I love the NFL and some of my favorite players have been target leaders over the years. It’s always exciting to see who will top the leader board each season. I’m a big fan of Randy Moss, and he’s held the single season record for most targets in 2007 with the New England Patriots. That one just blows my mind—178 targets over the course of a single season!
Plus, six of the top ten target leaders for 2018 were WRs, which is no surprise. Larry Fitzgerald was up there at the top, securing almost 130 targets. He’s a legend. I guess that’s why they call him “Mr. Reliable” – he’s always been there when Kurt Warner needed him. And let’s not forget DeAndre Hopkins who had more than 150 targets last season.
And one name I need to mention is Anquan Boldin. I mean, his numbers are insane—576 receptions and 141 targets over his entire career. That’s almost incomprehensible! How does someone stay that consistent over 13 years? He may not have countless records, but he’s definitely an icon in the NFL.
And who can ignore the great Reggie Wayne? I remember rooting for him back in 2010 when he dominated the stat sheet, catching 111 passes off of 177 targets. It’s hard to forget a performance like that! Or when he broke the all-time career receiving targets record in 2011 with 222 targets. Those were definitely memorable milestones.
Whenever I think about targets in the NFL, one name that comes to mind is 29-year-old Julian Edelman. He’s been racking up high totals since 2013, and he’s well on his way to establishing himself as a target leader. His career high so far is 151 targets in 2015 and he has a knack for finding open space and getting open for his QB.
And what about Antonio Brown? I’ve got to say, I’m glad he’s still playing. He was a real beast back in 2007 when he had 179 targets and he’s still one of the top ten target leaders in recent years. He’s a real asset to any NFL team.
I’m always surprised by the new players that make it into the top target leader list each season. It’s tough to be one of the best, but these guys go above and beyond to make it happen.
In the second part of my blog post, I’ll be talking about how teams use the target leader system as an effective strategy for success. It’s amazing how these teams are able to find and utilize playmakers like these to increase their chances of winning. I can’t wait to dive into this subject and talk about how teams choose and use their top targets.
Next, I’ll talk about the different types of receiving tendencies and styles that players have when they are targeted. I’ll also touch upon the most effective routes that target leaders use and how teams utilize them to gain an advantage on offense.
I’ll also talk about how target leaders use decoys and misdirection to keep defenses guessing and how this can benefit their team in the long run. I’m excited to explore this intriguing aspect of the game.
Finally, I’ll be digging into the stats and examining the different age groups for target leaders. It’s always interesting to see which age group dominates the leader boards and how those players measure up in comparison to those of past seasons.
Overall, target leaders play an incredible role in the NFL and I’m looking forward to discussing this incredible topic in more detail in my upcoming blog post. I’m sure it’s going to be enlightening and thought-provoking.