during the last three matchups - Waddle, Godwin, and Anderson. Chase has collected 23 targets, while Cooks and Woods are tied with 25. A.J. Brown has assembled 24 targets, while five receivers are tied with 22 receptions since Week 5 -(Hopkins/Evans/Jefferson/Smith/Mecole Hardman). Antonio Brown, Renfrow, and Williams have all collected 21 receptions, while Samuel, Lockett, and Tim Patrick 20 complete the list of 26 receivers who have accumulated at least 20 targets from Weeks 5-7.

Seven different receivers are averaging at least 10 targets per game entering Week 8: Kupp (11.6), Samuel (10.5), Moore (10.4), Adams (10.4). Ridley (10.4), Hill (10.3), and Johnson (10.0).

Kupp is still the only wide receiver who has accumulated 10+ targets during all seven of his matchups this season, which is two more games than any other receiver. Moore has reached a double-digit total in five contests, while Ridley, Hill, McLaurin, Johnson, and Diggs have accomplished it in four different games.

Week 7 Weekly Changes  

Unclear who the target was here on this scramble throw, but there's no question Tee Higgins does a great job to make the snag. If the ball gets past him, that's an INT. pic.twitter.com/rXoCwtKjz2

— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 26, 2021

Tee Higgins had captured 10 targets twice in his career but had never exceeded that total until Cincinnati’s Week 7 matchup with AFC North rival Baltimore. However, Higgins stockpiled 15 targets that were distributed by Joe Burrow which launched the second-year receiver into the highest weekly total at his position. Marquise Brown accumulated 13 targets during the second game of his career (Week 2-2019. That number had remained his career-high until Week 7 when Brown’s 14 targets vaulted him to the second-highest total for the week.

Kupp’s unmatched collection of targets throughout the season was discussed earlier. However, the 13 targets that he attained in Week 7 still tied his season-high. McLaurin‘s 12 targets represented his third-highest total of the season, while Samuel has now accrued 11+ targets in three different contests, after reaching that total in Week 7. That tied him with Godwin, who has now collected 11 targets during two of his last three matchups.

Moore has now averaged 10.8 targets per game since Week 2, which is the third-highest average at his position. He also achieved a double-digit total in Week 7, when he was targeted 10 times during Carolina’s matchup with the Giants. That tied him with Evans, who had averaged 6.0 per game in Weeks 5-6. Ridley also secured 10 targets while maintaining his streak of four consecutive games with 10+. That tied him with Chase, whose weekly total tied his season-high. That completes the list of 10 wide receivers who were targeted at least 10 times during their Week 7 matchups.

Higgins 15 targets were collected following a two-week sequence in which he averaged 6.5 per game. That included the six targets that he attained in Week 6, which resulted in this week’s largest increase (+9). Marquise Brown matched Higgins’ rise of +9 after he accumulated his season-high 14 targets. Tampa Bay teammates Godwin and Evans both registered weekly increases of +6 after both players accrued double-digit totals (11/10) just one week after combining for nine targets (5/4). DeAndre Hopkins tied his season-high with nine targets exactly one week after he had been relegated to a season-low (4). That resulted in his weekly increase of +5. Smith's target totals in Weeks 6 and 7 were identical to Hopkins’ as the rookie matched his increase of +5. That tied both receivers with Zach Pascal, who had been limited to one target in Week 6. McLaurin (8/12), Chase (6/10), and Tyler Boyd (3/7) all experienced weekly increases of +4.

Sutton’s five-target outing against Cleveland transpired after he had accumulated 25 targets in Weeks 5-6. He also attained a season-high 14 targets in Week 6, which resulted in this week's largest decline of -9. Amon-Ra St. Brown averaged 7.7 targets per game from Weeks 4-6, as his 23 targets led the Lions and placed him 20th overall. However, he failed to register a target in Week 7 despite being involved on 62% of Detroit’s offensive snaps. That fueled St. Brown's week-to-week drop of -7, which was the second-largest among all wide receivers. Cooks was targeted seven times when the Texans traveled to Arizona, which occurred one week after he had accrued 13 targets during Houston’s Week 6 matchup at Indianapolis. That fueled his decrease of -6. It also tied him with Dante Pettis, whose five targets were collected just one week after he surprisingly captured a career-high 11. Rookie Jaylen Waddle’s promising season included his collection of 13 targets in Week 6, which tied his season-high. He also tied for the team lead with eight targets in Week 7, although that respectable total still registered a weekly drop of -5.

