aDOT (average depth of target)
aDOT is the average distance past the line of scrimmage a player's targets travel. Among 29 qualifying tight ends in 2025, Oronde Gadsden of the Chargers was deepest at 9.0 yards and Jonnu Smith of the Steelers shallowest at 4.0.
Total air yards divided by targets. A 12-yard aDOT means the average throw aimed at him was 12 yards downfield. It describes the job, not the player.
Tight End Average Depth of Target — 2026 leaders
| # | Player | aDOT | Tgt | Rec | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brock Bowers | 10.6 | 44 | 28 | Read |
| 2 | Darren Waller | 9.5 | 21 | 13 | |
| 3 | Dalton Kincaid | 8.8 | 29 | 23 | Read |
| 4 | Oronde Gadsden | 8.5 | 21 | 12 | Read |
| 5 | Isaiah Likely | 8.1 | 59 | 39 | Read |
| 6 | George Kittle | 8.0 | 36 | 26 | Read |
| 7 | Pat Freiermuth | 7.9 | 29 | 21 | Read |
| 8 | Brenton Strange | 7.7 | 33 | 26 | Read |
| 9 | Tyler Higbee | 7.4 | 29 | 24 | |
| 10 | Sam LaPorta | 7.4 | 37 | 27 | Read |
Why it matters
aDOT is the single most repeatable thing in the receiving game — it correlated 0.90 year over year across 745 qualifying pairs, higher than target share, air yards share or anything else measured. Roles are assigned and roles persist. That makes aDOT the best early read on whether a change of team actually changed a receiver's job, and a fast way to explain why two players with identical target counts score nothing alike.
The counter
A stable aDOT confirms the role is unchanged; it says nothing about whether the role is valuable.
More football stats explained
- EPA (expected points added)
- EPA per dropback
- Success rate
- CPOE (completion percentage over expected)
- ANY/A (adjusted net yards per attempt)
- RYOE (rushing yards over expected)
- Target share
- Air yards share
- WOPR (weighted opportunity rating)
- YAC over expected
- Separation
- Pressure rate
- Blitz rate
- Man and zone coverage splits
- PROE (pass rate over expected)
- Stacked box rate
- Half-PPR (and how it differs from full PPR)
- The usage gap (snaps versus production)
- Pythagorean wins
- Stickiness (what repeats and what does not)
- Snap share
- Pass-snap share
- YPRR (yards per route run)
- Availability (the “stayed” rate)
- Handcuff
- Play-action rate
- Pre-snap motion rate
- Drop rate
- Contested catch rate
- Interception-worthy throws
- Quarterback-fault sacks
- Intended air yards (IAY)
- Deep ball rate
- QB Composite Rating
- Screen pass rate
- No-huddle rate
- RPO rate
- Light box rate
- Throwaway rate
- Catchable throw rate
- Out-of-pocket rate
- Time to throw
- Aggressiveness
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