Wide Receiver Breakouts for Fantasy Football: Targets, Air Yards, Snaps Trends for DeVonta Smith, Jahan Dotson, Isaiah Hodgins, Richie James

Congratulations to all of you who are playing for a fantasy championship. Your wide receivers remain essential components toward your primary goal of capturing your league's title, and an expanding assortment of tools is available that can provide you with an extensive level of knowledge regarding this critical position.

Those results are contained in this weekly statistical breakdown of multiple categories, which is designed to help you fulfill your championship aspirations. This will be the 16th installment that will examine game-specific data, including updated totals for targets, targets per route run, red-zone targets, yards per route run, snap counts, and a compilation of additional statistics. The information that is contained in this weekly report will analyze how various receivers are being utilized, and how effectively they are capitalizing on their opportunities.

This massive collection of data also supplies the foundation from which the numbers that are generated in various categories can be evaluated. This week’s article will bolster your efforts to determine which wide receivers should be in your Week 17 lineups. Pro Football Reference, PFF, NextGenStats, Rotowire, Rotoviz, and Football Outsiders were all used as resources in compiling this data. Good luck to everyone in your matchups this week.

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Week 16 Target Leaders

Just another record-setting afternoon for @JJettas2.

📺: #MINvsGB @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/9mBO7DprMU

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 26, 2022

Justin Jefferson has now accumulated 174 targets from Weeks 1-16 which leads all wide receivers. His overall total has been constructed with 11+ targets during 11 different matchups this season including five consecutive games from Weeks 12-16.

Davante Adams is second overall with 160 targets. He has only averaged 8.3 targets per game since Week 14 after averaging a league-high 12.0 targets per game from Weeks 8-13.

Tyreek Hill has now collected 158 targets with a season-long total that has been built with nine games in which he has attained a double-digit target total and three contests in which he has failed to exceed six targets.

Stefon Diggs is fourth overall with 144 targets even though he is only 16th overall with 45 targets (7.5 per game) since Week 11. CeeDee Lamb has now captured 135 targets after he was targeted 11 times in Week 16. He has now secured a double-digit total during three of his last seven games while averaging just 6.3 per game during his other four matchups during that sequence.

Amon-Ra St Brown putting on a route running clinic. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/mjxi8NnEXQ

— DLB (@DetLionBlood) December 21, 2022

Amon-Ra St. Brown is next with 132 targets, including 10+ in eight different matchups. St. Brown is also third overall with 92 targets (10.2 per game) since Week 8. Diontae Johnson had only averaged 5.0 per game in Weeks 10-11 but has now averaged 8.8 per game since Week 12. That has expanded his overall total to 130.

D.K. Metcalf has now collected 128 targets. He is also sixth overall with 51 targets (10.2 per game) since Week 12. That ties Metcalf with Michael Pittman Jr., who has eclipsed 11+ twice in his last five matchups while failing to surpass seven during the other three contests.

A.J. Brown has established a career-high with his 126 targets while averaging 8.4 per game. His first game with Gardner Minshew under center for Philadelphia will be examined in the Five Things I Noticed section.

Brown is also tied with Chris Godwin (126) who has collected 10+ targets during seven of his last 10 games. He is also third overall with 107 targets (10.7 per game) during that sequence.

Amari Cooper is next with 125 targets and is also fifth among all wide receivers with 56 targets (9.3 per game) since Week 11. Christian Kirk has accumulated 122 targets even though he has failed to surpass 7.0 per game during two of his last three matchups. That ties Kirk with Ja’Marr Chase who is second among all wide receivers with 40 targets (13.3 per game) since Week 14.

Yes, @GarrettWilson_V is different.#DETvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/oJs2wUw5vy

— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 18, 2022

Garrett Wilson has captured 119 targets, including an average of 10.0 per game during his last four outings. Wilson has also collected 9+ during three of his last four games.

DeVonta Smith (115) has now accumulated at least eight targets in seven consecutive matchups. That includes the 12 that he attained in Week 16 which matched his season high. Mike Evans has also been targeted 115 times including 8+ during four of his last five games.

Zay Jones is next (110) even though he has averaged just 6.0 per game since Week 15. Terry McLaurin has collected 109 targets, although he has failed to exceed six during three of his last four contests.

