Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Risers and Fallers for Week 12

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 wide receivers, which I will be constructing for a fourth consecutive season.

This is the 11th 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.

During these final weeks of the season, all 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.

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Week 11 Target Leaders

.@cheetah puttin' points on the board first 🤩

📺: #KCvsLV on @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/ViRcqK6J8F

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) November 15, 2021

Tyreek Hill has averaged 12 targets per game during his last seven matchups. He has also eclipsed 10+ targets in seven of his eight games during that span. All of which has propelled him to a season-long total of 122 which leads all wide receivers. Cooper Kupp has only failed to reach 10 targets once during his 10 games and is now second overall (116) as he returns from the Rams’ bye week.

Keenan Allen has now accrued 106 targets after attaining 11+ during each of his last four games. That ties him with Davante Adams who has assembled 33 targets during his last three outings. D.J. Moore is the only other wide receiver who has surpassed 100 targets even though he has collected exactly seven during each of his last three games.

Diontae Johnson is next (95) after capturing 13 targets in five different contests – all of which have occurred since Week 4. Jaylen Waddle’s 94 targets easily leads all rookies while he has also averaged 9.7 per game since Week 6. Stefon Diggs has failed to reach 10 targets during four of his last six contests while averaging 8.3 per game during that sequence. However, he is still eighth overall for the season with 92. Terry McLaurin is next (91), after averaging  7.3 targets per game since Week 8.

Justin Jefferson procured a double-digit target total for the second consecutive week, which propelled his season-long total to 89. He is followed by Deebo Samuel, who has only averaged 3.5 per game during his last two contests. That has not derailed Samuel’s exceptional season and both receivers will be discussed further in the 5 Things I Noticed section.

Brandin Cooks has collected 87 targets despite being relegated to a season-low (3) in Week 11. He is followed by Adam Thielen, (83), who has now reached a double-digit target total three times during the season.

A perfect drive for Tom Brady ends with a TD pass to Chris Godwin 🔥

Bucs up 7-0 on #MNF

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/JoWtU6uCGe

— ESPN (@espn) November 23, 2021

That ties Thielen with Chris Godwin, who has now averaged 8.8 per game since Week 5. Marquise Brown was sidelined when Baltimore traveled to Chicago in Week 11. However, his 82 targets tie him with Jakobi Meyers, who has now averaged 4.7 per game since Week 9.

Michael Pittman has now failed to exceed six targets during each of his last three matchups, but his season-long total of 81 places him 16th overall. He is followed by Ja’Marr Chase, whose six targets in Week 11 represented his lowest weekly total since Week 6. A.J. Brown has now accumulated 78 targets after collecting 9+ during five of his last six games. That ties him with Mike Williams who has not exceeded six targets during any of his last five outings.

CeeDee Lamb has collected 77 targets after a concussion limited him to just 36 snaps in Week 11. That ties Lamb with Mike Evans, who attained his highest weekly total since Week 4.  Darnell Mooney established a new career-high with 16 targets in Week 11 which vaulted his overall total to 75. DeVonta Smith has captured 74 targets, after attaining six during each of his last three games. That ties him with Cole Beasley, who has now averaged 3.5 per game since Week 10.

Hunter Renfrow is next (73), despite being limited to a season-low (4) in Week 11. Marvin Jones has now been targeted six times in two consecutive games which has expanded his season total of 72. That ties him with D.K. Metcalf who has collected eight targets during each of his last two games. Metcalf‘s teammate Tyler Lockett has failed to exceed eight targets during three of his last four matchups but has still accrued 71 during the season. That completes the list of 29 wide receivers who have been targeted at least seven times entering Week 12.

Courtland Sutton has been targeted 67 times, although he has only averaged 3.5 per game since Week 7. Robby Anderson has now accumulated 65 targets after collecting six during each of his last two matchups. That ties him with Amari Cooper remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Tyler Boyd accrued eight targets for the second time during his last three matchups and has now captured 63 during the season.

