Wide Receiver Sleepers, Risers, Breakouts for Fantasy Football - Targets, Air Yards, Snaps Trends for Week 15

You are already aware that wide receivers will play a critical role in the success of your fantasy football 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 14th 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.

All noteworthy changes in usage and production will be blended into the equation as we progress through the fantasy postseason. That will bolster your efforts to determine which wide receivers should be in your lineups, and which are worthy of remaining on your rosters. Statistics from our 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

Keenan Allen has accumulated 150 targets, which paces all wide receivers entering Week 15. He has now collected 9+ targets during each of his last nine matchups, which has fueled his stay atop the league lead for four consecutive weeks. Allen is also averaging 11.8 per game since Week 6.

Michael Pittman Jr. is now second overall with 138 targets, after securing a double-digit total during five of his last six contests. He has also secured 11+ during each of his last four matchups while averaging 13.3 per game during that sequence.

This was BYU Zach Wilson, showing the ability to make off-platform throws — third-and-12 to Garrett Wilson. With his momentum going left, he flicked it right for 35 yards in the air. Risky, but sometimes you have to live on the edge. @NextGenStats #Jets #BYU pic.twitter.com/i07C2mzHZe

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) December 11, 2023

Garrett Wilson is now third overall with 134 targets after capturing 14 when the Jets hosted Houston in Week 14. It was the third game this season in which Wilson has collected 14 targets, which is his season high. He has also attained a double-digit target total during six of his last eight games.

Tyreek Hill is the Dolphins Offense pic.twitter.com/1013FyfjVG

— PlayerProfiler (@rotounderworld) December 12, 2023

The ankle injury that was sustained by Tyreek Hill in Week 14 limited him to 31 snaps. It also restricted his target total to five, which tied the season-low that was established in Week 4. However, that still expanded his overall total to 132.

Stefon Diggs is next with 132 targets, and his overall total has been assembled through eight games in which he has accrued 11+. That includes two consecutive games in which he has attained 11.

A.J. Brown has now assembled 131 targets after he collected 13 during the Eagles' Week 14 matchup in Dallas. Brown has now secured 13+ targets in five different outings, including each of his last two games.

CeeDee Lamb has also accumulated 131 targets after capturing 9+ for a seventh consecutive week. Lamb has stockpiled a league-high 89 targets during that sequence while averaging 12.7 per game.

Ja'Marr Chase has now assembled 128 targets, which includes five games in which he has captured 12+. However, Chase has also failed to surpass six targets during three of his last five games, while averaging 7.2 per game during that span.

Davante Adams has also accumulated 128 targets after he collected 10 during the Raiders' matchup in Week 14. That was the third time that Adams has attained a double-digit target total during his last four matchups, and the sixth time that he has accomplished it this season.

Puka Nacua has now accrued 127 targets after finishing with weekly totals of either seven or eight during each of his last six matchups. Nacua was second among all wide receivers with an average of 11.7 per game from Weeks 1-7 but has now averaged 7.5 per game since Week 8.

Amon-Ra St. Brown has now captured 123 targets while eclipsing 9+ during seven of his last eight games. St. Brown has also averaged 9.0 per game since Week 8.

Chris Olave has now collected 116 targets, even though he tied his season-low of five when New Orleans hosted Carolina in Week 14. Olave has secured a double-digit target total during five of his first seven games this season but has failed to accomplish it since Week 7.

33-year-old Adam Thielen has now accumulated 113 targets after collecting seven in Week 14. Thielen is averaging 5.3 per game since Week 12 after averaging 11.3 per game from Weeks 2-8.

Mike Evans has expanded his season total to 109, even though he was limited to six targets in Week 14. Evans had been averaging 10.8 per game from Weeks 10-13.

back shoulder sideline dime 🎯#JAXvsCLE on CBS & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/UqWVJtRfOe

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 10, 2023

Amari Cooper’s status for Week 14 was uncertain as he was contending with a concussion leading up to Cleveland’s matchup with Jacksonville. However, Cooper accumulated 14 targets against the Jaguars, which also established a new season high.

D.J. Moore has now accumulated 9+ targets during each of his last four matchups after he was targeted 10 times by Justin Fields in Week 14. That also expanded his overall total to 103.

Marquise Brown (101) and Terry McLaurin (100) were both on their byes in Week 14 but remain on the list of 19 wide receivers who have accumulated 100+ targets from Weeks 1-14.

