All News & Analysis

Deep Threats

When you talk about some of the most explosive receivers in the league, your attention turns to the speedsters that go long and get behind defenses. Those guys you have to doubly account for on every play because, if you don’t, they’ll punish you. Not just by moving the chains, but by putting points on the board.
 
In our continuing look at wide receivers, we set our focus on what they are doing with their deep ball opportunities. For the purpose of this study, we’re looking at the 50 receivers who were targeted on at least 15 deep passes (balls thrown at least 20 yards downfield) and the numbers do include the playoffs. The findings throw up some names you’d expect, and some you wouldn’t.
 
 

Targets

Where better to start than by looking at which receivers were targeted downfield the most. Much like you probably did, I went into this thinking the names Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson would be at the top. Instead, it’s a list headed by Brandon Lloyd and Calvin Johnson, both targeted over 20 yards 41 times. Remarkably, “Fraction Jackson” didn’t even make the Top 10 in terms of targets, as can be seen from the table below:
 

[table id=116 /]
 

Receptions

More importantly, Jackson did make the Top 5 when it came to receptions on deep throws. It’s another list headed by Lloyd (Johnson dropped to sixth in this rating), but Jackson's leap and, to a lesser degree, Mike Wallace, are the most noteworthy inclusions. It’s also the first time we see Kenny Britt appear, but not the last.
 

[table id=117 /]
 

Catch Percentage

The Titans’ receiver bested all others when it came to bringing in the highest percentage of deep balls thrown his way. A big reason why Vince Young had the highest completion percentage of deep balls was Britt acting as an imposing downfield target. Up at the top, there are also spots for Robert Meachem and Roddy White, though neither man saw more than 20 balls over the required distance. It’s more impressive to look at what Mario Manningham did in securing over half of his 23 long targets.
 

[table id=118 /]
 

Yardage

Next, we’re looking at who picked up the most yards in the long range game. To the surprise of very few (especially those who have read the opening couple of paragraphs) Brandon Lloyd once again leads the way, with Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson completing the top three. Just behind them is Greg Jennings, though it should be remembered these numbers do include the post season. We can also wonder how much stronger his yardage total might have been if he didn’t lead all receivers with four drops on deep chances.
 

[table id=119 /]
 

Touchdowns

The last point is touchdowns … who is turning these big plays into scores? Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is joined by Calvin Johnson at the top with seven catches that went all the way. Behind them we have that man again, Brandon Lloyd, as part of a gaggle of receivers with six.
 

[table id=120 /]
 

Ultimately, these numbers aren’t going to give you a hard answer as to who the best deep threat in the league is. Arguments could be made for a variety of players who offer something different, whether it be catching more balls or finding the end zone more often.
 
What all of this does give you is an idea of which players you really need to worry about. I’m not talking about the Mike Wallace’s and DeSean Jacksons’ – you already know about them – but about just how devastating a player Kenny Britt can be if he doesn’t let off field issues consume him, or how Redskin Anthony Armstrong is able to pick up so much yardage on deep routes.
 
If and when we get football, watch out for these guys. They can turn a game just like that.
 
 
Follow Khaled on Twitter: @PFF_Khaled
 
 

All Featured Tools

Subscriptions

Unlock the 2023 Fantasy Draft Kit, with League Sync, Live Draft Assistant, PFF Grades & Data Platform that powers all 32 Pro Teams

$31 Draft Kit Fee + $8.99/mo
OR
$89.88/yr + FREE Draft Kit