Laviska Shenault Jr. has amassed 62 targets for the season, even though he has averaged just 5.3 targets per game since Week 8. Chase Claypool’s problematic toe forced his absence during Pittsburgh‘s Week 10 matchup with Detroit. However, he returned for the Steelers Week 11 encounter with the Chargers and his nine targets propelled his season-long total to 61. That tied him with Christian Kirk, whose weekly target totals have ranged between five and eight during each of his last seven matchups. Tee Higgins was relegated to a season-low three targets when Cincinnati visited Las Vegas in Week 11. However, he still completes the list of 38 receivers who have accumulated 60+ targets through Week 11.

Six different receivers are averaging at least 10 targets per game from Weeks 1-11: Kupp (11.6), Hill (11.1), Allen (10.6), Adams (10.6), Johnson (10.6), and Ridley (10.4),

Kupp has reached a double-digit target total during nine different matchups this season, while Hill has accomplished it eight times. Johnson and Allen have eclipsed 10+ in seven different contests, while Adams, Diggs, Moore, Jefferson, and Marquise Brown have reached double digits in five games.

Week 11 Weekly Changes  

60 YD TOUCHDOWN!

Andy Dalton to Darnell Mooney for the score. pic.twitter.com/j0kV7zKhgV
(via @NFL)

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 21, 2021

12 different wide receivers were targeted at least 10 times during their Week 11 matchups. That includes Darnell Mooney, who has now eclipsed 10+ in three different games during his career. He had not registered a double-digit target total from Weeks 1-10, but the 16 targets that he accumulated when Chicago hosted Baltimore established a new career-high. It also propelled him to the largest total among all wide receivers in Week 11.

Johnson has now collected 13 targets during four of his last five contests after he accrued that number when Pittsburgh visited Los Angeles in Week 11. That tied Johnson with Allen, who now leads all wide receivers with 37 targets since Week 9. Kadarius Toney collected a season-high 13 targets in Week 5, but then only averaged 3.0 per game from Weeks 6-10. However, he attained double-digits once again in Week 11 when he was targeted 12 times by Daniel Jones.

Three different receivers captured 11 targets during their Week 11 matchups. That includes Hill, who has now captured 11+ in four consecutive outings. He is tied with Elijah Moore, whose career-high total has contributed to his 8.3 per game average since Week 9. Moore’s recent statistical surge will be discussed in detail as part of this week’s 5 Things I Noticed section. He was joined by fellow newcomer Rondale Moore, who had only averaged 4.0 per game during his previous four matchups before he easily surpassed his previous season-high in Week 11.

Four different receivers accumulated 10 targets in Week 11 including teammates Jefferson and Thielen. Jefferson had averaged 4.5 targets per game in Weeks 8-9 but has averaged 10.5 per game during his last two outings. Thielen's 10 targets represented his highest weekly total since Week 6, and they were collected after he had received seven targets during two consecutive games. Marquez Valdes-Scantling also accrued 10 targets which was his first double-digit total since Week 3 of 2019. It was also the third time that he had eclipsed 10+ since his 2018 rookie season. That tied him with Michael Gallup, whose season-high 10 targets also represented his first double-digit total since Week 13 of 2020.

Mike Evans attained his second-highest target total of the season in Week 11 when he was targeted 11 times by Tom Brady. That transpired one week after he had been relegated to a season-low three targets in Week 10. All of which fueled this week’s largest increase of +8. That ties Evans with Valdes-Scantling who had been limited to just two targets in both Weeks 9 and 10. Valdes-Scantling’s season-high 10 targets in Week 11 propelled him to his weekly rise of +8.

Terrific effort by Rondale Moore to pick up a first down: pic.twitter.com/iMSk9so7wh

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) November 21, 2021

Rondale Moore had averaged 3.9 targets per game from Weeks 3-10 which included the four targets that he collected during Arizona’s Week 10 matchup with Carolina. Moore surpassed his previous career-high when he accrued 11 targets in Week 11. That also resulted in his weekly of +7. That tied Moore with Nick Westbrook-Ilhine, whose eight targets in Week 11 tied his season-high. They were joined by Cedrick Wilson, who failed to register a target in Week 10, before capturing seven in Week 11.

