Targets measure opportunity, receptions count completed catches, and receiving yards record the gains on those catches. Route participation adds another layer: it indicates how often a player ran a route on relevant team passing plays, though providers may calculate it differently. Read these figures together rather than treating any one total as a complete measure of a receiver.
What do targets mean in football?
A target is a pass directed to a receiver, whether or not it is caught. It records an opportunity, not a completion. The NFL’s receiving statistics table lists targets (Tgts) separately from receptions (Rec) and receiving yards (Yds).
What is the difference between targets and receptions?
A reception is a completed catch credited to the player. A targeted pass can therefore add to a receiver’s target total without adding a reception—for example, when the pass is incomplete. Targets describe how often a player was thrown the ball; receptions describe how often those opportunities became catches.
What do receiving yards show?
Receiving yards are credited on completed receptions. The total reflects both how many catches a player made and how much ground the player gained on them. It is an outcome measure, not a count of opportunities: two receivers with the same target total can finish with different yardage.
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How should I use catch rate?
Catch rate is commonly calculated as receptions divided by targets. It can summarize how often targets became catches, but it does not by itself establish how skilled or efficient a receiver is. Target depth, catchability, coverage, quarterback accuracy and sample size all affect how to interpret it. NFL.com publishes the underlying counts but does not define catch rate in its receiving table.
What is route participation in fantasy football?
Route participation is a usage measure intended to show the share of relevant team passing plays on which a player ran a route. It helps distinguish a low target total caused by limited route opportunity from one earned despite frequent route involvement.
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NFL Next Gen Stats describes its Route Recognition system as classifying routes for eligible receivers on passing plays, including route runners who were not targeted. Its methodology article says the model was trained and validated against routes from every passing play in 2018 and 2019, in both regular season and postseason. The NFL’s Next Gen Stats overview explains that player tracking data is used to derive performance metrics and advanced statistics. A 2026 NFL Next Gen Stats article reports that the route-classification model was retrained with a more detailed route tree for that season: 2026 route-recognition update.
Those sources establish tracking-based route detection, not one universal public formula for route participation. Denominators and play treatment can vary by provider, and route labels or methods may change by season. Check which provider produced a percentage and how it defines the calculation before comparing figures from different sites.
How to compare two receivers fairly
- Match the scope. Use the same season and competition scope—regular season or postseason—so the totals cover comparable games.
- Check playing time and opportunity. Note games played, team passing volume, targets and route participation. These help explain how many chances each player had.
- Separate conversion from outcome. Compare receptions per target for conversion and receiving yards for the result. Catch rate needs context rather than a stand-alone verdict.
- Add relevant detail. Touchdowns, first-down receptions and yards after catch can add context; the NFL receiving table includes these alongside core totals.
- Verify route-stat methodology. Before comparing route-participation percentages, confirm that they come from the same provider and use compatible definitions.
The NFL’s receiving table is useful for the official box-score columns, but its player totals are specific to the selected season and scope. Raw totals alone do not show why a player produced them.
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