Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Risers and Fallers for Week 8 (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 seventh 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 7 Target Leaders

.@Tua and @cheetah are automatic on 3rd down.

📺: #PITvsMIA on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/vDQGJ9SfCd pic.twitter.com/DhyvF65Qpj

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2022

Tyreek Hill has surged into the league lead with 78 targets entering Week 7. His overall total has been propelled by the 13+ he collected during three of his last four matchups.

Ja’Marr Chase has now captured 33 targets during his last three contests and is now second overall with 74 entering Week 7. Former league leader Cooper Kupp is next (72) as he returns from the Rams’ bye week. Diontae Johnson eclipsed 10+ targets for the fifth time this season, which improved his overall total to 67.

CeeDee Lamb is next (66) even though he was limited to a season-low six targets during the Cowboys’ Week 7 matchup with Detroit. Stefon Diggs is next (65) as he returns from Buffalo‘s bye week while Marquise Brown had accumulated 64 targets prior to his foot injury.

Davante Adams has now captured 63 targets, including 9+ during four of his first six games with the Raiders. That ties Adams with Justin Jefferson, who had eclipsed 11+ targets in four different contests prior to the Vikings’ bye week. Michael Pittman Jr. completes the list of receivers who have accrued 60+ targets (61) after he attained 9+ for the fourth time during his last six games.

Amari Cooper has captured 12 targets in two of his last four matchups, which have been sandwiched between two games in which he was limited to just four. His 59 targets tie him with Mike Williams, who had collected nine in Week 7 before he sustained his ankle injury.

Curtis Samuel has now assembled eight targets during two of his last three matchups, which has expanded his overall total to 58. That ties him with Courtland Sutton, who has attained 9+ targets during three of his last five contests.

If you did a rookie re-draft of the '22 class, where would you draft Chris Olave?

🔽Every Target vs the Cardinals 🔽 pic.twitter.com/BFgiXmbKM5

— Dynasty Nerds 🤓 (@DynastyNerds) October 21, 2022

Chris Olave now leads all rookies with 56 targets after capturing 13+ during three of his last five outings. Olave has also attained a 26.7% target share which places him 14th overall and second among all first-year receivers.

Jaylen Waddle is next (54) even though he has failed to exceed five targets during four of his seven matchups this season. That ties Waddle with Deebo Samuel, who has been targeted  7+ times during six of his seven games.

D.J. Moore reached double digits for just a second time this season when he captured 10 targets in Week 7. That improved his overall total to 54. It also tied him with Christian Kirk, who attained a double-digit total for the first time since Jacksonville‘s season opener. Tyler Lockett is next (53) after he accumulated 8+ targets for the fourth time during his last six contests.

Garrett Wilson has also accrued 53 targets, even though he has only averaged 4.6 per game since Week 5. A.J. Brown has also accumulated 53 targets, as he returns from Philadelphia’s bye week. Brandon Aiyuk has now averaged 11 targets per game since Week 6 after he had averaged 5.4 per game from Weeks 1-5. This has launched his overall total to 49.

Mike Evans has accumulated 48 targets after he reached double digits for the second time this season in Week 7. That ties Evans with JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has collected exactly 8 targets in five of his first seven games with Kansas City. Zay Jones is next (47) after he eclipsed 10+ targets for the second time this season.

Brandin Cooks has also accumulated 47 targets, even though he has only averaged 5.5 per game since Week 5. That ties Cooks with Jerry Jeudy who captured a season-high 11 targets in Week 7.

Terry McLaurin vs Jaire Alexander 🍿
pic.twitter.com/rSFbyOdvrD

— PFF (@PFF) October 23, 2022

Terry McLaurin completes the list of 30 wide receivers who have accumulated 45+ targets after he collected eight during his first game with Tayler Heinicke under center.

Chase Claypool has averaged 8.0 targets per game since Week 5, which has expanded his overall total to 44. That ties in Claypool with Tee Higgins, who has averaged 8.0 targets per game during his last two outings.

