2019 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 125 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2019 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2019 NFL leaders, updated Aug 13, 2026. Jimmy Graham (GB) led the league in average separation at 3.89, ahead of 124 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2019 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. Through the 2019 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, 2019 NFL season
#	Player	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt
1	Jimmy GrahamTE · GB	3.89	5.62	9.22	63.3%	60
2	Vance McDonaldTE · PIT	3.78	5.16	4.63	69.1%	55
3	Tyler HigbeeTE · LAR	3.68	5.98	6.47	77.5%	89
4	Jonnu SmithTE · TEN	3.66	5.86	4.84	79.5%	44
5	Diontae JohnsonWR · PIT	3.62	6.09	8.98	64.1%	92
6	Nick BoyleTE · BAL	3.59	6.21	5.89	72.1%	43
7	Austin HooperTE · ATL	3.54	5.70	6.82	77.3%	97
8	Jack DoyleTE · IND	3.53	5.39	7.12	59.7%	72
9	Jacob HollisterTE · SEA	3.48	6.77	5.80	69.5%	59
10	Christian KirkWR · ARI	3.46	6.05	9.48	63.0%	108
11	Hunter RenfrowWR · LV	3.46	6.45	6.58	69.0%	71
12	Albert WilsonWR · MIA	3.46	6.89	5.17	69.4%	62
13	Robert WoodsWR · LAR	3.41	7.32	8.10	64.7%	139
14	Nelson AgholorWR · PHI	3.40	5.90	10.80	56.5%	69
15	Cooper KuppWR · LAR	3.39	6.30	7.22	70.1%	134
16	Jordan AkinsTE · HOU	3.39	5.78	7.19	65.5%	55
17	Kyle RudolphTE · MIN	3.36	5.65	7.09	81.2%	48
18	George KittleTE · SF	3.27	5.15	5.75	79.4%	107
19	Jason WittenTE · DAL	3.27	5.67	6.53	75.9%	83
20	Geronimo AllisonWR · GB	3.26	5.68	8.13	61.8%	55
21	DaeSean HamiltonWR · DEN	3.26	5.27	8.56	53.8%	52
22	Tyler LockettWR · SEA	3.24	6.27	12.82	74.5%	110
23	Tyreek HillWR · KC	3.21	5.87	12.58	65.2%	89
24	Davante AdamsWR · GB	3.20	5.64	10.00	65.4%	127
25	Dede WestbrookWR · JAX	3.20	6.21	6.97	65.3%	101
26	Eric EbronTE · IND	3.20	5.77	9.38	59.6%	52
27	Russell GageWR · ATL	3.19	5.84	7.06	66.2%	74
28	Deebo Samuel Sr.WR · SF	3.18	5.77	7.83	70.4%	81
29	Cole BeasleyWR · BUF	3.17	6.10	7.62	63.2%	106
30	Steven SimsWR · WAS	3.16	6.73	7.35	60.7%	56
31	Damiere ByrdWR · ARI	3.16	5.74	9.71	69.6%	46
32	Taylor GabrielWR · CHI	3.15	5.96	11.55	60.4%	48
33	Darren WallerTE · LV	3.14	5.37	7.21	76.9%	117
34	Sterling ShepardWR · NYG	3.13	5.71	9.94	68.7%	83
35	Anthony MillerWR · CHI	3.12	5.72	10.34	61.2%	85
36	Brandin CooksWR · LAR	3.11	6.16	13.84	58.3%	72
37	Mohamed SanuWR · NE	3.10	5.16	7.55	66.3%	89
38	Travis KelceTE · KC	3.08	5.39	9.31	71.3%	136
39	Demarcus RobinsonWR · KC	3.08	5.36	13.36	58.2%	55
40	Evan EngramTE · NYG	3.07	5.87	6.00	64.7%	68
41	Adam ThielenWR · MIN	3.05	6.41	12.71	62.5%	48
42	Zay JonesWR · LV	3.05	5.87	11.20	60.0%	45
43	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	3.04	5.64	5.81	67.4%	86
44	Jamison CrowderWR · NYJ	3.03	6.05	7.93	63.9%	122
45	Randall CobbWR · DAL	3.03	6.22	9.53	66.3%	83
46	Allen HurnsWR · MIA	3.03	6.31	11.00	68.1%	47
47	Jarius WrightWR · CAR	3.02	6.47	10.59	48.3%	58
48	T.Y. HiltonWR · IND	3.01	6.09	10.20	66.2%	68
49	Willie SneadWR · BAL	3.01	5.53	8.54	67.4%	46
50	Irv SmithTE · MIN	2.99	5.38	6.06	76.6%	47
51	Larry FitzgeraldWR · ARI	2.98	6.15	7.49	68.8%	109
52	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	2.98	6.06	10.84	64.9%	97
53	Will FullerWR · HOU	2.97	5.54	14.04	69.0%	71
54	Marquise BrownWR · BAL	2.96	6.44	10.88	64.8%	71
55	Gerald EverettTE · LAR	2.96	5.11	8.39	61.7%	60
56	Danny AmendolaWR · DET	2.95	6.28	8.86	63.9%	97
57	John RossWR · CIN	2.94	5.79	14.94	50.0%	56
58	Adam HumphriesWR · TEN	2.91	5.51	7.20	78.7%	47
59	Kendrick BourneWR · SF	2.91	5.95	8.68	68.2%	44
