Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 9 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 ninth 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 9 Target Leaders

.@CooperKupp with the deep ball to end the third ?

? @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/9X2COCKHSZ

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 24, 2021

Cooper Kupp has reemerged as the league leader in targets entering Week 10 (103) after he collected 13 for the third time this season. He has also reached a double-digit target total in eight of his nine matchups. Tyreek Hill is the only other wide receiver who has eclipsed 100 targets for the season (101) after he attained 11+ for the fifth time during his last six games. D.J. Moore remains in third overall (88) even though he has now failed to reach 10+ targets during each of his last two outings. Davante Adams is next (87) after registering his third-highest target total of the year (14). Brandin Cooks has now accumulated 83 targets after he captured 13 for the second time in four contests.

He is followed by Keenan Allen (82), who has averaged 12 targets per game since Week 8. Deebo Samuel completes the list of seven receivers who have accrued 80+ targets after he captured nine for a second consecutive week. Jaylen Waddle has accumulated 79 targets, including 10+ during three of his last four matchups. He is followed by Terry McLaurin (76), who will return from his Week 9 bye on Sunday.

Stefon Diggs is next (73), despite averaging 7.5 targets per game during his last two contests. Diggs is tied with Ja’Marr Chase, who has now accrued 10+ targets during three of his last five games. Jakobi Meyers has captured 72 targets, even though he was relegated to a season-low four in Week 9. Michael Pittman is next (71) even though he has failed to exceed six targets during three of his last four games.

Four receivers are tied with 69 targets including Robert Woods, who registered his second double-digit target total of the season in Week 9 (10). He is joined by Marquise Brown who has now averaged 10.3 targets per game since Week 5. Chris Godwin has also accrued 69 targets, after collecting 23 in Weeks 7-8. Diontae Johnson has also accumulated 69 targets, even though the six targets that he collected in Week 9 represented his lowest weekly totals since Week 5. Justin Jefferson has captured 68 targets even though he has only averaged 4.5 since Week 8. Cole Beasley is next (67), after collecting 11+ for a second consecutive week.

Three receivers are also tied with 66 targets including Mike Williams – who has failed to exceed five targets in three consecutive outings. He is joined by Adam Thielen, who has averaged eight targets per game since Week 8. CeeDee Lamb has also accrued 66 targets while averaging 9.3 per game since Week 6. A.J. Brown has captured 11 targets in two consecutive games, which has expanded his season total to 65.

Courtland Sutton is next (64) despite averaging just 3.0 per game during his last two games, and his recent results will be examined further in the 5 Things I Noticed section. . Mike Evans will also return from Tampa Bay’s bye with a season total of 63 targets. DeVonta Smith is next (62) even though he has only averaged 4.5 per game since Week 8. Amari Cooper is next (61) despite experiencing his lowest season total since Week 4. Hunter Renfrow has accrued 60 targets after tying his season-high of nine in Week 9. He is joined by Marvin Jones, who has averaged 6.5 targets since Jacksonville‘s Week 7 bye. That completes the list of 29 wide receivers who have accumulated 60+ targets from Weeks 1-9.

Hill leads all wide receivers with 50 targets since Week 6. Kupp is second overall (47), followed by Waddle (43), A.J. Brown (40), Cooks (39), and two receivers that are tied with 38 (Moore and Chase). Tee Higgins is next (35), followed by Beasley (33), Johnson (32), Marquise Brown (31), Woods (30), and three receivers are tied with 29 (Allen/Thielen/Samuel). Four receivers have accumulated 28 targets during the past four weeks – Godwin, Pittman, Mooney, and Lamb, while McLaurin has accrued 27. Four different receivers have collected 26 targets (Diggs/Cooper/Adams/ Meyers, while both Christian Kirk and Sutton have been targeted 25 times.

Hill has also accumulated the most targets during the matchups of Weeks 8-9 (29), while Beasley and Allen are tied for second with 24. Four receivers have captured 22 targets (Kupp/Chase/Waddle/A.J. Brown), while Pittman has captured 21. Woods, Cooks, and Johnson are tied with 19 targets, while Cooper and Samuel have both assembled 18 during their last two matchups. Lamb and Jamal Agnew have been targeted 17 times since Week 8,  while Thielen and Jamison Crowder have collected 16. Six different receivers have accrued 15 targets during their last two games – Diggs, Moore, Jarvis Landry, Zach Pascal, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deonte Harris.

