2016 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 132 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2016 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2016 NFL leaders, updated Aug 13, 2026. Martellus Bennett (NE) led the league in average separation at 3.85, ahead of 131 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2016 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. Through the 2016 season.

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, 2016 NFL season
#	Player	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt
1	Martellus BennettTE · NE	3.85	6.20	5.98	75.3%	73
2	Jamison CrowderWR · WAS	3.59	6.73	8.66	67.7%	99
3	Clive WalfordTE · LV	3.57	5.01	9.11	63.5%	52
4	Robert WoodsWR · BUF	3.53	6.25	11.18	67.1%	76
5	Tyreek HillWR · KC	3.52	7.82	7.87	73.5%	83
6	Albert WilsonWR · KC	3.51	7.21	7.73	60.8%	51
7	Jesse JamesTE · PIT	3.45	5.32	7.06	65.0%	60
8	Adam HumphriesWR · TB	3.42	6.51	5.73	66.3%	83
9	Cole BeasleyWR · DAL	3.40	6.71	6.84	76.5%	98
10	Randall CobbWR · GB	3.40	5.41	7.45	71.4%	84
11	Eddie RoyalWR · CHI	3.40	6.00	6.28	76.7%	43
12	Kamar AikenWR · BAL	3.37	5.20	12.12	58.0%	50
13	Tyler LockettWR · SEA	3.35	6.81	10.76	62.1%	66
14	Jack DoyleTE · IND	3.33	5.25	6.82	78.7%	75
15	Jordan ReedTE · WAS	3.30	5.59	8.21	74.2%	89
16	Zach ErtzTE · PHI	3.24	6.34	8.42	73.6%	106
17	Cordarrelle PattersonWR · MIN	3.23	7.47	5.56	74.3%	70
18	Quinton PattonWR · SF	3.22	6.39	9.91	58.7%	63
19	Tavon AustinWR · LAR	3.19	6.98	7.55	54.7%	106
20	Trey BurtonTE · PHI	3.19	5.77	7.77	61.7%	60
21	Chris HoganWR · NE	3.17	5.20	13.67	65.5%	58
22	Corey BrownWR · CAR	3.17	6.24	10.08	50.9%	53
23	Vernon DavisTE · WAS	3.16	6.30	9.72	74.6%	59
24	Taylor GabrielWR · ATL	3.16	7.08	11.19	70.0%	50
25	Jeremy KerleyWR · SF	3.15	6.52	9.17	55.7%	115
26	Willie SneadWR · NO	3.12	6.16	7.42	69.2%	104
27	Will TyeTE · NYG	3.11	5.96	6.31	68.6%	70
28	Doug BaldwinWR · SEA	3.07	6.62	9.40	75.2%	125
29	Andrew HawkinsWR · CLE	3.05	5.11	8.58	61.1%	54
30	John BrownWR · ARI	3.03	5.95	14.79	53.4%	73
31	Travis BenjaminWR · LAC	3.02	7.60	13.33	62.7%	75
32	Ryan GriffinTE · HOU	3.01	5.07	7.15	67.6%	74
33	Jason WittenTE · DAL	2.99	5.56	6.93	72.6%	95
34	Ted GinnWR · CAR	2.99	6.76	13.39	56.8%	95
35	Eli RogersWR · PIT	2.99	5.73	9.67	72.7%	66
36	Charles ClayTE · BUF	2.98	5.91	8.39	65.5%	87
37	Jermaine GreshamTE · ARI	2.98	5.49	8.18	60.7%	61
38	Dwayne AllenTE · IND	2.98	5.17	9.40	67.3%	52
