Wide Receiver Sleepers, Risers, Breakouts for Fantasy Football - Targets, Air Yards, Snaps Trends for Week 11

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 10th installment that will examine game-specific data, including updated totals for targets, air yards, targets per route run, yards per route run, red-zone targets, and snap counts. The information that is contained in this weekly report will analyze how various receivers are being utilized, and how effectively they are capitalizing on their opportunities.

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

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Targets

Stefon Diggs continues to lead the league in targets, after expanding his season total to 97+.  Diggs had been averaging 11.3 targets per game from Weeks 1-8 while securing 9+ during six of his eight matchups. However, he has now averaged just 6.0 per game since Week 9.

JA’MARR CHASE IS ALWAYS OPEN 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Ni7USezZZC

— PFF (@PFF) November 12, 2023

Ja’Marr Chase has assembled 99 targets, even though he has only averaged 7.0 per game during his last two outings. Chase also attained 12+ during four of his five matchups from Weeks 3-8 and now leads all wide receivers with an average of 11.0 per game from Weeks 1-10.

Michael Pittman Jr. is tied for third overall with 98 targets, after accumulating 12+ for the third time in his last five matchups. Pittman has also eclipsed 10+ in six different contests this season.

Davante Adams has also collected 98 targets after he was targeted 13 times by Aidan O'Connell in Week 10. That was just Adams’ second double-digit total since Week 7 and his highest weekly total since Week 4.

Keenan Allen has now captured 97 targets after securing his second-highest weekly total of the season in Week 10 (14). The 11-year veteran has now stockpiled 53 targets (10.6 per game) since Week 6, which leads all wide receivers.

Tyreek Hill will return from Miami’s bye week with a total of 97 targets, which includes the 57 that he has collected during his last five games. He is also averaging 11.4 per game during that span.

Puka Nacua will return from his bye week with a total of 96, even though he has failed to exceed seven targets during either of his last two contests. Nacua had collected 11.7 per game from Weeks 1-7 which was the league’s second highest average. The talented rookie had also eclipsed 10+ during five of his seven matchups during that sequence.

Garrett Wilson chunk play ⚡️pic.twitter.com/GxJS1RUaX3

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 13, 2023

Garrett Wilson has now captured 13+ targets in all three of his outings since returning from the Jets’ Week 7 bye. He has launched into second overall with 40 targets during that sequence while averaging 13.3 per game.

Chris Olave has now accumulated 94 targets, even though he has failed to reach double digits during each of his last three games.  Eight of his nine targets in Week 10 were collected after Derek Carr’s multiple injuries (concussion/shoulder) fueled a transition to Jameis Winston under center.

A.J. Brown will reemerge from Philadelphia’s bye week with 92 targets. That includes the 76 that he stockpiled from Weeks 3-9 (10.9 per game) which was tied for second among all wide receivers.

Adam Thielen has now secured a double-digit target total for the fifth time this season after accruing 10 in Week 10. Thielen has also captured 10+ during four of his last five games while averaging 10.6 per game.

CeeDee Lamb has now accumulated a league-high 44 targets since Week 8. That includes the career-high 16 that he stockpiled in Week 9, which has expanded his season total to 86. Lamb’s recent statistical surge will be examined in greater detail in the Five Things I Noticed section.

Welcome back to Cali, @amonra_stbrown!#DETvsLAC | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/hXe3QZCbg6

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 12, 2023

Amon-Ra St. Brown has also captured 86 targets after securing 9+ during each of his last four games. He has averaged a league-high 13 targets per game since Week 6 and is tied for second with 52 during that sequence.

Marquise Brown has accrued 81 targets despite being relegated to a season-low four in Week 10. Brown had accumulated 9+ targets during five of his matchups from Weeks 3-8 while averaging 9.1 per game during those contests.

Terry McLaurin has now captured 79 targets while securing 8+ during each of his last five games. McLaurin is also tied for seventh with 48 targets during that sequence while averaging 9.6 per game.

DeAndre Hopkins has accumulated 73 targets including 9+ during three of his last five games. Hopkins is also averaging 8.4 per game since Week 5.

Amari Cooper has assembled 72 targets after attaining 8+ during four of his last five matchups. Cooper has also averaged 8.2 per game since Week 6.

