One of the best ways to determine the efficiency of a wide receiver is by looking at their yards per target. Using this data, we can see where targets are possibly being wasted, and where they are being maximized. Let’s see what this means for 2015.
Here’s a look at the yards per target of each wide receiver with at least 200 receiving yards in 2014:
Rk | Player | Age | Tm | G | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Y/T | +/- |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DeSean Jackson | 28 | WAS | 15 | 95 | 56 | 1169 | 6 | 12.31 | 4.48 |
2 | T.Y. Hilton | 25 | IND | 15 | 131 | 82 | 1345 | 7 | 10.27 | 2.44 |
3 | Randall Cobb | 24 | GNB | 16 | 127 | 91 | 1287 | 12 | 10.13 | 2.31 |
4 | Jordy Nelson | 29 | GNB | 16 | 151 | 98 | 1519 | 13 | 10.06 | 2.23 |
5 | Odell Beckham | 22 | NYG | 12 | 130 | 91 | 1305 | 12 | 10.04 | 2.21 |
6 | Emmanuel Sanders | 27 | DEN | 16 | 141 | 101 | 1404 | 9 | 9.96 | 2.13 |
7 | Julio Jones | 25 | ATL | 15 | 163 | 104 | 1593 | 6 | 9.77 | 1.95 |
8 | Dez Bryant | 26 | DAL | 16 | 136 | 88 | 1320 | 16 | 9.71 | 1.88 |
9 | DeAndre Hopkins | 22 | HOU | 16 | 127 | 76 | 1210 | 6 | 9.53 | 1.70 |
10 | Terrance Williams | 25 | DAL | 16 | 66 | 37 | 621 | 8 | 9.41 | 1.58 |
11 | Antonio Brown | 26 | PIT | 16 | 181 | 129 | 1698 | 13 | 9.38 | 1.55 |
12 | Malcom Floyd | 33 | SDG | 16 | 92 | 52 | 856 | 6 | 9.30 | 1.48 |
13 | Golden Tate | 26 | DET | 16 | 144 | 99 | 1331 | 4 | 9.24 | 1.42 |
14 | Jeremy Maclin | 26 | PHI | 16 | 143 | 85 | 1318 | 10 | 9.22 | 1.39 |
15 | Marques Colston | 31 | NOR | 16 | 100 | 59 | 902 | 5 | 9.02 | 1.19 |
16 | Nate Washington | 31 | TEN | 16 | 72 | 40 | 647 | 2 | 8.99 | 1.16 |
17 | Jeremy Ross | 26 | DET | 16 | 35 | 24 | 314 | 1 | 8.97 | 1.14 |
18 | Kenny Britt | 26 | STL | 16 | 84 | 48 | 748 | 3 | 8.90 | 1.08 |
19 | A.J. Green | 26 | CIN | 13 | 117 | 69 | 1041 | 6 | 8.90 | 1.07 |
20 | Demaryius Thomas | 27 | DEN | 16 | 184 | 111 | 1619 | 11 | 8.80 | 0.97 |
21 | Steve Johnson | 28 | SFO | 13 | 50 | 35 | 435 | 3 | 8.70 | 0.87 |
22 | Mike Evans | 21 | TAM | 15 | 122 | 68 | 1051 | 12 | 8.61 | 0.79 |
23 | Eddie Royal | 28 | SDG | 16 | 91 | 62 | 778 | 7 | 8.55 | 0.72 |
24 | Michael Floyd | 25 | ARI | 16 | 99 | 47 | 841 | 6 | 8.49 | 0.67 |
25 | Jordan Matthews | 22 | PHI | 16 | 103 | 67 | 872 | 8 | 8.47 | 0.64 |
26 | Doug Baldwin | 26 | SEA | 16 | 98 | 66 | 825 | 3 | 8.42 | 0.59 |
27 | Calvin Johnson | 29 | DET | 13 | 128 | 71 | 1077 | 8 | 8.41 | 0.59 |
28 | Brandon Lloyd | 33 | SFO | 14 | 35 | 14 | 294 | 1 | 8.40 | 0.57 |
29 | Eric Decker | 27 | NYJ | 15 | 115 | 74 | 962 | 5 | 8.37 | 0.54 |
30 | Kamar Aiken | 25 | BAL | 16 | 32 | 24 | 267 | 3 | 8.34 | 0.52 |
31 | Torrey Smith | 25 | BAL | 16 | 92 | 49 | 767 | 11 | 8.34 | 0.51 |
32 | Victor Cruz | 28 | NYG | 6 | 41 | 23 | 337 | 1 | 8.22 | 0.39 |
33 | Anquan Boldin | 34 | SFO | 16 | 130 | 83 | 1062 | 5 | 8.17 | 0.34 |
34 | Greg Jennings | 31 | MIN | 16 | 92 | 59 | 742 | 6 | 8.07 | 0.24 |
35 | Mohamed Sanu | 25 | CIN | 16 | 98 | 56 | 790 | 5 | 8.06 | 0.23 |
36 | Brandon LaFell | 28 | NWE | 16 | 119 | 74 | 953 | 7 | 8.01 | 0.18 |