Eight different wide receivers are averaging at least 10.0 targets per game entering Week 15 -- Keenan Allen (11.5), Michael Pittman Jr. (10.6), Garrett Wilson (10.3), Amon-Ra St. Brown (10.2), Tyreek Hill (10.2), Stefon Diggs (10.2), A.J. Brown (10.1), and CeeDee Lamb, who is averaging 10.1 targets per game.

Target Risers And Fallers

21 different wide receivers were targeted at least 10 times during their matchups in Week 14. That includes three receivers who captured 14 targets.

Garrett Wilson has now been targeted 10+ times in seven of his last 10 matchups after he collected 14 targets in Week 14. He has also eclipsed 12+ in six different matchups and leads all wide receivers with 112 targets (11.2 per game) since Week 4.

Amari Cooper’s 14 targets were the most that he has attained in any matchup since Week 1 of the 2021 regular season. Cooper had averaged 6.6 per game from Weeks 9-13 while failing to exceed six targets during three of Cleveland’s five matchups during that span.

Zay Jones had averaged 5.5 targets per game from Weeks 1-13 this season. However, the 14 targets that he captured in Week 14 easily established a season-high. It also tied his career high, which was originally established in Week 12 of 2022.

Calvin Ridley spun around and STILL made the catch 😳pic.twitter.com/hDR8q6VojJ

— Jaguars Nation (@JaguarsNationCP) December 5, 2023

Jones’s teammate Calvin Ridley also secured a new season high when he was targeted 13 times in Week 14. That was the third time Ridley has attained a double-digit total this season, and it was his highest total since Week 8.

A.J. Brown also collected 13 targets during Philadelphia’s matchup at Dallas in Week 14. That was the second consecutive week in which he has secured that total and the fifth time this season that he has been targeted at least 13 times by Jalen Hurts.

Keenan Allen has now reached double digits in eight different matchups this season after he captured 12 targets in Week 14. Allen has also secured 9+ in 11 of his 13 contests this season.

DeAndre Hopkins averaged 7.2 targets per game from Weeks 8-12. However, he has now secured 12 during each of his last two matchups after he was targeted 12 times by Will Levis in Week 14.

Michael Pittman Jr. has now been targeted 11+ times in nine of his 13 matchups this season after he collected 11 in Week 14. He has also accumulated 12+ during five of his last eight games.

Stefon Diggs was averaging 12.8 targets per game from Weeks 5-8 before his average dropped to 6.7 per game from Weeks 9-11. Diggs has now captured 11 targets from Josh Allen in each of his last two outings.

Chris Godwin also accumulated 11 targets in Week 14, which is the first time that he had secured a double-digit total since Week 7, and the third time that he has accomplished it this season. Godwin had been averaging 6.0 targets per game from Weeks 8-13.

Wick Man, @DrakeLondon_ #ProBowlVote NFL+ pic.twitter.com/HWBMSa5UHH

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 11, 2023

Drake London had entered Week 14 with just one double-digit target total throughout the regular season. London had also failed to exceed seven targets during five consecutive outings. However, he was targeted 11 times by Desmond Ridder in Week 14. London’s numbers during Atlanta’s matchup with Tampa Bay will be examined further in the Five Things I Noticed section.

Amari Cooper had eclipsed 10+ targets twice throughout the regular season entering Week 14 and had not reached a double-digit total since Week 8. However, the season-high 14 targets that he captured in Week 14 were also collected just one week after he had been limited to five targets in Week 13. That launched a week-to-week increase of +9.

Chris Godwin had failed to exceed seven targets during five consecutive matchups from Weeks 8-13, including the season-low three that he registered in Week 13. However, Godwin was targeted 11 times in Week 14, which resulted in a weekly rise of +8.

Garrett Wilson is now on pace for:

99catches 1115yards 4td

Legit chance to become the second player in Jets history with 100 catches in a season (@BMarshall is the other) pic.twitter.com/XjP4OIACoE

— NYJ MIKE (@NyjMike) December 12, 2023

Garrett Wilson averaged 11.4 targets per game from Weeks 6-14, while his lowest weekly total during that sequence was registered in Week 13 (seven). However, Wilson was targeted 14 times in Week 14, which launched a week-to-week rise of +7.

Ja'Marr Chase collected 12 targets in Week 13, which was just the second time that he had attained double digits during a six-game span. He was also limited to a season-low four targets in Week 14, which fueled a week-to-week decline of -8.

CeeDee Lamb was contained within a collection of 10 receivers who were targeted 10 times in Week 14. While that is hardly an underwhelming total, it transpired one week after he still stockpiled 18 targets. That resulted in a weekly drop of -7.

