Wide Receiver Risers, Fallers, Targets, Air Yards, Snaps Counts: 2022 Year In Review

Congratulations to all fantasy managers whose tireless dedication toward winning league titles resulted in the fulfillment of your championship aspirations. For those of you who were unsuccessful in achieving the ultimate goal of capturing a league title, your efforts should also be commended, as this does not diminish your ongoing commitment throughout the year.

Your wide receivers were essential components on every roster during 2022 and this column remains dedicated toward providing an extensive weekly collection of game-specific data surrounding the position - including updated totals for targets, targets per route run, red-zone targets, air yards, yards per route run, snap shares, and a compilation of additional statistics.

Now that a full season of matchups has been completed, we are in possession of all 2022 statistics that encompass each of the categories once again. That has supplied the foundation for this season review, which can be essential in your planning for 2023. Pro Football Reference, PFF, NextGenStats, Rotowire, Rotoviz, and Football Outsiders were all used as resources in compiling this data for this season-long statistical breakdown of wide receivers during 2022.

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• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Overall Target Leaders 

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

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/z9hoZVJGWw

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 24, 2022

Justin Jefferson accumulated more targets than any other wide receiver during the regular season while securing a career-high 184. He also captured 10+ in 11 different matchups, while collecting 8+ targets in 13 contests, exceeding a 28% target share for a second consecutive season (28.7%), and securing a career-best 10.8 target per game average.

Davante Adams completed the year with 180 targets, which placed him second overall. He eclipsed 10+ targets in nine different matchups, including a five-game sequence from Weeks 9-13 in which he assembled a league-best 67 (13.4 per game). Tyreek Hill finished third overall (170), while also establishing a new career high. He also reached a double-digit total during nine outings, while averaging a career-best 10.0 per game throughout the season.

CeeDee Lamb was next with 156 targets, including 11+ during four of eight games from Weeks 9-17. He also collected 76 targets during those contests while averaging 9.5 per game. Stefon Diggs collected 154 targets after completing his season by capturing 10 in Week 18. It was his first double-digit total since Week 12, as Diggs had averaged 6.3 per game from Weeks 13-17.

Diontae Johnson was targeted 147 times during a season in which he captured 10+ targets in eight contests yet somehow failed to generate a touchdown during any of his 17 matchups. That tied Johnson with Garrett Wilson, who ended his first season by securing a career-high 17 targets when the Jets traveled to Miami in Week 18.

.@amonra_stbrown did his thing Sunday against the Jags.

Take a look, then RT for a #ProBowlVote!

Next up for us: #MINvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/R2dIwdFlQl

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 6, 2022

Amon-Ra St. Brown accumulated 9+ targets during 12 of his matchups which propelled him to his overall total of 146. St. Brown also averaged 9.7 per game from Weeks 10-18, while accruing the league’s third-highest total during that sequence (87). A.J. Brown’s 145 targets easily surpassed his previous career high. His total was partially constructed with the 59 that he captured from Weeks 13-18, which was the league’s fifth-highest total during that span.

Chris Godwin soared to third overall with 116 targets from Weeks 6-17 while averaging 10.5 per game during those contests. That also propelled Godwin to his overall total of 142. D. K. Metcalf’s 141 targets represented a new career-high, as the fourth-year receiver captured 8+ in 11 different contests – including seven of his last eight games.

That tied Metcalf with Michael Pittman Jr., who eclipsed 13+ targets during three contests but also failed to exceed five targets during two of his final five matchups. DeVonta Smith’s outstanding second season included the accumulation of 136 targets. Smith also finished fourth among all wide receivers with 67 targets from Weeks 11-17 while averaging 9.6 per game during that span.

Back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons for @Real10jayy__ 👏#BALvsCIN | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/iOH1w7c5lA

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 8, 2023

Ja’Marr Chase secured a career-high 135 targets which included the 12+ that he accrued during each of his last four matchups. He also averaged 13.3 per game during that sequence. Christian Kirk had entered 2022 with a career-high of 108 targets, but he captured 133 during his first season with the Jaguars. He accomplished this by collecting 8+ during 10 different matchups, including six of his last nine.

Amari Cooper tied his career-high by accumulating 132 targets, including 10+ during seven different matchups. He also attained that total despite being limited to seven in his last two games combined. Mike Evans has now captured an average of 132 targets (8.7 per game) during his nine seasons after securing 127 from Weeks 1-18. That was also his highest total since 2018, and it included eight games in which he collected 9+.

Chase led all wide receivers with an average of 11.3 targets per game throughout the season, while four other receivers secured an average of at least 10.0 per game from Weeks 1-18 - Jefferson (10.8), Hopkins (10.7), Adams (10.6), and Hill (10.0).

Target Increases And Decreases 

There is a percentage of leagues that determine their league championships during Week 18. This year there were additional leagues that also utilized the scoring from Week 18 when determining their league champions as a solution to the unique challenges that emerged when the Week 17 matchup between the Bills and Bengals was understandably canceled.