Tyler Lockett’s season total of 108 remains unchanged due to his absence in Week 16 (hand injury). D.J. Moore has failed to reach a double-digit target total since Week 8. However, he still has accumulated 104 entering Week 17.

In the endzone early 👏#CINvsNE | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/6zGs2iFUuh

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 24, 2022

Tee Higgins has now averaged 8.5 per game since Week 15 which has expanded his overall total to 102. That ties Higgins with Chris Olave, even though the rookie has not attained a double-digit target total since Week 7.

Drake London has now accumulated 9+ targets in three consecutive outings after he had averaged 5.0 per game from Weeks 3-12. Adam Thielen completes the list of 26 receivers who have been targeted 100+ times from Weeks 1-16 even though he has averaged just 4.5 per game since Week 15.

Five different wide receivers have eclipsed an average of 10.0 targets per game entering Week 17: Jefferson (11.6), Chase (11.1), Adams (10.7), Hopkins (10.7), and Hill (10.5).

Week 16 Target Risers And Fallers 

14 different wide receivers accumulated 10+ targets during their matchups in Week 16. That includes Justin Jefferson, who accrued the highest total at his position for a third consecutive week. He has now captured 15+ targets in all three of those outings while securing 16 targets during each of his last two games.

.@Keenan13Allen's season-high in receiving yards came just in time to clinch the @chargers a playoff berth. pic.twitter.com/YgPDvzbgHT

— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2022

Keenan Allen has now captured 14 targets in three of his last four matchups after reaching that total during the Chargers' Week 16 visit to Indianapolis. Allen has now accumulated 51 targets during that four-game span (12.8 per game) which places him second only to Jefferson.

Amon-Ra St. Brown captured 13 targets and has now collected 12+ during two of his last four games. St. Brown has also averaged 11.0 per game during that four-game sequence.

Ja’Marr Chase (12) has now eclipsed 10+ targets in eight of his 11 matchups this season while he has also accomplished it during six of his last seven games. DeVonta Smith also collected 12 targets in Week 16 and has now accumulated 62 during his last seven outings (8.9 per game).

The 12 targets that were collected by Richie James in Week 16 represented the second-highest weekly total of his career. James had been averaging just 3.2 targets per game from Weeks 1-13 but that average has skyrocketed to 8.7 per game since Week 14.

CeeDee Lamb captured 11 targets for the second time during his last five matchups and has now averaged 8.9 per game since Week 10. Allen Lazard accumulated 11 targets for the second time this season and has now secured a double-digit target total during three of his last seven games. However, those outings have been interspersed with four contests in which he averaged just 3.8 per game.

Greg Dortch's toe tap gets the Cardinals closer to FG range. @_GDortch

📺: #TBvsAZ on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/3PGayaJdLH pic.twitter.com/ZrZEOVdMuk

— NFL (@NFL) December 26, 2022

Greg Dortch established a new career-high when he captured 11 targets during Arizona’s Week 16 matchup with Tampa Bay. Dortch has now been targeted 10+ times in three different matchups this season while also failing to exceed three targets in nine other games.

Isaiah Hodgins joined the Giants in mid-November and has now averaged 7.0 targets per game since Week 13. That includes the career-high 11 that he accrued when New York traveled to Minnesota in Week 16.

Chris Godwin has now attained a double-digit target total during eight of his 12 matchups since Week 4 after he was targeted 10 times by Tom Brady in Week 16. That ties Godwin with Amari Cooper whose 10 targets represented his first double-digit total since Week 12. It was also the seventh time that Cooper has eclipsed 10+ this season.

DeAndre Hopkins also captured 10 targets and has now secured double-digit target totals in seven of his nine matchups this season. Hopkins was joined by Jerry Jeudy who had only reached double digits once during his first 12 games this season before he accumulated 10 targets in Week 16.

Greg Dortch operated with a 93% snap share in Week 11 while collecting nine of his 10 targets and generating a career-high 103 yards. He was then relegated to a total of 10 snaps in Weeks 14-15 and failed to register a target. However, he secured a career-high 11 targets in Week 16 which resulted in the largest week-to-week increase at his position (+11).

Allen Lazard’s fluctuating target totals this season have included six games in which he has collected 8+ targets and four contests in which he has failed to exceed four. He had also been limited to a season-low two targets in Week 15 but was targeted 11 times by Aaron Rodgers when Green Bay visited Miami in Week 16. That fueled his weekly rise of +9.