Mike Evans had eclipsed 10+ targets during three of his four matchups from Weeks 10-13, including the 12 targets that he collected in Week 13. He was also targeted six times in Week 14, which represented his lowest weekly total since Week 9. That also fueled his week-to-week drop of -6.

Air Yards

Chris Olave leads all wide receivers with 1,580 air yards entering Week 15. Mike Evans is second overall (1,558), followed by A.J. Brown (1,521), Garrett Wilson (1,477), Keenan Allen (1,463), DeAndre Hopkins (1,397), and Amari Cooper (1,397). Davante Adams is next (1,353), followed by CeeDee Lamb (1,324), Stefon Diggs (1,323), Tyreek Hill (1,312), D.K. Metcalf (1,305), Calvin Ridley (1,276), and DeVonta Smith (1,207).

Garrett Wilson leads all wide receivers with a 47.2% air yards share. A.J. Brown is second overall (45.1%), followed by Davante Adams (45.1%), DJ Moore (44.6%), Tyreek Hill (44.0%), Brandon Aiyuk (43.8%), DK Metcalf (43.3%), and DeAndre Hopkins (42.9%). Mike Evans is next (41.5%), followed by Chris Olave (41.4%), Courtland Sutton (40.9%), Diontae Johnson (40.6%), Keenan Allen (39.6%), and Ja'Marr Chase (39.3%).

Garrett Wilson led all wide receivers with a 70.6% air yards share in Week 14. Jerry Jeudy was next (69.7%), followed by Tee Higgins (61.3%), Diontae Johnson (52.6%), Davante Adams (51.7%), Chris Olave (50%), A.J. Brown (49.7%), Brandon Aiyuk (49.3%), Amari Cooper (49.1), Chris Godwin (48.6%), and DK Metcalf (46.7%). Zay Jones was next (46.3%), followed by Drake London (46.2%), JuJu Smith-Schuster (46.2%), and Demarcus Robinson (45.6%).

Routes

Stefon Diggs has run 571 routes from Weeks 1-14, which leads all wide receivers. Ja'Marr Chase is second overall (567), followed by Keenan Allen (552), Adam Thielen (541), Michael Pittman Jr. (538), Jahan Dotson (536), Terry McLaurin (531), Garrett Wilson (524), DeVonta Smith (515), and Alec Pierce, who completes the list of 10 receivers who have run 500+ routes entering Week 15. Elijah Moore is next at 490, followed by CeeDee Lamb (480), Zay Flowers (480), A.J. Brown (477), D.J. Moore (477), Gabe Davis (465), and Calvin Ridley, who has run 463 routes entering Week 15.

Zay Flowers and Calvin Ridley ran a league-high 55 routes in Week 14, which led all wide receivers. Zay Jones was next (53), followed by Keenan Allen (49), Quentin Johnston (48), Amari Cooper (44), Jordan Addison (44), Rashee Rice (43), Stefon Diggs (42), and four receivers who ran 42 routes -- Stefon Diggs, Alec Pierce, Trey Palmer, and Van Jefferson. Michael Pittman Jr. and his teammate Josh Downs ran 41 routes while five different receivers finished completed their matchups with 40 -- Cooper Kupp, CeeDee Lamb, Demarcus Robinson, Parker Washington, and George Pickens.

Targets Per Route Run

Tyreek Hill has been targeted on 39.9% of his routes, which leads all wide receivers entering Week 15. Hill’s teammate Jaylen Waddle is second overall (32.4%), followed by DeAndre Hopkins (31.6%), Davante Adams (30.7%), Puca Nacua (29.3%), Amon-Ra St. Brown (28.1%), A.J. Brown (27.5%), CeeDee Lamb (27.3%), and Keenan Allen, who has been targeted on 27.2% of his routes. Nico Collins is next (27%), followed by Brandon Aiyuk (26.4%), Cooper Kupp (26.3%), Justin Jefferson (25.9%), and two wide receivers who have been targeted on 25.7% of their routes -- Michael Pittman Jr. and Mike Evans.

A.J. Brown was targeted on 41.9% of his routes in Week 14, which led all wide receivers. Garrett Wilson was second (35.9%), followed by DeVonta Smith (35.7%), Odell Beckham Jr. (33.3%), John Metchie (33.3%), Drake London (32.4%), Deebo Samuel (32.1%), Samuel's teammate Brandon Aiyuk, (32.1%), and Amari Cooper, who was targeted on 31.8% of his routes. Chris Godwin was next (31.4%), followed by Davante Adams (29.4%), DJ Moore (27%), and Michael Pittman Jr., who was targeted on 26.8% of his routes.

