Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Risers and Fallers for Week 5 (2022)

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 the fifth consecutive season.

This will be the fourth 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. 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, NextGenStats, Rotowire, Rotoviz, PFF, and Football Outsiders were also used as resources in the creation of this report.

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Week 4 Target Leaders

.@CooperKupp hit that one-two step! 🕺

📺 @ESPNNFL | 📲 https://t.co/4beUdmlymg pic.twitter.com/1PIvXyyVOn

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 4, 2022

Cooper Kupp collected 10+ targets during 14 different matchups in 2021 which propelled him to the league lead (192/11.2 per game) during his historic season. However, Kupp registered his highest weekly total since Week 8 of 2020 when he stockpiled 19 in Week 4. That has elevated him to the overall lead entering Week 5 (54/13.5 per game).

Davante Adams reached double digits in eight different contests last season and has already accomplished it in three of his first four games as a Raider. That has helped him surge to second overall behind Kupp (47/11.8 per game),

DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS?!?!? pic.twitter.com/7XVgQVlSf7

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 2, 2022

Marquise Brown is now third among all wide receivers (45) after tying Kupp for a league-best 39 targets from Weeks 2-4. He is followed by Tyreek Hill 43 who has captured a 31.5% target share during his first four games as a Dolphin. Justin Jefferson is next (41) after he eclipsed 11+ targets for the third time during his four matchups. That ties Jefferson with CeeDee Lamb, who is second overall with the 34.2% target share entering Week 5.

Ja’Marr Chase has now accumulated 41 targets, and his numbers during Cincinnati’s first four games will be examined further in the Five Things I Noticed section. Chase is tied with Stefon Diggs who had been tied for the league lead prior to his six-target outing in Week 4.

Garrett Wilson currently leads all rookies with 39 targets, which has been fueled by the 25 that he collected in Weeks 2-3. A.J. Brown has been targeted 38 times by Jalen Hurts while attaining a 32.2% target share as Philadelphia’s WR1.

Diontae Johnson has accumulated 37 targets although his streak of five consecutive regular-season games with 10+ ended in Week 4. Johnson is tied with Curtis Samuel who is leading Washington with a 22.3% share entering Week 5.

Christian Kirk has now accrued 36 targets, after collecting 9+ during three of his first four games with Jacksonville. That ties him with Brandin Cooks, who accumulated 22 targets in Weeks 1-2, followed by just seven targets in each of his last two games. Chris Olave is second among rookies with 36 targets, after capturing 26 in Weeks 2-3.

Jaylen Waddle has now been targeted 35 times including a league-best 19 targets in Week 2 and three games in which he has failed to exceed 6.0. That tied him with Courtland Sutton, who leads the Broncos with a 28% target share.

Throw it 🆙, @SuttonCourtland will bring it ⬇️

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/wPqHiurqi3

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 2, 2022

DK Metcalf has also collected 35 targets including 22 during his last two matchups. Metcalf‘s teammate Tyler Lockett is next 34 after attaining 8+ during his last three games. Amon-Ra St. Brown has accumulated 33 targets even though his ankle injury kept him sidelined during Detroit’s Week 4 matchup with Seattle.

Drake London is the third rookie who has eclipsed 30 targets (32), while he has risen to third among all wide receivers with a 34.0% target share. Amari Cooper has accumulated 31 targets, which was built primarily through the 21 that he captured 21 in Weeks 2-3. Mike Williams completes the list of 23 wide receivers who have accumulated 30+ targets after he attained a season-high 11 during the Chargers' Week 4 matchup with Houston.

D.J. Moore has now attained 29 targets after reaching double digits for the first time this season in Week 4. Michael Pittman has accumulated 28 targets even though he was sidelined in Week 2 with a quad injury. That ties him with Adam Thielen who has averaged 8.5 targets per game during Minnesota’s last two matchups. Tee Higgins has also accumulated 28 targets, after averaging 8.7 per game since Week 2. He is joined by Deebo Samuel, whose weekly totals have ranged between 6-8 during his first four games.