Six different receivers are averaging at least 10 targets per game from Weeks 1-8: Kupp (11.4), Hill (11.2), Adams (10.9), Ridley (10.4), Allen (10.3), and Samuel (10.1).

Kupp has collected 10+ targets during eight different matchups this season. Hill has reached double digits in six contests, while Johnson. Allen and Moore have accomplished it in five different games.

Week 9 Weekly Changes  

.@jordan3love finds @tae15adams on 4th down! #GBvsKC | #GoPackGo

? FOX pic.twitter.com/9ZxaArbyMV

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 8, 2021

Adams has averaged 11.4 targets per game since Week 2, which has been propelled by the four games in which he has collected 11+. That includes the 14 targets that he accrued during Green Bay's Week 9 matchup in Kansas City, which was the highest total for the week. Four different receivers all captured 13 targets during their contests, and it is hardly surprising that Kupp is included in this group. His league-best 11.4 targets per game average have been assembled through eight games with 10+ targets, and a season-low of nine in Week 8.

Kupp was joined by Allen, who has now captured 11+ targets in five different contests, after accomplishing that feat for a second consecutive week. Cooks was also targeted 13 times by Tyrod Taylor when Houston visited Miami, which is just one target less than the season-high 14 that he stockpiled in Week 2. Chase also collected 13 targets in Week 9, which established a new season-high. The rookie has also averaged 9.6 per game since Week 5. Marquise Brown was targeted 12 times by Lamar Jackson in Week 9 which has expanded his target share to 27% since Week 5.

A.J. Brown accrued 11 targets during Tennessee’s first full game without Derrick Henry in the lineup, and his recent numbers will be discussed further in the 5 Things I Noticed section. Brown’s 11 targets also tied him with Hill, who has now averaged a league-high 12.5 per game since Week 4. Beasley joined Hill and Brown in attaining 11 targets. He has now averaged 11 per game since Week 6, after being targeted twice in both Weeks 4-5. Waddle captured 10 targets during Miami’s Week 9 matchup with Houston and had now averaged 10.8 per game since Week 6. Woods also accrued 10 targets and has now averaged 9.5 per game during his last two games.

A for effort...

?: #ATLvsNO on FOX
?: NFL app pic.twitter.com/7UNq5QT5fY

— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2021

Russell Gage achieved the week’s largest increase when contrasting matchups from Weeks 8-9. Gage failed to receive a target in Week 8 despite performing on 68% of Atlanta’s offensive snaps, but he was targeted eight times by Matt Ryan when the Falcons visited New Orleans. This resulted in a weekly rise of +8.

Cooks had been limited to six targets during Houston’s Week 8 matchup with the Rams which was his lowest weekly total since Week 5. However, the 13 targets that he attained in Week 9 propelled him to the second-largest weekly increase among all wide receivers (+7). Kenny Stills garnered five targets for the Saints in Week 9 after he had been limited to just one snap in Week 8. That produced his weekly increase of +5. It also tied Stills with Mack Hollins, who collected six targets after he was targeted once in Week 8.

Chase received nine targets from Joe Burrow when Cincinnati visited the Jets in Week 8, but the 13 targets that he accrued during Cincinnati’s AFC North showdown with Cleveland elevated his weekly total by +4. Emmanuel Sanders also experienced a weekly rise increase of +4 after he received eight targets from Josh Allen on Week 9. Jerry Jeudy also doubled his week-to-week target totals (4/8), which resulted in his weekly increase of +4. They were joined by Kupp, whose 13 targets fueled his weekly expansion of +4.

Pittman achieved the second-highest target total of Week 8 when he accrued a career-high 15 during the Colts’ AFC South showdown with Tennessee. His target total dropped to six in Week 9, which fueled a week-to-week decline of -9.

Cooper had attained his highest weekly total since the Cowboys season opener when he was targeted 13 times in Week 8. Unfortunately, he was relegated to five targets in Week 9, which diminished his week-to-week total by -8.

Hill’s 11 targets placed him seventh overall in Week 9. However, they were accrued just one week after Hill had stockpiled 18 targets. That resulted in his decline of -7. That tied him with Johnson, whose six targets in Week 9 represented his lowest weekly total since Week 5. Jamal Agnew averaged 8.3 targets per game from Weeks 5-8, including the career-high 12 that he collected in Week 8. He received five targets when Jacksonville hosted Buffalo in Week 9, which ignited his drop of -7.

