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 Aug 13, 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.

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
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
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
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
9	Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWR · SEA	3.79	7.03	6.21	67.7%	93
10	Chig OkonkwoTE · TEN	3.77	5.49	6.88	70.1%	77
11	Deebo Samuel Sr.WR · SF	3.70	6.77	6.79	67.4%	89
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
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
16	Jerry JeudyWR · DEN	3.63	7.22	12.65	62.1%	87
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
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
21	Trey McBrideTE · ARI	3.46	5.11	5.95	76.4%	106
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
24	Cade OttonTE · TB	3.44	6.50	6.53	70.1%	67
25	Jaylen WaddleWR · MIA	3.42	6.71	10.00	69.2%	104
26	Evan EngramTE · JAX	3.39	6.22	4.73	79.7%	143
27	Sam LaPortaTE · DET	3.39	5.84	7.06	71.7%	120
28	Cooper KuppWR · LAR	3.35	7.09	8.14	62.1%	95
29	Jake FergusonTE · DAL	3.34	5.47	5.66	69.6%	102
30	Dalton SchultzTE · HOU	3.31	5.77	7.99	67.0%	88
31	George KittleTE · SF	3.30	5.39	9.63	72.2%	90
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
36	Josh DownsWR · IND	3.25	6.09	6.94	69.4%	98
37	Amon-Ra St. BrownWR · DET	3.21	6.70	7.66	72.6%	164
38	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	3.21	5.55	7.86	73.8%	61
39	Ja'Marr ChaseWR · CIN	3.20	5.94	8.60	69.0%	145
40	Dontayvion WicksWR · GB	3.17	7.17	10.27	67.2%	58
41	Christian KirkWR · JAX	3.13	6.07	9.94	67.1%	85
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
45	T.J. HockensonTE · MIN	3.08	5.98	7.24	74.8%	127
46	Darnell MooneyWR · CHI	3.08	5.91	10.60	50.8%	61
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
52	Chris OlaveWR · NO	2.96	6.29	13.26	63.0%	138
53	Tank DellWR · HOU	2.95	6.90	14.23	62.7%	75
54	Pat FreiermuthTE · PIT	2.95	7.04	6.75	68.1%	47
55	Michael PittmanWR · IND	2.94	6.78	7.92	69.9%	156
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
58	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	2.92	6.37	12.71	65.6%	90
59	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	2.91	6.66	5.50	71.1%	83
60	Christian WatsonWR · GB	2.91	6.40	16.27	52.8%	53
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
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
69	Rashid ShaheedWR · NO	2.82	6.60	14.52	61.3%	75
70	Stefon DiggsWR · BUF	2.81	5.96	10.10	66.9%	160
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
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
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
77	Jakobi MeyersWR · LV	2.73	7.32	9.59	67.0%	106
78	Romeo DoubsWR · GB	2.72	5.90	12.16	61.5%	96
79	CeeDee LambWR · DAL	2.71	5.55	9.67	74.6%	181
80	Justin JeffersonWR · MIN	2.71	6.57	12.52	68.0%	100
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
83	Terry McLaurinWR · WAS	2.64	5.75	11.44	59.8%	132
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
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
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
97	DK MetcalfWR · SEA	2.45	5.80	13.75	55.5%	119
98	A.J. BrownWR · PHI	2.44	6.58	12.16	67.1%	158
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
101	Mike EvansWR · TB	2.37	6.57	14.38	58.1%	136
102	Kyle PittsTE · ATL	2.37	6.28	11.45	58.9%	90
103	Hunter HenryTE · NE	2.35	6.02	8.84	68.9%	61
104	Tee HigginsWR · CIN	2.33	5.94	13.09	55.3%	76
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
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
110	Drake LondonWR · ATL	2.22	6.33	11.37	62.7%	110
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
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.

New to this stat? What average separation means.

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