What Targets is

Targets: passes thrown toward the team's receivers, caught or not. It shows where an offense is trying to go with the ball, before the result.

Higher is better. It is shown per game, so a team's number does not depend on games played. Source: P + N.

In 2023 the Chargers led at 36.12; the league average was 32.14.

League snapshot — 2023

League leader

LAC · 36.12

League average

32.14

Best to worst

8.41

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	LAC	36.12	17
2	JAX	35.71	17
3	MIN	35.65	17
4	DAL	35.59	17
5	WAS	35.35	17
6	KC	35.24	17
7	CLE	35.12	17
8	CIN	34.82	17
9	NO	34.06	17
10	DET	33.76	17
11	HOU	33.29	17
12	NYJ	33.12	17
13	GB	33	17
14	LAR	32.65	17
15	TB	32.35	17
16	MIA	32.29	17
17	SEA	32.18	17
18	IND	32.12	17
19	BUF	32.06	17
20	NE	31.82	17
21	ARI	31.76	17
22	CAR	31.41	17
23	LV	31.24	17
24	PHI	30.88	17
25	ATL	29.88	17
26	NYG	28.53	17
27	PIT	28.47	17
28	TEN	28.12	17
29	CHI	28.06	17
30	DEN	28.06	17
31	BAL	28	17
32	SF	27.71	17

At a glance — 2023

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

LAC · 36.12

League laggard

SF · 27.71

League average

32.14

Spread (max − min)

8.41

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	LAC	36.12	3.98	100%
2	JAX	35.71	3.57	96.8%
3	MIN	35.65	3.51	93.5%
4	DAL	35.59	3.45	90.3%
5	WAS	35.35	3.22	87.1%
6	KC	35.24	3.10	83.9%
7	CLE	35.12	2.98	80.6%
8	CIN	34.82	2.69	77.4%
9	NO	34.06	1.92	74.2%
10	DET	33.76	1.63	71%
11	HOU	33.29	1.16	67.7%
12	NYJ	33.12	0.98	64.5%
13	GB	33	0.86	61.3%
14	LAR	32.65	0.51	58.1%
15	TB	32.35	0.22	54.8%
16	MIA	32.29	0.16	51.6%
17	SEA	32.18	0.04	48.4%
18	IND	32.12	-0.02	45.2%
19	BUF	32.06	-0.08	41.9%
20	NE	31.82	-0.31	38.7%
21	ARI	31.76	-0.37	35.5%
22	CAR	31.41	-0.73	32.3%
23	LV	31.24	-0.90	29%
24	PHI	30.88	-1.26	25.8%
25	ATL	29.88	-2.26	22.6%
26	NYG	28.53	-3.61	19.4%
27	PIT	28.47	-3.67	16.1%
28	TEN	28.12	-4.02	12.9%
29	CHI	28.06	-4.08	9.7%
30	DEN	28.06	-4.08	6.5%
31	BAL	28	-4.14	3.2%
32	SF	27.71	-4.43	0%

Does Targets matter against the spread?

Run as a one-stat algorithm against the closing line, this stat went 771–807–37 ATS (48.9%) across 2020–2025, #272 of 296 ranked.

Its best season was 2022 (144–120, 54.5%); its worst 2024 (112–151, 42.6%).

For picks, this is noise. One stat is not a recipe — the algorithms combine many.

Season	Games	ATS record	ATS %
2020	256	134–120–2	52.8%
2021	272	129–141–2	47.8%
2022	271	144–120–7	54.5%
2023	272	122–136–14	47.3%
2024	272	112–151–9	42.6%
2025	272	130–139–3	48.3%

Targets in 2023 vs 2022

Chargers lead at 36.12 — they ranked #2 last year. 49ers are last at 27.71 — #25 last year.

The league average is 32.14, up 0.19 from 31.94 last year.

Biggest riser: Saints, #26 → #9. Biggest faller: Cardinals, #4 → #21.

