NFL Receiving Leaders

Comprehensive receiving statistics including EPA, target share, and efficiency metrics

Season EPA Target Detail Target Share
Player
GP
Targets
Recs
Yards
YPC
YPG
TDs
1st Downs
Total
/ Game
/ Catch
/ Target
/ Route
Target Rate
Catch Rate
CROE
aDOT
All
3rd Down
Red Zone
Jaxon Smith-Njigba headshot
J. Smith-Njigba
SEA25
6
56
42
696
16.6
116.0
3
30
+40.3
+6.7
+0.96
+0.72
75.0%
+15.41%
13.0
36.4%
34.8%
17.6%
Puka Nacua headshot
P. Nacua
LAR25
6
65
54
616
11.4
102.7
2
33
+44.5
+7.4
+0.82
+0.68
83.1%
+15.32%
9.7
31.7%
32.7%
17.1%
George Pickens headshot
G. Pickens
DAL25
6
48
32
525
16.4
87.5
6
28
+42.6
+7.1
+1.33
+0.89
66.7%
+10.59%
12.1
20.9%
26.7%
27.8%
Emeka Egbuka headshot
E. Egbuka
TB25
6
43
27
469
17.4
78.2
5
18
+29.3
+4.9
+1.08
+0.68
62.8%
+3.31%
13.2
22.6%
31.8%
25.0%
Ja'Marr Chase headshot
J. Chase
CIN25
6
57
42
468
11.1
78.0
4
21
+12.4
+2.1
+0.30
+0.22
73.7%
+9.54%
9.6
29.2%
28.0%
25.0%
Amon-Ra St. Brown headshot
A. St. Brown
DET25
6
51
44
452
10.3
75.3
6
28
+37.9
+6.3
+0.86
+0.74
86.3%
+17.68%
7.0
30.5%
28.0%
40.0%
Justin Jefferson headshot
J. Jefferson
MIN25
5
42
29
449
15.5
89.8
1
17
+12.2
+2.4
+0.42
+0.29
69.0%
+7.62%
12.3
29.2%
29.6%
19.2%
Drake London headshot
D. London
ATL25
5
53
34
427
12.6
85.4
2
18
+3.0
+0.6
+0.09
+0.06
64.2%
-2.77%
9.9
32.9%
26.7%
27.8%
Christian McCaffrey headshot
C. McCaffrey
SF25
6
60
46
424
9.2
70.7
3
18
+15.8
+2.6
+0.34
+0.26
76.7%
+1.47%
2.9
25.8%
21.4%
32.3%
Zay Flowers headshot
Z. Flowers
BAL25
6
47
34
423
12.4
70.5
1
16
+10.3
+1.7
+0.30
+0.22
72.3%
+8.81%
8.9
29.6%
29.5%
23.1%
Davante Adams headshot
D. Adams
LAR25
6
55
26
396
15.2
66.0
3
18
+8.2
+1.4
+0.32
+0.15
47.3%
-12.12%
12.1
26.8%
36.7%
37.1%
Garrett Wilson headshot
G. Wilson
NYJ25
6
57
36
395
11.0
65.8
4
18
+4.1
+0.7
+0.11
+0.07
63.2%
+0.09%
8.5
34.1%
39.5%
21.7%
Jaylen Waddle headshot
J. Waddle
MIA25
6
40
29
390
13.4
65.0
3
21
+20.1
+3.3
+0.69
+0.50
72.5%
+10.02%
11.2
21.5%
20.4%
25.0%
Stefon Diggs headshot
S. Diggs
NE25
6
37
32
387
12.1
64.5
0
19
+28.3
+4.7
+0.88
+0.76
86.5%
+21.14%
8.5
21.4%
25.0%
20.0%
Courtland Sutton headshot
C. Sutton
DEN25
6
40
27
382
