Wide Receiver Breakouts for Fantasy Football: Targets, Air Yards, Snaps Trends for Puka Nacua, Calvin Ridley, Brandon Aiyuk, Zay Flowers

You are already aware that wide receivers will play a critical role in the success of your teams. Many fantasy managers prioritized the position near the onset of their 2023 drafts, as 12 receivers were selected within the first two rounds, and 21 were secured by the conclusion of Round 4.  The undeniable volatility that exists with the running back position has also contributed to the rationale for prioritizing wide receivers when you build your rosters.

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 the sixth consecutive season. This will be the first 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.

As the season progresses noteworthy changes in usage and production will be blended into the equation. 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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Last Week's Target Leaders

Tyreek Hill was UNREAL Today! 🐆💨

- 11 REC
- 19.5 AVG
- 215 YDS
- 2 TD

Full Highlights ⬇️ #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/Pos6uoTlhI

— Bobby Shouse (@B_Shousejr) September 11, 2023

16 different wide receivers, accumulated at least 10 targets during their season openers. That group was led by Tyreek Hill, who secured 15 targets for the seventh time in 109 career games. Hill also operated with a 34.9% target share while stockpiling a league-high 215 yards.

Highest graded rookie WRs from Week 1:

1️⃣ Puka Nacua: 81.3
2️⃣ Rashee Rice: 80.7
3️⃣ Zay Flowers: 78.2 pic.twitter.com/upSdVzEm9Y

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 11, 2023

He was joined by rookie Puka Nacua, who unexpectedly commandeered a 40.5% target target share during his NFL debut. The Rams’ fifth-round selection will be discussed further in the Five Things I Noticed section. DeAndre Hopkins captured 10+ targets in seven of his nine matchups during 2022. He also reached 13 targets in three of those contests and matched that total during his first game with Tennessee.

Stefon Diggs commandeered a 31.8% target share during Buffalo's AFC East matchup with the Jets. He has also collected 13+ targets in 20 different games during his career after reaching that total in Week 1.

Justin Jefferson’s career-high 184 targets during 2022 were fueled by the 11 games in which he attained a double-digit total. He accomplished that again in Week 1 while collecting 12 from Kirk Cousins. Jefferson has also accumulated 10+ targets during 29 of his 51 career games. Michael Pittman Jr. secured a team-high 28.9% target share when Indianapolis hosted Jacksonville. He also collected 11+ targets for the ninth time in his career during his first matchup with Anthony Richardson under center.

Calvin Ridley registered his first snaps since Week 7 of the 2021 regular season when he made his debut as a Jacksonville Jaguar in Week 1. Ridley was targeted 11 times during his return and his reemergence as a highly productive resource for fantasy managers will be examined further in the Five Things I Noticed section.

If CJ Stroud is able to maintain this level of accuracy week to week, Nico Collins will be a WR2 this seasonpic.twitter.com/MGGDOBzU66

— Sam Wagman (@swagman95) September 4, 2023

The 11 targets that Nico Collins accumulated in Week 1 established a new career high. It was also the fourth game in which he has reached double digits since his NFL arrival in 2021. Kendrick Bourne became the fourth receiver to collect 11 targets in Week 1. It was the third time that the seven-year veteran has reached a double-digit target total, while it also propelled him to a career-high.

Seven different wide receivers were targeted 10 times during their season debuts. That list includes Chris Olave, who reached double digits for the fifth time during the first 16 games of his career.

Jimmy G to Jakobi Meyers for his 2nd TD of the Day!!!! pic.twitter.com/6I1rlovs6S

— Raiders Report Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) September 10, 2023

Former Patriot Jakobi Meyers captured a team-high 38.5% target share during his first game with the Raiders. His 10 targets also propelled him to double digits for the ninth time in his career.

Philadelphia teammates, A. J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both accumulated 10 targets in Week 1. Brown has now reached double digits seven times during his first 18 games with the Eagles, after only accomplishing it five times during 43 games with the Titans. Brown‘s teammate Smith has now attained a double-digit total during three of his last four regular-season matchups and has captured 8+ targets in 10 straight games.

This play by Zay Flowers is incredible for so many reasons

My favorite is that he takes out two-would be tacklers on one juke

Watch his first move…Flowers works the defender so badly he sends him flying into one of his teammates, knocking him away pic.twitter.com/cKwbUMI00c

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) September 11, 2023

Rookie Zay Flowers soared to the league lead with a 47.6% target share during his debut. His 10 targets also paced all newcomers with the exception of Nacua during Week 1.

