Air yards are the total yards the QB threw the ball in the air toward the wide receiver. Why is this important? It helps us differentiate targets, weighing targets deeper downfield heavier than shorter throws. Since yards are a fantasy football stat, having players who need only to catch the ball to accumulate the most yards is a tried and true strategy.
Everyone is trying to gain an edge on their league. Therefore, it is advantageous to know which players are garnering the opportunities to have monster weeks before they put it all together. Every week, we will give you the top receivers (not just WR, but RB & TE too) according to air yards for every NFL team. Additionally, we will provide an evaluation of those numbers and what fantasy football actions are warranted.
Get a FREE 6 month upgrade with our special offer 
**only players with >40 Air Yards for the week are listed below**
Arizona Cardinals
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| DeAndre Hopkins (WR – ARI) | 164 | 18.2 |
| Rondale Moore (WR – ARI) | 30 | 5.0 |
Evaluation: Rondale Moore ran just 20 snaps, but made the most of his opportunities. The rookie has shown inconsistent fantasy value, but with Kyler cooking, any piece of the puzzle is worthy of lineup consideration.
Atlanta Falcons
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL) | 106 | 10.6 |
| Hayden Hurst (TE – ATL) | 67 | 13.4 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson (RB – ATL) | 44 | 4.9 |
| Tajae Sharpe (WR – ATL) | 42 | 8.4 |
Evaluation: Russell Gage and Calvin Ridley were absent, so Pitts and Patterson went berserk, It’s unclear how the offense will look when all are functioning, but this was a fun week for Pitts’ enthusiasts.
Baltimore Ravens
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Mark Andrews (TE – BAL) | 108 | 8.3 |
| Marquise Brown (WR – BAL) | 100 | 10.0 |
| Sammy Watkins (WR – BAL) | 29 | 9.7 |
Evaluation: Hollywood Brown continues to be a field-stretcher, while Mark Andrews stars as a steady chain-mover. The Baltimore passing game is improved because these two have contributed consistently in 2021.
Buffalo Bills
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Dawson Knox (TE – BUF) | 106 | 26.5 |
| Stefon Diggs (WR – BUF) | 90 | 18.0 |
| Emmanuel Sanders (WR – BUF) | 79 | 15.8 |
Evaluation: Most interesting was Dawson Know being used downfield, hauling in three deep passes from his QB. It doesn’t take much to crack the second tier of fantasy TEs, but Knox is firmly thereafter this performance.
Carolina Panthers
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Robby Anderson (WR – CAR) | 106 | 15.1 |
| D.J. Moore (WR – CAR) | 66 | 9.4 |
| Ian Thomas (TE – CAR) | 36 | 7.2 |
Evaluation: Sam Darnold (QB – CAR) was unable to push the ball downfield, and when he did it ended up in the hands of the opposing team. Robby Anderson continues to get looks without production. Will he finally haul in a few of these deep shots?
Cincinnati Bengals
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Ja’Marr Chase (WR – CIN) | 185 | 18.5 |
| Tee Higgins (WR – CIN) | 45 | 6.4 |
Evaluation: Ja’Marr Chase has arrived.
Chicago Bears
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Cole Kmet (TE – CHI) | 75 | 18.8 |
| Darnell Mooney (WR – CHI) | 44 | 8.8 |
| Allen Robinson (WR – CHI) | 42 | 8.4 |
| Marquise Goodwin (WR – CHI) | 38 | 19.0 |
Evaluation: Sticking with this Bears’ offense is not for the faint of heart. Allen Robinson is on everyone’s fantasy naughty list due to the inconsistent play of Justin Fields (QB – CHI). The Bears are going to let him learn on the job, so moving on from you Bears is the smart play for fantasy.
Cleveland Browns
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Rashard Higgins (WR – CLE) | 86 | 17.2 |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR – CLE) | 82 | 13.7 |
| David Njoku (TE – CLE) | 41 | 5.9 |
| Anthony Schwartz (WR – CLE) | 37 | 37.0 |
Evaluation: The absence of Odell Beckham Jr (WR – CLE) says more than the presence of any of the WRs above. He and Baker Mayfield (QB – CLE) have failed to make a connection over several seasons now. Beckham is an unreliable fantasy asset at this point.
Dallas Cowboys
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Amari Cooper (WR – DAL) | 99 | 16.5 |
| Dalton Schultz (TE – DAL) | 76 | 9.5 |
| CeeDee Lamb (WR – DAL) | 46 | 7.7 |
| Noah Brown (WR – DAL) | 44 | 11.0 |
Evaluation: Dalton Schultz has stepped up for Dallas in the absence of Michael Gallup (WR – DAL). He’s absorbing more targets each week and consistently putting up fantasy points. If you snagged him early off the wire, congratulations.