Yards Per Route Run

Tyreek Hill is averaging 4.66 yards per route run, which leads all wide receivers entering Week 15. Brandon Aiyuk is second overall (3.43), followed by Nico Collins (3.16,), Jaylen Waddle (2.93), Deebo Samuel (2.80), DeAndre Hopkins (2.65), A.J. Brown (2.64), and CeeDee Lamb, who is averaging 2.61 yards per route run. Puka Nacua is next (2.59), followed by Amon-Ra St. Brown (2.43), Mike Evans (2.41), and two receivers who are averaging 2.25 yards per run -- Keenan Allen, and DJ Moore.

Deebo Samuel led all wide receivers with an average of 5.32 yards per route run in Week 14. Drake London was second (5.1), followed by Brandon Aiyuk (4.5), Tee Higgins (3.3), Odell Beckham Jr. (3.2), JuJu Smith-Schuster (3.2), A.J. Brown (3.0), and Cooper Kupp, who averaged 2.9 yards per route run. Tyler Lockett was next (2.8), followed by Garrett Wilson (2.7), DeVonta Smith (2.6), Michael Gallup (2.4), and Michael Pittman Jr., who averaged 2.3 yards per route run in Week 14.

Red Zone Targets

CeeDee Lamb has collected 15 red zone targets since Week 10. That has propelled him into the league lead with 24 entering Week 15. Ja'Marr Chase and Davante Adams have been targeted 20 times, while Michael Pittman Jr. has accumulated 19. Three receivers have been targeted 18 times (D.K. Metcalf/Calvin Ridley/Rashee Rice), while Tyreek Hill and  A.J. Brown have collected 17 targets inside the 20. Four receivers have accrued 16 targets -- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Garrett Wilson, Jordan Addison, and Courtland Sutton, while Stefon Diggs has garnered 15.

Tyreek Hill leads all wide receivers with 12 targets inside the 10, followed by two receivers with 11 targets -- CeeDee Lamb and Keenan Allen. Ja'Marr Chase (10) is the only other receiver who has collected 10 targets inside the 10. Hill has secured a league-high seven targets inside the five-yard line, while Lamb and Chase have assembled six.

Cooper Kupp, Rashee Rice, and Demarcus Robinson all captured four red zone targets during their matchups in Week 14. Garrett Wilson, Calvin Ridley, and DJ Moore were all targeted three times. Kupp and Rice also collected three targets inside the 10.

Snaps

DeVonta Smith leads all wide receivers with 831 snaps entering Week 15. Michael Pittman Jr. is second (813), followed by Alec Pierce (794), A.J. Brown (789), Adam Thielen (788), DJ Moore (784), Gabe Davis (754), Keenan Allen (746), and Stefon Diggs, who has accumulated 735 offensive snaps. Amon-Ra St. Brown is next (731), followed by Calvin Ridley (730), Ja'Marr Chase (727), Garrett Wilson (725), Puka Nacua (724), and Zay Flowers, who has played on 722 offensive snaps from Weeks 1-14.

DeVonta Smith also leads all wide receivers with a 96.7% snap count. Michael Pittman Jr. is second (96.1%), followed by Alec Pierce (93.9%), DJ Moore (93.1%), Ja'Marr Chase (92.5%), Davante Adams (92.5%), Garrett Wilson (92.2%), A.J. Brown (91.9%), and Jakobi Meyers, who has attained a snap share of 90.4%. Adam Thielen is next (90.3%), followed by Amon-Ra St. Brown (89.3%), Keenan Allen (89.1%), Gabe Davis (88.4%), and Marquise Brown, who has secured a snap share of 88.2% entering Week 15.

Cooper Kupp led all wide receivers with 71 offensive snaps during his matchup in Week 14. Three receivers were tied with 70 snaps -- Calvin Ridley, D.J. Chark, and Jonathan Mingo. Zay Flowers was next (69), followed by two rookies who accrued 68 snaps -- Jordan Addison and Puka Nacua. CeeDee Lamb and Adam Thielen both accumulated 65 snaps, followed by Keenan Allen (64), Demarcus Robinson (63), and three receivers who played on 62 snaps -- Zay Jones, Mike Evans, and Amari Cooper.

