Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Risers and Fallers for Week 14

Your wide receivers remain essential components toward your primary goal of securing league championships. As you prepare for your Week 14 matchups, 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 wide receivers, which is designed to help you fulfill your championship aspirations.

This is the 13th 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 your remaining matchups.

All noteworthy changes in usage and production will be blended into the equation as we progress through the final weeks of the season. 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 13 Target Leaders

.@CooperKupp doing Cooper Kupp things! 😏

📺 @nflonfox | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/x2yRoActvS

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 5, 2021

Cooper Kupp continues to lead all wide receivers in total targets entering Week 14 (136). He has now collected at least 10 in four consecutive games while also reaching double-digits in 11 of his 12 matchups throughout the season. Tyreek Hill is second overall (127) even though his streak of four consecutive games with 10+ targets came to an abrupt conclusion in Week 13. Keenan Allen is third (124) although his streak of five straight games with 10+ also ended in Week 13. Diontae Johnson is the fourth receiver who has accumulated 120+ targets and is now averaging a league-high 11.9 per game since Week 6.

Two receivers are tied with 115. That includes Jaylen Waddle who has now averaged 9.7 per game since Week 8. He is joined by Davante Adams who will be returning from Green Bay’s Week 13 bye. Two receivers have also accrued 112 targets including Justin Jefferson, whose 14 targets in Week 13 tied his season-high. That ties Jefferson with D.J. Moore who had registered his first double-digit total in five games prior to Carolina’s Week 13 bye. Stefon Diggs has averaged 7.3 targets per game since Week 11, which has expanded his season total to 108.

Chris Godwin established a career a new career-high when he stockpiled 17 targets in Week 13. That also propelled his season total to 105. Terry McLaurin is next (103) although he has not reached a double-digit total since Week 7. He also completes the list of 11 wide receivers who have accumulated at least 100+ targets from Weeks 1- 13. Marquise Brown has reached the periphery of 100, as he has assembled 99 entering Week 14. He is tied with Michael Pittman, who has averaged 9.0 per game since Week 12. Brandin Cooks is next (98) even though he has only averaged 4.7 per game since Week 11.

Mike Evans has collected 93 targets, after attaining 10+ in two of his last three games. That ties him with Mike Williams, who has only averaged 6.2 per game since Week 6. Three receivers are tied at 92 including Deebo Samuel who was sidelined during San Francisco’s Week 13 matchup (groin). He is tied with Adam Thielen whose ankle injury restricted him to just two targets in Week 13. Hunter Renfrow has also accrued 92 targets after he captured a season-high 10 in Week 13.

Four receivers are tied with 90 targets. That group includes CeeDee Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase, who will both be examined further in the 5 Things I Noticed section. They are joined by Darnell Mooney, who has now averaged 7.5 targets per game since Week 12. Jakobi Meyers' overall total remained at 90 for an additional week, after he was not targeted during the Patriots' AFC East showdown in windy Buffalo.

Seattle teammates D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are tied at 84 after the tandem captured eight targets in Week 13. They are followed by three receivers who are tied with 82. That includes Tee Higgins, whose 14 targets in Week 13 represented his first double-digit total since Week 7. Marvin Jones has also collected 82, even though he was relegated to just three when Jacksonville visited the Rams in Week 13. DeVonta Smith has also assembled 82 targets, even though he has only been targeted four times in each of his last two outings. He is joined by Cole Beasley, who received three targets in Week 14.

A.J. Brown is next (78) even though he has not registered a target since Week 11. He is followed by promising rookie Elijah Moore (77) who just established a new career-high in Week 13 (12). Two receivers are tied with 76 targets including Laviska Shenault who is averaging 6.3 per game since Week 11. He is joined by Courtland Sutton who is only averaging 3.6 per game since Week 8. Chase Claypool was only targeted three times when Pittsburgh hosted Baltimore in Week 13. However, that still expanded his season total is 72. That ties Claypool with Tyler Boyd who has collected 7+ targets during two of his last three matchups. Van Jefferson (70) completes the list of 36 wide receivers who have accumulated 70+ targets entering Week 14.

