Wide Receiver Breakouts for Fantasy Football: Targets, Air Yards, Snaps Trends for Ja'Marr Chase, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, D.J. Moore

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 fifth 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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• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Targets

Puka Nacua was tied with Tyreek Hill for the league lead in targets after the matchups of Week 1, and he has continued to pace all wide receivers in this category from Weeks 2-5. Nacua has now accumulated (63/12.6 per game) while securing a double-digit total in four of his five matchups.

HAVE A DEY JA'MARR 👏#CINatAZ | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/erentXSl7P

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 8, 2023

Ja’Marr Chase has soared to second overall with 60 targets after he captured a career-high 19 in Week 5. Chase was sixth overall while averaging 10.3 per game prior to Cincinnati’s matchup with Arizona. That average has now improved to 12.0 following his Week 5 performance.

Davante Adams has collected 54 targets despite being limited to just four when Las Vegas hosted Green Bay in Week 5. That dropped Adams' per-game average from 12.5 to 10.8.

Justin Jefferson is fourth overall with 53 targets after he was limited to a season-low six when Minnesota hosted Kansas City in Week 5. Jefferson’s unfortunate hamstring injury forced him to the sideline after he played 51 snaps. That contributed to his diminished total while launching a problematic development for fantasy managers. That situation will examined further in the Five Things I Noticed section.

A.J. Brown has now collected 51 targets while elevating the fourth overall entering Week 6. He has now secured 8+ during eight of his last nine matchups. Stefon Diggs has now secured 50 targets after he captured 11 in Week 5. He has now accumulated 11+ during three of his matchups this season.

Casual 69-yard @cheetah tuddy to kick off the second half 🐆

📺: #NYGvsMIA on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/bI0ob4QSyu

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 8, 2023

Tyreek Hill collected nine targets in Week 5 and has now attained 9+ during four of his five games this season. That has expanded his overall total to 49. Adam Thielen has now accumulated 46 targets, including the 35 that he has collected since Week 3. That places him third behind Chase and Adams during that sequence.

Michael Pittman has also accrued 46 targets after he received seven in Week 5. Pittman eclipsed 11+ during each of his first three outings but has averaged 6.0 per game in Weeks 4-5. Keenan Allen is next with 44 targets as his total remained steady during the Chargers’ bye week. Allen’s 11.0 target per game average currently places him fourth overall.

There's that connection again! Another strike from Lawrence to Christian Kirk! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/W1tBgaafwv

— NFL UK (@NFLUK) October 8, 2023

Christian Kirk has been targeted 42 times after being relegated to three during Jacksonville’s season opener. He is also seventh among all wide receivers with 40 targets (10.0 per game) from Weeks 2-5. He has also captured 8+ during three of his last four matchups. Garrett Wilson has also secured 43 targets although his overall total was fueled significantly by the season-high 14 that he captured in Week 4. Wilson has also attained a 31.4% target share which places him sixth overall entering Week 6.

Chris Olave has also accumulated 43 targets which ties him for 11th overall. He had been tied for seventh with 32 targets from Weeks 1-3 and was averaging 10.7 per game during that span. However, he is averaging just 5.5 per game since Week 4. Marquise Brown has now collected 42 targets after capturing 10 during three of his last four outings. Brown is also ninth overall with 37 targets (9.3 per game) since Week 2.

11-year veteran DeAndre Hopkins’ season-long total has expanded to 42 after he was targeted 11 times by Ryan Tannehill in Week 5. That was his second double-digit total of the season. Four different receivers have secured 40 targets from Weeks 1 to 5. That list includes Robert Woods, who has captured 9+ in three of his five matchups.

Rookie Zay Flowers has also accumulated 40 targets after he secured a season-high 11 in Week 5. It was the third time that he has eclipsed 10+ during the first five matchups of his career. George Pickens has accumulated 10+ targets during two of his last four contests, which has raised his season total to 40. Pickens is now operating with a 25.6% target share which easily leads the Steelers.

Tutu Atwell has also been targeted 40 times, even though he was limited to a season-low five when Los Angeles hosted Philadelphia in Week 5. The Rams' distribution of targets during Cooper Kupp’s return will be examined further in the Five Things I Noticed section.

Eight different wide receivers are averaging at least 10.0 targets per game entering Week 6  - Puka Nacua (12.6), Ja’Marr Chase (12.0), Cooper Kupp (12.0), Keenan Allen (11.0), Davante Adams (10.8), Justin Jefferson (10.6), A.J. Brown (10.2), and Stefon Diggs (10.0).