Elijah Moore had accumulated six targets in three of his four matchups from Weeks 7-10. His career-high 11 targets in Week 11 also produced his weekly increase of +5. That tied him with Michael Gallup, whose 10 targets in Week 11 were accrued one week after he had been targets five times during the Cowboys’ Week 10 matchup with Atlanta.

Ray-Ray McCloud played on 70% of Pittsburgh's snaps while operating with an expanded role in Week 10, and captured a career-high 12 targets. However, Chase Claypool resurfaced in the lineup during the Steelers' Week 11 matchup, which relegated McCloud to a 22% share and two targets. All of which resulted in the largest weekly decline of -10.

Diggs had tied his season-high when he was targeted 13 times by Josh Allen in Week 10. However, Diggs was limited to six targets in Week 11 which created the second largest weekly decline among all wide receivers (-7). Renfrow had collected 8+ targets during five of his six matchups from Weeks 4-10. That includes his nine targets in Week 10.

Renfrow was only targeted four times in Week 11 which resulted in his weekly decrease of -5. That tied him with Khalif Raymond, whose weekly target totals have fluctuated significantly during his last four games (8/1/6/1). Quez Watkins and Keelan Cole also experienced drops of -5 after both receivers were restricted to one target in Week 11.

Week 11 Air Yards

Tyreek Hill continues to lead all wide receivers in air yards (1,274), followed by Terry McLaurin (1,158), Davante Adams (1,148), Marquise Brown (1,100), Justin Jefferson (1,098), Ja’Marr Chase (1,086), D.J. Moore (1,073), and Stefon Diggs (1,071). Former league leader Courtland Sutton has dropped to ninth overall (1,064), followed by Mike Evans (1,058), DeVonta Smith (1.038), and Cooper Kupp (1,010) completing the list of receivers who have eclipsed. 1,000+.

Tyler Lockett has accrued 985 air yards, followed by Brandin Cooks (973), Emmanuel Sanders (965), Diontae Johnson (905), A.J. Brown (894), Marvin Jones (880), and CeeDee Lamb (870). D.K. Metcalf is next (864), followed by Mike Williams (853), Darnell Mooney (848), Keenan Allen (843), and Michael Pittman (827). Adam Thielen is next (778), followed by Amari Cooper (773), Jakobi Meyers (767), Corey Davis (749), Nelson Agholor (735), and Deebo Samuel (729). Chase Claypool (721), and Christian Kirk (711) complete the list of 32 receivers who have accumulated 700+ air yards entering Week 12.

Terry McLaurin.

What else is left to be said?

The kid is ELITE.

Huge catch on 3rd down to end the first quarter. #WashingtonFootball pic.twitter.com/gacCixQgFV

— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) November 21, 2021

McLaurin leads the position in percentage share of air yards (45.1%), followed by Cooks (43.1%), Chase (42.6%), Adams (41.9%), Jefferson (41.3%), Lockett (40.8%), and Ridley (40.7%). Moore is next (40.1%), followed by Smith (39.7%), A.J. Brown (38.9%), Johnson (38.6%), Parker (38.6%), and two receivers that are tied at 38.3% (Hill, and Sutton). Metcalf has attained a share of 35.8%, followed by Marquise Brown (35.6%), Mooney (35.4%), Claypool (35.3%), Beckham (34.3%), Valdes-Scantling (34.2%), and Diggs (32.6%). Samuel is next (32.4%), followed by Pittman (31.9%), Davis (31.6%), Mike Williams (31.5%), Allen (31.1%), Marvin Jones (31.0%), Higgins (31.0%), and Evans (30.6%).