60	Phillip DorsettWR · NE	2.90	5.33	13.89	53.7%	54
61	Darren FellsTE · HOU	2.90	5.05	5.46	70.8%	48
62	Allen LazardWR · GB	2.89	6.45	13.77	67.3%	52
63	Calvin RidleyWR · ATL	2.87	7.40	13.47	67.7%	93
64	Sammy WatkinsWR · KC	2.87	5.34	9.65	57.8%	90
65	Julian EdelmanWR · NE	2.84	5.68	9.18	65.4%	153
66	Dawson KnoxTE · BUF	2.84	4.46	9.48	56.0%	50
67	Greg OlsenTE · CAR	2.82	5.20	8.76	63.4%	82
68	Zach PascalWR · IND	2.82	5.73	11.55	56.9%	72
69	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	2.81	6.64	10.35	71.1%	121
70	DJ CharkWR · JAX	2.78	6.51	11.91	61.9%	118
71	Ted GinnWR · NO	2.76	6.96	16.14	53.6%	56
72	Keenan AllenWR · LAC	2.75	5.39	10.05	69.8%	149
73	Zach ErtzTE · PHI	2.72	5.88	8.68	65.2%	135
74	Noah FantTE · DEN	2.72	5.49	7.84	60.6%	66
75	Alex EricksonWR · CIN	2.71	6.58	8.80	55.1%	78
76	Corey DavisWR · TEN	2.71	7.21	12.26	62.3%	69
77	DeAndre HopkinsWR · HOU	2.67	5.04	10.29	69.3%	150
78	Josh ReynoldsWR · LAR	2.67	6.26	11.25	48.8%	43
79	Kenny StillsWR · HOU	2.66	6.26	10.68	72.7%	55
80	Tyler BoydWR · CIN	2.64	5.47	9.16	60.8%	148
81	DJ MooreWR · CAR	2.64	5.26	11.14	64.4%	135
82	Mike GesickiTE · MIA	2.62	5.79	10.37	57.3%	89
83	Breshad PerrimanWR · TB	2.62	5.94	16.08	52.2%	69
84	Tyrell WilliamsWR · LV	2.62	4.96	13.49	65.6%	64
85	Jarvis LandryWR · CLE	2.59	5.68	9.80	60.1%	138
86	Hunter HenryTE · LAC	2.59	5.49	10.23	72.4%	76
87	Trey QuinnWR · WAS	2.59	6.55	7.10	55.3%	47
88	Odell Beckham Jr.WR · CLE	2.58	5.51	13.26	55.6%	133
89	Curtis SamuelWR · CAR	2.57	5.82	14.51	51.4%	105
90	Cameron BrateTE · TB	2.57	5.42	7.15	65.5%	55
91	Michael ThomasWR · NO	2.56	5.15	8.14	80.5%	185
92	Amari CooperWR · DAL	2.56	5.39	12.85	66.4%	119
93	Marquez Valdes-ScantlingWR · GB	2.55	5.70	16.63	46.4%	56
94	James WashingtonWR · PIT	2.53	6.17	15.60	55.0%	80
95	Bisi JohnsonWR · MIN	2.51	6.53	10.61	68.9%	45
96	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	2.50	5.12	11.80	58.1%	124
97	Emmanuel SandersWR · SF	2.50	5.14	10.85	68.0%	97
98	Stefon DiggsWR · MIN	2.50	4.62	14.90	67.0%	94
99	DK MetcalfWR · SEA	2.48	4.91	13.36	58.0%	100
100	Alshon JefferyWR · PHI	2.48	4.77	11.21	58.9%	73
101	Demaryius ThomasWR · NYJ	2.48	5.83	9.91	62.1%	58
102	O.J. HowardTE · TB	2.47	5.04	9.42	64.2%	53
103	Mike EvansWR · TB	2.42	5.34	15.28	56.8%	118
104	Tyler EifertTE · CIN	2.42	5.38	8.44	68.3%	63
105	Kelvin HarmonWR · WAS	2.42	6.40	11.36	68.2%	44
106	Josh GordonWR · SEA	2.40	5.43	11.38	57.4%	47
107	John BrownWR · BUF	2.39	4.65	14.16	62.6%	115
108	JuJu Smith-SchusterWR · PIT	2.37	4.86	9.57	60.0%	70
109	Jared CookTE · NO	2.35	4.88	10.87	66.2%	65
110	Chris ConleyWR · JAX	2.34	5.00	14.31	52.2%	90
111	T.J. HockensonTE · DET	2.32	5.84	7.96	54.2%	59
112	Auden TateWR · CIN	2.27	5.80	11.71	50.0%	80
113	Allen RobinsonWR · CHI	2.24	5.06	11.08	63.6%	154
114	Michael GallupWR · DAL	2.22	5.57	12.60	58.4%	113
115	A.J. BrownWR · TEN	2.19	4.96	13.45	61.9%	84
116	Robbie ChosenWR · NYJ	2.17	4.34	15.34	54.2%	96
117	Golden TateWR · NYG	2.17	5.74	9.53	57.6%	85
118	Julio JonesWR · ATL	2.16	5.56	12.29	63.1%	157
119	Darius SlaytonWR · NYG	2.16	4.81	14.52	57.1%	84
120	DeVante ParkerWR · MIA	2.13	5.04	13.77	56.2%	128
121	Preston WilliamsWR · MIA	2.13	4.54	14.34	53.3%	60
122	Terry McLaurinWR · WAS	2.11	5.23	14.15	62.4%	93
123	Marvin JonesWR · DET	2.09	6.53	13.15	68.1%	91
124	Mike WilliamsWR · LAC	2.00	5.23	17.39	54.4%	90
125	Kenny GolladayWR · DET	1.95	5.27	15.40	56.0%	116

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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