Wide Receiver Sleepers, Risers, Breakouts for Fantasy Football - Targets, Air Yards, Snaps Trends for Week 13

You are already aware that wide receivers will play a critical role in the success of your teams. The undeniable volatility that exists with the running back position has also presented an increasing rationale for prioritizing wide receivers when you build your rosters -- both at the onset of your drafts and as you manage your teams throughout the entire season.

The numbers that are generated by all wide receivers provide the foundation for this weekly statistical breakdown of the position, which I will be constructing for a sixth consecutive season. This will be the 12th installment that will examine game-specific data, including updated totals for targets, air yards, targets per route run, yards per route run, red zone targets, and snap counts. 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.

As the season progresses, noteworthy changes in usage and production will be blended into the equation. Statistics from our player pages at RotoBaller were included during the compilation of data, while Pro Football Reference, PFF, Rotowire, Fantasy Points Data, NextGenStats, and Rotoviz were also used as resources in the creation of this report.

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Targets

Keenan Allen got his on SNF:

16 Targets
14 Receptions
106 Receiving Yards

⚡️⚡️ pic.twitter.com/KyD2e1LeMP

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 27, 2023

Keenan Allen has maintained his league lead in targets while expanding his season-long total to 129. His rise atop the league in this category has been fueled by the 46 targets that he has stockpiled since Week 10. The 11-year year veteran has also collected 9+ in 10 of his 11 matchups this season.

Stefon Diggs is now second overall with 121 targets, including the 11 that he secured in Week 12. It was the seventh time that Diggs has eclipsed 10+ this season although it was also the first time he has accomplished it since Week 8.

Tyreek Hill is third with 120 targets after capturing 12 during Miami’s AFC East matchup with the Jets in Week 12. He has now accumulated 10+ targets in eight different contests this season, including six consecutive games from Weeks 6-12. He has also averaged 11.8 per game during that six-game span.

Aidan O’Connell hits Davante Adams for a BIG gain 🎯pic.twitter.com/T7EZ1CRnaI

— Raider Nation (@RaidersNationCP) November 26, 2023

Davante Adams has now accumulated 118 targets, even though he has failed to exceed seven in five of his last eight matchups. Adams stockpiled a league-high 33 targets in Weeks 3-4 while averaging 16.5 per game. However, since Week 5, he is 11th among all wide receivers with 68 targets while averaging 8.5 per game.

Garrett Wilson has now risen to fifth overall with 113 targets after he captured 10 in Week 12. He has now eclipsed 10+ during five of his last six matchups after only accomplishing it once from Weeks 1-5. Wilson has also averaged 11.7 per game since Week 6.

Ja'Marr Chase has now accrued 112 targets, including four games in which he secured 12+. However, he has now failed to exceed seven targets during each of his last three matchups, while averaging 6.3 per game during that sequence. Chase had led the league with an average of 13.6 per game from Weeks 3-8.

Michael Pittman Jr. is next with 111 after collecting 13 in Week 12. It was the second consecutive outing in which he has accumulated 12+ and the fourth time in his last six games. Pittman is now averaging 10.8 per game from Weeks 6-12, and 10.1 per game from Weeks 1-12.

Puka Nacua … 😮‍💨

Put that dude on skates
pic.twitter.com/fOrqHDE4ul

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) November 26, 2023

Puka Nacua has also collected 111 targets, even though he has been limited to seven during four of his last six contests. Nacua had stockpiled a league-high 82 targets while averaging 11.7 per game from Weeks 1-7. Since Week 8, he has been just 32nd overall with 29 targets while averaging 7.3 per game.

Amon-Ra St. Brown has now accumulated 108 targets, including 11 during each of his last two contests, and 9+ in six consecutive games. St. Brown is now second among all wide receivers with 74 targets since Week 6 while averaging a league-high 12.3 per game during that sequence.

A.J. Brown was targeted nine times in Week 12, which expanded his season-long total to 105. He has now secured 9+ during seven of his 11 matchups, including four of his last six. He is also averaging 9.9 per game since Week 3.

You just knew CeeDee Lamb was going to score 🤠pic.twitter.com/t9GDj6pCgi

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) November 24, 2023

CeeDee Lamb has accrued 104 targets, including the nine that he collected on Thanksgiving Day. He has now eclipsed 9+ in five consecutive games while accumulating 62 during that sequence. That is the league’s second-highest total while he is also averaging 12.4 per game during that span.

Chris Olave is next with 103 targets after he was targeted nine times in Week 12. That was the third time in his last four outings in which he has attained that total and the eighth time that he has eclipsed 9+ since the Saints’ season opener. Olave is also averaging 10.0 per game since Week 6, which places him eighth among wide receivers.

