Wide Receiver Snap Counts and Target Trends - Week 15 Analysis

Wide receivers are essential components toward your ultimate goal of securing league championships. If you are preparing for a Week 16 matchup, an expansive collection of tools are available in this article to help with your decisions during this critical week. The data in this statistical breakdown will be specific to the wide receiver position and is designed to help you fulfill your championship aspirations.

This will be the 15th installment that examines game-specific numbers, including updated totals for targets, red-zone targets, snap counts, and a compilation of advanced statistics. The information that is contained in this report will analyze how various receivers are being utilized, and how effectively they are capitalizing on their opportunities.

This article will be functioning with 15 weeks of data, which supplies the foundation from which the numbers that are generated in various categories can be evaluated. All noteworthy changes in usage and production will be blended into the equation toward bolstering your efforts to determine which wide receivers should be in Week 16 lineups. Pro Football Reference, NextGenStats, and Football Outsiders were all used as resources in compiling this data.

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Week 15 Target Leaders 

 Michael Thomas has sustained his league lead in overall targets (159), while DeAndre Hopkins (141) and Julian Edelman (140) are the only other receivers that have accumulated 140+. D.J. Moore is fourth (133), followed by Allen Robinson (130), Julio Jones (129), Keenan Allen (129), Tyler Boyd (126), Jarvis Landry (123), and Odell Beckham Jr. (121) comprising the top 10.

Chris Godwin and Cooper Kupp are next with 120, followed by Mike Evans (118), Robert Woods (116), John Brown (111), Courtland Sutton (107), D.J. Chark (106), Jamison Crowder (104), Devante Parker (102), Amari Cooper (102), and Kenny Golladay (100). No other wide receivers have eclipsed 100 targets through Week 15.

Jones vaulted from 12th in targets following Week 14 (109), to sixth with his current season total of 129. Thomas has now accumulated 10+ targets in a league-high 11 different contests, while Edelman has reached double digits in 10 games. Allen and Moore have both accomplished it eight times, as Moore has achieved double digits in five of his last seven matchups. Hopkins has collected 10+ targets in seven different games, while Boyd, while Landry, and Beckham have captured double-digit target totals in six different contests.

Edelman had achieved a double-digit target total in eight consecutive matchups (Weeks 6-14) while averaging a league-high 11.8 targets-per-game during that span. But he only accumulated five targets in Week 15, which was his lowest weekly total since Week 2 (4). Now that Edelman’s consecutive game streak of double-digit targets has reached a conclusion, Thomas is the only receiver that has garnered 10+ targets in both Weeks 14 and 15.

Jamison Crowder entered Week 15 in a tie for 20^th with 93 targets for the season while averaging 7.2 per game. But despite his favorable overall usage, Crowder had only attained a double-digit target total once throughout the entire season. That changed during his matchup in Baltimore, as Crowder collected 11 targets. That represented his second-highest total of the year and his 104 targets throughout the season have established a new career-high.

Michael Thomas has collected the most targets among all wide receivers during the last four weeks (46). Robert Woods is just one target behind Thomas (45), followed by Allen Robinson (44), Davante Adams and Anthony Miller each with 41. Edelman has collected 40 targets during that span, followed by Jarvis Landry, and D.J. Moore with 39. Julio Jones is next (38) followed by DeAndre Hopkins (37), Sterling Shepard (33), and four receivers with 32 - Tyler Boyd, Odell Beckham, Danny Amendola, and Robby Anderson. Jamison Crowder (31), Chris Godwin (31), DeVante Parker (30), and Courtland Sutton (30) are the only other wide receivers that accumulated 30+ targets from Weeks 12-15.

Julio Jones leads all receivers in total targets since Week 14 (28) which was propelled by his 20 targets in Week 15. Thomas is second in this category (27), followed by Robinson (22), Amendola (21), Hopkins (21), A.J. Brown (20), Miller (19), Adams (19), and eight different receivers that have accrued 18 targets during their last two matchups combined - John Brown, Woods, Beckham, Moore, Crowder, Shepard, Greg Ward, and Steven Sims.

Largest Weekly Changes

The 20 targets that were collected by Julio Jones easily represented the highest total of Week 15, while also resulting in the largest weekly increase among all receivers (+12).  He has now captured 15+ targets in 16 different games during his nine-year career, and his massive weekly total elevated his target-per-game average from 9.1 to 9.9 after the performance. His Week 15 numbers were among the most prolific in his career, and will be examined in the Five Things I Noticed section.

