2026 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 126 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2026 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Play-by-play through Week 9 · Monday night pending · Next Gen Stats through Week 9

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2026 NFL leaders, updated Nov 9, 2026. Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) led the league in average separation at 4.66, ahead of 125 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2026 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. 2026 season: Play-by-play through Week 9 · Monday night pending · Next Gen Stats through Week 9.

Who led the NFL in separation in 2026?Who led the NFL in cushion in 2026?Who led the NFL in yards after catch above expectation in 2026?

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, 2026 NFL season
#	Player	Δ WK	G	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt	Read
1	Harold Fannin Jr.TE · CLE	No change	9	4.66	5.58	5.95	69.8%	53	Read
2	Hunter HenryTE · NE	No change	9	4.25	4.62	5.93	86.5%	37	Read
3	Rashee RiceWR · KC	Up 6 places, from 9	8	4.13	6.86	4.67	78.1%	32	Read
4	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	Down 1 place, from 3	9	4.11	7.26	4.25	76.3%	38	Read
5	Colby ParkinsonTE · LAR	First appearance on this board	9	4.11	5.41	1.29	78.3%	23	Read
6	Kenyon SadiqTE · NYJ	Down 1 place, from 5	9	4.09	5.70	5.87	67.7%	31	Read
7	Khalil ShakirWR · BUF	Down 3 places, from 4	7	4.08	6.75	5.13	71.1%	38	Read
8	Omar Cooper Jr.WR · NYJ	First appearance on this board	9	4.01	6.60	7.16	83.3%	24	Read
9	Kalif RaymondWR · CHI	Down 1 place, from 8	9	3.96	7.50	6.60	78.0%	41
10	Dohnte MeyersWR · CIN	Down 4 places, from 6	8	3.89	6.25	5.95	69.2%	26
11	Travis KelceTE · KC	Down 4 places, from 7	8	3.88	5.76	6.66	68.8%	48	Read
12	DeMario DouglasWR · NE	Down 2 places, from 10	9	3.83	6.51	11.62	67.4%	46
13	Isaac TeSlaaWR · DET	Back on this board	8	3.81	7.84	13.26	47.8%	23	Read
14	AJ BarnerTE · SEA	Down 2 places, from 12	9	3.80	5.32	3.01	60.5%	38	Read
15	Dalton SchultzTE · HOU	Down 4 places, from 11	8	3.76	6.85	6.58	74.5%	47	Read
16	Gunnar HelmTE · TEN	Down 3 places, from 13; did not play this week	8	3.73	6.25	5.77	65.4%	26	Read
17	Germie BernardWR · PIT	Down 3 places, from 14; did not play this week	8	3.72	5.73	4.71	76.2%	42	Read
18	Jaylin NoelWR · HOU	Down 2 places, from 16	8	3.69	7.61	10.26	82.6%	23	Read
19	Sam LaPortaTE · DET	Up 3 places, from 22	8	3.64	5.67	6.51	71.4%	49	Read
20	Evan EngramTE · DEN	Up 4 places, from 24	9	3.62	5.43	5.66	56.7%	30	Read
21	Xavier WorthyWR · KC	Down 4 places, from 17	8	3.61	6.10	7.91	70.2%	47	Read
22	Caleb DouglasWR · MIA	Back on this board	8	3.61	5.82	12.95	70.4%	27
23	Juwan JohnsonTE · NO	Down 8 places, from 15	8	3.58	5.71	5.75	71.8%	39	Read
24	Jaylen WaddleWR · DEN	Down 6 places, from 18	9	3.57	6.79	10.40	57.7%	52	Read