Mike Evans has now captured at least nine targets during nine of his last 14 regular season matchups. That includes the 10 that he collected from Baker Mayfield in Week 1.

Robert Woods secured a double-digit target total for the first time since Week 9 of the 2021 regular season when he accumulated 10 during his first matchup as a Houston Texan. Jared Goff targeted Amon-Ra St. Brown nine times during Detroit’s season opener and every pass was launched on Goff’s first read according to Fantasy Points Data. St. Brown also operated with a 28.1% target share and has now averaged 9.5 targets per game during his last eight matchups.

Davante Adams also collected nine targets and has now reached that total during 10 of his last 11 regular season matchups. Justin Herbert distributed nine targets to Keenan Allen, who has now averaged 11.0 targets per game during his last seven regular season games.

Last Week's Air Yards

Tyreek Hill finished second only to Davante Adams with 2,107 air yards in 2022. He also emerged as the league leader following the matchups of Week 1 (227). Nico Collins is currently second overall (162), followed by A.J. Brown (161), Puka Nacua (142), DeAndre Hopkins (139), Tee Higgins (133), Chris Olave (131), and Mike Evans (117).

Kendrick Bourne is next (116), followed by Justin Jefferson (114), Tutu Atwell (113), Brandon Aiyuk (107), Amari Cooper (105), and DeVonta Smith (100) completing the list of 14 receivers who eclipsed 100 air yards during their season openers.

D.K. Metcalf finished 10th overall in air yards share during 2022 (36.9%). He also leads all wide receivers in that same category entering Week 2 (65.8%). Collins is second (64.5%), followed by Higgins (58.3%), Mack Hollins (56.9%), Brown (56.7%), Darnell Mooney (53.5%), Davante Adams (52.3%), Evans 49.8%, and Brandon Aiyuk (48.9%), whose impressive performance in Week 1 will be examined in the Five Things I Noticed section.

Last Week's Routes

Kendrick Bourne averaged 16.9 routes during his 16 matchups in 2022. However, the 47 routes that he ran during New England’s season opener vaulted him into the league lead entering Week 2. Bourne was also one of 16 receivers who ran 40+ routes in Week 1.

Three rookies were also included on the list (Josh Downs/Jonathan Mingo/Kayshon Boutte). It is also noteworthy that three Indianapolis receivers finished among the top nine with at least 43 routes run - (Pittman-46), (Pierce-44), (Downs-43).

Last Week's Targets Per Route Run

Puka Nacua's dramatic ascent within the fantasy landscape was fueled by his numbers in multiple categories during the Rams’ Week 1 matchup in Seattle. That included his rise into the league lead in targets per route run (44.1%). He is followed by Tyreek Hill (42.9%), and Jakobi Meyers (41.7%), along with rookie Rashee Rice 41.7%, and Rice’s teammate Kadarius Toney (41.7%).

Last Week's Yards Per Route Run

Tyreek Hill averaged a league-best 3.42 yards per route run during 2022. He has quickly captured the league lead once again after averaging a league-high 6.14 in Week 1. Brandon Aiyuk is second entering Week 2 (4.61), followed by Tutu Atwell (3.61), Atwell’s teammate Puka Nacua (3.5), CeeDee Lamb (3.5), and six additional receivers who have secured an average of 3.0+ - Chris Olave (3.39), Jakobi Meyers,(3.38), Josh Reynolds (3.33), Justin Jefferson (3.26), River Cracraft (3.08), and Justin Watson (3.0).

Last Week's Red Zone Targets

Tyreek Hill was targeted 11 times in the red zone during 2022 but has already garnered four targets entering Week 2. That ties him with promising rookie Zay Flowers. Jakobi Meyers was targeted eight times inside the 20 last season and entered 2023 with a career-high of 14. However, he collected three during his debut as a Raider. This tied him with Michael Thomas and KaVontae Turpin. 18 different wide receivers have been targeted twice including Aiyuk, Ridley, Hopkins, and Pittman.

Hill and Meyers both garnered three targets inside the 10, while Flowers, Romeo Doubs, and River Cracraft have been targeted twice. Hill and Meyers also lead all wide receivers with two targets inside the five.

