2018 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 125 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2018 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2018 NFL leaders, updated Aug 13, 2026. Evan Engram (NYG) led the league in average separation at 4.42, ahead of 124 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2018 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. Through the 2018 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, 2018 NFL season
#	Player	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt
1	Evan EngramTE · NYG	4.42	6.08	5.09	70.3%	64
2	Chris HoganWR · NE	4.09	6.24	12.03	63.6%	55
3	Gerald EverettTE · LAR	3.87	6.04	6.58	65.3%	49
4	Nick VannettTE · SEA	3.69	5.73	6.09	67.4%	43
5	Chester RogersWR · IND	3.64	5.68	6.39	73.6%	72
6	Adam HumphriesWR · TB	3.56	6.54	6.07	72.4%	105
7	Kyle RudolphTE · MIN	3.55	5.76	6.88	78.0%	82
8	Cooper KuppWR · LAR	3.54	6.68	8.60	72.7%	55
9	Dede WestbrookWR · JAX	3.51	6.13	8.46	65.3%	101
10	Taylor GabrielWR · CHI	3.47	6.97	11.04	72.0%	93
11	Ryan SwitzerWR · PIT	3.47	5.79	3.17	81.8%	44
12	Nelson AgholorWR · PHI	3.45	6.24	10.47	66.0%	97
13	Trey BurtonTE · CHI	3.45	5.76	8.05	71.1%	76
14	Sammy WatkinsWR · KC	3.45	5.50	8.41	72.7%	55
15	Ryan GriffinTE · HOU	3.45	5.12	7.87	55.8%	43
16	Ian ThomasTE · CAR	3.44	5.96	6.29	73.5%	49
17	Eric EbronTE · IND	3.38	5.75	9.86	60.0%	110
18	Dante PettisWR · SF	3.38	5.36	11.84	60.0%	45
19	Tyler LockettWR · SEA	3.34	6.57	13.49	81.4%	70
20	Will FullerWR · HOU	3.33	5.45	14.56	71.1%	45
21	Jordan ReedTE · WAS	3.32	6.63	6.62	64.3%	84
22	Marquez Valdes-ScantlingWR · GB	3.32	6.29	12.55	52.1%	73
23	George KittleTE · SF	3.31	5.41	7.33	64.7%	136
24	Jeff HeuermanTE · DEN	3.30	5.67	5.70	64.6%	48
25	Vance McDonaldTE · PIT	3.28	5.52	5.70	69.4%	72
26	Jarvis LandryWR · CLE	3.27	5.66	10.81	54.4%	149
27	Chris ConleyWR · KC	3.26	6.50	9.55	61.5%	52
28	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	3.26	5.15	7.74	75.0%	44
29	Julian EdelmanWR · NE	3.25	6.23	7.70	68.5%	108
30	Emmanuel SandersWR · DEN	3.25	6.15	9.34	72.4%	98
31	Zach ErtzTE · PHI	3.24	6.08	7.28	74.4%	156
32	Austin HooperTE · ATL	3.24	5.58	6.69	80.7%	88
33	Seth RobertsWR · LV	3.23	6.12	8.57	70.3%	64
34	Jarius WrightWR · CAR	3.23	5.96	5.72	72.9%	59
35	Danny AmendolaWR · MIA	3.22	6.28	7.04	74.7%	79
36	Taywan TaylorWR · TEN	3.22	7.13	13.16	66.1%	56
37	Calvin RidleyWR · ATL	3.17	6.32	10.04	69.6%	92
38	Tyreek HillWR · KC	3.15	5.86	14.80	63.5%	137
39	Sterling ShepardWR · NYG	3.14	5.89	10.38	61.7%	107
40	Willie SneadWR · BAL	3.14	5.40	8.31	65.3%	95
41	Quincy EnunwaWR · NYJ	3.14	6.57	7.29	55.9%	68
42	Chris HerndonTE · NYJ	3.13	5.74	9.96	69.6%	56
43	Tajae SharpeWR · TEN	3.09	6.16	11.24	55.3%	47
44	David NjokuTE · CLE	3.06	5.56	8.53	63.6%	88
45	Maurice HarrisWR · WAS	3.06	6.57	10.50	59.6%	47
46	Corey DavisWR · TEN	3.05	6.08	10.25	58.0%	112
47	DaeSean HamiltonWR · DEN	3.05	5.33	8.39	65.2%	46
48	Mohamed SanuWR · ATL	3.03	5.71	7.91	70.2%	94
49	Demaryius ThomasWR · HOU	3.02	5.92	10.38	66.3%	89
50	Rashard HigginsWR · CLE	3.01	6.47	11.22	73.6%	53
51	Josh ReynoldsWR · LAR	3.01	7.49	12.90	55.8%	52
52	JuJu Smith-SchusterWR · PIT	3.00	5.32	8.69	66.9%	166
53	Robert WoodsWR · LAR	2.98	6.37	11.29	66.2%	130
54	Golden TateWR · PHI	2.98	6.29	6.28	65.5%	113
55	Davante AdamsWR · GB	2.97	4.83	11.33	65.7%	169
56	Odell Beckham Jr.WR · NYG	2.97	6.21	11.49	62.1%	124
57	Jared CookTE · LV	2.97	5.58	8.02	67.3%	101
58	Anthony MillerWR · CHI	2.97	5.19	11.33	61.1%	54
59	Marquise GoodwinWR · SF	2.96	5.80	14.22	52.3%	44
