Wide Receiver Breakouts for Fantasy Football: Targets, Air Yards, Snaps Trends for Terrace Marshall, Terry McLaurin, Demarcus Robinson

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 eighth 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 8 Target Leaders

.@cheetah is already over 💯 yards today and it's only the second quarter!!

📺: Watch #MIAvsDET on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/zlgX2R6vQ4

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 30, 2022

Tyreek Hill is leading all wide receivers in targets for a second consecutive week (92/11.5 per game) after accumulating a league-high 42 targets since Week 6.
Cooper Kupp is second overall (84) after capturing 12+ for the fourth time this season when the Rams hosted the 49ers in Week 8.

Diontae Johnson is next (76) even though he has failed to reach double digits in three of his last five outings, after accomplishing it during 15 of his previous 19 games.

Ja'Marr Chase is fourth overall (74) despite being sidelined (hip) when Cincinnati traveled to Cleveland in Week 9. CeeDee Lamb is next (73) although he is averaging 6.5 per game since Week 7. That ties Lamb with Stefon Diggs who has now secured a 27.7% target share entering Week 9.

Justin Jefferson has collected 71 targets, after garnering eight in each of his last two outings. Michael Pittman Jr. has accumulated 70 targets with a total that has been fueled by the league-high 16 that he captured in Week 6.

Davante Adams is next (68) even though the five targets that he received in Week 8 represented his lowest weekly total since Week 6 of last season. D.J. Moore averaged 7.3 targets per game from Weeks 1-6 but has averaged 10.5 per game during his last two matchups. That has expanded his overall total to 65.

GET THE CAPE#PITvsPHI | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/INFwctCQ4t

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 30, 2022

A.J. Brown has now accumulated 64 targets after capturing 11+ for the second time since Philadelphia’s season opener. That ties A.J. Brown with Marquise Brown, whose overall total has remained stationary at 64 since he sustained a fractured foot in Week 6.

#FinsUp and #RollTide! 😎 @AlabamaFTBL

📺: Watch #MIAvsDET on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/DcSdKThKzD

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 30, 2022

Jaylen Waddle is next (63) after he has captured at least nine targets during two of his last three games. Chris Olave has also now secured 63 targets along with a 26.3% target share from Weeks 1-8.

D.K. Metcalf has now collected 62 targets after securing a double-digit total for the third time this season in Week 9. That ties him with Curtis Samuel, who averaged 10 per game from Weeks 1-3, but has averaged 6.4 since Week 4.

Courtland Sutton has also accumulated 62 targets although he has failed to exceed four during two of his last three contests. Tyler Lockett has now accrued 61 targets after collecting eight in each of his last two games. Christian Kirk has also assembled 61 targets but has only attained 10+ targets once since Jacksonville’s season opener.

Mike Evans has now collected 59 targets after averaging 13 per game during his last two outings. He is tied with Mike Williams who had eclipsed 10+ targets in three different matchups before being sidelined in Week 7 by an ankle issue.

.@ZachWilson to @GarrettWilson_V.

PRETTY.#NEvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/uqFUvmY4EL

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 30, 2022

Garrett Wilson has also accumulated 59 targets after attaining his highest weekly total since Week 3 (7) during the Jets' Week 8 matchup with New England

Chris Godwin has now averaged 12 targets per game since Week 6 while expanding his overall total to 55. That tied him with Brandon Aiyuk, whose season-long total was fueled by the 22 targets that he garnered in Weeks 6-7. Jerry Jeudy has now collected 54 targets including 25 during his last three games. He has also secured a 26.4% target share during that span. Deebo Samuel has also accumulated 54 targets and had averaged 7.7 per game from Weeks 5-7 before being sidelined with a hamstring injury in Week 8.

Terry McLaurin has now captured 53 targets after collecting eight in two consecutive weeks. McLaurin had been averaging 6.2 per game from Weeks 1-6 and his recent statistical surge will be discussed further in the Five Things I Noticed section. Brandin Cooks has also collected 53 targets despite failing to exceed six during his last three matchups. DeVonta Smith has now accumulated 51 targets after attaining eight during Philadelphia’s Week 8 matchup with Pittsburgh.