Last Week's Snap Counts

Van Jefferson secured a season-high of 64 snaps during 2022. However, he has already surpassed that number, while accumulating a league-high 72 in Week 1. Kendrick Bourne (71), and Keenan Allen (70) also eclipsed 70 snaps, while Michael Pittman (67), Amon-Ra St. Brown (65), D.J. Moore (65), and four receivers with 64 snaps complete the top 10 (Adam Thielen/Terrace Marshall/Gabe Davis/Donovan Peoples-Jones).

Justin Jefferson finished seventh with a 92.4% snap share during 2022. However, he currently leads all wide receivers with a 98.4% share entering Week 2.
He is followed by DeVonta Smith (98.4%), Michael Pittman (97.1%), Ja’Marr Chase (96.3%), Chase's teammate Tee Higgins (94.4%), Gabe Davis (94.1%), and D.K. Metcalf (93.5%).

Five Things I Noticed

1. Calvin Ridley was traded to Jacksonville last November which transpired while he was serving an indefinite suspension for betting on NFL games. His ADP was located in Round 6 prior to his reinstatement by the NFL last March. However, his draft position had surged toward the top of Round 3 (28/WR14) by the conclusion of draft season after the path for his return had been cleared.

The NFL has reinstated Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley. pic.twitter.com/WFlypDbveS

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) March 6, 2023

Fantasy managers who made that investment were demonstrating their optimism that Ridley could approach the level of proficiency that had propelled him to fourth overall with an average of 18.8 points-per-game scoring during 2020.

He had also soared into the league lead in air yards (2,018), and yards before catch (1,099), during that exceptional 2020 season, while rising to second in air yards share (41.6%), and fourth in receiving yards (1,374/91.6 per game). Managers understandably selected Ridley as a high-end WR1 after he constructed those numbers (14/WR4). However, he only played in five matchups during 2021 before requesting a personal leave in order to focus on his mental health. His absence was extended for the remainder of the regular season and was later suspended throughout all of 2022.

His reinstatement fueled the rise in his ADP, despite the inherent risk associated with his extended absence. Ridley appeared primed to flourish with the opportunity to secure a critical role in the Jaguars' rapidly emerging offense during training camp and the preseason. This set the stage for his reemergence in Week 1.

So Calvin Ridley won’t be rusty, LOL. My bad, #DUUUVAL

pic.twitter.com/JHbWh4ruRs

— Adam Rank (@adamrank) September 10, 2023

Ridley was Jacksonville's primary receiving weapon during a return that rewarded the Jaguars for their decision to acquire him. His favorable numbers during Jacksonville's season opener were also highly beneficial to managers as he finished sixth overall with an average of 24.1 points per game in Week 1. Ridley also collected 11 targets from Trevor Lawrence, which tied him for sixth among all wide receivers. He was also seventh in receptions (eight), eighth in receiving yards (101), and 12th in air yards share (46.9%).

Calvin Ridley in his Jaguars debut:

🐆 8 catches
🐆 101 receiving yards
🐆 1 TD
🐆 131.3 rating when targeting pic.twitter.com/1wwKgQlc7j

— PFF (@PFF) September 10, 2023

Ridley also tied for 24th with 35 routes run. He also rose to 12th in targets per route run (31.4%), and finished 13th in yards per route run (2.89).

CALVIN RIDLEY IS GOOD AT FOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/7BJnrHKwLO

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) September 10, 2023

Zay Jones was second among Jacksonville's wide receivers in targets (seven), receptions (five), receiving yards (55), air yards (69), and yards before catch (53).  Jones was also second on the Jaguars in routes run (29).  targets per route run (24.1%), and yards per route run (1.89). Christian Kirk was relegated to just three targets (9.4% share), one reception, and zero yards after catch.  This is a concerning development for anyone who had selected him near his Round 6 ADP (64/WR26).  He was also limited to nine receiving yards, which represented his lowest total since Week 13 of 2021. He also ran 24 routes, was targeted on 12.5% of those routes, and averaged just 0.38 yards per route run.

It was an alarming statistical decline for Kirk after he operated as the Jaguars' WR1 in 2022. However, Ridley's highly productive outing has launched him near the WR1s for savvy fantasy managers who have him contained on their rosters.

2. Several wide receivers appeared primed to deliver breakout seasons during 2023. Their prospects of achieving this status were analyzed during the offseason which included varying degrees of debate surrounding each player.  This includes Brandon Aiyuk, whose outlook was examined here. His potential to surpass the career numbers that he generated during 2022, became a frequent source of discussion among analysts and fantasy managers.

