- Wide receivers had their fewest targets per game since 2008.
- 2024 featured the lowest rate of 3WR sets on dropbacks since the 2019 season.
- Seven different wide receivers who ran 100-plus routes were targeted on 28% or more of their routes, the most in a season since 2021.
- The past seven WR1 overall scorers have all been in the slot for over 20% of their snaps, with five of those players clearing 30%.
As we continue to roll on through the offseason and prepare for the 2025 fantasy season, we are taking a top down look at production for each fantasy position.
Now, let’s take a look at the wide receivers.
League WR Usage Since 2010
| YEAR | TGT/G | League % | Rec/G | Lg% | ReYD/G | Lg% | ReTD/G | Lg% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 37.6 | 60.1% | 23.9 | 55.9% | 299.5 | 64.1% | 1.9 | 66.7% |
| 2023 | 38.4 | 59.7% | 24.2 | 55.7% | 305.3 | 64.6% | 1.8 | 64.3% |
| 2022 | 37.9 | 59.4% | 24.0 | 56.1% | 302.1 | 64.4% | 1.7 | 60.4% |
| 2021 | 39.5 | 59.6% | 24.9 | 55.9% | 311.0 | 63.7% | 1.9 | 62.0% |
| 2020 | 40.6 | 59.7% | 26.5 | 57.8% | 334.0 | 65.5% | 2.1 | 61.4% |
| 2019 | 39.1 | 58.3% | 24.1 | 54.4% | 315.5 | 62.7% | 1.9 | 60.3% |
| 2018 | 39.5 | 58.8% | 24.9 | 55.5% | 318.9 | 62.7% | 2.1 | 62.8% |
| 2017 | 38.7 | 57.5% | 22.7 | 53.6% | 293.2 | 61.2% | 1.7 | 58.7% |
| 2016 | 42.6 | 60.5% | 25.5 | 56.7% | 326.3 | 63.8% | 2.0 | 63.7% |
| 2015 | 41.3 | 58.6% | 24.6 | 54.7% | 322.5 | 62.2% | 2.0 | 61.6% |
| 2014 | 41.3 | 59.9% | 24.8 | 56.6% | 323.6 | 64.3% | 1.9 | 60.1% |
| 2013 | 41.4 | 59.3% | 23.9 | 55.1% | 318.8 | 63.2% | 1.9 | 60.1% |
| 2012 | 41.0 | 59.9% | 23.6 | 55.8% | 315.7 | 64.2% | 1.9 | 64.9% |
| 2011 | 39.3 | 58.7% | 22.2 | 54.4% | 307.1 | 62.7% | 1.8 | 63.5% |
| 2010 | 39.0 | 58.7% | 22.3 | 54.3% | 295.8 | 62.6% | 1.9 | 63.9% |
As we have covered up to this point in the series, passing volume was down in the NFL as a whole.
Teams used heavier formations and emphasized the running game to counter the rise in lighter defensive looks.
With that, it is not a surprise to see the counting stats here for wide receivers dip in terms of overall targets, catches, and yards.
Wide receivers had their fewest targets per game since 2008.
Completion rate was at an all-time high last season, so they did save some ground in receptions, but it was still their fewest receptions per game since 2017.
The yardage per game was the fewest the position has collected since 2010.
The good news is that touchdowns were back up, as the position caught their most touchdowns per game since the 2020 season.
Counting stats aside, due to the reduction in pass attempts, the usage of the position did spike.
Wide receivers accounted for over 60% of the leaguewide targets for the first time since 2016.
They also accounted for their highest share of touchdown production over the past 15 years.
Usage at the position remains strong, and teams are incorporating wide receivers heavily into their offense, even if we do appear to have leveled off in terms of the rate of offenses using three or more wideouts per dropback.
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Percentage of Wide Receivers on the Field Per Dropback
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