Carnell Tate — Week 3: Nine Targets, Fifty-Eight Yards
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 28
Tate caught 6 of 9 targets for 58 yards and 3 first downs, the most receiving yards by anyone in the game and the most targets and yards of his three NFL games. His 20-yarder to the Giants 28 came on a third-quarter drive that died at the 7, and his 13-yarder to the 8 set up the Titans' touchdown; both deep throws his way fell incomplete, in a 12–7 loss to the Giants.
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12 to nothing, Giants, three 50 left in the third quarter, first and 10 at the New York 48. Cam Ward threw short left to Carnell Tate, 13 yards in the air, and Tate was pushed out at the 28 after 20. +1.4 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — the third-best figure on any Titans pass or run. One snap earlier he had converted third and four with a six-yard catch from the Tennessee 46. The drive reached the New York seven. On third and five from there, with a minute 16 left in the quarter, Ward went back to Tate short left and it fell incomplete; the fourth-down throw to Gunnar Helm did too, and Tennessee turned it over on downs.
The line: nine targets, six catches, 58 yards, no touchdown, three first downs, +1.7 expected points on the targets. A hundred two air yards on the nine, the most on the team. The catches: six on first and 20 with a minute 12 left in the half; the six on third and four; the 20; seven on second and 11 with nine 48 left in the fourth; 13 on first and 10 from the New York 21 to the eight with seven 46 left, three snaps before Wan'Dale Robinson's touchdown; and six on second and seven with two minutes left, down 12 to seven, first ruled a seven-yard first down at the New York 34 and moved back to the 35 on replay, a yard short. Ward converted the third and one himself. The incompletions: deep right on second and 14 with three 50 left in the half, 23 yards in the air; the third and five at the seven; and deep right on second and 10 from the New York 33 with 59 seconds left, 29 in the air. Two targets before halftime, seven after. Two third-down targets, one caught and converted.
Nine targets were second on the team to Robinson's 11, a quarter of Ward's 36 throws; Tony Pollard and Helm had four each, Elic Ayomanor three, Daniel Bellinger two. His 58 yards led everyone in the game by one, over Robinson's 57, and he was the only Titans wide receiver whose targets came out positive by expected points.
Back in June the preview would not turn a draft slot into a stat line for Tate — the fourth pick in the draft, called the best receiver in it by his general manager — and said to watch where the targets flowed. Week 1 was six targets, a share of the team lead, and two deep incompletions. Week 2 was five, all short, and that episode said the share had carried and the production had not followed. Sunday the production moved with it: nine targets, six catches and 58 yards, the most of his three professional games in all three columns. Three games: 20 targets, 13 catches, a hundred 23 yards. The one thing that has not happened is a deep ball; four throws the play-by-play labels deep have gone his way, and none has been caught. Tennessee is at the Ravens on Sunday the fourth.
_Data via nflverse._
When Carnell Tate's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
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