DIONTAE JOHNSON FOR THE LEAD 🔥 pic.twitter.com/m8a4vM8fbZ

— PFF (@PFF) December 6, 2021

Johnson leads all wide receivers with 51 targets from Weeks 10-13. He is followed by Jefferson (44), Allen (42), and two rookies - Moore (37), and Waddle (36). Godwin has also attained 36, followed by Diggs (35), Kupp (33), Renfrow (32), Michael Gallup (32), Mooney (31), and three receivers are tied at 30 - Evans, Marquise Brown, and Russell Gage. Three receivers are tied with 28 targets  (Adams/Pittman/ Metcalf), while four additional receivers are tied at 27 - Williams, McLaurin, Shenault, and Tre’Quan Smith. Yet another cluster of four receivers are tied at 26 (Lockett/Thielen/Hill/Amon-Ra St. Brown) - while Tee Higgins has accumulated 25 targets during that four-game span.

Five different receivers are averaging at least 10 targets per game – Kupp (11.3), Johnson (10.9), Hill (10.6), Adams (10.5), and Allen (10.3). Kupp has collected 10+ targets in 11 different games. Johnson has accomplished it nine times, while Hill and Allen have reached double-digits in eight contests, while Jefferson, Waddle, Moore, and Marquise Brown have received 10+ in six games.

Week 13 Weekly Changes  

Chris Godwin already has six catches for 58 yards in the first quarter 🔥 #GoBucs

📺: #TBvsATL on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/Ji8zZYXm6P

— NFL (@NFL) December 5, 2021

12 different wide receivers collected 10+ targets during the matchups in Weeks 13. The highest weekly total was commandeered by Godwin (17), whose previous single-game high of 14 had been established in Week 4 of 2019. However, it was also the first time that Godwin had attained a double-digit total since Week 8.

Jefferson has now eclipsed 10+ targets in three of his last four games after capturing 14 when Minnesota traveled to Detroit. He has also accumulated 44 targets during that sequence. Higgins also captured 14 targets when Cincinnati hosted the Chargers, which was his second-highest weekly total of the season. Higgins' recent usage and output will be discussed further in the Five Things I Noticed section. CeeDee Lamb returned from a one-week absence (concussion) to accrue 13 targets from Dak Prescott in Week 13. Lamb had been averaging 7.0 per game during his previous four matchups.

Two rookies accumulated 12 targets in Week 13. This includes Elijah Moore, whose career-high 12 targets also represented his second double-digit total since Week 11. He also attained a 33.3% target share with Zach Wilson spearheading the Jets offense, which is extremely encouraging for anyone who has invested in Moore. Amon-Ra St. Brown had been averaging is 4.7 per game from Weeks 1-12 before he easily surpassed his previous season-high. His final target during Detroit’s matchup with Minnesota also secured the Lions' first win of the season.

LIONS WALK IT OFF FOR THEIR FIRST WIN!!! 🚨

(via @Lions)pic.twitter.com/uZ5gDFw6Cp

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 5, 2021

Russell Gage reached double-digits for the first time this season when he was targeted 12 times by Matt Ryan. That was also his highest weekly total since Week 11 of 2020. Johnson collected 11 targets when the Steelers hosted division rival Baltimore, which was the ninth time that he has eclipsed 10+ this season. He has also captured 11+ in four consecutive outings. Waddle also attained 11 targets and has now collected 10+ in five of his last eight matchups. He has also averaged 9.9 per game since Week 6.

Kupp continued his relentless collection of targets after he accrued 10 for a second consecutive week. In addition to reaching double-digits in 11 of his 12 games, his weekly totals have ranged between 9-13 throughout the season. Evans was also targeted 10 times, and he has now attained 10+ in three of his last six games. Hunter Renfrow had captured nine targets during eight different matchups in his career but had never reached double digits until Week 13. Renfrow has also averaged 8.2 per game since Week 9.