39	Travis KelceTE · KC	2.95	5.86	6.95	72.6%	117
40	J.J. NelsonWR · ARI	2.93	5.90	18.29	45.9%	74
41	Zach MillerTE · CHI	2.93	5.25	6.80	73.4%	64
42	Antonio BrownWR · PIT	2.92	5.04	11.06	68.8%	154
43	Kendall WrightWR · TEN	2.92	6.11	10.67	67.4%	43
44	Chris ConleyWR · KC	2.91	7.05	10.58	63.8%	69
45	Jared CookTE · GB	2.91	4.91	10.58	58.8%	51
46	Mohamed SanuWR · ATL	2.90	5.72	8.60	72.8%	81
47	Phillip DorsettWR · IND	2.90	7.07	13.84	55.9%	59
48	Davante AdamsWR · GB	2.89	4.65	12.31	62.0%	121
49	Dennis PittaTE · BAL	2.89	5.68	6.43	71.1%	121
50	DeSean JacksonWR · WAS	2.89	7.30	16.04	56.0%	100
51	Delanie WalkerTE · TEN	2.87	6.44	10.07	63.7%	102
52	Kyle RudolphTE · MIN	2.86	6.35	7.25	62.9%	132
53	Jarvis LandryWR · MIA	2.85	5.84	6.48	71.8%	131
54	Brandin CooksWR · NO	2.85	7.15	13.45	66.7%	117
55	Jordan MatthewsWR · PHI	2.84	5.45	10.72	62.4%	117
56	Marquise GoodwinWR · BUF	2.84	6.54	15.82	42.6%	68
57	Hunter HenryTE · LAC	2.83	4.84	9.54	67.9%	53
58	Dontrelle InmanWR · LAC	2.81	6.20	11.41	59.8%	97
59	Stefon DiggsWR · MIN	2.78	5.46	9.07	75.0%	112
60	Antonio GatesTE · LAC	2.78	6.00	8.80	57.0%	93
61	Julius ThomasTE · JAX	2.78	5.94	7.50	58.8%	51
62	Greg OlsenTE · CAR	2.77	5.49	11.46	62.0%	129
63	Tyler BoydWR · CIN	2.77	5.74	9.29	66.7%	81
64	Odell Beckham Jr.WR · NYG	2.76	5.24	11.35	59.8%	169
65	Terrelle PryorWR · CLE	2.75	5.61	14.68	55.0%	140
66	Adam ThielenWR · MIN	2.75	5.29	10.97	75.0%	92
67	Corey ColemanWR · CLE	2.75	5.61	15.20	45.2%	73
68	Brandon LaFellWR · CIN	2.74	5.73	10.95	59.8%	107
69	Sterling ShepardWR · NYG	2.74	5.26	9.33	61.9%	105
70	Gary BarnidgeTE · CLE	2.74	5.17	7.66	67.1%	82
71	Terrance WilliamsWR · DAL	2.74	6.24	12.34	72.1%	61
72	Jimmy GrahamTE · SEA	2.73	5.83	10.24	68.4%	95
73	Golden TateWR · DET	2.71	5.50	8.38	67.4%	135
74	Mike WallaceWR · BAL	2.71	5.77	12.51	62.1%	116
75	Julian EdelmanWR · NE	2.69	6.38	9.49	61.6%	159
76	Richard RodgersTE · GB	2.69	7.61	8.38	63.8%	47
77	Jordy NelsonWR · GB	2.67	5.77	13.01	63.8%	152
78	Pierre GarconWR · WAS	2.66	5.07	10.85	69.3%	114
79	Steve SmithWR · BAL	2.66	6.50	9.09	69.3%	101
80	Robbie ChosenWR · NYJ	2.65	5.83	17.04	53.8%	78
81	Eric EbronTE · DET	2.64	5.77	8.43	71.8%	85
82	Emmanuel SandersWR · DEN	2.63	5.80	13.35	57.7%	137
83	Amari CooperWR · LV	2.62	4.61	10.14	62.9%	132
84	T.Y. HiltonWR · IND	2.60	5.67	13.26	58.7%	155
85	Malcolm MitchellWR · NE	2.59	5.19	11.12	66.7%	48
86	Tyler EifertTE · CIN	2.59	5.43	9.21	61.7%	47
87	Lance KendricksTE · LAR	2.58	5.55	5.39	57.5%	87