Week 7 Air Yards

WHAT A CATCH.

Lamar to Hollywood Brown for a 39-yard TD! #RavensFlock

?: #CINvsBAL on CBS
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/3VKLNeREhF

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2021

Courtland Sutton leads all wide receivers with 948 air yards. Marquise Brown is second (908), followed by Terry McLaurin (890), Davante Adams (857), D.J. Moore (829), and Mike Evans (811). Brandin Cooks is next (784), followed by Cooper Kupp (765), Ja’Marr Chase (760), Tyreek Hill (712), Stefon Diggs (706), and DeVonta Smith (702). Emmanuel Sanders is next (673), followed by Mike Williams (667), Justin Jefferson (662), Henry Ruggs (608), D.K. Metcalf (598), and Robby Anderson (598). Marvin Jones (589), Corey Davis (572), and Michael Pittman (566) complete the top 20 in total air yards entering Week 7.

Cooks leads all wide receivers in percentage share of air yards (49.0%). He is followed by McLaurin (48.1%), Adams (43.5%), Chase (43.2%), Sutton (42.8%), Jefferson (41.1%), and Ridley (40.7%). A.J. Brown and Metcalf are tied at 39.7%, followed by DeVante Parker (39.3%), Moore (39.2%), and Diontae Johnson (38.3%). Smith is next (38.1%), followed by Williams (37.6%), Lockett (37.5%), Marquise Brown (36.9%), Chase Claypool (36.6%), Pittman (35.7%), Odell Beckham (35.3%), and Samuel (35.0%). Kupp (34.4%), Diggs (34.1%), and Emmanuel Sanders, (32.5%) are among the 12 additional receivers who are averaging a percentage share of 30+ through Week 7.

Sanders now leads all wide receivers in targeted air yards (17.6). Sutton is second overall (16.4), followed by Marquise Brown (16), Ruggs (15.8), Nelson Agholor (15.4), Chase (15.2), Quez Watkins (14.6), and Darius Slayton (14.5). Beckham is next (14.4), followed by Bryan Edwards (14.1), Parker (14.0), Evans (13.9), and two receivers that are tied at (13.8) – Kenny Golladay, and Marquez Callaway. Davis and Marvin Jones are tied at 13.7, followed by  Smith (13.6), Van Jefferson (13.5), McLaurin (13.3), Elijah Moore (13.3), Julio Jones (13.1), and three receivers that are tied at 13 – A.J. Brown, Christian Kirk, and Tyler Lockett.

Week 7 First Downs

Cooper Kupp garnered eight first down receptions during the Rams’ Week 7 matchup with Detroit. That has vaulted him into the league lead with 37 during his first seven games. Davante Adams is second overall (35), followed by Tyreek Hill (34), D.J. Moore (32), Chris Godwin (30), Godwin’s teammate Mike Evans (27), and four players that are tied with 26 first down receptions (Terry McLaurin/Robert Woods/Courtland Sutton/Justin Jefferson). Three other wide receivers are tied at 25  (Stefon Diggs/Ja’Marr Chase/DeAndre Hopkins), while three additional receivers have collected 24 receptions – Deebo Samuel, CeeDee Lamb, and D.K. Metcalf.

Four receivers have assembled 23 catches (Michael Pittman/Keenan Allen/Mike Williams/Jaylen Waddle), while three receivers have accrued 22 (Brandin Cooks/Marquise Brown/Adam Thielen). Amari Cooper and Emmanuel Sanders are tied with 21 receptions, while DeVonta Smith, Christian Kirk, Antonio Brown, and Tim Patrick complete the list of 27 wide receivers who have accumulated 20+ first down receptions entering Week 8.

