2021 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 127 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2021 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2021 NFL leaders, updated Nov 12, 2026. Rondale Moore (ARI) led the league in average separation at 5.66, ahead of 126 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2021 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. Through the 2021 season.

Who led the NFL in separation in 2021?Who led the NFL in cushion in 2021?Who led the NFL in yards after catch above expectation in 2021?

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, 2021 NFL season
#	Player	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt	Read
1	Rondale MooreWR · ARI	5.66	7.96	1.11	84.4%	64
2	Gerald EverettTE · SEA	4.13	6.74	5.46	76.2%	63
3	Mecole HardmanWR · KC	4.12	6.83	7.16	71.1%	83
4	Byron PringleWR · KC	4.12	5.33	10.75	70.0%	60
5	Noah FantTE · DEN	4.10	5.82	6.03	75.6%	90
6	Braxton BerriosWR · NYJ	4.09	6.64	4.74	70.8%	65
7	Cole BeasleyWR · BUF	4.00	6.77	5.36	73.2%	112
8	Jonnu SmithTE · NE	3.96	5.36	5.27	62.2%	45
9	Dawson KnoxTE · BUF	3.95	5.27	7.16	69.0%	71
10	Robert WoodsWR · LAR	3.78	6.20	8.50	65.2%	69
11	Devin DuvernayWR · NAN	3.73	7.90	6.89	70.2%	47
12	Kalif RaymondWR · DET	3.70	6.81	10.01	67.6%	71
13	C.J. UzomahTE · CIN	3.66	6.31	4.58	77.8%	63
14	Laviska Shenault Jr.WR · JAX	3.65	6.69	5.76	63.0%	100
15	Cedrick Wilson Jr.WR · DAL	3.64	6.30	9.48	73.8%	61
16	Cooper KuppWR · NAN	3.63	6.57	8.38	75.9%	191	Read
17	Deonte HartyWR · NO	3.63	7.18	10.36	61.0%	59
18	Tyreek HillWR · NAN	3.59	6.12	10.40	69.8%	159	Read
19	Jerry JeudyWR · DEN	3.58	6.38	10.39	67.9%	56	Read
20	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	3.57	6.04	8.25	73.7%	76	Read
21	Marquise BrownWR · BAL	3.55	7.66	11.52	62.3%	146
22	Dalton SchultzTE · DAL	3.51	5.38	6.90	75.0%	104	Read
23	Tyler ConklinTE · MIN	3.51	5.28	5.52	70.1%	87
24	Ricky Seals-JonesTE · WAS	3.51	6.51	6.36	61.2%	49
25	Amon-Ra St. BrownWR · DET	3.49	6.66	7.20	75.6%	119	Read
26	Jamison CrowderWR · NYJ	3.45	6.37	5.99	71.8%	71
27	Elijah MooreWR · NYJ	3.44	5.85	11.92	55.8%	77
28	Jalen GuytonWR · LAC	3.42	7.00	11.02	64.6%	48
29	Rob GronkowskiTE · TB	3.41	4.81	9.72	61.8%	89
30	Antonio BrownWR · TB	3.41	6.34	11.16	67.7%	62
31	Evan EngramTE · NYG	3.40	6.26	5.13	63.0%	73	Read
32	Mo Alie-CoxTE · IND	3.40	5.27	10.35	53.3%	45
33	Hunter RenfrowWR · LV	3.39	6.58	6.55	80.5%	128
34	Christian KirkWR · ARI	3.38	6.00	11.43	74.8%	103	Read
35	Quez WatkinsWR · PHI	3.37	6.00	12.33	69.4%	62
36	Kadarius ToneyWR · NYG	3.36	7.14	6.70	68.4%	57
37	Dan ArnoldTE · JAX	3.35	5.78	6.62	67.3%	52
38	Jaylen WaddleWR · MIA	3.34	6.52	6.79	74.3%	140	Read