Target Risers And Fallers 

13 different wide receivers were targeted at least 10 times during their matchups in Week 5. Ja’Marr Chase’s career-high 19 targets was easily the highest total of the week. Chase had previously attained a career-best of 16 targets during Cincinnati’s season opener in 2022. He has now captured 15+ in four different matchups during his career.

Adam Thielen’s 13 targets were second behind Chase. It was the ninth time in Thielen’s 10-year career that he has attained 13+, but it was also the second time in his last three matchups.

A familiar name emerged with 12 targets during Week 5 as Cooper Kupp made his season debut. It was fitting that Kupp immediately secured a double-digit target total. He had reached 10+ during a league-high 14 matchups in 2021 and also eclipsed 10+ during five of his first seven games in 2022. Kupp’s first game of the season will be examined further in the Five Things I Noticed section.

10 & 17 at 10:17. pic.twitter.com/NpgNUNcj8q

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 10, 2023

Kupp’s teammate Puka Nacua was targeted 11 times when the Rams hosted Philadelphia. It was the third time that Nacua has eclipsed 11+ this season. He also secured a 32.4% target share despite Kupp’s reemergence in the lineup. Stefon Diggs also secured 11 targets from Josh Allen and has now attained a 30.6% target share. He has also reached 10+ during four of his last six regular-season matchups while averaging 10.0 per game.

DeAndre Hopkins also captured 11 targets in Week 5 which was his highest weekly total since Tennessee’s season opener. Hopkins was also targeted on 29.7% of his routes when the Titans traveled to Indianapolis. Rookie Zay Flowers established a new season high with 11 targets as he continues to construct an impressive rookie season. Flowers’ 40 targets from Weeks 1-5 easily lead Baltimore’s wide receivers as Nelson Agholor is a distant second with 17.

The 10 targets that were distributed to D.J. Moore in Week 5 fueled his career-best performance (230 yards/three touchdowns/49.0 fantasy points) when Chicago traveled to Washington. The connections between Moore and Justin Fields since Week 4 will be discussed in the Five Things I Noticed section.

Marquise Brown was targeted 10 times for the third time this season. He is now averaging 9.3 per game since Week 2 and has secured a 30.3% target since during that sequence.  Jaylen Waddle reached double digits for the first time this season when he was targeted 10 times in Week 5. He had been averaging 5.3 per game from Weeks 1-4 and had not registered a double-digit total since Week 12 of last season.

GEORGE PICKENS OVER MARLON HUMPHREY
pic.twitter.com/kmkejxWRDp

— PFF (@PFF) October 8, 2023

George Pickens also collected 10 targets for the second time during his last four matchups. Pickens is averaging 8.3 per game and has attained a 29.7% target share during that sequence.

Trenton Irwin had played on 45 snaps from Weeks 1-4 and had only been targeted one time. However, Tee Higgins's absence from Cincinnati’s lineup (ribs), elevated Irwin into an expanded role. He accumulated 62 snaps and was targeted 10 times by Joe Burrow. That easily surpassed Irwin’s previous career high of four targets, which was established last season.

Chase’s aforementioned 19 targets were collected just one week after he had been targeted nine times by Joe Burrow. That fueled this week’s largest week-to-week increase of +10. Jordan Addison has now accumulated 29 targets through the first five games of his rookie season. He was limited to a season-low 28 snaps in Week 4, and only targeted once by Kirk Cousins. However, Addison secured season highs in snaps (54), and targets (nine) in Week 5. That launched a weekly increase of +8.

Addison’s increased involvement was a byproduct of the hamstring injury that sidelined Justin Jefferson. That also impacted K. J. Osborn, who collected nine targets. Osborn had been limited to two targets in Week 4, which resulted in Osborn’s week-to-week rise of +7. Allen Robinson played on 50 snaps in Week 4 but was only targeted twice. His snap count rose slightly to 57 in Week 5. However, he garnered nine targets, which expanded his week-to-week total by +7.

Panthers coach Frank Reich said WR Terrace Marshall Jr should have played Sunday. He took full responsibility for that not happening. pic.twitter.com/7SWWLwyN2h

— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) October 9, 2023

Terrace Marshall collected a career-high 10 targets in Week 4 but failed to register a snap in Week 5. That automatically led to his weekly decline of -10. Davante Adams garnered his second consecutive double-digit total of the season in Week 4 (13). However, he was limited to his lowest weekly total since Week 2 of 2020, which diminished his weekly results by -9.