However, most fantasy managers did not participate in leagues that were reliant on the output of players during Week 18. That provided the opportunity to elude a myriad of factors – including inactive players and managed workloads – that can converge to eliminate roster options at a time that would be critical in any quest to capture a league title.

That creates the incentive for shifting the focus of this section to a breakdown of targets that were accrued during the final five weeks of the season which encompasses the crucial matchups that transpired during the fantasy postseason of all leagues.

Even though Justin Jefferson was limited to five targets during his matchups in Week 17 and Week 18, he still led all wide receivers with 57 targets (11.4 per game) during his final five games of the year. That transpired due to the 47 targets that he stockpiled in Weeks 14-16, which were seven more than any other wide receiver. Jefferson also averaged 15.7 per game during that three-week span.

👽@nfloncbs | @Keenan13Allen pic.twitter.com/j3vjTP3SEb

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 8, 2023

Keenan Allen eclipsed 11+ targets during three of his final five matchups including two games of 14+. That propelled his total to 54 (10.8 per game) from Weeks 14-18. Ja’Marr Chase was third with 53 targets after collecting 13+ during three of those contests and securing a 32.7% target share.

Garrett Wilson also accumulated 53 targets during his last five games, while accruing a league-best 28 in Weeks 17-18. He also captured 9+ targets during each of his last four outings between Weeks 15-18.

DeVonta Smith was fifth overall during the sequence while accumulating 49 targets and averaging 9.8 per game. He also tied for the league lead with 25 targets (12.5 per game) in Weeks 16-17.

Smith’s teammate A.J. Brown also captured 49 targets during his final five matchups, including 9+ during three of those contests. Brown’s first season with the Eagles will be examined more extensively in the Five Things I Noticed section.

Amon-Ra St. Brown secured a double-digit target total in eight different regular season matchups, including two games between Weeks 14-18. That fueled his total of 46 (9.2 per game) during that five-game sequence.

QB @dak + #WPMOYChallenge fires a LASER touchdown pass to @_CeeDeeThree just before half time!

📺: @NFLonFOX | #DALvsWAS pic.twitter.com/kzWiyyD0Ve

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 8, 2023

CeeDee Lamb was targeted 45 times during his final five contests, including 25 in Weeks 16-17 combined. That tied Lamb with Davante Adams who assembled 9+ targets in four consecutive games from Weeks 15-18.

Chris Godwin‘s 43 targets were constructed with four games of 8+ while Godwin also averaged 9.0 per game from Weeks 14-17. Diontae Johnson accumulated 10 targets in Weeks 15 and 18, which fueled his total of 42 during Pittsburgh’s last five regular-season games.

Three wide receivers were targeted 41 times between Weeks 14-18. That includes D.K. Metcalf, who eclipsed 9+ in three straight games from Weeks 14-16. Jerry Jeudy collected at least eight targets during four consecutive contests in Weeks 14-17, while Tyreek Hill also captured 41 targets – even though he averaged 6.0 per game from Weeks 16-18.

MICHAEL LYNN EVANS III

📺: #CARvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/9t0gLXlMHT

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 1, 2023

Mike Evans accrued 38 targets from Weeks 14-18 despite failing to register a snap during Tampa Bay’s regular-season finale. He also collected at least eight targets in four straight games from Weeks 14-17.

K.J. Osborn also collected 38 targets, although his five-game total was fueled by the career-best 16 that he stockpiled when Minnesota hosted Indianapolis in Week 16.

Five different wide receivers averaged at least 10 targets per game from Weeks 14-18 - Chase (13.3), Jefferson (11.4), Allen (10.8), DeAndre Hopkins (10.7), and Wilson (10.6). Seven additional receivers secured an average of at least 9.0 per game – Smith (9.8), Brown (9.8), Evans (9.5), St. Brown (9.2), Lamb (9.0), Adams (9.0), and Drake London (9.0).

Air Yards Leaders

OMG DAVANTE ADAMS 😱

(via @Raiders) pic.twitter.com/mtAFIM7kje

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 2, 2023

Davante Adams completed the season as the league leader in air yards (2,129). Tyreek Hill finished second overall (2,107), followed by Justin Jefferson (1,855), A.J. Brown (1,754), Stefon Diggs (1,725), Chris Olave (1,686), Mike Evans (1,651), Amari Cooper (1,606), and D.K. Metcalf, who assembled 1,580 air yards.

CeeDee Lamb was next (1,573), followed by Garrett Wilson (1,542), Terry McLaurin (1,537), D.J. Moore (1,534), Diontae Johnson (1,500), Gabriel Davis (1,418), Jaylen Waddle (1,411), and Courtland Sutton, who completed the year with 1,338 air yards.

DeVonta Smith was next (1,315), followed by Allen Lazard (1,249), George Pickens (1,240), Tyler Lockett (1,240), Christian Kirk (1,211), Ja’Marr Chase (1,205), Marquise Brown (1,205), and Drake London, who accumulated 1,199 air yards during his rookie season.

Mack Hollins was next (1,186), followed by Tee Higgins (1,185), Jerry Jeudy (1,150), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (1,126), Donovan Peoples-Jones (1,120), Mike Williams (1,116), and Brandon Aiyuk (1,105), completing the list of 32 wide receivers who eclipsed 1,100 air yards throughout the season.