Chris Godwin has captured 41 targets since Week 4, which is second overall behind Tyreek Hill’s 49 during that sequence. That has also propelled Godwin’s overall total to 44. That ties him with Drake London, who was relegated to a season-low one target in Week 7.

Eight different receivers who have played in at least six matchups are averaging 10+  targets per game – Kupp (12.0), Hill (11.1), Diggs (10.8), Marquise Brown (10.7), Chase (10.6), Adams (10.5), Jefferson (10.5), and Pittman (10.2).  

Week 7 Target Risers And Fallers 

13 different wide receivers were targeted at least 10 times during their matchups in Week 7. That includes the 15 targets that Mike Evans stockpiled which were the most at his position. It was his highest weekly total since Week 9 of the 2019 regular season, and Evans has now averaged 9.3 per game since Week 4.

Chris Olave established a new career-high when he captured 14 targets during New Orleans’ Week 7 matchup with Arizona. He has also attained a 30.4% target share which placed him ninth among all receivers for the week. That also tied Olave with DeAndre Hopkins whose 14 targets are the most since Week 1 of the 2020 regular season. Hopkins’ 48.3% target share was easily the highest in Week 7.

Tyreek Hill has now captured 12+ targets in five of his seven games with Miami. That includes the 13 that he attained in Week 7. His 11.1 per-game average is also the highest of his career. Chris Godwin also collected 13 targets in Week 7 and has now accumulated 25 during his last two outings. He has also captured 12+ in four of his last eight regular-season matchups.

Live look at Jerry Jeudy pic.twitter.com/Q5ta1mPngZ

— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) October 23, 2022

Jerry Jeudy’s 11 targets in Week 7 represent the highest weekly total since Week 16 of his 2020 rookie season. He has also averaged 8.7 targets per game since Week 5.  Parris Campbell has now collected 11+ targets in two consecutive matchups after he had failed to reach double digits during the first 20 games of his career. He has also attained a 23.7% target share during that sequence.

Brandon Aiyuk has now been targeted 11 times in two consecutive outings after he had failed to exceed eight targets during his previous nine regular season matchups. Diontae Johnson (10) has reached double digits during two of his last three contests after he had been relegated to a season-low four during Pittsburgh’s Week 4 matchup with the Jets. He has also eclipsed 10+ targets in 17 of his last 23 games.

Christian Kirk averaged 6.4 targets per game from Weeks 2-6 and just 4.0 per game in Weeks 5-6 before he collected 10 during Jacksonville‘s Week 7 matchup with the Giants. Zay Jones has now accumulated 10+ targets in two of his last four games after he accomplished it just three times from 2017-2021. He has also averaged 7.7 per game during that span.

D.J. Moore’s 10 targets represented the second time that he has reached double digits the season after he accomplished it 10 times during 2021. He has also averaged 9.0 per game since Week 4.

Evans was relegated to just four targets in Week 6 but established a new season-high by collecting 15 in Week 7. That fueled his week-to-week rise of +11. Sutton was only targeted three times during the Broncos’ Week 6 matchup with the Chargers. However, he collected nine targets in Week 7 which resulted in a weekly increase of +6.

WHAT A GAME 🤯

The @Giants defense stops Christian Kirk INCHES away from the game-winning TD!

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

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 23, 2022

Teammates Christian Kirk and Zay Jones collected 10 targets in Week 7, which doubled their totals from Week 6 (10/5) That also improved their weekly totals by +5. Rondale Moore secured the second double-digit target total of his career in Week 6. when he was targeted 10 times. Unfortunately, he was limited to just two targets when Arizona hosted New Orleans in Week 7. That launched his weekly decline of -8.

Amari Cooper’s weekly total also experienced a drop of -8, after he was limited to four targets from Jacoby Brissett in Week 7. Michael Pittman led all wide receivers with 16 targets during the Colts' Week 6 matchup with Jacksonville. He also captured nine targets in Week 7  but his career-best total from his previous outing fueled the inevitable drop of -7.