The second-highest total of the week was delivered by Anthony Miller (15), who also attained the second-highest weekly increase (+11). It was also Miller's third double-digit total since Week 11. His teammate Allen Robinson collected the third-most targets of the week (14) followed by four receivers that were tied with 13 targets - Davante Adams, Beckham, Danny Amendola, and A.J. Brown. The 12 targets that were assembled by Michael Thomas and D.J. Moore were next, while James Washington, Jamison Crowder, Sterling Shepard, and Washington's Steven Sims all captured 11. John Brown, Keenan Allen, and Courtland Sutton all attained 10 targets, while no other wide receivers were able to garner 10+ targets during their Week 15 matchups.

A.J. Brown's 13 targets in Week 15 established a new season-high, as his previous best occurred during his Week 7 matchup (8). The substantial drop in week-to-week target totals for Edelman also resulted in the largest decline for Week 15 (-7). That tied him with Michael Gallup and Allen Hurns.

Gallup's teammate Amari Cooper registered just two targets for the second time during his last four matchups. The resulting weekly drop of -6 was the week's third-largest, while six different receivers all experienced a decline of -5.

Week 15 Yards-Per-Target Leaders

Stefon Diggs and A.J. Brown are tied for the league lead with 12.1 yards-per-target averages. Mike Williams is third overall (11.3), followed by Chris Godwin (11.1), Kenny Stills (11.0), Amari Cooper (10.5), Kenny Golladay (10.5), Tyler Lockett (10.4), and James Washington (10.1).

Only those nine receivers have currently achieved an average of 10+. Terry McLaurin is 10th at 9.9, followed by Mike Evans (9.8), Michael Thomas (9.7), and five receivers that have each attained an average of 9.6 - Courtland Sutton, Michael Gallup, Deebo Samuel, Will Fuller, and Randall Cobb. Darius Slayton and Tyrell Williams are averaging 9.5, while Devante Parker and D.K. Metcalf spearhead a group of nine receivers that are averaging between 9.4 and 9.0 yards-per-target through Week 15.

DeAndre Hopkins had been averaging 7.7 yards-per-target entering Week 15. But that average has climbed the 8.1 after he registered a season-high 14.9 average against the Titans in Week 15.

Robert Woods' season-long yard-per-target average plummeted from 8.9 to 8.2, after he averaged just 1.9 per-target versus Dallas in Week 15. Danny Amendola had averaged 4.15 yards-per-target in Weeks 13/14. But his average of 7.8 in Week 15 was his highest since Week 11.

Week 15 Targeted Air Yards Leaders 

Mike Williams leads all receivers in targeted air yards 17.3. He is followed by Marquez Valdes-Scantling (16.9), Robby Anderson (15.9), Kenny Golladay (15.8), James Washington (15.8), Ted Ginn (15.5), Mike Evans (15.3), Breshad Perriman (14.8), Stefon Diggs (14.7), and Terry McLaurin (14.4) completing the top 10. Four receivers are tied at 14.3 - Will Fuller, Chris Conley, Curtis Samuel, and Brandin Cooks, while Darius Slayton (14) is the only other receiver to have attained an average of 14+ Tyrell Williams, John Brown, and DeVante Parker all tied at 13.7 while leading a group of nine receivers that are averaging 13+ targeted air yards.

Evans is currently the league leader in air yards for the season (1,779), while Julio Jones has emerged as second overall in this category (1,586). Kenny Golladay his third (1,539), followed by John Brown (1,517), D.J. Moore (1,503), and DeAndre Hopkins (1,502). Allen Robinson is next (1,457), followed by Odell Beckham (1,447), Mike Williams (1,386), and Curtis Samuel (1,374).

Keenan Allen and D.J. Chark are tied with 1,355, while DeVante Parker (1,352), Robby Anderson (1,331), Amari Cooper (1,320), and Stefon Diggs (1,308) complete the collection of 16 receivers that have surpassed 1,300 air yards through Week 15.

% Share Of  Team’s Air Yards Leaders

Stefon Diggs has overtaken Courtland Sutton for the overall lead in percentage share of team’s air yards (42.43). Sutton remains a close second (42.2), followed by Terry McLaurin (40.2), Michael Thomas (39.9), John Brown (39.3), Odell Beckham (39.0), Allen Robinson (38.0), Robby Anderson (37.9), DeAndre Hopkins (37.4), and D.J. Chark (35.1). Those receivers comprise the top 10, and no other players currently have a percentage share of 35+.

D.J. Moore (34.9), Julio Jones (34.2), Kenny Golladay (33.0), Mike Evans (32.9), and Julian Edelman (32.3) are next, followed by James Washington (32.3), Curtis Samuel (32.2), Mike Williams (31.8), DeVante Parker (31.4), and Jarvis Landry (31.1), completing the top 20 in this category.