D.J. Moore led all wide receivers in air yards share (48.6%), DeAndre Hopkins finished second overall (42.8%), followed by Davante Adams (41.0%), A.J. Brown (40.8%), Tyreek Hill (40.3%), Amari Cooper (39.6%), and Justin Jefferson, who secured an air yards share of 38.5%.

Chris Olave was next (37.8%), followed by Ja’Marr Chase (37.4%), D.K. Metcalf (36.9%), Darius Slayton (36.9%), Mike Evans (36.7%), Marquise Brown (36.3%), Chase Claypool (35.6%), and Terry McLaurin, who attained an air yards share of 35.3%.

Stefon Diggs was next (34%), followed by Van Jefferson (33.8%), Diontae Johnson (33.6%), Drake London (33.6%), Mike Williams (33.4%), Brandon Aiyuk (31.9%), Allen Lazard (31.8%), and Garrett Wilson, who secured an air yards share of 31.7%.

Targets Per Route Run Leaders

Hit the B Button on 'em 🎮@DeAndreHopkins x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/FpaW7Ld0hQ

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 27, 2022

DeAndre Hopkins was targeted on 36.4% of his routes which led all wide receivers from Weeks 1-18. Tyreek Hill was second overall (34.4%), followed by Amon-Ra St. Brown (33.4%), Deebo Samuel (33%), Davante Adams (32.5%), Keenan Allen (31.9%), Chris Olave (31.2%), and Christian Watson, who was targeted on 31.1% of his routes.

Drake London was next (29.2%), followed by A.J. Brown (28.7%), CeeDee Lamb (28.6%), Brandon Aiyuk (28.6%), Chris Godwin (28.5%), Justin Jefferson (27.5%), and Nico Collins, who was targeted on 27.2% of his routes. Two receivers were tied at 26.8% - Garrett Wilson and Michael Pittman, while two additional receivers were targeted on 26% of their routes – Ja’Marr Chase, and Amari Cooper.

D.K. Metcalf and Jakobi Meyers both secured a percentage of 25.7%, followed by Allen Lazard (25.6%), Mike Williams (25.5%), Demarcus Robinson (25.4%), DeVonta Smith (25.3%), Nelson Agholor (24.8%), Diontae Johnson (24.7%), Stefon Diggs (24.6%), Marquise Brown (24.5%), and two receivers who were tied at 24.4% - Mike Evans and Tee Higgins. They were followed by Terry McLaurin, who was targeted on 24.2% of his routes.

Yards Per Route Run Leaders

Tyreek Hill led all wide receivers with an average of 3.42 yards per route run. He was followed by another wide receiver who had transitioned into a new environment during 2022 as A.J. Brown averaged 2.96 yards per route run.

Rookie Christian Watson was next (2.88), followed by Davante Adams (2.74), Jaylen Waddle (2.74), Chris Olave (2.73), DeAndre Hopkins (2.72), Justin Jefferson (2.71), Keenan Allen (2.7), Amon-Ra St. Brown (2.66), Brandon Aiyuk (2.55), and CeeDee Lamb who averaged 2.55 yards per route run.

Mike Williams averaged 2.45 yards per route run, followed by Terry McLaurin (2.41), Tee Higgins (2.31), Amari Cooper (2.29), Stefon Diggs (2.28), and two receivers who were tied at 2.22 – DeVonta Smith and Deebo Samuel.  They were followed by Jerry Jeudy, who averaged 2.21 yards per route run, and three receivers who were tied with an average of 2.16 (Drake London/Mike Evans/Jakobi Meyers).

Darius Slayton averaged 2.14 yards per route run while DeVante Parker was next with an average of 2.12. He was followed by Chris Godwin (2.05), two receivers that were tied at 2.02 – Ja’Marr Chase, and Allen Lazard, and three receivers who averaged 2.01 yards per route run: Garrett Wilson, Tyler Lockett, and Kalif Raymond.

Red Zone Target Leaders  

Two of Justin Jefferson’s five targets that he collected during Minnesota’s season finale transpired in the red zone. That expanded his season-long total to 29 which led all wide receivers.

Closing out the half with a @dkm14 score. 🙌

📺: #CARvsSEA on FOX | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/wgn1XzBHaQ

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 11, 2022

D.K. Metcalf finished second overall (28), followed by Ja’Marr Chase (26), and two receivers who accumulated 23 targets – Stefon Diggs, and Christian Kirk. Three receivers were targeted 22 times (Davante Adams/Amon-Ra St. Brown/Adam Thielen), while Garrett Wilson, and Zay Jones both accrued 19.

Three receivers collected 18 targets – Diontae Johnson, Allen Lazard, and Russell Gage, while Amari Cooper was targeted 17 times. Three receivers garnered 16 targets inside the 20 (A.J. Brown/Drake London/Keenan Allen), while five receivers accumulated 15 red zone targets from Weeks 1-18 – CeeDee Lamb, Chris Godwin, Brandon Aiyuk, Juju Smith-Schuster, and Gabriel Davis.