Adam Thielen completes the list of 13 receivers who have accumulated at least 100 targets from Weeks 1-12. He has achieved that total despite being limited to just three targets in Week 12. That was his second-lowest weekly total of the season and the first time that he has failed to capture at least six since Carolina’s season opener.

Nine different receivers are averaging at least 10.0 targets per game entering Week 13 -- Keenan Allen (11.7), Tyreek Hill (10.9), Amon-Ra St. Brown (10.8), Justin Jefferson (10.6), Garrett Wilson (10.3), Ja’Marr Chase (10.2), and three receivers who are averaging 10.1 per game (Stefon Diggs/Michael Pittman Jr./Puka Nacua).

Target Risers And Fallers

Keenan Allen has now led all wide receivers with 16 targets in both Weeks 11 and 12. He is also averaging 12.1 targets per game since Week 6, and a league-best 12.2 per game since Week 3.

Michael Pittman Jr. was targeted 13 times in Week 12, which was his second-highest weekly total of the season. Pittman has now eclipsed 10+ targets in seven different contests this season, including four of his last five.

Josh Downs is so slippery with the ball in his hands #ForTheShoe pic.twitter.com/bPEzAC8hej

— Cody Felger (@CPFelger55) November 27, 2023

Pittman’s teammate Josh Downs also collected 13 targets from Gardner Minshew, which established a new season high. It was his second double-digit total of the season and his first since Week 3.

D.J. Moore also accumulated 13 targets in Week 12, which was the first time that he has eclipsed 10+ since Week 5. However, he has now collected 9+ during each of his last three matchups.

Tyreek Hill's 12 targets in Week 12 represented the fourth time that he has eclipsed 12+ this season. He has also captured 9+ in 10 of his 11 matchups, including each of his last seven games. He has also averaged 11.4 per game since Week 5.

The massive fluctuations in target totals for Gabe Davis continued in Week 12 after he was targeted 12 times by Josh Allen. That tied his season high as he reached double digits for the second time this season. Davis has also failed to exceed four targets in six different matchups and was not targeted in Week 11.

Curtis Samuel entered Week 11 averaging 5.1 targets per game while failing to exceed four targets during five different matchups this season. However, he was targeted 12 times in Week 12, which easily surpassed his previous season high. It was also his highest weekly total since Week 2 of the 2019 regular season.

Absolute dart. 🎯

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/W4iiZvaDN5

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 26, 2023

Stefon Diggs was only averaging 6.7 targets per game from Weeks 9-11 while failing to exceed eight targets during that three-game span. However, he secured 11 targets when Buffalo visited Philadelphia in Week 12. He has now attained 11+ in seven different contests this season.

Amon-Ra St. Brown also accumulated 11 targets in Week 12 and has now eclipsed 11+ in four of his last six games. He has also captured 9+7 during seven of his last eight contests while averaging 11.6 per game during that span.

Terry McLaurin eclipsed 10+ targets during three of his five matchups from Weeks 4-8. He had also failed to exceed eight targets from Weeks 9-11 before he was targeted 11 times in Week 12.

Garrett Wilson secured 10 targets when the Jets hosted Miami in Week 12. That was the sixth time that he had attained a double-digit total in his last eight games. Wilson also leads all wide receivers with 81 targets (11.6 per game) since Week 4.

Rashee Rice entered Week 12 with a season-high of seven targets while averaging 4.6 targets per game from Weeks 1-11. However, he attained a double-digit total for the first time in his career when he was targeted 10 times by Patrick Mahomes in Week 12.

Jordan Addison was also targeted 10 times during Minnesota's Week 12 matchup with NFC North rival Chicago. It was his second double-digit total of the season and his first since Week 7. He has also averaged 8.0 per game during his last six games.

BIG PLAY GABE‼️

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/NCrdPpENmu

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 27, 2023

The erratic weekly target totals that have been accumulated by Gabe Davis continued in Week 12 when he garnered 12 targets. He had been limited to eight targets in Weeks 9-11 combined while failing to register a target in Week 11. His 12 targets in Week 12 launched the largest week-to-week rise of +12.

Curtis Samuel is having his best game of the year by far.

Connects with Howell again and the ball is inches from the endzone.#HTTC | @CurtisSamuel4__ pic.twitter.com/8pVShUl0nI

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) November 23, 2023

The season-high 12 targets that were collected by Curtis Samuel in Week 12 transpired just one week after he had been limited to a season-low of two in Week 11. That propelled Samuel to a weekly increase of +10.

Marquise Brown had been limited to just 4.5 targets per game in Weeks 10 and 11, which coincided with Kyler Murray’s re-emergence as Arizona’s starting signal-caller. However, Brown was targeted 12 times by his former college roommate, which launched a week-to-week increase of +7.

