Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 11 Analysis

November 21, 2019

Phil Clark looks back at Week 11 targets, snaps, receptions trends for fantasy football WRs to find risers and fallers who are possible buy-lows or sell-highs.

Wide receivers are essential components toward your ultimate goal of securing league championships. As the season unfolds, an expanding collection of tools are available that can provide you with an extensive level of knowledge. Those results provide the foundation for this weekly statistical breakdown of the wide receiver position, which is designed to help you fulfill your championship aspirations.

This will be the 11th installment that examines game-specific data, including updated totals for targets, 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 week’s article will be functioning with 11 weeks of data, which bolsters the foundation from which the numbers that are generated in various categories can be evaluated. As the season progresses toward the onset of fantasy playoffs, 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. Pro Football Reference, NextGenStats, and Football Outsiders were all used as resources in compiling this data.

Week 11 Target Leaders  

Michael Thomas continues to lead all wide receivers in overall targets (114), while Keenan Allen, (107), DeAndre Hopkins (104), and Julian Edelman (100) are the only other players that have reached 100 targets for the season. Mike Evans is fifth overall (97), followed by Tyler Boyd (94), Cooper Kupp (94), D.J. Moore (94), Julio Jones (91), and Chris Godwin (90). No other receivers have eclipsed 90 targets through Week 11.

Odell Beckham (89), Allen Robinson (86), John Brown (85), D.J. Chark (85), Jarvis Landry (84), Amari Cooper (79), Courtland Sutton (77), Tyler Lockett (76), Larry Fitzgerald (76) and Kenny Golladay (76)  complete the top 20. Curtis Samuel (75), Jamison Crowder (73), Devante Parker (72), Christian Kirk (72) and Robert Woods (71) are the only other players that have attained at least 70 targets through Week 11.

Since Week 8, D.J. Moore leads all receivers with 45 targets. He is followed by Evans (42), Landry (40), Brown (40), Hill (39) and Allen (37). Thomas, Chark, and Hopkins are all tied with (36), while Beckham, Kirk, and Godwin have each attained 35. Parker (34), Edelman (32), Curtis Samuel (32), Deebo Samuel (31) and Sammy Watkins (30) are the only other wide receivers that collected 30+ targets during that four-week span.

Moore also paces wide receivers in targets over the last two weeks (26) followed by Brown (25), Thomas (25), Allen (23), Michael Gallup (23), Amari Cooper (22), Beckham (22), Deebo Samuel (21), Hill (21), Parker (20), and Taylor Gabriel (20).

Largest Weekly Changes

Moore also collected the highest target total for Week 11 (15), which tied him with D.J. Chark. Brown and Taylor Gabriel were next with (14), followed by Gallup (13), Hopkins (12), Thomas (11), Anthony Miller (11) and four receivers that captured 10 targets - Deebo Samuel, Edelman, Parker, and Beckham.

Miller attained a double-digit target total for the first time in his career. That also resulted in the largest increase for the week, after he had only been targeted twice in Week 10. His teammate Gabriel surpassed his previous career-high that had been attained in Week 10 of 2014 (13), and Gabriel’s increase of +8 was the second-largest for the week. That tied him with Tim Patrick, who registered his first eight targets of the season. Moore experienced a rise of +4, while the weekly target totals for Brown, Gallup, and Ridley all expanded by +3.

Tyreek Hill captured 19 targets in Week 10, but encountered a hamstring issue during the Chiefs’ initial drive in Week 11. That limited him to just two targets, which was the largest decline for any receiver during the week (-17). Cooper, Godwin, and Watkins all experienced reductions of -6 in comparison to their Week 10 totals.

Michael Thomas has now collected 10+ targets in eight of his 10 matchups, while DeAndre Hopkins, Julian Edelman, Keenan Allen, and Moore have accomplished it in six different games. Moore’s recent target totals have been significant and will be examined further in the Five Things I've Noticed section below.

Thomas has now received at least 10 targets in six consecutive games, while Hopkins and Edelman have achieved double digits in five straight contests. Deebo Samuel has now reached double digits in two straight games while averaging 9.3 per-game since Week 9.

23 of Randall Cobb’s 53 targets this season have been collected since Week 9 (8/8/7). Indy’s Marcus Johnson has now collected seven targets since Week 10, while Tim Patrick’s aforementioned eight targets punctuated a successful return after he was sidelined since Week 1 (hand). Moore’s target-per-game average also rose from 8.8 to 9.4 per game after his career-best total of 15. John Brown’s average rose from 7.8 to 8.5 per game after he attained 14 targets in Week 11.