Marquez Valdes-Scantling leads all wide receivers in targeted air yards (18.5), followed by Emmanuel Sanders (16.6), Sutton (16.0), Bryan Edwards (15.6), Nelson Agholor (14.9), Smith (14.7), Odell Beckham (14.5), Marquez Callaway (14.4), and two receivers that are tied at 14.3 (Lockett and Chase). Evans is next (13.8), followed by Darius Slayton (13.6), Keelan Cole (13.6), Marquise Brown (13.5), and three receivers that are tied at 13.4: Davis, Jones, and Kenny Golladay. Three additional receivers are tied at 13.2 (McLaurin/Van Jefferson/Quez  Watkin), followed by Sammy Watkins (13.1). Darnell Mooney and Amari Cooper are among the 11 wide receivers who have eclipsed 12+ entering Week 12.

Week 11 First Downs

Tyreek Hill has ascended into the league lead in first down receptions (57), while Copper Kupp is now second following the Rams’ bye week (52). Davante Adams is third overall (48), while Keenan Allen and Justin Jefferson are tied with 44. D.J. Moore is next (43), while Chris Godwin and Stefon Diggs have both accrued 41. Jaylen Waddle has collected 39 first down receptions, while Michael Pittman and Deebo Samuel are tied with 37.

Mike Evans is next (36), followed by CeeDee Lamb (35), Terry McLaurin (34), and two receivers that are tied with 33: Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen. Four receivers have captured 32 first down receptions (Ja’Marr Chase/DeVonta Smith/Amari Cooper/Christian Kirk), while former college teammates A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf are tied at 31. Mike Williams has also collected 31 receptions followed by Brandin Cooks (29), and Denver teammates Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick with 28.

Marquise Brown and DeAndre Hopkins have accrued 27 catches, followed by Emmanuel Sanders (26) and three receivers that are tied at 25 – Darnell Mooney, Hunter Renfrow, and Cole Beasley. Tyler Lockett and Tyler Boyd are tied with 24 while Chase Claypool and Corey Davis are among the nine additional receivers that have captured 20+ entering Week 12.

Week 11 Red Zone Targets

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

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

Cooper Kupp continues to lead all wide receivers with 24 red zone targets, while Chris Godwin and Stefon Diggs are now tied for second with 18. Tyreek Hill is next (17), followed by Davante Adams and Keenan Allen with 15. Mike Williams is next (14) followed by Diontae Johnson (13), and eight different receivers who have accumulated 12 targets inside the 20 – Justin Jefferson, Mike Evans, Adam Thielen, Mike Evans, Courtland Sutton, Hunter Renfrow, Van Jefferson, Randall Cobb, and Mecole Hardman.

Five receivers have accrued 11 targets – Michael Pittman, D.K. Metcalf, A.J. Green, Jamison Crowder, and Calvin Ridley – while four receivers are tied with 10 targets inside the 20 (Jaylen Waddle/Amari Cooper/DeAndre Hopkins/Cole Beasley). Ja’Marr Chase, and D.J. Moore spearhead a group of seven receivers who have captured nine red zone targets entering Week 12.

Kupp also leads the position with 10 targets inside the 10-yard line, while Cobb is second with nine. Williams and Pittman are tied with eight targets, while seven different receivers have accumulated seven targets (Diggs/Hill/Evans/Thielen/Renfrow/ Green/Zach Pascal). Johnson, Adams, and Allen are among the nine receivers who have accrued six targets inside the 10.

Kupp once again leads all wide receivers with seven targets inside the 5-yard line. Cobb is second (6), while five different receivers have been targeted four times inside the 5 - Williams, Evans, Thielen, Hopkins, and Marvin Jones.

Week 11 Snap Counts

Adam Thielen leads all wide receivers in offensive snaps (636), followed by D.J. Moore (618), Michael Pittman (617), Jakobi Meyers (600), and two receivers that are tied at 596 – Terry McLaurin and Zach Pascal. There is another tie at 591 (Chris Godwin/DeVonta Smith), followed by Tyreek Hill (590). Robby Anderson is next (584), followed by Jaylen Waddle (583), Cooper Kupp (575), Justin Jefferson (574), Keenan Allen (572), and Mike Evans (569).

