Target Share Trends After Week 3

Quick summary

• Jordan Addison had 36% of Minnesota's targets (5 catches, 90 yards, TD) after Justin Jefferson left early with an ankle injury that isn't considered serious.
• Brock Bowers returned from knee surgery and immediately led the Raiders with 13 targets (43%), 116 yards and the game-winning TD.
• Michael Wilson is Arizona's WR1 now: 17 targets (34%) and 162 air yards in Week 3, while Marvin Harrison Jr. has 9 targets all season.
• Luther Burden III's target share has climbed three straight weeks (19% → 23% → 32%), even with Case Keenum at quarterback.
• Rashee Rice went from 2 to 6 to 9 targets and was the only Chief with more than three in Week 3.
• Kenyon Sadiq (8 targets, 105 yards, TD) is a streaming TE while Mason Taylor and Adonai Mitchell are hurt.
• Ja'Marr Chase is fully back, with 29% and 32% of targets the last two weeks after a 12% Week 1.
• Puka Nacua (groin) and Nico Collins (hamstring) could both return in Week 4, which would shrink the roles of the Rams' and Texans' fill-ins.
• Tetairoa McMillan fell to 5 targets (12%) as Cleveland bracketed him, and Dave Canales said the staff needs to get him in better spots.

Texans: waiting on Collins

Nico Collins (hamstring) has missed two games, and no one has claimed his role. Dalton Schultz's Week 2 spike disappeared in Week 3.

• Collins has a Grade 1 strain and hasn't practiced in two weeks. DeMeco Ryans is "hopeful" he plays Sunday vs. Dallas; he needs to practice this week first.
• Schultz caught all 3 targets for 30 yards after a 14-target Week 2. He's still at 22% on the season.
• Xavier Hutchinson led in Week 3 with 24% and 121 air yards, but Houston threw only 25 times in an 0-3 start.
• Verdict: Collins is a WR1 by share when healthy (27% in Week 1). Schultz is a TE2; Hutchinson goes back to the bench when Collins returns.

Raiders: Bowers is back and already the focal point

Brock Bowers missed two games after minor knee surgery, then led the team in every receiving category in his debut.

• Bowers caught 10 of 13 for 116 yards and caught the game-winning 4-yard TD from Kirk Cousins. He had 3 red-zone targets.
• Michael Mayer's share has fallen each week (24% → 14% → 10%), and Ashton Jeanty's targets dropped to 3.
• Verdict: Bowers is an elite TE1 immediately. Mayer is droppable.

Rams: Adams carries the load while Puka is out

Davante Adams has been a true WR1 with Puka Nacua (groin) out for two weeks. Week 3's other targets went to fill-ins who fade when Puka returns.

• Adams has 358 yards, a 17.2-yard average depth of target and 45% of the team's air yards. He had 227 air yards in Week 3 alone.
• Terrance Ferguson (ankle) was limited to 22 snaps, which is why Tyler Higbee jumped to 11 targets. Konata Mumpfield caught 4 of 8 for 93 yards and a TD.
• Sean McVay said he's "hopeful" Puka plays in Week 4 vs. Philadelphia.
• Verdict: Adams is a WR1 either way. If Puka returns, Higbee, Ferguson and Mumpfield all go back to bench-only.

Vikings: Addison steps up, Jefferson likely back soon

Justin Jefferson hurt his ankle in the first quarter and finished with 2 targets. Jordan Addison took over as the No. 1 read.

• Kevin O'Connell said the ankle didn't look "terribly serious" at first, and Jefferson walked off on his own. He could play in Week 4 vs. Miami.
• Addison had 151 of the team's 232 air yards (65%) in Week 3. His share has risen every week.
• Minnesota throws very little: 19 to 25 targets a game. That caps everyone but Jefferson.
• Verdict: Jefferson is a WR1 whenever he plays. Addison is a WR2 if Jefferson sits and a WR3 if he plays, based on his 26% share next to Jefferson in Week 2.