25	Ladd McConkeyWR · LAC	Down 5 places, from 20	8	3.53	6.77	12.48	70.8%	24	Read
26	Tyler WarrenTE · IND	Down 5 places, from 21	9	3.47	5.98	4.55	71.7%	53	Read
27	Michael MayerTE · LV	Up 6 places, from 33	9	3.47	5.13	5.34	84.8%	46
28	Oronde Gadsden IITE · LAC	Up 1 place, from 29	8	3.47	5.26	7.65	65.5%	29	Read
29	Jake FergusonTE · DAL	Down 6 places, from 23	9	3.46	4.90	5.75	70.4%	27	Read
30	KC ConcepcionWR · CLE	No change	9	3.44	7.92	7.51	67.3%	55	Read
31	Cade OttonTE · TB	Down 12 places, from 19	9	3.43	6.13	5.87	60.5%	38	Read
32	George KittleTE · SF	No change	8	3.41	5.58	7.98	71.7%	53	Read
33	Darnell MooneyWR · NYG	Back on this board	8	3.38	7.55	14.25	46.2%	26	Read
34	Luther Burden IIIWR · CHI	Down 9 places, from 25	9	3.37	7.20	7.39	75.4%	65	Read
35	Brenton StrangeTE · JAX	Down 9 places, from 26	8	3.31	7.41	7.94	81.1%	37	Read
36	Tucker KraftTE · GB	Down 9 places, from 27	9	3.29	5.22	5.73	69.2%	52	Read
37	Jakobi MeyersWR · JAX	Up 3 places, from 40	8	3.29	7.78	11.97	70.3%	37	Read
38	Malik WashingtonWR · MIA	Down 7 places, from 31	8	3.26	5.92	9.91	68.8%	48	Read
39	Mike GesickiTE · CIN	Up 31 places, from 70	8	3.22	5.33	11.20	73.1%	26	Read
40	Puka NacuaWR · LAR	Up 1 place, from 41	9	3.21	6.18	8.03	75.3%	93	Read
41	Kyle PittsTE · ATL	Down 3 places, from 38	9	3.21	5.06	5.12	67.6%	37	Read
42	Romeo DoubsWR · NE	Down 6 places, from 36	9	3.17	5.04	17.63	58.3%	24	Read
43	Antonio WilliamsWR · WAS	Up 5 places, from 48	8	3.16	6.26	11.18	66.7%	39	Read
44	Dalton KincaidTE · BUF	Down 7 places, from 37	7	3.16	6.39	9.59	77.1%	35	Read
45	Chig OkonkwoTE · WAS	Down 6 places, from 39	8	3.16	5.61	7.54	74.2%	31	Read
46	Jerry JeudyWR · CLE	Down 18 places, from 28	9	3.16	6.61	10.32	64.3%	28	Read
47	Colston LovelandTE · CHI	Up 4 places, from 51	9	3.14	5.84	6.50	64.9%	57	Read
48	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	Down 13 places, from 35	9	3.14	6.04	6.63	72.1%	43	Read
49	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	Up 9 places, from 58	9	3.12	4.82	6.20	73.8%	42	Read
50	Greg DulcichTE · MIA	Down 16 places, from 34	8	3.10	5.16	6.42	75.0%	32	Read
51	Ja'Marr ChaseWR · CIN	Down 7 places, from 44	8	3.09	6.60	10.21	72.6%	73	Read
52	Wan'Dale RobinsonWR · TEN	Down 7 places, from 45; did not play this week	8	3.05	6.52	5.78	70.0%	50	Read
53	Efton Chism IIIWR · NE	First appearance on this board	9	3.04	6.19	8.22	80.0%	25
54	T.J. HockensonTE · MIN	Down 8 places, from 46	7	3.03	5.97	7.10	83.8%	37	Read
55	Malik NabersWR · NYG	Down 1 place, from 54	8	3.02	7.34	11.48	67.9%	78	Read
56	Jordan AddisonWR · MIN	Down 6 places, from 50	7	3.01	5.80	15.25	48.5%	33	Read
57	Tommy TrembleTE · CAR	Down 14 places, from 43	8	3.01	5.36	4.53	70.0%	30
58	Dontayvion WicksWR · PHI	Down 5 places, from 53	9	3.00	5.87	13.26	59.4%	32	Read
59	Emeka EgbukaWR · TB	Down 12 places, from 47	9	2.99	7.20	10.29	57.4%	54	Read