Cooper Kupp has now averaged just 3.5 targets per game during the Rams last two matchups, after he had been averaging a league-best 12.6 per game from Weeks 1-5 and then 10.9 from Weeks 1-8. Boyd had been averaging 10.1 targets-per-game entering Week 11, but that dropped to 9.4 after he was targeted just three times during Cincinnati’s matchup with the Raiders.

Week 11 Yards-Per-Target Leaders

Stefon Diggs leads all receivers with a 13.8 yard-per-target average. Mecole Hardman is second at 13.2, followed by Kenny Stills (11.3), Amari Cooper (11.2), Tyrell Williams (10.7), Mike Williams (10.7), Courtland Sutton (10.6), Tyler Lockett (10.4), Mike Evans (10.2) and Terry McLaurin (10.1) - completing the top 10.

Michael Thomas (10.0) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10.0) are the only other receivers who are averaging 10+. Chris Godwin, A.J. Brown, Marvin Jones, Michael Gallup, and Julio Jones lead a group of 19 other receivers who are averaging at least nine yards-per-target.

Calvin Ridley established a season-high with his 17.88 average in Week 11. Mike Williams leads all receivers with an average of 18.3 since Week 8, while Courtland Sutton's 12.56 average in Week 11 was his highest since Week 5. Chris Godwin averaged 12.19 yards-per-target from Weeks 3-6, but that average plummeted to 6.11 during Weeks 8-10. However, his 7.83 average in Week 11 was his highest since Week 6.

Devante Parker's yards-per-target average rose from 7.6 to 8.4 for the season after he averaged 13.5 in Week 11. Terry McLaurin’s average of 9.6 rose to 10.1 after he averaged 17.3 during Washington's matchup with the Jets. Marvin Jones had averaged 12.71 in Weeks 9-10, but his average dropped to 8.6 in Week 11.

Week 11 Targeted Air Yards Leaders 

Kenny Golladay is currently pacing all wide receivers in targeted air yards (16.4), followed by Mike Evans (15.6), Mike Williams (15.4), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (15.4), Robby Anderson (15.3), James Washington (15.1), Curtis Samuel (15), Stefon Diggs (14.9), Chris Conley (14.8) and Darius Slayton (14.8) completing the top 10. Ted Ginn (14.5), Tyrell Williams (14.5), Brandin Cooks (14.4), Tyreek Hill (14.2), Terry McLaurin (14.1), Calvin Ridley (13.9), Demarcus Robinson (13.8), Amari Cooper (13.7) and D.J. Chark (13.4) are all included among the top 20 in this category.

Mike Evans leads all receivers with 1,455 air yards, followed by 11 additional receivers that have eclipsed 1,000 yards - Keenan Allen (1,199), Kenny Golladay (1,196), Julio Jones (1,156) John Brown (1,154), D.J. Chark (1,152), Curtis Samuel (1,108), DeAndre Hopkins (1,086), Amari Cooper (1,074), Mike Williams (1,011), D.J. Moore (1,002) and Odell Beckham (1,001).

Evans also leads his position in completed air yards (782). Thomas is second (712) followed by 16 other receivers that have attained 500+ completed air yards - Cooper (689), Julio Jones (655), Brown (647), Diggs (615), Allen (581), Sutton (569), Lockett (559), Chark (556), Golladay (554), Marvin Jones (547), Godwin (515), Hopkins (514), Moore (512), Calvin Ridley (503) and Mike Williams (502).

% Share Of  Team’s Air Yards Leaders

Courtland Sutton now leads his position in percentage share of his team’s air yards (42.35). John Brown is second (41.31), followed by Michael Thomas (40.6), Terry McLaurin (40.2), Stefon Diggs (40.2), D.J. Chark (39.5), Odell Beckham (38.9), Allen Robinson (38.1), Mike Evans (37.0) and Curtis Samuel (36.6) - all contained within the top 10.

DeAndre Hopkins (36.6), Julio Jones (35.8), Robby Anderson (35.2), Kenny Golladay (34.8), Keenan Allen (33.5), D.J. Moore (32.5), Julian Edelman (32.1), Emmanuel Sanders (32.0), Amari Cooper (31.1) and Tyler Lockett (29.2) complete the top 20.