Five different receivers have been targeted 50 times while completing the list of 35 receivers who have eclipsed 50+ entering Week 9: Tee Higgins, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Adam Thielen, Zay Jones, and Chase Claypool.

DeAndre Hopkins is now averaging 13.5 targets per game since he reemerged in Week 7. He has been joined by seven other receivers who are averaging 10+ from Weeks 1-8 - Kupp (12.0), Hill (11.5), Marquise Brown (10.7), Chase (10.6), Diggs (10.4), Jefferson (10.1), and Pittman (10.0).

Week 8 Target Risers And Fallers 

10 different wide receivers were targeted at least 10 times during their matchups in Week 8. That includes Tyreek Hill who led the position with 14. He has now captured 13+ in four of his last five matchups while averaging a league-best 12.6 per game during that span.

DeAndre Hopkins has now stockpiled 27 targets since re-emerging in Week 7. That includes the 13 that he accumulated in Week 8. It is the first time that Hopkins has garnered double-digit target totals in back-to-back games since Weeks 16-17 of the 2020 regular season. Cooper Kupp's 12 targets represented his fifth double-digit total of the season, while his 33.2% share from Weeks 1-8 leads all wide receivers.

4th down touchdown.@jkbmyrs5 | #ForeverNE

📺: #NEvsNYJ on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/GwYbNU3Tpz

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 30, 2022

Jakobi Meyers also captured 12 targets which was the second time that he has eclipsed double digits this season. He has averaged 5.0 targets per game during his other four matchups. The recent rise in D.J. Moore's usage and output is underscored by the 11 targets that he accrued in Week 8. His surging numbers will be examined further in the Five Things I Noticed section.

A.J. Brown’s 11 targets represented his second-highest weekly total of the season. He has now eclipsed 10+ three times after accomplishing it five times during his three seasons with Tennessee.

Tampa Bay teammates Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both garnered 11 targets when the Buccaneers hosted Baltimore in Week 9. Evans has now accumulated 26 targets since Week 7, while his 28.9% target share places him seventh among all receivers during that sequence. Godwin has now reached a double-digit target total in four of his last five contests while averaging 10.4 per game during that span.

Amon-Ra St.Brown captured 12 targets during both of his first two matchups but injuries contributed to his inability to reach double digits from Weeks 3-7. However, he was targeted 10 times by Jared Goff when Detroit hosted Miami in Week 9.

Geno finding DK in the back. We're on the board!

📺 #NYGvsSEA on FOX pic.twitter.com/K9tSf0jJ4e

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 30, 2022

D.K. Metcalf also captured 10 targets while also overcoming a troublesome knee that threatened to sideline him in Week 8. He has now reached double digits in three outings this season.

Michael Pittman has collected nine targets in two consecutive matchups including the Colts’ initial game with Sam Ehlinger spearheading the team's aerial attack. Jaylen Waddle has now accrued 9+ targets in three games this season after collecting nine when the Dolphins traveled to Detroit. Terrace Marshall Jr. accumulated six targets during his NFL Debut (Week 1, 2021) but failed to reach that total again until he collected a career-best nine in Week 8.

Jakobi Meyers’ 12 targets were accumulated just one week after he had been limited to a season-low two. That automatically ignited his week-to-week surge of +10. Metcalf’s 10 targets were registered following his two-target outing in Week 7 which resulted in his weekly rise of +8.

Demarcus Robinson leaves two defenders in the dust 😱pic.twitter.com/qWCSFvFRFA

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 28, 2022

Demarcus Robinson was limited to 15 snaps and failed to register a target in Week 7. However, injuries to Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews contributed to his expanded role in Week 8, while fueling his weekly rise of +8. Terrace Marshall Jr.'s career-high nine targets also increased his week-to-week total by +6. That tied Marshall with Rondale Moore, whose fluctuating weekly totals since Week 6 (10/2/8) included his weekly rise of +6.

Parris Campbell had captured 11+ targets during his matchups in Weeks 6 and 7 after he had failed to reach double digits during the first 20 games of his career. He was limited to just two targets in Week 8, which launched the largest weekly plunge of -10.

During his last six games. Chris Olave had been targeted 13+ times in three different contests and has failed to exceed seven during the remaining matchups. That includes the results from his last two outings (14/7) which resulted in his week-to-week decline of -7.  That tied Olave with Zay Jones who had reached double digits for the second time this season in Week 7 (10) but was relegated to three targets in Week 8.