JuJu Smith-Schuster led all wide receivers with a 68.2% snap share in Week 14. Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers were tied at 98.1%, followed by Cooper Kupp (97.3%), Zay Flowers (97.2%), Jordan Addison (95.8%), Keenan Allen (95.5%), Calvin Ridley (94.6%), and Tyquan Thornton, who secured a snap share of 94.6% in Week 14. Puka Nacua was next (93.2%), followed by Darius Slayton (92.7%), Mike Evans (92.5%), and two receivers who tied with a snap share of 90.9% -- Garrett Wilson and DJ Moore.

Five Things I Noticed

1. If Justin Jefferson is contained on your roster, you have experienced a spectrum of emotions throughout the regular season.  The anticipation of Jefferson delivering another exceptional season temporarily came to fruition from Weeks 1-4. 

JUSTIN JEFFERSON 52 YARD TOUCHDOWN 😮‍💨

pic.twitter.com/SwzEB8vLmB

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) September 24, 2023

Jefferson had assembled a league-high 543 receiving yards (135.8 per game) entering Week 5. He had also accrued a league-best 14 receptions of 20+ yards while eclipsing 150+ yards in two of his first four outings and attaining 100+ in three different games.

Jefferson was also second in air yards (557) and yards per route run (3.16) and was third in targets (47/11.8 per game/33.2% share), receptions (33/8.3 per game), and yards after catch (197).

However, the hamstring injury that Jefferson sustained during Minnesota’s Week 5 matchup with Kansas City brought an abrupt halt to all statistical momentum. His subsequent seven-game absence was also excruciating for anyone who had expected to rely on him as an elite presence on their rosters throughout the season.

Managers were finally rewarded for their patience when he resurfaced for Minnesota’s Week 14 matchup in Las Vegas. The Vikings were also returning from their bye week, while Joshua Dobbs was also making his fourth start under center for Minnesota -- which would be his first opportunity to operate with Jefferson this season.

Unfortunately, the euphoria of having Jefferson reestablished as both the Vikings’ primary receiving weapon and a highly productive resource on fantasy rosters was quickly replaced by another wave of disappointment after Jefferson was sidelined by a chest injury after just 13 plays. Jefferson was targeted three times during his brief return. He also collected two of those passes while generating 27 yards.

T.J. Hockenson captured a team-high eight targets (24.2% share) while also leading the Vikings in receptions (five) and receiving yards (53).  K.J. Osborn led Minnesota's wide receivers with seven (21.2% share), as he assembled four receptions, but was limited to 15 yards.

Jordan Addison led the Vikings in snaps (69) and routes run (46), but was only targeted three times in Week 14. He also registered two catches and produced 27 yards. Those were his lowest numbers in each category since Week 4.

This was surprising after Addison had quickly emerged as the Vikings’ WR1 while Jefferson remained unavailable. He had also collected nine targets in Week 5, while ultimately accumulating 62 (7.8 per game) from Weeks 5-12.

.@espn_jordan. TO. THE. HOUSE.

📺: @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/MXcbsXdSoL

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 24, 2023

Addison also led Minnesota’s wide receivers in receptions (41/5,2 per game), receptions of 20+ yards (eight), and receiving yards (501/62.6 per game) while generating a team-high five receiving touchdowns. He also led the Vikings' wide receivers in targets per route run (21.2%) and yards per route run (1.71).

.@Espn_Jordan is the real deal.

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/fOAfO2Eb7O

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 29, 2023

Jefferson appears destined to return for Minnesota’s Week 15 matchup at Cincinnati and could still emerge as a valuable asset during the fantasy postseason.

Addison's target share will be dependent upon Jefferson’s availability throughout the matchup. The numbers for all critical members of Minnesota's receiving arsenal will also be impacted by the level of efficiency that will be delivered by Nick Mullens, who will replace the ineffective Dobbs under center.

2. Drake London’s ADP placed him in Round 5 during draft season, as fantasy managers secured him as a WR2 (56/WR 23). Mike Evans, Michael Pittman Jr., and Brandon Aiyuk were among the wide receivers who were still available after London was selected in the majority of drafts.

There was justification for optimism that London could fulfill the expectations of his draft position. Atlanta had invested the eighth overall pick in London during the 2022 NFL Draft while making him the first wide receiver to be selected. He later completed his rookie year with the league’s fourth-highest target share from Weeks 1-18 (29.9%), while finishing 26th overall with 117 targets (6.9 per game). London was also targeted on 29.2% of his routes and finished 11th in PFF’s grades for wide receivers.

