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 Oct 10, 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	Read
1	Luther Burden IIIWR · CHI	4.62	7.33	7.28	78.3%	60	Read
2	Evan EngramTE · DEN	4.58	6.78	4.29	65.8%	76	Read
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	Read
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	Read
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	Read
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	Read
12	T.J. HockensonTE · MIN	3.76	6.08	4.76	77.3%	66	Read
13	Dalton SchultzTE · HOU	3.74	5.40	6.26	77.4%	106	Read
14	Malik WashingtonWR · MIA	3.70	6.43	5.20	70.8%	65	Read
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	Read
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	Read
19	Juwan JohnsonTE · NO	3.59	5.92	7.35	75.5%	102	Read
20	Jake TongesTE · SF	3.58	4.86	5.30	73.9%	46	Read
21	Rashee RiceWR · KC	3.57	6.17	4.46	67.9%	78	Read
22	Tre TuckerWR · LV	3.56	7.65	10.34	62.0%	92	Read
23	Deebo Samuel Sr.WR · WAS	3.55	6.25	5.31	72.7%	99	Read
24	Zay FlowersWR · BAL	3.52	6.49	9.92	72.9%	118	Read
25	Kyle PittsTE · ATL	3.51	5.37	7.19	74.6%	118	Read
26	Cade OttonTE · TB	3.50	5.59	4.87	72.8%	81	Read
27	Colby ParkinsonTE · LAR	3.50	5.71	4.74	76.8%	56	Read
28	Gunnar HelmTE · TEN	3.50	4.81	5.39	80.0%	55	Read
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	Read
32	Xavier WorthyWR · KC	3.43	6.28	12.32	57.5%	73	Read
33	Dalton KincaidTE · BUF	3.42	6.03	9.10	79.6%	49	Read
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	Read
36	Dallas GoedertTE · PHI	3.31	5.99	7.11	73.2%	82	Read
37	Tyler WarrenTE · IND	3.30	5.92	5.50	67.9%	112	Read
38	Travis HunterWR · JAX	3.28	6.99	7.55	62.2%	45	Read
39	Ladd McConkeyWR · LAC	3.27	5.82	9.93	62.3%	106	Read
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	Read
43	Justin JeffersonWR · MIN	3.23	5.79	10.36	59.6%	141	Read
44	DJ MooreWR · CHI	3.23	6.83	11.47	58.8%	85	Read
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	Read
47	Oronde Gadsden IITE · LAC	3.18	5.96	9.00	71.0%	69	Read
48	Jameson WilliamsWR · DET	3.17	6.08	12.40	63.7%	102	Read
49	Garrett WilsonWR · NYJ	3.14	6.38	9.43	61.0%	59	Read
50	Ja'Marr ChaseWR · CIN	3.13	5.74	8.42	67.6%	185	Read
51	Pat FreiermuthTE · PIT	3.11	5.36	6.00	75.9%	54	Read
52	Trey McBrideTE · ARI	3.06	5.50	6.87	74.6%	169	Read
53	Troy FranklinWR · DEN	3.06	6.69	12.68	62.5%	104	Read
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	Read
56	Michael PittmanWR · IND	3.03	6.66	7.97	72.1%	111	Read
57	Cooper KuppWR · SEA	3.03	6.14	8.26	67.1%	70	Read
58	Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWR · SEA	3.02	6.31	11.27	73.0%	163	Read
59	Hunter HenryTE · NE	2.99	6.21	8.13	69.0%	87	Read
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	Read
62	Amon-Ra St. BrownWR · DET	2.94	6.04	8.38	68.0%	172	Read
63	Rome OdunzeWR · CHI	2.94	6.46	14.12	48.9%	90	Read
64	Darnell MooneyWR · ATL	2.94	6.56	14.21	44.4%	72	Read
65	Chris OlaveWR · NO	2.93	6.76	11.68	64.1%	156	Read
66	Harold Fannin Jr.TE · CLE	2.93	5.59	5.88	67.3%	107	Read
67	Brock BowersTE · LV	2.92	6.16	7.07	74.4%	86	Read
68	Mark AndrewsTE · BAL	2.90	4.71	7.81	68.6%	70	Read
69	Chris Godwin Jr.WR · TB	2.90	6.45	7.65	64.7%	51	Read
70	Jordan AddisonWR · MIN	2.87	7.19	14.39	53.2%	79	Read
71	Puka NacuaWR · LAR	2.83	6.03	8.94	77.7%	166	Read
72	DeVonta SmithWR · PHI	2.83	6.44	12.02	68.1%	113	Read
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	Read
76	CeeDee LambWR · DAL	2.77	6.22	12.31	64.1%	117	Read
77	Rashid ShaheedWR · SEA	2.76	6.34	11.54	64.1%	92	Read
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	Read
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	Read
84	Adonai MitchellWR · NYJ	2.71	5.81	14.82	44.6%	74	Read
85	David NjokuTE · CLE	2.71	5.68	4.99	68.8%	48	Read
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	Read
88	Jayden HigginsWR · HOU	2.69	5.74	12.04	60.3%	68	Read
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	Read
92	DK MetcalfWR · PIT	2.63	4.49	9.90	59.6%	99	Read
93	Brian Thomas Jr.WR · JAX	2.63	5.51	14.28	52.7%	91	Read
94	Josh DownsWR · IND	2.63	7.17	7.79	65.9%	88	Read
95	Emeka EgbukaWR · TB	2.59	6.24	12.16	49.6%	127	Read
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	Read
98	Jerry JeudyWR · CLE	2.49	5.64	11.88	47.2%	106	Read
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	Read
101	Pat BryantWR · DEN	2.44	6.33	8.67	63.3%	49	Read
102	Kayshon BoutteWR · NE	2.44	4.88	17.12	71.7%	46	Read
103	Michael WilsonWR · ARI	2.43	5.98	11.42	61.9%	126	Read
104	Terry McLaurinWR · WAS	2.43	6.70	14.04	63.3%	60	Read
105	Quentin JohnstonWR · LAC	2.40	5.30	12.30	60.7%	84	Read
106	Jalen NailorWR · MIN	2.40	5.44	13.05	54.7%	53	Read
107	Marvin Harrison Jr.WR · ARI	2.38	4.93	13.60	56.2%	73	Read
108	Parker WashingtonWR · JAX	2.32	6.56	12.68	61.1%	95	Read
109	Courtland SuttonWR · DEN	2.28	5.28	12.59	59.7%	124	Read
110	Nico CollinsWR · HOU	2.26	4.87	12.96	59.2%	120	Read
111	George PickensWR · DAL	2.24	5.18	11.81	67.9%	137	Read
112	Romeo DoubsWR · GB	2.24	5.99	12.81	64.7%	85	Read
113	Jauan JenningsWR · SF	2.23	5.64	10.18	61.1%	90	Read
114	A.J. BrownWR · PHI	2.22	5.75	11.58	64.5%	121	Read
115	Dontayvion WicksWR · GB	2.14	5.91	11.33	65.2%	46	Read
116	Davante AdamsWR · LAR	2.12	5.17	13.22	52.6%	114	Read
117	Alec PierceWR · IND	2.07	6.27	19.09	56.0%	84	Read
118	Christian WatsonWR · GB	1.97	6.27	17.65	63.6%	55	Read
119	Mike EvansWR · TB	1.92	5.34	13.56	48.4%	62	Read
120	Tee HigginsWR · CIN	1.85	5.24	13.54	60.2%	98	Read

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

Follow the football you care about. Players, teams, stat boards — press Follow on any of them, and that is what your weekly email is made of. Nothing you didn't ask for.

Free. One email a week, in season.

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 →