2025 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 120 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2025 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2025 NFL leaders, updated Aug 13, 2026. Luther Burden III (CHI) led the league in average separation at 4.63, ahead of 119 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2025 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring.

Separation is how far the nearest defender was when the ball arrived; cushion is how far off he lined up before the snap. The pair reads as one story. A receiver with a large cushion and ordinary separation is being played soft and taking what he is given; a receiver with a small cushion and large separation is beating press coverage, which is the harder thing and the one that survives a change of quarterback. Depth of target sits alongside them because separation is easier to find underneath — a checkdown target and a go route are not the same test.

Receiver Separation and Cushion, 2025 NFL season
#	Player	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt
1	Luther Burden IIIWR · CHI	4.63	7.43	7.26	78.3%	60
2	Evan EngramTE · DEN	4.58	6.77	4.30	65.8%	76
3	Marvin Mims Jr.WR · DEN	4.53	7.82	8.97	72.5%	51
4	AJ BarnerTE · SEA	4.10	4.62	4.76	76.5%	68
5	DeMario DouglasWR · NE	3.94	6.60	9.94	67.4%	46
6	Brenton StrangeTE · JAX	3.91	6.46	6.58	76.7%	60
7	Chig OkonkwoTE · TEN	3.86	5.81	4.44	70.9%	79
8	John Metchie IIIWR · NYJ	3.83	7.00	5.22	68.8%	48
9	Khalil ShakirWR · BUF	3.80	6.69	3.54	75.8%	95
10	Chimere DikeWR · TEN	3.80	6.77	8.21	64.9%	74
11	Dalton SchultzTE · HOU	3.77	5.43	6.25	77.4%	106
12	Jonnu SmithTE · PIT	3.77	5.50	4.02	70.4%	54
13	T.J. HockensonTE · MIN	3.75	6.20	4.79	77.3%	66
14	Colston LovelandTE · CHI	3.68	5.38	8.93	70.7%	82
15	Juwan JohnsonTE · NO	3.65	6.00	7.31	75.5%	102
16	George KittleTE · SF	3.65	5.14	6.95	82.6%	69
17	Malik WashingtonWR · MIA	3.65	6.43	5.19	70.8%	65
18	Dawson KnoxTE · BUF	3.64	5.32	7.01	73.5%	49
19	Cole KmetTE · CHI	3.63	5.82	8.68	62.5%	48
20	Tre TuckerWR · LV	3.62	7.62	10.31	62.0%	92
21	Rashee RiceWR · KC	3.60	6.31	4.42	67.9%	78
22	Jake TongesTE · SF	3.59	4.87	5.25	73.9%	46
23	Zay FlowersWR · BAL	3.58	6.45	9.92	72.9%	118
24	Kyle PittsTE · ATL	3.55	5.61	7.16	74.6%	118
25	Colby ParkinsonTE · LAR	3.55	5.72	4.66	76.8%	56
26	Deebo Samuel Sr.WR · WAS	3.54	6.29	5.32	72.7%	99
27	Gunnar HelmTE · TEN	3.52	4.87	5.38	80.0%	55
28	Cade OttonTE · TB	3.50	5.56	4.85	72.8%	81
29	Xavier WorthyWR · KC	3.46	6.29	12.36	57.5%	73
30	Olamide ZaccheausWR · CHI	3.46	6.35	6.99	60.0%	65
31	JuJu Smith-SchusterWR · KC	3.46	6.03	5.08	73.3%	45
32	Michael MayerTE · LV	3.45	5.92	4.40	70.0%	50
33	Dalton KincaidTE · BUF	3.42	5.97	9.09	79.6%	49
34	Wan'Dale RobinsonWR · NYG	3.37	6.71	8.65	65.7%	140
35	Sam LaPortaTE · DET	3.37	6.37	5.70	81.6%	49
36	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	3.36	5.99	7.12	73.2%	82
37	Travis HunterWR · JAX	3.32	7.03	7.59	62.2%	45
38	Tyler WarrenTE · IND	3.31	5.91	5.51	67.9%	112
39	Jake FergusonTE · DAL	3.31	5.87	4.85	80.4%	102
40	DJ MooreWR · CHI	3.27	6.81	11.41	58.8%	85
41	Ladd McConkeyWR · LAC	3.26	5.80	9.98	62.3%	106
42	Mason TaylorTE · NYJ	3.25	6.11	5.94	67.7%	65
43	Justin JeffersonWR · MIN	3.23	5.85	10.35	59.6%	141
44	Travis KelceTE · KC	3.21	5.64	6.31	70.4%	108
45	Marquise BrownWR · KC	3.21	6.35	11.16	66.2%	74
46	Sterling ShepardWR · TB	3.21	6.03	8.70	73.6%	53
47	Pat FreiermuthTE · PIT	3.19	5.45	5.95	75.9%	54
48	Jameson WilliamsWR · DET	3.18	6.06	12.38	63.7%	102
49	Ja'Marr ChaseWR · CIN	3.17	5.73	8.42	67.6%	185
50	Oronde Gadsden IITE · LAC	3.16	5.96	9.02	71.0%	69
51	Trey McBrideTE · ARI	3.06	5.46	6.88	74.6%	169
52	Garrett WilsonWR · NYJ	3.06	6.48	9.44	61.0%	59
53	Brock BowersTE · LV	3.05	6.15	7.01	74.4%	86
54	Xavier HutchinsonWR · HOU	3.05	5.52	9.08	61.4%	57
55	Ryan FlournoyWR · DAL	3.04	6.30	8.79	71.4%	56