Denver Broncos
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN) | 151 | 13.7 |
| Tim Patrick (WR – DEN) | 71 | 7.9 |
Evaluation: You could do worse than starting Tim Patrick in your lineups. He provides a steady floor, while Sutton is the upside play. Injuries have thinned the branches for Bridgewater, so increase your expectations for these two Denver wide receivers.
Detroit Lions
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| KhaDarel Hodge (WR – DET) | 77 | 15.4 |
| Kalif Raymond (WR – DET) | 73 | 36.5 |
| Amon-Ra St Brown (WR – DET) | 33 | 4.1 |
Evaluation: If you have seen T.J. Hockenson (TE – DET), please alert the Detroit Metro Police.
Green Bay Packers
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Davante Adams (WR – GB) | 239 | 14.9 |
| Robert Tonyan (TE – GB) | 44 | 22.0 |
| Randall Cobb (WR – GB) | 31 | 10.3 |
Evaluation: Adams currently sports the second-highest team target % rate in the last 15 seasons. The carousel behind Davante for targets stopped on the TE this week, but there’s no consistency from anyone outside of WR1.
Houston Texans
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Chris Conley (WR – HOU) | 76 | 19.0 |
| Brandin Cooks (WR – HOU) | 56 | 11.2 |
| David Johnson (RB – HOU) | 44 | 7.3 |
| Chris Moore (WR – HOU) | 36 | 7.2 |
Evaluation: No Brandin Cooks? This is an aberration, not the beginning of a trend. Fade Cooks at your own risk.
Indianapolis Colts
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Parris Campbell (WR – IND) | 62 | 10.3 |
| Michael Pittman (WR – IND) | 44 | 6.3 |
| Mo Alie-Cox (TE – IND) | 44 | 11.0 |
Evaluation: Michael Pittman is Carson’s Wentz’s first look. He’s made the leap to every week fantasy starter and could continue to grow into an even larger role.
Jacksonville Jaguars
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Marvin Jones Jr (WR – JAX) | 101 | 20.2 |
| Dan Arnold (TE – JAX) | 63 | 7.9 |
| Tavon Austin (WR – JAX) | 40 | 8.0 |
Evaluation: After trading for TE Dan Arnold, Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX) went right to his new security blanket on multiple occasions. He is a fine deep league play.
Kansas City Chiefs
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Travis Kelce (TE – KC) | 104 | 10.4 |
| Tyreek Hill (WR – KC) | 77 | 5.9 |
| Mecole Hardman (WR – KC) | 74 | 6.2 |
| Demarcus Robinson (WR – KC) | 37 | 18.5 |
Evaluation: Kelce and Hill remain the only reliable fantasy options in the KC passing game.
Las Vegas Raiders
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Bryan Edwards (WR – LV) | 92 | 18.4 |
| Darren Waller (TE – LV) | 75 | 9.4 |
| Hunter Renfrow (WR – LV) | 49 | 6.1 |
| Henry Ruggs (WR – LV) | 45 | 15.0 |
Evaluation: Renfrow and Waller are just target hogs in this offense. Of course, the Raiders will be dealing with more distractions after this week’s email scandal. Derek Carr (QB – LV) has come crashing back to Earth. It is hard to trust anyone outside of the aforementioned.
Los Angeles Chargers
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Mike Williams (WR – LAC) | 231 | 14.4 |
| Keenan Allen (WR – LAC) | 77 | 8.6 |
| Jared Cook (TE – LAC) | 32 | 10.7 |
Evaluation: Mike Williams was on and off the field with minor knicks all day, but when he was on–he was on. Williams continues to fill the role of fantasy league winner in 2021.
Los Angeles Rams
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Robert Woods (WR – LAR) | 142 | 10.1 |
| Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR) | 124 | 12.4 |
| DeSean Jackson (WR – LAR) | 86 | 28.7 |
| Van Jefferson (WR – LAR) | 79 | 19.8 |
Evaluation: Bobby Trees please stand up! It is about dern time!
Miami Dolphins
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Preston Williams (WR – MIA) | 88 | 17.6 |
| Mike Gesicki (TE – MIA) | 71 | 10.1 |
Evaluation: Outside of Myles Gaskin (RB – MIA), this was a completely forgettable performance by every lined up to catch passes in Miami.
Minnesota Vikings
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Justin Jefferson (WR – MIN) | 100 | 12.5 |
| Adam Thielen (WR – MIN) | 52 | 17.3 |
| Dede Westbrook (WR – MIN) | 36 | 9.0 |
Evaluation: Minnesota’s air attack is hit or miss by design. They would rather run the ball if they had the choice. With that in mind, Justin Jefferson is going to have a hard time living up to his draft cost in 2021.
New England Patriots
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Hunter Henry (TE – NE) | 81 | 10.1 |
| Jakobi Meyers (WR – NE) | 59 | 11.8 |
| Nelson Agholor (WR -NE) | 39 | 9.8 |
Evaluation: Henry should not be on your waiver wire any longer. Mac Jones (QB – NE) showed his comfortability with the TE, peppering him with passes throughout the contest. Add Henry if in need at the position.
