2022 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 122 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2022 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2022 NFL leaders, updated Oct 10, 2026. Robert Tonyan (GB) led the league in average separation at 4.39, ahead of 121 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2022 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. Through the 2022 season.

Who led the NFL in separation in 2022?Who led the NFL in cushion in 2022?Who led the NFL in yards after catch above expectation in 2022?

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, 2022 NFL season
#	Player	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt	Read
1	Robert TonyanTE · GB	4.39	6.55	6.05	79.1%	67
2	Cole KmetTE · CHI	4.36	5.69	6.62	72.5%	69
3	Dawson KnoxTE · BUF	4.27	5.48	7.92	73.8%	65
4	Greg DortchWR · ARI	4.23	7.30	4.44	81.2%	64
5	Tyler ConklinTE · NYJ	4.20	4.81	7.28	66.7%	87
6	Noah FantTE · SEA	3.90	7.11	6.75	79.4%	63
7	Hunter HenryTE · NE	3.87	5.68	7.67	69.5%	59	Read
8	Hayden HurstTE · CIN	3.86	6.01	5.04	76.5%	68
9	Rondale MooreWR · ARI	3.83	7.50	5.27	73.2%	56
10	Logan ThomasTE · WAS	3.74	5.45	6.97	63.9%	61
11	Jerry JeudyWR · DEN	3.69	6.46	11.56	67.0%	100	Read
12	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	3.65	6.19	5.90	79.7%	69	Read
13	Deebo Samuel Sr.WR · SF	3.58	6.70	4.34	59.6%	94	Read
14	Darnell MooneyWR · CHI	3.58	6.53	11.68	65.6%	61	Read
15	Keenan AllenWR · LAC	3.56	6.09	8.41	74.2%	89
16	Quez WatkinsWR · PHI	3.56	7.05	9.39	64.7%	51
17	Zay JonesWR · JAX	3.54	6.60	8.53	67.8%	121
18	Tyler LockettWR · SEA	3.54	7.53	10.94	71.8%	117
19	Jauan JenningsWR · SF	3.53	6.24	8.28	62.5%	56	Read
20	Tyler HigbeeTE · LAR	3.51	5.71	3.09	66.7%	108
21	Parris CampbellWR · IND	3.51	6.50	6.42	69.2%	91
22	Curtis SamuelWR · WAS	3.49	6.75	7.01	69.6%	92
23	Greg DulcichTE · DEN	3.48	6.52	11.46	60.0%	55	Read
24	Josh PalmerWR · LAC	3.46	6.31	8.72	67.3%	107
25	Kendrick BourneWR · NE	3.44	6.98	9.99	72.9%	48
26	Ben SkowronekWR · LAR	3.38	7.23	7.50	63.9%	61
27	K.J. OsbornWR · MIN	3.37	6.23	8.31	66.7%	90
28	Foster MoreauTE · LV	3.36	5.42	7.81	61.1%	54
29	Devin DuvernayWR · BAL	3.36	7.13	9.92	75.5%	49
30	Romeo DoubsWR · GB	3.35	6.42	9.23	62.7%	67	Read
31	Isaiah McKenzieWR · BUF	3.35	4.94	8.41	64.6%	65
32	Nelson AgholorWR · NE	3.35	6.11	11.72	58.5%	53
33	Marquise BrownWR · ARI	3.34	6.80	10.92	62.6%	107
34	JuJu Smith-SchusterWR · KC	3.33	5.70	7.36	77.2%	101
35	Russell GageWR · TB	3.33	7.01	5.93	72.9%	70
36	Tyreek HillWR · MIA	3.31	6.38	12.17	70.0%	170	Read
37	Olamide ZaccheausWR · ATL	3.30	6.68	11.45	65.6%	61
38	DeAndre CarterWR · LAC	3.29	6.84	8.69	70.8%	65
39	Evan EngramTE · JAX	3.26	6.98	6.20	74.5%	98	Read
40	Gerald EverettTE · LAC	3.26	5.79	5.99	66.7%	87
41	George KittleTE · SF	3.25	5.56	7.29	69.8%	86	Read
42	Christian KirkWR · JAX	3.23	6.39	9.48	63.2%	133	Read
43	Cooper KuppWR · LAR	3.23	6.47	7.34	76.5%	98	Read
44	Jordan AkinsTE · HOU	3.21	5.85	6.61	68.5%	54
45	Richie JamesWR · NYG	3.19	6.75	7.17	81.4%	70
46	Cade OttonTE · TB	3.16	6.22	5.67	64.6%	65	Read
47	Isaiah LikelyTE · BAL	3.16	6.45	7.07	60.0%	60	Read
48	Tyquan ThorntonWR · NE	3.15	5.94	13.99	48.9%	45	Read
49	Kalif RaymondWR · DET	3.14	7.09	9.74	73.4%	64
50	Treylon BurksWR · TEN	3.12	7.10	11.26	61.1%	54
51	Amon-Ra St. BrownWR · DET	3.10	6.48	6.30	72.6%	146	Read
52	Elijah MooreWR · NYJ	3.10	6.12	12.03	56.9%	65
53	Justin JeffersonWR · MIN	3.09	5.43	10.34	69.6%	184	Read
54	Mike GesickiTE · MIA	3.08	6.20	9.79	61.5%	52	Read
55	Hunter RenfrowWR · LV	3.08	6.18	6.50	72.0%	50
56	CeeDee LambWR · DAL	3.07	6.56	10.27	68.6%	156	Read
57	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	3.07	6.01	9.99	64.6%	113	Read