Four wide receivers have accumulated 27 targets – JuJu Smith-Schuster, Noah Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Terry McLaurin – while Corey Davis (25), Mack Hollins (25), Russell Gage (25), and Elijah Moore (25) complete the list of 35 wide receivers who have been targeted 25+ times from Weeks 1-4.

Nine different wide receivers are averaging at least 10.0 targets per game. That includes four receivers who are eclipsing 11+ – Kupp (13.5), Adams (11.8), Marquise Brown (11.3), Amon-Ra St. Brown (11.0), Hill (10.8), Lamb (10.5), Jefferson (10.5,), Chase (10.3), and Diggs (10.3).

Week 4 Target Risers And Fallers 

10 different wide receivers were targeted at least 10 times during their matchups in Week 4. This group was led by Cooper Kupp, whose 13.5 per game average is higher than his averages at any point during 2021.

Teddy Bridgewater & Tyreek Hill connect on a 64-yard gain. #MIAvsCIN on Prime Video
Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/Phmgdb9VGl pic.twitter.com/2Tpd9kzoRZ

— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2022

Tyreek Hill's 14 targets represented the third time this season that he has collected 12+. It was also his highest weekly total since Week 8 of the 2021 regular season. Davante Adams was third with 13 targets, which is his second-highest total this season. It is also the eighth time that Adams has reached double digits during his last 13 games. That tied Adams with Justin Jefferson, whose 13 targets established a new season high. The third-year receiver has also captured 10+ targets during eight of his last 10 games.

Marquise Brown has now accumulated 11+ targets during three consecutive games. He attained a double-digit target total in seven different contests last season and should surpass that number during his first year with Arizona. That tied Brown with Mike Williams, who entered Week 4 averaging 6.7 targets per game. Williams has also captured 10+ during three of his last five contests after completing a streak of 10 consecutive regular season games in which he failed to reach double digits.

D. J. Moore was one of just five wide receivers who reached a double-digit target total in 10 different games last season. However, the 11 targets that he accrued in Week 4 represented the first time that he has exceeded six targets in four games with Baker Mayfield under center.

The @dkm14 reception to set us up for the touchdown.

📺: #SEAvsDET on FOX pic.twitter.com/samcIdzNEG

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 2, 2022

D. K. Metcalf was targeted 10 times by Geno Smith when Seattle visited Detroit. He has now averaged 11.0 targets per game during his last two matchups after averaging 6.5 per game in Weeks 1-2. That tied Metcalf with two Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as Mike Evans returned from his one-game suspension to attain a double-digit target total for the first time since Week 13 of the 2021 regular season.

Evans' teammate Chris Godwin returned to the Buccaneers’ lineup and reached double digits for the first time since Week 14 of last season which was his last complete game before sustaining a torn ACL last December.

Four receivers collected nine targets during their Week 4 matchups: Christian Kirk, Adam Thielen, Tee Higgins, and Donovan People-Jones, while seven different receivers were targeted eight times – CeeDee Lamb, Tyler Lockett, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard, and rookies Romeo Doubs, and George Pickens.

Kupp was limited to six targets in Week 3, which was his lowest weekly total in 22 games. However, the enormous weekly total that he accrued when the Rams traveled to San Francisco resulted in this week's highest weekly increase of +13.

Hill’s season-high 14 targets were stockpiled just one week after he had been limited to a season-low four. That fueled the second largest week-to-week rise among all wide receivers (+10). Jefferson’s six targets in Week 3 also represented his lowest weekly total since Week 9 of last season. However, his 13-target outing in Week ignited his rise of +7.

Peoples-Jones has now collected 9+ targets in two outings while failing to exceed three targets during his other two matchups. That includes his weekly increase of +6 in Week 4 (3/9).