60	Jimmy GrahamTE · GB	2.94	6.25	9.29	61.8%	89
61	Tyler BoydWR · CIN	2.92	5.64	9.38	70.4%	108
62	Randall CobbWR · GB	2.92	5.38	8.17	62.3%	61
63	Adam ThielenWR · MIN	2.90	5.77	9.60	73.9%	153
64	Amari CooperWR · DAL	2.90	5.98	9.91	70.1%	107
65	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	2.90	5.24	10.46	68.0%	50
66	Jamison CrowderWR · WAS	2.90	6.37	9.10	59.2%	49
67	Travis KelceTE · KC	2.89	5.62	8.91	68.7%	150
68	DJ MooreWR · CAR	2.89	6.11	9.01	67.1%	82
69	Keelan ColeWR · JAX	2.88	6.65	9.69	54.3%	70
70	Cole BeasleyWR · DAL	2.87	5.90	7.40	74.7%	87
71	Laquon TreadwellWR · MIN	2.87	6.32	5.96	66.0%	53
72	Cameron BrateTE · TB	2.87	5.65	8.70	61.2%	49
73	Michael CrabtreeWR · BAL	2.83	5.30	10.82	54.0%	100
74	Doug BaldwinWR · SEA	2.82	5.16	12.13	68.5%	73
75	Kendrick BourneWR · SF	2.81	6.46	9.06	62.7%	67
76	Pierre GarconWR · SF	2.78	5.58	8.81	52.2%	46
77	Zay JonesWR · BUF	2.76	6.18	12.68	54.9%	102
78	Tyrell WilliamsWR · LAC	2.76	5.56	12.50	63.1%	65
79	Michael ThomasWR · NO	2.75	4.64	7.71	85.0%	147
80	C.J. UzomahTE · CIN	2.75	5.03	7.45	67.2%	64
81	DeSean JacksonWR · TB	2.74	7.34	19.11	55.4%	74
82	Stefon DiggsWR · MIN	2.73	5.92	8.89	68.5%	149
83	Ricky Seals-JonesTE · ARI	2.73	5.30	9.85	49.3%	69
84	Jordy NelsonWR · LV	2.72	5.80	9.05	71.6%	88
85	Brandin CooksWR · LAR	2.71	5.68	12.91	68.4%	117
86	Christian KirkWR · ARI	2.71	6.22	9.76	63.2%	68
87	Robert FosterWR · BUF	2.71	6.30	20.63	60.5%	43
88	Michael GallupWR · DAL	2.68	5.32	14.00	48.5%	68
89	Keenan AllenWR · LAC	2.67	5.28	8.82	71.3%	136
90	Jermaine KearseWR · NYJ	2.67	6.35	9.33	48.7%	76
91	Ryan GrantWR · IND	2.64	5.66	9.53	67.3%	52
92	Benjamin WatsonTE · NO	2.64	5.17	9.90	76.1%	46
93	Antonio BrownWR · PIT	2.63	5.04	11.22	61.9%	168
94	Rob GronkowskiTE · NE	2.63	6.08	12.03	65.3%	72
95	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	2.59	6.24	11.90	62.1%	95
96	Antonio CallawayWR · CLE	2.55	4.98	13.75	54.4%	79
97	DeVante ParkerWR · MIA	2.55	5.08	11.91	51.1%	47
98	DeAndre HopkinsWR · HOU	2.52	4.92	11.86	70.6%	163
99	O.J. HowardTE · TB	2.50	4.54	11.15	70.8%	48
100	Alshon JefferyWR · PHI	2.49	5.45	10.84	70.7%	92
101	Julio JonesWR · ATL	2.48	5.70	14.03	66.5%	170
102	Antonio GatesTE · LAC	2.46	4.45	8.79	62.2%	45
103	Zach PascalWR · IND	2.44	5.71	9.59	58.7%	46
104	Josh DoctsonWR · WAS	2.42	5.59	14.31	56.4%	78
105	Curtis SamuelWR · CAR	2.42	6.73	12.16	60.0%	65
106	Kenny StillsWR · MIA	2.36	6.17	16.41	57.8%	64
107	John BrownWR · BAL	2.34	5.68	16.34	43.3%	97
108	T.Y. HiltonWR · IND	2.31	5.90	11.32	63.3%	120
109	Robbie ChosenWR · NYJ	2.30	6.44	16.50	53.2%	94
110	Devin FunchessWR · CAR	2.27	5.01	12.66	55.7%	79
111	Kenny GolladayWR · DET	2.26	4.88	12.60	58.8%	119
112	Larry FitzgeraldWR · ARI	2.26	6.34	9.60	61.6%	112
113	Donte MoncriefWR · JAX	2.25	5.91	12.85	53.9%	89
114	Marvin JonesWR · DET	2.22	3.97	15.24	56.5%	62
115	John RossWR · CIN	2.22	5.39	13.99	36.2%	58
116	Tre'Quan SmithWR · NO	2.21	5.58	12.15	63.6%	44
117	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	2.16	4.62	14.37	50.0%	84
118	Josh GordonWR · NE	2.11	4.72	14.00	57.7%	71
119	Mike EvansWR · TB	2.10	5.69	15.68	62.3%	138
120	Mike WilliamsWR · LAC	2.05	4.93	15.18	65.2%	66
121	A.J. GreenWR · CIN	2.03	4.40	12.71	59.7%	77
122	David MooreWR · SEA	2.00	4.74	16.38	49.1%	53
123	Allen RobinsonWR · CHI	1.96	5.54	11.88	58.5%	94
124	Chad WilliamsWR · ARI	1.90	5.41	13.23	37.0%	46
125	Kelvin BenjaminWR · KC	1.73	5.47	15.95	37.3%	67

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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