14.1
63.7
3
19
+27.9
+4.7
+1.03
+0.70
67.5%
+7.30%
12.2
20.5%
30.2%
19.0%
Tetairoa McMillan headshot
T. McMillan
CAR25
6
48
27
380
14.1
63.3
2
22
+7.1
+1.2
+0.26
+0.15
56.3%
-1.94%
11.3
25.1%
35.4%
21.2%
Quentin Johnston headshot
Q. Johnston
LAC25
5
40
26
377
14.5
75.4
4
13
+12.2
+2.4
+0.47
+0.30
65.0%
+2.61%
12.1
22.7%
22.0%
26.3%
Kendrick Bourne headshot
K. Bourne
SF25
5
33
23
371
16.1
74.2
0
17
+17.2
+3.4
+0.75
+0.52
69.7%
+4.35%
9.8
16.6%
16.7%
9.5%
Tyler Warren headshot
T. Warren
IND25
6
41
29
370
12.8
61.7
2
19
+16.0
+2.7
+0.55
+0.39
70.7%
+1.69%
6.2
22.4%
20.0%
27.6%
Tre Tucker headshot
T. Tucker
OAK25
6
33
24
356
14.8
59.3
4
15
+22.6
+3.8
+0.94
+0.68
72.7%
+6.54%
10.2
18.0%
11.8%
18.5%
DK Metcalf headshot
D. Metcalf
PIT25
5
31
19
356
18.7
71.2
4
16
+24.7
+4.9
+1.30
+0.80
61.3%
-2.89%
9.4
23.1%
15.0%
18.8%
Wan'Dale Robinson headshot
W. Robinson
NYG25
6
41
29
351
12.1
58.5
2
13
+9.1
+1.5
+0.31
+0.22
70.7%
+5.22%
8.9
21.9%
35.3%
22.2%
Trey McBride headshot
T. McBride
ARI25
6
53
37
347
9.4
57.8
2
20
+17.4
+2.9
+0.47
+0.33
69.8%
+0.54%
6.4
26.9%
29.8%
33.3%
Chris Olave headshot
C. Olave
NO25
6
64
39
342
8.8
57.0
1
18
+0.4
+0.1
+0.01
+0.01
60.9%
-5.51%
8.6
32.3%
39.2%
28.6%
Marvin Harrison Jr. headshot
M. Harrison
ARI25
6
34
22
338
15.4
56.3
2
14
+20.8
+3.5
+0.95
+0.61
64.7%
+1.91%
12.1
17.3%
12.8%
13.3%
Bijan Robinson headshot
B. Robinson
ATL25
5
31
24
338
14.1
67.6
1
11
+12.2
+2.4
+0.51
+0.39
77.4%
-0.44%
1.6
19.3%
17.8%
33.3%
Brian Thomas Jr. headshot
B. Thomas
JAX25
6
48
24
334
13.9
55.7
1
16
-1.6
-0.3
-0.07
-0.03
50.0%
-10.38%
12.3
23.3%
26.4%
16.7%
Jakobi Meyers headshot
J. Meyers
OAK25
6
43
29
329
11.3
54.8
0
14
-3.7
-0.6
-0.13
-0.09
67.4%
+1.58%
9.3
23.5%
29.4%
22.2%
Rome Odunze headshot
R. Odunze
CHI25
5
41
22
328
14.9
65.6
5
18
+11.4
+2.3
+0.52
+0.28
53.7%
-5.10%
12.9
25.3%
38.6%
31.8%
Ricky Pearsall headshot
R. Pearsall
SF25
4
29
20
327
16.4
81.8
0
17
+19.7
+4.9
+0.99
+0.68
69.0%
+15.42%
16.0
19.6%
25.0%
13.0%
Sam LaPorta headshot
S. LaPorta
DET25
6
33
26
324
12.5
54.0
2
15
+20.0
+3.3
+0.77
+0.61
78.8%
+11.38%
5.8
19.8%
22.0%
16.7%
Travis Kelce headshot
T. Kelce