HOW DID KENDRICK BOURNE CATCH THIS 🤯

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

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) December 24, 2022

Kendrick Bourne only attained a 17% snap share in Week 15 and was limited to just one target. His share rose to 57% when the Patriots hosted Cincinnati in Week 16 while he also garnered a season-high nine targets during the matchup. That resulted in his weekly increase of +8.

New York Giant teammates Isaiah Hodgins (4) and Richie James (5) combined for nine targets when the Giants visited NFC East rival Washington in Week 15. However, the tandem also collected 23 targets when New York visited Minnesota in Week 16 (Hodgins 11), James (12). That propelled both receivers to week-to-week increases of +7.

K.J. Osborn stockpiled a career-high 16 targets in Week 15 which was just only the second time in 40 career games that he had secured a target total of 10+. However, Osborn was only targeted four times in Week 16, which created the largest weekly decline among all wide receivers (-12).

A.J. Brown tied his career high when he captured 16 targets in Week 15. He was also targeted eight times by Gardner Minshew in Week 16, which automatically fueled his weekly drop of -8.

Four different wide receivers experienced week-to-week reductions with -7. That includes Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs, who are both among the top four in overall targets but only combined for eight targets in Week 16.

Noah Brown tied his previous career high when he accrued nine targets in Week 15. He was relegated to just two targets when Dallas hosted Philadelphia in Week 16, which resulted in his weekly drop of -7.

Week 16 Air Yards

Tyreek Hill has accumulated 1,893 air yards which leads all wide receivers. Davante Adams is second overall (1,844), followed by Justin Jefferson (1,758), Stefon Diggs (1,573), A.J. Brown (1,497), Amari Cooper (1,489), Chris Olave (1,475), Mike Evans (1,431), Terry McLaurin (1,420), and D.K. Metcalf, who is 10th overall with 1,379 air yards.

CeeDee Lamb is next (1,357), followed by Jaylen Waddle (1,331), Diontae Johnson (1,311), D.J. Moore (1,289), Gabriel Davis (1,253), Garrett Wilson (1,220), DeVonta Smith (1,169), Courtland Sutton (1,168), and Tyler Lockett, who has accumulated 1,136 air yards.

Allen Lazard has now accrued 1,134 air yards, followed by Mack Hollins (1,108), Christian Kirk (1,083), Ja’Marr Chase (1,071), Chase’s teammate Tee Higgins (1,069), George Pickens (1,046), Donovan Peoples-Jones (1,042), and Drake London, who completes the list of 27 wide receivers who have eclipsed 1,000 air yards (1,013).

D.J. Moore is pacing all wide receivers with an air yards share of 46.9%. DeAndre Hopkins is second overall (42.8%), followed by Justin Jefferson (41.2%), Davante Adams (40.6%), Tyreek Hill (40.1%), A.J. Brown (39.9%), Amari Cooper (39.7%), Darius Slayton (37.7%), and Ja’Marr Chase, who has attained an air yards share of 37.2%.

D.K. Metcalf is next (36.8%), followed by CeeDee Lamb (36.4%), Chris Olave (36.4%), Terry McLaurin (35.8%), Marquise Brown (35.5%), Mike Evans (34.4%), Stefon Diggs (33.8%), and Allen Lazard, who has secured an air yards share of 33.2%.

Diontae Johnson has attained a share of 33.1%, followed by Mike Williams (33.0%), Tyler Lockett (32.6%), Drake London (32.1%), DeVonta Smith (31.1%), Nico Collins (31.0%), Tee Higgins (31.0%), and D.J. Chark, who has secured an air yards share of 30.3%.

Week 16 Targets Per Route Run

Tyreek Hill and DeAndre Hopkins are both being targeted on 36.4% of their routes which leaves the tandem tied for the highest percentage among all wide receivers.

Keenan Allen is a close third at 36.2%, followed by Amon-Ra St. Brown (34.8%), Deebo Samuel (34.7%), Christian Watson (34.2%), Davante Adams (33.5%), Chris Olave (30.8%), CeeDee Lamb (29.8%), A.J. Brown (29.2%), and Drake London, who has been targeted on 28.6% of his routes.

