2020 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 132 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2020 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2020 NFL leaders, updated Aug 13, 2026. Deebo Samuel Sr. (SF) led the league in average separation at 4.60, ahead of 131 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2020 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. Through the 2020 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, 2020 NFL season
#	Player	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt
1	Deebo Samuel Sr.WR · SF	4.60	6.91	2.11	75.0%	44
2	Robert TonyanTE · GB	4.24	6.15	7.87	88.1%	59
3	Demarcus RobinsonWR · KC	4.22	6.61	9.59	76.3%	59
4	David MooreWR · SEA	4.09	6.72	9.27	74.5%	47
5	Dawson KnoxTE · BUF	3.97	5.04	8.29	54.5%	44
6	Dan ArnoldTE · ARI	3.90	6.24	12.61	68.9%	45
7	George KittleTE · SF	3.86	5.67	6.92	76.2%	63
8	Drew SampleTE · CIN	3.86	5.85	4.45	75.5%	53
9	Allen LazardWR · GB	3.69	6.22	10.18	71.7%	46
10	Jordan AkinsTE · HOU	3.67	5.31	7.76	75.5%	49
11	Chris HerndonTE · NYJ	3.64	6.09	6.80	68.9%	45
12	Sammy WatkinsWR · KC	3.62	5.48	8.08	67.3%	55
13	Gerald EverettTE · LAR	3.60	5.73	6.31	66.1%	62
14	Cole KmetTE · CHI	3.56	6.43	6.16	63.6%	44
15	Greg WardWR · PHI	3.52	5.82	6.06	67.1%	79
16	Cam SimsWR · WAS	3.52	6.95	10.93	66.7%	48
17	Cole BeasleyWR · BUF	3.51	6.19	7.87	76.6%	107
18	Hunter RenfrowWR · LV	3.48	6.63	6.84	72.7%	77
19	Tre'Quan SmithWR · NO	3.48	6.68	9.51	68.0%	50
20	Curtis SamuelWR · CAR	3.47	6.81	7.06	79.4%	97
21	Noah FantTE · DEN	3.47	6.19	6.93	66.7%	93
22	Christian KirkWR · ARI	3.45	6.19	11.97	60.8%	79
23	Scott MillerWR · TB	3.44	6.19	15.31	62.3%	53
24	Tyreek HillWR · KC	3.43	5.63	13.23	64.4%	135
25	Danny AmendolaWR · DET	3.43	6.67	8.30	66.7%	69
26	Hayden HurstTE · ATL	3.42	6.56	6.70	63.6%	88
27	Braxton BerriosWR · NYJ	3.42	7.14	7.71	67.3%	55
28	Robert WoodsWR · LAR	3.41	6.90	7.08	69.8%	129
29	Jakobi MeyersWR · NE	3.41	6.29	10.29	72.8%	81
30	Mecole HardmanWR · KC	3.41	6.34	10.56	66.1%	62
31	Tyler LockettWR · SEA	3.40	6.21	10.01	75.8%	132
32	Henry Ruggs IIIWR · LV	3.35	6.96	16.92	60.5%	43
33	T.J. HockensonTE · DET	3.33	5.69	7.17	66.3%	101
34	Laviska Shenault Jr.WR · JAX	3.31	7.06	6.41	73.4%	79
35	Larry FitzgeraldWR · ARI	3.31	6.14	5.92	75.0%	72
36	Jalen ReagorWR · PHI	3.28	6.53	13.85	57.4%	54
37	Marquise BrownWR · BAL	3.27	7.46	13.75	58.0%	100
38	Jonnu SmithTE · TEN	3.27	5.72	5.68	63.1%	65