Romeo Doubs has now collected 12+ targets in two different matchups this season but has also failed to exceed five targets during the other three contests. He had attained a season-high 13 in Week 4 but was only targeted four times in Week 5. That fueled his decline of -9.

Garrett Wilson secured a season-high when he collected 14 targets in Week 4. His seven targets led the Jets during their Week 5 matchup with Denver but it also destined him to a weekly drop of -7. Five different receivers experienced a week-to-week reduction of -5 - A.J. Brown, Nico Collins, Terry McLaurin, Rashid Shaheed, and Michael Wilson.

Air Yards 

A.J. Brown leads all wide receivers with 675 air yards entering Week 6. Tyreek Hill is second overall (607), followed by Puka Nacua (604), Justin Jefferson (600), Chris Olave (598), and Davante Adams (563). DeAndre Hopkins is next (557), followed by Stefon Diggs (544), George Pickens (506), Amari Cooper (504), Marquise Brown (489), and D.J. Moore, who has now accumulated 480 air yards.

Davante Adams leads all wide receivers in air yards share (54%), followed by Tyreek Hill (48.5%), A.J. Brown (48.1%), Brandon Aiyuk (47.2%), Mike Evans (45.2%), George Pickens (44.1%), Garrett Wilson (44.1%), and D.J. Moore who has secured a share of 43.4%.

Pickens accumulated the highest number of air yards in Week 5 (197), followed by Stefon Diggs (175), DeAndre Hopkins (172), Zay Flowers (158), Ja’Marr Chase (147), Puka Nacua (140), A.J. Brown (135), Marquise Brown (125), and Cooper Kupp, who accumulated 124 air yards during his return.

Pickens also led the position in air yards share during Week 5 (66.1%), followed by Jerry Jeudy (61.2%), Wilson (58.6%), Hopkins (58.1%), A.J. Brown (51.7%), Chase (51.6%), and Michael Thomas, who attained a share of 50.2%.

Routes Run

Jahan Dotson has emerged as the new league leader in routes run entering Week 6 (209). Terry McLaurin has run 202 routes, followed by Ja’Marr Chase (193), K.J. Osborn (193), Michael Pittman (192), Josh Downs (191), and Downs’ teammate Alec Pierce, who has accumulated 190 routes. Christian Kirk is next (189), followed by Zay Flowers (186,), D.J. Moore (184), Curtis Samuel (184), and Calvin Ridley, who has accumulated 178 routes.

Ja’Marr Chase ran a league-high 61 routes in Week 5. Terry McLaurin was second overall (50), followed by Zay Flowers (49), Christian Kirk (47), Jahan Dotson (45), Calvin Ridley (44), Adam Thielen (44), and three receivers who accumulated 43 routes - Stefon Diggs, Jerry Jeudy, and Curtis Samuel.

Targets Per Route Run

Davante Adams has been targeted on 39.4% of his routes which leads all wide receivers entering Week 6. Puka Nacua is second overall (38.2%), followed by Mike Evans (37.8%), Tyreek Hill (37.7%), A.J. Brown (34.9%), and Wan’Dale Robinson, who has been targeted on 34.7% of his 49 routes. Tee Higgins is next (34.4%), followed by Jakobi Meyers (34.3%), Amari Cooper (33.3%), Stefon Diggs (32.3%), and Chris Olave, who has been targeted on 32.1% of his routes.

Tyreek Hill was targeted on 52.9% of his routes in Week 5 which led all wide receivers. Hill’s teammate Jaylen Waddle was second overall (47.6%), followed by Brandon Powell (42.9%), Josh Reynolds (41.7%), Cedrick Wilson (40%), Robert Woods (39.1%), and Brandon Aiyuk, who has targeted on 35% of his routes.

Yards Per Route Run 

Tyreek Hill leads all wide receivers with an average of 5.01 yards per route run entering Week 6. Marvin Mims is next (4.64), followed by Brandon Aiyuk (4.40), Mike Evans (4.11), A.J. Brown (3.71), Puka Nacua (3.47), Stefon Diggs (3.35), Nico Collins (3.29), and Davante Adams who is averaging 3.23 yards per route run.