37 | Brandin Cooks | 21 | NOR | 10 | 69 | 53 | 550 | 3 | 7.97 | 0.14 |
38 | Steve Smith | 35 | BAL | 16 | 134 | 79 | 1065 | 6 | 7.95 | 0.12 |
39 | Dwayne Bowe | 30 | KAN | 15 | 95 | 60 | 754 | 0 | 7.94 | 0.11 |
40 | Alshon Jeffery | 24 | CHI | 16 | 145 | 85 | 1133 | 10 | 7.81 | -0.01 |
41 | Jermaine Kearse | 24 | SEA | 15 | 69 | 38 | 537 | 1 | 7.78 | -0.04 |
42 | Miles Austin | 30 | CLE | 12 | 73 | 47 | 568 | 2 | 7.78 | -0.05 |
43 | Kendall Wright | 25 | TEN | 14 | 93 | 57 | 715 | 6 | 7.69 | -0.14 |
44 | Sammy Watkins | 21 | BUF | 16 | 128 | 65 | 982 | 6 | 7.67 | -0.16 |
45 | Larry Fitzgerald | 31 | ARI | 14 | 103 | 63 | 784 | 2 | 7.61 | -0.22 |
46 | Brian Hartline | 28 | MIA | 16 | 63 | 39 | 474 | 2 | 7.52 | -0.30 |
47 | Harry Douglas | 30 | ATL | 12 | 74 | 51 | 556 | 2 | 7.51 | -0.31 |
48 | Mike Wallace | 28 | MIA | 16 | 115 | 67 | 862 | 10 | 7.50 | -0.33 |
49 | Markus Wheaton | 23 | PIT | 16 | 86 | 53 | 644 | 2 | 7.49 | -0.34 |
50 | Derek Hagan | 30 | TEN | 16 | 34 | 19 | 254 | 1 | 7.47 | -0.36 |
51 | Preston Parker | 27 | NYG | 16 | 56 | 36 | 418 | 2 | 7.46 | -0.36 |
52 | Jerricho Cotchery | 32 | CAR | 15 | 78 | 48 | 580 | 1 | 7.44 | -0.39 |
53 | Justin Hunter | 23 | TEN | 12 | 67 | 28 | 498 | 3 | 7.43 | -0.39 |
54 | Rueben Randle | 23 | NYG | 16 | 127 | 71 | 938 | 3 | 7.39 | -0.44 |
55 | Roddy White | 33 | ATL | 14 | 125 | 80 | 921 | 7 | 7.37 | -0.46 |
56 | Andrew Hawkins | 28 | CLE | 15 | 112 | 63 | 824 | 2 | 7.36 | -0.47 |
57 | Julian Edelman | 28 | NWE | 14 | 134 | 92 | 972 | 4 | 7.25 | -0.57 |
58 | Pierre Garcon | 28 | WAS | 16 | 105 | 68 | 752 | 3 | 7.16 | -0.67 |
59 | Vincent Jackson | 31 | TAM | 16 | 142 | 70 | 1002 | 2 | 7.06 | -0.77 |
60 | Andre Holmes | 26 | OAK | 16 | 99 | 47 | 693 | 4 | 7.00 | -0.83 |
61 | Allen Hurns | 23 | JAX | 16 | 97 | 51 | 677 | 6 | 6.98 | -0.85 |
62 | Kelvin Benjamin | 23 | CAR | 16 | 145 | 73 | 1008 | 9 | 6.95 | -0.88 |
63 | Brandon Marshall | 30 | CHI | 13 | 106 | 61 | 721 | 8 | 6.80 | -1.03 |
64 | Louis Murphy | 27 | TAM | 11 | 56 | 31 | 380 | 2 | 6.79 | -1.04 |
65 | Jarvis Landry | 22 | MIA | 16 | 112 | 84 | 758 | 5 | 6.77 | -1.06 |
66 | Davante Adams | 22 | GNB | 16 | 66 | 38 | 446 | 3 | 6.76 | -1.07 |
67 | Robert Woods | 22 | BUF | 16 | 104 | 65 | 699 | 5 | 6.72 | -1.11 |
68 | Reggie Wayne | 36 | IND | 15 | 116 | 64 | 779 | 2 | 6.72 | -1.11 |
69 | Keenan Allen | 22 | SDG | 14 | 121 | 77 | 783 | 4 | 6.47 | -1.36 |
70 | Michael Crabtree | 27 | SFO | 16 | 108 | 68 | 698 | 4 | 6.46 | -1.36 |
71 | Andre Johnson | 33 | HOU | 15 | 146 | 85 | 936 | 3 | 6.41 | -1.42 |
72 | Percy Harvin | 26 | 2TM | 13 | 78 | 51 | 483 | 1 | 6.19 | -1.63 |
73 | Paul Richardson | 22 | SEA | 15 | 44 | 29 | 271 | 1 | 6.16 | -1.67 |
74 | Marqise Lee | 23 | JAX | 13 | 69 | 37 | 422 | 1 | 6.12 | -1.71 |
75 | Riley Cooper | 27 | PHI | 16 | 95 | 55 | 577 | 3 | 6.07 | -1.75 |
76 | Hakeem Nicks | 26 | IND | 16 | 68 | 38 | 405 | 4 | 5.96 | -1.87 |
77 | James Jones | 30 | OAK | 16 | 112 | 73 | 666 | 6 | 5.95 | -1.88 |
78 | Brandon Gibson | 27 | MIA | 14 | 51 | 29 | 295 | 1 | 5.78 | -2.04 |
79 | Cordarrelle Patterson | 23 | MIN | 16 | 67 | 33 | 384 | 1 | 5.73 | -2.10 |