88	Garrett CelekTE · SF	2.57	4.93	9.59	58.0%	50
89	Marqise LeeWR · JAX	2.56	6.25	11.87	60.0%	105
90	Dorial Green-BeckhamWR · PHI	2.56	6.06	10.72	48.6%	74
91	Seth RobertsWR · LV	2.54	4.74	9.34	49.4%	77
92	Allen HurnsWR · JAX	2.54	6.54	10.77	46.1%	76
93	Sammie CoatesWR · PIT	2.52	6.76	22.01	42.9%	49
94	Vance McDonaldTE · SF	2.52	5.60	10.53	53.3%	45
95	Cameron BrateTE · TB	2.50	5.33	10.22	70.4%	81
96	Sammy WatkinsWR · BUF	2.50	5.57	15.06	53.8%	52
97	Tyrell WilliamsWR · LAC	2.49	5.72	12.19	58.0%	119
98	Coby FleenerTE · NO	2.49	5.44	9.95	61.7%	81
99	Kenny StillsWR · MIA	2.48	6.46	15.29	51.9%	81
100	A.J. GreenWR · CIN	2.46	4.79	13.40	66.0%	100
101	Will FullerWR · HOU	2.46	5.95	16.32	51.1%	92
102	Michael ThomasWR · NO	2.44	4.84	8.44	76.0%	121
103	Jermaine KearseWR · SEA	2.44	5.62	13.24	46.1%	89
104	Quincy EnunwaWR · NYJ	2.43	6.52	9.66	55.2%	105
105	Michael FloydWR · NE	2.42	5.79	15.57	48.7%	76
106	Breshad PerrimanWR · BAL	2.42	5.75	14.85	50.0%	66
107	Anquan BoldinWR · DET	2.41	5.18	6.72	70.5%	95
108	Cameron MeredithWR · CHI	2.40	5.70	10.43	68.0%	97
109	Larry FitzgeraldWR · ARI	2.36	6.48	7.99	71.3%	150
110	Jeremy MaclinWR · KC	2.36	6.09	11.47	57.9%	76
111	Donte MoncriefWR · IND	2.36	5.67	11.06	53.6%	56
112	Torrey SmithWR · SF	2.34	6.31	13.83	40.8%	49
113	Kenny BrittWR · LAR	2.32	4.86	12.71	61.3%	111
114	DeVante ParkerWR · MIA	2.30	4.93	12.51	64.4%	87
115	Victor CruzWR · NYG	2.30	5.93	12.06	54.2%	72
116	Nelson AgholorWR · PHI	2.29	6.25	11.45	52.2%	69
117	C.J. FiedorowiczTE · HOU	2.28	5.42	7.33	60.7%	89
118	DeAndre HopkinsWR · HOU	2.26	4.33	12.69	51.7%	151
119	Michael CrabtreeWR · LV	2.26	5.98	11.56	61.4%	145
120	Julio JonesWR · ATL	2.24	4.96	14.45	64.3%	129
121	Alshon JefferyWR · CHI	2.24	4.92	14.13	55.3%	94
122	Brandon MarshallWR · NYJ	2.22	4.44	13.63	46.1%	128
123	Rishard MatthewsWR · TEN	2.17	7.14	13.51	60.2%	108
124	Brian QuickWR · LAR	2.17	6.55	12.27	53.2%	77
125	Mike EvansWR · TB	2.16	5.75	15.54	55.5%	173
126	Tajae SharpeWR · TEN	2.12	6.40	13.75	49.4%	83
127	Demaryius ThomasWR · DEN	2.05	4.67	11.13	62.5%	144
128	Marvin JonesWR · DET	2.05	3.76	14.65	53.4%	103
129	Devin FunchessWR · CAR	2.04	6.22	14.91	39.7%	58
130	Allen RobinsonWR · JAX	1.95	4.59	14.10	48.3%	151
131	Dez BryantWR · DAL	1.82	5.24	15.48	52.1%	96
132	Kelvin BenjaminWR · CAR	1.80	5.71	12.72	53.4%	118

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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