2025 season · Receivers and tight ends, Next Gen Stats qualified, 120 qualifiers

Receiver Separation and Cushion Leaders

Name: Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2025 NFL Leaders
Creator: Muffed
License: https://muffed.ai/methodology

Receiver Separation and Cushion — 2025 NFL leaders, updated Sep 17, 2026. Luther Burden III (CHI) led the league in average separation at 4.62, ahead of 119 other qualifying players. Based on verified 2025 play-by-play data (nflverse); Half-PPR scoring. Through the 2025 season.

Who led the NFL in separation in 2025?Who led the NFL in cushion in 2025?Who led the NFL in yards after catch above expectation in 2025?

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, 2025 NFL season
#	Player	Sep	Cushion	aDOT	Catch%	Tgt
1	Luther Burden IIIWR · CHI	4.62	7.33	7.28	78.3%	60
2	Evan EngramTE · DEN	4.58	6.78	4.29	65.8%	76
3	Marvin Mims Jr.WR · DEN	4.52	7.85	9.05	72.5%	51
4	AJ BarnerTE · SEA	4.08	4.64	4.78	76.5%	68
5	DeMario DouglasWR · NE	3.96	6.67	9.96	67.4%	46
6	Brenton StrangeTE · JAX	3.89	6.62	6.58	76.7%	60
7	Chimere DikeWR · TEN	3.85	6.77	8.17	64.9%	74
8	Chig OkonkwoTE · TEN	3.84	5.80	4.47	70.9%	79
9	John Metchie IIIWR · NYJ	3.83	6.99	5.26	68.8%	48
10	Jonnu SmithTE · PIT	3.80	5.52	4.04	70.4%	54
11	Khalil ShakirWR · BUF	3.79	6.76	3.53	75.8%	95
12	T.J. HockensonTE · MIN	3.76	6.08	4.76	77.3%	66
13	Dalton SchultzTE · HOU	3.74	5.40	6.26	77.4%	106
14	Malik WashingtonWR · MIA	3.70	6.43	5.20	70.8%	65
15	Cole KmetTE · CHI	3.68	5.83	8.63	62.5%	48
16	Colston LovelandTE · CHI	3.67	5.39	8.95	70.7%	82
17	Dawson KnoxTE · BUF	3.66	5.30	7.05	73.5%	49
18	George KittleTE · SF	3.63	5.12	6.97	82.6%	69
19	Juwan JohnsonTE · NO	3.59	5.92	7.35	75.5%	102
20	Jake TongesTE · SF	3.58	4.86	5.30	73.9%	46
21	Rashee RiceWR · KC	3.57	6.17	4.46	67.9%	78
22	Tre TuckerWR · LV	3.56	7.65	10.34	62.0%	92
23	Deebo Samuel Sr.WR · WAS	3.55	6.25	5.31	72.7%	99
24	Zay FlowersWR · BAL	3.52	6.49	9.92	72.9%	118
25	Kyle PittsTE · ATL	3.51	5.37	7.19	74.6%	118
26	Cade OttonTE · TB	3.50	5.59	4.87	72.8%	81
27	Colby ParkinsonTE · LAR	3.50	5.71	4.74	76.8%	56
28	Gunnar HelmTE · TEN	3.50	4.81	5.39	80.0%	55
29	JuJu Smith-SchusterWR · KC	3.47	6.04	5.12	73.3%	45
30	Olamide ZaccheausWR · CHI	3.44	6.36	7.01	60.0%	65
31	Sam LaPortaTE · DET	3.44	6.39	5.64	81.6%	49
32	Xavier WorthyWR · KC	3.43	6.28	12.32	57.5%	73
33	Dalton KincaidTE · BUF	3.42	6.03	9.10	79.6%	49
34	Michael MayerTE · LV	3.35	5.95	4.39	70.0%	50
35	Wan'Dale RobinsonWR · NYG	3.34	6.71	8.66	65.7%	140
36	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	3.31	5.99	7.11	73.2%	82
37	Tyler WarrenTE · IND	3.30	5.92	5.50	67.9%	112
38	Travis HunterWR · JAX	3.28	6.99	7.55	62.2%	45
39	Ladd McConkeyWR · LAC	3.27	5.82	9.93	62.3%	106
40	Sterling ShepardWR · TB	3.27	6.03	8.71	73.6%	53
41	Mason TaylorTE · NYJ	3.26	6.05	6.01	67.7%	65
42	Jake FergusonTE · DAL	3.25	5.86	4.90	80.4%	102
43	Justin JeffersonWR · MIN	3.23	5.79	10.36	59.6%	141
44	DJ MooreWR · CHI	3.23	6.83	11.47	58.8%	85
45	Marquise BrownWR · KC	3.19	6.29	11.18	66.2%	74
46	Travis KelceTE · KC	3.18	5.74	6.35	70.4%	108
47	Oronde Gadsden IITE · LAC	3.18	5.96	9.00	71.0%	69
48	Jameson WilliamsWR · DET	3.17	6.08	12.40	63.7%	102
49	Garrett WilsonWR · NYJ	3.14	6.38	9.43	61.0%	59
50	Ja'Marr ChaseWR · CIN	3.13	5.74	8.42	67.6%	185
51	Pat FreiermuthTE · PIT	3.11	5.36	6.00	75.9%	54
52	Trey McBrideTE · ARI	3.06	5.50	6.87	74.6%	169
53	Troy FranklinWR · DEN	3.06	6.69	12.68	62.5%	104
54	Theo JohnsonTE · NYG	3.06	5.94	8.07	60.8%	74
55	Stefon DiggsWR · NE	3.04	5.75	8.52	83.3%	102