Nine different wide receivers are averaging over 10.0 targets per game from Weeks 1-10 - Ja’Marr Chase (11.0), Keenan Allen (10.8), Tyreek Hill (10.8), Amon-Ra St. Brown (10.8), Puka Nacua (10.7), Garrett Wilson (10.6), Justin Jefferson (10.6), Stefon Diggs (10.2), and A.J. Brown (10.2).

Target Risers And Fallers

14 different receivers secured at least 10 targets during their matchups in Week 10, while four of those receivers were targeted 14 times. That includes CeeDee Lamb, who has now captured 14+ in three consecutive outings. He had failed to exceed seven targets during five of his six contests from Weeks 1-6 while averaging 7.0 per game. Now, he has vaulted into the league lead from Weeks 8-10 with an average of 14.7 per game.

Watching Keenan Allen at 31 continue to cook DBs a decade younger than him will never get old. Currently the WR3 on the season and there’s already a gold jacket in Canton waiting for him. #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/hY1x1Ltj6j

— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) November 13, 2023

Keenan Allen’s 14 targets in Week 10 represented his second-highest total of the season. He has now captured 9+ during eight of his nine matchups this season, including each of his last five. Garrett Wilson’s 14 targets tied his season high while he has now accumulated 12+ in five of his last six games. He also leads all wide receivers with 73 targets since Week 4 while averaging 12.2 per game.

Tank Dell failed to exceed four targets during his matchups from Weeks 4-8. However, he has now collected 25 targets during his last two games, including the season-high 14 that he secured in Week 10.

Davante Adams had been averaging 12.5 targets per game from Weeks 1-4 including the season-high 20 that he attained in Week 3. He only averaged 4.5 per game in Weeks 5-6. However, that average has improved to 9.8 per game since Week 7, after he captured 13 targets in Week 10.

Michael Pittman captured 12 targets during his Week 10 matchup and has now accumulated 52 since Week 6. That ties him for second overall during that sequence, while he is averaging 10.4 per game.

D.K. Metcalf did not attain a double-digit target total until Week 8, but he has now accomplished it twice during his last three matchups. That includes the 12 that he garnered when Seattle hosted Washington in Week 10. The 12 targets that Tyler Boyd collected in Week 10 established a season-high. That total was also his highest since Week 7 of the 2020 regular season.

Christian Kirk was sixth overall with 32 targets from Weeks 2-4 while averaging 10.7 per game. That average dropped to 6.3 per game from Weeks 5-8 before he collected 11 targets in Week 10.

AMAZING touchdown catch by Courtland Sutton. pic.twitter.com/cI1UAMsGRq

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) November 14, 2023

Courtland Sutton was also targeted 11 times in Week 10, which was the first time that he has reached double digits since Week 3. He had been averaging 4.5 per game from Weeks 5-9.

D.K. Metcalf had been limited to a season-low four targets during his matchup in Week 9. However, the 12 targets that he secured in Week 10 increased his weekly total by +8.

Brandin Cooks was averaging 4.1 targets per game entering Week 10 and only exceeded four targets once from Weeks 1-9. However, he was targeted 10 times by Dak Prescott when Dallas hosted the Giants. That fueled his week-to-week rise of +8.

TYLER BOYD 64 YARDS

THIS GAME IS CRAZY.pic.twitter.com/U5t2Yjp0gB

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) November 12, 2023

Tyler Boyd was targeted five times in Week 9 which was his second-lowest total of the season. He established a new season high by accruing 12 targets in Week 10, which launched a weekly increase of +7.

Jahan Dotson ran 58 routes which led Washington during the Commanders’ Week 10 matchup with Seattle. He also secured a 95% snap share but was still limited to just two targets. He had previously captured eight targets in Week 9, which resulted in a week-to-week decline of -6.

JuJu Smith-Schuster ran a team-high 68 routes in Week 10 while attaining a 99% snap share. However, he was only targeted once just one week after he had secured a season-high of seven in Week 9. That led to his weekly drop of -6.

KhaDarel Hodge had established a season-high with his six targets in Week 9 but failed to register a target when Atlanta traveled to Arizona in Week 10. That fueled his weekly decline of –6.

