2023 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 115 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2023 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2023 NFL leaders, updated Oct 10, 2026. Rondale Moore (ARI) led the league in average separation at 4.50, ahead of 114 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2023 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. Through the 2023 season.

Who led the NFL in separation in 2023?Who led the NFL in cushion in 2023?Who led the NFL in yards after catch above expectation in 2023?

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, 2023 NFL season
#	Player	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt	Read
1	Rondale MooreWR · ARI	4.50	7.30	5.06	64.5%	62
2	Luke MusgraveTE · GB	4.32	5.60	7.10	73.9%	46
3	Rashee RiceWR · KC	4.15	6.36	4.99	77.5%	102	Read
4	Cole KmetTE · CHI	4.09	6.73	6.37	81.1%	90
5	Gerald EverettTE · LAC	3.98	5.94	3.96	72.9%	70
6	Wan'Dale RobinsonWR · NYG	3.97	6.97	5.24	76.9%	78	Read
7	Jonnu SmithTE · ATL	3.89	6.65	6.08	71.4%	70
8	Dalton KincaidTE · BUF	3.83	6.07	5.87	80.2%	91	Read
9	Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWR · SEA	3.79	7.03	6.21	67.7%	93	Read
10	Chig OkonkwoTE · TEN	3.77	5.49	6.88	70.1%	77	Read
11	Deebo Samuel Sr.WR · SF	3.70	6.77	6.79	67.4%	89	Read
12	Elijah MooreWR · CLE	3.69	7.15	11.01	56.7%	104
13	Zay FlowersWR · BAL	3.68	7.67	8.65	71.3%	108	Read
14	Tyler HigbeeTE · LAR	3.68	6.26	5.53	67.1%	70
15	Travis KelceTE · KC	3.66	6.68	6.76	76.9%	121	Read
16	Jerry JeudyWR · DEN	3.63	7.22	12.65	62.1%	87	Read
17	Nelson AgholorWR · BAL	3.58	6.40	9.39	77.8%	45
18	Khalil ShakirWR · BUF	3.51	5.69	8.30	86.7%	45	Read
19	Kylen GransonTE · IND	3.50	6.39	8.01	60.0%	50
20	David NjokuTE · CLE	3.48	5.08	4.93	65.9%	123	Read
21	Trey McBrideTE · ARI	3.46	5.11	5.95	76.4%	106	Read
22	Tyler ConklinTE · NYJ	3.45	5.97	6.72	70.1%	87
23	Jayden ReedWR · GB	3.44	6.58	9.97	68.1%	94	Read
24	Cade OttonTE · TB	3.44	6.50	6.53	70.1%	67	Read
25	Jaylen WaddleWR · MIA	3.42	6.71	10.00	69.2%	104	Read
26	Evan EngramTE · JAX	3.39	6.22	4.73	79.7%	143	Read
27	Sam LaPortaTE · DET	3.39	5.84	7.06	71.7%	120	Read
28	Cooper KuppWR · LAR	3.35	7.09	8.14	62.1%	95	Read
29	Jake FergusonTE · DAL	3.34	5.47	5.66	69.6%	102	Read
30	Dalton SchultzTE · HOU	3.31	5.77	7.99	67.0%	88	Read
31	George KittleTE · SF	3.30	5.39	9.63	72.2%	90	Read
32	Curtis SamuelWR · WAS	3.29	6.84	7.14	68.1%	91
33	Logan ThomasTE · WAS	3.28	6.42	6.30	70.5%	78
34	K.J. OsbornWR · MIN	3.27	5.88	9.00	64.0%	75
35	Tyreek HillWR · MIA	3.26	5.76	10.84	69.6%	171	Read
36	Josh DownsWR · IND	3.25	6.09	6.94	69.4%	98	Read
37	Amon-Ra St. BrownWR · DET	3.21	6.70	7.66	72.6%	164	Read
38	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	3.21	5.55	7.86	73.8%	61	Read
39	Ja'Marr ChaseWR · CIN	3.20	5.94	8.60	69.0%	145	Read
40	Dontayvion WicksWR · GB	3.17	7.17	10.27	67.2%	58	Read
41	Christian KirkWR · JAX	3.13	6.07	9.94	67.1%	85	Read
42	Noah BrownWR · HOU	3.12	6.72	12.27	60.0%	55
43	Tyler BoydWR · CIN	3.09	6.14	6.74	68.4%	98
44	Mike GesickiTE · NE	3.09	5.81	8.69	64.4%	45	Read
45	T.J. HockensonTE · MIN	3.08	5.98	7.24	74.8%	127	Read
46	Darnell MooneyWR · CHI	3.08	5.91	10.60	50.8%	61	Read
47	Keenan AllenWR · LAC	3.07	6.78	9.46	72.0%	150
48	DeMario DouglasWR · NE	3.07	6.78	8.11	62.0%	79
49	Trey PalmerWR · TB	3.07	6.42	10.16	57.4%	68
50	Tanner HudsonTE · CIN	3.07	6.30	5.11	78.0%	50
51	Nico CollinsWR · HOU	3.02	5.81	11.18	73.4%	109	Read
52	Chris OlaveWR · NO	2.96	6.29	13.26	63.0%	138	Read
53	Tank DellWR · HOU	2.95	6.90	14.23	62.7%	75	Read
