NFL News & Analysis

The highest-graded wide receivers on accurate passes: A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill and more

2M071RY Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 4th Dec, 2022. Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) scores a touchdown during the first half against the Tennessee Titans in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mandatory Credit Eric Canha/CSM/Alamy Live News

A.J. Brown dominates…again: A season ago, Brown turned 83 accurate targets into 77 receptions for 1,326 yards and 11 scores for a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

Justin Jefferson ever the big-play threat: Jefferson's 34 plays of 15-plus yards on accurate passes ranked first at the position over the regular season and playoffs.

Garrett Wilson breakout season incoming? Just 61 of Wilson’s 139 targets were deemed accurate last season, with 834 of his 1,103 receiving yards coming on those plays. Wilson now gets to play with Aaron Rodgers, one of the best and most accurate quarterbacks in the history of the game.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes


Alongside grading every player on every play, PFF also collects a significant amount of data that goes on beyond that. One such process is our quarterback accuracy charting, which assesses the ball location and throw type on every single pass attempt over the NFL season.

But that data is not only helpful for assessing quarterback play. Here, we look at the highest-graded wide receivers on passes we charted as “accurate.” These aren’t just passes that a receiver can get a hand to — these are passes that have been completed 93.8% of the time over the last three years.

1. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles: 94.7

Including the playoffs, 83 of Brown’s 158 targets were deemed accurate, with Brown earning the highest receiving grade at the position on those plays. He turned those accurate targets into 77 receptions for 1,326 yards and 11 scores for a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

So while he got plenty of plaudits for his success a year ago, perhaps even that was still somewhat underrating him.


2. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins: 93.9

Hill saw 83 accurately thrown targets, but these came on 181 total targets including the playoffs. He dropped just two of those passes and racked up 1,064 yards with six touchdowns and 42 first downs.


2. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills: 93.9

Diggs dropped just two of the 90 accurate targets he saw throughout the regular season and playoffs, picking up 50 first downs and scoring eight times in the process. He generated a 148.4 passer rating on accurate throws, seventh at the position, while his 29 plays of 15-plus yards ranked xsixth.


4. Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders: 93.7

Only two players in the league produced more 15-plus yard plays on accurate targets than Adams’ 31, while his 156.7 passer rating generated on those plays ranked third. He saw 79 accurate targets from a total of 168, turning that into 1,148 yards with nine touchdowns and just two drops.


5. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: 93.0

A year ago, 83 of Amon-Ra St. Brown’s 139 targets were charted as accurate, with the Lions standout dropping just one of those on his way to picking up 852 yards and five touchdowns.

They didn’t lead to a huge number of big plays, with just 13 receptions of 15-plus yards, but his 5.9-yard average depth of target on accurate passes was the fourth-lowest among wide receivers who saw at least 50 accurate targets.

6. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos: 92.9

Jeudy’s 77.9 receiving grade on all pass attempts ranked 23rd at the position, but he jumps into the top 10 when we look only at accurate targets. The issue was that just 56 of the targets he saw over the season were deemed accurate. That’s a huge opportunity for improvement as Sean Payton looks to get quarterback Russell Wilson back on track.


7. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets: 92.7

Just 61 of Wilson’s 139 targets were deemed accurate last season, with 834 of his 1,103 receiving yards coming on those plays. Wilson now goes from the combination of Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White and Chris Streveler to Aaron Rodgers, one of the best and most accurate quarterbacks in the history of the game.


7. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings: 92.7

One of the best receivers in football regardless of the accuracy of the passes he’s dealing with, it’s no shock to see him rank inside the top 10 here. His 34 plays of 15-plus yards on accurate passes ranked first at the position in the regular season and playoffs.


8. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins: 92.6

Waddle saw just 57 accurate targets in 2023, and despite four drops, he was able to make the most of them, going for 964 yards and seven touchdowns over the regular season and playoffs. His 28 plays of 15-plus yards ranked seventh at the position.


9. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys: 92.4

Lamb finished second to only Jefferson in 15-plus yard plays on accurate targets last season (33), despite his 7.7-yard average depth of target on those passes ranking 23rd at the position. His 55 combined first downs and touchdowns on accurate targets were the third-most in the league.


9. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams, 92.4

Kupp almost feels like the forgotten man in the wide receiver discussion after injuries stalled his 2022 campaign. In all, 61 of his 95 targets were deemed accurate, though his 5.8-yard average depth of target was the third-lowest mark among wideouts who saw at least 50 accurate targets.


 

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