Week 9 Air Yards

Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill seal it for the Chiefs (-340 ML) ?

(Via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/Vwj1FN3GY3

— Pickswise (@Pickswise) November 8, 2021

Tyreek Hill has become the league leader in air yards entering Week 10 (1,093). Courtland Sutton is second overall (1,031) after leading in this category from Weeks 6-8. Davante Adams is the only other wide receiver who has reached 1,000+. Marquise Brown is now fourth (999), followed by D.J. Moore (984), Ja’Marr Chase (961), Brandin Cooks (958), and Terry McLaurin (947), Mike Evans is next (925), followed by Cooper Kupp (902), Emmanuel Sanders (888), and DeVonta Smith (871).

Justin Jefferson is next (824), followed by Stefon Diggs (811), and CeeDee Lamb (809). Mike Williams has accumulated 789 yards, followed by A.J. Brown (757), Amari Cooper (741), and Michael Pittman (737). Tyler Lockett is next (699), followed by Darnell Mooney (697), Marvin Jones (696), Jakobi Meyers (679), and Deebo Samuel (658).

Adams now leads all wide receivers in percentage share of air yards (45.4%), followed by McLaurin (45.3%), Cooks (44.3%), A.J. Brown (43.6%), Lockett (41.4%), Chase (41.1%), and Moore (41.0%). Calvin Ridley is next (40.7%), followed by Jefferson (40.5%), Sutton (39.8%), Smith (39.8%), Hill (39.3%), and Johnson (38.8%).

DeVante Parker is next (38.6%), followed by Metcalf (37.4%), Marquise Brown (35.9%), Claypool (34.5%), Mike Williams (34.3%), Mooney (33.9%), Emmanuel Sanders (33.6%), and Kupp (33.6%). Tee Higgins is next (33.5%), followed by Samuel (33.1%), Pittman (32.0%), Corey Davis (32.0%), Lamb (31.7%), Evans (31.5%), Diggs (30.7%), Beckham (30.0%), and Thielen (29.9%).

Sanders leads all receivers in targeted air yards (17.4), followed by Nelson Agholor (16.3), Sutton (16.1), Evans (14.7), Bryan Edwards (14.7), Marquise Brown (14.6), Smith (14.6), Beckham (13.9), Davis (13.7), Kenny Golladay (13.7), Quez Watkins (13.7), Chase (13.6), Darius Slayton (13.4), Marquez Callaway (13.4), Keelan Cole (13.3), Van Jefferson (13.2), and McLaurin (13).

Week 9 First Downs

Cooper Kupp leads all wide receivers in first down receptions (47). Tyreek Hill is second overall (46), followed by Davante Adams (39), D.J. Moore (37), Chris Godwin (35), Robert Woods (34), and four receivers that are tied with 32 receptions – Keenan Allen, Michael Pittman, Deebo Samuel, and Stefon Diggs. Jaylen Waddle is next (31), followed by two receivers that are tied at 30 – Amari Cooper, and Justin Jefferson.

Four receivers have all collected 29 receptions (Ja’Marr Chase/CeeDee Lamb/Mike Evans/Brandin Cooks), while six other receivers have all accumulated 27 (Terry McLaurin/Christian Kirk/D.K. Metcalf/DeAndre Hopkins/Courtland Sutton/Tim Patrick). Four receivers are tied with 26 receptions – Marquise Brown, A.J. Brown, Adam Thielen, and DeVonta Smith while Diontae Johnson is the only other wide receiver who has collected at least 25 first down receptions entering Week 10.

Week 9 Red Zone Targets 

? Red zone alert ? pic.twitter.com/KX9ASR1lvo

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 31, 2021

 

Cooper Kupp collected two red zone targets during the Rams’ Week 9 matchup with Tennessee, which has sustained his overall lead (22) entering Week 10. Chris Godwin and Robert Woods are tied for second (16), followed by Keenan Allen (14), and three receivers who are tied with 12 targets: Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, and Mike Evans. Four receivers have collected 11 red zone targets – Davante Adams, Mike Williams, Calvin Ridley, and Adam Thielen.