39	Keelan ColeWR · JAX	3.26	6.58	11.39	62.5%	88
40	John BrownWR · BUF	3.26	4.74	12.84	63.5%	52
41	Trey BurtonTE · IND	3.25	6.22	7.51	59.6%	47
42	Cooper KuppWR · LAR	3.24	6.35	6.33	74.2%	124
43	Jamison CrowderWR · NYJ	3.23	6.08	7.55	66.3%	89
44	Willie SneadWR · BAL	3.23	6.16	8.64	68.8%	48
45	Darnell MooneyWR · CHI	3.22	7.63	11.74	62.2%	98
46	Jarvis LandryWR · CLE	3.21	6.27	8.79	71.3%	101
47	Antonio BrownWR · TB	3.21	6.25	8.76	72.6%	62
48	KJ HamlerWR · DEN	3.19	6.14	11.02	53.6%	56
49	Davante AdamsWR · GB	3.17	4.98	9.09	77.2%	149
50	Diontae JohnsonWR · PIT	3.17	5.42	8.05	61.1%	144
51	Gabe DavisWR · BUF	3.17	6.27	15.90	56.5%	62
52	Michael PittmanWR · IND	3.17	6.28	8.50	65.6%	61
53	Jakeem GrantWR · MIA	3.15	6.59	10.12	66.7%	54
54	DeAndre HopkinsWR · ARI	3.14	6.30	8.97	71.9%	160
55	Emmanuel SandersWR · NO	3.13	6.56	9.35	74.4%	82
56	Marquez Valdes-ScantlingWR · GB	3.12	5.53	18.03	52.4%	63
57	Dalton SchultzTE · DAL	3.07	6.65	6.74	70.8%	89
58	Tyler HigbeeTE · LAR	3.07	5.63	7.61	73.3%	60
59	Jalen GuytonWR · LAC	3.07	6.19	16.41	50.9%	55
60	JuJu Smith-SchusterWR · PIT	3.06	6.14	5.83	75.8%	128
61	Austin HooperTE · CLE	3.05	5.33	7.06	65.7%	70
62	Jimmy GrahamTE · CHI	3.04	5.76	7.10	65.8%	76
63	Travis KelceTE · KC	3.03	5.35	8.75	72.4%	145
64	Sterling ShepardWR · NYG	3.03	6.49	8.16	73.3%	90
65	CeeDee LambWR · DAL	3.02	5.87	9.38	66.7%	111
66	Eric EbronTE · PIT	3.00	6.50	7.62	61.5%	91
67	Irv SmithTE · MIN	2.99	4.69	8.28	69.8%	43
68	Brandin CooksWR · HOU	2.98	6.69	12.03	68.1%	119
69	Damiere ByrdWR · NE	2.98	5.81	11.85	61.0%	77
70	Will FullerWR · HOU	2.98	5.08	12.54	70.7%	75
71	Zach ErtzTE · PHI	2.97	5.86	7.34	50.0%	72
72	Anthony MillerWR · CHI	2.96	5.51	9.63	64.5%	76
73	Stefon DiggsWR · BUF	2.95	5.47	10.24	76.5%	166
74	Darren WallerTE · LV	2.95	5.78	7.88	73.8%	145
75	Evan EngramTE · NYG	2.95	6.19	7.09	57.8%	109
76	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	2.95	6.44	9.80	77.4%	84
77	Keenan AllenWR · LAC	2.94	5.73	7.24	68.0%	147
78	Zach PascalWR · IND	2.94	5.83	10.94	62.0%	71
79	Calvin RidleyWR · ATL	2.93	6.09	14.88	62.9%	143
80	Logan ThomasTE · WAS	2.90	5.77	7.29	65.5%	110
81	Robbie ChosenWR · CAR	2.88	6.43	9.59	69.9%	136
82	Randall CobbWR · HOU	2.86	6.46	6.97	79.2%	48
83	Kendrick BourneWR · SF	2.85	6.22	9.65	66.2%	74
84	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	2.85	6.41	8.76	70.8%	65
85	N'Keal HarryWR · NE	2.85	6.04	8.15	57.9%	57
86	Terry McLaurinWR · WAS	2.83	5.24	9.58	64.9%	134