Aiyuk secured career highs in a plethora of categories last season. This included routes run (398), targets (114/6.7 per game), and red zone targets (15). He also eclipsed his previous career-best results in air yards (1,105), yards before catch (627), yards after catch (388), aDOT (9.9), and receptions (78/4.6 per game), while exceeding 1,000 receiving yards for the first time  (1,015/59.7 per game).

Aiyuk’s exceptional talent remained unquestioned. His opportunity to capitalize on Kyle Shanahan’s ability to place his playmakers in space also provided a reason for encouragement that Aiyuk would generate big plays and assemble career-best results. However, Aiyuk’s role within a potent 49er attack that contains other dynamic weapons supplied the rationale for tempering expectations as Aiyuk entered his fourth season.

This did not deter many managers from retaining enthusiasm toward the selection of Aiyuk during draft season as his ADP rose to Round 6 (69/WR29). Anyone who sustained their optimism surrounding Aiyuk’s outlook should be ecstatic with his exceptional production during San Francisco's season opener. His performance formed a successful launch toward eventual numbers that justify the most favorable projections that had emerged during the offseason.

Every single catch from Brandon Aiyuk’s sensational performance against The Steelers today 😮‍💨#49ers || #FTTB pic.twitter.com/xFMYkHFq7n

— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) September 11, 2023

26 of Brock Purdy’s 28 passing attempts during the season opener were distributed to Aiyuk and the three teammates who comprise his primary competitors for touches - Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey.

Aiyuk captured a team-high 28.6% target share, followed by Samuel (25.0%), Kittle (21.4%), and McCaffrey (17.9%). Aiyuk also collected all of his team-high eight targets, while he rose to second overall in points per game scoring (32.9) and yards before catch (109). He was also third in both receiving yards (128), and yards per target (16.1), finished 12th overall in air yards (107), and was 10th in air yards share (48.9%). 

That man has a family Brandon Aiyuk pic.twitter.com/qwLs3psgLi

— Ben Meyerson (@ByBenMeyerson) September 10, 2023

Aiyuk also ran 28 routes, while finishing 17th in targets per route run (28.6%), and soaring to second in yards per route run (4.61). Aiyuk’s opening-day performance was also sufficient for him to commandeer the highest grade from PFF among all weapons within the 49ers' offense.

Aiyuk’s pathway toward consistent targeting and career-best production will contain obstacles, as Samuel, Kittle, and McCaffrey will also garner opportunities. However, Aiyuk remains capable of navigating the barriers that exist as San Francisco deploys their most potent weaponry during the season. He can also ascend beyond last year’s numbers while minimally operating as a high-end WR2 for fantasy managers.

3. Kansas City’s season-opening matchup provided our first opportunity to examine how the Chiefs’ collection of wide receivers would be deployed in the team’s aerial attack. After JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman had been extracted from the roster during the offseason, a cluster of receivers all appeared capable of securing an ongoing role within the Chiefs’ potent aerial attack. This made it challenging to project the prospective target distribution within an arsenal of players that remained overflowing with possibilities.

Kadarius Toney had sustained a torn meniscus in July but was able to reemerge for the season opener. Skyy Moore appeared to be a a strong candidate to operate as Patrick Mahomes’ second option behind Travis Kelce, in a role that resembled Smith-Schuster’s responsibilities in the slot during 2022. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justyn Ross, Justin Watson, Richie James, and rookie Rashee Rice were also capable of entering the equation.

Kansas City faced the Lions in Week 1 without Kelce, which appeared to set the stage for several wide receivers to become key contributors to the team’s aerial efforts. Mahomes ultimately targeted his wide receivers on 22 of his 39 passes, while distributing the ball to seven different members of the unit. However, none of the receivers emerged as highly-productive weapons.

The @Lions take over after the incompletion!

📺: #Kickoff2023 on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/EBLJ3Rwf5g pic.twitter.com/98JwMguwoa

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2023

Valdes-Scantling led the unit with 33 routes run. He was followed by Moore (29), James (17), Watson (15), Rice (12), Toney (12 ) and Ross (four). Rice and Toney both collected a team-high five targets even though they have been limited to 12 routes. That propelled both receivers to the team lead in targets per route run (41.7%). They were followed by Watson (16.7%), James (11.8%), Moore (10.3%), and Valdes-Scantling (6.1%).