Chris Godwin is next (28.5%), followed by Justin Jefferson (28.4%), Brandon Aiyuk (28.2%), Michael Pittman (28.1%), Amari Cooper (27.7%), Nico Collins (27.2%), and D.K. Metcalf who is being targeted on 26.6% of his routes.

Jakobi Meyers is next (26.5%), followed by Meyers’ teammate Nelson Agholor (25.9%), Ja’Marr Chase (25.8%), and two receivers who are being targeted on 25.7% of the routes - Allen, Lazard, and Marquise Brown. Garrett Wilson and Demarcus Robinson are tied at 25.5% followed by Jaylen Waddle (25.2%) and two receivers that are being targeted on 25.1% of their routes – Tee Higgins, and DeVonta Smith.

Week 16 Yards Per Route Run

Tyreek Hill continues to lead all wide receivers with an average of 3.76 yards per route run. Christian Watson is now second (3.08), followed by A.J. Brown (3.02), Keenan Allen (2.96), Jaylen Waddle (2.96), Justin Jefferson (2.87), Chris Olave (2.84), Amon-Ra St. Brown (2.77), DeAndre Hopkins (2.72), Davante Adams (2.7), CeeDee Lamb (2.66), and Tee Higgins, who is averaging 2.52 yards per route run.

Brandon Aiyuk is next (2.49), followed by Terry McLaurin (2.47), Mike Williams (2.4), Jakobi Meyers (2.39), Deebo, Samuel (2.34), Darius Slayton (2.27), Stefon Diggs (2.24), Amari Cooper (2.22), and DeVonta Smith, who is averaging 2.21 yards per route run.

Jerry Jeudy is next (2.18), followed by Garrett Wilson (2.14), DeVante Parker (2.11), Tyler Lockett (2.1), Lockett’s teammate D.K. Metcalf (2.09), Randall Cobb (2.06), Juju Smith-Schuster (2.06), Ja’Marr Chase (2.03), and Allen Lazard (2.01) who completes the list of 30 wide receivers who are averaging at least 2.00 yards per route run.

Week 16 Red Zone Targets

Clutch Cousins finds the MVP to extend the #Vikings lead.@KirkCousins8 @JJettas2

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/z9hoZVJGWw

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 24, 2022

Justin Jefferson has now stockpiled 15 red zone targets during his last eight games which has expanded his league-leading total to 27 from Weeks 1-16. D.K. Metcalf and Ja’Marr Chase are tied for second with 24 targets inside the 20, followed by Stefon Diggs 22, and two receivers that have collected 21 - Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Christian Kirk.

Garrett Wilson and Adam Thielen have captured 18 targets, while Amari Cooper and Zay Jones have been targeted 17 times. Five different receivers have garnered 15 red zone targets – A.J. Brown, Chris Godwin, Diontae Johnson, Allen Lazard, and Russell Gage – while Christian Watson has accrued 14 targets inside the 20.

Jefferson also leads the position with 17 targets inside the 10, followed by Diggs with 12 and three receivers who have been targeted 10 times: Kirk, Adams, and Wilson. Four receivers have received nine targets inside the 10 (Metcalf/Chase/Godwin/Josh Reynolds), while Brown, Lazard, and Curtis Samuel have been targeted eight times.

Diggs and Kirk are tied for the league lead with eight targets inside the 5-yard line while Adams, Chase, and St. Brown have all collected six.

Week 16 Snap Counts

D.J. Moore leads all wide receivers with a 96.5% snap share from Weeks 1-16. Michael Pittman is second overall (96.45%), followed by Justin Jefferson (95.87%), Davante Adams (95.3%), Mack Hollins (93.7%), Ja’Marr Chase (93.6%), Adam Thielen (92.0%), Brandon Aiyuk (91.7%), Marquise Brown (91.7%), and Gabriel Davis, who has played on 91.2% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps.

Allen Lazard is next (90.7%), followed by Terry McLaurin (90.6%), DeVonta Smith (90.5%), Diontae Johnson (89.8%), Donovan Peoples-Jones (89.8%), Courtland Sutton (88.7%), Christian Kirk (88.2%), DeAndre Hopkins (88.2%), and CeeDee Lamb who has performed on 87.3% of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps.

