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 Aug 13, 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.

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
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
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
19	Jerry JeudyWR · DEN	3.58	6.38	10.39	67.9%	56
20	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	3.57	6.04	8.25	73.7%	76
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
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
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
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
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
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
41	Travis KelceTE · NAN	3.31	5.53	7.15	68.7%	134
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
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
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
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
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
62	David NjokuTE · CLE	3.03	4.66	8.36	67.9%	53
63	Calvin RidleyWR · ATL	3.03	5.93	9.90	59.6%	52
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
87	Mike EvansWR · NAN	2.74	4.90	13.12	64.9%	114
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
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
93	Rashod BatemanWR · BAL	2.66	6.91	9.17	67.6%	68
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
96	A.J. BrownWR · TEN	2.64	6.11	12.05	60.0%	105
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
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
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
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
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
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
121	Kyle PittsTE · NAN	2.29	5.89	10.49	61.8%	110
122	Tee HigginsWR · CIN	2.27	6.00	12.10	67.3%	110
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.

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