56	Michael PittmanWR · IND	3.03	6.66	7.97	72.1%	111
57	Cooper KuppWR · SEA	3.03	6.14	8.26	67.1%	70
58	Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWR · SEA	3.02	6.31	11.27	73.0%	163
59	Hunter HenryTE · NE	2.99	6.21	8.13	69.0%	87
60	Xavier HutchinsonWR · HOU	2.99	5.51	9.15	61.4%	57
61	Ryan FlournoyWR · DAL	2.98	6.30	8.83	71.4%	56
62	Amon-Ra St. BrownWR · DET	2.94	6.04	8.38	68.0%	172
63	Rome OdunzeWR · CHI	2.94	6.46	14.12	48.9%	90
64	Darnell MooneyWR · ATL	2.94	6.56	14.21	44.4%	72
65	Chris OlaveWR · NO	2.93	6.76	11.68	64.1%	156
66	Harold Fannin Jr.TE · CLE	2.93	5.59	5.88	67.3%	107
67	Brock BowersTE · LV	2.92	6.16	7.07	74.4%	86
68	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	2.90	4.71	7.81	68.6%	70
69	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	2.90	6.45	7.65	64.7%	51
70	Jordan AddisonWR · MIN	2.87	7.19	14.39	53.2%	79
71	Puka NacuaWR · LAR	2.83	6.03	8.94	77.7%	166
72	DeVonta SmithWR · PHI	2.83	6.44	12.02	68.1%	113
73	Kendrick BourneWR · SF	2.82	6.57	10.66	69.8%	53
74	Calvin Austin IIIWR · PIT	2.81	5.53	10.35	56.4%	55
75	Keon ColemanWR · BUF	2.79	5.70	12.00	64.4%	59
76	CeeDee LambWR · DAL	2.77	6.22	12.31	64.1%	117
77	Rashid ShaheedWR · SEA	2.76	6.34	11.54	64.1%	92
78	Darius SlaytonWR · NYG	2.75	5.72	13.35	58.7%	63
79	Tyler LockettWR · LV	2.75	6.27	7.54	58.2%	55
80	Jakobi MeyersWR · JAX	2.73	6.41	9.40	68.2%	110
81	Zach ErtzTE · WAS	2.73	6.03	8.68	69.4%	72
82	Mack HollinsWR · NE	2.73	6.29	12.96	70.8%	65
83	Jaylen WaddleWR · MIA	2.72	6.19	12.29	64.0%	100
84	Adonai MitchellWR · NYJ	2.71	5.81	14.82	44.6%	74
85	David NjokuTE · CLE	2.71	5.68	4.99	68.8%	48
86	Van JeffersonWR · TEN	2.70	6.08	12.00	55.8%	52
87	Tetairoa McMillanWR · CAR	2.69	5.73	12.46	57.4%	122
88	Jayden HigginsWR · HOU	2.69	5.74	12.04	60.3%	68
89	Elic AyomanorWR · TEN	2.67	5.83	12.26	46.1%	89
90	Keenan AllenWR · LAC	2.63	6.19	8.46	66.4%	122
91	Drake LondonWR · ATL	2.63	5.87	10.83	60.7%	112
92	DK MetcalfWR · PIT	2.63	4.49	9.90	59.6%	99
93	Brian Thomas Jr.WR · JAX	2.63	5.51	14.28	52.7%	91
94	Josh DownsWR · IND	2.63	7.17	7.79	65.9%	88
95	Emeka EgbukaWR · TB	2.59	6.24	12.16	49.6%	127
96	Xavier LegetteWR · CAR	2.57	6.72	10.84	54.7%	64
97	Christian KirkWR · HOU	2.52	5.84	7.22	53.8%	52
98	Jerry JeudyWR · CLE	2.49	5.64	11.88	47.2%	106
99	Andrei IosivasWR · CIN	2.44	5.56	9.86	56.9%	58
100	Ricky PearsallWR · SF	2.44	6.91	13.93	67.9%	53
101	Pat BryantWR · DEN	2.44	6.33	8.67	63.3%	49
102	Kayshon BoutteWR · NE	2.44	4.88	17.12	71.7%	46
103	Michael WilsonWR · ARI	2.43	5.98	11.42	61.9%	126
104	Terry McLaurinWR · WAS	2.43	6.70	14.04	63.3%	60
105	Quentin JohnstonWR · LAC	2.40	5.30	12.30	60.7%	84
106	Jalen NailorWR · MIN	2.40	5.44	13.05	54.7%	53
107	Marvin Harrison Jr.WR · ARI	2.38	4.93	13.60	56.2%	73
108	Parker WashingtonWR · JAX	2.32	6.56	12.68	61.1%	95
109	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	2.28	5.28	12.59	59.7%	124
110	Nico CollinsWR · HOU	2.26	4.87	12.96	59.2%	120
111	George PickensWR · DAL	2.24	5.18	11.81	67.9%	137
112	Romeo DoubsWR · GB	2.24	5.99	12.81	64.7%	85
113	Jauan JenningsWR · SF	2.23	5.64	10.18	61.1%	90
114	A.J. BrownWR · PHI	2.22	5.75	11.58	64.5%	121
115	Dontayvion WicksWR · GB	2.14	5.91	11.33	65.2%	46
116	Davante AdamsWR · LAR	2.12	5.17	13.22	52.6%	114
117	Alec PierceWR · IND	2.07	6.27	19.09	56.0%	84
118	Christian WatsonWR · GB	1.97	6.27	17.65	63.6%	55
119	Mike EvansWR · TB	1.92	5.34	13.56	48.4%	62
120	Tee HigginsWR · CIN	1.85	5.24	13.54	60.2%	98

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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