Week 7 Air Yards

Chris Olave has now led all wide receivers in air yards for six consecutive weeks while accumulating a league-best 912. Tyreek Hill is second overall (837), followed by Courtland Sutton (717), Mike Williams (695), Diontae Johnson (690), Davante Adams (684) CeeDee Lamb (672), and Marquise Brown (669).  Ja’Marr Chase is next  (664), followed by Amari Cooper (660), Stefon Diggs (641), Tyler Lockett (632), and Mike Evans (631) completing the list of 13 wide receivers who have assembled 600+ air yards entering Week 8.

Terry McLaurin has accrued 593 yards, followed by D.K. Metcalf (588), Jerry Jeudy (580), Jaylen Waddle (568), Darnell Mooney (563), Cooper Kupp (554), Corey Davis (539), George Pickens (536), Allen Lazard (523), Christian Kirk (522), Marvin Jones (517), A.J. Brown (509), and D.J. Moore (504) completing the list of 26 wide receivers who have accumulated 500+ air yards from Weeks 1-7.

Darnell Mooney continues to lead all wide receivers in air yards share (45.7%) while A.J. Brown is second overall (43.1%). Chris Olave is next (41.6%), followed by Darius Slayton (41.2%), Davante Adams (41.0%), Marquise Brown (40.5%), CeeDee Lamb (39.7%), D.J. Moore (39.5%), Tyreek Hill (38.5%), Cooper Kupp (38.0%), Justin Jefferson (37.7%), Mike Williams (37.3%), Amari Cooper (37.0%), and Tyler Lockett who has attained a 36.2% air yard share.

Ja’Marr Chase is next (35.4%), followed by Allen Lazard (35.1%), Stefon Diggs (34.8%), Mike Evans (34.0%), Courtland Sutton (33.7%), and D.K. Metcalf with an air yard share of 33.7%.  Robbie Anderson is next (33.5%), followed by Diontae Johnson (33.4%), DeVonta Smith (32.5%), Drake London (31.6%), Jakobi Meyers (31.5%), Marvin Jones (31.1%), Rashod Bateman (30.7%), DeVante Parker (30.3%) and Adam Thielen with an air yard share of 30.2%.

Week 7 Targets Per Route Run

Cooper Kupp has sustained his league lead in targets per route run (40%). Tyreek Hill is second overall (33.5%), followed by CeeDee Lamb (32.7%), Amon-Ra St. Brown (32.5%), Davante Adams (31.7%), Jakobi Meyers (30%), Deebo Samuel (29%), Chris Godwin (28.6%), Chris Olave (28%), Drake London (28%), A.J. Brown (27.6%), and Stefon Diggs who has been targeted on 27.2% of his routes.

Brandon Aiyuk is next (26.1%), followed by Garrett Wilson (26%), Hunter Renfrow (25.8%), Amari Cooper (25.7%), Justin Jefferson (25.6%), Courtland Sutton (25.3%), and D.J. Moore (25.2%), and Jauan Jennings (25%) completing the list of 21 receivers who have been targeted on at least 25% of their routes.

D.K. Metcalf is next (24.8%), followed by Noah Brown (24.7%), Mike Williams (24.6%), Marquise Brown (24.6%), Rashod Bateman (24.5%), Scotty Miller (24.4%), Tyler Lockett (24.1%), Richie James (23.9%), and two receivers who have been targeted on 23.7% of the routes – Jaylen Waddle, and Zay Jones.

Week 7 Yards Per Route Run

Cooper Kupp also leads all wide receivers with an average of 3.37 yards per route run. Tyreek Hill is a close second (3.32), followed by Jakobi Meyers 3.23, Stefon Diggs 2.74, Jaylen Waddle 2.72, Justin Jefferson 2.66, A.J. Brown 2.62, Rashod Bateman 2.59, Davante Adams 2.56, and Olamide Zacchaeus 2.54.

Chris Olave is next (2.48), followed by Juju Smith- Schuster (2.43), CeeDee Lamb (2.37), Tee Higgins (2.28), Nelson Agholor (2.25), Amon- Ra St. Brown (2.24), Tre’Quan Smith (2.22), Mike Evans (2.21), and Noah Brown, who is averaging 2.15 yards per route run.