KC25
6
37
28
321
11.5
53.5
2
19
+17.9
+3.0
+0.64
+0.48
75.7%
+5.21%
5.2
18.0%
13.3%
19.4%
DeVonta Smith headshot
D. Smith
PHI25
6
36
29
321
11.1
53.5
1
15
+27.0
+4.5
+0.93
+0.75
80.6%
+18.65%
9.5
21.8%
33.3%
28.6%
Keenan Allen headshot
K. Allen
LAC25
6
51
33
316
9.6
52.7
3
20
+17.5
+2.9
+0.53
+0.34
64.7%
-0.92%
7.9
23.8%
41.2%
32.3%
Rashid Shaheed headshot
R. Shaheed
NO25
6
36
26
316
12.2
52.7
2
12
+10.1
+1.7
+0.39
+0.28
72.2%
+7.28%
10.9
18.2%
9.8%
17.9%
Deebo Samuel Sr. headshot
D. Samuel
WAS25
6
43
34
315
9.3
52.5
3
14
+16.9
+2.8
+0.50
+0.39
79.1%
+9.60%
6.7
27.0%
17.5%
25.0%
Ladd McConkey headshot
L. McConkey
LAC25
6
43
28
313
11.2
52.2
2
16
+6.3
+1.1
+0.23
+0.15
65.1%
-1.08%
8.2
20.1%
21.6%
19.4%
Nico Collins headshot
N. Collins
HOU25
5
36
22
312
14.2
62.4
3
10
+9.0
+1.8
+0.41
+0.25
61.1%
+0.94%
11.0
24.7%
26.3%
33.3%
Jake Ferguson headshot
J. Ferguson
DAL25
6
51
44
305
6.9
50.8
4
13
+12.3
+2.0
+0.28
+0.24
86.3%
+12.17%
4.3
22.2%
18.3%
22.2%
Marquise Brown headshot
M. Brown
KC25
6
44
30
302
10.1
50.3
3
17
+15.4
+2.6
+0.51
+0.35
68.2%
+1.52%
9.0
21.4%
20.0%
19.4%
Kayshon Boutte headshot
K. Boutte
NE25
6
23
18
301
16.7
50.2
3
16
+24.6
+4.1
+1.36
+1.07
78.3%
+24.27%
15.5
13.3%
20.5%
10.0%
Michael Pittman headshot
M. Pittman
IND25
6
40
28
293
10.5
48.8
4
19
+15.8
+2.6
+0.56
+0.39
70.0%
+4.88%
8.3
21.9%
17.5%
27.6%
Calvin Ridley headshot
C. Ridley
TEN25
6
35
16
290
18.1
48.3
0
12
+11.4
+1.9
+0.71
+0.33
45.7%
-14.34%
12.7
19.0%
24.5%
12.5%
Jameson Williams headshot
J. Williams
DET25
6
28
17
289
17.0
48.2
2
14
+13.7
+2.3
+0.81
+0.49
60.7%
+3.92%
16.8
16.8%
18.0%
3.3%
Dalton Kincaid headshot
D. Kincaid
BUF25
5
25
20
287
14.3
57.4
3
14
+19.9
+4.0
+1.00
+0.80
80.0%
+18.37%
8.9
16.4%
22.9%
19.4%
Hunter Henry headshot
H. Henry
NE25
6
31
20
277
13.8
46.2
3
14
+19.4
+3.2
+0.97
+0.62
64.5%
+3.28%
9.4
17.9%
13.6%
35.0%
A.J. Brown headshot
A. Brown
PHI25
6
45
25
274
11.0
45.7
1
12
+1.7
+0.3
+0.07
+0.04
55.6%
-5.53%
11.1
27.3%
28.6%
23.8%
Tyquan Thornton headshot
T. Thornton
KC25
5
25
13
272
20.9
54.4
3
10
+15.9
+3.2
+1.22
+0.64
52.0%
+9.19%
23.9
14.0%
22.0%
13.3%
Malik Nabers headshot
M. Nabers