Godwin’s career-high 17 targets have unsurprisingly propelled him to this week’s largest increase (+12) after he had been limited to just five in Week 13. St. Brown had only been targeted four times when Detroit hosted Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, but his career-best 12 targets in Week 14 vaulted him to the week’s second-largest rise (+8).  Higgins had collected eight targets in two of his last three contests prior to Week 14, but the 14 targets that he accrued when the Bengals hosted the Chargers resulted in a weekly increase of +6. The weekly totals for seven different receivers increased by +5 in Week 14 - Jefferson, Gage, Jamison Crowder, K.J. Osborn, Sammy Watkins, and Cincinnati teammates Chase, and Tyler Boyd.

Mac Jones only attempted three passes when New England contended with inclement weather in Buffalo. Only one of those throws was distributed to a wide receiver, which prevented Jakobi Meyers from receiving a target. That occurred one week after he had collected eight targets, which created the largest decline of the week (-8). Meyers’ teammate Kendrick Bourne also did not collect a target, which resulted in his weekly drop of -6. That ties him with Jalen Reagor, who played on 68% of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps but was only targeted one time in Week 14.

Noah Brown had attained a 93% snap in Week 13, while teammates CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper were sidelined. That enabled him to accumulate nine targets. However, he was limited to just a 17% share and three targets in Week 14, which also diminished his weekly total by -6. The weekly totals dropped by -5 for three different receivers (Thielen/Claypool/Beckham), while five receivers also experienced a decline of -4 – Zach Pascal, Marin Jones, Laviska Shenault, DeAndre Carter, and Nico Collins.

Week 13 Air Yards

Down the field to @JJettas2!!!#ProBowlVote

📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/CNjerrebYy

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 5, 2021

Justin Jefferson was fifth overall in air yards entering Week 13 (1,218). However, he has vaulted into the league lead with 1,401 yards after accumulating 183 when Minnesota visited Detroit. Former league leader Tyreek Hill is now second overall (1,321), followed by Terry McLaurin (1,303), Stefon Diggs (1,259), Marquise Brown (1,235), and two receivers are tied at 1,225 - Cooper Kupp, and Davante Adams. D.J. Moore is next (1,224), followed by Mike Evans (1,216), Courtland Sutton (1,196), Ja’Marr Chase (1,174), Tyler Lockett (1,165), Diontae Johnson (1,135), and DeVonta Smith (1,125) completing the list of receivers who have eclipsed 1,100 air yards.

Brandin Cooks is next (1,092), followed by D.K. Metcalf (1,083), Emmanuel Sanders (1,040), Michael Pittman (1,034), Mike Williams (1,034), Marvin Jones (1,005). CeeDee Lamb is next (999), followed by Darnell Mooney (998), Keenan Allen (997), Tee Higgins (983), Chase Claypool (916), and Jefferson (906), completing the list of 26 wide receivers who have reached 900 air yards entering Week 14.

Odell Beckham Jr. was fourth overall in percentage share of air yards entering Week 13 (41.9%). However, he has soared into the league lead entering Week 14 (49.0%). McLaurin is second (44.2%), followed by Jefferson (43.7%), Cooks (42.1%), Moore (40.9%), Lockett (39.5%), Johnson (39.3%), A.J. Brown (38.9%), and Adams (38.7%). Hill is next (38.0%), followed by Sutton (38.0%), Chase (37.8%), Smith (37.0%), Metcalf (36.7%), and Higgins (36.2%).

DeVante Parker is next (35.5%), followed by Marquez Valdes-Scantling (35.4%), Claypool (35.4%), Marquise Brown (34.2%) Mooney (33.8%) Diggs (33.4%), and Pittman (32.8%). Deebo Samuel is next (32.2%), followed by Kupp (32.0%), Mike Williams (30.7%), Evans (30.5%), Marvin Jones (30.0%), Hopkins (30.0%), and Allen (29.6%).

