Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 11 Analysis

Phil's Week 11 target and reception trends for 2020 WRs to find risers and fallers who are possible buy-low or sell-high candidates based on target share and snap counts.

Your wide receivers remain essential components toward your primary goal of securing league championships. As this unique regular season continues to unfold, an expanding assortment of tools is available that can provide you with an extensive level of knowledge regarding this critical position. Those results are contained in this weekly statistical breakdown of multiple categories, which is designed to help you fulfill your championship aspirations.

This will be the 11th installment that will examine game-specific data, including updated totals for targets, first downs, red-zone targets, snap counts, and a compilation of advanced statistics. 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. This massive collection of data supplies the foundation from which the numbers that are generated in various categories can be evaluated.

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 should remain on your rosters as you approach the fantasy postseason. Pro Football Reference, PFF, NextGenStats, Rotowire, Rotoviz, and Football Outsiders were all used as resources in compiling this data.

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Week 11 Target Leaders 

Keenan Allen froze ‘em?

pic.twitter.com/gv2DhL8FD0

— PFF (@PFF) November 22, 2020

Keenan Allen has vaulted to the league lead in targets (112), while Stefon Diggs’ season total (101) remained unchanged during Buffalo’s Week 11 bye. No other receivers have reached 100 targets for the season. DeAndre Hopkins is now third overall (96), followed by Allen Robinson and Robby Anderson in a tie with 95. Terry McLaurin is next (93), followed by Amari Cooper (90), Cooper Kupp (90), Davante Adams (89), Tyler Lockett (88), and Tyler Boyd completing the top 10 with 87.

Tyreek Hill (86), Diontae Johnson (81), and D.J. Moore (80) are the only other receivers that have attained 80+. Cooper Kupp is next (78), while four receivers are tied with 77 - Calvin Ridley, A.J. Green, D.K. Metcalf, and Jerry Jeudy. Adam Thielen (76), Robert Woods (75),  and JuJu Smith-Schuster (75) complete the list of 20 receivers that have collected 75+ targets.

Allen also leads all receivers in total targets since Week (8) which is six more than second-place Adams (43). Kupp is joined Jerry Jeudy and Pittsburgh teammates Johnson and Chase Claypool in a tie with 40, followed by Hill (38), Anderson (36), Jakobi Meyers (34),  Metcalf (33), Mike Evans (33), and Smith-Schuster (33). Diggs (31) and Lockett (30) are the only other receivers that have captured 30+ targets during that span. Curtis Samuel (29), K.J. Hamler (29), Woods (29), and Tee Higgins (28). Five different receivers are tied with 27 -Adam Thielen, Marvin Jones, Mike Williams, Moore, and A.J. Brown – and are also contained among the 15 additional receivers that have been targeted 25+ times since Week 8.

Johnson leads all receivers in targets since Week 10 (27). Allen is next (26), while Woods and Antonio Brown are tied with 21. Adams, Evans, Kupp, and Hopkins are tied for fifth with 20, while Cincinnati teammates Higgins and Boyd join Michael Thomas in a tie at 19. Five different receivers are tied with 18 targets during that span - Claypool, Lockett, Thielen, Smith-Schuster, and Moore. There is yet another tie among eight receivers that have 16 targets during that sequence - McLaurin, Chris Godwin, Marvin Jones, DeVante Parker, Will Fuller, Josh Reynolds, Hamler, and Jeudy - while Justin Jefferson, Anderson, Samuel, and Larry Fitzgerald have all been targeted 15 times during their last two matchups.

Allen (11.2), Adams (11.1), and Diggs (10.1) remain the only three receivers that are averaging 10+ targets per game. Allen has now eclipsed 10+ targets in four of his last five matchups and is the only wide receiver that has been targeted 10+ times in seven different games this season. Adams and Johnson are tied for second overall with 10+ targets in six contests, while Diggs has accomplished it five times.

Largest Weekly Changes

Keenan Allen led all receivers with 19 targets during his Week 11 matchup. It was the second time that Allen had generated the league’s highest total this season, as he had also collected a league-best 19 targets in Week 3. It was also the third time during his eight-year career that he has reached that total.