NYG25
4
35
18
271
15.1
67.8
2
11
+2.3
+0.6
+0.13
+0.07
51.4%
-5.13%
15.9
28.7%
18.2%
23.5%
Khalil Shakir headshot
K. Shakir
BUF25
6
34
25
268
10.7
44.7
2
12
+6.0
+1.0
+0.24
+0.18
73.5%
-0.12%
5.1
19.1%
19.0%
20.6%
Tucker Kraft headshot
T. Kraft
GB25
5
22
18
268
14.9
53.6
3
12
+21.9
+4.4
+1.22
+1.00
81.8%
+12.95%
6.0
16.2%
10.0%
27.3%
Tyreek Hill headshot
T. Hill
MIA25
4
29
21
265
12.6
66.3
1
17
+19.8
+5.0
+0.94
+0.68
72.4%
+13.20%
13.8
23.8%
31.3%
12.5%
Cooper Kupp headshot
C. Kupp
SEA25
6
32
23
261
11.3
43.5
1
13
+6.1
+1.0
+0.26
+0.19
71.9%
+2.54%
6.4
20.8%
28.3%
17.6%
Harold Fannin Jr. headshot
H. Fannin
CLE25
6
38
28
254
9.1
42.3
1
12
+3.3
+0.6
+0.12
+0.09
73.7%
+5.43%
6.4
16.3%
12.3%
13.3%
Troy Franklin headshot
T. Franklin
DEN25
6
37
24
250
10.4
41.7
1
12
-3.4
-0.6
-0.14
-0.09
64.9%
-1.67%
8.6
19.0%
9.5%
38.1%
Dallas Goedert headshot
D. Goedert
PHI25
5
33
24
243
10.1
48.6
5
14
+13.3
+2.7
+0.55
+0.40
72.7%
+5.51%
8.7
22.9%
17.6%
23.8%
Sterling Shepard headshot
S. Shepard
TB25
6
27
19
242
12.7
40.3
1
11
+7.5
+1.2
+0.39
+0.28
70.4%
+4.93%
9.6
14.2%
25.0%
8.3%
Jerry Jeudy headshot
J. Jeudy
CLE25
6
48
20
240
12.0
40.0
0
14
-19.8
-3.3
-0.99
-0.41
41.7%
-15.72%
13.0
20.6%
27.7%
16.7%
Keon Coleman headshot
K. Coleman
BUF25
6
37
24
237
9.9
39.5
2
16
+1.8
+0.3
+0.07
+0.05
64.9%
+6.41%
10.2
20.8%
16.7%
20.6%
Juwan Johnson headshot
J. Johnson
NO25
6
37
26
236
9.1
39.3
1
13
+2.4
+0.4
+0.09
+0.07
70.3%
-0.65%
6.1
18.7%
21.6%
17.9%
Romeo Doubs headshot
R. Doubs
GB25
5
28
18
234
13.0
46.8
4
15
+10.7
+2.1
+0.59
+0.38
64.3%
+5.60%
12.9
20.6%
20.0%
31.8%
Josh Palmer headshot
J. Palmer
BUF25
6
20
14
234
16.7
39.0
0
10
+12.0
+2.0
+0.86
+0.60
70.0%
+9.30%
14.0
11.2%
9.5%
11.8%
Brock Bowers headshot
B. Bowers
OAK25
4
28
19
225
11.8
56.3
0
10
+4.6
+1.2
+0.24
+0.16
67.9%
+4.71%
6.2
22.6%
21.2%
25.0%
JuJu Smith-Schuster headshot
J. Smith-Schuster
KC25
6
24
19
225
11.8
37.5
1
10
+1.2
+0.2
+0.06
+0.05
79.2%
+7.77%
5.3
11.7%
11.1%
16.7%
Jake Tonges headshot
J. Tonges
SF25
6
34
25
224
9.0
37.3
3
13
+9.4
+1.6
+0.38
+0.28
73.5%
+2.54%
4.7
14.6%
12.5%
12.9%
David Njoku headshot
D. Njoku
CLE25
6
36
23
223
