Ladd McConkey had a very good rookie year, capped by him going for 197 yards in a playoff game at Houston. And with the numbers in front of me, McConkey was even better than I thought.
Coming into the season, I was expecting more of a slot receiver. He’s a smaller guy who relies on his quickness. But he averaged 14 yards per catch, with plenty of downfield catches.
He caught 73 percent of what was thrown his way. Among the 35 wide receivers with at least 100 targets, only three came in higher.
And McConkey cranked it up pretty good later in the year, after he got more comfortable in the offense and Justin Herbert figured out he was the top guy. McConkey in his final 11 games (including that playoff explosion) put up numbers on par with everybody short of Ja’Marr Chase, averaging 6.1 catches for 98 yards in those final 11 games, with 6 TDs and a 2-point conversion.
One of the stats I routinely check is “yards per target”. That is, not yards per reception but yards per reception when we also include incompletions. Using that metric, McConkey comes in No. 1 among all wide receivers. Better than Chase, better than Brian Thomas, better than all of them.
I haven’t stacked a board, but McConkey will be in my top 10 among wide receivers. He might be in my top 5.
On the yards-per-catch front, since the started tracking targets in the early ‘90s, 65 rookie wide receivers have seen at least 100 balls thrown their way. Only three of those guys as rookies averaged more yards per target than McConkey, and all might wind up being Hall of Famers – Chase, Randy Moss and Justin Jefferson.
ROOKIE RECEIVERS, YARDS PER TARGET | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | YPT |
2021 | Ja'Marr Chase, Cin. | 128 | 81 | 1,455 | 13 | 11.4 |
2020 | Justin Jefferson, Min. | 125 | 88 | 1,400 | 7 | 11.2 |
1998 | Randy Moss, Min. | 124 | 69 | 1,313 | 17 | 10.6 |
2024 | Ladd McConkey, LAC | 112 | 82 | 1,149 | 7 | 10.3 |
2014 | Odell Beckham, NYG | 130 | 91 | 1,305 | 12 | 10.0 |
2013 | Keenan Allen, S.D. | 105 | 71 | 1,046 | 8 | 10.0 |
2004 | Michael Clayton, T.B. | 122 | 80 | 1,193 | 7 | 9.8 |
2024 | • Brian Thomas, Jac. | 133 | 87 | 1,282 | 10 | 9.6 |
2016 | Michael Thomas, N.O. | 121 | 92 | 1,137 | 9 | 9.4 |
2023 | Puka Nacua, LAR | 160 | 105 | 1,486 | 6 | 9.3 |
2023 | Rashee Rice, K.C. | 102 | 79 | 938 | 7 | 9.2 |
2011 | A.J. Green, Cin. | 115 | 65 | 1,057 | 7 | 9.2 |
2006 | Marques Colston, N.O. | 115 | 70 | 1,038 | 8 | 9.0 |
2019 | DK Metcalf, Sea. | 100 | 58 | 900 | 7 | 9.0 |
2021 | DeVonta Smith, Phil. | 104 | 64 | 916 | 5 | 8.8 |
2022 | Chris Olave, N.O. | 119 | 72 | 1,042 | 4 | 8.8 |
2014 | Mike Evans, T.B. | 122 | 68 | 1,051 | 12 | 8.6 |
2007 | Dwayne Bowe, K.C. | 116 | 70 | 995 | 5 | 8.6 |