The week-to-week results for six different receivers decreased by -5: Brandon Aiyuk, Courtland Sutton, Wan’Dale Robinson, Tre’Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway, and Marvin Jones.

Week 8 Air Yards

Tyreek Hill has emerged as the league leader in air yards (1,059). Chris Olave had paced the league in this for six consecutive weeks but is now second overall (960). Mike Evans is next (815), followed by Amari Cooper (804), Davante Adams (769), Stefon Diggs (768), Diontae Johnson (764), CeeDee Lamb (762), D.J. Moore (755), Courtland Sutton (753), D.K. Metcalf (737), and Tyler Lockett with 716 air yards. Terry McLaurin is next (696), followed by Mike Williams (695), A.J. Brown (690), and Marquise Brown (669).

Ja’Marr Chase (664) is next, followed by Jaylen Waddle (657),  Cooper Kupp (646), Jerry Jeudy (638), George Pickens (593), Darnell Mooney (593), Justin Jefferson (571), Christian Kirk (571), Josh Reynolds (556), and Marvin Jones (546). Corey Davis is next (539), followed by Tee Higgins (534), Gabriel Davis (527), Allen Lazard (523), and Mack Hollins 502, completing the list of 30 wide receivers who have accumulated 500+ air yards.

A.J. Brown now leads all wide receivers in air yard share (46.1%), followed by D.J. Moore (44.6%), Tyreek Hill (41.4%), Darnell Mooney (41.4%), Chris Olave (41.0%), Marquise Brown (40.5%), Cooper Kupp (40.5%), CeeDee Lamb (40.4%), Robbie Anderson (40.3%), Amari Cooper (39.8%), and Davante Adams, who has attained an air yard share of 38.7%. Justin Jefferson is next (38.3%), followed by Darius Slayton (38.2%), Mike Evans (37.9%), and Mike Williams (37.3%).

D.K. Metcalf is next (36.7%), while Metcalf‘s teammate Tyler Lockett has attained an air yard share of 35.7%. Stefon Diggs is next (35.5%), followed by Ja’Marr Chase (35.4%), Allen Lazard (35.1%), and Diontae Johnson (33.3%). Jakobi Meyers is next (32.5%), followed by Terry McLaurin (32.3%), Adam Thielen (31.2%), and Courtland Sutton who has secured an air yard share of 31.2%.

Week 8 Targets Per Route Run

9️⃣ to 🔟. It's a thing of beauty.

📺: @NFLonFOX | 📲 https://t.co/4beUdmlymg pic.twitter.com/7lejdTVyoD

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 30, 2022

Cooper Kupp has retained his place as the league leader in targets per route run (39.4%) entering Week 9. DeAndre Hopkins has been targeted on 35.1% of his routes followed by Tyreek Hill (34.6%), CeeDee Lamb (31.9%), Amon-Ra St. Brown (31.4%), Jakobi Meyers (30.4%), and Davante Adams (30.0%) completing the list of receivers who are averaging a percentage of 30+.

A.J. Brown is next (29.4%), followed by Deebo Samuel (29%), Amari Cooper (28.7%), Chris Godwin (28.1%), Chris Olave (27.8%), Stefon Diggs (26.9%), Drake London (26.8%), D.J. Moore (26.2%), D.K. Metcalf (25.8%), Brandon Aiyuk (25.3%), and three wide receivers who are being targeted on 25% of their routes - Tee Higgins, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jauan Jennings.

Noah Brown is next (24.7%), followed by Mike Williams (24.6%), Marquise Brown (24.6%), Justin Jefferson (24.5%), Jaylen Waddle (24.2%), Tyler Lockett (24.2%), Mike Evans (24.1%), and two wide receivers who are being targeted and 23.9% of their routes – Garrett Wilson, and Richie James.

Week 8 Yards Per Route Run

Tyreek Hill leads all wide receivers with an average of 3.61 yards per route run. DeAndre Hopkins is averaging 3.4 since his return, followed by Cooper Kupp (3.22), A.J. Brown (3.02), Stefon Diggs (2.82), Jakobi Meyers (2.8), Jaylen Waddle (2.8), Justin Jefferson (2.59), Tee Higgins (2.52), and two wide receivers who are tied with an average of 2.43 yards per route run - CeeDee Lamb, and Juju Smith-Schuster.

