This is the NFL Air Yards Report – Week 15! 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 14
Drake London | Atlanta Falcons – 179 Air Yards (3rd Overall)
Last week we discussed Drake London as a bounce back candidate and bounce back he did. London scored 27.2 fantasy points last week catching 10 of 11 targets for 172 yards. London will likely remain a volatile fantasy player especially with the hapless Carolina Panthers who will likely give up a ton of yards on the ground. However, London remains in the WR3/Flex conversation for the first week of the fantasy playoffs.
Garrett Wilson | New York Jets – 162 Air Yards (8th Overall)
We also mentioned Garrett Wilson as a player ready to bounce back last week and he also delivered.
With Zach Wilson back under center, Wilson saw a 40-percent target share last week catching nine of 14 targets for 108 Yards. Garrett Wilson will remain the focal point of the Jets passing attack this week against the Dolphins where he is best deployed as WR2.
DeAndre Hopkins| Tennessee Titans – 171 Air Yards (5th Overall)
DeAndre Hopkins smoked the Miami Dolphins in an upset victory to the tune of seven receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown. Hopkins quarterback, Will Levis, has flashed greatness at times, and other times not so much. Hopkins elite 27.7 percent target share makes his fantasy production immune to Levis’s roller coaster tendencies as a rookie passer. Feel confident starting Hopkins as a WR2 this week against Houston.
Players Who Disappointed But Will Bounce Back
Amon-Ra St. Brown | Detroit Lions – 80 Air Yards (27st Overall)
Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s 5.1 fantasy point performance may have fantasy players panicking entering the playoffs. However, now is not the time panic. Last week St. Brown saw one of his highest Air Yard totals on the year. He has previously done more with less, posting WR1 weeks while seeing only 60 Air Yards on the week. Chalk his Week 14 performance up to variance and look forward to better days in the fantasy playoffs.
Stefon Diggs | Buffalo Bills- 86 Air Yards (24th Overall)
It’s been rough sledding for Stefon Diggs this past month. Diggs has crested double digit fantasy points in only one of his past four games. He also hasn’t seen more than 100 Air Yards in a game since Week 7. However, last week Diggs saw over 80 Air Yards for the second time since Week 7.
With a potential shoot out with the Dallas Cowboys on tap this week, the Bills would be best served trying to get the ball to their best play maker in Diggs.
Brandin Cooks | Dallas Cowboys – 97 Air Yards (21st Overall)
Brandin Cooks had been riding a hot streak prior to last week. He finished as a WR2 in his past two games prior to Week 14. However, this past week he scored only 5.7 fantasy points. As an ancillary target in the Cowboys passing attack, Cooks will have his boom-and-bust weeks even if the Air Yards are there. Look for Cooks to get back on track this week and feel confident starting him as a WR3/flex.