Jefferson also led all wide receivers with 18 targets inside the 10-yard line. Diggs, Adams, and Allen Robinson all collected 12 targets, while Adam Thielen was targeted 11 times. Five different wide receivers accrued 10 targets inside the 10-yard line during the season: Metcalf, Kirk, Wilson, Lazard, and Josh Reynolds.

Diggs, Adams, and Kirk tied for the league lead with eight targets inside the 5-yard line. Robinson collected seven targets, while five receivers were targeted six times – Thielen, Lazard, Chase, Gage, and St. Brown. 

Snap Count Leaders

Sam → Pitt for the TD.

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/6EwZ1V7JW3

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 1, 2023

Michael Pittman led all wide receivers with a snap count percentage of 96.7% from Weeks 1-18. D.J. Moore was second (96.3%), followed by Davante Adams (94.5%), Ja’Marr Chase (93.6%), Mack Hollins (93.3%), Justin Jefferson (92.2%), DeVonta Smith (91.5%), Marquise Brown (91.0%), Brandon Aiyuk (90.7%), and Gabriel Davis, who secured a snap share of 90.5%.

Donovan Peoples-Jones attained an 89.7% share, followed by Allen Lazard (89.6%), Diontae Johnson (89.4%), Terry McLaurin (89.1%), Adam Thielen (89.1%), Courtland Sutton (88.5%), DeAndre Hopkins (88.2%), Christian Kirk (88.2%), CeeDee Lamb (87.1%), and Chase Claypool (86.3%).

Zay Jones played on 86.2% of Jacksonville‘s offensive snaps, followed by Parris Campbell (84.95%), A.J. Brown (84.8%), Mike Evans (84.4%), and Amari Cooper, who secured a snap share of 83%.

Justin Jefferson led all wide receivers in offensive snaps (1,033), followed closely by DeVonta Smith with 1,032. Michael Pittman was third overall (1,020), followed by Terry McLaurin (1,016), Donovan Peoples-Jones (1,005), Adam Thielen (999), and two receivers that were tied with 990 snaps – Davante Adams, and Diontae Johnson.

Mack Hollins played on 978 offensive snaps, followed by CeeDee Lamb (972), A.J. Brown (956), Brandon Aiyuk (950), Christian Kirk (945), D.J. Moore (939), Parris Campbell (937), Amari Cooper (929), Zay Jones (884), and Mike Evans - who played on 882 of Tampa Bay‘s offensive snaps.

Gabriel Davis was next (881), followed by Josh Palmer (870), Garrett Wilson (854), D. K. Metcalf (850), George, Pickens (839), K.J. Osborn (836), Courtland Sutton (834), Chris Godwin (834), Allen Lazard (829), and Curtis, Samuel - who completed the list of wide receivers with at least 800 offensive snaps throughout the season.

Five Things I Noticed

1. Justin Jefferson, Cooper Kupp, and Ja’Marr Chase became mainstays during Round 1 of the 2022 draft process while Stefon Diggs and Davante Adams were selected near the periphery of the initial round. There is a great likelihood that a larger number of receivers will be seized inside Round 1 of 2023 drafts, following the results that were delivered by this year’s top wide receivers.

Jefferson was the first receiver to be chosen during the majority of last year’s drafts (ADP4), and he soared to new career highs in multiple categories. Jefferson stockpiled a league-high 184 targets, while also averaging 10.8 per game. Jefferson also captured 10+ targets in 11 different matchups. This included a sequence in which Jefferson attained double-digit totals in seven of eight games from Weeks 9-16.

Justin Jefferson Season 3:

128 rec
1809 yards
8TDs #SKOL #Vikings pic.twitter.com/IlG9M8DByk

— VikingNations (@VikingNations) January 8, 2023

He also accumulated a league-best 128 receptions (7.5 per game), including 9+ in eight different contests. He also paced all wide receivers with 1,809 receiving yards (106.4 per game), while eclipsing 100 yards in 10 matchups and accruing 130+ seven times. Jefferson also led the league in yards after catch (624),  receptions of 20+ (28), and red zone targets (29), finished third in air yards (1,855), scored eight touchdowns (9), ran a league-high 668 routes, was targeted on 27.5% of those routes, and averaged 2.71 yards per route run.

His numbers were comparatively underwhelming during his final two matchups (10 targets/5.0 receptions/53 yards). This occurred due to the combination of highly-effective coverage by Green Bay in Week 17, and Minnesota's failure to adjust creatively, along with the Vikings' decision to sit starters during the second half of their Week 18 matchup with Chicago.

Justin Jefferson: THE WR1 🔥 pic.twitter.com/842GlpXTmt

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

However, Jefferson's accomplishments were exceptional during his third season. He now leads all wide receivers with 4,825 receiving yards since he entered the league in 2020 and is also pacing his position with an average of 96.5 per game. Jefferson has also captured 476 targets (9.5 per game) and has also collected 324 receptions (6.5 per game) – which has established an NFL record for most receptions by a player during his first three seasons.

