This is the NFL Air Yards Report – Week 14! Find out which players led the week in Air Yards and how YOU should use Air Yards when determining your fantasy lineups.
What are Air Yards?
Air Yards measure how many yards the football travels past the line of scrimmage on a passing play. Some Air Yards have completed passes and some are incomplete passes. They are not a perfect measurement of future fantasy success but a tool that we can utilize to help us make lineup decisions.
In 2022, the Air Yards receiving leaders were Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, and Stefon Diggs. All five players finished within the top six scorers at the WR position. The only top-six WR not in the top five in Air Yards was CeeDee Lamb: he finished No. 9.
Air Yards Standouts Who Shined in Week 13
Elijah Moore | Cleveland Browns – 255 Air Yards (1st Overall)
Like peanut butter and jelly before them, Elijah Moore and Joe Flacco just go together. The former Jets teammates rekindled their cohesiveness last week as Browns. Moore saw a team high 12 targets for a whooping 255 Air Yards. He scored only 12.3 fantasy points so bigger days are likely ahead. Start Moore with confidence as a WR3 this week
Nico Collins | Houston Texans – 147 Air Yards (7th Overall)
Nico Collins is set to ascend just in time for the fantasy playoffs. With teammate Tank Dell out for the remainder of the season, look for Collins to soak up many of the vacated targets. Collins is the WR1 on a team with an elite fantasy quarterback and should be treated as a top 12 WR for the rest of the season.
Courtland Sutton | Denver Broncos – 216 Air Yards (2nd Overall)
Courtland Sutton scored another touchdown last week. He has now scored nine touchdowns on the season.
He also crested 100 Air Yards for the second time this season. If the Air Yards continue to come, he may be more than a WR3. Look for Sutton to post at least WR3 production against the Chargers this week.
Players Who Disappointed But will Bounce Back
Drake London | Atlanta Falcons – 97 Air Yards (21st Overall)
Drake London predictably disappointed in a matchup against the Jets stout secondary last week. He posted only 1.8 fantasy points. London continued to see promising Air Yard usage and has cleared 70 Air Yards in two consecutive weeks. Despite the run first nature of Falcons offense, and the atrocious quarterback play of Desmond Ridder, London should still be treated as a respectable WR3/flex.
Garrett Wilson | New York Jets – 98 Air Yards (20th Overall)
After showing some promise with Tim Boyle in Week 12, Garrett Wilson posted only eight fantasy points in Week 13.
With Zach Wilson now back as the Jets starter, Wilson will likely revert back to his WR2 ways. However, like all things related to the Jets, it won’t look pretty.
Keenan Allen | Los Angeles Chargers – 106 Air Yards (17th Overall)
While 10.8 fantasy points is usually not a disappointing outcome, it is when the player in question is the WR2 overall on the season. Keenan Allen and the Chargers offense may appear down bad after only putting up six points against the Patriots. However, the peripheral statistics remain stellar. Look for Allen to be his usual WR1 self even in a tough matchup against the Broncos.