Marvin Jones is next (544), followed by Ja’Marr Chase (537), Emmanuel Sanders (533), Courtland Sutton (533), A.J. Green (527), and Stefon Diggs (524). Brandin Cooks is next (523), followed by Davante Adams (522), and three that are tied at 516 – Nelson Agholor, Diontae Johnson, and Christian Kirk. CeDee Lamb is next (515), followed by Tim Patrick (510), Darnell Mooney (509), Deebo Samuel (506), Quez Watkins (503), and Mike Williams completing the list of 33 wide receivers who have played on 500+ offensive snaps entering Week 12.

Thilen also leads the position in snap count percentage (95.1%), followed by McLaurin (93.4%), Kupp (92.3%), Jones (89.2%), Pittman (89.2%), Josh Reynolds (89.1%), Allen (89.0%), and Godwin (88.9%). Johnson is next (88.8%), followed by Cooks (88.6%), Chase (88.2%), Lockett (88.0%), and Adams (86.9%). Meyers is next (86.8%), followed by Smith (86.8%), Pascal (86.1%), Sutton (86.1%), Mooney (85.8%), Jefferson (85.8%), Moore (85.6%), and Evans (85.6%).

Allen Robinson is next (84.1%), followed by Hopkins (83.6%), Waddle (82.9%), Davis (82.8%), and Deebo Samuel with an 82.7% snap count percentage. DeVante Parker and Tim Patrick are tied at 82.4%, followed by Metcalf (81.8%), Chase Claypool (81.3%), A.J. Green (81.0%), Anderson (80.9%), Emmanuel Sanders (80.6%), Bryan Edwards (79.9%), Van Jefferson (79.6%), and Diggs (79.3%).

Five Things I Noticed

1. Elijah Moore was the sixth wide receiver to be selected during last April’s NFL draft. He entered Week 1 with an impressive list of attributes. although those abilities did not equate to sizable usage or favorable output throughout the early weeks of the season. Moore had attained an 82% snap share in Weeks 1-2, but he experienced a concussion during New York’s Week 3 matchup, was sidelined during Week 4 and was relegated to 23 snaps and two targets in Week 5.

Ladies and gentlemen, @e_moore03.#MIAvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/rSgVrv0qs3

— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 21, 2021

Corey Davis was leading the team in targets with 7.2 per game, receptions (20/4.0 per game), and receiving yards 302 (60.4 per game) through Week 6. Jamison Crowder had been absent from Weeks 1-3 (groin) then had accumulated 15 targets (7.5 per game), 11 receptions (5.5 per game), and 85 yards (42.5 per game) in Weeks 4-5.

Moore returned from the Jets’ Week 6 bye week with a 15.0% target share while averaging 5.0 targets, 2.0 receptions, and 16.5 receptions per game. Seven other members of Moore’s 2021 rookie class had accumulated more targets, while he was also just eighth in receptions and 10th in receiving yards among first-year receivers.

Since Week 7, Moore has averaged 7.4 targets, 5.0 receptions, and 69.8 yards per game. That has vaulted him to 11th overall among all wide receivers with 37 targets during that span. He is also ninth in receptions (25), seventh in receiving yards (349) and is also tied for second with four touchdowns. Moore has also exceeded 10.5 yards per target in three of his last four games after averaging just 2.2 from Weeks 1 -7. Three of his four red zone targets have also been accrued during that span.

In his last three matchups, Moore leads the Jets in target share (18.8%), targets (258.3 per game), receptions (18/6.9 per game), receiving yards (269/89.6 per game), air yards (267), and yards after catch (95). Only three wide receivers have generated more yardage during that span (269), while he has also assembled a league-best four touchdowns. He also leads all rookies in receiving yards (169) is tied with Jaylen Waddle in targets (25), second only to Waddle in receptions (18) during that span.

The recent statistical surge has propelled Moore into the team lead in targets (57/6.3 per game), while he is second on the Jets in receptions (33/3.6 per game) and also in receiving yards (415/46.1 per game).