Spread between first and last: 8.41; 17 teams are within 2.62 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2023 vs 2022

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

CHI · +6.94

Biggest faller

TB · −10.24

Most consistent

NYG · −0.24

League trend 2023 vs 2022

▲ 0.19

Rank	Team	2023	2022	Δ
1	CHI	28.06	21.12	+6.94
2	ATL	29.88	23.53	+6.35
3	CAR	31.41	25.12	+6.29
4	CLE	35.12	29.82	+5.29
5	NO	34.06	29	+5.06
6	WAS	35.35	31.24	+4.12
7	DAL	35.59	32.06	+3.53
8	TEN	28.12	25.65	+2.47
9	LAR	32.65	30.41	+2.24
10	JAX	35.71	33.76	+1.94
11	NE	31.82	30.47	+1.35
12	GB	33	31.76	+1.24
13	PHI	30.88	29.71	+1.18
14	BAL	28	27.35	+0.65
15	DET	33.76	33.12	+0.65
16	HOU	33.29	32.82	+0.47
17	NYG	28.53	28.76	−0.24
18	SEA	32.18	32.53	−0.35
19	MIA	32.29	33.06	−0.76
20	KC	35.24	36.12	−0.88
21	NYJ	33.12	34.59	−1.47
22	LV	31.24	32.82	−1.59
23	SF	27.71	29.65	−1.94
24	IND	32.12	34.06	−1.94
25	MIN	35.65	37.71	−2.06
26	CIN	34.82	37.13	−2.30
27	BUF	32.06	34.44	−2.38
28	DEN	28.06	31.82	−3.76
29	PIT	28.47	32.24	−3.76
30	LAC	36.12	40.41	−4.29
31	ARI	31.76	37.35	−5.59
32	TB	32.35	42.59	−10.24

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

DAL · 36.17

Multi-year laggard

BAL · 27.43

Biggest improver

NO · +1.21/yr

Biggest decliner

LAC · −2.03/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	DAL	36.17	−0.11	38.56	37.47	32.06	35.59	36.59	35.71	37.20
2	TB	35.58	−2.00	37.88	42.12	42.59	32.35	33.12	31.82	29.20
3	CIN	35.57	+0.47	35.38	31.76	37.13	34.82	36.94	35.76	37.20
4	ARI	34.65	+0.47	34.06	33.53	37.35	31.76	30.76	36.29	38.80
5	KC	34.64	−1.39	38.19	37.47	36.12	35.24	33.65	32.29	29.50
6	LAC	34.57	−2.03	38.19	38.76	40.41	36.12	28.88	32	27.60
7	LAR	34.51	+0.70	35.13	35.41	30.41	32.65	31.82	34.18	42
8	DET	33.70	+0.12	35.13	33.24	33.12	33.76	30.71	32.35	37.60
9	PIT	33.20	−1.37	40.75	38.41	32.24	28.47	27.06	30.71	34.80
10	JAX	32.94	−1.24	36.56	34.29	33.76	35.71	30.71	32.18	27.40
11	LV	32.93	−0.20	32.69	35.47	32.82	31.24	34.82	29.06	34.40
12	HOU	32.66	+0.25	32.81	30.76	32.82	33.29	32.18	32.53	34.20
13	NO	32.19	+1.21	31.75	27.88	29	34.06	30.41	33.24	39
14	IND	31.78	−0.09	33.44	29.53	34.06	32.12	28.94	31.18	33.20
15	BUF	31.74	−1.84	35.75	36.65	34.44	32.06	29.12	28.18	26
16	MIN	31.63	−1.21	30.31	34	37.71	35.65	30.41	27.53	25.80
17	NYJ	31.58	−0.58	28.94	34.18	34.59	33.12	34.65	27.76	27.80
18	MIA	31.57	−1.48	34.19	35.24	33.06	32.29	33.41	27.18	25.60
19	CLE	31.55	+0.39	29.19	29.35	29.82	35.12	37.29	30.71	29.40
20	GB	31.45	−0.10	31.31	33.53	31.76	33	27.29	27.06	36.20
21	DEN	31.38	−0.12	33.31	30.41	31.82	28.06	32.29	34.35	29.40
22	WAS	31.32	−1.07	35.81	31.41	31.24	35.35	29.65	25.41	30.40
23	CAR	31.25	+0.20	32.94	33.82	25.12	31.41	30.47	28.24	36.75
24	NYG	30.93	+0.02	31.25	33.18	28.76	28.53	32.59	29.59	32.60
25	SEA	30.68	−0.60	33.56	27.88	32.53	32.18	33.47	26.76	28.40
26	CHI	30.24	−0.16	37.25	30.82	21.12	28.06	30.94	31.29	32.20
27	ATL	30.21	−1.18	37.81	32.59	23.53	29.88	31.71	30.53	25.40
28	SF	30.16	−0.53	34.63	29.24	29.65	27.71	30.18	32.35	27.40
29	NE	29.56	+0.17	26.25	30.82	30.47	31.82	29.41	28.35	29.80
30	PHI	29.09	−0.89	35.06	27.53	29.71	30.88	24.59	27.29	28.60
31	TEN	29.05	+0.11	29.25	30.71	25.65	28.12	29.82	31.18	28.60
32	BAL	27.43	−0.56	24.50	34.76	27.35	28	26.88	23.94	26.60