Adam Thielen had captured 10+ targets during five of his six matchups from Weeks 5-11. That included the 11 targets that he attained in Week 11. However, he was relegated to his second-lowest total of the season in Week 12 (three), which resulted in a weekly decline of -8.

Justin Watson established a career-high when he was targeted 11 times in Week 11. However, he was limited to three targets in Week 12, which created a week-to-week drop of -8.

Davante Adams had accumulated 13 targets in both Weeks 10 and 11. However, he was targeted seven times in Week 12, which was the third time during his last five matchups that he has attained that total. That fueled his week-to-week decrease of -6.

Air Yards

Chris Olave leads wide receivers with 1,380 yards entering Week 13. Davante Adams is second overall (1,292), followed by Mike Evans (1,272), A.J. Brown (1,269), Keenan Allen (1,225), DeAndre Hopkins (1,213), and three receivers who are tied with 1,204 air yards -- Tyreek Hill, Garrett Wilson, and Amari Cooper.

Stefon Diggs is next (1,197), followed by Marquise Brown (1,160), D.K. Metcalf (1,107), CeeDee Lamb (1,102), Tank Dell (1,073), and Terry McLaurin (1,039), completing the list of 15 wide receivers who have eclipsed 1,000+ air yards entering Week 13.

Garrett Wilson leads all wide receivers with a 46.6% air yards share. A.J. Brown is next (45.6%), followed by Davante Adams (44.9%), D.J. Moore (44%), Brandon Aiyuk, (43.9%), and two receivers who have attained air yard shares of 43.5% -- Tyreek Hill and DK Metcalf.

Amari Cooper is next (41.2%), followed by DeAndre Hopkins (40.9%), George Pickens (40.6%), and four receivers who have secured air yard shares of 40% from Weeks 1-12 (Chris Olave/Mike Evans/Keenan Allen/Diontae Johnson).

Gabe Davis led all wide receivers with 181 air yards during the matchups of Week 12. Marquise Brown was next (174), followed by DK Metcalf (158), Keenan Allen (149), CeeDee Lamb (146), Christian Watson (143), and Terry McLaurin, who accumulated 140 yards. Elijah Moore was next (125), followed by Chris Olave (120), Jalin Hyatt (119), and two receivers who accrued 118 yards in Week 12 -- Mike Evans and Tank Dell.

Rookie Jalin Hyatt also led all wide receivers with a 68.8% yards share in Week 12. Courtland Sutton was second (68.7%), followed by DeVonta Smith (57%), D.K. Metcalf (55.4%), Mike Evans (55.1%), and Jaylen Waddle, who secured an air yards share of 54.3%. Marquise Brown was next (49.2%), followed by Davante Adams (49%), Keenan Allen (48.9%), and Christian Watson, who attained an air yards share of 48.5% in Week 12.

Routes

Stefon Diggs has run 529 routes, which leads all wide receivers from Weeks 1-12. Jahan Dotson is second overall (505), followed by Dotson‘s teammate Terry McLaurin (503), Ja’Marr Chase (488), Adam Thielen (470), Keenan Allen (461), Michael Pittman Jr. (446), Garrett Wilson (444), and DeVonta Smith, who has run 434 routes. Marquise Brown is next (429), followed by Gabe Davis (427), Zay Flowers (425), Alec Pierce (415), and Elijah Moore, who has accumulated 413 routes entering Week 13.

Stefon Diggs ran 62 routes during Buffalo’s Week 12 matchup, which was the highest total among all wide receivers. His teammate Gabe Davis was second overall (54), followed by Keenan Allen (52), Amon-Ra St. Brown (49), and two receivers who accumulated 48 routes -- Michael Pittman Jr. and Jahan Dotson. Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore both ran 46 routes, while three receivers were tied at 45 -- Terry McLaurin, Khalil Shakir, and Alec Pierce. Cedric Tillman and Jason Brownlee ran 44 routes, while Rondale Moore and Tyler Lockett accumulated 43.

Targets Per Route Run

Tyreek Hill has been targeted on 38.2% of his routes, which leads all wide receivers from Weeks 1-12. Davante Adams is second overall (30.8%), followed by Puka Nacua (29.8%), Amon-Ra St. Brown (28.9%), Jaylen Waddle (28.6%), Keenan Allen (28%), DeAndre Hopkins (27.9%), and Cooper Kupp, who has been targeted on 27.3% of his routes. A.J. Brown is next (26.4%), followed by CeeDee Lamb (26.3%), Brandon Aiyuk (25.9%), and two receivers who have been targeted on 25.6% of their routes -- Nico Collins and Mike Evans.