Zay Jones is next (86.4%), followed by Chase Claypool (86.3%), Mike Evans (84.6%), A.J. Brown (84.4%), Parris Campbell (83.8%), and Amari Cooper, who has attained a snap share of 83.8%.

Justin Jefferson leads all wide receivers with 952 offensive snaps from Weeks 1-16.  His teammate Adam Thielen and Terry McLaurin are tied with 914 snaps, followed by DeVonta Smith (908), Donovan Peoples-Jones (906), Michael Pittman (896), and two receivers who are tied with 872 offensive snaps - Davante Adams, and Diontae Johnson.

Mack Hollins is next (857), followed by CeeDee Lamb (853), Christian Kirk (851), Brandon Aiyuk (847), A.J. Brown (846), Amari Cooper (845), Gabriel Davis (835), and D.J. Moore, who has played on 826 offensive snaps.

Mike Evans is next (822), followed by Parris Campbell (819), Zay Jones (794), Stefon, Diggs (749), George Pickens (747), Chris Godwin (746), and Garrett Wilson, who has played on 741 offensive snaps. K.J. Osborn is next (736), followed by D.K. Metcalf (734), Curtis Samuel (733,) Allen Lazard (732), Courtland Sutton (722), Tyler Boyd (712), and Drake London, completing the list of 31 wide receivers who have eclipsed 700 offensive snaps entering Week 17.

Five Things I Noticed  

1. The absence of Jalen Hurts during Philadelphia’s NFC East showdown with Dallas was undeniably impactful to fantasy managers, who had become accustomed to his prolific numbers throughout the season. A similar level of uneasiness was experienced by anyone who had been reliant on A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith as their teams progressed on the path into the fantasy postseason.

Philadelphia had ranked 11th overall in passing yardage (235.5 per game) while Hurts was spearheading the Eagles' offense, while the Eagles were second overall in scoring (29.4 points per game). Hurts was 13th overall in passing attempts (425/30.4 per game), 13th in completions (286/20.4 per game), 10th in passing yardage (3,472/248 per game), and had built a 22:5 touchdown to interception ratio from Weeks 1-15.

AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith are the first Eagles teammates to both have 1,000 receiving yards in a season

They have combined for 17 receiving TDs, the most by a duo in NFC this year

AJ is 105 yards away from Mike Quick’s Eagles record for receiving yards in a season pic.twitter.com/jftX6GiPyY

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 26, 2022

Hurts' connections with Brown had already propelled the former Titan to career highs in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and yards before catch with Brown functioning as Hurts’ primary receiving weapon. He was also seventh overall with a 29.2% target share entering Week 16 and had elevated to 10th among all wide receivers with 118 targets (8.4 per game). His usage included seven games in which he had collected 8+ targets, while he had also reached a double-digit target total in five different contests.

68 big ones#PHIvsCHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/N2YUdm6fFm

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 18, 2022

Brown was also fifth with 1,201 receiving yards (85.8 per game), fourth in air yards share (41.4%), sixth in air yards (1,404), and 13th in receptions (74/5.3 per game). Brown had collected 10 touchdown passes from Hurts which tied him for second overall. He was fourth with his average of 3.06 yards per route run and was also ninth in targets per route run (30.0%).

Smith was also constructing a highly-productive season with Hurts, as the second-year receiver had ascended to 17th overall in target share entering Week 16 (25.3%), and was 20th overall with 103 targets (7.4 per game) He was also 12th in yards after catch (377, and 16th in both receptions (71/5.1 per game), and receiving yards (901/ 64.4 per-game). Smith was also 12th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA (Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average).  Smith was also 20th in routes run (419), had been targeted on 24.6% of his routes, and was averaging 2.15 yards per route run.

Minshew performed capably during his Week 16 performance while completing 24 of his 40 attempts, and generating 355 yards. Minshew also connected with Smith for two touchdowns, while Smith also secured a 35.3% target share  - which placed him fourth among all wide receivers. Smith also tied for fourth overall with 12 targets, was fifth in receptions (8), and sixth in receiving yards (113).

🎥 DeVonta Smith put on a receiving clinic Saturday vs. Dallas. Here’s every clutch catch he made in the second half. pic.twitter.com/KzpAvvzpvO

— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) December 26, 2022

Smith also paced Philadelphia in air yards (152) and air yards share (41.9%), ran 40 routes, was targeted on 30% of those routes, and also averaged 2.83 yards per route run during his first matchup with Minshew under center.