80 | Jason Avant | 31 | 2TM | 16 | 62 | 34 | 353 | 1 | 5.69 | -2.13 |
81 | Tavon Austin | 23 | STL | 15 | 44 | 31 | 242 | 0 | 5.50 | -2.33 |
82 | Jeremy Kerley | 26 | NYJ | 16 | 75 | 38 | 409 | 1 | 5.45 | -2.37 |
83 | Cecil Shorts | 27 | JAX | 13 | 110 | 53 | 557 | 1 | 5.06 | -2.76 |
The “+/-“ column refers to how many yards each receiver is above or below the average yards per target among all wide receivers with at least 200 receiving yards. The average for all qualifying receivers is 7.83 yards per target.
Firstly, it is abundantly clear a quarterback’s accuracy greatly affects a wide receiver’s yards per target. This is partially exemplified with Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson both finishing with over 10 yards per target.
Secondly, the depth of a wide receiver’s routes also greatly impacts their yards per target. For example, someone like DeSean Jackson who does most of his work deep down the field will compare favorably to someone like Julian Edelman who gobbles up most of his targets closer to the line of scrimmage.
We see elite numbers from DeSean Jackson, TY Hilton, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, and Odell Beckham. These were the only wide receivers to top 10 yards per target.
Emmanuel Sanders, Julio Jones, and Dez Bryant follow closely. All three showed what happens when a talented wide receiver is paired with a solid quarterback.
DeAndre Hopkins comes in at 9.53 yards per target, lending some credence to those who believe he should be targeted more frequently. With Andre Johnson off to Indianapolis, his skills will be put to the test in 2015.
After averaging 9.93 yards per target over the past three seasons, Calvin Johnson fell to 8.41 yards per target. Was that was due to his ankle injury or decline? Your guess is as good as mine.
Alshon Jeffery was almost exactly average (7.81) last season. It’s a little alarming after he finished with 9.47 yards per target in 2013. This could also be attributable to his midseason hamstring injury but is worth considering with the relatively large amount of draft capital required to get him in drafts. But it would be remiss to forget about the effects of the inefficiency and inaccuracy of Jay Cutler when analyzing Jeffrey.
Mike Evans (8.61) and Jordan Matthews (8.47) both look ready for increased targets. Kelvin Benjamin, on the other hand, was terribly inefficient with just 6.95 yards per target.
Roddy White (7.37), Vincent Jackson (7.06), and Brandon Marshall (6.8) all showed signs of being on the wrong side of 30. Whether they’ll bounce back or not is up in the air, but father time is working against them.
Andre Johnson averaged just 6.41 yards per target and is another player that is on the wrong side of 30. He’s likely to improve with Andrew Luck, but it’s a question of whether he’ll improve enough to outperform his average draft position.
Out of players with at least 100 targets, Cecil Shorts (5.06) and James Jones (5.95) were the worst. They are examples of the marriage between questionable talent and below average quarterback play.