Multi-year heatmap

32 teams across 7 seasons. Cells colored by quintile within each season; click a column header to jump to that year.

Team	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
LAC	38.19	38.76	40.41	36.12	28.88	32	27.60
JAX	36.56	34.29	33.76	35.71	30.71	32.18	27.40
MIN	30.31	34	37.71	35.65	30.41	27.53	25.80
DAL	38.56	37.47	32.06	35.59	36.59	35.71	37.20
WAS	35.81	31.41	31.24	35.35	29.65	25.41	30.40
KC	38.19	37.47	36.12	35.24	33.65	32.29	29.50
CLE	29.19	29.35	29.82	35.12	37.29	30.71	29.40
CIN	35.38	31.76	37.13	34.82	36.94	35.76	37.20
NO	31.75	27.88	29	34.06	30.41	33.24	39
DET	35.13	33.24	33.12	33.76	30.71	32.35	37.60
HOU	32.81	30.76	32.82	33.29	32.18	32.53	34.20
NYJ	28.94	34.18	34.59	33.12	34.65	27.76	27.80
GB	31.31	33.53	31.76	33	27.29	27.06	36.20
LAR	35.13	35.41	30.41	32.65	31.82	34.18	42
TB	37.88	42.12	42.59	32.35	33.12	31.82	29.20
MIA	34.19	35.24	33.06	32.29	33.41	27.18	25.60
SEA	33.56	27.88	32.53	32.18	33.47	26.76	28.40
IND	33.44	29.53	34.06	32.12	28.94	31.18	33.20
BUF	35.75	36.65	34.44	32.06	29.12	28.18	26
NE	26.25	30.82	30.47	31.82	29.41	28.35	29.80
ARI	34.06	33.53	37.35	31.76	30.76	36.29	38.80
CAR	32.94	33.82	25.12	31.41	30.47	28.24	36.75
LV	32.69	35.47	32.82	31.24	34.82	29.06	34.40
PHI	35.06	27.53	29.71	30.88	24.59	27.29	28.60
ATL	37.81	32.59	23.53	29.88	31.71	30.53	25.40
NYG	31.25	33.18	28.76	28.53	32.59	29.59	32.60
PIT	40.75	38.41	32.24	28.47	27.06	30.71	34.80
TEN	29.25	30.71	25.65	28.12	29.82	31.18	28.60
CHI	37.25	30.82	21.12	28.06	30.94	31.29	32.20
DEN	33.31	30.41	31.82	28.06	32.29	34.35	29.40
BAL	24.50	34.76	27.35	28	26.88	23.94	26.60
SF	34.63	29.24	29.65	27.71	30.18	32.35	27.40

Targets since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Steelers (42.25), 2019 Falcons (40.94), 2020 Steelers (40.75), 2021 Buccaneers (42.12), 2022 Buccaneers (42.59), 2023 Chargers (36.12).

Steelers have led this stat 2 of 6 seasons.

The best season on record is Buccaneers 2022 at 42.59; the worst Bears 2022 at 21.12.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2023.

About this stat

Stat ID: off_receiving_targets
Side: offensive
Family: Receiving
Data source: P + N
Polarity: higher is better (or neutral)
Display grain: count
Algorithm eligibility: Algorithm-eligible: this stat can be picked in the Algorithm Builder.