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Next Gen Stats: New advanced metrics you NEED to know for the 2020 NFL season

The Next Gen Stats team explains new advanced metrics for the 2020 NFL season, including Expected Rushing Yards, Route Recognition and Live Win Probability.
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Top 3 NFL wide receivers by route: Michael Thomas reigns

Nick Shook dives into Next Gen Stats Analytics to identify the NFL's best runners of eight different routes in 2019. One receiver dominates the rankings.
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Next Gen Stats: Intro to new Route Recognition model

Counting stats only tell half the story when it comes to pass catchers. Next Gen Stats' new model enables routes to be tracked in real time.
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Ten best-performing NFL O-lines by expected rushing yards

Next Gen Stats just revealed a new metric: expected rushing yards per carry. Today, Nick Shook explores the 10 best-performing NFL offensive lines by expected rushing yards from last season.
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Derrick Henry among top 10 RBs exceeding expected rushing yards 

Next Gen Stats just revealed a new metric: expected rushing yards. Today, Nick Shook explores the top 10 running backs who outperformed expected rushing yards from last season.
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Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) rushes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Next Gen Stats: Intro to Expected Rushing Yards

Next Gen Stats' newest set of advanced metrics, based on Expected Rushing Yards, could be a game-changer in the way NFL running backs are measured and evaluated. Learn how the new football stat works. 
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Top 10 QBs under pressure: Ryan Tannehill, Derek Carr shine

Nick Shook lines up the 10 best QBs under pressure in 2019. Was anyone cooler under fire than Ryan Tannehill? Where do Lamar Jackson and Derek Carr rank?
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Stephon Gilmore, Tyrann Mathieu among NFL's 10 best in coverage

Nick Shook uses Next Gen Stats to highlight the top 10 coverage players of the 2019 season. Two members of the Patriots secondary lead his list. Where does Tyrann Mathieu rank?
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Lamar Jackson, Dalvin Cook among NFL's 10 most explosive runners

Nick Shook uses Next Gen Stats to highlight the 10 most explosive runners of the 2019 season. Can any running back hope to top quarterback Lamar Jackson? Where does Dalvin Cook rank?
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Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa among NFL's top 10 disruptors of 2019

Which pass rushers were the most disruptive in 2019? Nick Shook dives into Next Gen Stats to find the answer, and he delivers a top-10 list with some surprises.
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) drops back to pass during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. The Vikings beat the Cowboys 28-24. (Cooper Neill via AP)

Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson headline NFL's top 10 deep passers

Everybody loves the deep ball. Which quarterbacks throw it best? Nick Shook dove into Next Gen Stats from the 2019 season to find an answer. Check out his top 10 deep passers. (No. 1 might surprise you.)
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Michael Thomas, Tyler Lockett among 10 best pass-catchers of '19

Nick Shook uses Next Gen Stats to identify the 10 best pass-catchers of 2019 -- revealing some expected names (Michael Thomas) and some surprises (Marvin Jones). 
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2020 NFL Draft: QB Jordan Love among six high-risk prospects

Will Jordan Love be a pick machine in the NFL? Can A.J. Epenesa and K'Lavon Chaisson flourish as professional edge rushers? Led by the analytics of the Next Gen Stats NFL Draft Model, Mike Band identifies the six potential first-round picks who carry the most risk.
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2020 NFL Draft: CeeDee Lamb among seven can't-miss prospects

By combining the scouting eye of Daniel Jeremiah and the analytics of the Next Gen Stats NFL Draft Model, Mike Band identifies seven can't-miss prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft.
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Antonio Gates is back with the Chargers, but don't expect many high-flying completions to the veteran tight end. Beyond his age and the miles on his body, his target chart shows most of his completed targets last season came within five yards or less. Only three exceeded 15 yards all season, though one of those accounted for one of his three touchdowns. The best news: Gates caught most of those targets with 5-10 yards to do for a first down. Quarterbacks throwing to him also compile a decent passer rating – 78.7 – when throwing to him. Reliability remains valuable.

