This is the Air Yards Report Week 8! Find out which players led Week 7 in Air Yards and how YOU should use Air Yards when setting your fantasy lineups.
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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 come from 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 2023, the Air Yards leaders were Mike Evans, DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, A.J. Brown, and Tyreek Hill. Five of these six players, all save for Hopkins, finished inside the top 10 in fantasy points on the season. 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.
This season, we will parse through the Air Yards metric to help identify players who you should prioritize as starters in your fantasy lineups, players who disappointed but are likely to bounce back based on their Air Yards, and players you should feel free to fade despite voluminous Air Yards.
Air Yards Standouts Who Shined in Week 7
D.K. Metcalf | Seattle Seahawks — 153 Air Yards (1st Overall)
We highlighted D.K. Metcalf last week as a wide receiver poised to bounce back, and boy did he in Week 7! Metcalf corralled four receptions for 99 yards and touchdown, finishing as the WR6 on the week. Metcalf could have had an even bigger day if he had not sustained a knee injury in the fourth quarter. While Metcalf will miss some time, he will remain the focal point of the Seahawks’ passing attack upon his return from injury.
Cedric Tillman | Cleveland Browns — 134 Air Yards (13th Overall)
With Deshaun Watson sustaining a season-ending injury and Dorian Thompson-Robinson injuring his thumb, famous Jameis Winston took snaps under center and DGAFed some YOLO balls to Cedric Tillman. With Winston back under center this week and Tillman now thrust into a full-time role in two-wide-receiver sets, the sophomore WR makes for an intriguing desperation flex play. After all, he saw 12 targets last week and finished as the WR10 with 18.1 fantasy points. The Air Yards suggest Tillman may be in for another big week.
Players Who Disappointed But Will Bounce Back
Xavier Worthy | Kansas City Chiefs— 134 Air Yards (3rd Overall)
Xaiver Worthy‘s position in the Chiefs’ target pecking order took a hit with the recent DeAndre Hopkins trade. However, Andy Reid has stated that Hopkins is in line for the Rashee Rice/JuJu Smith-Schuster role of short targets designed for lots of yards after the catch. That will free up Worthy to continue to see lots of Air Yards downfield in the Chiefs’ offense. Worthy makes for a great dart throw flex that could win you a week.
Jalen McMillan | Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 100 Air Yards (11th Overall)
The Jalen McMillan waiver wire hype is justified! After the Buccaneers lost Mike Evans to a hamstring injury in Week 7, McMillan saw eight targets and led the Bucs in Air Yards. Now, with Chris Godwin out for the season, McMillan is locked into a role as a top receiving option in Tampa Bay. Start McMillan if you are in a pinch at the wide receiver position.
Tight End to Prioritize
Hunter Henry | New England Patriots — 103 Air Yards (1st Overall)
Drake Maye has made the Patriots fantasy relevant again. His primary beneficiary is Hunter Henry, who has posted two consecutive top-10 TE finishes since Maye took over as the Patriots’ starter. Henry is coming off a game where he saw nine targets and led the Patriots in Air Yards. Look for Henry to continue as a top-10 tight end this week against the Jets.
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