Air Yards

Chris Olave has emerged as the new league leader in air yards with 1,258 entering Week 11. A.J. Brown is now second overall after maintaining the league lead for five consecutive weeks (1,159). Amari Cooper is next (1,098), followed by DeAndre Hopkins (1,085), Davante Adams (1,058), Stefon Diggs (1,047), Tyreek Hill (1,035), and Garrett Wilson (1,028), who completes the list of eight receivers who have eclipsed 1,000 air yards from Weeks 1-10.

Mike Evans is next (978), followed by Keenan Allen (930), Marquise Brown (892), CeeDee Lamb (890), Puka Nacua (847), and George Pickens who has now accrued 829 air yards.

A.J. Brown leads all wide receivers with a 47.5% air yards share. Brandon Aiyuk is now second overall (46.6%), while Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson are tied at 45.5%. Tyreek Hill and Amari Cooper have both secured shares of 44.3%, followed by Stefon Diggs (42.9%), D.J. Moore (42.5%), George Pickens (42%), DeAndre Hopkins (41.8%), Jerry Jeudy (41.8%), and three additional receivers who have attained shares of at least 40% -  D.K. Metcalf (41.7%), Chris Olave (40.1%), and Cooper Kupp (40%).

Chris Olave, and D’Andre Hopkins both accumulated 178 air yards during their Week 10 matchups. That was the highest total among all wide receivers. Mike Evans was next (174), followed by Tank Dell (170), Christian Kirk (162), CeeDee Lamb, (157), Davante Adams (154), D.K. Metcalf (143), Rashid Shaheed (142), and two receivers who accrued 133 air yards - Brandin Cooks, and Noah Brown. Keenan Allen was next (131), followed by Amari Cooper (116), Amon-Ra St. Brown (112), and Garrett Wilson, who secured 111 air yards in Week 10.

Davante Adams easily led his position with an air yards share of 92.8% in Week 10. Christian Kirk was next (74.3%), followed by Diontae Johnson (64.4%), D.K. Metcalf (54%), George Pickens (51.5%), Keenan Allen (51.4%), Mike Evans (50.4%), and Amon-Ra St. Brown, who secured an air yards share of 50.2%. D.J. Moore was next (48.5%), followed by Michael Pittman (46.5%), Demario Douglas (45.3%), DeAndre Hopkins (43.5%), and Zay Flowers, who attained an air yards share of 42.6% during his Week 10 matchup.

Routes

Ja’Marr Chase has run 415 routes which leads all wide receivers from Weeks 1-10. Washington teammates Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson are tied for second overall with 413. Michael Pittman is next (398), followed by Adam Thielen (395), Stefon Diggs (388), Chris Olave (384), Alec Pierce (370), DeVonta Smith (366), and Keenan Allen, who has run 365 routes entering Week 11. Garrett Wilson is next (360), followed by D.J. Moore (358), Marquise Brown (353), Tyler Boyd (352), and two rookies who have both eclipsed 340 routes - Zay Flowers 345 and Jordan Addison 341.

Garrett Wilson and Tyler Boyd ran 46 routes during their Week 10 matchups. That was the highest total among all wide receivers. Three receivers accumulated 45 routes - Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo, and Elijah Moore - while Keenan Allen and Jahan Dotson ran 44. They were followed by Amari Cooper (43), Jordan Addison (43), and five receivers who accrued 42 - Ja’Marr Chase, Tank Dell, Chris Olave, D.K. Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett. Marquise Brown and Terry McLaurin accumulated 41 routes, while Cedric Tillman ran 40.

Targets Per Route Run

Tyreek Hill has been targeted on 37.3% of his routes from Weeks 1-10. That is the highest percentage among all wide receivers. Davante Adams is second (31.8%), followed by Puka Nacua (30.5%), Cooper Kupp (30.4%), Amon-Ra St. Brown (30%), Brandon Aiyuk (28.8%), Jaylen Waddle (28.8%), and A. J. Brown, who has been targeted on 27.9% of his routes.

DeAndre Hopkins is next (27.7%), followed by Keenan Allen (26.6%), CeeDee Lamb (26.4%), Garrett Wilson (26.4%), Stefon Diggs (26.3%), Mike Evans (25%), and Tank Dell, who has been targeted on 24.7% of his routes.