Week 13 First Downs

Cooper Kupp continues to lead all wide receivers in first down receptions (64), followed by Tyreek Hill (59), Justin Jefferson (57), and two receivers tied at 53 - Keenan Allen, and Davante Adams. Jaylen Waddle is next (50), followed by Chris Godwin (49), Diontae Johnson (46), Stefon Diggs (46), D.J. Moore (45), Michael Pittman (44), Mike Evans (41), CeeDee Lamb (39), and two receivers tied at 38 (Deebo Samuel/Ja’Marr Chase). Terry McLaurin and Mike Williams have both collected 37 receptions, while Adam Thielen and D.K. Metcalf have captured 36.

Absolute laser beam from @derekcarrqb.#WASvsLV | FOX | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/6P9fUxeDP3

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 5, 2021

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Hunter Renfrow and DeVonta Smith have accumulated 35 receptions, while Brandin Cooks, Tee Higgins, and Amari Cooper are tied at 33. Marquise Brown, Darnell Mooney, and Christian Kirk have all accrued 32 receptions while Jakobi Meyers, A.J. Brown, and Courtland Sutton (31) complete the list of 31 receivers who have accumulated 30+ first down receptions entering Week 14.

Week 13 Red Zone Targets

Cooper Kupp still leads all wide receivers in red zone targets (25), while Chris Godwin is second overall (23). Stefon Diggs is next (19), followed by Tyreek Hill (18), Keenan Allen (17). and three receivers that are tied at 16 - Justin Jefferson, Davante Adams, and Mike Williams. Mike Evans is next (15), followed by four receivers that have collected 14 targets - Diontae Johnson, Adam Thielen, Van Jefferson, and Randall Cobb.

Jaylen Waddle with a Touchdown 😁🔥pic.twitter.com/gHgc5g4pFv

— Alabama DieHards (@DiehardsAlabama) November 28, 2021

Jaylen Waddle, Hunter Renfrow, D.K. Metcalf and Courtland Sutton have all accrued 13 targets, while four receivers have all accumulated 12 - Michael Pittman, Jamison Crowder, and teammates Zach Pascal, and Michael Pittman. Arizona teammates DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green have been targeted 11 times, while D.J. Moore, Tee Higgins, Amari Cooper, and Cole Beasley complete the list of 29 receivers who have been targeted at least 10 times in the red zone.

Kupp and Cobb are tied for the league lead with 11 targets inside the 10. Williams, Evans, Pittman, and Pascal have all accrued nine targets, while Diggs, Allen, and Thielen have all captured eight. Nine different receivers have all been targeted seven times inside the 10 - Godwin, Hill, Justin Jefferson, Van Jefferson, Adams, Johnson, Renfrow, Green, and Tim Patrick.

Kupp also continues to lead his position with eight targets inside the five. Cobb and Justin Jefferson are tied for second (6), while Williams, Evans, and Thielen have all collected five. Eight different receivers have been targeted four times inside the 5-yard line - Pascal, Allen, Johnson, Van Jefferson, Hopkins, Marvin Jones, and Mack Hollins.

Week 13 Snap Counts

Michael Pittman now leads all wide receivers with 733 offensive snaps. Terry McLaurin is second (724), followed by Chris Godwin (714), Zach Pascal (712), Cooper Kupp (698), Mike Evans (694), DeVonta Smith (693), Adam Thielen (692), Jalen Waddle (689), and Justin Jefferson with 687. Keenan Allen is next (677) followed by Jakobi Meyers (675), D, J, Moore (669), Marvin Jones (658), Ja’Marr Chase (655), Courtland Sutton (638), while Tyreek Hill and Darnell Mooney are tied with 637.

Robby Anderson is next (633), followed by two receivers that are tied at 628 - Stefon Diggs, and Diontae Johnson. Emmanuel Sanders is next (626), followed by Tim Patrick (621), and two receivers that are tied at 609 - Mike Williams, and Brandin Cooks. Quez Watkins has played on 608 snaps, followed by Van Jefferson (607), Davante Adams (598), Marquise Brown (597), Bryan  Edwards (589), Nelson Agholor (588), Tyler Lockett (585), Brandon Aiyuk (577), and CeeDee Lamb (572).