Watson was targeted four times (12.5% share), while Moore only garnered three targets (9.4%). Valdes-Scantling and Rice were targeted twice (6.3%), while Mahomes only targeted Ross once (2.0%). Watson led the group in yards per route run (3.00), followed by Rice (2.42), Valdes-Scantling (1.45), Toney (0.08) and Moore (0.00).

During a night in which the collective results from all wide receivers were underwhelming, the performances that were registered by Toney and Moore were easily the most disappointing. Toney accumulated three drops, which included the miscue that was intercepted and turned into a critical Detroit touchdown.

Right place, right time @BrianBB_1

📺: #Kickoff2023 on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/EBLJ3Rwf5g pic.twitter.com/sKFiV2epWA

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2023

Moore was shockingly relegated to three targets on his 29 routes and failed to capitalize on any of those opportunities.

Skyy Moore -- Week 1

64% route participation = bad
10% targets per route = bad

Round 2 pick who can't secure a lead role without much competition...

Extension of what we saw last season. There is still a lot of football to play but the bad or meh data points keep compiling.

— Dwain McFarland (@dwainmcfarland) September 8, 2023

Fantasy managers enter Week 2 without a reliable starting option for their rosters among Kansas City’s arsenal of wide receivers. It is conceivable that one member of the unit might evolve into a consistent option for Mahomes after Kelce has resurfaced. Moore also remains a viable candidate to emerge as the wide receiver who secures that role. It is also premature to drop any Kansas City wide receivers from your roster. However, you also should avoid starting them until any member of the unit demonstrates that they deserve your trust.

4. There was a dearth of blockbuster trades during the offseason when contrasted with the collection of deals that transpired during the 2022 offseason (Davante Adams/Tyreek Hill/A.J. Brown/Amari Cooper). However, the trade that transported D.J. Moore from Carolina to Chicago fueled significant speculation surrounding the degree to which Moore might benefit from operating with Justin Fields.

Moore’s role as the Bears’ WR1 was unchallenged, but his ability to operate as a high-end WR2 would be impacted by the frequency with which Fields would launch the ball. The Bears ranked 32nd in pass play percentage (43.8%), and also finished dead last in both attempts per game (22.2), and yards per game (130.5) during 2022. Even though Chicago was expected to maintain a heavy reliance on the run, there was optimism that the Bears would pass with greater frequency this season.

Moore had arrived in Chicago with a chance to operate with the most talented quarterback of his career after functioning with a list of signal callers that includes Kyle Allen, Will Grier, Taylor Heinicke, Teddy Bridgewater, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and P.J. Walker during Moore’s first five years in Carolina. Moore still finished seventh among all wide receivers in both targets (534/8.3 per game) and receiving yards (4.413/69 per game), from 2019-2022.

Reports surrounding the chemistry that was building between Moore and Fields during the offseason were encouraging. Enthusiasm intensified even further following the 62-yard touchdown that Moore generated during the Bears' first preseason game.

Welcome to Chicago, DJ Moore 🔥

62-yard touchdown 🙌

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/DdJRYu902A

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 12, 2023

However, the desired connections between Fields and Moore that could launch both members of the tandem toward the most prolific numbers of their careers failed to materialize when Chicago hosted NFC North rival Green Bay in Week 1.

Moore finished sixth overall with a 92.9% snap share and tied for second in routes run (46) during the Bears’ opener. Somehow that led to just two targets (5.4% share) which was his lowest total since Week 16 of 2019. That also placed Moore sixth among options in Chicago’s attack behind Cole Kmet, Darnell Mooney, and Chicago’s trio of running backs - Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, and D’Onta Foreman. Moore did catch both of those passes but only registered 25 yards. He also completed the game with 13 air yards and 12 yards after catch.

Moore’s infinitesimal numbers become more perplexing considering that Fields also launched 37 attempts, which was the second-highest total of his career. He also averaged 5.84 yards per attempt, and 5.13 air yards per attempt during a game in which he repeatedly contended with pressure. 

#FFIDP - The Green Bay Packers defense vs the Chicago Bears in Week 1, per @PFF:

36 total pressures! (2nd)
4 sacks (T-5th)

Rashan Gary, coming off an ACL, was on a pitch count w/just 12 total snaps…but he looked just fine…

Gary posted 5 total pressures on 10 prsh snaps!🔥 pic.twitter.com/8vvxN5aK4T

— Jon Macri (@PFF_Macri) September 11, 2023

Moore will attract the attention of opposing defenders throughout the season. However, that should not automatically equate to dismal numbers in future matchups. Chicago’s investment in Moore and his importance to the offense will make it incumbent upon OC Luke Getsy to strategize ways of keeping Moore highly involved in the aerial attack regardless of the coverage or other variables that emerge in each particular game.