Tyreek Hill led all wide receivers with an average of  10.7 yards per route run, followed by D.J. Moore (6.22).  Tank Dell was third overall (3.80), followed by DeAndre Hopkins (3.78), Deebo Samuel (3.67), George Pickens (3.61), A.J. Brown (3.43), Cooper Kupp, (3.19) Ja’Marr Chase (3.15), and Brandon Powell, who averaged 3.07 yards per route run in Week 5.

Red Zone Targets  

Davante Adams leads all wide receivers with 12 red zone targets entering Week 6. Ja’Marr Chase is second overall with 10, while three different receivers have been targeted nine times inside the 20 - Stefon Diggs, Garrett, Wilson, and Jayden Reed. Tyreek Hill, Romeo Doubs, and Rashee Rice have collected eight targets, while eight different receivers have been targeted seven times - Zay Flowers, Jakobi Meyers, Courtland, Sutton, Drake London, Chris Godwin, Tyler, Lockett, K.J. Osborn, and Zay Jones.

Jakobi Meyers is pacing all wide receivers with seven targets inside the 10-yard line. His teammate Adams has collected six targets, while six receivers have garnered five targets inside the 10 - Garrett Wilson, Ja’Marr Chase, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Miami teammates Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Hill and Waddle also lead all wide receivers with four targets inside the 5-yard line.

Chase had been targeted five times inside the 20 from Weeks 1-4 before he doubled his season total in Week 5. Waddle, and Adam Thielen both captured four red zone targets in Week 5, while Jordan Addison, Garrett Wilson, and D.J. Chark were targeted three times.

Snaps

DeVonta Smith continues to lead all wide receivers in snaps entering Week 6 (351). His teammate A. J. Brown is second overall (332), followed by Michael Pittman (322), Alec Pierce (312), Adam Thielen (307), and Puka Nacua (306). Ja’Marr Chase is next (301), followed by Tutu Atwell (290), Zay Flowers (289), and two receivers who are tied with 283 snaps, Calvin Ridley, and D.J. Moore.

Michael Pittman leads all wide receivers with a 98.2% snap share. DeVonta Smith is second (97.8%), followed by Ja’Marr Chase (95.6%), Alec Pierce (95.1%), Cooper Kupp (94.6%), A.J. Brown (92.5%), D.J. Moore (92.5%), Davante Adams (91.8%), and Garrett Wilson, who has attained a snap share of 98.7%.

A.J. Brown accumulated a league-high 77 snaps during his matchup in Week 5. Ja’Marr Chase was second (74), followed by  DeVonta Smith (73), Calvin Ridley (70), Christian Kirk (67),  Zay Flowers (66), D.J. Chark (65) and two receivers who played on 64 snaps, Adam Thielen, and Drake London. Michael Pittman and Jakobi Meyers were tied with 61, while three receivers accumulated 60 snaps - Alec Pierce, Davante Adams, and Trenton Irwin.

Five Things I Noticed 

D.J. Moore with an all time performance 🔥🔥🔥🔥#DaBears

pic.twitter.com/w00JUR6FLx

— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) October 6, 2023

1. The first three weeks of D.J. Moore’s tenure with the Bears can charitably be characterized as a massive disappointment for anyone who had envisioned the sixth-year receiver stockpiling yardage and fantasy points.

The March trade that had transported Moore from Carolina had seemingly positioned him to operate with the most talented quarterback of his career after he had functioned with Kyle Allen, Will Grier, Taylor Heinicke, Teddy Bridgewater, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and P.J. Walker under center during his five years with the Panthers.

Moore had collected 15 targets (5.0 per game), 11 receptions (3.8 per game), and had generated 170 yards (56.7 per game) from Weeks 1-3. That included two games in which he failed to surpass 41 yards. Moore had also been targeted on 13.9% of his 108 routes while averaging 1.57 yards per route run during that three-game sequence.

Moore was also just 44th with an average of 11.3 points per game from Weeks 1-3, as disappointment intensified surrounding Moore’s output, Fields’ performances, and the anemic state of Chicago’s passing attack, which ranked 31st in passing yardage (148.3 per game).

However, an unforeseen statistical eruption in Weeks 4-5 has transformed frustration into euphoria for fantasy managers who had invested a fourth-round selection on Moore during draft season.

Moore has exploded for a league-high 361 yards and four touchdowns during the Bears’ last two matchups. He has also accumulated 19 targets (9.5 per game), and 16 targets (8.0 per game), while vaulting to second overall in air yards (283), fourth in target share (34.5%), and fifth in air yards share (53.7%).