Fade. Thielen. TOUCHDOWN! pic.twitter.com/f8ufiK7L6j

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 7, 2021

Seven different receivers have accumulated 10 red zone targets – Michael Pittman, Justin Jefferson, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, Hunter Renfrow, Mecole Hartman, and Randall Cobb. Seven additional receivers have been targeted nine times inside the 20 (Brandin Cooks/Courtland Sutton/A.J. Green/ Cole Beasley/Van Jefferson/Sterling Shepard/Zach Pascal).

Kupp also leads his position with 10 targets inside the 10-yard line. Pittman and Cobb are tied for second (8), while four receivers have been targeted seven times (Woods/Evans/Green/Pascal). Six different receivers have accrued six targets – Godwin, Allen, Williams, Thielen, Hopkins, and Renfrow, while six additional receivers have captured five targets (Hill/Ridley/Jefferson/Chase/ Moore/Jones).

Kupp has also accumulated the most targets inside the 5-yard line (7), while Cobb has been targeted six times. Six different receivers have accrued four targets (Woods/Evans/Williams/Thielen/Hopkins/ Jones) while Godwin and Allen are among the nine different receivers who have been targeted three times inside the 5-yard line.

Week 9 Snap Counts

Robert Woods led all wide receivers in offensive snaps during the 2020 regular season and has now moved into the league lead for the first time in 2021 (526). His teammate Cooper Kupp is second overall (522), followed by D.J. Moore (517), Michael Pittman (514), Adam Thielen (509), Jakobi Meyers (504), Robby Anderson (492), and Zach Pascal (489). Chris Godwin his next (486), followed by Courtland Sutton (481), Tyreek Hill (480), Jaylen Waddle (478), Ja’Marr Chase (473), Brandin Cooks (472), Terry McLaurin (467), and DeVonta Smith (466).

Keenan Allen is next (464), followed by two receivers that are tied at 460 – Mike Evans, and Tim Patrick. Justin Jefferson is next (458), followed by two receivers that are tied at 457 – Darnell Mooney and Emmanuel Sanders. Three receivers are tied with 451 snaps - CeeDee Lamb, Allen Robinson, and Marvin Jones, followed by Van Jefferson (446), and two receivers that are tied at 438 – Stefon Diggs and A.J. Green. Two receivers are also tied at 434 (DeAndre Hopkins/Amari Cooper).

Thielen leads all wide receivers in snap count percentage (95.9%), followed by McLaurin (93.0%), Woods (92.3%), Kupp (91.6%), Pittman (91.1%), Godwin (89.7%), Jones (89.5%), Allen (89.4%), and Cooks (89.3%). Johnson is next (89.0%), followed by Meyers (88.4%), Chase (87.8%), Ridley (87.1%), Pascal (86.7%), and Lockett (86.4%).

Smith is next (86.3%), followed by Jefferson (86.3%), Moore (85.7%), Adams (85.7%), Sutton (85.3%), Mooney (85.3%), Evans (84.9,%), Samuel (84.4%), and Green (84.4%). Allen Robinson is next (84.1%), followed by Hopkins (83.6%), Waddle (83.3%), Sanders (83.2%), DeVante Parker (82.4%), and Metcalf (81.9%).

Five Things I Noticed

1. A.J. Brown was selected as a low-end WR1 during the draft process. His ADP (26/WR9) was indicative of the prevailing optimism that he could expand upon the promising results from his first two seasons. Brown had eclipsed 1.050 yards during both 2019 and 2020, while also generating 19 touchdowns. He also averaged 6.3 targets, 4.1 receptions, and 70.9 yards per game.

Brown now enters Week 10 at 23rd overall in targets per game (8.1), 22nd in targets (65),  24th in receptions (40/5.0 per game), and 21st in receiving yards (68.9 per game). However, Brown is also fourth in percentage share of air yards (43.6%), which is the highest percentage of his career. His numbers during Tennessee’s last four matchups are also highly favorable, which includes the Titans’ first full contest without Henry operating as the centerpiece of their offense.