2014 | Jordan Matthews, Phil. | 103 | 67 | 872 | 8 | 8.5 |
2023 | Jordan Addison, Min. | 108 | 70 | 911 | 10 | 8.4 |
2020 | CeeDee Lamb, Dall. | 111 | 74 | 935 | 5 | 8.4 |
2020 | Tee Higgins, Cin. | 108 | 67 | 908 | 6 | 8.4 |
2003 | Anquan Boldin, Ari. | 165 | 101 | 1,377 | 8 | 8.3 |
2015 | Amari Cooper, Oak. | 130 | 72 | 1,070 | 6 | 8.2 |
2003 | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 119 | 66 | 976 | 4 | 8.2 |
1994 | Darnay Scott, Cin. | 106 | 46 | 866 | 5 | 8.2 |
1995 | Frank Sanders, Ari. | 109 | 52 | 883 | 2 | 8.1 |
1996 | Eddie Kennison, St.L. | 115 | 54 | 924 | 9 | 8.0 |
2020 | Chase Claypool, Pitt. | 109 | 62 | 873 | 9 | 8.0 |
2023 | Zay Flowers, Balt. | 108 | 77 | 858 | 5 | 7.9 |
1995 | Joey Galloway, Sea. | 133 | 67 | 1,039 | 7 | 7.8 |
2014 | Sammy Watkins, Buff. | 128 | 65 | 982 | 6 | 7.7 |
2021 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det. | 119 | 90 | 912 | 5 | 7.7 |
2024 | • Marvin Harrison, Ari. | 116 | 62 | 885 | 8 | 7.6 |
2008 | DeSean Jackson, Phil. | 120 | 62 | 912 | 2 | 7.6 |
2008 | Eddie Royal, Den. | 129 | 91 | 980 | 5 | 7.6 |
2020 | Jerry Jeudy, Den. | 113 | 52 | 856 | 3 | 7.6 |
2022 | Garrett Wilson, NYJ | 147 | 83 | 1,103 | 4 | 7.5 |
2010 | Mike Williams, T.B. | 129 | 65 | 964 | 11 | 7.5 |
2022 | Drake London, Atl. | 117 | 72 | 866 | 4 | 7.4 |
2001 | Rod Gardner, Was. | 101 | 46 | 741 | 4 | 7.3 |
2024 | • Rome Odunze, Chi. | 101 | 54 | 734 | 3 | 7.3 |
2021 | Jaylen Waddle, Mia. | 140 | 104 | 1,015 | 6 | 7.3 |
1999 | Kevin Johnson, Cle. | 137 | 66 | 986 | 8 | 7.2 |
1996 | Marvin Harrison, Ind. | 118 | 64 | 836 | 8 | 7.1 |
2024 | • Malik Nabers, NYG | 170 | 109 | 1,204 | 7 | 7.1 |
2014 | Kelvin Benjamin, Car. | 145 | 73 | 1,008 | 9 | 7.0 |
2004 | Roy Williams, Det. | 118 | 54 | 817 | 8 | 6.9 |
2014 | John Brown, Ari. | 102 | 48 | 696 | 5 | 6.8 |
2004 | Larry Fitzgerald, Ari. | 115 | 58 | 780 | 8 | 6.8 |
1996 | Terry Glenn, N.E. | 167 | 90 | 1,132 | 6 | 6.8 |
2014 | Jarvis Landry, Mia. | 112 | 84 | 758 | 5 | 6.8 |
1996 | Keyshawn Johnson, NYJ | 125 | 63 | 844 | 8 | 6.8 |
2008 | Donnie Avery, St.L. | 102 | 53 | 674 | 3 | 6.6 |
2012 | Justin Blackmon, Jac. | 132 | 64 | 865 | 5 | 6.6 |
2016 | Sterling Shepard, NYG | 105 | 65 | 683 | 8 | 6.5 |
2000 | Sylvester Morris, K.C. | 105 | 48 | 678 | 3 | 6.5 |
2006 | Greg Jennings, G.B. | 104 | 45 | 632 | 3 | 6.1 |
1999 | Troy Edwards, Pitt. | 118 | 61 | 714 | 5 | 6.1 |
2012 | Kendall Wright, Ten. | 104 | 64 | 626 | 4 | 6.0 |
1993 | Vincent Brisby, N.E. | 105 | 45 | 626 | 2 | 6.0 |
2011 | Greg Little, Cle. | 119 | 61 | 709 | 2 | 6.0 |
1995 | Wayne Chrebet, NYJ | 123 | 66 | 726 | 4 | 5.9 |
1998 | Jerome Pathon, Ind. | 106 | 50 | 511 | 1 | 4.8 |
2000 | Peter Warrick, Cin. | 126 | 51 | 592 | 4 | 4.7 |
—Ian Allan