Davante Adams was targeted on a league-high 46.4% of his routes when Las Vegas hosted the Jets in Week 10. Michael Pittman was second (41.4%), followed by CeeDee Lamb (37.8%), Brandin Cooks (37%), Mike Evans (34.5%), Tank Dell (33.3%), Christian Kirk (32.4%), and Keenan Allen, who was targeted on 31.8% of his routes. Amon-Ra St. Brown was next (31%), followed by Garrett Wilson (30.4%), D.K. Metcalf (28.6%), Demario Douglas (28.1%), and Rondale Moore, who was targeted on 27.6% of his routes.

Yards Per Route Run 

Tyreek Hill leads all wide receivers with an average of 4.14 yards per route run from Weeks 1-10. Brandon Aiyuk is second overall (3.53), followed by A.J. Brown (3.05), Noah Brown (3.05), CeeDee Lamb (2.99), Nico Collins (2.88), Amon-Ra St. Brown (2.86), and two receivers who have been who averaging 2.63 yards per route run - Puka Nacua, and Mike Evans.

Jaylen Waddle is next to (2.55), followed by Cooper Kupp (2.46), Keenan Allen (2.45), Amari Cooper (2.34), DeAndre Hopkins (2.27), and Stefon Diggs, who is averaging 2.24 yards per route run.

Brandin Cooks led all wide receivers with an average of 6.41 yards per route run during Houston‘s Week 10 matchup with Cincinnati. Amon-Ra St. Brown was second overall (5.38), followed by Noah Brown (5.21), Mike Evans, (4.93), CeeDee Lamb (4.08), Keenan Allen (3.98), and Jayden Reed, who averaged 3.23 yards per route run.

Kyle Philips was next (3.21), followed by Josh Downs (3.08), Davante Adams (3.07), and Christian Kirk (3.06), who completed the list of receivers with an average that exceeded 3.00 yards per route run in Week 10.

Red Zone Targets  

Davante Adams leads all wide receivers with 17 red zone targets entering Week 11. Michael Pittman is now second overall (16), followed by Ja’Marr Chase (15), and two receivers who have accumulated 14 targets inside the 20 - Jordan Addison, and D.K. Metcalf.

Four different receivers have been targeted 13 times - Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb, Stefon Diggs, and Romeo Doubs, while three receivers have captured 12 targets - Garrett Wilson, Chris Godwin, and Tyler Lockett. DeAndre Hopkins and Drake London are among the six receivers who have accrued 11 red zone targets from Weeks 1-10.

Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and Jakobi Meyers have all secured a league-high nine targets inside the 10. CeeDee Lamb and Romeo Doubs have been targeted eight times while Ja’Marr Chase, Chris Godwin, and Keenan Allen, have accumulated seven. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Ja’Marr Chase have all collected five targets inside the 5, while CeeDee Lamb has been targeted four times.

Tank Dell collected a league-high five red zone targets in Week 10. CeeDee Lamb and Sterling Shepard garnered four targets while Christian Watson was targeted three times inside the 20. Dell, Shepard, and CeeDee Lamb were targeted twice inside the 10.

Snaps

Michael Pittman leads all wide receivers with 631 offensive snaps from Weeks 1-10. His teammate Alec Pierce is second (607), followed by DeVonta Smith (602), D.J. Moore (591), Marquise Brown (563), Adam Thielen (548), Terry McLaurin (547),  Gabe Davis (545), Chirs Olave (542), and Stefon Diggs (537).

Jahan Dotson is next (536), followed by Darius Slayton (535), Zay Flowers (534), Davante Adams (532), Amari Cooper (517), Ja’Marr Chase (515), and Puka Nacua (514).

Michael Pittman also leads his position with a 97,2% snap share. DeVonta Smith is next (97.1%), followed by Cooper Kupp (95.8%), Alec Pierce (93.5%), D.J. Moore (92.6%), A.J. Brown (92.5%), Ja’Marr Chase (92.5%), and Garrett Wilson (91.7%).

Adam Thielen is next (91.5%), followed by Marquise Brown (91.1%), Davante Adams (90.6%), Jakobi Meyers (90.5%), Amon-Ra St. Brown (90.3%), and George Pickens (90.3%).