Jamal Agnew had been limited to 26 snaps and three targets from Weeks 1-3. He still was involved on just 18 snaps when Jacksonville traveled to Philadelphia but was targeted six times by Trevor Lawrence. That resulted in his weekly rise of +5. That tied Agnew with Mike Williams, whose 11 targets launched his surge of +5. D.J. Moore’s first double-digit total of the season also expanded his weekly total by +5.

7. 🏈 Marquez Callaway says GIMME THATpic.twitter.com/50MQdtjwYN

— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) September 26, 2022

Marquez Callaway had only been targeted one time from Weeks 1-3, but the six targets that he collected in Week 4 enabled him to join the cluster of receivers who experienced an increase of +5. That also applies to Trent Sherfield, who had been relegated to a season-low one target in Week 3, before he was targeted six times in Week 4.

The 10 targets that Greg Dortch collected in Week 3 established a career-high. That number was also difficult to replicate, as four Cardinals accumulated more targets than Dortch in Week 4 (1). That launched his weekly decline of -9 which was the highest decrease among wide receivers. That tied him with Russell Gage who had accrued 13 targets for the third time in his career during Tampa Bay’s Week 3 matchup with Green Bay. Gage only received four targets from Tom Brady in Week 4 which resulted in his drop of -9.

Three different wide receivers experienced a reduction of -8 as a result of their target totals in Week 4. That includes DeVonta Smith, who secured a season-high 12 targets in Week 3 but was only targeted four times when the Eagles hosted the Jaguars.

The weekly total for DeVante Parker also was reduced by -8 after he was limited to just two targets for the third time in four games this season. Josh Palmer established a career-high when he captured nine targets in Week 3. Palmer's snap share dropped from 93% to 53% in Week 4, while he was also relegated to just one target. All of which resulted in his weekly decline of -8

It has been customary to witness Diontae Johnson stockpiling double-digit target totals. However, he was only targeted for times during Pittsburgh’s Week 4 matchup with the Jets. That was his lowest weekly total since Week 5 of 2021, and it also fueled his weekly decrease of -7. That tied Johnson with Amari Cooper, whose season-high 11 targets in Week 3, were promptly followed by his season-low (4) when Cleveland traveled to Atlanta.

Week 4 Air Yards

Chris Olave WHAT A GRAB.@Saints still in it with 11 seconds to go...

📺: #MINvsNO on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/rvQRHI7Cq9 pic.twitter.com/SYzkMDmOCt

— NFL (@NFL) October 2, 2022

Chris Olave has maintained his league lead in air yards entering Week 5 (673), followed by Tyreek Hill (453), CeeDee Lamb (440), Davante Adams (438), A.J. Brown (425), and two receivers that are tied with 420 yards: Courtland Sutton, and Marquise Brown. Terry McLaurin is next (416), followed by Corey Davis (411), Stefon Diggs (410), Diontae Johnson (407), and Ja’Marr Chase (400) completing the list of 13 receivers who have accumulated 400+ air yards.

Tyler Lockett is next (392), followed by D.K. Metcalf (389), Jaylen Waddle (388), George Pickens (384), Mike Williams (379), Garrett Wilson (363), and Justin Jefferson with 358 air yards. Elijah Moore is next (346), followed by Drake London (334), Jahan Dotson (330), D.J. Chark (328), Cooper Kupp (326), Amari Cooper (324), Josh Reynolds (320), and DeVonta Smith with 319 air yards. Rashod Bateman is next (317), followed by Brandin Cooks (316), Tee Higgins (310), Nico Collins (309), Christian Kirk (307), and DeVante Parker with 304 air yards.

A.J. Brown leads all wide receivers with a 44.0% share of air yards, followed by CeeDee Lamb (43.7%), Cooper Kupp (43.6%), Chris Olave (42.1%), Marquise Brown (41.2%), Darnell Mooney (40.6%), and Courtland Sutton (39.7%). Allen Lazard is next (38.5%), followed by Amari Cooper (38.4%), Tyreek Hill (38.2%), Brandon Aiyuk (38.2%), Tyler Lockett (37.6%), Stefon Diggs (37.5%), Christian Kirk (37.4%), and D.K. Metcalf (37.3%).