Demario Douglas was targeted on 45% of his routes during New England’s Week 12 matchup with the Giants. Tyreek Hill was targeted on 44.4% of his routes, followed by Odell Beckham Jr. (41.7%), Chris Olave (39.1%), Rashid Shaheed (38.5%), Tyquan Thornton (35.7%), Drake London (35.0%), and Jaylen Waddle, who was targeted on 34.8% of his routes. Curtis Samuel was next (34.3%), followed by two receivers who were targeted on 33.3% of their routes -- Josh Downs and Deebo Samuel.

Yards Per Route Run

Tyreek Hill leads all wide receivers with an average of 4.22 yards per route run. Brandon Aiyuk is second (3.51), followed by Noah Brown (3.05), Brown’s teammate Nico Collins (2.81), CeeDee Lamb (2.7), Amon-Ra St. Brown (2.66), and two receivers who are averaging 2.64 yards per route run -- Jaylen Waddle and A.J. Brown. D.J. Moore is next (6.55), followed by Puka Nacua (2.48), Keenan Allen (2.42), Mike Evans (2.39), and two receivers who were tied with an average of 2.35 yards per route run -- DeAndre Hopkins and Tank Dell.

Tutu Atwell led all wide receivers with an average of 6.91 yards per route in Week 12. Kalif Raymond was second overall (5.63), followed by Chris Olave (4.96), Jaylen Waddle (4.96), Jalin Hyatt (4.74), Drake London (4.55), Tyreek Hill (3.78), and Jalen Tolbert, who averaged 3.77 yards per route run. Rashee Rice was next (3.15), followed by Christian Watson (2.94), Deebo Samuel (2.93), Courtland Sutton (2.90), Nico Collins (2.89), and Curtis Samuel, who averaged 2.86 yards per route run.

Red Zone Targets

Davante Adams leads all wide receivers with 19 red zone targets entering Week 13. Four receivers have been targeted 17 times -- Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase, and Michael Pittman Jr. Jordan Addison has collected 16 targets inside the 20, while Stefon Diggs, DK Metcalf, and Courtland Sutton have been targeted 15 times. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Chris Godwin, and Romeo Dobbs have all accrued 14 targets, while Keenan Allen and Garrett Wilson have accumulated 13.

Garrett Wilson garbage time TDs 🙌pic.twitter.com/crkjlRdLqY

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 24, 2023

Tyreek Hill has captured a league-high 12 targets inside the 10-yard line, while Keenan Allen is second overall with 11. CeeDee Lamb has been targeted 10 times while three receivers have garnered nine targets inside the 10 -- Davante Adams, Chris Godwin, and Jakobi Meyers. Tyreek Hill has also accumulated a league-high seven targets inside the five-yard line, while CeeDee Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase have been targeted six times.

Josh Downs and Deebo Samuel were targeted a league-high three times inside the red zone during their matchups in Week 12. Nine different receivers were targeted twice inside the 20, including Christian Watson, Mike Evans, and Diontae Johnson. Tyreek Hill was the only wide receiver who accumulated multiple targets inside the 10-yard line in Week 12.

Snaps

D.J. Moore has accumulated 724 offensive snaps from Weeks 1-12, which leads all wide receivers. DeVonta Smith is now second overall (714), followed by Michael Pittman Jr. (697), Gabe Davis (694), A.J. Brown (683), Stefon Diggs (677), Terry McLaurin (675), and Marquise Brown, who has played on 674 snaps entering Week 13. Alec Pierce has played on 673 snaps, followed by Adam Thielen (661), Jahan Dotson, (660), Zay Flowers (653), Davante Adams (646), and Amari Cooper, who has accumulated 633 snaps.

Michael Pittman Jr. leads all wide receivers with a 97.1% snap share from Weeks 1-12. DeVonta Smith is second (97.0%), followed by Alec Pierce (93.7%), D.J. Moore (93.3%), A.J. Brown (92.8%), Ja'Marr Chase (92.7%), Davante Adams (92.0%), Garrett Wilson (91.6%), Adam Thielen (91.2%), and Marquise Brown, who has secured a snap share of 91.2%. Amon-Ra St. Brown is next (90.1%), followed by Jakobi Meyers (89.7%), Gabe Davis (89%), and two receivers who have secured a snap share of 88.8% -- Puka Nacua, and George Pickens.