D.K. Metcalf, Jarvis Landry, Chris Conley, Tyler Boyd, and Calvin Ridley lead an additional group of eight receivers that are averaging between 29% and 27% of their teams’ air yards.

John Brown’s percentage share is not only the league’s second-highest, but easily exceeds the percentage of any teammates. Cole Beasley is second among Bill receivers, but just 66th overall with a percentage of 16.97.

Chark easily leads the Jaguars with the sixth-highest percentage in this category (39.45). However, Chris Conley has captured a spot inside the top 25 (27.85). Tyler Boyd’s 28.4% is less than two percentage points ahead of teammate Auden Tate (26.6), Amari Cooper’s 29.7% share is exactly 7% ahead of teammate Michael Gallup (22.7). Both Cowboy receivers will be discussed in greater detail as part of the Five Things I've Noticed section.

Week 11 Red Zone Target Leaders 

Julian Edelman leads all receivers in red zone targets for the season (19) while Michael Thomas is second with 18. He is followed by Mike Evans (16), Keenan Allen (16), Tyler Lockett (14),  Jarvis Landry (14) and Auden Tate (14). Chris Godwin, Courtland Sutton, Kenny Golladay, D.K. Metcalf, and Marvin Jones are all tied with 12, while Cooper Kupp, D.J. Chark and Deebo Samuel have all collected 11 for the season. Mike Williams, Larry Fitzgerald and Curtis Samuel have all captured 10 targets, which completes the collection of 18 receivers that have attained double-digit totals this season.

The two receivers that emerged with the league's highest number of red zone targets for Week 11 had entered their matchups with a combined four throughout the first 10 weeks of the year. Tim Patrick captured four targets as he accumulated his first snaps since Week 1. That tied him with John Brown, who had been targeted four times from Weeks 1-10, and then proceeded to double his season total by accruing four targets in Week 11 alone. Michael Thomas and Keenan Allen both captured three targets while Randall Cobb, D.J. Moore, Julio Jones and Hunter Renfrow were among the seven receivers that collected two targets during their Week 11 matchups.

Golladay failed to capture a target inside the 10 for the first time since Week 7. However, he continues to lead that category for the season with 10. Landry is second overall with nine, while Edelman, Fitzgerald and Tampa Bay teammates Godwin and Evans all have attained eight. Thomas and Tate have captured seven targets inside the 10, while Marvin Jones, Terry McLaurin and T.Y. Hilton have accumulated six during the season.

Landry has also received seven red zone targets during his last three matchups, while Allen has now registered three in two consecutive games. Chark returned from his bye to collect the sixth red zone target of his last four games.

Courtland Sutton has now captured at least one red zone target in eight of his 10 matchups, despite the usage of Patrick near the end zone in Week 11. But Michael Thomas has assembled the most impressive streak, as he has collected 16 red zone targets during his last six games.

Week 11 Snap Count Leaders

Chris Godwin has surpassed DeAndre Hopkins in overall offensive snaps for the season (709). Hopkins is second (686), followed by Mike Evans (668), Odell Beckham (661), Tyler Lockett (657), Keenan Allen (656), Julian Edelman (651), D.J. Moore (645), Nelson Agholor (643) and Jarvis Landry (642) - comprising the top 10 in this category.

Michael Thomas is next (636), followed by Tyler Boyd (635), Marvin Jones (626), Larry Fitzgerald (623), Kenny Golladay (619), John Brown (618), Robert Woods (617), Woods’ teammate Cooper Kupp (617), Allen Robinson (614) and Courtland Sutton (612) - finalizing the top 20.

Hopkins remains the league leader in snap count percentage and is one of 12 wide receivers that have played on a percentage of 90+. Hopkins paces the position at (97.2). Beckham is second (96.5), followed by Godwin (96.8), Robinson (93.7), Landry (93.7), Moore (92.7), Thomas (92.3), Sutton (91.6), Lockett (91.5), Boyd (90.8), Anderson (90.6) and Evans (90.2).

Brown (89.3), Agholor (88.7), Marvin Jones (88.5), Edelman (88.4), Allen (88.4) and Golladay (87.5) are among a collection of 13 receivers that performed on at least 80% of their teams’ offensive snaps.