Kupp leads the position in offensive snap count percentage (93.07%), followed closely by McLaurin (93.06%). Johnson is next (90.1%), followed by Godwin (89.7%), Marvin Jones (89.4%), Lockett (88.4%), Pittman (88.3%), Adams (88.1%), Allen (88.0%), Chase (87.9%), Cooks (87.6%), Thielen (87.4%), Evans (87.2%), and Mooney (86.8%).

Justin Jefferson is next (86.7%), followed by Moore (86.3%), Josh Reynolds (85.8%), Pascal (85.8%), Smith (85.1%), Sutton (85.1%), Meyers (84.6%), Allen Robinson (84.1%), Metcalf (83.2%), and Tim Patrick (82.8%). Hopkins is next (82.6)%, followed by Waddle (81.7%), Anderson (81.7%), Claypool (81.1%), Van Jefferson (80.9%), and Deebo Samuel (80.9%).

Five Things I Noticed

1. Dak Prescott has now spearheaded the Dallas office for five consecutive games since returning from his calf issue in Week 9. CeeDee Lamb has participated in four of those matchups, while Amari Cooper has been active in three of those contests.

Lamb had been sidelined when the Cowboys hosted Las Vegas on Thanksgiving day. However, he reemerged from concussion protocol to capture a team-high 13 targets when Dallas visited New Orleans in Week 13. It was the third time that he has eclipsed 10 targets this season and the first time that he had accrued a double-digit total since Week 6.

CeeDee Lamb being a YAC monster on this playpic.twitter.com/YIR5tD3cRG

— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) December 3, 2021

Lamb also collected a team-high seven receptions which was also his highest total since Week 6. He also paced the Cowboys in receiving yards (89) which was the fifth time that he had eclipsed 80+ in his last seven games. Lamb is now averaging 8.3 targets, 4.5 receptions, and 55 yards per game since Week 9, and those averages are negatively impacted by his outings in Weeks 9 and 11 - when he manufactured just 37 yards on five catches during those two games combined. Lamb also leads the Cowboys in air yards (402), yards after catch (113), since Week 9, and is second in percentage share of air yards (31.6%), and aDOT (12.2).

Lamb has now accumulated 90 targets (9.2 per game), 57 receptions (5.2 per game), and 829 yards (75.4) per game from Weeks 1-13. Those numbers compare favorably to his averages during his 2020 rookie season (6.9 targets/4.6 receptions/58.4 yards per game. He has also assembled 39 first down receptions and has generated six touchdowns.

Cooper resurfaced after his absence in Weeks 11-12 (reserve/COVID), although his usage and output were underwhelming. He only performed on 35% of the Cowboys' offensive snaps and was limited to season-lows in targets (2) receptions (2), and just 41 yards. Cooper was also limited to 20 air yards, 21 yards-after-catch, and managed just a 5.9% share of air yards.

Cooper has now accrued 67 targets (6.7 per game), 46 receptions (4.6 per game), and 624 yards (62.4 per game). However, Cooper has averaged just 3.7 targets since Week 9, along with 2.7 receptions and 43 yards per game during that span.

Michael Gallup was second on the team in targets (9), and tied for second in receptions (5), in Week 13, while assembling 36 yards. He also generated his first touchdown of the season.

Gall🆙

📺: #DALvsNO on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/UtaLjEke1K

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 3, 2021

He has now averaged 8.0 targets, 4.5 receptions, and 57 yards per game since he returned from a seven-game absence (calf). Gallup also leads the Cowboys in targets (32), receptions (18), and receiving yards (228) from Weeks 10-13. He also leads Dallas in air yards (400), percentage share of air yards (34.0%), and aDOT (12.5) during that sequence. His numbers have been easy to embrace by anyone who has deployed him in their lineups. However, the return of a healthy Lamb and Cooper will impact his usage and output during the Cowboys’ upcoming matchups.

