Passing production has climbed over the years. You know that – everyone knows that. But a disproportionate amount of that increase has gone to tight ends. Teams are using them a lot more than in the past.
Let me illustrate the point.
In 2000, NFL teams completed 167 passes for 2,292 yards and 13 TDs to wide receivers. That was the league average per team. And if you compare that to what teams did last year, production is up 16 percent. (That’s using fantasy scoring of 6 points for touchdowns and 1 for every 10 yards).
For wide receivers, if you look at the 2012-14 seasons, production is up 12-13 percent since 2000. Fair enough.
But look at tight ends. Back in 2000, teams were averaging 52 passes for 539 yards and just over 4 TDs per team. Now look at the totals for the last three years – 75 catches for 839 yards and close to 7 TDs. Production is up by over 50 percent.
Tight ends. That’s a growth area – teams are using them a lot more than in the past.
| WIDE RECEIVERS, TEAM PRODUCTION SINCE 2000 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | No | Yards | TD | Points | Imp |
| 2000 | 167 | 2,292 | 13.1 | 307.8 | --- |
| 2001 | 174 | 2,363 | 12.8 | 312.9 | 2% |
| 2002 | 180 | 2,383 | 14.3 | 324.4 | 5% |
| 2003 | 166 | 2,219 | 13.8 | 304.8 | -1% |
| 2004 | 170 | 2,391 | 14.5 | 326.3 | 6% |
| 2005 | 173 | 2,318 | 13.2 | 310.9 | 1% |
| 2006 | 167 | 2,269 | 13.5 | 307.7 | 0% |
| 2007 | 182 | 2,380 | 14.9 | 327.6 | 6% |
| 2008 | 174 | 2,285 | 13.0 | 306.6 | 0% |
| 2009 | 177 | 2,331 | 13.5 | 313.9 | 2% |
| 2010 | 180 | 2,385 | 15.2 | 329.4 | 7% |
| 2011 | 178 | 2,459 | 14.8 | 334.6 | 9% |
| 2012 | 190 | 2,538 | 15.4 | 346.1 | 12% |
| 2013 | 193 | 2,567 | 15.1 | 347.5 | 13% |
| 2014 | 197 | 2,578 | 15.1 | 348.5 | 13% |
| 2015 | 197 | 2,582 | 16.3 | 355.9 | 16% |
| TIGHT ENDS, TEAM PRODUCTION SINCE 2000 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | No | Yards | TD | Points | Imp |
| 2000 | 52 | 539 | 4.3 | 79.4 | --- |
| 2001 | 49 | 507 | 4.9 | 80.3 | 1% |
| 2002 | 54 | 558 | 4.3 | 81.5 | 3% |
| 2003 | 54 | 569 | 4.1 | 81.7 | 3% |
| 2004 | 59 | 621 | 5.9 | 97.8 | 23% |
| 2005 | 61 | 634 | 4.8 | 92.1 | 16% |
| 2006 | 59 | 629 | 4.8 | 91.7 | 16% |
| 2007 | 64 | 683 | 5.8 | 103.4 | 30% |
| 2008 | 65 | 706 | 4.3 | 96.6 | 22% |
| 2009 | 71 | 782 | 6.1 | 114.7 | 44% |
| 2010 | 71 | 781 | 6.1 | 114.6 | 44% |
| 2011 | 65 | 706 | 4.3 | 96.6 | 22% |
| 2012 | 74 | 813 | 6.2 | 118.4 | 49% |
| 2013 | 75 | 854 | 7.4 | 129.8 | 64% |
| 2014 | 72 | 800 | 6.9 | 121.3 | 53% |
| 2015 | 79 | 862 | 6.6 | 125.8 | 58% |
—Ian Allan