60	Rashid ShaheedWR · SEA	Down 4 places, from 56	9	2.98	7.21	10.73	53.3%	30	Read
61	Josh DownsWR · IND	Down 4 places, from 57	9	2.97	6.92	9.83	57.9%	57	Read
62	Pat FreiermuthTE · PIT	Down 3 places, from 59; did not play this week	8	2.97	5.74	7.95	71.4%	35	Read
63	Drake LondonWR · ATL	Down 14 places, from 49	9	2.96	6.56	9.58	64.7%	68	Read
64	Tre HarrisWR · LAC	Down 22 places, from 42	8	2.96	6.70	10.58	60.0%	35	Read
65	Zay FlowersWR · BAL	Down 10 places, from 55	9	2.94	6.00	7.40	67.2%	64	Read
66	Ryan FlournoyWR · DAL	Down 14 places, from 52	9	2.94	6.60	8.16	68.1%	47	Read
67	Amon-Ra St. BrownWR · DET	No change	8	2.93	6.90	8.41	70.9%	86	Read
68	Makai LemonWR · PHI	Down 8 places, from 60	9	2.92	6.81	6.26	68.5%	54	Read
69	Isaiah LikelyTE · NYG	Up 12 places, from 81	8	2.90	5.14	7.64	66.7%	69	Read
70	Jalen CokerWR · CAR	Down 7 places, from 63	8	2.90	6.61	10.82	63.3%	49	Read
71	Terry McLaurinWR · WAS	Down 7 places, from 64	8	2.90	4.64	12.93	55.6%	27	Read
72	Carnell TateWR · TEN	Down 4 places, from 68; did not play this week	8	2.88	5.51	11.83	66.7%	51	Read
73	Eli RaridonTE · NE	First appearance on this board	9	2.88	4.52	8.36	61.5%	26
74	Laquon TreadwellWR · IND	Down 12 places, from 62	9	2.86	6.85	12.47	55.2%	29
75	Jameson WilliamsWR · DET	Down 3 places, from 72	8	2.85	6.40	15.92	60.9%	46	Read
76	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	Down 5 places, from 71	9	2.84	5.63	11.82	54.3%	46	Read
77	Tyler HigbeeTE · LAR	Down 4 places, from 73	9	2.84	5.82	7.80	71.8%	39
78	Darren WallerTE · CAR	Down 17 places, from 61	8	2.84	5.67	10.14	65.7%	35
79	Quentin JohnstonWR · LAC	Down 14 places, from 65	8	2.84	5.94	14.43	43.3%	30	Read
80	Tetairoa McMillanWR · CAR	Down 3 places, from 77	8	2.80	5.36	11.04	64.8%	71	Read
81	Bryce LanceWR · NO	Back on this board	8	2.80	6.95	12.47	39.1%	23
82	CeeDee LambWR · DAL	Down 13 places, from 69	9	2.79	6.33	11.15	64.8%	108	Read
83	Keon ColemanWR · BUF	Down 8 places, from 75	7	2.79	4.98	15.08	74.1%	27	Read
84	Matthew GoldenWR · GB	Down 1 place, from 83	9	2.78	6.04	14.31	57.6%	92	Read
85	DJ MooreWR · BUF	Down 5 places, from 80	7	2.75	6.38	14.97	59.3%	27	Read
86	Darius CooperWR · PHI	Down 20 places, from 66	9	2.74	5.63	13.27	40.6%	32
87	Justin JeffersonWR · MIN	Down 5 places, from 82	7	2.72	5.49	10.51	70.0%	40	Read
88	Darnell WashingtonTE · PIT	Down 4 places, from 84; did not play this week	8	2.70	5.84	5.43	67.9%	28
89	Chris OlaveWR · NO	Down 13 places, from 76	8	2.67	5.61	12.97	67.5%	83	Read
90	Stefon DiggsWR · WAS	Down 3 places, from 87	8	2.67	6.80	8.93	61.2%	49	Read
91	Rashod BatemanWR · BAL	Down 17 places, from 74	9	2.67	5.82	12.75	64.5%	31	Read
92	Michael WilsonWR · ARI	Up 1 place, from 93	9	2.66	5.76	11.12	58.0%	88	Read
93	Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWR · SEA	Down 7 places, from 86	9	2.63	5.64	10.28	71.7%	99	Read