New Orleans Saints
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Marquez Callaway (WR – NO) | 143 | 17.9 |
| Kenny Stills (WR – NO) | 80 | 16.0 |
| Deonte Harris (WR – NO) | 47 | 27.0 |
Evaluation: Hail Mary is apropos to describe starting Saints WRs on your fantasy teams. They are extreme boom or bust plays. Enjoy the booms and avoid the busts.
New York Giants
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Kadarius Toney (WR – NYG) | 124 | 9.5 |
| John Ross (WR – NYG) | 95 | 19.0 |
| C.J. Board (WR – NYG) | 50 | 16.7 |
| Evan Engram (TE – NYG) | 41 | 10.3 |
Evaluation: Oh hey, Kadarius Toney. I believe we suggested adding you last week. Winky face emoji.
New York Jets
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Corey Davis (WR – NYJ) | 105 | 15.0 |
| Keelan Cole (WR – NYJ) | 57 | 19.0 |
| Elijah Moore (WR – NYJ) | 47 | 23.5 |
| Denzel Mims (WR – NYJ) | 39 | 13.0 |
Evaluation: Zach Wilson (QB – NYJ) performed poorly in London. He struggled to get into a rhythm with his WRs, completing just 19 passes. These are the rookie QB growing pains they warn you about.
Philadelphia Eagles
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Zach Ertz (TE – PHI) | 72 | 12.0 |
| DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI) | 64 | 8.0 |
| Quez Watkins (WR – PHI) | 35 | 11.7 |
Evaluation: DeVonta Smith and split the pot with the Philly TEs is the weekly fantasy recipe for the Eagles. There are other big play types on the roster, but none worthy of a typical league roster slot.
Pittsburgh Steelers
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Chase Claypool (WR – PIT) | 75 | 12.5 |
| Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT) | 39 | 19.5 |
Evaluation: Pittsburgh has a BIG TWO. Now that JuJu Smith Schuster will miss the remainder of the season, the upside for both Claypool and Johnson is at an all-time high.
Seattle Seahawks
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Tyler Lockett (WR – SEA) | 159 | 15.9 |
| D.K. Metcalf (WR – SEA) | 79 | 15.8 |
| Freddie Swain (WR – SEA) | 46 | 15.3 |
| Will Dissly (TE – SEA) | 30 | 7.5 |
Evaluation: Geno Smith (QB – SEA) is a significant hit to Metcalf and Lockett’s fantasy value. They are too good to bench, but hard to trust without Russ at the helm.
San Francisco 49ers
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Deebo Samuel (WR – SF) | 72 | 8.0 |
| Kyle Juszczyk (RB – SF) | 49 | 12.3 |
| Mohamed Sanu (WR – SF) | 34 | 11.4 |
Evaluation: This wasn’t Deebo’s best day, but the San Fran WR is a fantasy stud. Whoever is the QB, expect Samuel to regain form next week.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Mike Evans (WR – TB) | 165 | 20.6 |
| Chris Godwin (WR – TB) | 100 | 9.1 |
| Antonio Brown (WR – TB) | 84 | 10.5 |
| Leonard Fournette (RB – TB) | 39 | 7.8 |
Evaluation: Tampa Tom has more than enough juice to support three or four pass-catchers each week. This offense is scary.
Tennessee Titans
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| A.J. Brown (WR – TEN) | 60 | 10.1 |
| Anthony Firsker (TE – TEN) | 32 | 8.0 |
| Marcus Johnson (WR – TEN) | 31 | 6.2 |
Evaluation: Ryan Tannehill (QB – TEN) spread the ball over all the roster this Sunday, leaving A.J. Brown managers in a panic. Stick with the Tennessee stud, big Weeks are coming.
Washington Football Team
| PLAYER | WEEK 5 AIR YARDS | WEEK 5 aDOT |
| Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS) | 163 | 14.8 |
| DeAndre Carter (WR – WAS) | 117 | 14.6 |
| Adam Humphries (WR – WAS) | 43 | 8.6 |
| Ricky Seals-Jones (TE – WAS) | 34 | 4.3 |
Evaluation: Terry McLaurin drew a tough matchup leading to a struggle for anything to happen through the air. He will be a prime Week 6 bounce-back candidate versus Kansas City in Week 6.
Air Yards are a beast to tackle each week, and I couldn’t put this together without the work of Dave Wright of Dynasty League Football. His weekly spreadsheet is incredible, and you should subscribe to his Patreon for a wealth of fantasy football content!
Get free start/sit and waiver wire advice for your fantasy team
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Trade Analyzer – which allows you to instantly find out if a trade offer benefits you or your opponent – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
Aaron Pags is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Aaron, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyTriage.