A.J. BROWN TAKES IT 57 YARDS FOR 6️⃣

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/psjmm8sQ7E

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 31, 2021

Brown has accumulated 40 targets (10 per game) since Week 6, which is also the league’s fourth-highest total. He is also WR2 in scoring, second in receiving yards (421/210.5 per game), and third in receptions (7.5 per game) during that span. His percentage share of air yards leads all receivers (55.3%) since Week 6, while he is also seventh in air yards (708). Fantasy managers should be encouraged that Brown attained a league-best 86.6% percentage share of air yards in Week 9 as he also commandeered a 42.3% target share – which was the second-highest share among all wide receivers. Brown also collected 11 targets from Ryan Tannehill which matched his total from Week 8.

Tennessee had ranked 29th in pass play percentage (52.6%), and 22nd in attempts per game (33.1) with Henry functioning as their foundation back, while Tannehill had also been targeting his wide receivers on 60.8% of his passes. Tannehill launched 27 passes in Week 9 with Brown confiscating the massive percentage of opportunities. Just six targets were accrued by other wide receivers (Julio Jones/4), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine/1), (Chester Rogers/1), while Tannehill distributed four targets to members of the restructured backfield (Jeremy McNichols/3), (Adrian Peterson/1).

Brown has contended with multiple health issues this season (hamstring/illness/knee), while he has failed to exceed a 50% catch rate in four of his matchups. However, Brown’s usage and production since Week 6 underscore the degree to which he is perfectly positioned to ignite statistically during Tennessee’s remaining matchups. He remains unchallenged as the Titans’ WR1 while functioning as the most critical component in the team’s transition from the loss of Henry. Brown should easily lead the Titans in every major receiving category while residing among the league leaders In target share, and percentage of air yards -providing that he can evade any lingering injuries.

2. Antonio Brown averaged 8.4 targets, 5.8 receptions, and 83.6 yards per game from Weeks 1-6, and had ascended to WR15 in scoring during that sequence. However, he has been sidelined since Week 7 due to his ankle issue. That has increased Chris Godwin’s usage and output while propelling Godwin to WR3 in Weeks 7-8. 

.@TomBrady + @CGtwelve_ = 6️⃣

?: #TBvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/Uz0GCQtas2

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 31, 2021

Godwin has averaged a team-high 28.8% target share during Brown’s two-game absence, while his 23 targets were exceeded only by Tyreek Hill (27). Godwin’s 11.5 targets per game average also placed him second among all wide receivers, while he was fourth overall in both receptions (16/8 per game), and receiving yards (251/125.5 per game).

Godwin had also averaged 6.6 targets, 5.0 receptions, and 60.8 yards per game from Weeks 2-6, while his 15.1% target share was a distant third behind Brown 21.6%, and Mike Evans 19.9%. during that five-game sequence. He was third in targets (33), and second behind Evans in receptions (25), and receiving yards (304).

Godwin was also averaging 58.2 air yards per game from Weeks 2-6, but that has increased to 89.5 per game while Brown has been sidelined. Godwin’s percentage share of air yards has also improved (15.1%/28.5%), while his yards per reception have also risen from 12.9 to 15.7.

Evans had averaged 8.2 targets, 5.2 receptions, and 70 yards per game from Weeks 1-6, but those averages have actually decreased to 7.0 targets, 4.0 receptions, and 62 yards per game during Brown’s absence. That two-game span contained a blend of Evans’ highly productive outing in Week 7 (10/targets/6 receptions/76 yards/3 touchdowns), and his results from Week 8 (4 targets/2 receptions/48 yards/1 touchdown).

Evans did rise to WR6 in scoring during Weeks 7-8, which was fueled by his league-high four touchdowns – three of which were assembled when the Buccaneers traveled to Chicago in Week 7.

If you started @MikeEvans13_ in @NFLFantasy, you had a good weekend.?@Buccaneers | #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/wFezDMQsqo

— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2021

The eight-year veteran has capitalized on his five red zone targets, which is the third-highest total among all wide receivers during that sequence. Evans was also 14th overall in targets (63/7.9 per game) before Tampa Bay’s bye week and was 19th in receptions (39/4.9 per game), and 17th in receiving yardage (544/68 per game), seventh in yards before catch (444), and second in touchdowns (8).

Godwin was eighth overall in targets (69/8.6 per game), fifth in receptions (50/6.3 per game), sixth in receiving yards (660/82.5 per game), fourth in yards after catch, and was also third in first down receptions.