.@GardnerMinshew5 ➡️ @DeVontaSmith_6 again!#PHIvsDAL | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/gPnjfmgeR0

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 24, 2022

Brown attained a 23.5% target share while collecting six of his eight targets from Minshew. Brown also finished eighth among all wide receivers with 103 yards while generating 93 air yards, and securing a 25.6% air yards share. He also led the Eagles in yards after catch (29), ran 39 routes, was targeted on 20.5% percent of those routes, and averaged 2.64 yards per route run.

GARDNER MINSHEW TO A.J. BROWN pic.twitter.com/cESZ2Pco8h

— PFF (@PFF) December 24, 2022

Fantasy managers should monitor the status of Hurts’ shoulder as the Eagles’ matchup with New Orleans approaches. However, anyone with Brown or Smith on their rosters can remain confident that both receivers will deliver favorable numbers regardless of which quarterback is under center.

2. Washington secured Jahan Dotson with the 16th overall selection during last April’s NFL Draft which also made him the fifth wide receiver to be chosen during the draft process. Dotson’s initial season began with encouraging results, as he attained a 91.2% snap share from Weeks 1-3.

He also accumulated 18 targets (6.0 per game), 9.0 targets (3.0 per game), and 109 receiving yards (36.3 yards per game) while soaring to second overall with three touchdowns and rising to WR33 during that sequence.

Dotson encountered a hamstring injury in Week 4 which abruptly halted the statistical momentum of his promising rookie season. He was sidelined from Weeks 5-9, then operated with a modest 5.7% target share from Weeks 10-12 (4 targets/2 receptions/27 yards).

However, Dotson’s relevance has been resurrected amid a statistical surge that has developed from Weeks 13-16 as his target share has risen to 23.8% Dotson also leads Washington with 24 targets (8.0 per game), and receiving touchdowns (3), while he is second to Terry McLaurin in receptions (15/5.0 per game), and receiving yards (235/78.3 yards per game) during that span.

.@JahanDotson with the score‼️

📺 #WASvsSF CBS pic.twitter.com/WyK5XUcDoO

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 24, 2022

Dotson also leads the Commanders in air yards (299), and air yards share (31.1%), has been targeted on 37.5% of his routes, and has also averaged 3.67 yards per route run during those matchups.

During his last two games, Dotson accumulated 15 targets, collected 10 receptions, and generated at least 76 yards in both outings. That includes the season-high 105 that he assembled during Washington’s NFC East showdown with the Giants in Week 15.

This catch though! @JahanDotson stays makin' plays

📺 #WASvsSF CBS pic.twitter.com/DSoxScKblm

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 24, 2022

Dotson also leads the Commandeers with a 24.6% target share since Week 15 and is also pacing the team in targets, receiving yards, yards after catch (35), air yards (210), air yards share (32.5%), routes run (181), targets per route run (23.4%), and 2.83 yards per route run.

OH. MY. GOD.

📺 #NYGvsWAS NBC pic.twitter.com/Gr5jt4ZEbO

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 19, 2022

Dotson also led Washington in target share (26.5%), when the Commandeers traveled to San Francisco in Week 16, while he also captured team-highs in targets (9), and receptions (6).

McLaurin is second on the team with a 22.8% target share since Dotson’s statistical re-emergence in Week 13. McLaurin is also second to Dotson in targets (23/7.7 per game), air yards (278), and air yards share (28.9%). McLaurin leads Washington in receptions (18/6.0 per game), receiving yards (252/84 per game), and yards after catch (90).  Curtis Samuel is third in target share behind Dotson and McLaurin (16.8%) since Week 13, while averaging 5.7 targets, 4.7 receptions, and 53 yards per game.

Dotson can be infused into starting lineups as a WR3 when Washington hosts Cleveland on Sunday as he should remain productive with Carson Wentz under center. Samuel is now a flex option with Wentz guiding the attack while McLaurin can be deployed as a low-end WR2.

3. The meteoric rise to relevance that has been achieved by Isaiah Hodgins has been highly beneficial for the Giants. It has also provided fantasy managers with an unexpected resource during the fantasy postseason. 