With that 23-yard reception, WR Justin Jefferson (322) set the NFL record for most receptions through a players first three seasons in the NFL, passing WR Michael Thomas (321). pic.twitter.com/vk88zYchMv

— Vikings Communications (@VikingsPR) January 8, 2023

He also finished at WR1 in PPR scoring (21.7 points per game), and only trailed four quarterbacks (Patrick Mahomes/Josh Allen/Jalen Hurts/Joe Burrow), and Austin Ekeler in overall fantasy points. Jefferson’s numbers during his third season have entrenched him among your most viable options at the onset of all 2023 drafts.

.@CooperKupp COULD. GO. ALL. THE. WAY.

📺 @NFLonFOX | 📲 https://t.co/4beUdmlymg pic.twitter.com/wbn9dBebUJ

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 9, 2022

This review of the 2022 season would be remiss without a reminder of the excellent numbers that Kupp was assembling before he sustained a season-ending high ankle sprain in Week 10.

Kupp was leading all wide receivers with a 33.3% target share, and also with an average of 11.6 targets per game. Kupp was also leading the league in yards after catch (417), was second in receptions (72/9.0 per game), fourth in receiving yards (813/90.2 per game), and had eclipsed 100 yards during five of his nine matchups.

Kupp was also third in touchdowns (six), had been targeted on 37.7% percent of his routes, and was averaging 3.29 yards per route run. Kupp was also WR2 during that sequence before his usage and production abruptly ended. Even though uncertainty is rampant surrounding the Rams as we enter 2023, there is a sizable rationale for targeting him early in Round 1 of your upcoming drafts.

2. A cluster of blockbuster trades infused prominent wide receivers into new environments prior to the 2022 regular season. This sequence of events began in mid-March when Green Bay sent Davante Adams to Las Vegas in exchange for the Raiders’ 2022 first and second-round draft picks. This provided Adams with an opportunity to reunite with his former college teammate Derek Carr although it also assured that Adams would not be operating with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback for the first time since his NFL arrival in 2014.

Adams had accumulated 1.012 targets, 669 receptions, and 8121 receiving yards from 2014- 2021 with the Packers while averaging 8.7 targets, 5.8 receptions, and 70.0 yards per game. He also generated 73 receiving touchdowns, while producing scores 10+ times in five of his eight seasons with Green Bay.

Honestly, is Davante human?

📺 FOX | @tae15adams pic.twitter.com/BnU94F9WcI

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 2, 2023

The transition from Rodgers and the Packers to a Raider team that endured a disappointing season did not impede Adams from attaining exceptional usage and output. Adams led all wide receivers with a 32.2% target share while establishing a new career high with 180 targets (10.6 per game) – which placed him second overall. Adams also eclipsed 10+ targets in nine different matchups while finishing as one of just five wide receivers who averaged 10.0+ per game during the year.

Adams also accumulated the second-highest yardage total of his career (1,516), while he also finished third overall in that category. Adams also eclipsed 100+ yards in eight games while exceeding 140 yards in five different contests.

ARE. YOU. KIDDING. ME.@tae15adams TD...AGAIN!

📺 CBS | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/EQUX56ceL5

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 4, 2022

Adams also led the NFL with 14 touchdowns, paced the league in air yards (2,129), and was sixth in yards after catch (493). Adams also was targeted on 32.5% of his 554 routes, averaged 2.74 yards per route run, and rewarded fantasy managers by finishing at WR2. Adams should sustain his elite-level play in 2023 as the Raiders secure a quarterback who is comfortable operating Josh McDaniels‘ offense.

Tyreek Hill was traded to the Dolphins in exchange for five draft picks just five days after Green Bay had sent Adams to Las Vegas. Hill’s arrival in Miami accelerated an offensive transformation that was already underway through the addition of new head coach Mike McDaniel.

Any concerns that Hill would have difficulty replicating the numbers that he had constructed in Kansas City appeared justified, as he had averaged 125 targets (8.3 per game), 83.6 receptions (5.6 per game), 1,207 yards (80.5 per game), and 10 touchdowns from 2017-2021.

52 YARDS 🐆 @Tua TO @cheetah‼️

📺: Watch #GBvsMIA on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/DC6f5Vhquq

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 25, 2022

However, initial questions regarding Hill’s ability to remain highly productive with Tua Tagovailoa as his quarterback and Jaylen Waddle as a competitor for targets, quickly dissipated as Hill constructed another outstanding season.

Hill captured a 30.3% target share which placed him third among all wide receivers. He also secured new career highs in targets (170/10.0 per game), receptions (119/7.0 per game), and receiving yards (1,710/100.6 per game). Hill was targeted 10+ times in nine different matchups, collected 9+ receptions in six different contests, and eclipsed 100 yards seven times.

Hill’s overall numbers in targets, receptions, and receiving yards, also placed him among the top three at his position in each category. He also led all receivers in yards per route run  (3.42) and was second overall in both targets per route run (34.4%) and air yards (2,107). Hill was also sixth in air yards share (40.3%) and was also ninth in yards after catch (482).