5. The matchups of Week 1 provided the first opportunity to witness members of this year’s rookie class during their NFL debuts. That includes the four newcomers who were selected during Round 1 of last April’s NFL Draft.

Can't imagine this has ever happened before. No. 1 and No. 2 in target share after Week 1 are both rookies.

Zay Flowers 47.6%
Puka Nacua 40.5%

— Heath Cummings (@heathcummingssr) September 12, 2023

 Jordan Addison ran 29 routes and operated with a 13.6% target share. He also collected four receptions, generated 61 yards, and scored his first touchdown.

Jordan Addison’s first NFL touchdown: pic.twitter.com/wb3sHBcSx0

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 10, 2023

Jaxon Smith-Njigba ran 23 routes and tied D.K. Metcalf for the team lead in target share (20.8%)However, he was limited to three catches and 13 yards. Quentin Johnston ran 19 routes and attained a 9.7% target share, but managed just nine yards on two receptions.

However, Zay Flowers easily delivered the most productive outing among the four first-round draft selections.

Zay Flowers in week 1:

80.3 REC Grade (🥇among rookie WRs)
78 YDS (🥈among rookie WRs)
34 REC yards after contact (🥇among ALL WRs)
54 REC yards after the catch (🥇 among rookie WRs) pic.twitter.com/LvARnGquvy

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) September 11, 2023

Flowers' favorable blend of speed, athleticism, and playmaking capabilities were destined to propel him into a sizable role within a Baltimore offense. It was unclear how quickly that might occur in a Baltimore attack that had been restructured under new OC Todd Monken. The Ravens offense would also be reshaped by the arrival of veterans Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor and the return of a healthy Rashod Bateman.

However, Flowers quickly established his presence while capturing a league-high 47,6% target share. He also tied for fourth in receptions (10), was 15th in receiving yards (78), and finished fourth in yards after catch (52).

Ask and you shall receive pic.twitter.com/2P4mqKIuMp

— Ryan Heath (@QBLRyan) September 12, 2023

Flowers also led the Ravens in routes run (32), rose to 13th in targets per route run (31.3%), and finished 16th in yards per route run (2.44). Flowers' ability to thrive in his first career matchup was impressive although his ability to accumulate encouraging numbers was not surprising. By contrast, Puka Nucua‘s impressive debut had not been anticipated. However, Nucua’s performance has catapulted the fifth-round selection onto the fantasy landscape.   

Nacua accumulated 107 receptions, 1,749 yards, and 14 touchdowns during his collegiate career. This included his two years at Washington and two seasons at BYU.  The 6'2", 200-pound Nacua operates with speed, athleticism, and competitiveness.  He was the 20th wide receiver to be selected during last April's NFL Draft. Cooper Kupp's hamstring issue created a path for other members of the Rams' arsenal of receiving weaponry to emerge. Nacua capitalized with a Week 1 performance that has launched him into relevance.

Rams rookie WR Puka Nacua with a CRAZY catch.

Puka has been showing out today 🔥

He currently has 10 Receptions for 119 Yards pic.twitter.com/XyOXHdG7ey

— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) September 10, 2023

Nacua played on 60 snaps, which trailed teammates Van Jefferson (72), and Tutu Atwell (61). However,  Nacua's 40.5% target share was second only to Flowers among all receivers in Week 1.  He also ran 34 routes, led all receivers in targets per route run (44.1%), and finished fourth in yards per route run (3.5). The 15 targets that he collected from Matthew Stafford tied him with Tyreek Hill for the league lead, while his 10 receptions placed him second overall. Nacua also finished fourth in both receiving yards (119) and air yards (142), and was seventh in yards after catch (44),

Flowers' exceptional debut has already positioned him as an enticing weekly starter. Anyone who has Addison, or Smith-Njigba contained on their rosters can remain encouraged that each receiver will deliver productive outings as the season advances. However, patience will be required before Johnston can be considered as an option for your lineups.

It is conceivable that Nacua's usage and output will not consistently exceed Atwell and Jefferson as all three receivers operate with Kupp on the sideline. However, Nacua is an intriguing waiver wire option who could become a sizable roster asset.

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