56	Michael PittmanWR · IND	3.03	6.78	7.99	72.1%	111
57	Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWR · SEA	3.02	6.30	11.26	73.0%	163
58	Stefon DiggsWR · NE	3.02	5.84	8.53	83.3%	102
59	Hunter HenryTE · NE	3.02	6.02	7.98	69.0%	87
60	Darnell MooneyWR · ATL	3.02	6.57	14.17	44.4%	72
61	Cooper KuppWR · SEA	3.02	6.14	8.28	67.1%	70
62	Troy FranklinWR · DEN	3.01	6.69	12.68	62.5%	104
63	Theo JohnsonTE · NYG	3.01	5.83	8.06	60.8%	74
64	Rome OdunzeWR · CHI	2.98	6.44	14.08	48.9%	90
65	Amon-Ra St. BrownWR · DET	2.95	6.10	8.35	68.0%	172
66	Chris OlaveWR · NO	2.95	6.81	11.64	64.1%	156
67	Harold Fannin Jr.TE · CLE	2.94	5.70	5.86	67.3%	107
68	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	2.91	4.65	7.82	68.6%	70
69	Puka NacuaWR · LAR	2.88	6.02	8.89	77.7%	166
70	Kendrick BourneWR · SF	2.88	6.50	10.63	69.8%	53
71	Jordan AddisonWR · MIN	2.87	7.28	14.40	53.2%	79
72	DeVonta SmithWR · PHI	2.82	6.36	12.02	68.1%	113
73	Calvin Austin IIIWR · PIT	2.82	5.52	10.25	56.4%	55
74	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	2.82	6.60	7.82	64.7%	51
75	CeeDee LambWR · DAL	2.78	6.14	12.27	64.1%	117
76	Keon ColemanWR · BUF	2.78	5.71	11.96	64.4%	59
77	Tyler LockettWR · LV	2.78	6.28	7.53	58.2%	55
78	Rashid ShaheedWR · SEA	2.76	6.37	11.54	64.1%	92
79	Adonai MitchellWR · NYJ	2.76	5.79	14.78	44.6%	74
80	Jakobi MeyersWR · JAX	2.73	6.41	9.42	68.2%	110
81	Jaylen WaddleWR · MIA	2.73	6.19	12.26	64.0%	100
82	Zach ErtzTE · WAS	2.73	6.03	8.66	69.4%	72
83	Darius SlaytonWR · NYG	2.71	5.72	13.38	58.7%	63
84	Jayden HigginsWR · HOU	2.70	5.74	12.03	60.3%	68
85	Tetairoa McMillanWR · CAR	2.69	5.72	12.43	57.4%	122
86	Josh DownsWR · IND	2.68	7.21	7.74	65.9%	88
87	Mack HollinsWR · NE	2.67	6.19	13.00	70.8%	65
88	Drake LondonWR · ATL	2.66	5.78	10.79	60.7%	112
89	Brian Thomas Jr.WR · JAX	2.66	5.52	14.17	52.7%	91
90	Elic AyomanorWR · TEN	2.66	5.82	12.24	46.1%	89
91	David NjokuTE · CLE	2.66	5.68	5.04	68.8%	48
92	DK MetcalfWR · PIT	2.63	4.50	9.82	59.6%	99
93	Van JeffersonWR · TEN	2.63	6.07	12.02	55.8%	52
94	Xavier LegetteWR · CAR	2.60	6.73	10.80	54.7%	64
95	Emeka EgbukaWR · TB	2.58	6.23	12.20	49.6%	127
96	Keenan AllenWR · LAC	2.56	6.18	8.48	66.4%	122
97	Christian KirkWR · HOU	2.54	5.71	7.24	53.8%	52
98	Jerry JeudyWR · CLE	2.47	5.63	11.95	47.2%	106
99	Andrei IosivasWR · CIN	2.46	5.55	9.87	56.9%	58
100	Michael WilsonWR · ARI	2.44	5.98	11.38	61.9%	126
101	Jalen NailorWR · MIN	2.43	5.55	12.97	54.7%	53
102	Marvin Harrison Jr.WR · ARI	2.42	4.94	13.55	56.2%	73
103	Pat BryantWR · DEN	2.41	6.33	8.71	63.3%	49
104	Parker WashingtonWR · JAX	2.39	6.42	12.61	61.1%	95
105	Terry McLaurinWR · WAS	2.38	6.69	14.06	63.3%	60
106	Quentin JohnstonWR · LAC	2.36	5.25	12.31	60.7%	84
107	Ricky PearsallWR · SF	2.34	6.72	13.95	67.9%	53
108	Kayshon BoutteWR · NE	2.32	4.90	17.25	71.7%	46
109	George PickensWR · DAL	2.31	5.17	11.72	67.9%	137
110	Nico CollinsWR · HOU	2.31	4.87	12.90	59.2%	120
111	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	2.28	5.27	12.56	59.7%	124
112	Romeo DoubsWR · GB	2.27	5.99	12.80	64.7%	85
113	A.J. BrownWR · PHI	2.24	5.74	11.57	64.5%	121
114	Jauan JenningsWR · SF	2.21	5.65	10.16	61.1%	90
115	Davante AdamsWR · LAR	2.17	5.16	13.19	52.6%	114
116	Dontayvion WicksWR · GB	2.17	5.91	11.31	65.2%	46
117	Alec PierceWR · IND	2.08	6.28	19.05	56.0%	84
118	Christian WatsonWR · GB	2.00	6.38	17.63	63.6%	55
119	Mike EvansWR · TB	1.92	5.43	13.60	48.4%	62
120	Tee HigginsWR · CIN	1.83	5.23	13.53	60.2%	98

Next Gen Stats publishes tracking figures for wide receivers and tight ends only, so no running back appears here however many passes he caught. Targets and receptions are the tracking feed's own counts and can differ by one or two from the play-by-play totals on the other receiving boards.

New to this stat? What average separation means.

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