Tank Dell led all wide receivers with 71 snaps in Week 10. Amari Cooper was next (69), followed by Juju Smith-Schuster (67), Jordan Addison (66), D.J. Moore (65), D.K. Metcalf (65), Jalen Nailor (63), Cedric Tillman (63), and Elijah Moore (62). Courtland Sutton was next (61), followed by Marquise Brown (60), Garrett Wilson (60), Amon-Ra St. Brown (59), CeeDee Lamb (59), and Jahan Dotson (58).

Three different wide receivers played on all 100% of their team’s offensive snaps in Week 10 – Marquise Brown, Jonathan Mingo, and Adam Thielen. Juju Smith-Schuster was next (98.5%), followed by Gabe Davis (98.1%), Stefon Diggs (98.1%), Jordan Addison (97.1%), Davante Adams (96.7%), Alec Pierce (96.3%), Tank Dell (95.6%), Garrett Wilson (95.2%), and Jahan Dotson (95.1%).

Five Things I Noticed

1. Prior to the Cowboys’ Week 6 matchup with the Chargers, CeeDee Lamb was 25th among all wide receivers with 35 targets (7.0 per game), as he operated with a 21.7% target share. This included two matchups in which he failed to exceed five targets.

Lamb was also tied for 13th in receptions 27 (5.4 per game), as the fourth-year receiver was limited to just four catches in four of his five contests during that span. Lamb was also tied for 14th with 358 receiving yards (71.6 per game), which included two matchups in which he failed to surpass 49.

Lamb was also 53rd among all wide receivers in air yards (281), 43rd in air yards share (27.7%), was being targeted on 21.1% of his routes, and averaged 2.16 yards per route run. He was also averaging 14.2 points per game, which placed him 20th overall. Anyone who selected him at his Round 1 ADP during draft season (11/WR5), is aware that his numbers during that sequence failed to match expectations that were burgeoning during draft season.

Dak Prescott had completed 111 of his 160 attempts (69.4%) while averaging 32 attempts per game from Weeks 1-5. He also averaged 6.6 yards per attempt, and 212.2 yards per game, while constructing just a 5:4 touchdown to interception ratio.

However, Prescott has completed 101 of his 140 attempts (71.2%) since Week 6, while averaging 35 attempts per game. He has also averaged 9.7 yards per attempt, and 338.5 yards per game while assembling a 12:2 touchdown to interception ratio.

CeeDee Lamb highlights vs. the Ramspic.twitter.com/z7JGysp4lG

— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) October 30, 2023

This unsurprisingly propelled Lamb to numbers that were far more favorable for fantasy managers from Weeks 6-10. He has soared into the league lead with 617 receiving yards while averaging 154.5 per game. That includes three consecutive games in which he has eclipsed 150+ while registering totals of 158 and 191 in Weeks 8-9.

ON 3RD & 14

DAK PRESCOTT FINDS CEEDEE LAMB FOR A FIRST DOWN 🔥 pic.twitter.com/iI7eesjAx5

— Dallas Nation 🏆 (@TheDallasNation) November 5, 2023

Lamb also leads his position in targets from Weeks 8-10 (44/11.4. per game) while capturing 14 in Weeks 8 and 10, and stockpiling a career-high 16 in Week 9. He also generated a league-best 34 receptions during those three matchups, while attaining 11+ during each game. That includes a league-best 12 receptions of 20+ yards during those contests. Lamb also became the first player in league history to attain 10+ receptions and 150+ yards in three consecutive games.

CeeDee Lamb: Highest-graded WR in Week 9 pic.twitter.com/mKsicFRGbw

— PFF (@PFF) November 6, 2023

Lamb has also vaulted into the league lead in air yards (518), and yards after catch (172), since Week 8, and is 10th with a 45.6% air yards share. He rose to third in both targets per route run (36.1%), and yards per route run (4.10), and easily leads all receivers with an average of 36.2 points per game since Week 8. That average is also 9.9 per game more than second-place A.J. Brown.

Prescott is operating with a favorable number of weapons within the Cowboys’ aerial attack. However, that will not preclude Lamb from delivering numbers that keep him among the high-end WR1s moving forward. 