Tee Higgins is the 2nd highest-graded receiver (89.9) in the NFL over the last two weeks. During that span he is 4-for-5 on contested targets, has 10 explosive plays and a 15.1 average depth of target.

Kid is cooking. pic.twitter.com/9yvrNmt7Wl

— Andrew Russell (@PFF_AndrewR) December 6, 2021

2. Tee Higgins has recently flourished during his second season, which has been fueled by a distinct rise in his numbers from Weeks 6-13. His year had begun with encouraging results during Cincinnati’s first two matchups (team-high 27.3% target share/10 receptions/118 yards). However, he also encountered a shoulder issue that sidelined him in Weeks 3-4 and was also limited to 32 yards when he resurfaced in Week 5.

Ja’Marr Chase commandeered a 27.0% target share during that same Week 5 matchup while capturing 10 targets, leading the Bengals in receptions (6), and finishing fourth among all receivers with 159 yards. Chase stockpiled a league-best 298 yards in Weeks 6-7 and entered Week 8 at WR3 in scoring.   

Chase also soared to second overall in receiving yards (759/108.4 per game), third in yards after catch (267), fourth in percentage share of air yards (43.2%), and ninth in air yards (760). Chase also led all receivers in yards per reception (21.5), and yards per target (14.8) and was also fourth in touchdowns.

Chase’s numbers stood in contrast to Higgins, who had accrued nearly 500 fewer yards (754/246) from Weeks 1-7, and 339 fewer air yards (760/421). However, Higgins’ statistical momentum surged after that sequence. His per-game averages from Weeks 1-5 in targets (7.3) receptions (5.0), receiving yards (50), and air yards (61) have climbed to 8.6 targets, 5.3 receptions, 78.3 yards, and 114.2 air yards per game from Weeks 6-13.

Higgins has also collected more targets (60/55), receptions (37/32), receiving yards (548/502), and air yards (800/631) than Chase since Week 6. Higgins’ momentum continued during Cincinnati’s Week 13 matchup with the Chargers, as he led the Bengals with 14 targets – which was also his second-highest total of the season. That propelled him to season-highs in receptions (9), and receiving yards (138). He also accrued 22 targets, 15 receptions, and 252 yards during the Bengals' last two contests, which easily surpasses Chase’s total in each category (11 targets/8 receptions/81 yards). Higgins’ output also vaulted him to WR1 from Weeks 12-13.

TEE HIGGINS GOT 🆙 pic.twitter.com/XKWdccR9ii

— PFF CIN Bengals (@PFF_Bengals) December 5, 2021

To be clear, Chase remains an exceptional talent, whose early success compelled opposing defensive coordinators to intensify their efforts toward neutralizing him. He had collected seven receptions of 20+ yards, and four catches of 40+ during his first five games, but has not registered any receptions of either distance since Week 9.

His scorching sequence from Weeks 5-7 has enabled him to remain fifth overall in receiving yards (958/79.8 per game), seventh in yards after catch (377), 10th in air yards (1,174), 14th in percentage share of air yards (37.8%), and also 14th in first down receptions (38). Chase is also fourth in touchdowns (8), although he has only scored once since Week 8.

However, Higgins now leads the Bengals in target share from Weeks 1-13 (25.5%), while his per-game averages in targets (8.2), and receptions (5.2), exceed Chase’s averages during that span (7.5 targets/4.6 receptions). Higgins is also averaging 69.8 yards per game) while accumulating 82 targets, 52 receptions, 698 yards, and 983 air yards. His 36.2% percentage share of air yards also places him 16th among all wide receivers.

You should already be planning to start Higgins or Chase if they are part of your receiving arsenal. However, Higgins has closed what had been a distinct gap in the scoring potential of each receiver and provides the potential to remain highly productive during the fantasy playoffs.

3. If you selected Elijah Moore during your draft process you should be ecstatic in the aftermath of his usage and production during the Jets’ Week 13 matchup with Philadelphia. Moore finished at WR9, as he collected a season-high 12 targets, 77 yards, and his fifth touchdown in five games. That vaulted Moore to fifth overall in targets during Week 13, while he also captured a 33.3% target share, led all receivers in air yards (201), and also paced his position in percentage share of air yards (62.6%). 