Next Gen Stats: Intro to Expected Yards After Catch

Using Next Gen Stats player tracking technology, we have developed metrics to move beyond traditional box score statistics and derive insights to improve our analysis of individual performance.
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Antonio Gates is back with the Chargers, but don't expect many high-flying completions to the veteran tight end. Beyond his age and the miles on his body, his target chart shows most of his completed targets last season came within five yards or less. Only three exceeded 15 yards all season, though one of those accounted for one of his three touchdowns. The best news: Gates caught most of those targets with 5-10 yards to do for a first down. Quarterbacks throwing to him also compile a decent passer rating – 78.7 – when throwing to him. Reliability remains valuable.

Next Gen Stats: Intro to Completion Probability (Part II)

Expected Completion Percentage gives an indication of the level of difficulty of a quarterback's throws.
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Antonio Gates is back with the Chargers, but don't expect many high-flying completions to the veteran tight end. Beyond his age and the miles on his body, his target chart shows most of his completed targets last season came within five yards or less. Only three exceeded 15 yards all season, though one of those accounted for one of his three touchdowns. The best news: Gates caught most of those targets with 5-10 yards to do for a first down. Quarterbacks throwing to him also compile a decent passer rating – 78.7 – when throwing to him. Reliability remains valuable.

Next Gen Stats introduction to Completion Probability

Next Gen Stats' new metric for the 2018 season, Completion Probability, seeks to improve on the limitations of raw box score statistics and is intended to contextualize passing and receiving performance.
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Antonio Gates is back with the Chargers, but don't expect many high-flying completions to the veteran tight end. Beyond his age and the miles on his body, his target chart shows most of his completed targets last season came within five yards or less. Only three exceeded 15 yards all season, though one of those accounted for one of his three touchdowns. The best news: Gates caught most of those targets with 5-10 yards to do for a first down. Quarterbacks throwing to him also compile a decent passer rating – 78.7 – when throwing to him. Reliability remains valuable.

Completion probability & expected yards after catch

Welcome to the new frontier of football analytics. Welcome to the Next Gen Stats revolution. Since 2015, RFID tracking devices have been embedded in the shoulder pads of every NFL player.
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Los Angeles Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) in action during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Carson, Calif. The Chargers defeated the Raiders, 30-10. (Ryan Kang via AP)

Next Gen Stats for Week 1 of 2018 season

With a new season comes a fresh batch of Next Gen Stats for us to dive into in search of football revelations. Nick Shook looks at some metrics that might shed a little light on what we're about to see this season.
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Week 17 Next Gen Stats playoff implication matchups

Matt Ryan welcomes a ferocious Carolina Panthers pass rush in Week 17 as he looks to vault his Atlanta Falcons into the NFC playoffs. Matt Harmon previews some of the matchups that could decide the Week 17 games.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) looks for a receiver against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jameis Winston's performance offers glimmer of hope

Jameis Winston has been disappointing this season, but his performance on Monday night against Atlanta showed signs of hope. Matt Harmon explains why with some Next Gen Stats.
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Kenyan Drake leads 3 factors in Dolphins upset

The Miami Dolphins stunned the New England Patriots on Monday night behind Kenyan Drake and Xavien Howard. Matt Harmon examines some Next Gen Stats behind the win.
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Drew Brees drops back to throw.

Drew Brees, Saints ordinary without Alvin Kamara

Saints running back Alvin Kamara was off to another fast start against the Falcons on Thursday before an injury sidelined him in the first quarter. His absence was a big blow for New Orleans.
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Nov 30, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Alfred Morris (46) runs the ball in the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Alfred Morris eases Zeke Elliott's absence for Cowboys

The Cowboys offense hadn't been the same without Ezekiel Elliott. Data shows Alfred Morris, who had a standout performance in Thursday's win against the Redskins, has been quietly superb all along.
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