Obligatory Isaiah Hodgins is a good NFL WR tweet pic.twitter.com/pIFE9bkQAG

— MereKat (@MereKatKat) December 24, 2022

Hodgins was selected by Buffalo in Round 6 of the 2020 NFL Draft but was sidelined throughout the 2020 season (shoulder) and was limited to four offensive snaps during 2021. He had also been relegated to 16 snaps, six targets, and 41 receiving yards from Weeks 1-6 with the Bills this season before the Giants claimed Hodgins off waivers in early November. 

Career day for Isaiah Hodgins with 8 catches 89 yards & a TD grab.

His releases & ability to make tough catches has been friendly for Daniel Jones. He has a 80% catch rate & 3 TD’s over 7 games with the Giants pic.twitter.com/g2XQ6Y25pS

— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) December 26, 2022

Hodgins has secured an 81.3% snap share in seven games with New York and has also attained a 20.6% target share since Week 13. He has also averaged 7.0 targets, 5.3 receptions, and 52 yards per game from Weeks 13-16.

He is also 23rd in targets (28), 16th in receptions (21), and 33rd in receiving yards (208) while vaulting to third with three touchdowns during that sequence. Hodgins has also ascended inside the top 30 in air yards (260) and is 20th in air yards share (34.9%) during those contests.

Hodgins also secured a 26.8% target share when the Giants traveled to Minnesota in Week 16 while establishing career highs in targets (11), receptions (8), and receiving yards (89), and producing a touchdown for the third time in four weeks. He also ran 47 routes, was targeted on 25.5% of those routes and averaged 1.89 yards per route run.

Hodgins' teammate Richie James has also surfaced as a prospective roster resource in the aftermath of his recent numbers. James was selected in Round 7 by San Francisco in 2018 and remained with the 49ers through 2021. James accumulated 59 targets, 38 receptions, and 689 receiving yards during his tenure with San Francisco before signing with the Giants last March.

GORGEOUS throw from Daniel Jones to Richie James...

Pitch perfect -- that's the deep ball we remember from DJ #NYG pic.twitter.com/8OXFlDRB68

— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) December 24, 2022

He has averaged 4.3 targets, 3.3 receptions, and 32.9 yards per game while operating on 84.5% of his routes from the slot this season, but those averages have risen significantly since Week 14. James has attained a 25.2% target share while vaulting to 11th overall in targets (26/8.3 per game), 10th in receptions (19/6.3 per game), and 17th in receiving yards (193/64.3 per game).

He has also captured 9+ targets, 7+ receptions, and 60+ yards twice during that three-game span, which includes the season highs that he secured in Week 16: 12 targets/8 receptions/90 yards. He has also accumulated 171 air yards, secured a 30.1% air yards share since Week 14 while being targeted on 19% percent of his routes, and averaging 1.41 yards per route run.

Hodgins and James have both seized sizable roles while joining Darius Slayton in operating as the primary weapons for Daniel Jones. Their late-season statistical rise has transpired at an opportune time for fantasy managers. Hodgins’ numbers’ have been consistent since he emerged as a perimeter presence and he can be deployed as a WR4 this week. James can be used as a WR4/flex in deeper leagues.

4. Several wide receivers who delivered highly-productive outings during their Week 16 matchups have been examined due to the importance of their performances to fantasy managers who were attempting to advance to their leagues’ championship games. Unfortunately, other wide receivers who had been providing favorable scoring totals to their managers were unable to sustain their recent output during their critical Week 16 matchups.

This includes Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, who had also established new career highs in targets prior to Jacksonville’s matchup with the Jets. Kirk and Jones had also capitalized on the opportunities that had been distributed by Trevor Lawrence while launching into the top 20 in PPR scoring (Kirk-WR10), (Jones-WR19).

Lawrence was fifth among all quarterbacks in passing yardage from Weeks 12-15 (1,186/296.5 per game). He was also sixth in attempts during that sequence (152/38 per game), seventh in completions (103/26 per game), and had generated a league-high 11 touchdowns. The second-year signal caller had also constructed a 24:7 touchdown to interception ratio during the Jaguars’ first 15 matchups.

