2017 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 124 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2017 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2017 NFL leaders, updated Aug 13, 2026. Albert Wilson (KC) led the league in average separation at 4.14, ahead of 123 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2017 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. Through the 2017 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, 2017 NFL season
#	Player	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt
1	Albert WilsonWR · KC	4.14	6.70	5.73	67.7%	62
2	Ed DicksonTE · CAR	3.87	5.77	9.64	62.5%	48
3	Randall CobbWR · GB	3.71	6.03	5.76	71.7%	92
4	Austin HooperTE · ATL	3.70	5.23	6.25	75.4%	65
5	Tyreek HillWR · KC	3.55	7.16	11.45	71.4%	105
6	Travis BenjaminWR · LAC	3.53	7.25	15.28	52.3%	65
7	Ted GinnWR · NO	3.51	6.88	12.00	75.7%	70
8	Adam HumphriesWR · TB	3.45	6.86	6.56	73.5%	83
9	Robbie ChosenWR · NYJ	3.40	6.44	12.83	55.3%	114
10	Jack DoyleTE · IND	3.36	5.22	4.87	74.1%	108
11	Benjamin WatsonTE · BAL	3.31	5.92	5.07	77.2%	79
12	Vernon DavisTE · WAS	3.30	5.66	10.59	62.3%	69
13	Marcedes LewisTE · JAX	3.29	4.89	8.40	50.0%	48
14	Jesse JamesTE · PIT	3.27	6.09	6.83	68.3%	63
15	Eric EbronTE · DET	3.26	6.31	7.64	61.6%	86
16	Jamison CrowderWR · WAS	3.21	6.49	7.42	64.1%	103
17	Julius ThomasTE · MIA	3.20	4.67	7.46	66.1%	62
18	Jarvis LandryWR · MIA	3.19	5.73	6.10	69.6%	161
19	Martavis BryantWR · PIT	3.14	6.61	13.99	59.5%	84
20	Tyrell WilliamsWR · LAC	3.12	5.86	13.49	62.3%	69
21	Cooper KuppWR · LAR	3.11	7.39	9.26	66.0%	94
22	Martellus BennettTE · NE	3.11	5.88	5.46	68.2%	44
23	Charles ClayTE · BUF	3.09	5.65	6.73	66.2%	74
24	Terrance WilliamsWR · DAL	3.08	6.34	9.09	67.9%	78
25	Dede WestbrookWR · JAX	3.05	6.23	11.09	52.9%	51
26	Robert WoodsWR · LAR	3.03	6.53	10.77	65.9%	85
27	Nelson AgholorWR · PHI	3.01	5.79	10.18	65.3%	95
28	Kyle RudolphTE · MIN	3.01	4.87	7.50	70.4%	81
29	Kendall WrightWR · CHI	2.99	6.91	7.57	64.8%	91
30	Hunter HenryTE · LAC	2.99	5.54	9.30	72.6%	62
31	George KittleTE · SF	2.97	5.14	7.10	68.3%	63
32	Rashard HigginsWR · CLE	2.97	4.75	9.71	54.0%	50
33	Taylor GabrielWR · ATL	2.96	7.30	9.96	64.7%	51
34	Bruce EllingtonWR · HOU	2.95	6.71	9.78	50.9%	57
35	Jermaine GreshamTE · ARI	2.95	6.16	5.95	71.7%	46
36	Austin Seferian-JenkinsTE · NYJ	2.94	5.90	6.48	67.6%	74
37	Zach ErtzTE · PHI	2.93	5.15	7.75	67.3%	110
38	Ryan GrantWR · WAS	2.92	7.03	9.78	69.2%	65
39	Tyler KroftTE · CIN	2.90	5.44	7.81	67.7%	62
40	Danny AmendolaWR · NE	2.88	5.83	8.03	70.9%	86
41	Tyler LockettWR · SEA	2.88	6.95	12.68	63.4%	71
42	Travis KelceTE · KC	2.87	6.14	9.20	68.0%	122
43	Seth DeValveTE · CLE	2.87	5.64	8.74	56.9%	58
44	Jermaine KearseWR · NYJ	2.84	5.58	8.94	63.7%	102
45	T.J. JonesWR · DET	2.83	5.82	11.03	61.2%	49
46	Golden TateWR · DET	2.82	5.89	5.71	76.7%	120
47	Josh BellamyWR · CHI	2.80	6.23	13.03	52.2%	46
48	Doug BaldwinWR · SEA	2.79	5.73	12.50	64.7%	116
49	Stefon DiggsWR · MIN	2.79	6.65	11.52	67.4%	95
50	Jared CookTE · LV	2.78	5.03	8.95	62.8%	86
51	Davante AdamsWR · GB	2.77	5.59	9.45	63.2%	117
52	Mohamed SanuWR · ATL	2.75	5.10	7.63	69.8%	96
53	Keenan AllenWR · LAC	2.73	5.49	9.46	64.2%	159
54	DeSean JacksonWR · TB	2.73	7.15	15.77	55.6%	90
55	Corey DavisWR · TEN	2.72	6.06	11.42	52.3%	65
56	Trent TaylorWR · SF	2.72	6.23	6.37	71.7%	60
57	Seth RobertsWR · LV	2.71	5.52	9.45	66.2%	65
58	Will FullerWR · HOU	2.71	5.66	15.59	56.0%	50
59	Brandon LaFellWR · CIN	2.70	6.29	8.37	58.4%	89