Week 7 Red Zone Targets 

Touchdown pass No. 599 for @TomBrady! ? @CGtwelve_ #GoBucs

?: #CHIvsTB on CBS
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/PbR54tjsY0

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2021

Chris Godwin and Cooper Kupp combined for five red zone targets during their Week 7 matchups. This propelled them into a tie for the lead with 15 targets entering Week 8. Mike Evans is third overall (12), followed by three receivers that are tied with 11 (Davante Adams/Stefon Diggs/Calvin Ridley). DeAndre Hopkins and Keenan Allen have both collected 10 targets, while four receivers have accrued nine targets inside the 20 – Tyreek Hill, Courtland Sutton, Robert Woods, and Zach Pascal. Three receivers have accumulated eight red zone targets (Mike Williams/A.J. Green/Amari Cooper), while four receivers have been targeted seven times in the red zone entering Week 8: Justin Jefferson, Hunter Renfrow, Cole Beasley, and Mecole Hardman.

Kupp has maintained his lead in targets that have been distributed inside the 10-yard line (9). Evans and Pascal are tied for second (7), while Hopkins, Godwin, and Green are tied with six. Four receivers have all collected five targets (Ridley/Thielen/D.J. Moore/Michael Pittman), while Adams, Sutton, and Allen are among the 10 receivers who have accrued four targets inside the 10.

Kupp also leads all wide receivers with seven targets inside the 5-yard line, while Evans and Hopkins are tied for second (4). Godwin, Ridley, and Thielen are among the seven different receivers who have collected three targets inside the 5.

Week 7 Snap Counts

Chris Godwin leads all wide receivers with 429 offensive snaps. DeAndre Hopkins is second overall (421), followed by D.J. Moore (408), and Terry McLaurin (408). Mike Evans is next (405), followed by Adam Thielen (403), Robert Woods (395), Michael Pittman (393), Cooper Kupp (391), and two receivers who are tied at 386 - Robby Anderson, and A.J. Green. Jakobi Meyers is next (382), followed by DeVonta Smith (381), Courtland Sutton (375), Justin Jefferson (374), Zach Pascal (371), and Tyreek Hill (369).

Tim Patrick is next (368), followed by Darnell Mooney (359), Ja’Marr Chase (356), Brandin Cooks (356), Jaylen Waddle (355), and Bryan Edwards (354). Davante Adams (354), Allen Robinson (352), and Marquise Brown (351) complete the list of 26 receivers who have been involved in 350+ offensive snaps. CeeDee Lamb, and Keenan Allen, have both performed on 348 snaps, followed by Khalif Raymond (344), Emmanuel Sanders (343), Tyler Lockett (343), and Amari Cooper (341).

Adam Thielen has maintained his lead in snap count percentage (96.2%), followed by McLaurin (94.0%), Woods (91.9%), Pittman (91.2%), Kupp (90.9%), Hopkins (90.7%), Smith (90.5%), and Jones (90.1%) completing the collection of eight receivers who have attained a snap count percentage of 90+. Jefferson is next (89.2%), followed by Godwin (88.6%), Cooks (88.3%), Lockett (88.0%), Allen (87.9%), Johnson (87.7%), and Meyers (87.6%).

Mooney is next (87.4%), followed by Ridley (87.1%), Moore (86.1%), Pascal (86.1%), Chase (85.8%), Robinson (85.6%), Sutton (85.2%), and Adams (84.9%). Samuel is next (83.9%), followed by Evans (83.7%), Patrick (83.6%), Metcalf (83.3%), and Green (83.2%). Sanders, Lamb, and Waddle are among the six additional receivers who currently have a snap count percentage of 80+.

Five Things I Noticed

1. Courtland Sutton entered the regular season amid divergent opinions concerning his health. Optimism that still resonated from the results of his 2019 breakout season (124 targets/72 receptions/1,112 receiving yards) was blended with trepidation surrounding his return from the torn ACL that limited him to just 31 snaps in 2020. He was selected in Round 8 during the majority of 2021 drafts (88/WR37) which provided the potential for Sutton to exceed the expectations of his ADP. His numbers were concerning during Denver's season opener, as he failed to reach a 9% target share (8.6%) and was limited to three targets, one reception, and only 14 yards.

However, Sutton averaged 10 targets, 6.4 receptions, and 91 yards per game from Weeks 2-6, while operating as a prolific WR1 for the Broncos. He was also fifth in targets (50), fourth in yardage (457), and eighth in receptions (32) during that sequence, while also rising to WR10 in PPR scoring.