Brandon Aiyuk is next (2.14), followed by Tyler Lockett (2.13), DeVante Parker (2.13), Deebo Samuel (2.08), Mike Williams (2.06), Randall Cobb (2.06), Darius Slayton (2.05), Nico Collins (2.05), and Drake London (2.01) completing the list of 28 wide receivers are averaging at least 2.00 yards per route run.

Week 7 Red Zone Targets

Ja’Marr Chase has been targeted six times in the red zone during Cincinnati‘s last three matchups. That has propelled him into the league lead with 14 targets entering Week 8. Davante Adams is second overall (13), while Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson have both been targeted 11 times.

Three receivers are tied with 10 targets inside the 20 – Christian Kirk/ D.K. Metcalf/Allen Robinson – while seven different receivers have captured nine targets in the red zone: (A.J. Brown/Mike Williams/Courtland Sutton/ Garrett Wilson/Adam Thielen/Zay Jones/Russell Gage).

Robinson’s eight targets inside the 10-yard line lead all wide receivers while four receivers have been targeted seven times Chase, Adams, Jefferson, and Wilson. Adams and Robinson have secured a league/high six targets inside the 5-yard line, while Chase and Kirk have been targeted five times. Diggs, Sutton, and Josh Reynolds have all accumulated four targets inside the 5.

Week 7 Snap Counts

Cooper Kupp has played on 99.2% of the Rams’ offensive snaps which leads all wide receivers. D.J. Moore is next (97.3%), followed by Davante Adams (97%), Justin Jefferson (96.8%), Michael Pittman (96.8%), Ja’Marr Chase (95.3%), Adam Thielen (95.2%), Marquise Brown (94.9%), Gabriel Davis (93.5%), Mack Hollins (93.5%), DeAndre Hopkins (93%), CeeDee Lamb (93.1%), and Terry McLaurin, who has attained a snap share of 92.8%.

Courtland Sutton is next (92.6%), which ties him with Christian Kirk. DeVonta Smith is next (92.5%), followed by Allen Robinson (91.7%), Brandon Aiyuk (91.1%), Rondale Moore (90.7%), Diontae Johnson (90.6%), Darnell Mooney (88.9%), Mike Williams (88.7%), Allen Lazard (87.7%), Chase Claypool (87.4%), and Parris Campbell who has attained a snap share of 85.9%.

Jakobi Meyers is next (85.5%), followed by Donovan Peoples-Jones (85.6%), Brandin Cooks (83.7%), Ben Skowronek (83.7%), Robbie Anderson (83.6%), Amari Cooper (83.2%), Zay Jones (83.0%), and A.J. Brown who has played on 83.0% of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps.

Ja’Marr Chase leads all wide receivers with 447 offensive snaps. Terry McLaurin is next (436), followed by Mike Williams (430), Michael Pittman (419), Courtland Sutton (415), Christian Kirk (414), Parris Campbell (413), Marquise Brown (409), and Donovan Peoples-Jones (402), completing the list of nine wide receivers who have been involved on 400+ snaps.

Diontae Johnson is next (395), followed by DeVonta Smith (392), Amari Cooper (392), Brandon Aiyuk (390), CeeDee Lamb (388), Curtis Samuel (383), Chase Claypool (381), and Tyler Boyd who has accumulated 378 snaps.

Cooper Kupp is next (370), followed by Justin Jefferson (365), D.J. Moore (363), Darnell Mooney (360), Adam Thielen (359), Davante Adams (356), and A.J. Brown who has accrued 352 snaps. Deebo Samuel is next (347), followed by Noah Brown (344), Mack Hollins (343), DeVante Parker (343), Allen Robinson (342), Romeo Doubs (342), and George Pickett who has played on 336 snaps for the Steelers.

Five Things I Noticed  

1. 30-year-old DeAndre Hopkins resurfaced when Arizona hosted New Orleans in Week 7. Hopkins was re-emerging from a six-game suspension for violation of the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Hopkins was also returning in the aftermath of a 10-game season, as multiple health issues (hamstring/ACL)  had sidelined him during seven of the Cardinals' final nine matchups in 2021.