Allen Robinson led all wide receivers in snaps during Week 11 matchups (75). But Godwin leads the position in snap count percentage (100%). He was followed by Robinson (98.7), Moore (98.7), Brown (98.6), Christian Kirk (98.6), Stefon Diggs (98.4), Kenny Stills (98.4), Cooper Kupp (98.3), Zach Pascal (97.1), Boyd (96.8), Curtis Samuel (96.0), Evans (95.6), Chris Conley (95.2), Josh Reynolds (94.6) and D.J. Chark (93.7).

Tyreek Hill played on 84% of Kansas City’s offensive snaps in Week 10 but only performed on 10% of the snaps before his Week 11 performance abruptly concluded with a hamstring injury. Mecole Hardman performed on 76% of KC's snaps during Hill's absence, after he had averaged 18.3% from Weeks 8-10.

Five Things I've Noticed

1. The extensive targeting of D.J. Moore was mentioned previously, and his ability to take full advantage of his opportunities has elevated him among the league leaders in multiple categories. 

The second-year receiver had averaged five targets-per-game from Weeks 3-5. But that average has soared to 12.0 since Week 9. Moore has also accumulated more targets than any other wide receiver since Week 8 (45) while collecting double-digit target totals in four of his last five matchups. He has also capitalized on those targets by assembling the highest reception total since Week 9 (24), along with the second-highest number of yards during that span (316). Moore has also averaged 13 yards-per-reception during that sequence, while his recent usage and production has propelled him to sixth in targets for the season (94), fifth in receptions (62), and 12^th in yardage (779).

Unfortunately for Curtis Samuel owners, he has not matched the favorable output that has been experienced by Moore, even though he has been tantalizingly close to exploding for big plays on a consistent basis. Samuel is seventh in both air yards (1,108) and targeted air yards (15), sixth in average depth of target (14.8), 10^th in percentage share of team’s air yards (36.59) and 21^st in targets (75). But despite those numbers, Samuel is 36^th in receptions (38), and just 41st in receiving yards (467). Samuel’s efficiency has been encumbered by the shortcomings that exist with quarterback Kyle Allen. Carolina’s signal-caller is tied for 10th in aggressiveness percentage (18%), but is just 26^th in completion percentage (61.6%) and is 22^nd in average completed air yards (5.7).

Allen's struggles with deeper throws have been an ongoing deterrent that have placed constraints on Samuel's production, despite being on the threshold of generating sizable yardage. Moore's routes are less dependent on Allen's downfield accuracy, which should keep his production at a high level. However, Samuel owners are forced to maintain optimism that Allen can connect on a larger percentage of his throws during the remaining weeks.

2. If you are among the owners who decided to select Jarvis Landry during Round 6 of your draft process, you have been rewarded with numbers that surpass the original expectations. However, those of you who drafted Odell Beckham Jr. near the onset of Round 2 have been forced to endure less favorable results.

Targets are not the issue for Beckham, who is currently 11^th overall (89 targets/8.9 per-game). However, he is 21st in receptions (48), and 18th in receiving yards (692). He has also generated just one touchdown, after averaging 10 per season during the four years in which he played in at least 12 games. Beckham’s 69.2 yards-per-game average is the lowest of his career, while he has eclipsed 100 yards in just two matchups. While he did generate 262 yards during those two performances, his average is just 53.75 per-game during his eight other games. His 7.8 yard-per-target average is the second-lowest of his career, and his career-worst catch rate has dropped to 53.9%.

While Landry has received fewer targets (89/84) he has captured one more reception (49/48), three additional yards (695/692), and has registered a higher yard-per-target average (8.3/7.8). Landry has also collected a team-high 14 red zone targets while Beckham is a distant second with six. That represents a substantial drop from the 22 that Beckham has averaged during four seasons in which he has performed in 12+ contests. Cleveland's self-defeating play-calling has negatively impacted Baker Mayfield, while also performing a significant role in neutralizing Beckham's potential to flourish. There is a genuine reason to question whether the situation can improve this season. However, Beckham owners can take some solace in his upcoming schedule as the Browns will match up with Miami (Week 12), Cincinnati (Week 14) and Arizona (Week (15).

3. Deebo Samuel's season did not launch with the exceptional early season performances that were delivered by other members of the 2019 rookie class. From Weeks 1-8, he only was targeted 25 times (4.2 per-game) as he manufactured 31.6 yards-per-game on 18 receptions.