The percentage share of Ram receivers Robert Woods (21.8), Brandin Cooks (21.5), and Cooper Kupp (21.0) remain virtually even.  Amari Cooper (27.7) has maintained the highest team share in Dallas, followed by Michael Gallup (24.4) and Randall Cobb (14.1).  Christian Kirk (26.2) leads the Cardinals in this category, while Deebo Samuel's 20.7 share currently paces the 49ers.

Week 15 Red Zone Target Leaders

Michael Thomas collected three red zone targets in Week 15, which vaulted him into the league lead with 23 for the season.  Julian Edelman is second (22), followed by Tyler Lockett (19), Jarvis Landry (18) and five receivers that are tied with 17 targets - Davante Adams, Courtland Sutton, Cooper Kupp, Keenan Allen, and Mike Evans. Allen Robinson has collected 16 red zone targets, while Julio Jones, Chris Godwin, Kenny Golladay, and D.K. Metcalf have all captured 14.

Mike Williams, Curtis Samuel, Deebo Samuel, Larry Fitzgerald, and Marquise Brown have all accumulated 13 targets, while DeAndre Hopkins, D.J. Chark, D.J. Moore, DeVante Parker, Terry McLaurin, and Sterling Shepard, have all assembled 12. Odell Beckham, Christian Kirk, and Zach Pascal have all accumulated 11 targets, while John Brown leads a group of three receivers that have collected 10 red zone targets through Week 15.

Kenny Golladay leads the league with 12 red zone targets inside the 10, while Jarvis Landry is second overall with 11. Allen Robinson and Chris Godwin have collected 10 targets, while Julian Edelman, Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Evans, and Marvin Jones are tied with nine. Michael Thomas, Keenan Allen, and Cooper Kupp have all attained eight targets, while Julio Jones. Courtland Sutton, Terry McLaurin, and Curtis Samuel have all collected seven.

Julio Jones, Tyler Lockett, Odell Beckham, and Chris Conley all collected for red zone targets in Week 15, which tied them for the highest total among all receivers. Jamison Crowder and Greg Ward were next with three, while A.J. Brown, Devante Parker, Mike Williams, Tyreek Hill, Kenny Still, Curtis Samuel, and Jarvis Landry all captured two red zone targets in Week 15.

Lockett had stockpiled 14 red zone targets during Seattle’s first nine contests. That includes the season-high five targets in Week 9 versus Tampa Bay. But he had only been targeted one time inside the 20 from Weeks 10 -14. However, he accrued four targets during Seattle’s Week 15 encounter with Carolina. That has returned him to a spot among the league leaders, and his Week 15 statistical surge will be discussed further in the Five Things I Noticed section.

Julio Jones had only been targeted five times in the red zone during his seven previous matchups before he attained four in Week 15 at San Francisco. McLaurin had received one red zone target in four consecutive games from Weeks 11-14. However, he did not garner a target in Week 15. D.J. Moore captured nine red zone targets during a four-game sequence from Weeks 10-13. But he did not receive a target in Week 14 or 15.

Week 15 Snap Count Leaders

Chris Godwin owners who are playing for league championships this week are lamenting his impending absence. But he currently leads all wide receivers in total offensive snaps (957). DeAndre Hopkins is second (935), followed by D.J. Moore (919), Odell Beckham (918) and Julian Edelman (905). While no other receivers have eclipsed  900 snaps, Jarvis Landry resides on the threshold of that number (898), and is followed by Allen Robinson (894), Tyler Lockett (892), Kenny Golladay (887), John Brown (887), Curtis Samuel (871), Robert Woods (862), and Tyler Boyd (861). Michael Thomas spearheads a group of eight receivers that have performed on 800- 860 snaps - Courtland Sutton, Robby Anderson, Keenan Allen, Cooper Kupp, D.K. Metcalf, Mike Evans, and Marvin Jones.

Hopkins paces the position in snap count percentage (97.0), followed by Beckham (96.0), Landry (94.0), Robinson (93.9), Moore (92.8), Sutton (92.8), Godwin (92.5), Anderson (90.6), John Brown (90.6), and Thomas (90.3) completing the top 10. Lockett was next (89.9), followed by Golladay (89.3), Boyd (89.3), Edelman (88.3), Curtis Samuel (88.0), Woods (87.8), Allen (87.8), Terry McLaurin (87.0), and Larry Fitzgerald (84.5).