Davante Adams is next (36.9%), followed by Justin Jefferson (36.5%), Mike Williams (34.9%), D.J. Chark (34.5%), Jakobi Meyers (34.4%), Ja’Marr Chase (33.9%), and DeVonta Smith with an air yard share of 33.1%. Jaylen Waddle is next (32.7%), followed by D.J. Moore (32.5%), Drake London (32.2%), Robbie Anderson (32.2%), Marvin Jones (32.1%), Rondale Moore (31.9%), and Diontae Johnson (31.8%).

Week 4 Targets Per Route Run

Cooper Kupp has been targeted on 50% of his routes which is a number that deserves a moment of pause and appreciation. That is also easily the highest percentage among all wide receivers entering Week 5. Last week’s leader CeeDee Lamb is second overall (38.9%), followed by Deebo Samuel (34.6%), Tyreek Hill (33.1%), Amon-Ra St. Brown (32.4%), Drake London (31.7%), Jakobi Meyers (30.6%), and Noah Brown (30.3%), completing the group of eight receivers who have been targeted on at least 30% of their routes while also running at least 50 routes from Weeks 1-4.

Ashton Dulin is next (29.8%), followed by Brandon Aiyuk (29.5%), Jaylen Waddle (29.0%), Christian Kirk (28.1%), Tyler Lockett (27.9%), A.J. Brown (27.7%), and Davante Adams, who has been targeted on 27.5% of his routes. Chris Olave is next (27.1%), followed by Garrett Wilson (26.9%), D.K. Metcalf (26.1%), Marquise Brown (25.9%), Brandin Cooks (25.7%), Stefon Diggs (25.2%), and two receivers who have been targeted on 25% of their routes: Zay Jones, and Chris Godwin.

Week 4 Yards Per Route Run

Cooper Kupp unsurprisingly also leads his position in yards per route run (3.72) while Tyreek Hill is a close second (3.67). Hill’s teammate Jaylen Waddle is next (3.18), followed by Noah Brown (3.08), Deebo Samuel (3.04), A.J. Brown (2.95), Mike Evans (2.73), Tee Higgins (2.69), CeeDee Lamb (2.67), Kendrick Bourne (2.65), and Ashton Dulin – who is averaging 2.63 yards per route run.

Olamide Zaccheaus is next (2.6), followed by Rashod Bateman (2.56), Christian Kirk (2.55), Chris Olave (2.52), Stefon Diggs (2.49), Amon-Ra St. Brown (2.48), Tyler Lockett (2.48), Jacobi Meyers (2.42), and Courtland Sutton – who is averaging 2.4 yards per route run.

Nelson Agholor is next (2.32), followed by Justin Jefferson (2.31), and two players who are averaging 2.29 yards per route run: Drake London, and Brandon Aiyuk. Richie James is next (2.25), followed by D.K. Metcalf (2.12), Devin Duvernay (2.12), Allen Lazard (2.1), and Randall Cobb 2.03) completing the list of wide receivers who are averaging at least 2.0 yards per route run.

Week 4 Red Zone Targets

Davante Adams is showing up here late in the 4th 🔥pic.twitter.com/IFl45rjwmU

— Raider Nation (@RaidersNationCP) October 2, 2022

Davante Adams has accumulated eight red zone targets during his last two contests which have expanded his overall total to 13. Garrett Wilson is second overall (nine) followed by five receivers who have been targeted eight times inside the 20 (Justin Jefferson/Cooper Kupp/Stefon Diggs/Ja’Marr Chase/Christian Kirk).

Seven different receivers have accrued six red zone targets: Courtland Sutton, D.K. Metcalf, Adam Thielen, Josh Reynolds, Zay Jones, Allen Robinson, and Noah Brown.