9.7
37.2
1
7
-0.9
-0.2
-0.04
-0.03
63.9%
-6.06%
6.1
15.5%
16.9%
20.0%
Kyle Pitts headshot
K. Pitts
ATL25
5
28
23
223
9.7
44.6
1
14
+10.1
+2.0
+0.44
+0.36
82.1%
+7.36%
5.4
17.4%
20.0%
16.7%
CeeDee Lamb headshot
C. Lamb
DAL25
2
24
16
222
13.9
111.0
0
10
+8.5
+4.3
+0.53
+0.36
66.7%
+4.74%
12.6
28.2%
25.0%
14.3%
Tee Higgins headshot
T. Higgins
CIN25
6
35
18
220
12.2
36.7
2
14
+11.2
+1.9
+0.62
+0.32
51.4%
-4.14%
13.3
17.9%
30.0%
20.8%
Alec Pierce headshot
A. Pierce
IND25
4
17
11
219
19.9
54.8
0
9
+11.0
+2.7
+1.00
+0.65
64.7%
+11.50%
19.2
14.5%
7.7%
10.5%
Chig Okonkwo headshot
C. Okonkwo
TEN25
6
30
23
218
9.5
36.3
0
10
+4.9
+0.8
+0.21
+0.16
76.7%
-0.62%
3.7
16.3%
12.2%
6.3%
Josh Downs headshot
J. Downs
IND25
6
34
26
217
8.3
36.2
1
15
+15.3
+2.5
+0.59
+0.45
76.5%
+8.89%
6.8
18.6%
27.5%
20.7%
Matthew Golden headshot
M. Golden
GB25
5
19
14
212
15.1
42.4
0
7
+17.2
+3.4
+1.23
+0.90
73.7%
+15.32%
14.6
14.0%
17.5%
9.1%
AJ Barner headshot
A. Barner
SEA25
6
19
17
205
12.1
34.2
4
10
+10.8
+1.8
+0.64
+0.57
89.5%
+26.09%
5.9
12.3%
10.9%
29.4%
DJ Moore headshot
D. Moore
CHI25
5
26
19
204
10.7
40.8
1
9
+9.6
+1.9
+0.50
+0.37
73.1%
+4.23%
8.7
16.0%
13.6%
9.1%
Brenton Strange headshot
B. Strange
JAX25
5
24
20
204
10.2
40.8
0
10
+12.8
+2.6
+0.64
+0.53
83.3%
+9.58%
5.5
14.6%
21.4%
0.0%
Travis Hunter headshot
T. Hunter
JAX25
6
31
20
197
9.8
32.8
0
7
-4.6
-0.8
-0.23
-0.15
64.5%
-4.86%
7.6
15.0%
11.3%
12.5%
Elic Ayomanor headshot
E. Ayomanor
TEN25
6
34
17
196
11.5
32.7
2
14
+3.2
+0.5
+0.19
+0.09
50.0%
-7.10%
13.7
18.5%
22.4%
18.8%
Bucky Irving headshot
B. Irving
TB25
4
19
19
193
10.2
48.3
2
7
+11.0
+2.7
+0.58
+0.58
100.0%
+20.08%
-2.2
14.2%
0.0%
18.8%
Zach Ertz headshot
Z. Ertz
WAS25
6
28
20
192
9.6
32.0
3
10
+12.8
+2.1
+0.64
+0.46
71.4%
+4.84%
7.0
17.6%
20.0%
31.3%
De'Von Achane headshot
D. Achane
MIA25
6
38
29
188
6.5
31.3
3
9
-1.9
-0.3
-0.07
-0.05
76.3%
-3.03%
-0.1
20.4%
18.4%
14.3%
Dalton Schultz headshot
D. Schultz
HOU25
5
27
21
186
8.9
37.2
0
10
+10.0
+2.0
+0.47
+0.37
77.8%
+9.64%
6.5
18.5%
28.9%
16.7%
Ryan Flournoy headshot
R. Flournoy
DAL25
4
20
13
179
13.8
44.8
0
10
+7.9
+2.0
+0.61
+0.40
65.0%