Giants: Likely leads, Nabers is a worry

Jameis Winston is starting for Jaxson Dart, who is out for the regular season. Isaiah Likely has been the most consistent target, and Malik Nabers's usage has turned short.

• Nabers hurt his shoulder in Week 2 and was limited in practice. In Week 3 he caught 5 of 6 for 26 yards on just 5 total air yards.
• Likely has 28% of targets on the season, the best share of any TE outside Arizona's Trey McBride.
• The Giants threw only 21 times in a 12-7 win, so volume is a problem for everyone.
• Verdict: Likely is a TE1. Nabers is still a starter on target share, but watch the shoulder and his depth of target.

Jets: Garrett Wilson and a rookie TE

With Adonai Mitchell (finger) and TE Mason Taylor inactive, Garrett Wilson and Kenyon Sadiq soaked up the targets.

• Wilson caught 10 of 13 for 107 yards and a TD, with 132 air yards.
• Sadiq caught 7 for 105 and a TD. DraftSharks says he ran 48% of his routes from the slot, and Aaron Glenn called his athleticism "on a different level."
• Mitchell had passed Wilson in Week 2 (33% to 19%), so his return would split the WR work again.
• Verdict: Wilson is a WR2 with WR1 weeks. Sadiq is a streaming TE while Taylor is out and should keep spot-start value after.

Cardinals: Michael Wilson is the WR1, MHJ is missing

Michael Wilson's share has climbed every week, and Trey McBride is still elite. Marvin Harrison Jr. has barely been part of the offense.

• Wilson caught 11 for 89 and a TD, with 162 air yards and 5 red-zone targets. He has 42% of Arizona's air yards on the season.
• McBride's share dipped to 22% in a 50-target game, but he's at 30% for the season with 8 red-zone targets.
• Harrison has 9 targets in three games. His targets are deep (23% of team air yards), so he's a boom-or-bust dart at best.
• Verdict: Wilson is a WR2. McBride is a TE1. Harrison is a bench hold until the targets come back.

Panthers: McMillan got bracketed

Tetairoa McMillan had his worst game after Cleveland switched to zone coverage to take him away. Injuries to other receivers made it easier to do.

• McMillan caught 2 of 5 for 17 yards. Dave Canales said the coaches need to put him "in better positions."
• Xavier Legette was out and Jalen Coker left in the third quarter with a quad injury, so Brycen Tremayne (6 targets) and John Metchie III (5) played more.
• Bryce Young was pressured on 51% of dropbacks. Darren Waller led the team with 8 targets.
• Verdict: McMillan is still the WR1 (21% of targets, 29% of air yards on the season); treat Week 3 as a buy-low. Watch Coker's quad.

Bears: Burden is climbing

Luther Burden III has grown into Chicago's top target, and it held up with Case Keenum at quarterback.

• Burden caught 7 for 61 and a TD, with 4 red-zone targets. He has 6 on the season, most on the team.
• Caleb Williams has a Grade 2 hamstring strain and could miss 3–4 weeks. Tyson Bagent is likely to start in Week 4 vs. the Jets.
• Rome Odunze has only 14% of targets but 34% of the air yards, so his weeks will swing.
• Verdict: Burden is a WR3 with a rising role. Odunze is a boom-or-bust flex until Williams is back.

Colts: Downs and Warren are the top two

With Alec Pierce on IR, Josh Downs and TE Tyler Warren have taken over Indianapolis's passing game.

• Downs had 172 of the team's 276 air yards (62%) in Week 3. He's the downfield option now too, not just the slot.
• Warren caught 9 of 10 but for only 55 yards. His targets are short (6% of team air yards), so he needs volume.
• Keenan Allen's 9 targets and TD were his best week.
• Verdict: Downs is a WR2. Warren is a volume TE1. Allen is a flex.

Jaguars: Parker Washington dipped, BTJ disappeared

Parker Washington's share fell in a 35-6 blowout, and Brian Thomas Jr. had one target. Jakobi Meyers led the team.