Those numbers should compel anyone who rostered Moore to continue utilizing him during the fantasy postseason. However, there is more to embrace regarding his Week 13 results if you have invested in Moore, as his favorable results were assembled while operating with Zach Wilson under center.

😤 Zach Wilson ➡️ Elijah Moore 😤

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/SajA1UXyi0

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 5, 2021

During his last two matchups with Wilson guiding the aerial attack, Moore leads all receivers with a 60.1% share of air yards. He is also third in air yards (251), third in target share (33.9% share), and has produced two touchdowns. Moore’s numbers since Wilson resurfaced as the Jets starting signal-caller in Week 12 also represent a significant improvement over the underwhelming results that occurred when both rookies were operating together from Weeks 1-7.

Moore averaged 5.2 targets, but just an anemic 1.8 receptions and 15.8 yards per game during that span. Moore’s overall totals (9 receptions/79 yards) were fourth among Jet receivers behind Corey Davis, Braxton Berrios, and Jamison Crowder - even though Crowder only played in three matchups (groin). Moore was second in air yards (347) and percentage share of air yards (23.7%), while registering just one red zone target, and only accruing 37 yards after catch. Moore was also relegated to 3.0 yards per target and 8.0 yards per reception during those contests.

Wilson was sidelined with a knee injury from Weeks 8-11 as Moore was running routes with a combination of Mike White, Joe Flacco, and Josh Johnson under center. Moore’s averages rose considerably during that four-week span (7.8 targets/6.0 receptions/84 yards per game), as did his yards per target (10.0), and yards per reception (14.0). Moore also led the Jets in targets (31), receptions (24), receiving yards (336), air yards (301,), yards after catch (128). He also tied for the league lead with four touchdowns.

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

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

His comparative success without Wilson in the lineup fueled understandable concerns that a statistical downturn could be imminent when Wilson re-entered the field. However, the aforementioned usage and output in Weeks 12-13  supplies promise that Moore should sustain his recent statistical rise. He has retained a snap share of share 87% during his last two outings, which represents a substantial improvement from his concerning 45.5% share that he registered from Weeks 3-8. Davis’ season has also ended due to core-muscle surgery, which should compel Wilson to rely on Moore and Crowder as the Jets progress through their final games. That should enable fantasy managers to deploy Moore as a WR2 through their postseason.

First NFL catch, first NFL touchdown for @DeVontaSmith_6!#PHIvsATL | #FlyEaglesFly

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/shoAoC4R6L

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 12, 2021

4.DeVonta Smith was 12th overall in targets from Weeks 4-7 (32), while averaging 8.0 per game, and collecting 9+ in three of his four matchups during that span. He was also 15th in receptions (21/5.3 per game) while capturing seven twice during a four-game span. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner was also 13th in receiving yards (291/72.8 per game), which included the season-high 122 that he stockpiled in Week 4. He also led Philadelphia in each of those categories, along with air yards (401), and percentage share of air yards (35%), while registering 9.1 yards per target, 13.0 yards per reception, and an aDOT of (12.9).

However, Smith’s usage and output have declined from Weeks 8-13, as he is averaging just 4.8 targets, 3.0 receptions, and 49.2 yards per game. That sequence included three games (Weeks 9-11) in which Smith averaged 6.0 targets, 4.3 receptions, and 81 yards per game, accumulated 293 receiving yards, and also produced three touchdowns.

Play action from shotgun, Jalen Hurts finds DeVonta Smith for a first down. pic.twitter.com/nW24AMotw0

— DIE-HARD 🦅 Fans (@Eaglesfans9) November 28, 2021

However, those games have been blended with three contests (Weeks 8/12/13) in which he has averaged 3.6 targets, 1.7 receptions, and 17.3 yards per game - while also failing to surpass two receptions or exceed 22 yards in any of those three matchups. That includes his numbers with Gardner Minshew spearheading the Eagles’ offense in Week 13, as Jalen Hurts was contending with an ankle injury. Minshew attempted 25 passes, although only eight were distributed to his wide receivers. Smith was limited to four targets, and just two receptions for a second consecutive week. His 15 yards also tied a season-low, as Smith has now assembled just 37 yards in his last two games combined.