BIG catch by Diontae Johnson #Steelers pic.twitter.com/jepRaI56kI

— Steelers Depot ? (@Steelersdepot) November 22, 2020

Diontae Johnson established a new career-high by collecting 16 targets. It was the third consecutive week in which he has been targeted 10+ times, and the fourth time during his last five matchups. He failed to reach a double-digit target total throughout his 2019 rookie season. However, he has now accomplished it six times during 2020. Robert Woods was targeted 15 times by Jared Goff in Week 11, which was the second time that he has eclipsed 10 targets this season. It was also his highest weekly total since Week 13 of 2019 (18).

Tyreek Hill captured 14 targets, which was his second-highest total weekly total of the season. He has now accumulated 32 targets during his last two matchups while attaining a double-digit target total in three of his last four. Cooper Kupp collected 13 targets in Week 11, which was the third time that he had attained 10+ this season, and the second time since Week 8 - when he stockpiled a career-high 20.

He was joined by Antonio Brown, whose 13 targets continued an upward trend since he reemerged with Tampa Bay in Week 9 (5/8/13). It was also the first time that Brown had reached 10 targets since his final game as a Steeler in Week 16 of 2018. Michael Thomas was next with 12 targets, which easily established his new season-high. He had collected 10+ targets in 12 different contests throughout 2019 but had only averaged 6 per game this season prior to Week 11. There will be more discussion on Thomas and the Saints' offense under Taysom Hill in the 5 Things I Noticed section.

Russell Gage joined Thomas in collecting 12 targets, which tied his season-high. Gage had been averaging 4.4 targets per game from Weeks 3-10 but experienced a surge in usage as Julio Jones contended with his hamstring issue. Tyler Boyd, Adam Thielen, and D.J. Moore all captured 11 targets, while Moore’s teammate Curtis Samuel joined Chris Godwin, Larry Fitzgerald, and Tee Higgins in attaining 10. Only those 15 receivers registered a double-digit target total in Week 11. Nelson Agholor, DeVante Parker, and Robby Anderson were among the group of seven receivers that were targeted nine times during their matchups.

Hill's 14 targets in Week 11 were captured following his bye week, which elevated him atop the list of largest week-to-week increases. Allen’s 19 targets were distributed one week after Justin Herbert had targeted him seven times, and the resulting rise of +12 represented the second-highest weekly increase among all wide receivers. Gage’s 12 targets following his Week 10 bye tied him with Allen for the largest weekly increase. Gage's teammate Calvin Ridley was targeted nine times in Week 11, which enabled him to register an increase of +9. He was joined by Woods, whose 15 targets were collected one week after he had been targeted six times.  N’Keal Harry, Denzell Mims, and Demarcus Robinson all experienced increases of +8 as Mims and Robinson returned from their byes while Harry’s targets were absorbed one week after he failed to register a target in Week 10.

Harry’s teammate Damiere Byrd received an increase of +7 as he was targeted seven times by Cam Newton after failing to receive a target in Week 10. He was joined by Amari Cooper whose week to week total also rose by +7. The weekly totals for Kupp, CeeDee Lamb, and Jamel Agnew all improved by +6, while the totals for seven other receivers rose by +5 - Johnson, Agholor, Thomas, Antonio Brown, Larry Fitzgerald, Curtis Samuel, and Michael Gallup.

JuJu Smith-Schuster captured 13 targets in Week 10. However, he was only targeted five times by Ben Roethlisberger during Pittsburgh’s Week 11 matchup with Jacksonville. That resulted in a week to week decrease of -8, which was the largest among all wide receivers. DaeSean Hamilton endured a drop of -6,  while Justin Jefferson, Michael Pittman, Jalen Guyton, and Isaiah Wright all registered week to week declines of -5. Seven additional receivers experienced a weekly decrease of -4 - Hopkins, Adams, Reynolds, Marquise Brown, Marvin Jones, Chris Conley, and K.J. Hamler.