Davante Adams played on 100% of the Raiders’ offensive snaps in Week 12. That was the highest percentage among all wide receivers. Keenan Allen was second (98.5%), followed by DeVonta Smith (98.5%), Jason Brownlee (98.2%), Tyler Lockett (96.3%), Jordan Addison (96.1%), and two receivers who secured snap shares of 95.7% -- Michael Pittman Jr. and his teammate Alec Pierce. Gabe Davis was next (95.7%), followed by Garrett Wilson (94.6%), Zay Flowers (94.2%), D.J. Moore (94.1%), and A.J. Brown, who attained a snap of 93.9% in Week 12.

Gabe Davis led all wide receivers with 88 offensive snaps in Week 12. Stefon Diggs was second (84), followed by Khalil Shakir with 74. Amon-Ra St. Brown was next (72), followed by Michael Pittman Jr. (67), Alec Pierce (67), Keenan Allen (65), Zay Flowers (65), and four different receivers who played on 64 snaps -- DJ Moore, Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and DeVonta Smith. Calvin Ridley was next (63), followed by two receivers who accumulated 62 snaps -- Jonathan Mingo and Cedric Tillman.

Five Things I Noticed

1. Jordan Love was 20th among all quarterbacks with 1,720 passing yards (215 per game) entering Week 10. He had completed 155 of his 260 attempts (59.6%) and had built a 12:8 touchdown to interception ratio.

However, he has averaged 293 yards per game since Week 10, while rising to fourth overall in passing yards (875). He has connected on 70 of his 112 attempts during that three-game sequence (62.5%) while generating seven touchdowns.

That includes his performance when Green Bay traveled to Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. Love completed 22 of his 32 attempts (68.8%) while producing three touchdowns. He also distributed seven targets to Christian Watson, whose numbers in Week 12 should provide encouragement to frustrated fantasy managers.

JORDAN LOVE TO CHRISTIAN WATSON TO OPEN THINGS UP 🚀 pic.twitter.com/F3yYSaRH5o

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 23, 2023

Watson’s ADP had placed him in Round 5 during the draft season (53/WR21). However, he sustained a hamstring injury during training camp (August 31), which delayed his season debut until Week 4.

Watson entered Week 12 with a 15.7% target share. He was also averaging 5.3 targets/2.3/36.7 yards per game, while failing to exceed three catches during any of his matchups from Weeks 1-11, and only surpassing 37 yards once.

Romeo Doubs was leading the Packers in targets (65/6.5 per game/19.7% share) and receptions (38/3.8 per game) from Weeks 1-11 and was second in receiving yards (395/39.6 per game). He also led the team in targets per route run (21.7%), red zone targets (14), air yards (718), and air yards share (25.3%).

Promising rookie Jayden Reed was leading the team in receiving yards (463/46.3 per game) and yards after catch (151) from Weeks 1-11. He was also second in targets (51/5.1 per game/15.5% share), receptions (32/3.2 per game), and red zone targets (11) while averaging 1.75 yards per route run.

A BEAUTY!@jordan3love to @ChristianW2017 for the score!#GBvsDET | #GoPackGo

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/kS32GWMTDU

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 23, 2023

However, it was Watson who led Green Bay in snaps (49) and routes (30) in Week 12 while capturing seven targets from Love. He also secured team-highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards (94) while establishing season highs in both categories.

Reed continued his recent statistical surge in Week 12 while playing on 41 snaps, running 26 routes, and capturing a team-high eight targets. Reed also collected four receptions, which is the fourth time in five games that he has eclipsed 4+. He also generated his fifth receiving touchdown of the season.

.@JaydenReed5 with a TD on the opening drive!#GBvsDET | #GoPackGo

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/3KeWUG3qbR

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 23, 2023

Reed has now accumulated 59 targets (5.4 per game/15.51% share) and 36 receptions (3.3 per game) from Weeks 1-12 while leading the Packers in receiving yards (497/45.2 per game) and receptions of 20+ yards (eight).

Doubs accumulated 48 snaps and ran 29 routes in Week 12. He also collected three of his four targets, while assembling 37 yards. That was the eighth time this season that Doubs had failed to reach 40 yards. Those numbers still enabled Doubs to sustain his team leads in targets (69/6.3 per game) and receptions (42/3.7 per game). He has also been targeted on 20.8% of his routes and is averaging 1.31 yards per route run.

Dontayvion Wicks was sidelined in Week 12 (concussion/knee) but could re-emerge when Green Bay hosts Kansas City on Sunday. He will siphon opportunities if that occurs. However, you should not be deterred from deploying Watson, Dobbs, and Reed as WR3s moving forward.

2. The Steelers entered their Week 12 matchup against AFC North rival Cincinnati with Mike Sullivan calling plays for the first time since 2017. It was also the first game since Week 1 of the 2021 regular season in which Matt Canada was not the architect of the offense.

The conjecture surrounding Canada‘s proficiency and job security had been rampant before Mike Tomlin opted to make a change prior to the Steelers' Week 12 matchup.