Bruce Arians has been non-committal regarding the timeline for Brown’s return, although it is unlikely that the 33-year old will resurface for Sunday’s matchup with Washington. He will quickly recapture a sizable share of the targets that have been commandeered by Godwin whenever he does reemerge. The status of Godwin should also be monitored as he contends with his foot issue.

3. Courtland Sutton was fifth among all wide receivers with 50 targets (10.0 per game) from Weeks 2-6, which included three games in which he captured 11+. He was also fourth in receiving yards (457/91.4 per game), after eclipsing 90+ yards in three of those five contests, and accruing a career-high 159 against Jacksonville in Week 2. Sutton also captured 7+ catches in three contests to propel him into eighth overall in receptions (32/6.4 per game). Sutton was also the league leader in air yards during that sequence (836) and was fourth overall in percentage share of air yards (48.1).

However, anyone who has deployed Sutton in their starting lineups is acutely aware that his numbers have diminished considerably since Week 8. Sutton’s target share has dropped from 28.1% to just 12%, while he has been relegated to a total of six targets during his last two matchups (3.0 per game). He has also been limited to three receptions (1.5 per game), and 49 yards (24.5 per game). Sutton had maintained the league lead in air yards until Week 9 but has now been surpassed by Tyreek Hill after his average of 167.2 per game from Weeks 2-6 dropped to only 41.5 per game since Week 7. His percentage share of air yards has also diminished to 22.4%.

Courtland Sutton -

3 games with Jerry Jeudy: 12.3 total fantasy points

6 games without Jeudy: 16.9 fantasy points per game

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) November 8, 2021

Sutton's statistical decline coincides with the return of Jerry Jeudy, who has procured a 24% target share while accumulating 12 targets 6.0 per game, 10 receptions (5.0 per game), and 108 receiving yards )54 per game) since he resurfaced in Week 8. However, Sutton also trails Tim Patrick during that two-game span. Patrick has accrued eight targets (4.0 per game), seven receptions (3.5 per game), and a team-high 149 receiving yards (74.5 per game). Patrick also leads the Broncos in air yards (134) and percentage share of air yards (36.22%) during that sequence. Sutton did lead Denver’s wide receivers in snaps during the Broncos’ Week 9 matchup (65/83.3% share), followed by Patrick 48/61.5% share) and Jeudy (47/60.3% share). Sutton also paced the trio in routes run (28) according to PFF, followed by Patrick (27), and Jeudy (25).

Jeudy commandeered a 32% target share during Denver’s Week 9 matchup in Dallas, while he also paced the Broncos in targets (8), receptions (6). and yards after catch (57).

Patrick is a legitimate WR3 but does not pose a consistent threat to pilfer a sizable percentage of opportunities from the immensely talented Sutton. However, the reemergence of Jeudy after his extended absence (Weeks 2-7) will have a sustained impact on Sutton’s usage.

4. Sutton is not the only wide receiver whose recent usage and production have become problematic.  Kadarius Toney catapulted onto the fantasy landscape in Week 4 after he had only accumulated 24 offensive snaps, five targets, and 14 receiving yards from Weeks 1-3.

Kadarius Toney has been ELECTRIC for the Giants⚡️

He's +1800 to score first tonight pic.twitter.com/C6zkPgq9w5

— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) November 1, 2021

Toney’s target share rose from 4.9% to 25% when the Giants visited New Orleans, as Toney led New York in targets (9), while also collecting six receptions and generating 78 receiving yards. He also accumulated 72 air yards and 50 yards after the catch during that contest. Toney’s usage and production expanded further in Week 5, as he confiscated a team-high 13 targets (28.3% share), captured 10 receptions, and produced 189 receiving yards. He also led the Giants in air yards (192), percentage share of air yards (28.3%), and yards after catch (141) in Weeks 4-5. Toney’s numbers during that two-game sequence also placed him fifth among all wide receivers in targets (22/11 per game), while he was third in receptions (16/8 per game), and second in receiving yards (267/133.5).

Unfortunately for anyone who was benefitting from his statistical eruption, multiple injuries (ankle/thumb) and New York’s burgeoning collection of receiving weapons have conspired to prevent Toney from sustaining those favorable numbers. He did capture all three of his targets and generated 36 yards on just six snaps in Week 6 before he encountered an ankle issue. Toney was absent in Week 7, then he was only targeted six times in Weeks 8-9 combined. That also limited him to a 12% share, five receptions, 35 yards, and 29 air yards, as the Giants have deployed an assemblage of wide receivers during their past two matchups. Toney has been rotating with Slayton, and Golladay, while John Ross and Collin Johnson have also been blended into the equation.