Drake London splits with 2 different QBs in 2022, per @PFF:

Weeks 1-13 (Marcus Mariota)
PPR PPG: 9.6
TGTs/game: 6.1
Catchable TGT rate: 65.8%
YPRR: 1.72

W15-18 (Desmond Ridder)
PPR PPG: 14.6
TGTs/game: 8.8
Catchable TGT rate: 74.3%
YPRR: 3.03

(4game sample + no Pitts, I know) pic.twitter.com/hEJYza5XKI

— Jon Macri (@PFF_Macri) July 3, 2023

London also secured a league-high 33.0% target share from Weeks 15-18 after Desmond Ridder was elevated under center for the Falcons. London also vaulted to second in targets per route run (33.0%) and third in yards per route run (3.06) during that sequence. This fueled anticipation that London’s output would rise as he operated with Ridder for a full season while propelling him into WR2 territory for fantasy managers.

However, London had also operated in an Atlanta aerial attack that ranked 31st in both pass play percentage (44.7%) and passing attempts per game (24.4) during 2022, and the production-inhibiting nature of Arthur Smith’s run-oriented attack had continued to impede London’s production entering Week 14.

He entered Week 14 with 73 targets (6.6 per game), which placed him 39th among all wide receivers. London was also in 39th in both receptions (47/4.2 per game) and receiving yards (573/52.1 per game). He was also 40th in air yards (752) and 34th in air yards share (30.1%). London had also been targeted on 22.5% of his routes while averaging 1.76 yards per route run.

London was seemingly positioned to deliver favorable numbers when the Falcons hosted NFL South rival Tampa Bay in Week 14. London had collected six of his seven targets and generated 54 yards when the two teams met in Week 7.

What an adjustment in the air and catch by Drake London pic.twitter.com/HUjRwUoz4a

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) December 11, 2023

However, London’s numbers in Week 14 ultimately exceeded even the most optimistic expectations. Ridder attempted 40 passes, which was just the second time this season that he has launched 40+.

London secured a 28.2% share while capturing a team-high 11 targets from Ridder. That was London’s second double-digit target total of the season and the first time that he had eclipsed 10+ since Week 6.

EVERY Drake London catch from his 172 yard day #DirtyBirds pic.twitter.com/eYRabNmngl

— 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚 (@ATLFalconsMuse) December 11, 2023

He also collected 10 receptions, which led all wide receivers in Week 14. It was also the first time that he had achieved a double-digit total in that category during his career. London also stockpiled a league-best 172 receiving yards, which also established a new career high. It was also the second time this season that London had surpassed 100 yards and the third time in his career.

With two games left to play on Monday night your leading receiver in Week 14 is none other than Drake London (172 yards) pic.twitter.com/hfeNHBycnH

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) December 11, 2023

London also finished the matchup with season highs in yards per target (15.6), yards before catch (150), and yards after catch (37). London was also targeted on 32.4% of his routes, which placed him sixth overall while he vaulted to second with an average of 5.06 yards per route run. He was also third with 178 air yards while securing a 46.2% air yards share.

London also finished second overall with a season-high 29.2 points in Week 14. No other Atlanta wide receiver has exceeded a 9.2% target share, which theoretically provides an uncongested path toward favorable target shares during the fantasy postseason. However, the primary impediment surrounding London’s ability to deliver highly productive outings remains the strategic approach in Smith's offense. That leaves him best deployed as a WR3.

3. In addition to the season-long numbers that have been included throughout this article, it can be beneficial to review the results in a collection of categories during the last three weeks as you prepare your lineups for this week's critical matchups. 

Michael Pittman Jr. leads all wide receivers with 40 targets from Weeks 12-14. He has also collected 11+ in all three of his matchups during that span. Keenan Allen is second overall (37), followed by CeeDee Lamb (36), A.J. Brown (35), Garrett Wilson (31), and three receivers who accumulated 29 targets -- DeVonta Smith, DeAndre Hopkins, and Rashee Rice. Three additional receivers have been targeted 27 times -- Mike Evans, Calvin Ridley, and Elijah Moore, while Amon-Ra St. Brown has captured 26 targets. Amari Cooper, Zay Jones, and Jonathan Mingo have accrued 25 targets, while Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have accumulated 24.