Week 11 Air Yards

D.K. Metcalf continues to lead all wide receivers in air yards (1,159), while Tyreek Hill is second overall with 1,149. Calvin Ridley is third (1,141), followed by Jerry Jeudy (1.134), A.J. Green (1,081), Stefon Diggs (1,057), and D.J. Moore (1,042) completing the list of seven receivers that have eclipsed 1,000 yards through Week 11. Allen Robinson is next (991), while Tee Higgins and Adam Thielen are tied with 949. Tyler Lockett has accumulated 934 yards, followed by Terry McLaurin (903), Marquise Brown (892), D.J. Chark (888), DeAndre Hopkins (872), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (866), Mike Williams (847), and Chase Claypool with 840. Davante Adams (838), Robby Anderson (835), and Justin Jefferson (822) complete the collection of top 20 receivers in this category.

McLaurin continues to lead all wide receivers in percentage share of air yards (42.7) which is one of his accomplishments that will be discussed in the 5 Things I Noticed section. Thielen is now second overall (40.80 while Moore is third (40.5). However, only those three receivers are averaging a percentage share of 40+. Hill is fourth overall (38.)6, followed by Marquise Brown 38.4, Darius Slayton (37.1), Metcalf (36.8) Anderson (35.9), Diggs (35.1), Ridley (33.3), and Damiere Byrd with a percentage share of 33.2. Jefferson is next (32.5), followed by Lockett (31.5), Jeudy (31.4), Claypool (31.2), Hopkins (31.2), and Valdez-Scantling (30.8). Four additional receivers are averaging a percentage share of 30+ - Green (30.7), Williams (30.7), Chark (30.20, and Robinson (30.1).

Valdes-Scantling leads all wide receivers in targeted air yards (17.3), followed by Mike Williams (16.9), Marquise Brown (16.10), Scott Miller (15.6), Ridley (15.5), and Breshad Perriman (15.2). No other receivers are averaging 15+ through Week 11. Darnel Mooney is next (14.5), followed by Metcalf (14.4), Jeudy (14.4), Nelson Agholor (14.3), Tim Patrick (14.1), A.J. Green (13.9), Higgins (13.50, and three receivers that are tied at 13.4 – Chark, Michael Gallup, and Damiere Byrd. Tyreek Hill 13.3, Adam Thielen 13.3, and Chase Claypool 13.2 are among the remaining group of five receivers that have attained an average of 13+.

Week 11 First Downs

Eight of Keenan Allen’s 16 receptions went for first downs in Week 11. That lifted his season-long total to a league-high 50. DeAndre Hopkins is second overall 47, followed by Davante Adams 44, Tyler Boyd 41, and Terry McLaurin 40. Stefon Diggs and Amari Cooper are tied with 39, while Tyler Lockett and D.J. Moore have both collected 38 first down receptions. D.K. Metcalf Calvin Ridley and Robby Anderson are tied with 37, while Tyreek Hill and Allen Robinson have both accumulated 36 receptions for first downs. Adam Thielen and Mike Evans (late tied at 35, while Cole Beasley (34), Tee Higgins (34), Will Fuller (32), and Justin Jefferson (32) complete the top 20 in this category.

Week 11 Red Zone Targets

ADAM THIELEN. UNREAL SKILL. #SKOL

?: #DALvsMIN on FOX
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/tUoK0wsA9N pic.twitter.com/jDWiMuVAZy

— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2020

Adam Thielen has captured six red zone targets during Minnesota’s last two matchups. This has propelled him into a tie with Davante Adams and Adam Thielen for the league lead with 15. Tyreek Hill and Mike Evans are tied for third overall with 14, while three different receivers have collected red zone 12 targets - Keenan Allen, Calvin Ridley, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Four receivers have been targeted 11 times - Tyler Lockett, Tyler Boyd, Brandon Aiyuk, and Zach Pascal, while seven different receivers have received 10 targets inside the 20 - Terry McLaurin, D.K. Metcalf, Julio Jones, CeeDee Lamb, A.J. Brown, Russell Gage, and Emmanuel Sanders.