Hopkins had also averaged 6.4 targets/4.2 receptions/57.2 yards per game during the 10 games in which he was available. This represented notable declines when contrasted with his averages from 2014 to 2020 (10.2 targets, 6.3 receptions, and 83.7 yards per game).

Most targets on TNF:

Deandre Hopkins - 14🤯 pic.twitter.com/vOC9T9nJ0x

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 21, 2022

Hopkins promptly commandeered a 48.3% target share during his season debut while the 14 targets that he stockpiled also resulted in his highest weekly total since Week 1 of the 2020 regular season. Hopkins also captured 10 receptions and eclipsed 100 yards (103) for the first time since 2020. He also accumulated 131 air yards, while attaining 60.7% air yards share. 

The return of @DeAndreHopkins.

He had more receiving yards than the rest of the team combined. pic.twitter.com/pPW2h1KPTM

— NFL UK (@NFLUK) October 21, 2022

No other Arizona wide receiver reached a target share of 7% as Rondale Moore was second behind Hopkins with just two targets. Moore’s infinitesimal involvement was hugely disappointing for anyone for any fantasy managers who were hoping that he would build upon his promising usage during Arizona’s Week 6 matchup at Seattle (10 targets/27.8% share). Hopkins also ran 103 routes, while Murray targeted him on 46.7% of his routes. Hopkins also averaged 3.43 yards per route run.

The timing of Hopkins’ return also coincided with the first game of what will be Marquise Brown’s extended absence. Brown had suffered a fractured foot during the Cardinals’ Week 6 matchup in Seattle, which resulted in his placement on injured reserve.

Brown had attained a 26.3 target share from Weeks 1-6, while his 64 targets (10.7 per game) targets placed him fourth among all wide receivers. Brown head collected 10+ targets during four of his six matchups and was also fifth overall in receptions (43/7.2 per game), and eighth in receiving yards (485/80.8 per game). Brown was easily leading the Cardinals in routes run (260), targets per route run (24.6%), and his average in yards per route run (1.87).

Robbie Anderson was limited to 12 snaps during his first game with Arizona, which occurred only three days after the Cardinals had acquired him in a trade with Carolina. He should become more involved in the target distribution during the upcoming weeks. However, Hopkins will be unchallenged in his role as Arizona’s primary receiving weapon. He should also remain among the league leaders in target share until Brown resurfaces from his foot issue.

2. Diontae Johnson has secured his customary place among the league leaders in targets entering Week 8. However, even though his overall usage from Weeks 1-7 has not been an issue there are legitimate reasons for concern.

Johnson’s numbers have declined in multiple categories when contrasted with his results from 2020 and 2021. George Pickens’ usage and output have also surged since Week 4, which has altered the equation for both receivers during this year of transition from Ben Roethlisberger.

Diontae Johnson once again led the Steelers in targets (10 - 24% share) and air yards (94 - 32% share) but finishing in single digit fantasy points is becoming an annoying trend

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) October 24, 2022

Johnson has risen to fourth overall with 67 targets (9.6 per game/27.2% share) from Weeks 1-7 including five games in which he has eclipsed 10+. This is familiar territory for Johnson, who tied for second with 169 targets during 2021 (28.4% share). He was also one of three receivers who averaged 10+ per game (10.6) and joined Cooper Kupp as the only receivers to capture double-digit totals in 12+ different outings.

Unfortunately for anyone who invested a fourth-round draft selection on Johnson, he is also just WR31 in PPR scoring while averaging 10.8 points per game. That represents a drop of 6.4 points per game when contrasted with last season (17.2) when Johnson finished at WR8. Johnson is also ninth overall in receptions (38), although his 5.4 per game average is the lowest since his 2019 rookie season.

Johnson also finished ninth among all the wide receivers with 1,161 yards during 2021, while averaging a career-best 72.6 per game. However, he has plunged to 36th overall with 337 yards entering Week 8 and 43rd in yards per game (48.1). Johnson is also averaging 5.0 yards per target after he had averaged 7.4/6.9/6.4 during his first three seasons. His 8.9 yards per reception is also below his averages from 2019-2021 (11.5/10.5/10.9). He has also registered 1.3 yards after catch per reception after he had averaged 4.9 during his previous three seasons.