60	Aldrick RobinsonWR · SF	2.70	6.90	12.25	39.6%	48
61	Kenny StillsWR · MIA	2.69	6.18	14.62	55.2%	105
62	Chris HoganWR · NE	2.68	5.85	13.19	57.6%	59
63	Adam ThielenWR · MIN	2.67	5.66	10.80	64.1%	142
64	Marqise LeeWR · JAX	2.67	5.78	10.93	58.3%	96
65	Cameron BrateTE · TB	2.66	5.57	9.35	62.3%	77
66	Zay JonesWR · BUF	2.66	5.34	13.00	36.5%	74
67	Pierre GarconWR · SF	2.66	6.18	9.58	59.7%	67
68	Evan EngramTE · NYG	2.65	5.92	8.57	55.7%	115
69	Brandin CooksWR · NE	2.65	5.22	15.14	57.0%	114
70	Jordy NelsonWR · GB	2.65	6.00	10.82	60.2%	88
71	JuJu Smith-SchusterWR · PIT	2.65	6.07	9.53	73.4%	79
72	Delanie WalkerTE · TEN	2.64	6.56	9.25	66.7%	111
73	Amari CooperWR · LV	2.64	4.45	11.27	50.0%	96
74	Eric DeckerWR · TEN	2.64	5.96	9.72	65.1%	83
75	Antonio GatesTE · LAC	2.64	4.68	8.57	57.7%	52
76	Antonio BrownWR · PIT	2.63	4.25	13.69	62.0%	163
77	Mike WallaceWR · BAL	2.63	6.22	13.01	56.5%	92
78	Michael ThomasWR · NO	2.59	5.67	9.34	70.3%	148
79	Rishard MatthewsWR · TEN	2.59	6.81	11.70	60.9%	87
80	David NjokuTE · CLE	2.57	5.00	9.73	53.3%	60
81	Larry FitzgeraldWR · ARI	2.56	6.00	8.16	67.7%	161
82	Tyler HigbeeTE · LAR	2.56	6.20	9.98	55.6%	45
83	T.Y. HiltonWR · IND	2.55	6.15	13.09	52.3%	109
84	Devin FunchessWR · CAR	2.54	6.56	12.91	56.8%	111
85	Keelan ColeWR · JAX	2.52	6.04	12.72	50.6%	83
86	Deonte ThompsonWR · BUF	2.51	5.78	15.10	55.1%	69
87	Allen HurnsWR · JAX	2.51	5.65	9.80	69.6%	56
88	Jimmy GrahamTE · SEA	2.49	5.85	7.96	59.4%	96
89	Jason WittenTE · DAL	2.48	4.84	7.42	72.4%	87
90	Sammy WatkinsWR · LAR	2.45	4.80	14.44	55.7%	70
91	Bennie FowlerWR · DEN	2.45	5.96	10.45	51.8%	56
92	Paul RichardsonWR · SEA	2.44	5.92	15.07	55.0%	80
93	Julio JonesWR · ATL	2.42	5.38	14.42	59.5%	148
94	Sterling ShepardWR · NYG	2.41	5.15	8.79	70.2%	84
95	Ricardo LouisWR · CLE	2.39	6.49	13.77	44.3%	61
96	Dez BryantWR · DAL	2.38	5.06	11.79	52.3%	132
97	John BrownWR · ARI	2.38	5.71	15.66	38.2%	55
98	Cole BeasleyWR · DAL	2.37	6.29	7.66	57.1%	63
99	A.J. GreenWR · CIN	2.35	4.91	13.26	52.4%	143
100	Emmanuel SandersWR · DEN	2.35	5.46	10.62	51.1%	92
101	Jaron BrownWR · ARI	2.35	6.56	15.32	44.9%	69
102	Torrey SmithWR · PHI	2.35	7.38	12.66	52.9%	68
103	Corey ColemanWR · CLE	2.35	5.33	14.67	39.7%	58
104	Demaryius ThomasWR · DEN	2.34	4.98	9.99	59.3%	140
105	J.J. NelsonWR · ARI	2.34	6.33	18.14	47.5%	61
106	DeVante ParkerWR · MIA	2.31	5.20	12.29	59.4%	96
107	Kenny BrittWR · NE	2.30	5.72	12.14	46.5%	43
108	Rob GronkowskiTE · NE	2.29	4.58	11.17	65.7%	105
109	Jeremy MaclinWR · BAL	2.29	5.73	9.59	55.6%	72
110	Stephen AndersonTE · HOU	2.26	5.04	9.82	48.1%	52
111	Donte MoncriefWR · IND	2.25	5.61	14.08	55.3%	47
112	Marquise GoodwinWR · SF	2.24	6.14	15.13	53.3%	105
113	Josh DoctsonWR · WAS	2.23	5.02	14.25	44.9%	78
114	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	2.23	6.45	12.33	61.8%	55
115	Michael CrabtreeWR · LV	2.18	4.98	10.65	57.4%	101
116	Marvin JonesWR · DET	2.17	4.26	15.27	57.0%	107
117	Kenny GolladayWR · DET	2.16	5.73	14.77	58.3%	48
118	Kamar AikenWR · IND	2.14	5.04	10.07	34.1%	44
119	DeAndre HopkinsWR · HOU	2.09	4.63	13.58	55.2%	174
120	Roger LewisWR · NYG	2.08	5.78	10.40	50.0%	72
121	Mike EvansWR · TB	2.06	5.32	14.16	52.2%	136
122	Dontrelle InmanWR · CHI	1.98	6.33	13.10	56.8%	44
123	Kelvin BenjaminWR · BUF	1.95	5.49	11.53	61.5%	78
124	Alshon JefferyWR · PHI	1.76	5.10	14.50	47.5%	120

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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