Courtland Sutton only needs 1 hand ?
pic.twitter.com/pfItbnX8dq

— PFF (@PFF) October 22, 2021

Even though Sutton was limited to five targets during Denver’s Week 7 matchup in Cleveland, he is still 11th overall with 58 targets during his first seven contests (8.3 per game). He is also 12th in receptions (38/5.4 per game), and 10th in receiving yards (539/77 per game). Sutton leads the Broncos in each of these categories, while those averages all remain above the per-game results that he achieved during 2019 (7.8 targets/4.5 receptions/69.5 yards). He would ultimately accumulate career-highs in targets (141), receptions (92), and yardage (1,309) if those averages would be sustained over a 17-game schedule.

Sutton also leads all wide receivers in air yards (948), is second in targeted air yards (16.4), fifth in percentage share of air yards (42.8%), fourth in yards before catch (539), third in aDOT (16.3), and ninth in first downs (26). Tim Patrick is second among Denver’s wide receivers in targets (39/5.6 per game/15.9% share), receptions (27/3.4 per game), receiving yards (360/49.5 per game), air yards (443), and percentage share of air yards (20.0%). He is also just behind Sutton in yards per target (9.3/9.2). and yards per reception (14.2/13.3).

However, Denver’s passing attack will be reshaped by the impending return of Jerry Jeudy, who should resurface when the Broncos host Washington on Sunday. Jeudy had collected six of seven targets, and accrued 72 yards prior to his ankle injury in Week 1, and will commandeer a sizable percentage of targets. This will impact Patrick’s usage, although he should still function as the Broncos’ WR3. However, Sutton's numbers will remain favorable for fantasy managers, as he will still benefit from the convergence of his enormous talent and a favorable level of opportunity.

Carson Wentz ➡ Michael Pittman

57 jardas na BIG PLAY ?#NFLBrasil | #ForTheShoe

pic.twitter.com/Osic07MnNT

— NFL Brasil (@NFLBrasil) October 25, 2021

2. Michael Pittman appeared positioned to be the primary receiving option for Indianapolis as he entered his second season, even though T.Y. Hilton loomed as a contender for that distinction. 

Pittman’s numbers during the Colts’ season opener were underwhelming, as he was limited to four targets, three receptions, and an anemic 29 receiving yards, during a game in which he attained a 97% snap share. However, Pittman reached the threshold of a 10 target per game average from Weeks 2-5, as he stockpiled 39 targets (9.8 per game/29.0% share). He also collected double-digit target totals for the first time in his career by capturing 12 in two consecutive games.

That propelled Pittman to seventh overall at his position during that span, while he also ascended to fifth in receptions (6.5 per game), and 11th in yardage (339/84.8 per game). He was also 12th in percentage share of air yards (40.7%), and 15th in air yards (398) during that sequence.

Pittman currently leads Indianapolis in targets 50/7.1 per game), receptions (35/5.0 per game), and receiving yards (508/72.6 per game) from Weeks 1-7. He is also third overall in routes run per dropback according to PFF. Pittman is also pacing the Colts in air yards (566), percentage share of air yards (35.7%), and also in yards after catch (138). Pittman is also 13th overall in receiving yardage (508), ninth in yards before catch (370), and 19th among all receivers in first downs (23). Pittman is also averaging 10.2 yards per target, and 14.5 yards per reception, which represents an increase of 2.0 yards in each category when contrasted with his 2020 rookie season (8.2/12.6). His aDOT has also climbed from 8.4 to 11.3.

Carson Wentz had averaged 34.6 attempts per game from Weeks 1-5 but has averaged just 23 attempts during the Colts’ last two matchups. This transpired due to the combination of a 31-3 blowout when Indy hosted AFC South rival Houston in Week 6, and formidable weather issues at San Francisco in Week 7. Pittman has averaged just 3.5 targets per game during those two contests.

However, he has collected six of those targets, including all four of his opportunities in Week 7. He also remained highly productive during that outing, while eclipsing 100 yards for the second time this season (105). He also generated a touchdown during a critical juncture of the game.

Michael Pittman Jr. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ?#INDvsSF | #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/dMUYnDxxwO

— Indy SportsOne (@IndySportsOne) October 25, 2021

Hilton has been limited to 24 offensive snaps due to multiple injuries (quad/neck), and the 31-year old would need to achieve a sustained presence on the field before he can become a genuine threat to Pittman’s current level of usage. Zach Pascal is second to Pittman in targets (35/5.0 per game), receptions (21/3.0 per game), receiving yards (218/31.1 per game), and air yards (236), but he is not a legitimate competitor to overtake Pittman as Indy’s WR1. These factors should preserve Pittman’s extensive involvement in the Colts’ aerial attack, and he has the ability to flourish in that role.