Since Week 4, Johnson has also dropped to WR46 while averaging 8.5 targets/4.3 receptions/35.3 yards per game. His 34 targets lead the team, although Pickens (28/7.0 per game/19.3% share) and Chase Claypool (26/6.5 per game/17.9% share) have become increasingly involved. Johnson also trails Pickens in receptions (17 (4.3 per game) and is third in receiving yards behind Pickens and Claypool (141/25.5 per game) during that span.

George Pickens... WOW.

📺: #PITvsMIA on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/vDQGJ9SfCd pic.twitter.com/EU7DUGP9cT

— NFL (@NFL) October 24, 2022

Pickens had been limited to a 7.3% target share in Weeks 1-2 while averaging 2.5 targets, 1.0 receptions, and 13 yards per game even though he was operating with a 78.9% snap share. However, he has soared to WR18 since Week 4, while securing a 19.3% target share and averaging 7.0 per game. He also leads the Steelers in receptions (21/5.3 per game) and receiving yards 273/68.3 per game), while also pacing the team in air yards (351), and air yards share (30.3%).

Pickens has also run 161 routes run during those matchups, has been targeted on 17.4% of his routes and has averaged 1.70 yards per route run. Johnson has run 191 rounds during that span while being targeted on 17.8% of his routes and averaging just 0.74 yards per route run.

Kenny Pickett made his season debut in Week 4 then officially replaced Mitchell Trubisky under center before Pittsburgh’s Week 5 matchup at Buffalo. This has been a factor in Pickens’ statistical surge and should help Pickens sustain WR2 status for fantasy managers. Johnson is a WR3 option despite his usage, as there is no indication that he can match the level of scoring that he delivered the past two seasons.

3. Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen have combined for a 49.3% target share (Jefferson 29.3%/Thielen 20%) during their first six games in a Minnesota offense that has been restructured under head coach Kevin O’Connell.

The former offensive coordinator with the Rams had been hired with the hope that elements from the Rams’ aerial attack under Sean McVay would be infused into a reshaped Viking offense. There was also surging optimism that Jefferson would stockpile career-best numbers in the reconstructed attack.

Minnesota’s average of 242 yards per game is lower than the team’s average in 2021 (249.3 per game). The Vikings have also averaged 38.3 attempts per game, which is slightly above last season’s average (35.5). Minnesota also rose to sixth pass play percentage (63.8%) from Weeks 1-6 after ranking 18th (58.5%) in 2021.

Kirk Cousins was QB10 entering Minnesota’s bye week, although his numbers in multiple categories have been unexceptional. His touchdown to interception ratio is an uninspiring 9:5, while his 6.6 yards per attempt is the lowest since 2013, and his 6.0 intended air yards per attempt and 3.4 completed air yards are both the lowest of his career.

So beautiful.@KirkCousins8 @JJettas2

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/TUEGFGP0RD

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 16, 2022

That has not impeded Jefferson from rising to WR4, as he has collected 11+ targets in four of his six outings while capturing 9+ receptions in three games. He has also eclipsed 100 yards during four different matchups. The Eagles and Lions utilized man coverage against Jefferson in Weeks 2 and 3, which was supplemented with the deployment of safeties further from the line of scrimmage. This defused Jefferson’s ability to ignite for massive numbers while limiting him to an average of 31 yards during that two-game sequence.

The disappointing results from those two matchups have been offset by his highly-productive outings. His averages of 10.5 targets, 7.7 receptions, and 109 yards per game are also the highest of his career, while also putting Jefferson on pace to accumulate 179 targets, 131 receptions, and 1,853 yards.
Jefferson was tied for fifth overall with 63 targets, fourth in receptions (46), and third in receiving yards (654).

Shredded 'em. @JJettas2 pic.twitter.com/jvkyBCCfjd

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 12, 2022

He was also 13th with a 37.7% share of air yards, fourth in red zone targets (10), and second in yards after catch (289). Jefferson was also seventh in routes run (246) entering Week 7. He has also been targeted on 25.6% of those routes while averaging 2.66 yards per route run. He continues to thrive as Minnesota’s primary receiving weapon while remaining embedded among the top-tier receivers.