Pittsburgh’s aerial attack was 21st in pass play percentage from Weeks 1-11 but ranked just 30th in yards per game (170), 31st in completions per game (18.8), and the Steelers were also tied for last with seven touchdowns through the air. Kenny Pickett was 29th with a 60.5% completion percentage, 28th in yards per attempt, and 26th in air yards per attempt (5.9). Pickett had also distributed 60.1% of his passes to his wide receivers.

That includes the team-high 25.4% share that was attained by Diontae Johnson, while George Pickens was second with a 23.3% share. Pickens was leading the Steelers with 68 targets (6.8 per game), while also pacing the team in receptions (37/3.7 per game), receiving yards (604/60.4 per game), air yards (897), air yards share (42%), and yards after catch (206). He had also been targeted on 20.6% of his routes and was averaging 1.83 yards per route run.

Johnson’s numbers had been impacted by his four-game absence (hamstring) that sidelined him from Weeks 2-5. He was second with 47 targets but was averaging 7.8 per game. Johnson was also second in receiving yards (335/55.8 per game) and was third behind Pickens and Jaylen Warren with 26 receptions (4.3 per game). Johnson had also been targeted on a team-high 24.2% of his routes, while accumulating 540 air yards, attaining a 41.4% air yards share, and averaging 1.73 yards per route run.

However, the season-long numbers for both receivers had been impacted by Johnson's absence from Weeks 2-5. Johnson reemerged from his hamstring injury following the Steelers' Week 6 bye. Pickens' target share has dropped to 17.9% since Week 8, as Johnson has secured a share of 29.9%. Johnson also leads the tandem in targets (43/25), targets per route run (23.5%/14.9%), receptions (22/13), receiving yards (258/162), and air yards (498/352).

That includes their numbers in Week 12. The Steelers accumulated 421 total yards during that matchup, after failing to eclipse 400+ throughout Canada’s tenure as offensive coordinator. Pickens led the Steelers with 53 snaps while Johnson accumulated 52. However, Johnson paced the team in routes run (32), followed closely by Pickens (31).

Kenny Pickett completed 24 of his 32 attempts as Pat Freiermuth garnered a team-high 11 targets. Pickett also distributed 13 of his targets to Johnson and Pickens. Johnson secured eight of those opportunities (25% target share), and he has now eclipsed 8+ in four of his last five matchups.

For as bad of a start that Diontae Johnson had vs CIN, at least it didn't ruin him for the remainder of game. This nice snag of a low pass from KP was on a 3-9-PIT 23 and it kept the drive alive, which ended in a FG. #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/jgBD2BtANg

— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) November 27, 2023

Johnson collected four of those passes while generating 50 yards. He also accumulated 88 air yards, attained a 33% air yards share, and was targeted on 19% of his routes while averaging 1.19 yards per route run.

GEORGE PICKENS 43 YARD GAIN pic.twitter.com/rSRgcOp2q0

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 26, 2023

Pickens was not the beneficiary of a boost in targets following the departure of Canada. He was targeted five times (15.6% share), collected three receptions, and assembled 58 yards. He was also targeted on 16.7% of his routes, averaged 1.93 yards per route run, accrued 79 air yards, and attained a 29.6% air yards share.

Fantasy managers who have invested in Pickens did not receive the scoring boost that had seemed attainable following the transition from Canada. He should be deployed as a WR4 when Pittsburgh hosts Arizona. Johnson can be utilized as a WR2.

3. If you drafted Calvin Ridley near his Round 3 ADP, you are acutely aware of the fluctuating emotions that have been experienced during the regular season.

Ridley’s reinstatement by the NFL last March had cleared the runway for his long-awaited return following a suspension for violation of the league’s gambling policy. It also ignited significant debate surrounding his ability to rekindle the proficiency that had propelled him to a breakout season in 2020.

Ridley’s successful season debut (11 targets/eight receptions/101 yards/one touchdown/24.1 points) was followed by an underwhelming sequence in which his numbers became a source of frustration.

From Weeks 2-7, Ridley averaged 8.9 points per game, which placed him just 59th among all wide receivers. His 18% target share trailed Christian Kirk’s team-high 25.2% from Weeks 2-7, while Ridley averaged 6.2 targets, 3.2 receptions, and 44.5 yards per game while being limited to one touchdown. Ridley was also targeted on 18.4% of his 201 routes while averaging 1.33 yards per route run.

Kirk was averaging 8.7 targets, 6.3 receptions, and 77.5 yards per game during that sequence, and had generated three touchdowns. Kirk also led the Jaguars in targets per route run (23.4%) and yards per route run (2.09). He was also 15th with an average of 16.8 points per game.