• Washington is still at 30% on the season with 49% of the air yards, and he scored in Week 3 and had 3 red-zone targets.
• Thomas came off the injury report (shoulder) before the game but caught 1 pass for 8 yards. He's at 16% on the season.
• Meyers caught 7 of 8 for 64 and a TD in his best game of the season.
• Verdict: Washington is a WR2 despite the dip. Thomas is a WR3/flex until his share recovers. Meyers is a deep-league flex.

Chiefs: Rice is taking over

Rashee Rice's share has grown every week, while Xavier Worthy's has shrunk. Travis Kelce was quiet on volume but still scored.

• Rice caught 7 of 9 for 88 yards, a season high. He was the only Chief with more than 3 targets.
• Kelce caught both of his targets for 59 yards and a TD. Kansas City threw only 23 times in a 24-10 win.
• Verdict: Rice is a WR2 with WR1 upside. Kelce stays a TE1. Worthy (24% → 16% → 9%) is a flex at best.

Other pass-catchers who moved

Falcons: London's breakout game

Drake London had 10 of Atlanta's 23 targets (43%) and 194 yards on 9 catches.

• It was his first week above 21%. Bijan Robinson's targets have dropped each week (10 → 4 → 2), which leaves more for London.

Ravens: Flowers is back

Zay Flowers played through his hamstring and had 30% of targets (5 catches, 84 yards).

• Rashod Bateman's Week 2 spike (31%) fell back to 15%. Mark Andrews has had exactly 24–25% every week.

Bills: DJ Moore returns as the top target

DJ Moore left Week 2 with a sprained AC joint, then led Buffalo with 10 targets (38%) in Week 3.

• Dalton Kincaid fell to 3 targets (12%) after 29% in Week 2, and Khalil Shakir dropped to 12%.

Bengals: Chase is back to normal

Ja'Marr Chase's share went 12% → 29% → 32%, and he caught 9 for 98 and a TD in Week 3.

• Tee Higgins is right behind him at 23% of targets and has 46% of the team's air yards, the highest share of any Bengal.

Browns: Fannin is rising

TE Harold Fannin Jr.'s share went 14% → 20% → 30%, and he caught 7 for 51 and 2 TDs in Week 3.

• KC Concepcion also had 30% but caught just 2 for 9 yards. Denzel Boston has 45% of the air yards on 18% of targets.

Cowboys: Pickens is gaining on Lamb

George Pickens's share went 20% → 26% → 28%. He and CeeDee Lamb now have 25 targets each.

• Lamb still has the yards (309 to 150). Ryan Flournoy had 4 red-zone targets in Week 3.

Broncos: Waddle came back down

Jaylen Waddle's 34% Week 2 fell to 23%, and he caught 2 for 10 yards. Courtland Sutton matched him at 23% with 3 red-zone targets.

• RB RJ Harvey had 7 targets, as many as either receiver.

Dolphins: Malik Washington and Chris Bell

Malik Washington leads Miami at 27% of targets on the season and had 29% in Week 3. Chris Bell had 7 targets and 126 air yards.

• TE Greg Dulcich had a season-high 7 targets (20%). Free agent Tyreek Hill posted Monday that it's "almost time to get off the couch," so watch for a signing.

Patriots: Hollins led the way

Mack Hollins had 9 targets (30%), 87 yards, 120 air yards and 3 red-zone looks in the blowout loss.

• It's his first week above 16%, so treat it as a one-week spike until it repeats.

Seahawks: Barner in the red zone

TE AJ Barner had 9 targets and 4 of them came in the red zone, after 3 targets total in Weeks 1–2.

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba still had 31% and 2 TDs, so Barner's work came from a 45-target game.

Titans: Wan'Dale Robinson bounces back

Wan'Dale Robinson had 11 targets (31%), 3 in the red zone, after just 1 in Week 2.

• Carnell Tate is the steadier WR: 25% of targets and 43% of air yards on the season.

Stable target hogs, quick hits

These roles held in Week 3. Sorted by season target share.