Thielen has been progressing through his ninth season as a reliable WR2 for the Vikings who are destined to deliver unexceptional numbers. Thielen was WR28 entering Minnesota’s bye and was 26th in targets (43/7.2 per game), 21st in receptions (29/4.8 per game), and 29th in receiving yards (284/47.3 yards per game. He has yet to attain a double-digit target total during any of his matchups, while his yardage totals have ranged between 27-72.

Go ahead and get Griddy @athielen19 🤣

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/kpvC1hzFlc

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 16, 2022

Thielen tied for sixth with 10 touchdowns last season and finished third overall with 14 during the 2020 regular season. However, he has only scored twice entering Week 8. Thielen was also 14th in routes run (221), while being targeted on 19.5% of his routes, and averaging 1.29 yards per route run.

Thielen’s numbers are sufficient for usage as a weekly starter by managers but that should be limited to deployment as a WR3.

4. A.J. Brown was just one of several fourth-year receivers who had expressed their desire for a new contract during the offseason.

An ongoing impasse during negotiations incentivized the Titans to trade their former second-round selection (2019) in exchange for Philadelphia’s first and third-round selections in last April’s NFL Draft. Brown promptly signed a 4-year, $100 million extension with the Eagles and the transition to his new environment has been beneficial for both Brown and for Philadelphia.

This one's ALL Eagles so far.

Jalen Hurts ➡️ A.J. Brown 🙌pic.twitter.com/Jn2OQ1anAl

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 17, 2022

Brown’s size and speed have formed a favorable blend with his opportunities as the Eagles’ primary receiving weapon to entrench him among the league’s most prolific receivers  He leads the Eagles in multiple receiving categories, while also assembling numbers that exceed the averages that he attained during his tenure with the Titans. Brown had eclipsed 1,000 yards during each of his first two seasons (1,051/1,075), and accumulated 100+ targets (106/105) during both of his final two years with the Titans.

He had also finished at WR21/WR12/WR33 during his three seasons with the Titans. That included his overall scoring last season when he was sidelined during four matchups (chest/hamstring). Brown also averaged 6.9 targets, 4.3 receptions, and 69.7 yards per game during his 43 games with Tennessee – while operating in an aerial attack that failed to rank higher than 30th in pass play percentage during his tenure.

Ironically, the Eagles were 30th in that category entering their bye (46.9%) just two spots below Tennessee. However, that represents a slight increase from 2021, when Philadelphia ranked dead last in pass play percentage (50.1%).

JALEN HURTS DEEP TO A.J. BROWN
pic.twitter.com/8quO0SNpLa

— PFF (@PFF) September 11, 2022

However, that has not deterred Brown from ascending to WR9 entering his bye week. He was also averaging 8.8 targets, 5.5 receptions, and 83.8 yards per game during his first six games with Philadelphia, which are the highest averages of his career in each category. Those averages also place him on pace to accumulate 150 targets/94 receptions/1,425 yards – which would establish new career highs in each category.

Brown was fifth among all receivers with a 30.6% target share entering the Eagles’ bye week, while capturing at least 10 targets in two contests, and collecting 7+ during all six of his matchups. He has also generated 85+ yards in three games and has accrued 67+ five times. Brown was also third with a 43.1% air yards share, 12th in yards before catch (286). and eighth in yards after catch (217). He had also run 192 routes, was 13th in targets per route run (27.6%), and was seventh overall with an average of 2.62 yards per route run.

SKINNY BATMAN@DeVontaSmith_6 | #DALvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/5aE2hNxZrA

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 17, 2022

DeVonta Smith has also assembled favorable numbers during his second season while elevating to WR15 before his bye. His 24.9% target share placed him 24th overall, while he also leads the Eagles in routes run (210). Smith is also second to Brown in targets (43/ per game), receptions (33/5.5 per game), receiving yards (397/66.2 per game), air yards (383), and air yards share (32.5%). Smith has also been targeted on 20.5% of his routes while averaging 1.89 yards per route run. No other Philadelphia wide receiver has reached a 9% target share, and Smith can be deployed as a high-end WR3 if he is contained on your rosters.