-2.07%
6.7
13.8%
20.0%
3.4%
Luke McCaffrey headshot
L. McCaffrey
WAS25
5
10
8
179
22.4
35.8
3
5
+13.9
+2.8
+1.74
+1.39
80.0%
+27.64%
17.1
7.7%
9.1%
14.3%
DeAndre Hopkins headshot
D. Hopkins
BAL25
6
13
9
178
19.8
29.7
2
8
+13.5
+2.2
+1.50
+1.04
69.2%
+21.35%
17.1
8.2%
6.8%
0.0%
Mason Taylor headshot
M. Taylor
NYJ25
6
30
21
177
8.4
29.5
0
12
+10.0
+1.7
+0.48
+0.33
70.0%
+3.30%
5.5
18.0%
14.0%
17.4%
Josh Jacobs headshot
J. Jacobs
GB25
4
19
15
176
11.7
44.0
0
6
+8.4
+2.1
+0.56
+0.44
78.9%
-4.03%
-1.2
17.4%
12.1%
0.0%
Mark Andrews headshot
M. Andrews
BAL25
6
27
21
174
8.3
29.0
2
10
+0.4
+0.1
+0.02
+0.01
77.8%
+9.73%
6.7
17.0%
18.2%
23.1%
Cade Otton headshot
C. Otton
TB25
5
22
15
166
11.1
33.2
0
7
+3.7
+0.7
+0.25
+0.17
68.2%
-4.13%
6.2
13.7%
5.6%
5.6%
Darius Slayton headshot
D. Slayton
NYG25
5
18
12
166
13.8
33.2
0
5
+1.6
+0.3
+0.13
+0.09
66.7%
+5.45%
14.1
11.2%
4.9%
8.3%
KaVontae Turpin headshot
K. Turpin
DAL25
4
13
11
159
14.5
39.8
1
9
+12.7
+3.2
+1.16
+0.98
84.6%
+21.77%
11.4
7.7%
12.8%
9.1%
Parker Washington headshot
P. Washington
JAX25
5
26
13
155
11.9
31.0
1
8
-4.8
-1.0
-0.37
-0.18
50.0%
-8.59%
10.7
14.7%
19.6%
13.6%
Cam Skattebo headshot
C. Skattebo
NYG25
6
24
20
155
7.8
25.8
0
8
+0.5
+0.1
+0.02
+0.02
83.3%
+3.31%
-0.3
12.8%
7.8%
7.4%
Kyren Williams headshot
K. Williams
LAR25
6
23
18
155
8.6
25.8
3
7
+8.4
+1.4
+0.47
+0.37
78.3%
+4.53%
2.6
11.2%
8.2%
17.1%
Jordan Addison headshot
J. Addison
MIN25
2
14
9
155
17.2
77.5
1
5
+6.3
+3.2
+0.70
+0.45
64.3%
+4.32%
11.4
18.2%
22.2%
15.4%
Rhamondre Stevenson headshot
R. Stevenson
NE25
6
15
13
154
11.8
25.7
0
3
+2.7
+0.5
+0.21
+0.18
86.7%
+9.12%
2.7
8.7%
13.6%
0.0%
T.J. Hockenson headshot
T. Hockenson
MIN25
5
24
19
153
8.1
30.6
1
8
+7.3
+1.5
+0.39
+0.31
79.2%
+3.69%
4.5
16.7%
7.4%
15.4%
Jaylen Warren headshot
J. Warren
PIT25
4
14
13
153
11.8
38.3
1
6
+8.4
+2.1
+0.65
+0.60
92.9%
+12.66%
-0.6
12.5%
5.9%
11.1%
D'Andre Swift headshot
D. Swift
CHI25
5
21
15
152
10.1
30.4
1
5
+5.4
+1.1
+0.36
+0.26
71.4%
-10.58%
-0.9
13.0%
9.1%
0.0%
Breece Hall headshot
B. Hall
NYJ25
5
24
17
150
8.8
30.0
0
6
+2.0
+0.4
+0.12
+0.08
70.8%
-5.53%
1.5
15.9%
11.1%
18.2%