39	Zay JonesWR · LV	3.34	7.06	13.85	67.1%	70
40	Deebo Samuel Sr.WR · NAN	3.32	6.70	8.65	63.6%	121	Read
41	Travis KelceTE · NAN	3.31	5.53	7.15	68.7%	134	Read
42	Kendrick BourneWR · NE	3.30	6.43	8.48	78.6%	70
43	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	3.29	6.35	7.31	77.2%	127	Read
44	Cole KmetTE · CHI	3.28	5.37	7.50	64.5%	93
45	Pat FreiermuthTE · PIT	3.27	5.45	5.82	75.9%	79	Read
46	Brandin CooksWR · HOU	3.26	6.36	10.63	67.2%	134
47	Tyler LockettWR · SEA	3.23	6.99	14.88	68.2%	107
48	Adam HumphriesWR · WAS	3.21	6.72	7.12	66.1%	62
49	Zach PascalWR · IND	3.20	6.07	9.42	55.1%	69
50	Diontae JohnsonWR · NAN	3.17	4.64	8.39	63.3%	169
51	Tyler BoydWR · CIN	3.17	6.34	8.03	71.3%	94
52	Zach ErtzTE · ARI	3.16	6.01	7.66	66.1%	112
53	Keenan AllenWR · NAN	3.15	5.98	8.53	67.5%	157
54	Adam ThielenWR · MIN	3.12	6.06	9.75	70.5%	95
55	Russell GageWR · ATL	3.10	6.08	9.42	70.2%	94
56	Tyler HigbeeTE · LAR	3.10	5.96	5.32	71.8%	85
57	George KittleTE · NAN	3.09	5.76	7.78	75.5%	94	Read
58	Ray-Ray McCloudWR · PIT	3.08	5.51	6.20	59.1%	66
59	CeeDee LambWR · DAL	3.07	6.31	10.63	65.8%	120	Read
60	Sammy WatkinsWR · BAL	3.07	5.89	12.67	55.1%	49
61	Mark AndrewsTE · NAN	3.06	6.35	10.45	69.9%	153	Read
62	David NjokuTE · CLE	3.03	4.66	8.36	67.9%	53	Read
63	Calvin RidleyWR · ATL	3.03	5.93	9.90	59.6%	52	Read
64	Jarvis LandryWR · CLE	3.00	6.12	8.29	59.8%	87
65	Justin JeffersonWR · NAN	2.98	5.66	12.34	64.7%	167	Read
66	Darius SlaytonWR · NYG	2.97	6.76	13.42	44.8%	58
67	Davante AdamsWR · NAN	2.95	5.29	9.07	72.8%	169	Read
68	Brandon AiyukWR · SF	2.94	5.52	9.89	66.7%	84
69	Laquon TreadwellWR · JAX	2.94	5.63	12.28	64.7%	51
70	Emmanuel SandersWR · BUF	2.92	5.71	15.00	58.3%	72
71	Tyler JohnsonWR · TB	2.92	5.90	8.00	65.5%	55
72	Darnell MooneyWR · CHI	2.90	7.11	11.27	57.9%	140	Read
73	Jalen ReagorWR · PHI	2.88	6.70	10.05	57.9%	57
74	Darren WallerTE · LV	2.85	6.22	10.03	59.1%	93
75	Marquez CallawayWR · NO	2.83	5.76	12.91	54.8%	84
76	DeAndre HopkinsWR · ARI	2.83	5.29	12.64	65.6%	64
77	T.J. HockensonTE · DET	2.81	6.19	7.48	72.6%	84	Read
78	Austin HooperTE · CLE	2.81	4.63	5.41	62.3%	61
79	Rashard HigginsWR · CLE	2.79	6.29	11.67	51.1%	47
80	Mike GesickiTE · MIA	2.78	6.51	8.70	65.2%	112	Read
81	Robbie ChosenWR · CAR	2.78	7.05	10.91	48.2%	110
82	Jared CookTE · LAC	2.77	5.94	8.69	57.8%	83
83	Michael PittmanWR · IND	2.76	6.34	9.69	68.2%	129	Read
84	Tim PatrickWR · DEN	2.76	6.04	11.99	62.4%	85
85	K.J. OsbornWR · MIN	2.76	5.63	10.49	61.0%	82
86	Jakobi MeyersWR · NE	2.75	5.37	9.59	65.9%	126	Read
87	Mike EvansWR · NAN	2.74	4.90	13.12	64.9%	114	Read
88	Nick Westbrook-IkhineWR · TEN	2.73	5.33	10.38	66.7%	57
89	Hunter HenryTE · NE	2.69	5.72	9.91	66.7%	75	Read
90	Josh ReynoldsWR · DET	2.69	5.88	13.79	59.2%	49