Adams and Wilson have both collected a league-high seven targets inside the 10-yard line, while former college teammates Jefferson and Chase have been targeted six times. Five different receivers have captured five targets inside the 10- Kupp, Diggs, Reynolds, Kirk, and A.J. Brown. Adams has accumulated a league-high six targets inside the 5-yard line, while Chase, Diggs, Kirk, and Robinson have been targeted four times.

Week 4 Snap Counts

Cooper Kupp continues to lead all wide receivers with a 100% snap share entering Week 5. D.J. Moore is second overall (97.7%), followed by Gabe Davis (97.1%), Adam Thielen (96.8%), Davante Adams (96.5%), Justin Jefferson (96.4%), CeeDee Lamb (95.4%), Allen Robinson (95.1%), and Ja’Marr Chase who has attained a snap share of 94.5%.

Marquise Brown is next (94.2%), followed by Michael Pittman (94.1%), Robbie Anderson (92.5%), DeVonta Smith (91.9%), Mack Hollins (91.8%), DeVante Parker (91.7%), and two receivers that are tied with a snap share of 91.6% – Christian Kirk, and Brandon Aiyuk. Courtland Sutton is next (91.5%), followed by Mike Williams (90.9%), and Terry McLaurin (90.2%), completing the list of 20 receivers who have played on at least 90% of the team's offensive snaps.

Marquise Brown leads all wide receivers with 275 offensive snaps. Ja’Marr Chase is second (274), followed by DeVonta Smith (262), Terry McLaurin (259), Elijah Moore (259), Cooper Kupp (247), Davante Adams (247), Adam Thielen (245), Justin Jefferson (244), A.J. Brown (241), and Mike Williams who has played on 240 snaps.

Jahan Dotson is next (238), followed by three receivers who are tied at 235: Mack Hollins, Allen Robinson, and Donovan Peoples-Jones.  Ameri Cooper is next (231), followed by CeeDee Lamb (230), Curtis Samuel (230), Christian Kirk (229), Courtland Sutton (226), DeVante Parker (221), Corey Davis (221), Tyler Boyd (219), and Brandon Aiyuk (218).

Five Things I Noticed  

TO THE HOUSE, @teehiggins5‼️#TNF | 📺 @NFLonPrime, @WCPO pic.twitter.com/Nj350dFYlg

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 30, 2022

1. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were selected as WR1s during the draft season and both receivers have rewarded anyone who seized them during that process. Higgins entered the regular season averaging 7.3 targets, 4.7 receptions, and 66.6 yards per game. His availability was limited by a concussion during Cincinnati’s season opener (26 snaps). However, he leads the team in targets (26/8.7 per game/25.5% share), receptions (18/6.0 per game), and receiving yardage (288/96 yards per game during the Bengals’ last three matchups. 

Higgins is also tied with Chase for the team lead in air yards since Week 2 (292), and also with his 35.5% share of air yards. He also leads Cincinnati in red zone targets (3) and touchdowns (2) during that span. Higgins has also run 103 routes since Week 2 while being targeted on 25.2% of his routes. He is also averaging 2.8 yards per route run, which places him 12th overall. His 11.3 yards per target and 15.8 yards per reception from Weeks 1-4 are both the highest of his career, as is his 71.4% catch rate.

Highest-graded offensive player from TNF:

Tee Higgins - 85.0 🐅 pic.twitter.com/VxQ1lrOrrm

— PFF (@PFF) September 30, 2022

The Dolphins opted to use single coverage on Higgins when they visited Cincinnati in Week 4 while deploying double coverage on Chase. Higgins capitalized by collecting nine targets and also establishing new season highs in receptions (7.0) and receiving yards (124). It was the seventh time that Higgins has eclipsed 100 yards and the first time that he has accomplished it this season. He also accumulated 96 air yards and attained a 27.8% share of air yards.

PRIME. TIME. pic.twitter.com/HPE2iqCx2u

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 30, 2022

Chase now enters Week 5  with a team-high 41 targets 10.3 per game), while he is also pacing the Bengals in receptions (25/6.3 per game), and is second behind Higgins in receiving yards (293/73.3 per game).