Hopkins, Woods, and Anderson were the only three receivers that performed on 100% of their team’s offensive snaps in Week 15. Moore played on 97.2% of Carolina’s snaps, followed by Cleveland teammates Beckham and Landry each at 97.1. Tyrell Williams was seventh overall for the week (96), followed by Emmanuel Sanders (95.3), Robinson (95.2), Parker (94.3), Miller (94.1), John Brown (93.90, Golladay (93.8), Will Fuller (93.7), Allen (93.6), Adams (93.2), Westbrook (93.0), J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (92.2), Kupp (91.8), and Curtis Samuel (91.7).

While D.J. Chark was unavailable with an ankle issue, Dede Westbrook registered his highest snap count percentage of the season (93). Chris Conley performed on the largest percentage since Week 11 (88), while Keelan Cole’s 75% was his highest since Week 9. Albert Wilson played on 80% of Miami’s offensive snaps. That easily exceeded his previous season-high (53%). Steven Sims has now been involved in at least 70% of Washington’s snaps for two consecutive weeks. He had been averaging 15.4% from Weeks 1-12.

Five Things I Noticed

1. One week ago, Mike Evans’ season-ending hamstring injury created enormous uncertainty regarding which Buccaneer receiver would ascend into the RB2 role behind Chris Godwin during Tampa Bay’s remaining matchups.

That topic was addressed in this section last week, as Breshad Perriman, Justin Watson, and Scott Miller were all prospective candidates to seize that distinction against Detroit in Week 15.

Godwin led the Buccaneers with eight targets before experiencing his own hamstring issue. But Perriman also collected five of his six targets while accruing 113 yards, and generating three touchdowns. He also demonstrated the ability to operate as Tampa Bay's primary receiver if Godwin is sidelined as expected.  

Perriman has failed to match the expectations that are usually reserved for first-round picks (2016). But at age 26, he could still revise the narrative regarding his career. He did accumulate 233 yards during a four-game stretch in 2018, and a favorable blend of size and speed can now sustain a downfield presence for Tampa Bay’s aerial assault. Since Week 13, Perriman’s yard-per-target average has increased from 3.6 in Weeks 1-12, to 5.7. He has also collected 13 of his 18 targets for 270 yards and four touchdowns. His 113 yards in Week 15 nearly matched his season-long total while he is now just nine receptions and 90 yards away from establishing new career highs in those categories. His five touchdowns this season already match his career total from 2016 to 2018.

But of greatest importance to new Perriman owners is his enticing matchup this week against Houston. Perriman should function as Jameis Winston’s WR1 while bolstering a depleted receiving arsenal that will operate without Evans and Godwin. Watson, OJ Howard, and Cameron Brate should also receive targets. But Perriman should lead the Buccaneers in that category. That should trigger another high-quality outing at the time that his owners need it most.

2. A.J. Brown’s output in Week 15 included new career highs in targets (13) and receptions (8), while he also exceeded 100 yards for the third time during his last four contests (114), collected two red zone targets, and generated his fourth touchdown since Week 12.

Brown’s recent statistical surge has elevated him to WR21 in standard scoring, and WR23 in PPR leagues. He also leads all first-year receivers in that category, while also pacing rookies in receiving yards (893) and receptions of 40+yards (6). Brown has also vaulted into a tie for the league’s highest yards-per-target average (12.1). and is now fifth at his position in yards after catch (404).

Ryan Tannehill’s emergence as Tennessee’s starting signal-caller has been a significant factor in Brown’s encouraging increase in usage and production. Since Tannehill’s initial matchup under center in Week 7, Brown has accumulated 51 targets, while his targets-per-game average has risen from 3.8 to 6.4. He has captured 33 of those passes, generated 620 yards, and that yardage total places him 12th overall among all wide receivers during that span. Brown is also tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns (5) with Tannehill launching passes in his direction, and he has also collected three of his eight red zone targets during his last two matchups.

Brown also leads the Titans in every major category during that eight-game sequence, as Corey Davis is a distant second among wide receivers with 33 targets (4.7 per game), 20 receptions, and 280 yards. Brown has also increased his lead over Davis in team percentage of air yards (28.4/22.1) and team target share (19.3/15.7).

If you are a Brown owner, you should continue relying on him in your starting lineup when Tennessee hosts New Orleans. If your league continues into Week 17, you should be ecstatic to learn that he will line up against the same Houston secondary that he just torched in Week 15.

3. You are already aware that Julio Jones is an elite wide receiver and has been firmly entrenched in that select category since his first 16-game season (2012). But this column would be remiss without recognizing the significant numbers that he stockpiled in Week 15.

