This is the Air Yards Report Week 3! Find out which players led Week 1 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 2
Tee Higgins | Cincinnati Bengals – 125 Air Yards (10th Overall)
After posting a dreaded doughnut with a zero fantasy point outing in Week 1, Tee Higgins fully redeemed himself converting 12 targets into eight receptions for 89 Yards and two touchdowns. With Joe Burrow‘s calf ailing, and teammate Ja’Marr Chase off to a slow start, Higgins will likely continue to be a volatile fantasy option. He is best viewed as a boom/bust WR2.
Puka Nacua | Los Angeles Rams – 128 Air Yards (8th Overall)
Puka Nacua is for real! The 177th pick of the 2023 NFL draft continued to take fantasy football by storm in Week 2 posting 30.1 PPR fantasy points. He leads the NFL with 35 targets and is third in the NFL in receiving yards. He will certainly be worth starting when Cooper Kupp returns and should be considered a weekly WR1 until Kupp returns.
DeVonta Smith | Philadelphia Eagles – 123 Air Yards (11th Overall)
DeVonta Smith trails teammate A.J. Brown by one target on the season. He also trails Brown in Air Yards by three yards. The receiver room in Philadelphia is a true 1A, 1B situation which should allow for Smith to continue to feast all season.
Players Who Disappointed but will Bounce Back
Kendrick Bourne | New England Patriots – 184 Air Yards (1st Overall)
After posting 24.4 PPR fantasy points and two touchdowns in Week 1, Kendrick Bourne appeared to return back to earth in Week 2 posting only 6.9 PPR fantasy points. However, he led the league with 184 Air Yards in Week 2. Bourne’s role in the Patriots offense is locked in. He is their WR1 and remains a great flex/WR3 with upside play.
Zay Jones | Jacksonville Jaguars – 84 Air Yards (31st Overall)
Zay Jones posted the dreaded doughnut last week despite seeing six targets and 84 Air Yards. He likely disappointed fantasy players after posting 16.5 fantasy points in Week 1. However, his role remains the same, and he saw 10 more Air Yards in Week 2 than in his Week 1 performance. Hold the line on Jones and continue to start him as a WR4 with upside play.
Elijah Moore | Cleveland Browns – 120 Air Yards (12th Overall)
Elijah Moore scored only 7.1 fantasy points despite seeing nine targets in Week 2. He has failed to crest double digit fantasy points this season. However, he has 184 Air Yards through two games. With the Browns squaring off against an exploitable Titans secondary, Week 3 is Moore’s time to shine. He makes for a great start this week.