D.J. MOORE WENT OFF

🔥 8 catches
🔥 230 yards
🔥 3 TDs
🔥 158.3 PERFECT rating when targeted pic.twitter.com/fUPwUuGVUU

— PFF (@PFF) October 6, 2023

That includes his numbers when the Bears traveled to Washington in Week 5. Moore captured eight receptions for a second consecutive week, while soaring into the league lead with a career-best 230 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Moore also secured a 40% target share, and a 46.4% air yards share.

The spin move leads to a big gain for DJ Moore 😮 #CHIvsWAS on Prime Video
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/YCeYJnyJmB pic.twitter.com/B726gE1djR

— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2023

Moore was also targeted by Fields on 27.0% of his 37 routes in Week 5 while rising to second overall with an average of 6.22 yards per route run. He also finished second at his position with 49 fantasy points.

We will soon learn whether the connections between Moore and Fields in Weeks 4-5 have altered the trajectory of Moore’s season beyond that two-week span. There is no doubt that he escorted some of you to the results that you had hoped for during your Week 5 matchups. He also provided the rationale for keeping him cemented in all lineups moving forward.

2. The unsightly numbers that have been delivered by Cincinnati’s offense from Weeks 1-4 had been shockingly low. This created a nightmarish situation for fantasy managers who had confidently secured Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Burrow for their rosters during the draft season.  

To state that Burrow’s numbers were below expectations would be a massive understatement as the Bengals entered Week 5. He was tied for fourth overall with 151 attempts but was just 16th in completions (87).  Burrow was also 32nd in completion percentage (57.6%), and 27th in yardage (728/182 per game), while averaging 4.8 yards per attempt, and 4.50 air yards per attempt.

Those unforeseen results hardly resembled the averages that Burrow had attained during 2022 (279.7 yards per game), (7.4 yards per attempt), and (7.6 air yards per attempt). Cincinnati also ranked 29th in passing yardage (166 per game) from Weeks 1-4, after finishing seventh in 2022 (260.2 per game).

These deficient numbers were also highly impactful to Chase, who was just 23rd with an average of 14.4 points per game. Chase was sixth in targets (41/10.3 per game), and fifth in receptions (29/7.3 per game). However, he was also 16th in receiving yards (284/71 per game), and 27th in air yards (304).

Chase was operating with career lows in yards per target (6.9), yards per reception (9.8), and yards per game (71).  Anyone with Chase contained on their rosters was also very aware that he had failed to generate a touchdown.

Tee Higgins today:

8 targets

0 receptions

🤨 pic.twitter.com/4AErUFqSTB

— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) September 10, 2023

Higgins began the regular season by failing to register a reception  - in Week 1, even though he had secured a 95% snap share, and had been targeted eight times by Burrow.  He was also averaging 3.0 receptions/32.3 yards per game from Weeks 1-4, which were well below his previous career averages from 2020-2022  (4.7 receptions/65.8 yards per game).

Higgins had also registered career lows in yards per target (4.0), yards per reception (10.8), yards before catch per reception (6.1), and has only scored two touchdowns. Higgins also encountered an injury in Week 4 in addition to the shortcomings that were permeating Cincinnati’s aerial attack. He sustained a rib issue during the Bengals’ matchup with Tennessee that sidelined him in Week 5.

Ja'Marr Chase weeks 1-4 combined: 57.6 PPR Points

Ja'Marr Chase in week 5: 52.2 PPR Points 🚀 pic.twitter.com/n6wDPDiSUa

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 9, 2023

Fortunately for anyone who has been negatively impacted by early-season deficiencies within the Bengals’ offense, the results during Cincinnati’s matchup in Arizona were far more favorable.

Burrow completed 36 of his 46 attempts which resulted in a season-high 78.3% completion rate. That was also Burrow’s highest percentage since Week 13 of last season. Burrow also eclipsed 300 passing yards (317) for the first time since Week 16 of 2022. He also attained season highs in yards per attempt (6.89), and air yards per attempt (7.22), and generated three touchdowns -after being relegated to just two during Cincinnati’s first four matchups.