Golladay led the unit in snaps when New York hosted Las Vegas in Week 9 (32), while Toney and Slayton played on 31 snaps. Golladay and Slayton also ran 20 routes, followed by Toney’s 19 according to PFF. Shepard was sidelined in Week 9 with a quad issue, but his potential return in Week 11 will add to the convoluted state of New York's receiving arsenal.

Toney was included on the injury report in Week 9, but he has recently failed to display the elusiveness that allowed him to prevail versus overmatched defenders in Weeks 4-5.

Kadarius Toney 10 targets per game who says nopic.twitter.com/SgrsmKfhpc

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) November 3, 2021

That would present a plausible explanation for the reduction in targets since he resurfaced in the lineup. The bye week will be advantageous toward reducing any lingering impact of his injury. That should also incentivize fantasy managers to avoid any temptation to drop him – even though competition for opportunities will lurk on a weekly basis.

Terry McLaurin this season:

♦️ 33 contested targets
♦️ 0 drops pic.twitter.com/Yrn1hqixoA

— PFF (@PFF) October 29, 2021

5. Terry McLaurin returns from Washington’s Week 9 bye as The Football Team’s only wide receiver who had has reached a target share of 11+. McLaurin easily leads Washington in targets (76/9.5 per game), receptions (43/5.4 per game), receiving yards (573/71.6 per game), air yards (947), and also in percentage share of air yards (45.3%). McLaurin is also pacing the team in first down receptions (27), yards before catch (413), and receiving touchdowns (4).

His ongoing responsibilities as The Football Team’s WR1 had vaulted him to fourth among all wide receivers in targets prior to Washington's bye. He was also second overall in the air yards, second in percentage share of air yards, 12th in receptions, and 14th in receiving yards. McLaurin's status as Washington’s most critical receiving weapon was expected. However, the fact that Adam Humphries is the second among the team's wide receivers in targets (29/3.6 per game), receptions (20/2.5 per game), and receiving yards (220/27.5 per game) is surprising after The Football Team added former Panther Curtis Samuel into their offensive equation during the offseason.

Samuel‘s contributions through Washington’s first eight games consist of five targets, four receptions, 19 receiving yards, and nine air yards. Samuel has also been relegated to only 30 offensive snaps – all of which occurred in Weeks 4 and 5. Those limited performances were sandwiched between extensive absences while he has contended with a protracted groin injury. Fourth-year receiver Cam Sims (hamstring), and rookie Dyami Brown (knee) have been impacted by their own health issues, which has limited the tandem to a combined 25 targets, 11 receptions, and 133 yards.

Terry McLaurin makes a ridiculous catch.pic.twitter.com/QkUu66d3PM

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 12, 2021

However, even though McLaurin will not encounter sizable competition for targets from Washington’s other wide receivers, only five teams target their running backs with greater frequency (24.5%)  than the Football Team. That is largely a byproduct of J.D. McKissic’s integral role within the team’s aerial efforts. He is currently third at his position in targets (42/5.3 per game), receptions (32/4.1 per game), and receiving yards (332/41.5 per game). McKissic also led all backs in targets (24/8 per game), receptions (20/6.7 per game), and receiving yards 182/60.7 per game) from Weeks 6-8.

Logan Thomas captured the second-highest target behind McLaurin from Weeks 1-3, (16.1%), and should eventually return following his extended absence (hamstring). Thomas will be joining McKissic in functioning as Washington’s most targeted weapons behind McLaurin and they should all operate with Taylor Heinicke under center for the foreseeable future. Ryan Fitzpatrick is still recovering from the hip subluxation that he suffered just 16 snaps into Washington’s season opener, and his return is not imminent.

This will sustain Heinicke under center as he continues to spearhead the Football Team's offense. Heinicke has demonstrated the ability to keep McLaurin highly involved as his preferred receiving option, and that will not be altered during the upcoming weeks. Fantasy managers can easily embrace McLaurin’s fundamental responsibilities within the passing attack and can expect high-end WR2 production from McLaurin during his remaining matchups.