3. The Los Angeles Chargers’ ninth-ranked offense (377.5 yards per game) has been fueled by the team’s seventh-ranked passing attack (282.8 yards per game), while the 25th ranked ground game averages an uninspiring 94.7 yards per game. The Chargers’ aerial efforts have been ignited by second-year signal-caller Justin Herbert, and his primary receiving weapons - Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams.

The Chargers were also fourth in pass play percentage (65%) entering their bye, while 60.7% of Herbert’s targets were being distributed to his wide receivers. That includes the combined 47.7% share that had been commandeered by Allen and Williams (Allen 24.3%/Williams 23.4%). Herbert was also averaging 41.5 attempts, 27.8 completions, and 315.2 yards per game from Weeks 1-5 while completing 67.1% of his passes.

His stellar season was briefly interrupted in Week 6 when he registered the second-lowest completion percentage (56.1%), and yardage total (195) of his career. That outing also impacted Allen and Williams, who had emerged among the league leaders in multiple categories. Allen’s usage and output had been expected. However, the prolific season that Williams is constructing was not.

herbo → mike dub @darealmike_dub | ?: CBS pic.twitter.com/90TiZswyxF

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 10, 2021

Both receivers were contained among the top five in targets entering Week 6, as Allen was third overall (53/10.6 per game), while Williams was fifth (51/10.2 per game). They were also among the top seven in receptions (Allen 34/6.8 per game), (Williams 31/6.2 per game). Williams was also fifth overall in receiving yardage (471/94.2 per game) and led all receivers in touchdowns (6). He had also ascended to WR2 after Week 5.

Williams was also contending with a knee issue in Week 6, which contributed to his diminished target total (5) during the Chargers' matchup. However, he is currently WR5 in point per game scoring, despite the distinct downturn in usage during that contest. Williams also leads Los Angeles in receiving yards, air yards (667), percentage share of air yards (37.6%), yards before catch (321), yards per reception (15.1), yards per target (10.0), yards after catch (177), aDOT (11.9), and touchdowns (6). Williams per game averages of 9.3 targets, 5.5 receptions, and 83 yards per game easily surpass the averages that he attained from 2017-2020 (4.7 targets/2.7 receptions/44.9 yards).

Allen has not sustained the numbers that he had assembled during his injury-shortened 2020 season (hamstring) when he had stockpiled a league-best 144 targets in 13 games and was on pace to accumulate 178 targets, 122 receptions, and 1,200 yards. This year’s per-game averages (9.7 targets/6.5 receptions/69.8 yards) have not replicated his averages from 2020 (11.1 targets/7.7 receptions/75 yards). However, Allen still leads the Chargers in targets, receptions, and red zone targets (9), and is also WR25 entering Week 8.

Tight end Jared Cook is a distant third behind Allen and Williams in target share (13.8%), while no other Charger wide receiver has reached an 8% share. Both players should confiscate a significant percentage of opportunities as the weeks advance while continuing to operate as valuable resources for fantasy managers.

"They said you was too old!"

At age 34, @ESanders_10 is breaking out again in a big way ? @BuffaloBills pic.twitter.com/pc1CwY1agB

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) October 14, 2021

4. 34-year old Emmanuel Sanders continues to assemble impressive numbers during his 12th season, while easily surpassing all offseason projections. Sanders signed a one-year contract with Buffalo last March, after averaging 5.9 targets, 4.4 receptions, and 51.9 yards per game during 2020. That was his only season with New Orleans, as salary cap issues led to his release by the Saints.

Sanders was infused into an arsenal of wide receivers that included 2020 target leader, Stefon Diggs, veteran slot presence Cole Beasley and promising second-year receiver Gabriel Davis. It was also uncertain whether Sanders had the capacity to surpass Davis on the depth chart as the Bills entered training camp.  However, Sanders has emerged as a dependable weekly option for Josh Allen, while outperforming the meager expectations that were associated with his Round 16 ADP (183/WR66). Sanders entered Buffalo’s bye week at WR23 in PPR scoring and was 21st overall in receiving yards (413/68.8 per game). He was also 36th in targets (39/6.5 per game/16.7% share) and was also 42nd in receptions (24/4.0 per game). Sanders’ performances had also elevated him to fourth in Football Outsiders’ DVOA (Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average).