Chris Olave is next (2.41), followed by Amari Cooper (2.4), Rashod Bateman (2.39), Mike Evans (2.36), Davante Adams (2.26), Brandon Aiyuk (2.23), Olamide Zaccheaus (2.21), Amon-Ra St. Brown (2.16) Noah Brown 2.15, and two receivers that are averaging 2.11 yards per route run – Tyler Lockett, and DeVante Parker.

Deebo Samuel and Nelson Agholor are averaging 2.08, followed by Mike Williams (2.06), Randall Cobb (2.06), Nico Collins (2.05), Darius Slayton (2.04), D. K. Metcalf (1.97), Tre’Quan Smith (1.94), Allen Lazard (1.92), Donovan Peoples-Jones (1.92), and two receivers that are averaging 1.89 yards per route run - Jerry Jeudy, and Drake London.

Week 8 Red Zone Targets

Ja’Marr Chase retained the league lead in red zone targets (14) while remaining sidelined with his hip issue. Davante Adams has failed to register a red zone target since Week 4. However, he had stockpiled 13 targets during the Raiders’ first four matchups and remains second overall behind Chase.

Three receivers have been targeted 12 times – Stefon Diggs, Justin Jefferson, and Allen Robinson, while  D.K. Metcalf has accumulated 11 targets inside the 20. Cooper Kupp and Christian Kirk are the only other wide receivers who have reached double digits entering Week 9. A.J. Brown, Mike Evans, and Mike Williams are among the 10 wide receivers who have collected nine red zone targets entering Week 9.

Robinson has accumulated a league-high 10 targets inside the 10-yard line, while Jefferson is second overall with eight. Four receivers have been targeted seven times: (Chase/Adams/Garrett Wilson/Josh Reynolds) while six receivers have captured six targets: Diggs/Kupp/Brown/Kirk/Curtis Samuel.

Robinson also leads all receivers with seven targets inside the 5-yard line. Adams is second overall (six) while Chase, Diggs, and Kirk have been targeted five times.

Week 8 Snap Counts

Cooper Kupp has secured a 98.6% snap share from Weeks 1-8 which leads all wide receivers. D.J. Moore is second overall (97.3%), followed by Justin Jefferson (97.1%), DeAndre Hopkins (96.9%), Michael Pittman (96.5%), Ja’Marr Chase (95.3%), Marquise Brown (94.9%), Adam Thielen (94.2%), and Davante Adams, who has attained a share of 93.6%.

Adams’ teammate Mack Hollins is next (93.1%), followed by Terry McLaurin (93.0%), Courtland Sutton (92.9%), Gabriel Davis (92.6%), Rondale Moore (92.3%), CeeDee Lamb (92.0%), Brandon Aiyuk (91.9%), and Allen Robinson who has been involved on 91.8% of the Rams offensive snaps. Diontae Johnson is next (91.1%), followed by Christian Kirk (90.8%), DeVonta Smith (89.6%), Mike Williams (88.7%), and Darnell Mooney with a snap share of 88.5%.

Terry McLaurin now leads all wide receivers in offensive snaps (494), followed by Courtland Sutton (473), Michael Pittman (470), Donovan Peoples-Jones (470), Christian Kirk (465), Diontae Johnson (460), Parris Campbell (455), Amari Cooper (449), Ja’Marr Chase (447), and Brandon Aiyuk, who has been involved on 441 snaps.

CeeDee Lamb and Chase Claypool are next (436), followed by D.J. Moore (434), Justin Jefferson (432), DeVonta Smith (431), Mike Williams (430), and Curtis Samuel with 428 snaps.

Tyler Boyd has been involved on 426 snaps, followed by Cooper Kupp (423), Darnell Mooney (421), Adam Thielen (419), and Marquise Brown (409) completing the list of 22 wide receivers who have accumulated 400+ snaps.