Smith was also limited to only 46 air yards, and 10 yards after catch, while operating with Minshew, as Smith established a new season-low in yards per reception (7.5), and registered his lowest yards per target since Week 2 (3.75).  The decrease in usage and production coincides with Philadelphia’s increased reliance on the ground game, as the Eagles ranked 19th in run play percentage from Weeks 1-7 (39%), and 28th in rushing attempts per game (23.4). However, Philadelphia has soared to the league lead in run play percentage (50.6%), including 64.7% from Weeks 9-11. The Eagles are also second overall in attempts per game (31.7), including 40.7 from Weeks 9-11.

Smith retains the team lead in multiple categories from Weeks 1-13 including targets (82/6.3 per game), receptions (50/3.8 per game), receiving yards (701/53.9 per game), air yards (1,25), and percentage share of air yards (37.0%). Smith also does not contend with formidable competition for targets from Philadelphia’s other wide receivers, as Jalen Reagor (13.0%), and Quez Watkins (13.0%) both trail Smith in target share and have each collected 46/3.5 per game during the season. Watkins is second to Smith in receptions (31/2.4 per game), receiving yardage (491/37.8) air yards (600), percentage share of air yards (19.7%), and aDOT (13,0).

However, a statistical surge that elevates Smith’s numbers closer to his early-season usage and output appears unlikely considering the Eagles’ run-oriented approach. This will relegate him to low-end WR3/WR4 status through the fantasy playoffs.

5. Russell Gage was not among the most coveted receiving options during the offseason, which was underscored by his Round 12 ADP (144/WR58). Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts appeared destined to operate as Atlanta’s primary weapons, while Gage had an opportunity to emerge as the Falcons’ WR2 behind Ridley. However, Gage’s season was undistinguished through Week 6, as he was limited to just nine targets, five receptions, and 28 receiving yards. A problematic ankle contributed to his lackluster production as it sidelined him from Weeks 3-5.

Gage returned to collect four of his six targets and generate 67 yards in Week 7 yet somehow failed to register a target despite attaining a 68% snap share in Week 8. That was also Atlanta’s first game following Ridley’s announcement that he was leaving football to focus on his mental health.

Russ breaks THREE tackles for the first down 😤

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/wbM8q22H7V

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 5, 2021

Gage’s usage and output began to surge in Week 9, and he has averaged 7.6 targets, 5.8 receptions, and 61 yards per game during his last five matchups. He is also 11th among all wide receivers with 38 targets from Weeks 9-13 and is also eighth in receptions (29), and 14th in receiving yards (305) during his last five contests.

That includes his numbers when Atlanta hosted Tampa Bay in Week 13, as Gage collected 12 targets while establishing new career highs in receptions (11), and receiving yards (130). The fourth-year receiver also captured a team-high 30.0% target share while leading the Falcons in targets, receptions, receiving yards, air yards (88), percentage share of air yards (35.3%).

Gage’s numbers easily exceed Atlanta’s other wide receivers in nearly every major category from Weeks 1-13 as Olamide Zaccheaus is second at the position in target share (14.1%), and Tajee Sharpe is a distant third (9.0%) since Week 9. Gage’s usage and output from Weeks 9-13 have also expanded his season-long totals to 53 targets (5.9 per game), 38 receptions (4.2 per game), and 400 yards (44.4 per game).

Those numbers also surpass all other Falcon wide receivers while placing Gage third on the team behind Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson in each category. There has been no indication that a reemergence by Ridley is imminent. That should sustain Gage’s integral role in the aerial attack, as he operates from the slot on 67% of his routes. Fantasy managers who are searching for WR3/WR4 options can consider Gage during his upcoming matchups.

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