54	Pat FreiermuthTE · PIT	2.95	7.04	6.75	68.1%	47	Read
55	Michael PittmanWR · IND	2.94	6.78	7.92	69.9%	156	Read
56	Darren WallerTE · NYG	2.94	6.26	7.65	70.3%	74
57	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	2.92	6.94	9.35	63.8%	130	Read
58	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	2.92	6.37	12.71	65.6%	90	Read
59	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	2.91	6.66	5.50	71.1%	83	Read
60	Christian WatsonWR · GB	2.91	6.40	16.27	52.8%	53	Read
61	Brandon AiyukWR · SF	2.90	5.75	14.09	71.4%	105
62	Diontae JohnsonWR · PIT	2.90	6.96	12.48	58.6%	87
63	Nick Westbrook-IkhineWR · TEN	2.90	6.75	12.32	62.2%	45
64	Puka NacuaWR · LAR	2.89	6.00	8.98	65.6%	160	Read
65	Adam ThielenWR · CAR	2.89	6.31	7.64	75.2%	137
66	Darius SlaytonWR · NYG	2.87	6.54	12.38	63.3%	79
67	Tyler LockettWR · SEA	2.82	6.75	11.50	64.8%	122
68	DeVonta SmithWR · PHI	2.82	6.73	12.46	72.3%	112	Read
69	Rashid ShaheedWR · NO	2.82	6.60	14.52	61.3%	75	Read
70	Stefon DiggsWR · BUF	2.81	5.96	10.10	66.9%	160	Read
71	Gabe DavisWR · BUF	2.81	6.50	15.06	55.6%	81
72	Juwan JohnsonTE · NO	2.80	4.95	7.83	62.7%	59	Read
73	Jonathan MingoWR · CAR	2.77	6.17	10.28	50.6%	85
74	Jordan AddisonWR · MIN	2.76	6.43	12.41	64.8%	108	Read
75	Kendrick BourneWR · NE	2.75	7.14	10.09	67.3%	55
76	DJ MooreWR · CHI	2.74	6.28	11.49	70.6%	136	Read
77	Jakobi MeyersWR · LV	2.73	7.32	9.59	67.0%	106	Read
78	Romeo DoubsWR · GB	2.72	5.90	12.16	61.5%	96	Read
79	CeeDee LambWR · DAL	2.71	5.55	9.67	74.6%	181	Read
80	Justin JeffersonWR · MIN	2.71	6.57	12.52	68.0%	100	Read
81	Odell Beckham Jr.WR · BAL	2.68	5.31	14.24	54.7%	64
82	Michael WilsonWR · ARI	2.65	6.30	12.62	64.9%	57	Read
83	Terry McLaurinWR · WAS	2.64	5.75	11.44	59.8%	132	Read
84	Brandin CooksWR · DAL	2.63	6.23	13.36	66.7%	81
85	Robert WoodsWR · HOU	2.62	7.07	9.99	53.3%	75
86	Tutu AtwellWR · LAR	2.61	6.62	11.22	58.2%	67
87	Josh PalmerWR · LAC	2.61	6.78	11.40	62.3%	61
88	Jahan DotsonWR · WAS	2.59	7.13	9.84	59.0%	83
89	Allen RobinsonWR · PIT	2.57	6.69	7.61	68.8%	48
90	Davante AdamsWR · LV	2.55	5.25	10.43	58.9%	175	Read
91	Marquise BrownWR · ARI	2.51	6.06	11.86	50.5%	101
92	Josh ReynoldsWR · DET	2.50	5.76	11.15	62.5%	64
93	Rashod BatemanWR · BAL	2.50	5.54	14.24	57.1%	56	Read
94	Zay JonesWR · JAX	2.48	6.69	13.43	53.1%	64
95	Justin WatsonWR · KC	2.48	6.01	17.54	50.0%	52
96	Garrett WilsonWR · NYJ	2.46	5.55	10.21	56.5%	168	Read
97	DK MetcalfWR · SEA	2.45	5.80	13.75	55.5%	119	Read
98	A.J. BrownWR · PHI	2.44	6.58	12.16	67.1%	158	Read
99	JuJu Smith-SchusterWR · NE	2.42	7.01	7.20	61.7%	47
100	Quentin JohnstonWR · LAC	2.38	6.08	13.08	56.7%	67	Read
101	Mike EvansWR · TB	2.37	6.57	14.38	58.1%	136	Read
102	Kyle PittsTE · ATL	2.37	6.28	11.45	58.9%	90	Read
103	Hunter HenryTE · NE	2.35	6.02	8.84	68.9%	61	Read
104	Tee HigginsWR · CIN	2.33	5.94	13.09	55.3%	76	Read
105	Michael GallupWR · DAL	2.31	6.13	10.86	59.6%	57
106	Calvin RidleyWR · JAX	2.29	5.58	13.75	55.9%	136	Read
107	DJ CharkWR · CAR	2.29	5.75	15.09	53.0%	66
108	DeAndre HopkinsWR · TEN	2.27	5.79	14.19	54.7%	137
109	George PickensWR · PIT	2.27	5.06	13.19	59.4%	106	Read
110	Drake LondonWR · ATL	2.22	6.33	11.37	62.7%	110	Read
111	Allen LazardWR · NYJ	2.21	6.30	12.03	46.9%	49
112	Amari CooperWR · CLE	2.17	5.40	14.03	56.2%	128
113	Alec PierceWR · IND	2.15	6.24	15.01	49.2%	65	Read
114	Michael ThomasWR · NO	2.00	5.11	10.17	60.9%	64
115	DeVante ParkerWR · NE	1.99	5.84	10.97	60.0%	55

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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