Five Things I Noticed

1. Terry McLaurin was selected in Round 4 during the majority of drafts (48/WR20) with a draft position that was comparable to his finish in PPR scoring during 2021 (WR22). Unfortunately, his numbers while Carson Wentz was guiding Washington’s offense were disappointing. McLaurin had been operating with a 16.4% target share from Weeks 1-6, which trailed Curtis Samuel’s share of 22.2%.

McLaurin was also just 33rd among all wide receivers in targets (37/6.2 per game) and was also 39th in receptions (22/3.7 per game) and 20th with 367 receiving yards (61.2 per game). Those numbers failed to reach his averages from last season (7.6 targets/4.5 receptions) and were well below his career-best averages from 2020 (8.9 targets/5.8 receptions).

Terry McLaurin. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/qfSl3hKe6h

— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) October 30, 2022

However, he is 12th overall in targets since Week 7, which coincided with the transition from Wentz to Taylor Heinicke under center. McLaurin has collected eight targets during both of Heinicke’s starts while garnering a 28.1% share during that two-game span. McLaurin is also 13th overall in receptions (11/5.5 per game), and he has soared to eighth with 186 receiving yards (93 per game).

Okay, Taylor‼️ pic.twitter.com/jeHQIf98Ny

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 30, 2022

McLaurin was also 19th in air yards (497) and just 40th in air yards share (27.3%) from Weeks 1-6. However, he is eighth with 199 air yards and third in air yards share (59.9%) since Week 7. McLaurin was also positioned at WR33 (11.1 points per game) in scoring from Weeks 1-6 but has vaulted to WR9 (17.5 points per game) since Week 7.

The hometown kid making plays

📺 #WASvsIND FOX pic.twitter.com/hhNLwkSQlG

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 30, 2022

McLaurin was also 10th among all wide receivers in routes run (237) from Weeks 1-6 but was targeted on just 15.6% of his routes, and was averaging 1.55 yards per route run. Since Week 7, he has been targeted on 23.9% percent of his 67 routes and is averaging 2.78 yards per route run.

Samuels had ascended to 13th among all wide receivers in targets from Weeks 1-6 (8.3 per game, and was eighth in receptions (34/5.7 per game). Since Week 7, his aforementioned target share has dropped to 21.1% while he is averaging 6.0 targets, 4.0 receptions, and 51.5 yards per game.

Samuel was also sixth overall with 247 routes run from Weeks 1-6. He was also targeted on 20.2% of those routes while averaging 1.16 yards per route run. With Heinicke guiding Washington’s offense, Samuel has run 61 routes, while being targeted on 19.7% percent of those routes and averaging 1.69 yards per route run.

Jahan Dotson has been sidelined since Week 4 due to the hamstring issue that derailed what had been a promising rookie season. He could approach the 13.4% target share that he attained from Weeks 1-4 whenever he returns. However, anyone with McLaurin contained on their rosters should be ecstatic with his numbers while operating with Heinicke. McLaurin should continue to function as Washington’s unchallenged WR1 while Heinicke is spearheading the Commanders’ aerial attack.

2. Fantasy managers who selected D. J. Moore near his ADP during draft season (34/WR14) made that investment with the belief that he could operate as a high-end WR2. This was justified as Moore had finished fifth among all wide receivers with 416 targets (8.9 per game) and was fourth in receiving yardage (3,525/75 per game) from 2019 to 2021.

He had generated those numbers while consistently evading the hurdles of substandard quarterback play. However, Carolina’s trade for Baker Mayfield in July had seemingly placed Moore in a position to thrive with the most favorable situation under center that he had experienced since Cam Newton was spearheading the team’s aerial attack during 2018.

Unfortunately, the initial results were discouraging as Mayfield’s presence did not supply Moore or the Carolina passing attack with the level of effectiveness that had been anticipated. Mayfield was 22nd in attempts (153/30.6 blank per game), 21st in completions (84/16.8 per game), and just 34th in completion percentage (54.9%) during his five starts.

Moore was only WR62 in PPR scoring entering Week 4. He was also just 44th with 18 targets (6 per game), 68th in receptions (17/5.7 per game), and 77th in receiving yardage (88/29.3 per game).

D.J. Moore! We knew it was possible!