PlayerProfiler Stat of the Day🤖

Ja'Marr Chase set a new Bengals franchise record with 15 receptions on Sunday🐯

Carl Pickens held the record since 1988 with 13 receptions👀

Chase took those 15 receptions for 192 yards and 3 TDs🤯#PlayerProfilerStats #RuletheJungle pic.twitter.com/sSKyozGzNj

— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) October 9, 2023

Burrow also targeted Chase 19 times, which established a new career high for the third-year receiver. Chase also established season highs in receptions (15), and receiving yards (192).

Chase also accumulated 147 air yards, 105 yards before the catch, 87 yards after the catch, and attained new season highs in yards per target (10.1), and yards per reception (12.8). Chase was also targeted by Burrow on 31.1% of his 61 routes while averaging 3.15 yards per route run.

Chase is now second overall in both targets (60/12 per game), and receptions (44/8.8 per game), fourth in routes run (193),  and seventh in receiving yards (476/95.2 per game).

While the numbers that Chase delivered in Week 5 were easy to embrace for anyone who had experienced frustration during Cincinnati’s previous matchups, it is conceivable that Burrow may not be completely recovered from his calf issue. However, the magnitude of Chase's output should alleviate concerns that had been building prior to Week 5.

3. If Cooper Kupp is contained on your roster, you were finally able to embrace his long-awaited season debut in Week 5. This provided your first opportunity to insert him into your lineup in anticipation that he would rekindle the exceptional level of production that he was assembling before a high ankle sprain brought an abrupt conclusion to his 2022 regular season.

We missed ya, @CooperKupp. pic.twitter.com/GqzCV8sgf7

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 10, 2023

Kupp was leading all wide receivers in points per game (20.3), target share (33.3%), targets per game (11.6), and targets per route run (37.7%) when the injury occurred. He was also second in targets (93), and yards per route run (3.29).

Kupp had also sustained a hamstring injury during training camp that prolonged his return. It also delayed the opportunity to witness Kupp and Puka Nacua operating in the same aerial attack.

If you built a roster that includes Nacua, Kupp’s return became a potential source of concern.  Nacua had averaged 23.9 points per game from Weeks 1-4. He was also the league leader in targets (52/13 per game), targets per route run (40.9%), receptions (39/9.8 per game), was second in receiving yards (501/125.3 per game), fourth in yards per route run (3.94), and seventh in air yards (464).

Tutu Atwell had also emerged as a viable starting during the Rams’ first four matchups while rising to 12th in targets (35/8.8 per game), and ninth in snaps (241). ninth in air yards (400), 16th in reception (22/5.5 per game), and 18th in receiving yards (270/67.5 per game).

In their first week playing together:

🔥 Puka Nacua: 20.1 PPR Points
🔥 Cooper Kupp: 19.8 PPR Points

(📸via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/xhSf989wVX

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 8, 2023

Fortunately, the first installment of Los Angeles’ reassembled aerial attack delivered promising results for the Rams, and for the managers who had anxiously awaited the outcome of the team’s initial matchup with Kupp, Nacua, and Atwell. Sean McVay’s creative deployment of the Rams’ receiving weaponry blended favorably with the exceptional abilities of each receiver to launch Kupp and Nacua among the top 12 in scoring for Week 5 (Nacua 20.1), (Kupp 19.8).

No easing back in Cooper Kupp (hamstring) whatsoever yesterday. #Rams WR routes run on 42 Stafford dropbacks:

* Puka Nacua 42
* Cooper Kupp 41
* Tutu Atwell 40
* Van Jefferson 1
* Ben Skowronek 1
* Austin Trammell 1

— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 9, 2023

Kupp was unencumbered by a managed snap count as he accumulated 52 while running 41 routes. He also led the Rams in targets (12/35.3% share), targets per route run (32.4%), yards per route run (3.19), receptions (eight), and receiving yards (118). He was also second on the team in air yards (124), and air yards share (35.3%), and generated 53 yards after the catch.

Reports of Puka Nacua’s demise were greatly exaggerated ‼️ pic.twitter.com/8R7PBm2gxe

— PFF (@PFF) October 8, 2023

Nacua led the Rams in snaps (55), routes run (42), air yards (140), air yards share (42.2%), and aDOT (12.7). He was also second to Kupp in targets (11/32.4% share), receptions (seven), and receiving yards (71). targets per route run (28.9%), and yards per route run (1.87).

Atwell accumulated 49. snaps and ran 40 routes. He also generated a three-yard touchdown. However, he was relegated to season lows in targets (five/14.7% share), receptions (two), receiving yards (nine), yards per target (1.8), and yards per reception (4.5). Atwell was also targeted on 13.5% of his routes and averaged 0.24 yards per route run.