Elijah Moore: 91.9 PFF Grade in Week 11

🥇 1st among all WRs

(📸 @nyjets) pic.twitter.com/B3dU7KQcdg

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 22, 2021

That includes his Week 11 performance when Moore was second overall in receiving yards (141) and tied for fourth in both targets (11), and receptions (8). His numbers have also been assembled with a combination of Mike White, Josh Johnson, and Joe Flacco spearheading the Jets passing attack, as Zach Wilson has been recovering from his knee injury. However, it is difficult to envision Moore being relegated to the constraints of production-inhibiting usage that previously existed before Week 9, regardless of which quarterback is guiding the aerial attack.

2. Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen combined for a 58.8% target share, 20 targets, 16 receptions, 251 yards, and three touchdowns during Minnesota’s Week 11 matchup with Green Bay, which vaulted the tandem among the week’s most prolific receivers.

Jefferson collected 10+ targets for the fifth time this season when he accrued 10 against the Packers. That expanded Jefferson’s total to 21 in Weeks 10-11 combined after he had been limited to 4.5 per game in Weeks 8-9.

Jetts on pace for 400+

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/BW4MuGl2G6

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 21, 2021

Jefferson also captured eight receptions during the NFC North encounter, while he also exploded for a season-high 169 receiving yards. The second-year receiver also accumulated 146 air yards while attaining a 37.6% percentage share of air yards. He also established a new season-high in yards per target (16.9), registered 21.3 yards per reception, and also generated multiple touchdowns for the first time in 2021.

Those exceptional numbers propelled him to WR1 for Week 11, while vaulting him to 10th overall in targets from Weeks 1-11, (89/8.9 per game). He is also sixth in receptions (63/6.3 per game), fourth in receiving yards (944/94.4 per game), and fifth in first down receptions (44). Jefferson is also third overall in yards before catch (630), fifth in percentage share of our yards (41.3%), and is also eighth in red zone targets (11).

Jefferson’s teammate Thielen also collected 10 targets from Kirk Cousins in Week 11, which enabled him to match Jefferson’s 29.4% target share. It was the first game in which he had reached double digits since Week 6. while Thielen’s eight receptions and 82 receiving yards were also his highest weekly totals since that same Week 6 matchup.

Red Zone.@athielen19.

You know the result.

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/2TycuH31aZ

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 21, 2021

It also represented a massive alternative to his totals in Week 9, when he manufactured an anemic six yards on two receptions. Thielen also generated a touchdown for the fourth time in his last five games, while his 42 yards after catch tied his season-high. He also accrued 110 air yards and attained a 28.4% share of air yards.

Thielen also finished at WR7 for the week, while his performance elevated him to 13th overall in targets from Weeks 1-11 (83/8.3 per game). He is also 12th in receptions (58/5.8 per game), and he is now tied for third in touchdowns (8).

Both receivers have surfaced among the top 10 in scoring through Week 11, as Jefferson enters Week 12 at WR5, while Thielen is currently WR10. Jefferson is destined to sustain his elite status through the season, while Thielen can operate as a borderline WR2/WR3 for anyone who has secured him on their rosters.

3. Deebo Samuel continues to flourish during his third season while commandeering his place among the league leaders in multiple categories. Samuel provided a glimpse of his capabilities during the final eight games of his 2019 rookie season when he led the 49ers in receiving yards (575/71.9 per game) while also leading all rookies in receptions (35). Unfortunately, problematic injuries (hamstring/foot) sidelined him for nine matchups during 2020, while restricting him to 44 targets, 33 receptions, and 391 yards.

Yeah thats DEEBO @19problemz to the house 😎#LARvsSF on ESPN/49ers app pic.twitter.com/pCrDNFo5sz

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 16, 2021

However, Samuel has already established new career highs in targets (88/8.8 per game), receiving yards (994/99.4 per game), air yards (729), and percentage share of air yards (32.4%). Samuel’s 55 receptions are also just two short of his current career-high in that category.

Samuel also leads all wide receivers in yards after catch (525), is second in yards per target (11.3), and third in yards per reception (18.1). He is also 11th in targets, second in receiving yards, 16th in receptions, and 10th in first downs (37). Samuel has also generated 137 yards and three touchdowns on the ground and is also eighth overall in Football Outsiders DYAR (Defense-Adjusted Yards Above Replacement).