(via @Panthers)pic.twitter.com/CgJf2UirOY

— FantasyPros (@FantasyPros) October 23, 2022

However, Moore has risen to sixth overall in targets (47/9.4 per game) since Week 4.  He is also ninth with a 28.4% target share and fourth with a share of 30.8% since Week 5.

Moore is also fifth overall in targets (28/9.3 per game) with P.J. Walker guiding the Panthers’ aerial attack. Walker has completed 62.5% of his passes and is also 16th in attempts (74/24.7 per game), and 17th in completions (45/15 per game). He is also averaging 7.7 yards per attempt, 7.9 air yards per attempt after Mayfield had averaged 6.3/5.6 in those categories.

Moore has also eclipsed 10 targets during each of his last two games with Walker while rising to fourth overall with a 36.4% share. Moore is also fourth overall with 14 catches (7.0 per game), while his 221 yards (110.5 per game) have been exceeded only by DeAndre Hopkins and Tyreek Hill during that two-game span. Moore is also third overall with 374 air yards with Walker under center and fifth with an air yards share of 57.6%.

PJ Walker JUST DID THAT. HAIL MARY TO DJ Moore. pic.twitter.com/dDYwoZhaGG

— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2022

Moore easily leads the Panthers with 59 routes run since Week 7, and is fourth overall in targets per route run (35.6%), and also in yards per route run (3.75).

Terrace Marshall is second on the Panthers with a 21.4% target share since Week 7. He is also second to Moore in targets (12/6 per game), receptions (6/3.0 per game) receiving yards 118/59 per game), air yards (152), and air yard share (25.8%). Marshall has also run 53 routes since Week 7 while being targeted on 22.6% of those routes and averaging 2.23 yards per route run.

Marshall should retain WR2 responsibilities for Carolina which positions him to operate as a flex option for fantasy managers. Moore should also function as a WR2 for managers if Walker remains under center.

3. The hip injury that cemented Ja'Marr Chase to the sideline in Week 8 was a disappointing development for anyone that had him contained on their rosters. It also fueled a necessary shift in responsibilities for Cincinnati’s remaining receiving weaponry as the Bengals visited Cleveland for their matchup in Week 8.

Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase (hip) not expected to play Monday, could land on IR in coming days. (via @RapSheet + @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/cFMvipw0IG

— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2022

The absence of Chase was significant for both the Bengals and fantasy managers as he had attained a 27.7% target share entering Week 8. This included two games in which his share eclipsed 27%. He was also second among all wide receivers with 74 targets (10.6 per game) from Weeks 1-7 and had collected 10+ targets in five matchups.

Ja'Marr Chase. #ATLvsCIN | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/HVoWIWbi0w

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 23, 2022

Chase was also fourth overall in receptions (47/6.7 per game) and sixth in receiving yardage 605/87.4 per game), while also capturing 7+ targets and exceeding 80 yards in four different games. Chase also led all receivers in routes run (327), and first downs receptions (34), was fifth overall in yards after catch (273), and tied for the league lead in touchdowns (6).

His proficiency had been an integral part in the effectiveness of Cincinnati’s aerial attack, as the Bengals were ranked fifth overall in passing offense (278.7 per game) entering their AFC North showdown and were also eighth in scoring offense (24.7 points per game).

Joe Burrow was fifth among all signal callers with 270 passing attempts (38.6 per game) fourth in completions (186/26.6 per game), third in passing yardage (2097/299.6 per game), and third overall with 15 touchdowns. Burrow was also second overall behind Patrick Mahomes in passing yardage (1564/223.4 per game) and touchdowns (12) from Weeks 3-7.

Tee Higgins appeared destined to operate as Burrow’s primary target, after entering Week 8 at WR23 in scoring. The third-year receiver had averaged 7.0 targets, 5.8 receptions, and 85.6 yards per game while contending with multiple health issues.

A concussion had limited him to 26 snaps during Cincinnati’s season opener, while anyone with Higgins on their roster is already aware that he only played in 10 snaps due to a sprained ankle in Week 5. However, Higgins also accumulated 16 targets, 12 receptions, and a league-high 217 yards in Weeks 3-4.