Jonathan Mingo leads all wide receivers with 199 offensive snaps from Weeks 12-14. Calvin Ridley is second (191), followed by Cooper Kupp (190), Alec Pierce (188), Adam Thielen (187), CeeDee Lamb (185), and two receivers who have accumulated 183 snaps -- Michael Pittman Jr. and Keenan Allen. DeVonta Smith is next (181), followed by Garrett Wilson (179), and two receivers who are tied at 172 -- Amon-Ra St. Brown and Zay Jones. Cedric Tillman is next (170), followed by two receivers who played on 169 snaps since Week 12 -- Brandin Cooks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

Davante Adams leads all wide receivers with a 99.1% snap share since Week 12. DeVonta Smith is second (96.3%), followed by Jordan Addison (95.9%), Zay Flowers (95.7%), Garrett Wilson (95.2%), Alec Pierce (95.0%), Jakobi Meyers (94.6%), and Cooper Kupp, who has secured a snap share of 94.5%. Keenan Allen is next (94.3%), followed by Jonathan Mingo (92.6%), DJ Moore (92.5%), Michael Pittman Jr. (92.4%), and CeeDee Lamb, who has attained a snap share of 91.1% from Weeks 12-14.

Keenan Allen leads all wide receivers with 143 routes run from Weeks 12-14. Michael Pittman Jr. is second overall (140), followed by two receivers who have run 134 routes -- Calvin Ridley and Alec Pierce. Garrett Wilson is next (126), followed by Elijah Moore (123), Josh Downs (122), Cedric Tillman (120), and two receivers who have accumulated 119 routes -- teammates DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown. CeeDee Lamb is next (118), followed by Tyler Lockett (115), Amon-Ra St. Brown (113), Zay Jones (113), and Rashee Rice, who has run 110 routes from Weeks 12-14.

4. This year’s rookie class of wide receivers continues to provide fantasy managers with trustworthy assets entering the fantasy postseason. This group remains spearheaded by Puka Nacua, Jordan Addison, and Zay Flowers, while Tank Dell had also earned placement among this year’s premier newcomers prior to his season-ending injury (broken fibula).

However, two other first-year receivers have recently assembled numbers which should compel managers to cement them in their starting lineups during the playoffs. That includes Rashee Rice, who averaged 4.6 targets, 3.6 receptions, and 42 yards per game from Weeks 1-11. Those averages have improved to 9.7 targets/7.7 receptions/81 yards per game since Week 12. Rice has secured a 29.1% target share during that three-game sequence.

Don’t let KC’s receiver issues distract you from the fact that Rashee Rice is going to be a star

pic.twitter.com/CVUa2Go4kT

— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) December 10, 2023

He is also tied for sixth with 29 targets (9.7 per game) while capturing 9+ in every matchup during that span. Rice is also third overall with 23 receptions (7.7 per game), which is a total that has only been exceeded by Michael Pittman Jr. and Keenan Allen. Rice is also 12th in receiving yards (242/81 per game) while surpassing 70 yards twice in that three-game sequence.

Since Week 12, Rice has also been targeted on 26.4% of his routes while averaging 2.21 yards per route run. He is second among all wide receivers with 184 yards after catch and is 10th with an average of 19.1 points per game. He also finished third with an average of 24.7 in Week 12 and was 12th (18.2) in Week 14. Rice has now advanced into WR2 territory as you construct your lineups in the postseason.

.@JaydenReed5 with a TD on the opening drive!#GBvsDET | #GoPackGo

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/3KeWUG3qbR

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 23, 2023

Since Week 8, Jayden Reed has accumulated 43 targets (6.1 per game), 32 receptions (4.6 per game), and 309 receiving yards (44.1 per game) while leading Green Bay in each of those categories.

Reed has also secured a 17.7% target share during that sequence, has been targeted on 25% of his routes, and has collected at least four receptions in five consecutive matchups.

Reed also captured a team-high 10 targets from Jordan Love in Week 14. That also established a season-high for Reed, as did his eight receptions. Reed is also tied for 19th among all wide receivers with 23 targets (7.7 per game) and is 15th in receptions (16/5.2 per game) since Week 12.

JAYDEN REED RUSHING IN FOR SIX 💨
pic.twitter.com/qa9zBUn5x0

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) December 12, 2023

Reed has also carried nine times since Week 11 while generating 100 yards and two touchdowns on the ground during that sequence. Reed is also 17th overall with an average of 15.9 points per game since Week 10, while also eclipsing 19.0 points per game three times during that five-game span. Reed also rose to sixth overall with 20.5 points in Week 14.