2. The rapid ascension of Houston‘s offense has emerged as a favorable development for fantasy managers, to offset disappointments that have surfaced with several other passing attacks throughout the league. C.J. Stroud is second among all signal callers with 2,626 yards (291.8 per game), is sixth in points per game scoring (19.7), and has constructed a 15:2 touchdown to interception ratio.

Stroud’s proficiency has eviscerated expectations. His statistical success has been easy for fantasy managers to embrace, as it has also elevated the viability of his primary receiving weapons as starting options in their lineups.

Nico Collins was leading the Texans in targets (53/6.6 per game), targets per route run (24.2%), receptions (36/4.5 per game), receiving yards (631/78.9 per game), and yards per route run (2.88) entering Week 10. He was sidelined by a calf injury when the Texans traveled to Cincinnati, and his absence created a challenge for managers who have now become accustomed to cementing him in their lineups.

However, it also provided a runway for Tank Dell and Noah Brown to deliver highly productive outings in Week 10. Brown had averaged 2.2 targets, 1.2 receptions, and 14.8 yards per game during five seasons with Dallas (2017-2022) while attaining career highs of 74 targets, 43 receptions, and 555 yards during 2022.

CJ STROUD TO NOAH BROWN 75-YARD TOUCHDOWN.

📺: #TBvsHOU on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/d4RDZpcMkc pic.twitter.com/Z6Ng2Ck8Ov

— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2023

Brown signed a one-year contract with Houston last March and later sustained a groin injury during the Texans’ season opener. He was placed on injured reserve and did not resurface until Week 6. However, Brown has now accumulated 14 targets during Houston’s last two matchups, while rising to fifth among all wide receivers in receptions (13), and soaring to second in receiving yards (325).

Backyard football ‼️ pic.twitter.com/hzBUot0cj9

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 12, 2023

Brown had entered Week 9 with a career-high of 91 yards. However, he has eclipsed 150 during each of his last two games, including the career-best 172 that he stockpiled in Week 10. Brown has also operated from the slot during 74% of his routes. He has also vaulted to second overall in yards per route run (5.00) during that sequence.

STROUD TO DELL. TOUCHDOWN.

Quite simply one of the greatest rookie QB performances of all time. @HoustonTexans pic.twitter.com/bGg0kSvfeb

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 5, 2023

Dell was the ninth wide receiver from the 2023 rookie class to be selected during the NFL Draft, and his ADP in deeper leagues placed him at WR77 during draft season. However, he has easily surpassed expectations while rising to fifth among all rookies in targets (57/7.1 per game), receptions (34/4.3 per game), and receiving (510/63.8 per game) from Weeks 1-10.

Tank Dell = SHIFTY 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/DzmfUyzKGk

— PFF (@PFF) November 12, 2023

Dell is also third among all receivers with 25 targets (12.5 per game) since Week 9, while collecting his two highest target totals of the season (14/11). He is also sixth in receptions (12/6.0 per game), and ninth in receiving yards (170/85 per game), while also generating a league-high three touchdowns during those two contests. Dell was also fourth in air yards during Week 10, sixth in targets per route run (33.3%), and led all backs with five red zone carries.

Collins appears destined to resurface when Houston hosts Arizona on Sunday and would operate as a low-end WR2 if that occurs. Dell should function as a WR2, while Brown can be utilized as a WR4/flex.

3. Kyler Murray resurfaced in Week 10 to spearhead Arizona’s offense for the first time since Week 14 of the 2022 regular season. Murray returned from the torn ACL that had forced his extended absence and performed impressively. 

Marquise Brown TOUCHDOWN!!!#NFL #NFLTwitter pic.twitter.com/alVHM7OjZa

— Vendetta Media (@VendettaVSM) October 8, 2023

Marquise Brown had been operating with a team-high 27.6% target share prior to Murray's debut while leading Arizona with 77 targets (8.6 per game). He had also secured double-digit target totals during four of his five matchups from Weeks 2-6.

Brown also led the Cardinals in receptions (42/4.7 per game), and receiving yards (430/48.9 per game, was 10th among all wide receivers in air yards (833) and was 17th in air yards share (39.2%). He was also 17th in routes run (312), had been targeted on 24.7% of his routes, and was averaging 1.41 yards per route run. Brown was also 33rd among all wide receivers with an average of 12.5 points per game.

