- Nico Collins and Puka Nacua had been nightmares for defenses in 2024: The star receivers every positioned among the many 5 highest-graded gamers in opposition to man and zone protection this previous season.
- Mike Evans is not slowing down: The soon-to-be 32-year-old was the NFL’s greatest move catcher in opposition to man protection in 2024, boasting an elite 92.8 PFF receiving grade.
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Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
We’re diving into final season’s prime NFL extensive receivers by PFF receiving grade in opposition to man and zone coverages.
The Los Angeles Rams’ Puka Nacua and the Houston Texans’ Nico Collins headline each classes, whereas the all the time constant Mike Evans dominated in opposition to man protection.
Man Coverage
1. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (92.5)
Evans caught 33 of 43 single-coverage targets for 401 yards, shifting the chains on all however 5 of his receptions (28). His 76.7% catch price in opposition to man protection ranked first amongst gamers on this listing. Evans additionally caught 5 landing passes, secured seven of 10 contested targets and produced a 134.0 passer ranking when focused.
Mike Evans’ Career PFF Grades
2. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (92.4)
Brown ranked fifth in PFF receiving grade in opposition to man protection in 2023 (90.4) and recorded a league-best 510 receiving yards.
He led the league in that mark once more in 2024, catching 35 single-target passes for 538 yards and 6 touchdowns (tied third most). Brown additionally paced the NFL with 11 missed tackles compelled on man-coverage catches whereas ending within the prime three in first downs gained (26), yards after the catch (189) and yards per route run (3.99). He ranked fifth in passer ranking when focused in opposition to man protection (142.4).
3. Nico Collins, Houston Texans (92.0)
Collins recorded the second-best PFF receiving grade in opposition to man-coverage appears in 2023 (92.1), averaging 6.7 yards after the catch and main the league in yards per route run (4.43).
That manufacturing continued in 2024, as he earned a near-identical 92.0 PFF receiving grade and once more averaged 6.7 yards after the catch. Collins secured 19 of 29 single-coverage targets for 345 yards and a landing. He gained 17 first downs and ranked first in yards per route run (4.01) regardless of lacking 5 video games.
4. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (90.9)
Nacua missed 5 video games in 2024 however nonetheless led the league in goal price in opposition to man protection (40%) and yards after the catch (211). He caught 29 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to such coverages, along with shifting the chains 18 instances. Nacua was the one receiver exterior of A.J. Brown to drive double-digit missed tackles (10) on man-coverage targets.
5. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons (90.4)
London caught 31 passes for 393 yards and 23 first downs (tied fifth most) in opposition to man protection in 2024. He positioned within the prime 10 in touchdowns, receiving yards, yards per route run and goal price, all whereas producing a powerful 130.1 passer ranking when focused on such performs.
Zone Coverage
1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (92.3)
Nacua earned a 90.4 zone PFF receiving grade in his rookie 2023 season and adopted that up with a 92.3 mark in 2024. He noticed 71 zone targets at a price of 36%, the very best within the league, and caught 55 passes for 706 yards and a landing. Nacua averaged 5.8 yards after the catch and completed within the prime 10 in missed tackles compelled (10) and first downs (32) on zone targets.
2. Nico Collins, Houston Texans (90.5)
Like Nacua, Collins recorded 90.0-plus PFF receiving grades in opposition to man and zone protection in 2024, making them the one two receivers to perform the feat. Collins caught 50 zone targets for 726 yards (ninth most) and a landing. He gained 252 yards after the catch, averaged 5.0 extra yards per reception and ranked fourth in yards per route run (2.75). He additionally secured 9 of 12 contested targets, compelled seven missed tackles and gained 32 first downs in opposition to zone.
3. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (87.7)
Jefferson ranked fourth in PFF receiving grade in opposition to zone protection in 2023 (90.6) after recording 43 catches for 641 yards and inserting third in yards per route run (3.00).
This previous season, he was certainly one of two receivers (Amon-Ra St. Brown) to document 100 zone targets, catching 76 passes for 992 yards (third most) and 5 touchdowns (tied fifth most). He compelled 9 missed tackles and gained 40 first downs on his strategy to a 106.8 passer ranking when focused.
4. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals (87.4)
Chase completed within the prime three in zone targets (92), catches (73) and receiving yards (1,065) in 2024. He averaged 7.5 yards after the catch per reception (fifth most) whereas main the place with 550 complete yards gained after the catch. He logged 40 first downs, compelled 10 missed tackles and averaged 2.89 yards per route run (third greatest). The elite wideout was certainly one of two gamers (Amon-Ra St. Brown) to document greater than 1,000 receiving yards in opposition to zone protection.
Ja’Marr Chase’s Career PFF Grades
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (86.6)
St. Brown positioned third in PFF receiving grade in opposition to zone protection in 2023 (91.0) and led all receivers in zone targets (112), catches (84), receiving yards (1,180) and first downs (56).
He picked up proper the place he left off in 2024, hauling in 91 of 107 targets for 1,048 yards (second most) and 51 first downs. St. Brown once more led the league in targets, catches and first downs in opposition to zone whereas tying for the fourth-best zone catch price (85.0%). He caught three touchdowns, compelled 12 missed tackles and secured 12 of 17 contested targets, capping his season with a 116.0 passer ranking focused in opposition to zone.