Calvin Ridley weeks 7, 8, & 10:
▪️ 9 REC, 108 YDS, 0 TDs

Calvin Ridley week 11:
▪️ 7 REC, 121 TOTAL YDS, 2 TDs pic.twitter.com/4e7lQTIcBu

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 21, 2023

However, during his last two matchups, Ridley has soared to second overall with an average of 26.5 points per game. He is also seventh overall in receiving yards (192 yards/96 per game), eighth in receptions (12/6.0 per game), 21st in targets (15/7.5 per game), and is tied for the league lead with three touchdowns.

CALVIN RIDLEY IS HAVING HIMSELF A HALF 🔥
pic.twitter.com/7rtkRQo5TS

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 26, 2023

Ridley has also accumulated 195 air yards, attained a 34% air yards share while being targeted on 22.7% of his routes, and is averaging 2.91 yards per route run.

Calvin Ridley: Perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted vs. the Texans 🚀 pic.twitter.com/axmJEa6ZXp

— PFF JAX Jaguars (@PFF_Jaguars) November 27, 2023

Kirk has accumulated 13 targets (6.5 per game), seven receptions (3.5 per game), and 137 yards (68.5 per game) since Week 11. Kirk also trails Ridley in air yards (162), air yards share (28.3%), targets per route run (18.8%), and yards per route run (1.99).

Let's face it:

If Zay Jones didn't miss any games, Calvin Ridley is probably a Top-12 fantasy WR right now.

— Frank Ammirante (@FAmmiranteTFJ) November 28, 2023

Ridley’s two-game statistical surge corresponded with the return of Zay Jones, who had been sidelined for six games with a troublesome right knee. Jones’ presence requires opposing defenses to divert resources from coverage of Ridley, which decreases his exposure to the encumbrance of bracket coverage. 

Jones has also secured a 10.3% target share since Week 11, while he is averaging 3.5 targets/2.5 receptions/15 yards per game. Ridley’s ascending numbers provide a legitimate reason for optimism that he can operate as a trustworthy WR2 during your remaining matchups.

4. Members of this year's rookie class of wide receivers continue to assemble impressive numbers while delivering encouraging performances for fantasy managers. That includes Jayden Reed, whose numbers were examined earlier in this section. Several other newcomers also constructed numbers that are worthy of mention during their matchups in Week 12.

Rashee Rice had already emerged as the most likely candidate to finally navigate a pathway toward securing WR1 responsibilities, even though that had not transpired prior to Kansas City’s Week 12 visit to Las Vegas. That was a role that Skyy Moore (55.4%), Justin Watson (48%), and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (58.8%) have all failed to commandeer, despite snap shares of 48%+.

Rice had appeared primed to confiscate that role, which would also launch him into an expanded share within Patrick Mahomes’ distribution of targets. Rice was second on the Chiefs behind Travis Kelce with 46 targets (4.6 per game) entering Week 12, including a season-high of seven in Week 3.

He was also second only to Kelce in routes run (222), targets per route run (20.7%), receptions (36/3.6 per game), receptions of 20+ (five), receiving yards (420/42 per game), yards per route run (1.89), and touchdowns (four).

RICE. COLD. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/ql2TymtoNP

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 26, 2023

Rice’s performance against the Raiders has seemingly cemented his status as the Chiefs’ WR1. He led Kansas City wide receivers in snaps (40) and routes run (27) while pacing the team with a season-best 10 targets.

Rice also established a new season-high in receptions (eight), while also eclipsing 100 yards for the first time in his career (107). He also surpassed his previous highs in yards before catch (38) and yards after catch (69), while his 13.38 yards per reception was the second-highest of the season.

What a catch by Rashee Rice! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0VSUtSjeW9

— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) November 27, 2023

Rice had reached the periphery of weekly WR3 status before his Week 12 performance. He should garner a favorable target share moving forward. That will supply Rice with an opportunity to become embedded in WR3 territory if he can build upon the numbers that he assembled in Las Vegas.

Jalin Hyatt had a HUGE week 12 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WMwftEogE6

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 27, 2023

Jalin Hyatt had operated with a 36.3% snap share from Weeks 1-5 while accumulating five targets, four receptions, and 99 yards during that span. 89 of his yards were assembled in Week 2, while he was targeted on just 5.1% of his routes and was averaging 1.01 yards per route run.

His target share improved from 3.2% during the sequence to 11.4% from Weeks 6-11. His snap share also rose to 55.2% during those matchups, although he still averaged just 2.8 targets, 1.3 receptions, and 20.3 yards per game during that sequence.

