Advanced Fantasy Metrics: Week 3 True Catch Rate Report

True Catch Rate Leaders 

After topping this list after Week 1, Tyler Boyd remains the leader after catching an impressive 85.7% of his 21 targets. Boyd also leads the NFL with six contested catches and is the only player in the league to post a perfect 100% contested-catch rate with more than five contested targets. With recent news that A.J. Green could be out longer than expected, Boyd should remain a locked in weekly WR1/2.

Cooper Kupp produced one of the most exciting non-scoring receptions in some time and moved up one spot into second place. Kupp is doing most of his damage out of the slot and leads the Rams’ terrific trio in targets (19), receptions (12), and yards (166.) Concerns over Kupp’s knee can be completely laid to rest as he is off to a phenomenal start. 

The Carolina Panthers boast two of the league’s best young wideouts and both Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore rank in the top-20 most efficient wideouts through two games. Moore does have one drop but has caught 5-of-5 contested catches and is tied for third in the league with 24 targets. Samuel’s numbers have been affected by Cam Newton‘s struggles. Samuel has caught 8-of-8 catchable balls while also ranking third among all wideouts with 3.12 yards of separation. With Newton’s health up in the air, both Moore and Samuel will have trouble consistently hitting their ceilings. 

Tyrell Williams looks like a true No. 1 receiver after playing a secondary role for the first four seasons. Williams has caught 11-of-14 targets and excelled in contested-catch situations. In Week 3, Williams should see shadow coverage from Vikings’ cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who Pro Football Focus ranks as the NFL’s 83rd best cornerback through two weeks. 

While D.J. Chark‘s numbers predictably fell off after his huge opener, the good news is that Chark received a healthy nine targets from new QB Gardner Minshew. Chark has also scored in back-to-back games and ranks ninth in the NFL with 201 receiving yards. Now playing 77% of Jacksonville’s snaps, Chark looks like a solid weekly WR3/4. 

It’s no surprise to see Adam Thielen post solid efficiency numbers but both Thielen and Stefon Diggs are being hurt by Minnesota’s new run-first offense. QB Kirk Cousins’s numbers are significantly down while RB Dalvin Cook has emerged as a superstar running back. Still, Thielen has corralled all eight catchable passes and is being targeted farther downfield. 

James Washington is a player to keep an eye on. While we don’t know how effective new starting QB Mason Rudolph will be, the Steelers have clearly moved on from Donte Moncrief, which frees up Washington for an expanded role. Washington has fared well with limited looks as Pittsburgh’s deep threat. Now, he’ll have to chance to build up chemistry with a new signal-caller and could emerge as a solid WR4 if he can maintain his strong TCR showing. 

The window to move Phillip Dorsett is closing fast. After his superb Week 1 outing, Dorsett dipped to just 35 snaps at Miami. Part of that was from the blowout nature of that game but the arrival of Antonio Brown drops Dorsett to WR4 duties. Of course, trading Dorsett doesn’t come without risk, as Brown’s bizarre behavior makes him a risky bet to stay in the lineup. 

Emmanuel Sanders leads the NFL with seven red-zone targets. Sanders has also corralled 16-of-20 targets and ranks 12th with 184 receiving yards. Considering that the 32-year-old veteran is less than one year removed from an Achilles injury and has Joe Flacco throwing him passes, Sanders has been one of the biggest surprises in the league.