A dime from @Tua to @Cheetah 😍

📺 #MIAvsBUF on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/Czon56rcya

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 18, 2022

The fact that Hill assembled these numbers while operating in the same aerial attack as Waddle becomes even more impressive as Waddle also finished seventh overall with 1,356 receiving yards (79.8 per game), and eighth overall in touchdowns (8). Waddle also completed the year with 117 targets (6.9 per game), and 75 receptions (4.4 per game). Waddle's presence will not deter Hill from remaining embedded among the league's top tier of wide receivers once again during 2023.

3. Adams and Hill were not the only wide receivers who were highly productive after transitioning to new environments as A. J. Brown, Amari Cooper, and Christian Kirk also thrived following their arrivals in new destinations during 2022.

Brown was included in a group of fourth-year receivers who had requested a new contract during the offseason. When negotiations reached an impasse, the Titans jettisoned Brown to Philadelphia. This extracted Brown from an offense that had ranked 31st in pass play percentage during 2021 (51.4%), while also placing him in an attack that finished dead last in that same category (50.1%).

ZOOM ZOOM#NOvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/BrpzW0iO1J

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 1, 2023

However, Brown flourished during his first season as an Eagle, while taking full advantage of his opportunity to operate with Jalen Hurts as his quarterback. Brown finished the year at WR6, while securing a career-high 146 targets (8.5 per game), and eclipsing 10+ in six different matchups – which surpassed Brown’s total during his three-year tenure with Tennessee.

He also collected 5+ receptions during 10 different contests which propelled him to a career-best 88 (5.2 per game). Brown also generated a career-high 1,496 receiving yards (88 per game), which was fueled by five games in which he accumulated 100+ and nine games in which he assembled 85+.

Brown also secured a new career-best 1,754 air yards which placed him fourth among all wide receivers. He was also fourth in air yards share (40.8%), second in yards per route run (2.96), and 10th in targets per route run (28.7%).

TD #10 on the year 👀@1kalwaysopen_ | #ProBowlVote | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/uLGfJVUWyK

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 11, 2022

Brown’s exceptional numbers are even more noteworthy considering that he was operating in the same aerial attack as DeVonta Smith, who finished his second season at WR9. Smith also vaulted to eighth overall in receiving yards (1,196/70.4 per game), ninth in receptions (95/5.6 per game), and 18th in air yards (1,315), while generating seven touchdowns. Smith should attain high-end WR2 status during 2023 while Brown will operate as a mid-range WR1.

Amari Cooper also performed effectively during his first season in Cleveland, after the Cowboys traded him in exchange for a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-round selections. Cooper had accumulated 429 targets, 292 receptions, and 3,893 receiving yards in 56 career games with Dallas while averaging 7.7 targets/5.2 receptions/69.5 yards per game during that span.

However, he attained per-game averages of 7.8 targets, 4.6 receptions, and 68.2 yards per game with the Browns while finishing 11th in receiving yards (1,160), and 16th in targets (132). He also secured 10+ targets in seven different contests while eclipsing 100 yards five times.

Amari Cooper goes all way for 46 yards!

📺: #CLEvsWAS on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/1eZ30lyEdF pic.twitter.com/zTM4RUpKd8

— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2023

Cooper’s nine touchdowns also established a career-high, while he also finished eighth overall in air yards (1,606), sixth in air yards share (39.6%), ninth in yards before catch (835), 18th in targets per route run (26%) and 16th with an average of 2.29 yards per route run.

Cooper had been averaging 8.5 targets, 5.2 receptions, and 72 yards per game with Jacoby Brissett under center (Weeks 1-12) while also generating seven of his touchdowns during that sequence. However, his averages dropped to 6.5 targets, 3.5 receptions, and 61.3 yards per game with Deshaun Watson spearheading Cleveland’s aerial attack while he was limited to two touchdowns during those contests.

Cooper will be 29 when the 2023 regular season launches but has not displayed any discernible signs that he cannot function as a high-end WR2 - provided that he can garner targets from Watson with greater frequency.

Christian Kirk’s transition from Arizona to Jacksonville was not fueled by trade as Kirk’s four-year tenure with the Cardinals was concluded when Kirk signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Jaguars last March.

He had averaged 90 targets (6.4 per game), 59 receptions (4.2 per game), and 726 yards (51.8 per game) from 2018-2021 with Arizona while also finishing outside the top 30 in scoring during three of his four seasons with the team (WR58/WR38/ WR51/WR26).

Christian Kirk has the @Jaguars on the move again!

📺: #DALvsJAX on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/rZZZ8aG10V pic.twitter.com/nR82YITNrB

— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2022

The Jaguars were initially criticized under the premise that the team has overpaid for the (then) 25-year-old Kirk. However, Kirk exceeded expectations while assembling a collection of career highs.

Kirk vaulted to WR14 while finishing 16th overall with 125 targets (7.8 per game), 15th in both receptions (84/4.9 per game) and receiving yards (1,108/65.2 per game), 11th in touchdowns (7), and 19th in yards after catch (377).