Jalin Hyatt is quickly becoming the most fun #Giants player to watch on offense.
Stop. Start. Watch the pursuing defender go flying. Scott up field past the first down marker for a 3rd&long conversion. pic.twitter.com/ZOPxsQLj3P

— Dan Schneier (@DanSchneierNFL) November 27, 2023

However, Hyatt’s promising numbers during New York’s Week 12 matchup with New England included season-highs in multiple categories. He was second on the Giants in snaps (34) and routes run (25) while attaining a 25% target share and securing a team-high six targets from Tommy Devito -- which also established a new season-high.

He also collected a season-best five receptions while exceeding 100 yards for the first time in his career (109). Wan'Dale Robinson was a distant second in yardage (26) and collected four receptions.

Hyatt also surpassed his previous high in yards before catch (94), finished 11th overall with 119 air yards, and secured a league-high 68.8 air yards share. He was also targeted on 26.1% of his routes while finishing fourth overall with an average of 4.74 yards per route run. Hyatt will be unavailable this week due to the Giants' bye. However, that should not deter you from adding him to your rosters, as he could operate as a WR3 during your remaining matchups.

5. Geno Smith resurrected his career in 2022 through his ability to assemble the most prolific of numbers of his nine-year career. His unexpected performance also raised the proverbial bar surrounding expectations in 2023, and anyone who has invested in Seattle’s wide receivers is aware that the results have been disappointing.

Smith finished 10th among all quarterbacks in 2022 with an average of 251.9 yards per game and rose to eighth with a career-high 4,092 yards. Smith also soared to a league-best 69.8% completion percentage, while finishing fourth with a career-best 30 touchdowns. 

However, Smith is now 18th overall with a 65.4% completion percentage entering Week 13. He is also 15th with 2,584 yards, 16th with an average of 234.9 yards per game, and has only generated 12 touchdowns.

DK Metcalf had benefitted from Smith’s proficient 2022 season while finishing 10th in receptions (90/5.3 per game) and 11th in targets (141/8.3 per game/25.5% share) last season while establishing career highs in each category. Metcalf was also 15th in receiving yards (1,048/61.6 per game) while vaulting to second in red zone targets (27).

Tyler Lockett had finished 22nd in targets (117/7.3 per game/22.8% share) during 2022, was 14th in receptions (84/5.3 per game), and 18th in receiving yards (1,033/64.6 per game). Lockett was also tied for fourth in touchdowns (nine).

Unfortunately, Smith’s numbers were underwhelming once again when the Seahawks hosted NFC West rival San Francisco in Week 12. He completed 18 of his 27 attempts (66.7%), was limited to 180 yards, and failed to register a touchdown pass for the third time this season.

Metcalf was targeted nine times but only collected three receptions and registered 32 yards. It was the fifth time that Metcalf has eclipsed 9+ targets this season, but also the fourth time that he has failed to surpass three catches. Lockett collected three of his five targets and accrued 30 yards in Week 12. It was Lockett’s lowest reception total since Week 7, and also his lowest yardage total since Seattle’s season opener.

Rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba had accumulated 54 targets (5.4 per game)/(36/3.6 per game) and 365 receiving yards (36.5 per game), entering Week 12. However, those averages had improved to 5.7 targets/4.0 receptions/50.5 per game since Week 6.

Smith-Njigba was targeted three times in Week 12, which tied his season low. He collected two of his targets, which was his lowest total since Week 3. Smith-Njigba also assembled 41 yards and has now failed to reach 50 yards during eight of his 11 matchups this season.

DK FOR 52 YARDS!
DK FOR 52 YARDS!
DK FOR 52 YARDS! pic.twitter.com/YJUbOyIvYN

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 19, 2023

Metcalf is now 23rd with 80 targets (8.0 per game), 38th in receptions (43/4.3 per game), and 26th in receiving yards (678/67.8 per game). He has been targeted on 24,3% of his routes while averaging 2.06 yards per route run.

Lockett is currently 24th with 79 targets (7.2 per game), 21st in receptions (54/4.9 per game), and 33rd in receiving yards (575/52.3 per game). He has been targeted on 20.5% of his routes and is averaging 1.49 yards per route run.

Smith-Njigba has now accumulated 57 targets (5.2 per game), 38 receptions (3.5 per game), and 406 receiving yards (36.9 per game). He has been targeted on 17.5% of his routes while averaging 1.25 yards per route run.

It is unlikely that Smith can resuscitate his season and a trio of unfavorable matchups now await the Seahawks in Weeks 13-15 as Seattle will travel to Dallas and San Francisco, then return home to contend with Philadelphia. Metcalf and Lockett should be deployed as WR3s, while Smith-Njigba will remain a WR4.

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