Rookie Michael Wilson was second among Arizona’s wide receivers with a 13.5% target share and was tied with Rondale Moore in targets (33/4.1 per game). Wilson was also second on the team in receptions (25/3.1 per game), and receiving yards (491/50.1 per game). Wilson had also accumulated 523 air yards, had attained a 25.3% air yards share, and was second behind Brown in yards after catch (97).

Moore had collected 20 of his aforementioned 33 targets (2.2 receptions per game) but was averaging just 14.2 yards per game. He had also been targeted on 12.4% of his routes, was averaging only 0.48 yards per route run, and had attained a 4.4% air yards share from Weeks 1-9.

KYLER MURRAY IS BACK 🗣️
pic.twitter.com/2wq3g7UbSL

— PFF (@PFF) November 12, 2023

Murray ultimately performed effectively during his return, and should now provide fantasy managers with a weekly QB1 during all remaining matchups. However, his distribution of targets did not replicate the percentages that had been assembled prior to his debut in Week 10.

Murray completed 19 of his 32 passing attempts (594%) while generating 249 yards, and averaging 7.8 yards per attempt. He also distributed 61.3% of his attempts to Arizona wide receivers which ranked 13th in Week 10.

Brown had finished eighth among all wide receivers with 1,318 yards when he played with Murray collegiately (2018), while also accumulating 75 receptions and 10 touchdowns. This bolstered the rationale for projecting Brown as the primary beneficiary of Murray’s return. However, that surprisingly failed to transpire.

Brown was relegated to season lows in targets (four/18.3% share), and receptions (one), while he also registered his second-lowest yardage total of the season (28).

Moore led Arizona’s wide receivers with a season-high eight targets (25.8% share) which was second only to tight end Trey McBride‘s team-high of nine. Moore also secured season highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards, while pacing Arizona’s wide receivers in targets per route run (27.6%), and yards after catch (38).

Wilson accrued six targets (19.4% share), collected three receptions, and produced 34 yards. However, Wilson did lead Cardinal wide receivers in air yards (73), and air yards share (22.7% air yards). Wilson was also targeted on 18.2% of his routes and averaged 1.03 yards per route run.

Brown should garner a higher percentage of opportunities moving forward despite the allocation of targets in Week 10. Moore and Wilson are viable waiver wire targets this week if you are contending with injuries and bye weeks.

4. Several receivers assembled numbers in Week 10 that are worthy of mention. Particularly since these players have not garnered the same level of attention as other receivers who have been included in this week’s article.

BRANDIN COOKS IS BEING USED

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/RvVT8UQU8J

— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) November 12, 2023

While CeeDee Lamb was sustaining his recent statistical surge during the Cowboys’ Week 10 matchup with the Giants, Brandin Cooks delivered his most prolific performance of the season. Cooks had been averaging 4.1 targets per game while failing to exceed four targets in six of his seven matchups prior to Week 10.

Cooks was also averaging 2.4 receptions/23.6 yards while failing to exceed 28 yards in five of his seven matchups. However, Cooks captured a season-high 10 targets, which was his first double-digit target total since Week 2 of 2022. He also collected nine receptions, which represented his highest total since Week 6 of 2021. Cooks also stockpiled 173 yards, which was his highest total since Week 15 of 2016.

Brandin Cooks vs single coverage in Week 10:

⭐️6 catches (1st)
⭐️142 yards (1st)
⭐️1 TD (T-1st)
⭐️50 YAC (1st)
⭐️5 first downs (1st)
⭐️97.8 PFF grade (1st) pic.twitter.com/Aw4YDobBmk

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 14, 2023

Cooks led all wide receivers with an average of 6.41 yards per route run in Week 10 and was fourth in targets per route run (37). He also attained season highs in yards before catch (112) and yards after catch (61), after entering the game with averages of 20/3.4 per game in those two categories.

Cooks now becomes a viable waiver wire addition although he should not be expected to sustain the numbers that he assembled during his statistical eruption.

Trenton Irwin has also emerged as a short-term flex option for fantasy managers if Tee Higgins’ hamstring injury continues to impact his availability. Irwin was signed as an undrafted free agent by Miami following the 2019 NFL Draft. He was later signed to Cincinnati’s practice squad in 2019 but only accumulated 384 snaps, 30 targets, and 270 receiving yards from 2019-2022.