58	David NjokuTE · CLE	3.07	5.18	6.83	72.5%	80	Read
59	Zach ErtzTE · ARI	3.03	5.14	7.76	68.1%	69
60	Jakobi MeyersWR · NE	3.02	5.64	9.71	69.8%	96	Read
61	Chris MooreWR · HOU	3.01	6.11	9.31	64.9%	74
62	Mack HollinsWR · LV	3.00	6.59	12.68	60.6%	94
63	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	2.98	6.68	5.77	73.2%	142	Read
64	Demarcus RobinsonWR · BAL	2.98	7.04	9.25	64.0%	75
65	Jaylen WaddleWR · MIA	2.97	5.76	11.99	64.1%	117	Read
66	T.J. HockensonTE · MIN	2.96	6.25	7.66	66.7%	129	Read
67	Chig OkonkwoTE · TEN	2.96	6.47	7.83	69.6%	46	Read
68	Davante AdamsWR · LV	2.95	5.55	12.12	55.6%	180	Read
69	DeVonta SmithWR · PHI	2.94	6.50	9.87	69.9%	136	Read
70	Kyle PittsTE · ATL	2.92	7.05	13.17	47.5%	59	Read
71	Travis KelceTE · KC	2.90	6.28	7.27	72.4%	152	Read
72	Nico CollinsWR · HOU	2.90	5.90	11.91	56.1%	66	Read
73	Brandon AiyukWR · SF	2.89	6.17	9.86	68.4%	114
74	Christian WatsonWR · GB	2.89	6.10	13.95	62.1%	66	Read
75	Randall CobbWR · GB	2.88	5.99	9.69	68.0%	50
76	Dalton SchultzTE · DAL	2.87	6.08	7.25	64.0%	89	Read
77	Brandin CooksWR · HOU	2.86	7.03	10.94	61.3%	93
78	Trent SherfieldWR · MIA	2.86	5.90	10.47	58.8%	51
79	Stefon DiggsWR · BUF	2.83	5.36	11.62	70.1%	154	Read
80	Marquez Valdes-ScantlingWR · KC	2.83	6.37	13.94	51.9%	81
81	Diontae JohnsonWR · PIT	2.82	5.30	10.57	58.5%	147
82	Mike WilliamsWR · LAC	2.82	5.43	12.22	67.7%	93
83	DeAndre HopkinsWR · ARI	2.81	6.91	9.91	66.7%	96
84	Isaiah HodginsWR · NYG	2.81	6.70	9.05	77.1%	48
85	DJ MooreWR · CAR	2.80	6.72	13.24	53.4%	118	Read
86	Chase ClaypoolWR · CHI	2.80	5.62	10.39	58.2%	79
87	Jahan DotsonWR · WAS	2.78	5.99	14.69	57.4%	61
88	Josh ReynoldsWR · DET	2.78	6.92	12.68	64.4%	59
89	Chris OlaveWR · NO	2.76	7.22	14.18	60.5%	119	Read
90	Gabe DavisWR · BUF	2.76	5.43	15.88	51.6%	93
91	Robert WoodsWR · TEN	2.75	6.92	8.65	58.2%	91
92	Michael PittmanWR · IND	2.74	6.50	7.28	70.2%	141	Read
93	Adam ThielenWR · MIN	2.70	6.06	10.15	65.4%	107
94	Tyler BoydWR · CIN	2.70	5.10	9.41	70.7%	82
95	Pat FreiermuthTE · PIT	2.68	6.29	8.00	64.3%	98	Read
96	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	2.66	5.76	12.64	58.7%	109	Read
97	Allen LazardWR · GB	2.66	5.22	12.28	60.0%	100
98	Austin HooperTE · TEN	2.66	5.85	8.00	68.3%	60
99	Garrett WilsonWR · NYJ	2.63	5.84	10.70	56.5%	147	Read
100	A.J. BrownWR · PHI	2.60	5.58	12.24	60.7%	145	Read
101	Ja'Marr ChaseWR · CIN	2.60	5.51	9.55	64.9%	134	Read
102	Juwan JohnsonTE · NO	2.60	5.57	9.22	64.6%	65	Read
103	Mike EvansWR · TB	2.59	5.70	13.45	60.6%	127	Read
104	Terrace Marshall Jr.WR · CAR	2.58	5.10	12.46	59.6%	47
105	Drake LondonWR · ATL	2.55	7.01	10.84	61.5%	117	Read
106	Darius SlaytonWR · NYG	2.55	6.73	12.29	64.8%	71
107	Tee HigginsWR · CIN	2.54	5.76	11.32	67.9%	109	Read
108	Donovan Peoples-JonesWR · CLE	2.51	5.68	12.16	63.5%	96
109	Amari CooperWR · CLE	2.47	5.73	12.87	59.1%	132
110	Terry McLaurinWR · WAS	2.47	6.25	13.03	64.2%	120	Read
111	Michael GallupWR · DAL	2.40	6.09	11.69	52.7%	74
112	George PickensWR · PIT	2.37	4.73	14.76	61.9%	84	Read
113	Noah BrownWR · DAL	2.35	6.79	11.29	58.1%	74
114	A.J. GreenWR · ARI	2.34	6.15	11.11	51.1%	47
115	Corey DavisWR · NYJ	2.32	6.67	13.85	50.0%	64
116	Nick Westbrook-IkhineWR · TEN	2.32	5.47	13.42	50.0%	50
117	DK MetcalfWR · SEA	2.27	6.35	11.77	63.8%	141	Read
118	DJ CharkWR · DET	2.18	5.48	15.41	57.7%	52
119	Allen RobinsonWR · LAR	2.14	4.84	9.46	63.5%	52
120	Marvin JonesWR · JAX	2.05	5.87	13.52	56.8%	81
121	Alec PierceWR · IND	1.94	6.15	12.09	52.6%	78	Read
122	DeVante ParkerWR · NE	1.73	4.21	15.66	66.0%	47

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.

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