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Ladd McConkey supercharges LA's receiving corps

Rookie puts up historic first-year numbers

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
YearPlayerTgtRecYdsTDYPT
2021Ja'Marr Chase, Cin.128811,4551311.4
2020Justin Jefferson, Min.125881,400711.2
1998Randy Moss, Min.124691,3131710.6
2024Ladd McConkey, LAC112821,149710.3
2014Odell Beckham, NYG130911,3051210.0
2013Keenan Allen, S.D.105711,046810.0
2004Michael Clayton, T.B.122801,19379.8
2024• Brian Thomas, Jac.133871,282109.6
2016Michael Thomas, N.O.121921,13799.4
2023Puka Nacua, LAR1601051,48669.3
2023Rashee Rice, K.C.1027993879.2
2011A.J. Green, Cin.115651,05779.2
2006Marques Colston, N.O.115701,03889.0
2019DK Metcalf, Sea.1005890079.0
2021DeVonta Smith, Phil.1046491658.8
2022Chris Olave, N.O.119721,04248.8
2014Mike Evans, T.B.122681,051128.6
2007Dwayne Bowe, K.C.1167099558.6
2014Jordan Matthews, Phil.1036787288.5
2023Jordan Addison, Min.10870911108.4
2020CeeDee Lamb, Dall.1117493558.4
2020Tee Higgins, Cin.1086790868.4
2003Anquan Boldin, Ari.1651011,37788.3
2015Amari Cooper, Oak.130721,07068.2
2003Andre Johnson, Hou.1196697648.2
1994Darnay Scott, Cin.1064686658.2
1995Frank Sanders, Ari.1095288328.1
1996Eddie Kennison, St.L.1155492498.0
2020Chase Claypool, Pitt.1096287398.0
2023Zay Flowers, Balt.1087785857.9
1995Joey Galloway, Sea.133671,03977.8
2014Sammy Watkins, Buff.1286598267.7
2021Amon-Ra St. Brown, Det.1199091257.7
2024• Marvin Harrison, Ari.1166288587.6
2008DeSean Jackson, Phil.1206291227.6
2008Eddie Royal, Den.1299198057.6
2020Jerry Jeudy, Den.1135285637.6
2022Garrett Wilson, NYJ147831,10347.5
2010Mike Williams, T.B.12965964117.5
2022Drake London, Atl.1177286647.4
2001Rod Gardner, Was.1014674147.3
2024• Rome Odunze, Chi.1015473437.3
2021Jaylen Waddle, Mia.1401041,01567.3
1999Kevin Johnson, Cle.1376698687.2
1996Marvin Harrison, Ind.1186483687.1
2024• Malik Nabers, NYG1701091,20477.1
2014Kelvin Benjamin, Car.145731,00897.0
2004Roy Williams, Det.1185481786.9
2014John Brown, Ari.1024869656.8
2004Larry Fitzgerald, Ari.1155878086.8
1996Terry Glenn, N.E.167901,13266.8
2014Jarvis Landry, Mia.1128475856.8
1996Keyshawn Johnson, NYJ1256384486.8
2008Donnie Avery, St.L.1025367436.6
2012Justin Blackmon, Jac.1326486556.6
2016Sterling Shepard, NYG1056568386.5
2000Sylvester Morris, K.C.1054867836.5
2006Greg Jennings, G.B.1044563236.1
1999Troy Edwards, Pitt.1186171456.1
2012Kendall Wright, Ten.1046462646.0
1993Vincent Brisby, N.E.1054562626.0
2011Greg Little, Cle.1196170926.0
1995Wayne Chrebet, NYJ1236672645.9
1998Jerome Pathon, Ind.1065051114.8
2000Peter Warrick, Cin.1265159244.7

—Ian Allan

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