This is the Air Yards Report Week 5! 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 4
A.J. Brown| Philadelphia Eagles – 240 Air Yards (1st Overall)
A.J. Brown got off to a slow start this season averaging only 10.9 fantasy points per game the first two weeks of the season. He has since gone off for two consecutive finishes as a top 12 wide receiver. In Week 4, Brown finished as the WR1 overall and led the league in Air Yards.
While explosive weeks like this one will not happen every week, Brown remains a set and forget WR1 despite teammate Devonta Smith having plenty of spike weeks too.
Puka Nacua | Los Angeles Rams – 128 Air Yards (8th Overall)
Paku Nacua had a “down” week in Week 3 finishing outside the top 12 wide receivers for the first time all season in a game where he was out targeted by teammate Tutu Atwell. In case that fantasy output had fantasy players worried, Nacua rebounded in Week 4 seeing 10 targets, catching nine balls, for 163 yards, and a touchdown. His 31.3 fantasy points re-cemented him as an elite fantasy option. With Cooper Kupp still not at full strength, Nacua is a bona fide league winner.
Brandon Aiyuk | San Francisco 49ers – 129 Air Yards (7th Overall)
After missing Week 3 with injury, Brandon Aiyuk returned to the 49ers passing attack and continued his impressive season three campaign. He caught all six of his targets for 148 receiving receiving yards finishing as the WR 8 on the week with 20.8 fantasy points. Thus far, with each missing one game, Aiyuk leads teammate Deebo Samuel in fantasy points 61 to 58.5. While there may be some let downs, similar to his 7.8 fantasy point showing in Week 2, Aiyuk should be entrenched in starting lineups as a WR2.
Players Who Disappointed but will Bounce Back
Amari Cooper | Cleveland Browns – 127 Air Yards (9th Overall)
One week after torching a susceptible Titans secondary for 24.6 fantasy points, Amari Cooper scored only 2.6 fantasy points in Week 4 with Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center, filling in for a banged-up Deshaun Watson. With Watson expected back after the bye, it is wheels up for Cooper rest of season.
Chris Olave| Denver Broncos- 122 Air Yards (4th Overall)
Chris Olave saw five targets and 122 Air Yards last week but was only able to muster one reception for four yards receiving. With Derek Carr nursing injury and checking down to Alvin Kamara 14 times, better days are ahead for Olave.
Not only do Olave’s Unrealized Air Yards suggest a huge bounce back, but a Saint offense comprised of check downs to an aging Alvin Kamara is simply not a sustainable offense. Start Olave with confidence against the Patriots this week.
Michael Pittman | Indianapolis Colts- Air Yards (24th Overall)
Michael Pittman finished with his first game under double digit fantasy points last week amassing with only one reception for fifteen yards. While he scored less fantasy points than teammates Josh Downs and Alec Pierce, Pittman almost saw more Air Yards than both players combined. Fire up Pittman as a WR2 this week against an exploitable Titans secondary.