Joe Burrow goes deep to Tee Higgins for a 59-yard @Bengals touchdown. #RuleTheJungle#MIAvsCIN on Prime Video
Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/Phmgdb9VGl pic.twitter.com/ulalaF5iBu

— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2022

Higgins and Tyler Boyd appeared primed to become beneficiaries of expanded usage during Chase’s absence, as Boyd had attained a 14.2% target share, which included his season-high 21.4% share in Week 7. He had also averaged 5.4 targets, 4.1 receptions, and 65 yards per game, which included the season-high numbers that he secured in Week 7 (9 targets/8 receptions/155 yards). It was also conceivable that Mike Thomas could elevate into flex consideration for managers while operating as the Bengals’ temporary WR3.

Burrow ultimately generated 232 yards through the air at Cleveland after he had averaged 390.5 yards per game in Weeks 6-7. Unfortunately, for anyone who was depending on any of the Bengals’ wide receivers in Week 8, Burrow also distributed a team-high nine targets to  Joe Mixon (26.5% share). Higgins collected six targets (17.7% share), while Boyd accumulated five (14.7% share). Higgins was limited to three receptions and 49 yards, although he did generate a touchdown while finishing at WR23 in Week 8.

Tee takes it to the endzone#CINvsCLE | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/70HZHt13RI

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 1, 2022

Boyd’s reception and yardage totals were also underwhelming (3/38). However, he also produced a touchdown and completed Week 8 at WR28.

TB for 6#CINvsCLE | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/RguX160h93

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 1, 2022

The results from a one-game sample size do not diminish Higgins’ status as a high-end WR2, while Boyd can still be deployed as a WR3. Thomas failed to catch his only target in Week 8 and should not be in anyone’s lineups moving forward.

4. The perpetuating struggles of Tampa Bay’s offense have been widely discussed, as have the many aspects of the Buccaneers’ attack that have performed below expectations. However, Brady’s reliance on Mike Evans and Chris Godwin has been a favorable development for fantasy managers who have either wide receiver contained on their rosters.

The factors that have contributed to Tampa Bay’s recent issues will be reserved for another article, as Evans and Godwin will be the focus of this section. However, there are some pertinent numbers specific to Brady and the offense that should be mentioned.

Tampa Bay’s aerial attack is now fifth overall  (271 yards per game), although the Buccaneers led the NFL in this category last season (307.6 yards per game) and were second in  2020 (289.1 per game). The Buccaneers have also dropped to 25th in scoring offense (18.3 points per game) after finishing second last season (30.1 points per game) and eclipsing 30+ per game during 2020 (30.8).

The Buccaneers’ passing attack is also ninth in Football Outsiders’ DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average), after ranking first overall in 2021 (43.9%).

Tom Brady is currently second overall in passing yardage (2,267/283.4 per game). He leads the league in passing attempts (340/42.3 per game) and completions (224/28 per game). His 65.9% completion percentage remains above his career average (64.2%) although he has generated just nine touchdowns after eclipsing 40+ in 2020 and 2021.

Evans and Godwin have combined for a 41.9% target share. That includes the 20.4% share that has been secured by Evans from Weeks 1-8. Brady has targeted Evans 59 times (8.4 per game), which includes 10+ during three of his last five matchups. Evans has also averaged 9.6 per game and attained a 21% share during that span.

However, Chris Godwin leads the Buccaneers with a 21.5% target share - which is a byproduct of his two-game absence due to a hamstring injury. He also leads the team with a 22.7% target share since his return in Week 4. Godwin has also been targeted 10+ times in four of his last five outings while accumulating 52 targets and averaging 10.4 per game. That places him second overall among all wide receivers in targets while he is also fifth in receptions (32 /6.4 per game).

Mike Evans vs Marlon Humphrey 🍿
pic.twitter.com/uDZzPVEff9

— PFF (@PFF) October 28, 2022

Evans leads the Buccaneers with 815 air yards, which places him third overall. He has also secured a team-high 37.9% air yard share and is tied with Russell Gage for the team lead in red zone targets (9). Evans has now run 245 routes while being targeted on 24.1% plus of those routes. He is also averaging 2.36 yards per route run.

Godwin leads the team's wide receivers in yards after catch (200). He has also run 196 routes during his six matchups, has been targeted on 28.1% of those routes, and is averaging 1.88  yards per route run.

