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 blowup WR in DFS. We’ll use the advanced WR metrics to highlight a few buy-low options at the position each week.
Week 2 is in the books, and like always it was full of some close games and some blowouts as well. Before we get into it, we have to acknowledge and appreciate the record-breaking start by Puka Nacua this season:
- Most catches by any wide receiver in his first two games in NFL history
- First player in NFL history with 10 or more receptions and at least 100 receiving yards in each of his first two career games
How good has #Rams rookie WR Puka Nacua been?
• On pace for 213 catches (NFL record is 149 by Michael Thomas)
• On pace for 2,261 yards (NFL record is 1,964 by Calvin Johnson).
Safe to say: Sean McVay got himself a serious steal in the 5th-rounder out of @BYUfootball. pic.twitter.com/s17LTHpDJB
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 20, 2023
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 games are not included