NFL Receiving Leaders & Advanced Statistics

Current Season Overview

The 2025 NFL season has showcased exceptional receiving talent across all positions. Our receiving leaders tracker allows you to sort by traditional statistics like receiving yards, receptions, and touchdowns, as well as advanced analytics like total Expected Points Added (EPA)EPA per target, EPA per route run, catch rate over expected (CROE), and average depth of target (aDOT).

Here are the current leaders for receiving yards and total EPA, representing the most popular traditional and advanced statistics respectively:

2025 Receiving Leaders

PlayerTeamYardsRecs
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Seahawks
69642
Puka Nacua
Rams
61654
George Pickens
Cowboys
52532
Emeka Egbuka
Buccaneers
46927
Ja'Marr Chase
Bengals
46842
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Lions
45244
Justin Jefferson
Vikings
44929
Drake London
Falcons
42734
Christian McCaffrey
49ers
42446
Zay Flowers
Ravens
42334
PlayerTeamTotal EPAEPA / Target
Puka Nacua
Rams
44.50.68
George Pickens
Cowboys
42.60.89
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Seahawks
40.30.72
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Lions
37.90.74
Emeka Egbuka
Buccaneers
29.30.68
Stefon Diggs
Patriots
28.30.76
Courtland Sutton
Broncos
27.90.70
DeVonta Smith
Eagles
27.00.75
DK Metcalf
Steelers
24.70.80
Kayshon Boutte
Patriots
24.61.07

Understanding Receiving Statistics

Traditional Season Stats

Traditional receiving statistics are widely used and a foundational way to assess receiver production in a given season. The table above includes the most relevant traditional stats for receivers, including total receiving yards, receptions, targets, touchdowns, and yards per catch. These metrics show pure production and opportunity volume.

Key Traditional Metrics:

  • Total Receiving Yards - Season accumulation of passing yards gained
  • Receptions - Total number of completed targets
  • Targets - Total passing attempts directed at the receiver
  • Receiving Touchdowns - Scoring receptions in the end zone
  • Yards per Reception - Average yards gained per completed catch

Advanced Analytics

Beyond the traditional stats, there are a number of less well known, but highly useful advanced statistics. Here's an overview of the most important advanced stats for receivers:

Expected Points Added (EPA)

EPA stands for Expected Points Added and measures how much a given play increases or decreases a team's expected points based on field position, down, and distance. EPA shows true impact beyond basic statistics by accounting for game situation and field position.

Learn more about Expected Points Added

In the context of receiving, EPA can be calculated from the plays the receiver was involved in. EPA can be calculated from a variety of different perspectives, each creating a different view of receiver performance.

EPA Breakdowns:

  • EPA per Reception - Efficiency metric similar to yards per recepetion.
  • EPA per Target - Measures efficiency like EPA per reception, but also includes the negative effects of incompletions, drops, and interceptions. Recievers with poor on ball skills or who are targeted too frequently will see a large fall off between EPA per reception and EPA per target since they have, on average, more negative plays.
  • EPA per Route - Perhaps the single best metric for evaluating receiver efficiency, EPA per route run takes the added context of EPA per Target, but also considers plays where a receiver is not targeted. In doing so, EPA per route run also encompasses an element of a receiver's ability to create seperation and opportunity for their quarterback. Receivers who see a lot of playing time, but fail to get open and earn targets tend to have a large fall off between EPA per reception and EPA per route run.
  • EPA per Game - EPA per game takes the efficiency measuring ability of EPA per reception, target, or route run, and adds an element of volume. You will see that the best receivers are not only efficient, but also accumulate a lot of total EPA as they sustain efficient production over a volume of plays. EPA per Game is a great metric for total impact.

Target Analysis

Beyond EPA, another area of more advanced analysis is to look at performance based on targets as it can speak to not only the concepts discussed above, but also a receiver's use within an NFL offense.

Catch Rate - Catch rate is the percent of targets that resulted in a catch. Leading receivers tend to convert more of their targets into receptions, which creates a higher catch rate. However, catch rate can be highly sensative to contextual factors. For instance, Running Backs who are mainly targeted on short passes, designed screens, and checkdowns will have higher catch rates because these throws are short and often not contested.

Average Depth of Target (aDOT) - aDOT is the average depth of a receiver's targets. This metric gives context on the types of routes a receiver runs and the types of targets they receive. "Deep Threat" receivers often have high aDOTs, while underneath receivers and running backs tend to have much lower aDOT. This metric is good as a contextual counter balance to catch rate, but it's not perfect.

Catch Rate Over Expected (CROE) - CROE measures the percentage of targets a receiver catches relative to what would be expected based on contextual factors like depth of target. It can be thought of as a combination of catch rate and aDOT, and generally correlates well with receiver quality.

Learn more about Over Expected metrics here

Target Share - The final family of metrics are Target Share, which represent the percent of a team's targets a receiver gets across a variety of contexts. Elite receivers will generally command upwards of 30% target share. Receivers with particular skillsets may also see higher target shares in different contexts, which is why this page includes Target Share on Third Down and Target Share in the Red Zone.