Christian Watson was sidelined during Green Bay’s Week 14 matchup with the Giants as he contended with a hamstring injury. Watson's status for Week 15 is uncertain. However, Reed will retain an integral role within the Packers’ offense regardless of Watson’s status and can be deployed as a WR3 during your remaining matchups.

5. Washington’s offense had ranked 22nd in pass play percentage (52.8%) and 20th in attempts per game (32.6) in 2022. However, the Commanders are averaging a league-high 39.2 passing attempts per game, while they are also pacing the league with a 66.6% pass play percentage. Sam Howell is leading the league in completions (335), is second among all signal-callers with 509 attempts, and is also second with 3,540 yards (266.6 per game).

Washington’s offense had ranked 22nd in pass play percentage (52.8%) and 20th in attempts per game in 2022. However, the Commanders are averaging a league-high 39.2 passing attempts per game, while they are also pacing the league with a 66.6% pass play percentage. Sam Howell has launched a league-high 509 attempts while leading the league in completions (335) and is also fifth with 3,466 yards.

On 3rd & 5, Sam Howell incomplete for Terry McLaurin#Commanders 7 #NYGiants 14 4th pic.twitter.com/f3r7LpivZQ

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) October 22, 2023

It would be reasonable to expect that the Commanders’ increased reliance on their aerial attack would be a favorable development for Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. However, the fact that McLaurin and Dotson have both experienced declines in multiple categories -- despite operating in a high-volume passing attack  -- signals a glaring shortcoming within the Commanders’ strategic approach.

Howell is also distributing 62.4% of his targets to Washington’s wide receivers. That includes the team-high 20.6% share that has been secured by McLaurin, who is 19th overall with 100 targets (7.7 per game). That average trails the career-best 8.9 per game that he attained in 2020. McLaurin is also 20th with a team-high 60 receptions, although his 4.6 per game average is second behind the career-best 5.8 per game that he secured in 2020.

Terry McLaurin frustrated after a 3 target, 0 reception preformance 😬 pic.twitter.com/fU4PzjZ0Ll

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) December 3, 2023

He was also held without a catch when Washington hosted Miami in Week 13, which was the first time that occurred since Week 14 of 2021. McLaurin’s average of 53.4 yards per game average is the lowest of his career. It is also 21.1 per game below his career-high 74.5 that he attained in 2020.

Did you know that it is now Week 14 and Terry McLaurin has yet to surpass 100 yards in a single game?

7 games with 50 yards or less
2 touchdowns
Career-low 11.5 YPR
0 catches in Week 13

Howell is 2nd in the NFL with nearly 3,500 passing yards. What has happened to McLaurin? pic.twitter.com/tXQIRJrbXJ

— Nate Christian (@NateNFL) December 5, 2023

He is also operating with career lows in yards per target (6.9), yards per reception (11.6), yards after catch per reception (3.4), and air yards share (30.6%). His average of 10.9 points per game is also the lowest of his career.

McLaurin has yet to register a reception of 40+ after accumulating six last season. He also failed to eclipse 100 yards after accomplishing it four times in both 2021 and 2022. He is barely functioning as a WR3, amid the declining numbers in a collection of categories.

Dotson was leading the league in routes run (536) entering Washington’s Week 14 bye. However, even though Dotson seemed capable of functioning as a highly productive weapon at the NFL level, his numbers have been disappointing.

Replay of the 4th & 5 incomplete pass from Sam Howell to Jahan Dotson#Commanders 7 #NYGiants 14 4th pic.twitter.com/ZflCT2onHu

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) October 22, 2023

Dotson is third on the Commanders in target share (15.2%) behind McLaurin (20.6%) and Curtis Samuel (15.6%). Dotson is averaging 5.7 targets/3.4 receptions per game, which represents a slight rise from his average in 2022 (5.1/2.9). However, Dotson is also averaging 35.2 yards per game after averaging 43.6 per game last season.

Samuel has also collected more receptions (51/4/3 per game) and receiving yards (508/42.3 per game) than Dotson, and leads Washington in targets per route run (19.9%). Dotson’s numbers have also decreased in yards per target (8.6/6.2), yards per reception (14.9/10.4), aDOT (13.5/9.2), yards before catch per reception (11.0/8.3), and yards after catch per reception (3.9/2.1), targets per route run (16.4%/13.8%), and yards per route run (1.41/0.85).

Dotson’s offseason outlook as a potential breakout candidate is a distant memory. His discouraging numbers have also relegated him to a player who should not be in anyone’s lineups. Samuel can be utilized as a low-end WR3/WR4.

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