All three receivers ran at least 21 routes from the slot according to PFF as McVay has reestablished that he is fully capable of concocting an attack that can routinely accommodate two highly productive receiving weapons. This effective implementation of each receiver should keep the tandem embedded in starting lineups as the season advances.

4. This week’s wave of injuries has forced multiple teams to progress through their upcoming matchups without the option of deploying players who had become critical resources in their lineups. That scenario applies to the Vikings, who endured a massive setback due to Justin Jefferson’s problematic hamstring.

Vikings to place WR Justin Jefferson (hamstring) on Injured Reserve, will be out at least 4 games. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/xoH0GtlvAN

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2023

The absence of an exceptional wide receiver who had stockpiled 529 targets, 360 receptions, and 5,396 yards during the first 55 games in his career will force Minnesota to restructure the distribution of targets within their receiving arsenal. Jefferson accumulated 51 snaps during Minnesota’s Week 5 matchup with Kansas City before he was forced to the sideline. He has been placed on injured reserve, and the earliest that Jefferson could return to the Vikings' lineup will be Week 10.

Jordan Addison Breakout In Progress #SKOL pic.twitter.com/AFQQBoBXRE

— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) October 8, 2023

Jefferson’s teammates Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn are now positioned to operate with rising target shares, while Brandon Powell should operate as the Vikings' WR3. Tight end T.J. Hockenson will also secure a sizable target share. However, Minnesota's decision to secure Addison with the 23rd overall pick during last April’s NFL Draft supplies the promising rookie with an opportunity to become the primary recipient of increased opportunities among the Vikings’ wide receivers.

Jordan Addison gets both feet down on replay (but refs didn't see it)

incredible catch (ruled incompletion) pic.twitter.com/naNfSQQnZt

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) August 11, 2023

Addison entered Week 5 with a 13% target share and was averaging 5.0 targets, 3.3 receptions, and 46.3 yards per game. He had also averaged 29.8 routes run during his first four matchups, had been targeted on 16.8% of his routes, and was averaging 1.55 yards per route run. Addison had also accumulated 243 air yards, attained a 20.4% air yards share, and generated two touchdowns.

5 Stats to know from Week 5 in the NFL

Jordan Addison earned 27% of the Vikings 1st Read Targets after Justin Jefferson left last week's game

That would be the highest mark for Addison all season and now 35% of the 1st Read Tgts are available with Jefferson out pic.twitter.com/BQ7pvTLJy6

— Chris Wecht (@ChrisWechtFF) October 11, 2023

Addison secured a season-high 75% snap share in Week 5. He also captured a season-best nine targets (19.6% share), while collecting six receptions, assembling 64 receiving yards, and delivering his third touchdown of the year. He also accumulated 102 air yards and secured a 29.1% air yards share. Addison also ran 34 routes, was targeted on 26.5% of his routes, and averaged 1.88 yards per route run.

Osborn is advancing through his fourth season with Minnesota and entered the year with career highs of 90 targets (5.3 per game), 60 receptions (3.5 per game), and 655 receiving yards (38.5 per game). He had also been averaging 4.3 targets, 2.0 receptions, and 29.3 yards per game prior to Week 5. He has also played on 220 snaps (91.7% share) while running 117 routes. He had been targeted on 11.1% of those routes while accumulating 173 air yards, securing an air yards share of 14.5%, and averaging 0.76 yards per route run.

Osborn accumulated a team-high 59 snaps in Week 5 while establishing new season highs in targets (nine/19.6% share, receptions (five), and receiving yards (49). He also ran 40 routes, was targeted on 22.5% of those routes, and averaged 1.23 yards per route run. Osborn also generated 60 air yards and attained a 17.1% air yards share.

Powell had only accumulated five snaps, four routes, one target, and five receiving yards prior to Week 5. However, he played on 22 snaps following Jefferson’s departure and easily established a season-high in routes run (14). Powell also captured six targets, collected four receptions, and generated 43 yards. Powell was also targeted on 42.9% of his routes while averaging 3.07 yards per route run.

Unfortunately, Addison is not a waiver wire option for anyone who is now presented with the arduous task of restructuring their rosters without Jefferson cemented into a customary spot in their lineup. However, he could emerge as a high-end WR2 option for those of you who already have him contained on your rosters. Osborn remains available in 40% of all leagues and should be seized if he is on your waiver wire. Powell should operate in three-receiver sets with Addison and Osborn and his role would expand even further if Addison or Osborn were forced to the sideline.

5. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett have sustained their unquestioned roles as the Seahawks’ top receiving weapons as Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s presence has yet to impact their status this season.

Seattle entered Week 1 with Geno Smith primed to spearhead Seattle's offense, after resuscitating his career as the team's starting signal caller in 2022.  Smith had performed proficiently while eviscerating his previous career highs in passing yards (4,282/251.9 per game), and touchdowns (30). It was also anticipated that he would operate with Metcalf and Lockett as his most targeted options after the trio had combined for 2,081 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Metcalf has finished 11th in targets (141/8.3 per game) and 10th in receptions (90/5.3 per game) during 2022, which established career highs in each category. He also soared to second in red zone targets (28), and 10th in routes run (548).

Lockett was primed to begin his ninth season with the Seahawks while delivering a blend of reliability and proficiency that propelled him to 5,284 receiving yards (66.1 per game), 396 receptions (5.0 per game), and 45 touchdowns from 2018-2022.

The Seahawks had also invested their first-round selection on Smith Njigba during last April’s NFL draft. The former Ohio State Buckeye was the first member of his 2023 rookie class to be selected  (20th overall) amid surging anticipation surrounding his prospects of excelling at the NFL level. The optimism was partially fueled by his stellar 2021 season when Smith-Njigba soared to third overall with 1,606 yards while capturing 95 receptions, and generating nine touchdowns.

There were divergent opinions concerning his ability to seize an immediate role that would negatively impact the numbers that would be attained by Metcalf and Lockett. However, that had not transpired.

Seattle entered the bye week with a 57.9% pass play percentage that placed the Seahawks 16th overall. Smith had completed 84 of his 123 attempts (68.3%) and was  19th with an average of 211.5 yards per game. Smith had only produced five touchdowns with four of them being collected by Metcalf (two) and Lockett (two). Smith also sustained a knee injury in Week 4 and was replaced by Drew Lock. However, he will be under center when the Seahawks travel to Cincinnati on Sunday.

Geno Smith hits DK Metcalf for the first touchdown of the game 🙌 pic.twitter.com/X51xcteVjR

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) October 3, 2023

The 31-year-old Lockett leads the Seahawks with 190  (80.9% share), routes run (107), targets (27/6.8 per game/22.8% share), and targets per route run (25.2%). He is second behind Metcalf in receptions (17/4.3 per game), receiving yards (157/39.3 per game), air yards (286), and air yards share (34.6%).

Geno Smith 9-yd pass to Tyler Lockett#Seahawks 14 #NYGiants 3 3rd pic.twitter.com/qrmKdEZvDc

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) October 3, 2023

Metcalf is second behind Lockett with 185 snaps (78.7% share). He is also second in both routes (95), and targets (23/18.7% share). His 5.8 targets per game average is 2.5 yards below the average of 8.3 per game that he attained in 2022.

Metcalf leads the Seahawks in receptions (18/4.5 per game), receiving yards (268/67 per game), air yards (293), air yards share (35.5%), aDOT (12.7), and also with his average of 2.82 yards per route run.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba through 4 games

20 targets
12 receptions
62 receiving yards
0 touchdowns

— Curtis Patrick (@CPatrickNFL) October 3, 2023

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has played on 121 snaps (51.5% share), has run 80 routes, and has been targeted 20 times (5.0 per game/16.3% share). He has also collected 12 receptions (3.0 per game) but has only accrued 62 receiving yards (15.5 per game). He has failed to reach 35 yards during any of his first four matchups and has only exceeded 13 yards once.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has to catch this ball. That's a pretty damn good throw by Drew Lock coming in cold off the bench and you expect your first round pick to be able to reel this in. pic.twitter.com/imRCSUvgIv

— Corbin K. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) October 4, 2023

Smith-Njigba has only registered 57 air yards, while his aDOT is an eye-opening 2.9. It is conceivable that a wrist injury that he sustained during the preseason has impeded his progress. However, he has not fulfilled the expectations of his Round 8 ADP during the draft season (89/WR38).

Metcalf is currently 23rd with an average of 14.2 points per game and will likely remain stationed in low-end WR2 territory this season. Lockett is 39th with an average of 11.2 points per game and should operate as a WR3 throughout the year.

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