He is also seventh among all wide receivers in targets, ninth in receptions, and 13th in receiving yards. His team-best 400 air yards places in 13th overall, while he is 22nd overall with his 33.9% share of air yards. Chase has also run a league-high 188 routes, while being targeted on 21.8% of his routes, and averaging 1.56 yards per route run.

Attempt to press Ja’Marr Chase at the LOS at your own risk 😅 pic.twitter.com/GxojtOFr2W

— PFF CIN Bengals (@PFF_Bengals) September 30, 2022

Chase also collected four of his six targets when Cincinnati hosted Miami while assembling 81 receiving yards, 111 air yards, and attaining a 32.1% share of air yards. Both receivers will create nightmares for opposing defenders as the season continues. While Higgins will be positioned to deliver highly-productive outings to fantasy managers if teams elect to use double coverage on Chase.

2. Zach Wilson resurfaced under center for the Jets in Week 4 after Joe Flacco had spearheaded New York’s aerial attack during the team’s first three matchups. Garrett Wilson was leading the Jets in targets with Flacco under center (33/25.4%). The rookie also entered Week 4 as one of just nine receivers who had attained an average of 11.0 targets per game.

It's time @ZachWilson 😤 pic.twitter.com/pBQMb4CuPA

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 2, 2022

Wilson also led the Jets in receptions (18/6.0 per game), receiving yards (214/71.3 per game), air yards (318), and his 30.8% share of air yards. Wilson was also pacing New York in yards after catch (57), targets per route run (30.8%), and yards per route run (2.00).

Elijah Moore led the Jets in snap share  (90.1%) and was pacing the team in routes run (146). Moore was second behind Wilson in targets (21 targets/7.0 per game/17.5% share), and receptions (12/4.0 per game), but was third behind Wilson and Corey Davis in receiving yards (139/46.3 per game), targets per route run (14.4%), and yards per route run (0.95).

Davis was third in targets (19/6.3 per game), and receptions (10/3.3 per game), but was second in receiving yards (187/72.3 per game), routes run (128), targets per route run (14.8%), yards per route run (1.46), and air yards (313).

.@ZachWilson to @TheCDavis84

Three-point game.#NYJvsPIT on CBS pic.twitter.com/xzDZiqoDvU

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 2, 2022

Wilson completed 18 of his 36  attempts during his season debut, while his 50% completion percentage placed him 29th among all signal callers. He also averaged 7.0 yards per attempt, 5.1 yards per attempt, 8.6 intended air yards per attempt, and 4.3 completed air yards per attempt.

Wilson also distributed a team-high seven targets to Davis (25.9% share), who also led the Jets in receptions (5,0), receiving yards (74) air yards (98), and also with his 36.7% share of air yards. He also established a new season high with his 71% catch rate.

Garrett Wilson experienced season lows in targets (6.0/22.2% target share), receptions (2,0 receiving yards (41), air yards (45), and with his 16.9% share of air yards. Moore was relegated to a season-low in targets (4.0/14.8% share), although he registered season highs in receiving yards (53), yards per target (13.3), yards per reception (17.7), and his 75% catch rate.

Garrett Wilson still leads the team in targets (38/9.8 per game/24.8% share) entering Week 5, while also pacing Jet wide receivers in receptions 20/5.0 per game), yards after catch (77), targets per route run (26.9%), and yards per route run (1.76).

Davis has surged into the team lead in receiving yards (261/65.3 per game), air yards (411), and with his 31.6% share of air yards. Davis also leads the Jets with 156 routes and is second behind Wilson in targets per route runs (16.0%), and yards per route run (1,76).

Moore leads the Jets in routes (181) but is a distant third behind Wilson and Davis in targets per route run (13.8%), and yards per route run  (1.06). He is also third in receiving yards (192/48 per game), air yards (346), and his 26.6% share of air yards.

