11 Outrageous Next Gen Stats Entering Week 11

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Deep Receiving Yards

Jaxon Smith-Njigba not only leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,041), but he also has averaged the most yards per route run (4.8) in the Next Gen Stats era. The craziest numbers though? There are 33 qualified quarterbacks in the NFL this season. Smith-Njigba has more deep receiving yards (382) than 24 of them have deep passing yards this season. The only quarterbacks with more deep yards than Seattle’s superstar wide receiver: Jalen Hurts, Sam Darnold, Matthew Stafford, Drake Maye, Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, and Justin Herbert.

NGS Definition: Deep passes (20+ air yards).

2. Jonathan Taylor’s Yards After Contact

Jonathan Taylor is on pace to be the first player since the Hall of Famer Jim Brown to win multiple rushing triple crowns outright. Unfortunately, we don’t have the Next Gen Stats data on the Hall of Famer, but we do have it for Taylor, who leads the NFL with 891 rushing yards after contact this season. The only player with more total rush yards than Taylor has yards after contact is James Cook (920).

3. Matthew Stafford Pass TD vs the Blitz

Matthew Stafford leads the NFL with 25 pass touchdowns and seems on track to win his first MVP award. Stafford has thrown 20 of those 25 pass touchdowns against the blitz, almost double the next closest players. The only quarterbacks with more against the blitz for an entire season are Dak Prescott in 2021 and Lamar Jackson in 2019 (each had 24). The early MVP favorite, Stafford, has done so in nine games.

NGS Definition: vs Blitz (5+ pass rushers)

4. Derrick Henry Forced Missed Tackle Rate

Derrick Henry would likely be the number one choice in a Family Feud style “Who would you least want to tackle?” question. It makes sense: Henry has forced the most missed tackles (592) on runs in the Next Gen Stats era. However, this season, Henry has the lowest forced missed tackle percentage (12.8) among all running backs with at least 50 carries this season.

5. Drake Maye vs Disguised Coverages

Drake Maye has the highest passer rating (113.9) in a season by any player under the age of 24 in NFL history. The three players right below him? Patrick Mahomes (2018), Lamar Jackson (2019), and Dan Marino (1984). Each won an MVP award that season. Maye has similarly looked wise beyond his years: he leads the NFL with 700 pass yards and 6 pass touchdowns against disguised coverages this season.

NGS Definition: If coverage is different from NGS machine-learning prediction.

6. The Broncos’ Historic Pressure Rate

The Broncos defense is on pace to set an NFL record with 78 sacks this season. Disrupting the quarterback has been Denver’s modus operandi. The unit has the highest quarterback pressure percentage (42.9 pct) by any team in the Next Gen Stats era. Nik Bonitto leads all players with 51 pressures. Zach Allen is tied for the most pressures among defensive tackles.

7. Nik Bonitto’s Pressure Percentage

Speaking of the Broncos pass rush, Nik Bonitto is building a case to make the Broncos the third team in NFL history to have different players win Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons (Patrick Surtain II won in 2024). The leader of the Denver’s dominant pass rush, Bonitto leads the NFL with a 23.0 quarterback pressure percentage this season. The only player in the Next Gen era with a higher pressure rate in a season was Micah Parsons in 2021 (25.0).

8. Micah Parsons Against Extra Blockers

Speaking of Micah Parsons, his 48 quarterback pressures this season trail only Bonitto (51). The Packers pass rusher is the only player to face at least 50 double teams and 50 chip blocks this season. His 16 pressures against double teams or chip blocks are the most in the NFL. He is on pace for 30 such pressures this season; the only player with more was Aaron Donald (37) in his 2018 Defensive Player of the Year season.

9. Sam Darnold’s Deep Completion Percentage

Sam Darnold might lead the offense with the lowest pass percentage (47.1) in the NFL, but he’s been threading the deep ball. Darnold has the highest completion percentage (69.6) and passer rating (151.7) on deep passes in the Next Gen Stats era. In fact, his completion percentage is over 10 points higher than the next closest player (Brock Purdy, 59.5 in 2023).

NGS Definition: Deep passes (20+ air yards).

10. Riley Moss: NFL’s Most Targeted Player

Riley Moss should expect to get a lot of work on the opposite side of the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain II (currently sidelined with pectoral injury). Riley Moss has been targeted 68 times in coverage this season, the most of any player in the NFL. Opponents haven’t had much success: Moss has allowed the lowest completion percentage 45.6 among all players to be targeted at least 40 times in coverage.

11. Patriots Duo of Defensive Tackles Facing Double Teams

Patriots’ defensive tackles Christian Barmore (13.2) and Milton Williams (13.0) have the two-highest quarterback pressure percentages at the position this season (minimum 200 snaps). Only three defensive tackles have 10-plus quarterback pressures after facing a double team this season: Williams (11), Barmore (10), and Pro Bowler Vita Vea (11).

BONUS: More Dynamic Duos

The two players with the lowest completion percentage allowed in man coverage this season are both Seahawks: Riq Woolen (21.1) and Josh Jobe (28.6); Minimum 75 man coverage snaps.

The two players with the most coverage snaps without allowing a pass touchdown are both Broncos: Brandon Jones (365) and Talanoa Hufanga (362).