He achieved season-highs in fantasy points (25+) targets (20), and receptions (13), and the timing of his exceptional performance could not have been better for his grateful owners.

From Weeks 2-8, Jones was seventh among wide receivers in targets (63), sixth in receptions (44), and third in receiving yards (681). But from Weeks 9 to 14, Jones dropped to just 34th in targets (35), 42nd in receptions (19), and 32nd in yardage (304). However, Calvin Ridley’s season-ending abdomen issue increased the frequency with which Matt Ryan located Jones in Week 15. Jones unsurprisingly led Falcon receivers in offensive snaps (59), while Christian Blake (57) and Russell Gage (51) comprised Ryan’s other weapons at the position.

That compelled Ryan to target Jones 20 times. That was the second time during his career that he has attained that number, and the first time since Week 3 of 2015. The 13 receptions that Jones procured also tied his career-high. It was the second game in which he has manufactured a double-digit reception total this year, and the 18th time that he has accrued at least 10 catches during his career.

Jones has also eclipsed 100 yards for the fifth time this season, although it was the first time that he had attained 100+ since Week 8. Jones also delivered two scores in Week 15, which eviscerated a streak of nine consecutive games without a touchdown. Owners were presented with multiple reasons to be euphoric during their semi-final matchups, and Jones remains in a position to deliver another excellent outing against Jacksonville this week.

4. Tyler Lockett entered Week 10 having just commandeered a career-high 18 targets. That had vaulted him to ninth overall among all wide receivers with 72 for the season (8 per-game).

He was also fourth overall in both receptions (59) and receiving yards (767), seventh in yards-per-game average (85.2), and was tied for third at his position with six touchdowns. Lockett was seventh with a 10.7 yards-per-target average and was third overall with 14 red zone targets.

But Lockett’s production decreased significantly from Weeks 10-14, which threatened to derail the fantasy seasons for his increasingly distraught owners. He was only targeted 15 times during that span (3.8 per game) while managing just eight receptions, and 107 scoreless yards (26.75 per game). His red zone opportunities also dissipated, as he was targeted just once during those contests.

Josh Gordon’s tenure with Seattle also transpired from Weeks 10-14. But his presence was not the source of Lockett’s statistical descent. During that sequence, Gordon collected seven of his 11 targets (2.2 per game) while accumulating 139 yards (27.8) per game. That placed him a distant third among Seahawk receivers in each of those categories. Lockett was contending with both illness and a shin injury, which were primary factors behind the unwanted downturn in his scoring.

But Lockett’s usage and production improved significantly in Week 15, as he accumulated a team-best nine targets - which was also his highest total since Week 9. His eight receptions matched the total that he had attained in his previous four matchups combined, while he also eclipsed 100 yards (120) and generated a touchdown for the first time since Week 9. Lockett also collected four red zone targets and obtained his highest yard-per-target average since Week 12 (13.3).  If Lockett is contained on your roster, and his abysmal production from Weeks 10-14 did not circumvent your championship aspirations, then you can be encouraged that his Week 15 performance should be replicated this week against Arizona.

5. Sterling Shepard’s season-high 11 targets in Week 15 provided the latest installment within a sequence of favorable usage since he reemerged from his concussion issues.

Shepard has averaged 8.3 targets per game since his Week 12 return, which places him 13th among all receivers. He is also 11th overall in targets (33) and 13th in receptions (22) during that span, while his Week 15 target total also propelled him to new season bests in receptions (9) and receiving yards (111).

He has now exceeded 100 yards in two different contests, and his initial matchup of 100+ occurred back in Week 3. That was his most productive outing from Weeks 1-5 when Shepard led Giant wide receivers in targets (34/8.5 per game), receptions (25) and receiving yards (267). He also accrued 27 targets and averaged 75 yards-per-game from Weeks 3-5, before his statistical momentum was interrupted. Shepard was contending with the effects of multiple concussions, which sidelined him from Weeks 6-11, amid reports that the Giants were considering the possibility of placing the fourth-year receiver on injured reserve.

But he resurfaced in Week 12 and has performed on more snaps than any other Giant wide receiver in three of the four matchups since his return. His consistent usage has also propelled a surge to the team lead in receptions for the season (46) even though he has been limited to eight games. Shepard also just six targets behind Slayton for the team lead in that category. while his 57.6 yards-per-game average remains slightly above the numbers for Slayton (57.5) and Tate (56.9).

If you are evaluating options for your Week 16 lineup, Shepard presents the reliability of a steady target total whenever he is on the field. His matchup with Washington is not overly daunting, and he can be deployed as a WR3.

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