There is no debate whether Samuel has seized the role as San Francisco’s primary wide receiver after it had appeared that his pathway toward operating in that capacity had been obstructed by Brandon Aiyuk. The in-season transition of expectations and results had been vastly different for Aiyuk, who was firmly entrenched in Kyle Shanahan’s expansive dog house during the 49ers’ season opener at Detroit.

Aiyuk was limited to a career-low 47% snap share and failed to register a target against the Lions. His numbers only rose incrementally in Week 2, as Aiyuk’s snap share increased to 54%, while his only reception accumulated six yards. He ultimately averaged an anemic 2.7 targets, 1.5 receptions, and 16 yards per game from Weeks 1-7, while failing to approach the averages that he accumulated during his 2020 rookie season (8.0 targets/5.0 receptions/62.3 yards per game). Aiyuk had also averaged a league-high 13.0 targets per game from Weeks 10-15 last season, along with 7.8 receptions and 90.5 yards per game during that span.

10 to 11 like clockwork.@THE2ERA
📺 @NFLonFOX#SFvsJAX pic.twitter.com/N5gURzaayO

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 21, 2021

However, Aiyuk’s usage and production have increased sizably since Week 8. His snap share has expanded to 90.4%, while he has averaged 6.5 targets, 5.0 receptions, and 61.3 yards per game. He has captured 7+ targets during three of his last four contests while accruing 85+ yards twice. He has also surged into the team lead in target share (25%), targets (26), and receptions (20) during that sequence.

Aiyuk’s second season has been resuscitated, as he is at the threshold of WR2 status for fantasy managers. Samuel is now entrenched among the unquestioned  WR1s.

4. Tyreek Hill is the current league leader in targets and has also accumulated the highest target total since Week 8 (50). Keenan Allen is second overall during that four-game span (48), followed by Diontae Johnson (45), Jaylen Waddle (37), and two receivers that are tied with  35 – A.J. Brown, and Cooper Kupp. Stefon Diggs has accrued 34 targets, while Davante Adams and Adam Thielen have captured 33. Four receivers are tied at 31 – Elijah Moore, Michael Pittman, Darnell Mooney, and Cole Beasley – while Justin Jefferson has collected 30 targets during that span. D.J. Moore is next (29), while four receivers have accumulated 28 (Ja’Marr Chase/CeeDee Lamb/Jamison Crowder/Jarvis Landry).

A little hesitation step by Tyreek Hill on the short pass allows him to pick up 23 yards on 2nd & 10. #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/G6EQ3Alxes

— Devon Clements (@DevclemNFL) November 21, 2021

Three receivers are tied with 26 targets (Brandon Aiyuk/Tyler Lockett/Chris Godwin), while four receivers have all accumulated 25 – Deebo Samuel, Marquise Brown, Christian Kirk, and Jamal Agnew. Rondale Moore and Deonte Harris are tied at 24 targets, while Brandin Cooks and Jakobi Meyers are tied with 23. A whopping seven receivers have been targeted 22 times during that four-game sequence – Terry McLaurin, D.K. Metcalf, Hunter Renfrow, Amari Cooper, Mike Williams, Tre’ Quan Smith, and Rashod Bateman, while three receivers are tied with 21 (Jerry Jeudy/DeVonta Smith/Laviska Shenault). Van Jefferson, A.J. Green, and Keelan Cole are tied with 20 targets which completes the list of 44 receivers that have eclipsed 20+ during that four-game span.

Hill also leads the position in air yards from Weeks 8-11 (562), while Jefferson has elevated into second overall (436). Lockett is next (420), followed by Mooney (399), Johnson (392), Lamb (381), Allen (370), Diggs (365), and Waddle (351). A.J. Brown is next (338), followed by Smith (336), Chase (326), Thielen (320), Elijah Moore (301), and Emmanuel Sanders (292). Adams and Marvin Jones have accrued 291 air yards, followed by Marquez Callaway (281), Cooper (280), McLaurin (268), and two receivers that are tied at 266 - Metcalf, and Landry. Pittman is next (261), followed by Marquise Goodwin (253), Kirk (249), Evans (247), and Tee Higgins (246). Kupp (245), Moore (244), and Green (242) complete the top 30 in air yards since Week 8.

