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Receiving effectiveness

James Jones has been league's most effective receiver

I like what James Jones has done in Green Bay this league. He’s tailed off a little recently, but I think he could come up big today against the Lions. That’s a suspect defense, and Jones has made a lot of big catches this year.

When you cook the numbers down to effectiveness per pass attempt, in fact, Jones thus far has been the most effective wide receiver in the league. When Aaron Rodgers throws to him, it tends to result in gains of 13.1 yards. That’s not yards per catch (where 13.1 would be pretty average) but yards per ATTEMPT – including incompletions.

Including the incompletions, Jones thus far has been 2 yards per play better than any other wide wide receiver.

Among wide receivers with at least 35 targets, two others have averaged 11 yards per catch – Torrey Smith and John Brown. (You can see this kind of thing is slanted in favor of deep threats).

Other notable names showing up in the top 10 – guys who have generally exceeded expectations are Rishard Matthews, Allen Hurns, Stefon Diggs, Larry Fitzgerald and Willie Snead.

At the other end of the scale, five receivers have averaged under 6 yards per target. Eddie Royal, Golden Tate and three Cleveland receivers.

WIDE RECEIVER EFFECTIVENESS (35 targets min)
RkPlayerRecTgtPctYdsPayoff
1.James Jones, G.B.243765%48313.05
2.Torrey Smith, S.F.183551%38611.03
3.John Brown, Ariz.375173%56211.02
4.Rishard Matthews, Mia.375173%55410.86
5.Allen Hurns, Jac.365961%63510.76
6.Stefon Diggs, Minn.284562%46110.24
7.Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.557079%70610.09
8.Antonio Brown, Pitt.6910069%1,00210.02
9.Malcom Floyd, S.D.214151%4099.98
10.Willie Snead, N.O.416365%6269.94
11.A.J. Green, Cin.507368%7029.62
12.Alshon Jeffery, Chi.335362%4929.28
13.Jeremy Maclin, K.C.426169%5669.28
14.Steve Smith Sr., Balt.467363%6709.18
15.Amari Cooper, Oak.457263%6539.07
16.Allen Robinson, Jac.408050%7078.84
17.Marquess Wilson, Chi.193653%3178.81
18.Travis Benjamin, Clev.417158%6238.77
19.Danny Amendola, N.E.303781%3248.76
20.Julio Jones, Atl.8011967%1,0298.65
21.Marques Colston, N.O.304370%3718.63
22.Doug Baldwin, Sea.314078%3458.63
23.Michael Floyd, Ariz.203754%3198.62
24.Eric Decker, NYJ426565%5578.57
25.Calvin Johnson, Det.487862%6598.45
26.Marvin Jones, Cin.314963%4118.39
27.Brandin Cooks, N.O.457263%6038.38
28.Rueben Randle, NYG365171%4248.31
29.Odell Beckham Jr., NYG599264%7598.25
30.Nate Washington, Hou.265052%4118.22
31.Keenan Allen, S.D.678975%7258.15
32.T.Y. Hilton, Ind.438749%7038.08
33.Demaryius Thomas, Den.619366%7458.01
34.Cole Beasley, Dall.314176%3267.95
35.Emmanuel Sanders, Den.468157%6397.89
36.Brandon Marshall, NYJ579659%7537.84
37.Vincent Jackson, T.B.214151%3197.78
38.DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.6611259%8707.77
39.Julian Edelman, N.E.578369%6397.70
40.Kamar Aiken, Balt.254457%3337.57
41.Stevie Johnson, S.D.314766%3517.47
42.Leonard Hankerson, Atl.223956%2917.46
43.Kendall Wright, Ten.284661%3437.46
44.Michael Crabtree, Oak.478059%5917.39
45.Mike Evans, T.B.327344%5367.34
46.Terrance Williams, Dall.234749%3407.23
47.Robert Woods, Buff.294466%3147.14
48.Ted Ginn Jr., Car.215141%3637.12
49.Jordan Matthews, Phil.487564%5317.08
50.Randall Cobb, G.B.406859%4767.00
51.Jarvis Landry, Mia.537769%5356.95
52.Anquan Boldin, S.F.315457%3726.89
53.Jamison Crowder, Wash.385076%3426.84
54.Cecil Shorts III, Hou.264558%2996.64
55.Tavon Austin, St.L.284661%3006.52
56.Donte Moncrief, Ind.396659%4296.50
57.Pierre Garcon, Wash.416563%4206.46
58.Mike Wallace, Minn.274856%2966.17
59.Andre Johnson, Ind.244850%2886.00
60.Andrew Hawkins, Clev.203557%2075.91
61.Golden Tate, Det.406859%3775.54
62.Brian Hartline, Clev.163546%1825.20
63.Taylor Gabriel, Clev.243962%1975.05
64.Eddie Royal, Chi.263672%1714.75

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index