It is critical to avoid an overreaction due to the one-game sample size of Wilson’s return. However, the constraints on Moore’s numbers are concerning. Garrett Wilson's ability to build upon his promising numbers from Weeks 2-3 will be impeded if Zach Wilson continues to distribute the highest percentage of targets to Davis.

3. The inspiration for examining Drake London in this week’s column included the discovery that several websites were categorizing him as a ‘bust’ following Atlanta’s Week 4 matchup with Cleveland. This was the result of his reception and yardage totals against the Browns (2 receptions/17 yards) and was strictly a reference to that output. However, London had also captured a team-high seven targets, during a game in which Marcus Mariota only launched 19 passing attempts. 

This underscored the rising expectations that now exist for London, who has quickly emerged as a WR2 option for fantasy managers. He had ascended to WR14 in PPR scoring prior to his Week 4 matchup and is currently WR23 despite the underwhelming production that was generated against the Browns.

Drake London continues to prove he’s already a fantastic receiver: pic.twitter.com/Mq2C3XstZI

— PFF ATL Falcons (@PFF_Falcons) September 25, 2022

London has become Atlanta's most productive receiving option while operating in an offense that ranks just 29th in passing yardage (181 per game) and 31st in attempts per game (24.5). This has not prevented him from constructing encouraging numbers, while his performance through four games has also justified the Falcons’ decision to seize him with the eighth overall selection in last April’s NFL Draft.

He had entered Week 4 averaging 5.3 receptions and 71.3 yards per game. He is currently third among all wide receivers in target share (34.0%), as has garnered 32 targets (8.0 per game), 18 receptions (4.5 per game), and 231 receiving yards (57.8 per game).

He has also accumulated 335 air yards while attaining a 32.2% share of air yards. London has also run 101 routes, is now sixth in targets per route run (31.7%). and is averaging 2.29 yards per route run. No other Atlanta wide receiver has reached an 11% target share, as Olamide Zaccheaus (10.6%), and KhaDarel Hodge (9.3%), are not candidates to threaten London’s status as the Falcons' WR1.

Drake London is so good

He’s showing to have a safe floor and high ceiling. You can confidentially start him weekly

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) September 25, 2022

London and tight end Kyle Pitts (22 targets/5.5 per game/23.4% share) are easily the top two options for Mariota. That would also remain intact if Arthur Smith opts to elevate rookie Desmond Ridder under center. London's critical role in Atlanta's aerial attack should help him sustain what has been a prolific rookie season, even as he functions in an attack that will be impacted by shortcomings under center.

4. While London has joined Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jahan Dotson in generating noteworthy numbers at the onset of their rookie seasons, the stock for several other newcomers has been surging as we approach the kickoffs of Week 5.  This includes Romeo Doubs, who was the 19th wide receiver to be selected during last April’s NFL draft. He was also the second to be chosen by the Packers (Round 4/32nd overall), but the 6’2”, 200-pound Doubs has seized a critical role within a Green Bay passing attack that is still reforming following the exodus of Davante Adams.  

Romeo Doubs through 4 games :

• 19 catches
• 184 yards
• 2 TD @RomeoDoubs | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/8iwm1NKE2q

— GBP Daily (@GBPdaily) October 3, 2022

Doubs has ascended into the team lead in multiple categories which has largely been fueled by his involvement during Green Bay’s last two matchups. He was involved on 46.5% of the Packers' offensive snaps in Weeks 1-2, while operating with a 13.3% target share, and averaged 4.0 targets per game. He still led the Packers with eight targets during that two-game sequence, while accumulating six receptions, generating 60 receiving yards, and assembling 46 air yards.

Romeo Doubs managers stand up ⬆️
pic.twitter.com/bM76WUEnYF

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 2, 2022

Since Week 3, Doubs’ snap share has improved to 92.6%, while he has commandeered a team-high 24.2% target share. He leads Green Bay with 16 targets after capturing eight in both Weeks 3 and 4. The newcomer also leads the Packers in red zone targets (3.0), receptions, (13), yards after catch (89), and routes run (73). during that sequence.