But he has nearly matched that target total during a two-game statistical surge in Weeks 10-11, as his 21 targets tie him for eighth among all receivers. Samuel has also caught 16 of those targets, which ties him for third overall during that span. He has also accrued 246 yards, which is second only to Michael Thomas. Samuel has also averaged 15.4 yards-per-catch, which is exactly three yards higher than his season-long average of 12.4. The increased usage has also expanded his yard-per-target average from 7.1 during Weeks 1-9 to 11.7 since Week 10.

Samuel’s ability to maximize his increased target opportunities has enabled him to improve his overall reception total to 38, which is the most among all rookie receivers. He is also fourth among first-year receivers in yardage (473) and third with nine receptions of 20+ yards. Samuel has also accumulated red zone targets in six consecutive games, and his recent rise in usage has been a partial byproduct of injuries.

George Kittle was absent for San Francisco’s last two matchups (ankle/knee) while Emmanuel Sanders has been contending with a rib issue. However Samuel has also performed proficiently, while procuring a snap count percentage of 67% since Week 10. He has also developed into a dependable option for Jimmy Garoppolo, and should provide owners with a reliable WR3 option throughout this year's final matchups.

4. If you are an Amari Cooper owner, then you have consistently embraced the high-quality outings that have propelled him to the WR4 in fantasy scoring. However, you have also been subjected to unwelcome stress in recent weeks, as he plays through his knee issue.

This has created uncertainty regarding his ability to perform proficiently during his last five contests, while also presenting the possibility that he will aggravate his injury while operating on the field. Cooper collected 11 receptions on 14 targets while shredding the Packers for 226 yards in Week 5. But he only played on 4% of Dallas' snaps in Week 6, while managing one reception for 3 yards. His production surged in Weeks 7-10 (8.7 targets/6.7 receptions/111 yards-per-game) before he caught only three of eight targets for 38 yards in Week 11. His snap count dropped to 55% during that matchup, as Michael Gallup and Randall Cobb combined for 20 targets, 13 receptions, and 263 yards (Gallup: 13 targets/9 receptions/148 yards and Cobb: 7 targets/4 receptions/115 yards).

Since Week 9, Gallup is tied with Cooper in targets (29) while Cobb has captured 23. The trio has also assembled similar reception totals (Cooper 18/Cobb 16/Gallup 15), while their yardage totals have remained extremely close (Cooper 265/Gallup 257/Cobb 256). The Cowboys’ season-long pass play percentage of 57.1% has risen to 63.1% during those games, and expanded further to 66.2% in Week 11. The expectation is that the recent increase in opportunities for the team’s primary receiving weaponry will continue.

Cooper is the unquestioned WR1 in Dallas and remains a critical component for anyone who participates in the fantasy playoffs. His ability to produce despite his knee condition will remain a factor in determining Cobb’s usage and production. However, Gallup has ascended into must-start status, who should sustain favorable numbers during the Cowboys’ remaining matchups.

5. We were finally able to observe a full game with Nick Foles spearheading Jacksonville’s offense in Week 11. He was limited to 11 offensive snaps during the Jaguars’ season opener before a broken collarbone cemented him to the sideline.

The 30-year old Foles finally resurfaced for Jacksonville’s matchup at Indianapolis and completed 33 of his 47 attempts. He also generated 296 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 70.2% of his attempts. 15 of his passes were launched in the direction of D.J. Chark, which nearly doubled the total for any other Jaguar receiving weapon. Chris Conley finished second with eight targets, followed by Dede Westbrook (6) and Keelan Cole (5). While one contest is admittedly a small sample size, Chark owners should be ecstatic with the results of Foles’ return under center. Chark collected eight of those 15 targets, while also exceeding 100 yards for the third time this season (104). Chark’s 6.9 yard-per-target average was his highest since Week 7, although it was also below his current average of 9.9 for the season.

Conley’s eight targets established a season-high, while also propelling him to his highest reception total since Week 1 (6). His 9.7 yard-per-reception average was his lowest of the season although the usage should be encouraging for his owners. Westbrook had been averaging 7.7 targets-per-game from Weeks 1-7, and 70 yards-per-game from Weeks 3-7, before encountering his shoulder injury. But his target and yardage totals were both his lowest since Week 2 (6/32). While Westbrook’s involvement should be concerning to owners, his situation could improve as Foles continues to guide the Jaguars' aerial attack. But Chark owners can anticipate more high-quality production in the upcoming weeks. After Sunday's AFC South showdown with Tennessee, Jacksonville will have enticing matchups with the Buccaneers (Week 13) and Raiders (Week 15).

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