Evans now leads all wide receivers with 12 targets inside the 10-yard line. He is followed by Adams (11), Hill (9), and Thielen (9). Metcalf and his teammate Lockett join Lamb and Aiyuk with seven targets, while Ridley, Brown, Randall Cobb, and Michael Thomas have all attained six. DeAndre Hopkins and D.J. Moore spearhead a group of 12 wide receivers that have been targeted five times inside the 10-yard line.

Evans also leads the position with eight targets inside the 5-yard line. Adams is second once again (7), followed by Lockett and Lamb with six. Aiyuk has collected five targets inside the 5-yard line, while Hill and Ridley are among the collection of nine receivers that have been targeted four times inside the five.

Week 11 Snap Counts

Michael Gallup has recaptured the lead in offensive snaps among all wide receivers (662). DeAndre Hopkins is second overall (658), followed by Keenan Allen (653), D.K. Metcalf (640), Mike Evans (637), and Robert Woods (634). Terry McLaurin is next (633), followed by D.J. Moore (613), Stefon Diggs (612), Damiere Byrd (609), Tyler Lockett (606), and Amari Cooper (606). No other wide receiver has surpassed 600 offensive snaps through Week 11. Marvin Jones (589), Tyreek Hill (588), Cooper Kupp (586), and Adam Thielen (576), are among the ten additional receivers that have been involved in at least 550 of their team's offensive snaps.

Metcalf continues to lead all wide receivers in offensive snap count percentage (95.8). McLaurin is second (94.2), followed by Hopkins (92.6), Byrd (92.0), Thielen (91.9), and Diggs (91.5). Lockett is next (90.7), followed by Denzel Mims (90.0), Woods (89.9), Marvin Jones (89.9), Gallup (88.7), Darius Slayton (87.6), Moore (87.2). Allen and Fuller are among the seven additional receivers that have been involved in at least 85% of their team's offensive snaps through week 11.

Allen led all receivers by playing on 78 offensive snaps in Week 11. Tyreek Hill was the only other receiver who eclipsed 70 snaps. He was followed by Jalen Guyton 69, and four receivers who were tied with 68 - Jakobi Meyers,  Chris Godwin, Mike Williams, and Robert Woods. Surging rookie Michael Pittman was next (67), followed by Travis Fulgham (65), Josh Reynolds (65), and three receivers that were tied with 63 - DeVante Parker, Demarcus Robinson, and Jalen Reagor. Tee Higgins and DeAndre Hopkins were among the nine additional receivers that performed on at least 60 of their team's offensive snaps in Week 11.

Godwin and Meyers were tied for the lead in snap count percentage during Week 11 (98.6). Fuller and Breshad Perriman were tied for third with 98.3, followed by Parker (96.9), Fulghum (96.0), Allen (95.1), Adams (95.0), Woods (94.4), and Brandin Cooks completing the top 10 in snap count percentage with 93.4. Jamison Crowder was next (93.3), followed by Reagor (92.7), Metcalf (92.4), Hill (92.3), and seven additional receivers that performed on at least 90% of their team's offensive snaps during the Week 11 matchups.

Five Things I Noticed

Stefon Diggs is BALLIN' as a Bill ? pic.twitter.com/eMZO3ZCKal

— PFF (@PFF) November 17, 2020

1.Josh Allen has targeted his wide receivers on a league-high 75.2% of his passes, and Stefon Diggs has been the primary beneficiary of these opportunities. Diggs was the only receiver who had eclipsed 100 targets for the season (101) prior to Week 11, and he remains one of just three receivers with a target per game average of 10+.

The infusion of Diggs into Buffalo’s receiving weaponry has proven to be beneficial for both the Bills and for the former Viking after he averaged 107 targets, 73 receptions, 925 yards, and 6 touchdowns during his five seasons with Minnesota. He is currently constructing the most productive season of his career, after entering his bye at WR1 in PPR scoring, and WR5 in points per game.