Christian Kirk had been the primary beneficiary of Lawrence’s career ascension as he entered Week 16 with a 25.4% target share - which placed him 22nd overall. He was also 11th with a career-high 116 targets (8.3 per game), fifth in red zone targets (19), sixth in routes run (471), sixth in touchdowns (7), and 10th in receiving yards (966/69 per game) He had also been targeted on 24.6% of his routes and was also averaging 2.05 yards per route run.

Zay Jones had already eviscerated his previous career highs in multiple categories, including targets, receptions, and receiving yards. His 24.1% target share had nearly matched Kirk’s percentage while launching him to 27th overall. Jones was also 18th in targets (106/9.2 per game), and 13th in receptions (74/5.7 per game) while accumulating 901 air yards, accruing 265 yards after the catch and securing a 27.0% air yards share. Jones was also 16th overall with 423 routes, had been targeted on 25.1% of those routes, and was averaging 1.81 blank yards per route run.

The tandem encountered a formidable Jet pass defense and unwanted weather conditions when they traveled to New York. This presented fantasy managers with a dilemma as they considered whether to retain both receivers in their lineups. The combination of rain, wind, and New York's secondary ultimately prevented both receivers from continuing the level of production that they had sustained throughout the season.

Kirk was targeted six times by Lawrence which was his lowest total since Week 6. He also registered his lowest reception total since Week 8 (3), and his 22 yards were the fewest since Week 5. Kirk ran 36 routes but was only targeted on 16.7% of his routes, and averaged 0.61 yards per route run.

Jones registered his second-lowest totals of the season in targets (4), and receiving yards (14), while his one reception established a new season low. Jones ran 27 routes but was only targeted on 14.8% of his routes, and averaged 0.52 yards per route run.

Hopefully, anyone who started Kirk or Jones during their Week 16 matchups will be progressing into their leagues’ championships as both receivers will be positioned to deliver highly-productive outings when the Jaguars visit Houston on Sunday.

5. Kirk and Jones were not the only wide receivers whose numbers in Week 16 fueled an escalating degree of frustration and concern for fantasy managers. This includes the performances of several other prominent receivers who delivered disappointing results. 

Stefon Diggs spearheads this list even though his season-long total of 144 targets has been exceeded by just three other wide receivers (Justin Jefferson/Davante Adams/Tyreek Hill). Diggs had secured a 29.7% target share from Weeks 1-12 while averaging 10.8 targets per game and capturing 10+ during seven of his 11 matchups.

However, Diggs’ target share has dropped to 17.8% since Week 14, while he has only averaged 5.3 per game during his last three outings. That includes his season-low of two when Buffalo traveled to Chicago in Week 16. That diminished weekly total was also his lowest since Week 1 of the 2019 regular season - when Diggs was running routes as a Minnesota Viking.

The decreased usage has understandably fueled a decline in Diggs's output during that sequence. Diggs had averaged 109.4 yards per game from Weeks 1-10 which placed him third among all wide receivers during that sequence. However, his yards per game average has plummeted to 56.7 from Weeks 11-16 while plunging further to 41.0 per game average since Week 14.

The downturn has been alarmingly similar to his reception totals as Diggs was averaging 8.0 per game from Weeks 1-10 but that average has plunged to 3.3 per game since Week 14. Multiple factors have contributed to the depletion of targets, receptions, and yardage including several games with unfavorable weather conditions

Josh Allen was also averaging 37.3 attempts, 23.8 completions, and 290.4 yards per game from Weeks 1-12, but only registered 27 attempts/16 completions/147 yards when Buffalo hosted the Jets in Week 14. He was also limited to 172 yards and 15 completions with his 26 attempts when the Bills journeyed to Chicago in Week 16.

However, the distribution of targets has also been modified in recent weeks. Diggs’ 17.8% target share since Week 14 also ties him with Gabriel Davis during the Bills’ last three contests while both wide receivers trail team leader Dawson Knox (22.2%). Knox had been just fourth on the Bills with a 10.9% target share from Weeks 1-13 prior to his recent surge in opportunities. Allen also launched passes to 10 different receiving weapons in Week 16, including a team-high six to Davis and five to Knox.

However, Diggs should capture a larger target share when Buffalo visits Cincinnati on Monday Night. Weather should not provide an impediment while Allen is also acutely aware that locating Diggs improves Buffalo’s chances of prevailing in the critical matchup.

More Fantasy Football Analysis