94	Kendrick BourneWR · ARI	Down 6 places, from 88	9	2.63	5.68	5.74	68.4%	38
95	Garrett WilsonWR · NYJ	Down 6 places, from 89	9	2.62	4.21	10.58	68.3%	63	Read
96	Xavier HutchinsonWR · HOU	Down 18 places, from 78	8	2.62	5.91	11.68	53.3%	45
97	Trey McBrideTE · ARI	Down 7 places, from 90	9	2.61	5.13	6.14	77.7%	94	Read
98	Rome OdunzeWR · CHI	Down 3 places, from 95	9	2.61	6.52	15.00	62.7%	51	Read
99	Mason TaylorTE · NYJ	Down 14 places, from 85	9	2.61	5.16	8.84	72.0%	25
100	Konata MumpfieldWR · LAR	Back on this board	9	2.60	6.93	12.92	47.8%	23
101	Elic AyomanorWR · TEN	Down 10 places, from 91; did not play this week	8	2.58	5.28	10.83	50.0%	26
102	Roman WilsonWR · PIT	Down 10 places, from 92; did not play this week	8	2.57	5.85	14.49	56.0%	25
103	Jahan DotsonWR · ATL	Down 4 places, from 99	9	2.55	6.05	15.52	48.5%	33
104	Adonai MitchellWR · NYJ	Down 25 places, from 79	9	2.51	6.44	17.79	47.1%	34	Read
105	Mack HollinsWR · NE	Back on this board	9	2.50	5.55	15.03	69.2%	26
106	DK MetcalfWR · PIT	Down 10 places, from 96; did not play this week	8	2.48	4.34	11.74	51.6%	64	Read
107	Tre TuckerWR · LV	Down 10 places, from 97	9	2.48	6.31	13.40	58.9%	56	Read
108	Keenan AllenWR · IND	Down 14 places, from 94	9	2.41	6.40	7.92	69.0%	58
109	George PickensWR · DAL	Down 11 places, from 98	9	2.40	5.63	11.92	62.9%	62	Read
110	Brock BowersTE · LV	Down 10 places, from 100	9	2.39	5.80	10.17	68.6%	70	Read
111	Cooper KuppWR · SEA	Down 8 places, from 103	9	2.36	6.28	8.96	64.7%	34	Read
112	DeVonta SmithWR · PHI	Down 8 places, from 104	9	2.35	6.08	12.47	63.4%	41	Read
113	Christian WatsonWR · GB	Down 12 places, from 101	9	2.33	6.76	14.81	66.2%	74	Read
114	Tee HigginsWR · CIN	Down 12 places, from 102	8	2.29	5.43	13.11	71.6%	67	Read
115	Denzel BostonWR · CLE	Down 7 places, from 108	9	2.27	5.85	15.07	52.5%	61	Read
116	Devaughn VeleWR · NO	Down 11 places, from 105	8	2.24	5.39	10.04	67.3%	52	Read
117	Davante AdamsWR · LAR	Down 10 places, from 107	9	2.24	5.81	14.77	61.2%	49	Read
118	Jalen NailorWR · LV	Down 8 places, from 110	9	2.21	6.11	12.28	50.0%	28	Read
119	Parker WashingtonWR · JAX	Down 7 places, from 112	8	2.20	6.63	12.08	52.7%	55	Read
120	Malachi FieldsWR · NYG	Down 14 places, from 106	8	2.16	6.31	13.27	54.3%	35	Read
121	Chris BellWR · MIA	Down 12 places, from 109	8	2.11	4.78	12.31	44.4%	27	Read
122	Kayshon BoutteWR · HOU	Down 8 places, from 114	8	2.09	6.48	13.41	67.9%	28	Read
123	Ted Hurst IIIWR · TB	Down 12 places, from 111	9	2.09	5.83	15.97	44.0%	25
124	Nico CollinsWR · HOU	Down 11 places, from 113	8	2.05	5.39	12.73	71.8%	39	Read
125	Marvin Harrison Jr.WR · HOU	Back on this board	8	1.82	6.00	15.96	45.8%	24	Read
126	Mike EvansWR · SF	Down 11 places, from 115	8	1.77	5.28	14.41	69.2%	39	Read

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.

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