He currently leads Buffalo’s wide receivers with an 82.5% snap share, as he operates within a passing attack that ranks eighth overall (280.8 yards per game). The Bills also rank 21st in pass play percentage (57.3%), after finishing 13th overall in that category during the 2020 regular season (61.7%). Allen has targeted Buffalo wide receivers on 70.5% of his passes, as Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow are the only signal-callers who are distributing a higher percentage of targets to the position.

Sanders leads all wide receivers in targeted air yards (17.6), and yards before catch per reception (15.4). He is also fifth with a career-best aDOT of 17.3, 13th in air yards (673), and is pacing Buffalo's wide receivers in touchdowns (4). He is also second on the Bills in receiving yards, air yards, and percentage share of air yards (32.5%).

Diggs remains entrenched as Buffalo’s WR1 and entered Buffalo’s bye week in a tie for sixth in targets (58/9.7 per game), eighth in receptions (37/6.2 per game), and seventh in yards before catch (365) – directly behind Sanders (370). Beasley’s usage and production will be largely inconsistent, as he has collected 13 targets in two different games but failed to exceed two targets in two other outings. Davis’ target share (4.5%) underscores his limited involvement (10 targets/6 receptions/104 receiving yards). All of which should sustain Sanders’ current status as a reliable WR3 with the potential to approach low-end WR2 output during any given matchup.

5. This section has been devoted to wide receivers who are accumulating favorable numbers while rewarding anyone who decided to secure them for their rosters. Unfortunately, the process of building and managing fantasy rosters can also require you to absorb disappointment from players that appeared destined to construct highly productive seasons.

If you are among the managers who invested a third-round selection on Allen Robinson (ADP 33/WR13), then you have been enduring this discomfort. Robinson had led the Bears in target during his first three years in Chicago (151/9.4 per game), (154/9.6 per game), (94/7.2 per game), while finishing third overall in that category during both 2019 and 2020. It was also reasonable to expect that Matt Nagy would design a strategic approach that would maximize Justin Fields’ strengths. Particularly after the Bears traded multiple picks for the opportunity to seize him during the NFL Draft.

This included the prospects of Fields infusing a vertical presence into the passing attack while providing a pathway for Robinson and Darnell Mooney to benefit from the restructured offense. However, the transition to Fields has transpired differently, as Chicago is currently dead last in total offense (254.4 yards per game), and passing offense (124.4 yards per game). The Bears are also 31st in attempts per game (25.9), after finishing eighth in that category during 2020  (38.4 per game).

Allen Robinson dejectedly tagging a defensive back down after a woefully underthrown interception might as well be the Bears' official logo by now pic.twitter.com/JJBQE3x6df

— Christian D'Andrea probably does not own a brewery (@TrainIsland) October 24, 2021

The catastrophic results from the anemic attack have included the plummeting usage and output for Robinson. Last season’s 154 targets were generated with five games of 13+, while he also collected 9+ in 11 different contests. However, after accruing 11 targets in Week 1, Robinson has averaged just 4.8 per game since Week 2 and is currently tied with Mecole Hardman for 51st overall in targets from Weeks 1-7  (40/5.7 per game).

Robinson had also finished fourth overall in receptions last season (102/7.0 per game),  but he is currently 52nd (23/3.3 per game) and has averaged 2.8 per game since Week 2. He was also eighth in yardage during 2020 (1,250/78.1 per game). However, he is now 61st overall (250/35.7 per game), while failing to exceed 35 yards during five of his seven games. Robinson no longer retains the team lead in each category as his totals have been surpassed by Mooney (44 targets/6.3 per game), (27 receptions/3.9 per game), (345 yards/49.3 per game).

The factors that have converged to prevent Robinson from approaching his numbers of recent seasons were unexpected, but it is unlikely that they will dissipate anytime soon. Nagy and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor have provided no indication that they can address the issues that have created the offensive implosion. If you have retained Robinson in your starting lineup there is no rationale for continuing to do so. However, it is premature to drop him, as he could conceivably relocate in a favorable environment before the NFL trade deadline.