Half way through the NFL season, teams now have clear cut roles for most of the players on roster. A valuable role to be held in every offense is a go-to deep receiving threat. Here we take a look at the top producers in WR Rating on deep targets. A deep target is any pass thrown 20 yards more beyond the line of scrimmage. WR Rating is the quarterback's passer rating generated when targeting that player.
1. Ted Ginn Jr, New Orleans Saints
Deep Target WR Rating: 143.8
Ginn has found new life in New Orleans filling the deep threat vacancy left by the departure of Brandin Cooks. He has hauled in 60 percent of the 10 deep targets thrown his way for 217 yards and two touchdowns. His 80.5 receiving grade has landed him in the top-20 among receivers.
2. Brandin Cooks, New England Patriots
Deep Target WR Rating: 141.4
Speaking of Cooks, he has settled in nicely with his new team occupying a similar role to the one he mastered in New Orleans. Cooks’ 290 deep receiving yards are the most in the league and his eight deep receptions is tied for the most.
3. Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings
Deep Target WR Rating: 141.4
Impressive for Diggs to have produced so much on deep targets considering he has missed the entirety of two games. His eight deep receptions are tied for the league-lead. He has also brought down an impressive five contested deep balls.
4. Paul Richardson, Seattle Seahawks
Deep Target WR Rating: 140.0
Prior to this season, Richardson seemed to be the forgotten receiver in Seattle. He has stepped into a role with the offense very well, catching five deep targets across five different games, two of which have gone for touchdowns.
5. Marvin Jones Jr, Detroit Lions
Deep Target WR Rating: 133.0
Quarterback Matthew Stafford has started taking more chances downfield the past two seasons and the direct beneficiary has been Jones. Among players on this list, Jones’ 17 deep targets are the most while his eight receptions are tied for the most. On his eight deep catches, he has put up the second-most yards at 257 and tied for the second-most touchdowns at three.
6. Robby Anderson, New York Jets
Deep Target WR Rating: 132.2
Anderson has worked his way into becoming the Jets No. 1 wide receiver and has subsequently produced huge results on deep passes catching six of 13 targets for 209 yards and a league-leading four touchdowns.
7. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
Deep Target WR Rating: 125.8
Hill is settled in as the team’s deep threat in their passing attack that has become much more effective using vertical routes. Hills’ 34.5 yards average depth of target on deep targets is the highest mark among those on this list. He has hauled in three touchdowns on his seven deep catches.
8. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
Deep Target WR Rating: 124.7
Among full-time starting quarterbacks last season, only three attempted fewer passes than Sam Bradford. The Vikings offensive identity changed rapidly this season as current starter Case Keenum is attempting a deep pass on 13.3 percent of his targets, the 10th-highest rate in the NFL, and in doing so, lands two players on this list. Thielen is the only player to make the list that runs over 50 percent of his routes from the slot.
9. Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins
Deep Target WR Rating: 118.9
Stills has been a deep threat ever since joining the NFL in 2013 with the Saints, and now especially with the Dolphins. Despite Miami’s offensive woes this season, he has still been effective generating the big play catching five of 13 deep targets for 141 yards and two touchdowns.
10. T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts
Deep Target WR Rating: 118.3
Hilton has arguably been the league’s premier deep threat for a couple of years. This season, with a less than savory quarterback situation, Hilton has still managed to bring in six of his 13 deep targets for a third ranked 242 deep receiving yards.
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