However, Irwin has ascended into an increased role within Cincinnati’s aerial attack whenever Higgins has been absent from the Bengals’ lineup. Higgins suffered a rib injury that sidelined him in Week 5, and suffered a hamstring issue that left him unavailable in Week 10.

Irwin has eclipsed a 76% snap share during those two outings while accumulating 14 targets, 10 receptions, and 114 yards. That includes Irwin’s usage and output when Cincinnati hosted Houston in Week 10.

Joe Burrow DIME to Trenton Irwin 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Tj2bKilYwL

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 12, 2023

He operated with an 81% snap share while collecting two of his four targets, assembling 54 yards, and generating a touchdown. He also accumulated 81 air yards and attained a 24.7% air yards share.

Irwin is consistently operating with an expanded target share whenever Higgins cannot perform in his normal capacity. This supplies fantasy managers with an additional wide receiver that can be integrated into lineups whenever he is primed to secure an increased role.

5. The offseason exodus of JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Mecole Hardman cleared a runway for a Kansas City wide receiver to emerge as the Chiefs’ WR1. Skyy Moore was seemingly positioned to confiscate that role, which would also elevate him directly below Travis Kelce on Patrick Mahomes’ priorities for the distribution of targets.

Fantasy managers are already aware that Moore failed to capitalize on his opportunity. However, there are reasons for optimism that Rashee Rice can build upon the encouraging numbers that he has attained to this point of his rookie season while emerging as a reliable weekly option for both the Chiefs and fantasy managers.

Rice has not replicated the results that have been delivered by the more prolific members of his 2023 class. However, he has reached the periphery of WR3 territory as the remaining weeks of the regular season unfold.

Rice operated with a 24.6% snap share in Weeks 1 and 2. His share rose to 44.2% from Weeks 3-6, then increased to 63.3% from Weeks 7-9 - which led all Kansas City wide receivers.

Rashee Rice = baller 😎 pic.twitter.com/1yVEfklivi

— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) November 8, 2023

Rice also attained a 9.1% target share in Weeks 1-2 while averaging 3.5 targets, 2.5 receptions, and 24.5 yards per game. His share improved to 14.5%, while his averages climbed to 5.3 targets/4.2 receptions/52 yards per game from Weeks 3-8 before he was limited to season-lows in targets (two), and receiving yards (17) when Kansas City faced Miami in Week 9.

Rice is now second on the Chiefs behind Kelce in targets (41/4.6 per game) while attaining a 12.6% target share. He has also collected 32 receptions (3.6 per game), and generated 378 receiving yards (42 per game) from Weeks 1-10. He is also second on the Chiefs in targets per route run (21.9%), yards per route run (2.02), and yards after catch (272).

YPPR vs Man and Zone Coverage

- Hello Rashee Rice
- Is C.J. Stroud making the WRs or are the WRs making Stroud?
- The Ravens don't have a single receiver above NFL average in either category pic.twitter.com/rWlxSy1Fp7

— Chris Wecht (@ChrisWechtFF) November 7, 2023

Rice is also averaging 10.4 points per game since Week 1, while no other wide receiver from the Chiefs has eclipsed an average of 5.0. Rice’s four touchdowns have tied him for third among rookie wide receivers.

Moore is second among the team’s wide receivers in targets (30/3.3 per game/9.8% share), while only exceeding three targets once since Week 3. He is also third in receptions (16/1.8 per game) while failing to surpass two in six consecutive games. Moore is also fourth in receiving yards (208/22.3 per game) while eclipsing 22 yards just once since Week 4.

Kadarius Toney is third among Kansas City wide receivers in targets (28/3.2 per game/8.6% share), and second in receptions (20/2.2 per game), but has only assembled 127 yards (14.1 per game). He has been targeted on 28.3% of his routes, although his aDOT is 2.7. Justin Watson leads the Chiefs with 501 air yards but has only attained 25 targets (3.1 per game/8.4% share).

Rice should remain Kansas City's most targeted and productive wide receiver during the Chiefs' upcoming matchups. There is also an increasing likelihood that he will emerge as a consistent WR3 for managers in the process.

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