Dobbs currently leads the Packers in targets from Weeks 1-3 (24/6.0 per game/19.1% share) and is also pacing the team in receptions (19/4.8 per game), receiving yards 184/46 per game), and yards after catch (125). He also leads Green Bay in routes (111), has been targeted on 21.6% of his routes, and has averaged 1,66 yards per route run.

Dobbs has been operating with five-year veteran Allen Lazard as Aaron Rodgers’ top two receiving weapons, as Lazard is currently second on the team in targets (17/5.7 per game/18.7% share), receptions (12/4.0 per game), and receiving yards (174/58 per game). Lazard leads the Packers in air yards (235) and with his 38.5% share of air yards.

Rookie Christian Watson was secured in Round 2 of the NFL Draft (24th overall) but has yet to emerge as a factor in Green Bay’s reconstructed aerial attack (39.6% snap share/10.9% target share). 29-year-old Sammy Watkins led the Packers with 93 receiving yards on three catches in Week 2 but has remained unavailable since that outing (hamstring). 32-year Randall Cobb is only operating with a 40% snap share, as Doubs and Lazard commandeer opportunities.

Dobbs should also retain his integral role for the foreseeable future and can provide fantasy managers with a weekly WR3.

5. Christian Kirk averaged 6.4 targets 4.2 receptions and 51.8 yards per game during four seasons with Arizona. He had never finished higher than WR26 during his tenure with the Cardinals and the four-year $72 million contract that he signed with Jacksonville during the offseason ignited considerable conversation. However, the early returns on the Jaguars’ investment have been extremely favorable.

The infusion of Kirk and Zay Jones into Jacksonville’s receiving arsenal has combined with Trevor Lawrence’s development and the advent of a capable coaching staff to elevate all three players as fantasy assets at an unanticipated level. The Jaguars were unable to sustain their previous level of proficiency in Week 4, but that does not alter the fact that Kirk's numbers have exceeded expectations.

Kirk leads the Jaguars with a 91.7% snap share and is also pacing the team in targets (36/9.0 per game/30.3% share) - which also places him 13th overall. His total had been fueled by the 12-target outing that he registered during Jacksonville’s season opener, while he has collected 9+ in three of his first four games as a Jaguar.

Kirk is also leading Jacksonville in receptions (20/5.0 per game), receiving yards (327/81.8 per game), yards per target (9.1), yards per reception (16.4), yards after catch (122), receiving touchdowns (3) red zone targets (8.0), air yards (307), and with his 37.4% share of air yards. Kirk’s aforementioned numbers have also vaulted him to third in red zone targets, eighth in target share, ninth in receiving yards and 16th in air yards share.

Kirk is also leading the Jaguars with 128 routes run, is 12th overall in targets per route run (28.1%), and is 14th among all wide receivers with an average of 2.55 yards per route run. Jones signed a three-year, $24 million contract in March, and quickly secured WR2 status behind Kirk. He was leading the team in receptions after Week 3 (19/6.3 per game) before an ankle issue sidelined him for Jacksonville’s Week 4 visit to Philadelphia.

Jones had also emerged as an enticing waiver wire target after he registered a season-high 11 targets in Week 3, and led the Jaguars in targets per route run (34.4%), yards per route run (2.66), receptions (10), and receiving yards (85).

Lawrence’s performance in Week 4 did not match his proficiency from Weeks 1-3 as his 47.8% completion percentage and 174 passing yards dropped considerably from his previous averages (70.7%/257 yards). He is still exceeding last season's averages by a significant margin (59.6% completion percentage), (214.2 yards per game), while he has also generated eight touchdowns after manufacturing just 12 throughout the 2021 regular season.

Kirk should continue to benefit from his connections with Lawrence while operating as a WR2 for fantasy managers. Jones will reenter flex territory once he resurfaces from his injury.

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