87	Russell GageWR · ATL	2.82	5.48	8.80	66.1%	109
88	Mike EvansWR · TB	2.81	5.22	12.77	64.2%	109
89	DaeSean HamiltonWR · DEN	2.81	6.09	13.83	52.3%	44
90	Rashard HigginsWR · CLE	2.80	4.82	14.38	71.2%	52
91	Chris ConleyWR · JAX	2.79	5.68	10.82	63.5%	63
92	Brandon AiyukWR · SF	2.78	5.55	9.67	62.5%	96
93	Isaiah FordWR · MIA	2.76	5.61	9.22	63.6%	44
94	Tyler BoydWR · CIN	2.74	5.90	8.62	71.8%	110
95	Julio JonesWR · ATL	2.73	6.17	11.73	75.0%	68
96	Michael GallupWR · DAL	2.72	5.56	12.13	56.2%	105
97	Rob GronkowskiTE · TB	2.71	5.00	11.51	58.4%	77
98	Jerry JeudyWR · DEN	2.70	5.10	13.92	46.0%	113
99	Adam ThielenWR · MIN	2.67	6.16	12.13	68.5%	108
100	Odell Beckham Jr.WR · CLE	2.64	5.23	14.25	53.5%	43
101	Justin JeffersonWR · MIN	2.63	5.80	11.50	70.4%	125
102	DK MetcalfWR · SEA	2.62	5.43	13.60	64.3%	129
103	Breshad PerrimanWR · NYJ	2.62	5.93	15.57	50.0%	60
104	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	2.60	5.63	10.43	65.9%	88
105	Tim PatrickWR · DEN	2.60	5.70	12.46	64.6%	79
106	Amari CooperWR · DAL	2.53	6.56	9.11	70.8%	130
107	Marvin JonesWR · DET	2.53	6.66	12.87	66.1%	115
108	DJ MooreWR · CAR	2.51	6.03	13.41	55.9%	118
109	Chase ClaypoolWR · PIT	2.51	5.71	13.30	56.9%	109
110	Travis FulghamWR · PHI	2.49	6.10	13.06	56.7%	67
111	Michael ThomasWR · NO	2.49	5.10	9.64	72.7%	55
112	Tee HigginsWR · CIN	2.48	6.43	12.04	62.0%	108
113	Tyler EifertTE · JAX	2.48	6.29	8.54	60.0%	60
114	Hunter HenryTE · LAC	2.47	5.20	8.28	64.5%	93
115	Josh ReynoldsWR · LAR	2.47	5.34	10.78	64.2%	81
116	T.Y. HiltonWR · IND	2.46	5.21	12.69	60.2%	93
117	Nelson AgholorWR · LV	2.44	5.18	15.34	58.5%	82
118	Anthony FirkserTE · TEN	2.42	6.37	7.17	73.6%	53
119	Corey DavisWR · TEN	2.41	6.78	12.29	70.7%	92
120	A.J. BrownWR · TEN	2.40	5.45	11.32	66.0%	106
121	Darius SlaytonWR · NYG	2.32	5.42	14.06	52.1%	96
122	Allen RobinsonWR · CHI	2.31	5.60	9.50	67.5%	151
123	DJ CharkWR · JAX	2.28	5.61	14.22	57.0%	93
124	James WashingtonWR · PIT	2.28	5.67	12.99	53.6%	56
125	Jared CookTE · NO	2.20	6.30	11.71	61.7%	60
126	Golden TateWR · NYG	2.14	6.58	9.10	67.3%	52
127	Denzel MimsWR · NYJ	2.13	4.95	15.11	52.3%	44
128	Jordan ReedTE · SF	2.09	5.54	8.46	56.5%	46
129	Mike WilliamsWR · LAC	2.08	5.49	15.07	56.5%	85
130	Mike GesickiTE · MIA	2.05	5.92	11.13	62.4%	85
131	DeVante ParkerWR · MIA	1.74	4.83	10.32	61.2%	103
132	A.J. GreenWR · CIN	1.72	5.26	13.90	45.2%	104

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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