91	Corey DavisWR · NYJ	2.67	6.76	13.10	57.6%	59
92	DJ MooreWR · CAR	2.66	5.61	10.57	57.1%	163	Read
93	Rashod BatemanWR · BAL	2.66	6.91	9.17	67.6%	68	Read
94	Keelan ColeWR · NYJ	2.66	5.61	13.67	54.9%	51
95	Stefon DiggsWR · NAN	2.65	5.06	11.62	62.8%	164	Read
96	A.J. BrownWR · TEN	2.64	6.11	12.05	60.0%	105	Read
97	Allen LazardWR · GB	2.64	5.75	10.92	66.7%	60
98	Odell Beckham Jr.WR · LAR	2.63	6.26	13.18	53.7%	82
99	Sterling ShepardWR · NYG	2.62	7.69	7.95	67.9%	53
100	Amari CooperWR · DAL	2.61	6.79	11.20	65.4%	104
101	Gabe DavisWR · BUF	2.60	5.26	14.09	55.6%	63
102	DK MetcalfWR · SEA	2.58	6.29	12.73	58.1%	129	Read
103	Cameron BrateTE · TB	2.56	6.85	7.66	52.6%	57
104	Josh PalmerWR · LAC	2.55	5.25	10.13	67.3%	49
105	Van JeffersonWR · LAR	2.54	6.08	13.63	56.2%	89
106	A.J. GreenWR · ARI	2.51	6.05	12.36	58.7%	92
107	Nelson AgholorWR · NE	2.49	4.76	14.54	57.8%	64
108	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	2.47	5.15	15.43	59.2%	98	Read
109	Mike WilliamsWR · LAC	2.46	5.27	11.56	58.9%	129
110	Marvin JonesWR · JAX	2.46	6.13	12.78	60.8%	120
111	Terry McLaurinWR · WAS	2.45	5.59	13.35	59.2%	130	Read
112	Olamide ZaccheausWR · ATL	2.45	6.50	9.65	58.5%	53
113	Julio JonesWR · TEN	2.43	5.46	12.07	64.6%	48
114	Michael GallupWR · DAL	2.38	5.28	11.89	56.5%	62
115	Marquez Valdes-ScantlingWR · GB	2.37	5.94	17.13	47.3%	55
116	Nico CollinsWR · HOU	2.36	5.29	11.31	55.0%	60	Read
117	Tre'Quan SmithWR · NO	2.36	6.61	9.93	64.0%	50
118	Ja'Marr ChaseWR · NAN	2.35	5.04	12.79	63.3%	128	Read
119	Chase ClaypoolWR · PIT	2.35	5.12	11.33	56.2%	105
120	DeVonta SmithWR · PHI	2.32	6.10	14.81	61.5%	104	Read
121	Kyle PittsTE · NAN	2.29	5.89	10.49	61.8%	110	Read
122	Tee HigginsWR · CIN	2.27	6.00	12.10	67.3%	110	Read
123	Donovan Peoples-JonesWR · CLE	2.11	5.72	15.00	58.6%	58
124	Bryan EdwardsWR · LV	1.99	5.09	14.11	56.9%	58
125	Allen RobinsonWR · CHI	1.94	7.10	11.35	57.6%	66
126	Kenny GolladayWR · NYG	1.74	5.98	13.70	48.7%	76
127	DeVante ParkerWR · MIA	1.71	5.19	11.85	54.8%	73

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.

Other seasons

Choosing between two of these players?

Both men's 2025 production side by side, and which of them rests on inputs that historically repeat.

All comparisons →

More leaderboards

Follow the football you care about. Players, teams, stat boards — press Follow on any of them, and that is what your weekly email is made of. Nothing you didn't ask for.

Free. One email a week, in season.

Use Muffed in your AI

Ask Claude or ChatGPT football questions and get these verified figures back, with sources. Add https://muffed.ai/api/mcp — free, no account, no API key.

Add to Claude · Set up in ChatGPT · How it works →