In this weekly article, Ryan Ramsarran uses the Advanced Stat Explorer and other RotoViz tools to dive deep into wide receiver usage trends. Usage is key for making waiver wire adds, start/sit decisions, and finding the next blow-up WR in DFS.
Week 5 is in the books, and we got to see some close games and a few blowouts, including the Bills’ 38-3 win against the Steelers. One situation we got some clarity on is the Seattle Seahawks. Geno Smith has arrived. Smith has played unbelievably well over the past three weeks, and fantasy managers who bought the dip on D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are very pleased.
Through Weeks 3 – 5
- Metcalf: 17 receptions, 301 yards & 2 touchdowns
- Lockett: 20 receptions, 271 yards & 2 touchdowns
GENO SMITH! Absolute dime to Tyler Lockett.
📺: #SEAvsNO on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/X4lelc0SFE pic.twitter.com/q7bsLXUerr— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2022
Routes Run and Routes per Target
Routes run is the first key statistic I’ll focus on because WRs need to be on the field to produce. The second statistic is routes per target. Unlike RB usage, targets are earned as a WR and routes per target is a helpful measure in figuring out which players are good (or which players coaches want to get the ball to).
*Routes for Monday’s game are not included