Touchdown Trevor!!!! Lawrence finds Christian Kirk in the end zone right before the half.

pic.twitter.com/56aOwBmlxK

— Austin Pendergist (@apthirteen) November 13, 2022

Kirk is positioned to build upon his numbers during 2023 as he operates as the WR1 within a Jacksonville offense that should only improve with Trevor Lawrence spearheading the Jaguars’ aerial efforts.

4. The favorable numbers that were assembled by members of the 2022 rookie class should also be recognized, as a cluster of newcomers seized integral roles for their teams while also functioning as resources for fantasy managers.

This includes Chris Olave who was 10th among all wide receivers in both targets (92/8.4 per game) and receiving yards (822/74.7 per game), and 15th in receptions (56/5.1 per game) entering Week 13.

He also led all rookies in each category and was on pace to accumulate 143 targets, 1,270 yards, and 87 receptions.

Chris Olave TOUCHDOWN 🔥

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/LkaYu0JynH

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 20, 2022

He was also second in air yards (1,347), sixth in yards per route run (2.65), and seventh in targets per route run (29.7%) during that span.

A hamstring issue limited Olave to 27 snaps in Week 15, sidelined him completely in Week 16, and he ultimately averaged 4.5 targets/3.5 receptions/47.5 yards per game from Weeks 15-17.

Put 12 in space and let 'em work.

📺 #CARvsNO on FOX pic.twitter.com/BwyZb2rqa9

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 8, 2023

However, he concluded the regular season by attaining his highest target total since Week 7 (12), while accumulating 60+ yards for the ninth time and generating his fourth touchdown of the year.

Olave can become the most prolific member of his class during 2023 if the Saints adopt a more imaginative offensive approach and upgrade from Andy Dalton at quarterback during the upcoming months.

First season, first 1,000-yard season. pic.twitter.com/WTcmqBHkU2

— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 1, 2023

Garrett Wilson led all rookie wide receivers in targets (147/8.6 per game) while collecting 10+ in five different matchups. He also led all newcomers in receptions (84/4.9 per game), while securing 6+ in seven games. Wilson also led his rookie class with 1,103 receiving yards (64.9 per game), which was propelled by six games in which he accrued 90+.

Wilson was also eighth in routes run (549), 11th in air yards (1,542), and 16th in yards before catch (727), was targeted on 26.8% of his routes and averaged 2.01 yards per route run.

Wilson would have attained even loftier numbers without the obstacles that were created during Zach Wilson’s nine starts under center. The Jets should address their urgent need to locate a more proficient quarterback which would clear a path for Wilson to build upon his numbers during 2023.

Drake London's usage and output were also negatively impacted by deficiencies under center, along with Arthur Smith's unrelenting reliance on Atlanta's rushing attack. The Falcons ranked 31st in pass play percentage (44.7%) and passing attempts per game (24.4), which impeded London from assembling numbers that were more reflective of his enormous talent.

He still finished third overall with a 30% target share, while also finishing third among rookies in targets (117/6.9 per game). London also tied for second with Olave in receptions (72/4.2 per game), and third in receiving yards (866/50.9 per game). He also finished ninth in targets per route run (29.2%), 21st in yards per route run (2.16), 25th in air yards (1,199), and 22nd in air yards share (33.6%).

High point!

📺 FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/OP4cMTmXsS

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 24, 2022

Smith’s decision to transition from Marcus Mariota to Desmond Ridder in Week 15 ignited a statistical surge for London, who finished 10th overall in targets  (36/9.0 per game), sixth in receptions (25/6.3 per game), and eighth in receiving yards (333/83.3 per game) from Weeks 15-18. He was also targeted on 26.1% of his routes while averaging 2.68 yards per route run. London’s numbers will continue to ascend if the level of involvement that he received during the Falcons' final four matchups is sustained during 2023.

Jahan Dotson was sidelined during five matchups (hamstring) but still delivered promising numbers when he was running routes with Washington. He averaged 6.0 targets/3.0 receptions/36.3 yards per game from Weeks 1-3 and was tied for second with three touchdowns. He also averaged 7.8 targets/4.5 receptions/68 yards per game from Weeks 13-18.

Dotson also finished 12th in air yards during that sequence (411), was targeted on 29.9.6% of his routes and averaged 2.94 yards per route run. He also finished the season with seven touchdowns which tied him for the lead among rookies. Sustained health and an upgrade under center by Washington would fuel a sizable rise in Dotson’s numbers during 2023.

Christian Watson displayed his ability to operate effectively as a vertical presence while tying with Dotson for the lead among rookies with seven touchdowns. Watson also soared to WR2 from Weeks 10-12, while vaulting to fifth in air yards (346), and yards after catch (91). Watson was also sixth in both receiving yards (276/88.3 per game), and air yards share (44.8%), and also generated a league-high six touchdowns. His numbers should improve as he develops during his second season while operating as a WR2 for fantasy managers during 2023.

George Pickens finished third among rookie wide receivers in air yards (1,240), and was fourth in targets (84/4.9 per game), receptions (52/3.1 per game), and receiving yards (801/47.1 per game). He also collected 63 fewer targets and 34 fewer receptions than Diontae Johnson but joined Johnson in eclipsing 800 yards and led the Steelers in receiving touchdowns (4).