Diggs was also leading the league in receptions (73/7.3 per game) and receiving yards (906/90.6 per game). If those per game averages would be sustained for Buffalo’s remaining matchups, Diggs would accumulate 162 targets, 117 receptions, and 1,450 yards. That would enable him to exceed his current career highs in each category (149 targets/102 receptions/1,130 yards).

Diggs is also fourth overall in target share (28.2) sixth in air yards (1,057), ninth in percentage share of air yards (35.1), sixth in first downs (39). He also leads the NFL with 670 yards before the catch.

To quote @stefondiggs: "Cole Beasley is always open." ?

? #BUFvsAZ on CBS pic.twitter.com/CcQlN2AetW

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 15, 2020

 

Diggs is not the only Buffalo receiver who is accumulating career-best numbers as Cole Beasley’s current per-game averages (6.7 targets/5.5 receptions/64.2 yards per game) place him on pace to assemble new highs in targets (107), receptions (88), and receiving yards (1,027). The nine-year veteran is second on the Bills in targets (67), receptions (55), and receiving yards (642), and was tied for 10^th among all receivers in first down receptions (34).

John Brown has not experienced the statistical rise that has occurred for Diggs and Beasley after leading the Bills in targets (115), receptions (72) and receiving yards (1,060) during 2019. Brown had also finished seventh overall in air yards (1,647) and joined Diggs among the top six in percentage share of air yards (Diggs 41.5/Brown 37.0). But Brown’s per game average has declined from 7.7 targets, 4.8 receptions, and 70.7 yards per game to 6.0 targets, 3.6 receptions, and 48.3 yards per game. He is also 48th in air yards (557), and his percentage share of air yards has dropped to 21%.

Brown’s diminished output has relegated him to a matchup based low-end WR3. Beasley can be deployed more confidently as a WR3, while Diggs is clearly a WR1 that should be in all lineups on a weekly basis. He could ultimately finish the season as the league’s top receiver in multiple categories.

2. Prior to Week 11 Taysom Hill had connected on 10 of 18 passing attempts and generated 205 passing yards since he entered the NFL in 2017. He had also accumulated 538 yards as a rusher. But during his first career start at quarterback, Hill delivered an excellent performance for the Saints and also for any fantasy GMs who elevated him into their starting lineups.

The 30-year old Hill rushed for 49 yards on 10 attempts in Week 11 against Atlanta, while also generating two touchdowns on the ground. Hill also completed 18 of 23 passes (78.3%) and produced 233 yards through the air. Hill also averaged 10.1 yards per attempt and did not register a touchdown pass or an interception.

52% percent of the 23 targets that were distributed by Hill were designated for Michael Thomas, who collected a team-high 12 of the 18 targets that Hill tossed to wide receivers. This propelled Thomas to season-highs in receptions (9) and receiving yardage (104) after he had entered the contest with season-long totals of 18 targets, 10 receptions, and 95 yards. His usage and output in Week 11 are positive developments for anyone who invested a mid-first round pick on Thomas during their draft process. They also supply reasons for optimism that Thomas can still resurrect what has primarily been a lost season.

Michael Thomas could get mauled by a grizzly bear and I still don’t think he’d drop another pass today. #Saints pic.twitter.com/hbKtWN1j6L

— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) November 22, 2020

 

Thomas had been sidelined from Weeks 2-8, then was targeted 13 times (6.5 per game) in Weeks 9-10, after returning from hamstring and ankle injuries. He now leads the Saints in target share since Week 9 (31.3) and is pacing New Orleans in air yards (224), and percentage share of air yards (50).

Hill also targeted Emmanuel Sanders five times, while Deonte Harris was the only other wide receiver who registered a target (1). From Weeks 1-8, Sanders led the Saints in targets (36/7.2 per game), receptions (26), and receiving yards (304) – even though he missed two contests after being placed on the reserve/Covid-19 list.

But in Weeks 9-10, Sanders averaged 3 targets, 2.5 reception, and 21.5 yards per game, before he collected four of his five targets, and amassed 66 yards against the Falcons. Sanders is currently leading the Saints in target share (14.1), and air yards (417), and also in percentage share of air yards (22.1) from Weeks 1-11.