Russell Gage is third on the Buccaneers with a 13.9% target share, while the fifth-year receiver has collected 40 targets (5.7 per game). He has also averaged 4.1 receptions/33 yards per game, has run 199 routes, and has been targeted on 20.1% of those routes. Gage was sidelined by a hamstring issue in Week 8 but will function as the team’s WR3 whenever he returns.

Evans and Godwin are Brady’s most critical receiving weapons by a considerable margin. They should operate as WR2s for fantasy managers despite the issues that have permeated Tampa Bay’s attack.

5. The blockbuster trade that sent Tyreek Hill from Kansas City to Miami automatically created a need for the Chiefs to sustain their explosive passing attack despite the loss of what was both an elite and virtually irreplaceable weapon in Hill.

Kansas City’s current collection of wide receivers does not include contain a player who can replicate Hill’s exceptional abilities. That remains the case even after the Chiefs have infused former Giant Kadarius Toney into their receiving arsenal by dispensing two 2023 draft picks to New York.

However, Hill’s departure has not deterred the Chiefs from operating with a high-octane aerial attack during their first seven matchups. The Chiefs ranked second overall in passing entering their bye week while averaging 296 yards per game. The Chiefs have also produced a league-best 31.9 points per game this season, which represents an increase when contrasted with 2021 (28.2 per game).

Patrick Mahomes was sixth overall with 263 attempts (37.6 per game) entering Kansas City’s bye week and was also sixth in completions (176/25.1 per game). His 66.9% completion percentage is the highest of his career, and he has also accumulated a league-high 20 touchdowns.

.@TeamJuJu put together his best game as a Chief on Sunday (so far) ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/mUHJGwOxku

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 18, 2022

Travis Kelce unsurprisingly has commandeered a team-high 60 targets (8.6 per game/23.9% share). JuJu Smith-Schuster is second to Kelce with 48 targets (6.9 per game/19.1% share). Marquez Valdes-Scantling is second in targets among the team’s wide receivers (38 targets/5.4 per game/15.1% share), followed by Mecole Hardman (25 targets/3.6 per game/10.0 % share), and second-round draft selection Skyy Moore (12 targets/1.7 per game/4.8% share).

Smith-Schuster has emerged as Kansas City’s WR1 while elevating to WR20 before the Chiefs’ bye week. He also soared to WR2 in Weeks 6-7 in the aftermath of his two-week statistical surge. He captured 12 of his 13 targets and erupted for 237 yards (118.5 per game) during that sequence while generating two touchdowns. Smith-Schuster also led all wide receivers with 141 yards after catch while averaging 3.12 yards per route run during that two-game span.

JUJU ON THAT BEAT 🕺

📺: #KCvsSF on FOX pic.twitter.com/QTfOMbUuKF

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 23, 2022

Hardman was WR35 in scoring entering the bye. However, he had languished at WR60 before his unsustainable performance in Week 7 – which included three touchdowns but only 31 receiving yards. Hardman had been averaging 3.5 targets, 2.5 receptions, and 31 yards per game prior to his season-best scoring total.

Valdes-Scantling was WR52 while averaging 3.1 receptions/52.7 yards per game entering his bye. He was only averaging 43 yards per game before he accumulated 111 yards on three receptions in Week 7. Valdes-Scantling is also pacing Kansas City’s wide receivers in air yards (463), while Smith-Schuster has accumulated 407.

Valdes-Scantling (207), and Smith-Schuster (203) have both eclipsed 200+ routes run, while Smith-Schuster leads Kansas City’s wide receivers in targets per route run (23.6%), and yards per route run (2.43). Valdes-Scantling had been targeted on 18.4% of his routes while averaging 1.78 yards per route run.

Toney stockpiled 22 targets, 16 receptions, and 267 yards in Weeks 4-5 of his 2021 rookie season while finishing at WR7 during that sequence. He has only manufactured 139 yards on 21 receptions since that statistical eruption and it is uncertain how quickly he can become a resource for the Chiefs’ aerial attack.

However, Smith-Schuster’s aforementioned rise into WR1 responsibilities for Kansas City will provide fantasy managers with a low-end WR2 through the fantasy postseason. Valdes-Scantling should only be deployed as a WR4 if roster issues have created desperation while Hardman is not a viable option for your lineups.

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