Hill’s name is also located to top the leaders in percentage share of air yards during the sequence (46.9%), followed by Lockett (46.3%), Moore (43.9%), Smith (43.8%), Jefferson (41.5%), Chase (41.4%), and Allen (39.8%). Johnson is next (39.0%), followed by Mooney (37.9%), Adams (37.8%), A.J. Brown (37.7%), McLaurin (37.3%), and Donovan Peoples-Jones (35.8%). DeVante Parker is next (35,7%), followed by Green (33.5%), Gallup (32.9%), Chase Claypool (32.7%), Kadarius Toney (31.4%), Tee Higgins (31.2%), Marquez Valdes-Scantling 30.8%. Waddle and Kupp are tied at 30.7%, followed by three receivers that are tied at 30.5% (Thielen/Marquise Brown/DeAndre Carter). Corey Davis is next (30.3%), followed by Diggs (30.1%), Jeudy (30.1%), and Marvin Jones (30.0%).

5. A cluster collection of receivers have recently failed to sustain the favorable usage and output that they were accumulating earlier this season. That includes Jakobi Meyers, who was one of just nine receivers to average 10+ targets per game from Weeks 1-4 (10.3). Meyers had also captured a 25.8% share which easily exceeded the shares of teammates Nelson Agholor (14.5%), and Kendrick Bourne (11.95%). 

Meyers also collected 12+ in Weeks 3-4, while his overall total (41) placed him eighth among all receivers. He was also eighth in receptions (27/6.7 per game), which included four catches of 20+. Meyers also led Patriot wide receivers in receiving yards (246/61.5 yards per game), yards after catch (73), air yards (372/93 per game), and percentage share of air yards (30.6%).

Since Week 5, Meyers’ targets per game average has declined by 43% (5.9), while his target share has dropped to 21.5%. His per-game averages in receptions (3.9), yardage (39.4), and air yards (56.4) have also declined when contrasted with New England’s first four games. Meyers has descended to 30th overall in targets (41), and 27th in receptions (27) during that span. Nelson Agholor has also matched Meyers in target share (25.5%/25.5%) and has surpassed Meyers in air yards (396/395). However, Agholor has averaged just 4.0 targets, 2.3 receptions, and 33 yards per game) during those matchups.

He catches. He runs. He runs and catches.

Add 48 yards for @BournePoly11.

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/JcjHTKz9d1

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 14, 2021

Bourne has also ascended beyond Meyers into the team lead in receiving yards (381/54.4 per game) and yards after catch (191) since Week 5, even though Bourne’s snap share (45.7%) remains well below Meyers (82.1%), and Agholor (70.9%) during that sequence. Bourne’s 12 targets since Week 9 (4.0 per game) are just two fewer than Meyers (14/4.7 per game), while Bourne also leads the Patriots in receptions (11/3.7 per game), and receiving yards (174/58 per game). Meyers has manufactured just nine catches (3 per game) and 96 yards (32 per game) during those contests. Bourne’s target share has also eclipsed Agholor’s since Week 9 (17.4%/13.0%),

All three receivers are operating within an offense that now ranks 24th in pass play percentage (55.1%). Mac Jones is averaging 32.6 attempts per game and has launched just 67 passes since Week 9 (22.3 per game), as the Patriots have confronted opposing defenses with heavy deployment of Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. All of which has reduced the level of trust that should be placed in any Patriot wide receivers.

Meyers should only be considered as a matchup-based WR4. Agholor’s averages since Week 9 remain unimpressive (3.0 targets/1.3 receptions/20.3 per game) and he is not a recommended starting option. Bourne has captured the team lead in receiving yards (562/51.1 per game), and yards after catch (256) entering Week 12. This elevates him into consideration as a high-end WR4 in deeper leagues – if injuries, bye weeks, and other developments have depleted your rosters.

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