There are limitations in the projections that can be made based upon a one-game sample size involving a first-time starter at quarterback. However, there is finally a reason for optimism if you have been waiting on Thomas to operate as the highly productive wide receiver that you had grown accustomed to in previous seasons. It also appears safe to continue the deployment of Sanders as a WR3 during the Saints' upcoming matchups.

3. Entering Week 6, the Rams ranked just 31st in pass play percentage (48.5%) and were ranked 29th prior to Week 8 (51.2%). But they have risen to 21st for the season (56.2%) after ranking fifth overall in this category from Weeks 8-11 (66.4%). Jared Goff was also averaging 31.8 attempts per game entering Week 8. But he has launched an average of 49.7 passes during the team’s last three matchups. This includes 61 attempts against Miami in Week 8, along with his 51 attempts during the Rams’ Week 11 encounter with Tampa Bay.  

69 of Goff’s passes during that three-game sequence were distributed to Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods (Kupp 40/Woods 29), while both receivers have combined to collect 61 receptions (Kupp 27/Woods 24) and generate 553 yards (Kupp-305/Woods 248). The rise in usage for both receivers has accelerated an increase in their per-game averages in each category since the season progressed beyond Week 5.

Cooper Kupp is unstoppable with routes like this. #RamsHouse

?: #LARvsTB on ESPN
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/TIcsVC5VZ1 pic.twitter.com/SDdDwaSSKV

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2020

From Weeks 1-5, Cooper Kupp was averaging 7.2 targets and 5.6 receptions per game. But since Week 6 Kupp is averaging 11 targets, and 7.2 receptions per game. His 55 targets tie him for third among all receivers during that sequence while he is one of seven receivers who is averaging 10+ targets per game during that span. Kupp is also third overall in both targets (40) and receptions (27) during his last three matchups, which was propelled by the career-high 20 targets that he collected in Week 9 and the 13 targets that were captured in Week 11.

From Weeks 1-5, Robert Woods was averaging 6.2 targets, and 4.6 receptions per game. But since Week 6 those averages have risen to 8.8 targets, and 7.2 receptions per game. He is also 15th among all receivers in targets since Week 8 (29), and ninth in receptions (24) during that span. That includes his Week 11 matchup when Woods established new season-highs in targets (15), and receptions (12).

The improved averages in targets and receptions are clearly favorable developments for both receivers. But Josh Reynolds has also sustained respectable per game averages in recent weeks. He had been averaging 8.0 targets, 4.5 receptions, and 58.8 yards per game from Weeks 6-10, which elevated his target and yardage totals beyond Woods’ during that sequence (32/29 targets), 235/169 yards).

Reynolds performed on a season-high 65 snaps (90%) in Week 11. But he was only targeted six times, which his lowest total since Week 6. Reynolds still leads the Rams in air yards (465), and percentage share of air yards (30.8) during the team’s last five games. He is also second to Kupp in target share (26.7/19.9). Reynolds remains a matchup-based WR3/WR4 option, while Woods can function as a WR3, and Kupp can operate as a high-end WR2.

4. Several receivers have received an increase in their usage during recent weeks. This includes Antonio Brown, whose weekly target totals have risen steadily since he resurfaced in Week 9.

He had been limited to five targets during his debut with Tampa Bay, then received eight targets in Week 10. But he led the Buccaneers with a season-high 13 targets in Week 11, which was the fifth-highest total of the week among all wide receivers. The 26 targets that Brown has now accumulated since Week 9 places him eighth overall while tying him with Mike Evans during that span. He has operated outside on 62% of his routes, and it is reasonable to project that his escalating usage will continue.

.@AB84 with the footwork ?