5. As Tampa Bay’s offense continues to perform below expectations (17.7 points per game) it is possible that Chris Godwin’s recent accomplishments have been overlooked amid conjecture surrounding the disappointing aerial attack that surrounds him. 

Godwin only played on 19 snaps during the Buccaneers' season opener before he sustained a hamstring injury. He was sidelined during the team's next two contests before he re-emerged for Tampa Bay’s Week 4 matchup with Kansas City. Godwin has averaged 10.3 targets per game since he resurfaced while collecting a total of 41 during that sequence – which places him second only to Tyreek Hill. Godwin is also fifth overall with 26 receptions (6.5 per game) while also assembling 258 receiving yards (64.5 per game).

His 21.9% target share also leads the Buccaneers as Mike Evans is second on the team with a share of 19.8%. Godwin also leads the team in yards after catch (104) and is second to Evans in air yards (299) and air yards share (24.1%). Godwin is also leading Tampa Bay in targets per route run since Week 4 (28.5%) and is second to Evans in total routes run (164/144), and yards per route run (1.96/1.79).

Godwin is also WR15 in PPR scoring since Week. 6 while averaging 13.5 points per game. These results are easy to embrace if you were among the fantasy managers who selected him near his ADP (59/WR26) during draft season.

Several other wide receivers have accumulated noteworthy numbers during their most recent matchups. Brandon Aiyuk operated with a 19.4% target share from Weeks 1-5. He also averaged 5.4 per game during those matchups while failing to exceed four targets during three of those contests. He was also limited to 17 receptions (3.4 per game) and did not surpass three catches or 40 receiving yards during three of his first five contests.

Soooo, who started Brandon Aiyuk today? 👀pic.twitter.com/47dcaeSYFQ

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 16, 2022

However, Aiyuk’s snap share has risen to 24.5% since Week 6, while his 22 targets place him fifth overall during that span. He has accumulated 11 during each of his last two outings, while also rising to fourth with 15 receptions (7.5 per game). Aiyuk is also seventh in receiving yards (165/82.5 per game), while he is also 16th in air yards (161), and also in air yards share (24.6%). He has also run 84 routes since Week 6 and has been targeted on 26.2% of those routes.

Deebo Samuel is contending with a hamstring issue but remains a candidate to deliver highly-productive outings. San Francisco will also operate with game scripts that could compel Kyle Shanahan to rely heavily on his rushing attack. However, that does diminish Aiyuk’s favorable usage and output, which served as a reminder that he remains capable of approaching WR2/high-end WR3 status for fantasy managers.

Parris Campbell had averaged 3.5 targets, 1.7 receptions, and 24 yards per game from 2019-2021 while being sidelined by injuries during 33 contests during that span. He had also attained an 8.1% target share while averaging 3.0 targets, 2.2 receptions, and 22.4 yards per game from Weeks 1-5 this season.

Campbell had also failed to attain a double-digit target total throughout his career until Week 6. However, Campbell’s numbers during his last two matchups have ascended far beyond the results that had been registered throughout his career.

Air Force 1️⃣.

📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/muLgLQQYEy

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 23, 2022

He was targeted 11 times in each of his last two outings. while his target share improved to 23.7% in Weeks 6-7. He also vaulted to fourth overall with 23 targets (11.5 per game) and is third with 17 receptions (8.5 per game). He has also generated two touchdowns, which matched his career total prior to that two-game sequence.

Campbell has also run 113 routes run since Week 6 while being targeted on 20.4% of his routes although is also averaging 1.12 yards per route run. The target shares for Michael Pittman (29.8%), and Alec Pierce (28.7%) have still exceeded Campbell’s, and the Colts’ transition from Matt Ryan to rookie Sam Ehlinger could transform how Campbell is deployed during the team’s upcoming matchups. However, that should not discourage fantasy managers from adding Campbell, as he has finally emerged as a potential WR3/WR4 option if his recent involvement is sustained.

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