He is capable of performing as an explosive and prolific weapon and Pittsburgh can capitalize on his abilities during 2023 if the Steelers develop greater creativity in their offensive philosophy.

5. Unfortunately, the list of receivers who delivered disappointing numbers during 2022 contains multiple reminders of unfulfilled expectations for the fantasy managers who optimistically targeted them during their drafts.

This applies to Diontae Johnson, whose ADP placed him in Round 4 during the 2022 draft season (48/WR21). Johnson finished sixth overall with 137 targets (8.6 per game) but that did not propel him to the production that was anticipated by anyone who had secured him as their WR2.

Johnson eclipsed 10 targets in six different contests, although five of those games transpired from Weeks 1-7. His per-game averages also decreased to 7.6 targets/5.1 receptions/59 yards per game from Weeks 10-17, while he also finished just WR45 in point-per-game scoring during his final nine matchups.

Diontae Johnson just broke potentially the most unbreakable record in professional football.

147 targets with ZERO touchdowns. No one else is within 20 targets of him on the historical leaderboard with no scoring plays.

Unbelievable stuff. pic.twitter.com/8cNCBFJCr0

— Davis Mattek (@DavisMattek) January 10, 2023

Johnson did not generate a touchdown after accumulating eight in 2021. He also failed to match his numbers from 2021 in targets (147/169), receptions (86/107), receiving yards (882/1,161), and games with 100+ yards (0/3). Pickens also looms to usurp Johnson’s status as the Steelers’ WR1 in 2023, which could diminish Johnson’s stock even further.

Allen Robinson joined Johnson as a fourth-round selection during the 2022 draft process (46/WR19), as the nine-year-veteran was chosen while Amon-Ra St. Brown, Chris Godwin, D.K. Metcalf, and Amari Cooper were among the extensive collection of options that remained available.

Robinson was relegated to just two targets, one reception, and 12 yards during the Rams' season opener despite a 91% snap share. This was consistent with the unsightly numbers that Robinson would obtain from Weeks 1-5, as he was limited to only 23 targets (4.6 per game), 12 receptions (2.4 per game), 107 receiving yards (21.4 per game), and one touchdown. Robinson also languished at WR76 during that span.

Robinson did secure 6+ targets during three of his five matchups from Weeks 6-10 while rising to WR42 during those contests. However, WR4 production still remained well below the original expectations. Robinson also sustained a foot injury in Week 11, which prematurely concluded his season. He still has two years remaining on his current contract with the Rams, but his current outlook is underwhelming.

Courtland Sutton was the 15th wide receiver to be selected during the 2022 draft season as fantasy managers seized him in Round 3 (35/WR15). This degree of confidence was a byproduct of the surging anticipation surrounding the arrival of Russell Wilson in Denver, and Sutton’s prospective pathway toward career-best numbers that Wilson’s presence appeared primed to provide.

The season that transpired for the Broncos deviated substantially from those expectations as Wilson’s discouraging performance led to frequent frustration for anyone who had Sutton contained on their rosters.

Sutton’s numbers were initially promising as he was third overall in air yards (568) entering Week 6. Sutton was also sixth in receiving yards (417/83.4 per game), seventh in air yards share (39.8%), ninth in receptions (29/5.8 per game), and 10th in targets (46/9.2 per game) from Weeks 1-5.

However, he later failed to surpass 23 yards in three consecutive outings (Weeks 6-8) and did not exceed 44 yards in six of his final 10 matchups. Sutton also averaged just 1.40 yards per route run and finished at just WR67 in points-per-game scoring from Weeks 6-18 (8.7 per game).

Sutton also finished the season with numbers that remained well below his previous career highs in targets (109/7.3 per game), receptions (64/4.3 per game), and receiving yardage (829/55.3 per game). Even though Denver's offense could improve following another offseason of reconstruction, there is no rationale for targeting Sutton remotely close to his 2022 ADP during your 2023 drafts.

Elijah Moore (79/WR33) was drafted a whopping six rounds earlier than teammate Garrett Wilson (147/WR58) as 68 players were selected between both Jet receivers during the draft process. Wilson’s rookie season was examined earlier in this section, while the results from Moore’s second year did not match the optimistic forecasts that existed prior to Week 1.

Moore attained a 90.1% snap share while averaging 7.0 targets, 4.0 receptions, and 46 yards per game from Weeks 1-3. However, his usage and output were systematically squelched by an unwanted sequence of events. Moore’s frustration over his lack of chemistry with Zach Wilson fueled comments that jettisoned him to Robert Saleh’s doghouse - all of which led to a significant decline in his snap share (53.5%), along with averages of just 2.1 targets, 1.1 receptions and 20.7 yards per game from Weeks 4-12.

Moore finished the season with a 12,6% target share, 65 targets (4.1 per game), 37 receptions (2.3 per game), and 446 receiving yards (27.9 per game). The universal decline in his numbers when contrasted with 2021 will also create a similar plunge in enthusiasm for pursuing him during 2023 drafts.

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