?: https://t.co/a8g7zekGg0 pic.twitter.com/InA571ocxe

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 24, 2020

Prior to Brown’s arrival, concussion and hamstring issues had conspired to sideline Godwin in four of the Buccaneers’ first eight games. He had averaged 7.3 targets, 6.3 receptions, and 70 yards per game during the four matchups that he was available. In three games with Brown in the lineup, Godwin’s targets per game average remains 7.3, while his reception and yards per game averages have slightly decreased (5.3 receptions/62 yards). Godwin has been targeted six times in both Weeks 9 and 10 but garnered a season-high 10 in Week 11 against the Rams. That was the first time this season that Godwin has reached a double-digit target total. This should provide a degree of encouragement to anyone that has Godwin contained on the rosters.

Evans was averaging 5.8 targets, 3.8 perceptions, and 46.7 yards per game in Weeks 1-8. While those averages remained below Godwin‘s, Evans had been available for all eight of Tampa Bay contests and had generated seven touchdowns. With Brown also running routes within the offense, Evans’ targets per game average has actually increased to 8.7, as has his averages in receptions (5) and yards per game (66.3). Evans also leads the Buccaneers in target share (20.4), air yards (378), and percentage share of air yards (25.9) since Brown was infused into the equation. Brown is second among Tampa Bay wide receivers in target share (11.3), and third behind Evans and Leonard Fournette in percentage share of air yards since his arrival (19.6).

Brown has performed on 63% of the Buccaneers’ offensive snaps since his arrival, while Godwin and Evans have both attained snap shares of 80+ (Godwin-94.3%/Evans-84.3%). Brown has quickly seized WR3 status and would ascend higher if he becomes increasingly involved as a downfield and red zone weapon. Evans has reemerged as a high-end WR2, while Godwin is a WR2 for his managers.

5. 36-year old Alex Smith entered Washington's Week 9 matchup with the Giants following the leg injury that ended Kyle Allen's season. In Week 10, Smith made his first start since November of 2018 and his improbable comeback could be examined at length in a forum that exceeds the length of this article.  But his journey since that life-threatening situation now includes two full games as Washington's starting signal-caller. 

During his two starts, he has now launched 80 passes, connected on 55 of those throws, and generated 556 yards. His 1:1 touchdown to interception ratio is uninspiring, and he has blended a 390-yard performance in Week 10 with an underwhelming yardage total in Week 11 (166). But Smith does deliver stability at the quarterback position for a Washington offense that has contended with multiple talent shortcomings during the season.

However, the most critical factor in Smith’s ascension that relates to Washington wide receivers is that Terry McLaurin will remain highly productive following this latest transition at quarterback for the Football Team. The magnitude of McLaurin's accomplishments during his first 24 games in the NFL does not receive nearly the amount of discussion that it deserves. He assembled impressive numbers throughout a myriad of categories during a stellar and underrated 2019 rookie season, and that process has continued during his second year.

Alex Smith and Terry McLaurin connect on the deep ball for 42 yards!

?: #CINvsWAS on CBS
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/XvGQdBFS2I pic.twitter.com/k568vk358W

— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2020

 

He is now sixth overall targets (93), third in receiving yards (871), and 11th in receptions (62). McLaurin also leads all receivers in percentage share of air yards (40.4) and yards after catch (409), while his 26.5 target share places him eighth overall. McLaurin has also constructed his impressive array of numbers while operating with Dwayne Haskins (4 starts), Kyle Allen (4 starts), and Smith (2 starts) guiding the Football Team's aerial attack.

J..D. McKissic’s usage has become a popular topic, and that discussion escalated after Smith targeted him 15 times in Week 10. But Smith only distributed four targets to McKissic in Week 1, while McLaurin captured a team-high seven. McLaurin is now a close second to McKissic in targets during Smith’s two starts (19/16) while McLaurin leads Washington in receptions (12), and receiving yards (179), during that sequence. While his status as the team’s WR1 is undisputed, the identity of Washington's WR2 remains uncertain.

Dontrelle Inman has not registered a target since Week 7 while contending with a hamstring issue. This has created a path for Steven Sims, Cam Sims, and Isaiah Wright to seize the team's WR2 distinction.  Steven leads the trio in targets (9), and receptions (8) since Week 10. However, Cam has generated the most yardage (74), has attained the highest snap share (89%) and is emerging as a WR4/flex option.

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