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 Aug 13, 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.

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
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
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
12	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	3.65	6.19	5.90	79.7%	69
13	Deebo Samuel Sr.WR · SF	3.58	6.70	4.34	59.6%	94
14	Darnell MooneyWR · CHI	3.58	6.53	11.68	65.6%	61
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
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
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
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
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
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
42	Christian KirkWR · JAX	3.23	6.39	9.48	63.2%	133
43	Cooper KuppWR · LAR	3.23	6.47	7.34	76.5%	98
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
47	Isaiah LikelyTE · BAL	3.16	6.45	7.07	60.0%	60
48	Tyquan ThorntonWR · NE	3.15	5.94	13.99	48.9%	45
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
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
54	Mike GesickiTE · MIA	3.08	6.20	9.79	61.5%	52
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
57	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	3.07	6.01	9.99	64.6%	113
58	David NjokuTE · CLE	3.07	5.18	6.83	72.5%	80
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
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
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
66	T.J. HockensonTE · MIN	2.96	6.25	7.66	66.7%	129
67	Chig OkonkwoTE · TEN	2.96	6.47	7.83	69.6%	46
68	Davante AdamsWR · LV	2.95	5.55	12.12	55.6%	180
69	DeVonta SmithWR · PHI	2.94	6.50	9.87	69.9%	136
70	Kyle PittsTE · ATL	2.92	7.05	13.17	47.5%	59
71	Travis KelceTE · KC	2.90	6.28	7.27	72.4%	152
72	Nico CollinsWR · HOU	2.90	5.90	11.91	56.1%	66
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
96	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	2.66	5.76	12.64	58.7%	109
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
100	A.J. BrownWR · PHI	2.60	5.58	12.24	60.7%	145
101	Ja'Marr ChaseWR · CIN	2.60	5.51	9.55	64.9%	134
102	Juwan JohnsonTE · NO	2.60	5.57	9.22	64.6%	65
103	Mike EvansWR · TB	2.59	5.70	13.45	60.6%	127
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.

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

The weekly insights email. One story a week about what actually happened in the NFL — every number verified.

Free, every Wednesday. Unsubscribe anytime.

Get the story behind the numbers

The same AI that built these tables reads every play of every game and tells you what actually happened — as pages you can read and shows you can listen to, from this same verified data.

Drafting this month? Follow the guys you end up with, and your first weekly email lands Week 1 — the real plays and the real numbers behind everyone on your list.

Follow your guys — free →

Browse team podcasts →

In a Sleeper league? One link gets every team its own show →

Ask this data a question

Every figure on this page comes out of Muffed's verified panel — and you can query the whole thing in plain English. No account, no key. Ask the data →

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 →