Stat Analysis

Why isn't there more route variation for Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay? Was Eli Manning still washed up on the most common routes in 2017? And we offer solutions for Jameis Winston's vertical woes and the right kind of fade for Derek Carr.

Our intro to DVOA by routes focuses on receivers. Which wideout was the best at the game's two most common routes? Also: an argument in favor of the fade, how the Dolphins should replace Jarvis Landry's screens, and T.Y. Hilton's wacky 2017.

A question from a reader has us diving into week-by-week DVOA splits, looking at how both run and pass defense change over the course of the year. Is wear and tear to blame for defensive declines, or does Old Man Winter have something to say?

The Jaguars went from last to first in DVOA on wide targets after adding A.J. Bouye. How will other teams fare in 2018 after the movements of Richard Sherman, Patrick Robinson, and Tyrann Mathieu?

Our 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame predictions find three first-ballot locks. Is Tony Gonzalez the greatest tight end of all time? Also: Ed Reed's brilliance, a crazy trade for a running back, and what do we do about London Fletcher and Asante Samuel?

Can Saquon Barkley diversify the New York offense? Is Le'Veon Bell really that unique of an offensive weapon? Just how great was Rob Gronkowski again, and how badly did Dallas misuse Jason Witten?

Part II of our look at slot vs. wide focuses on quarterbacks. Who did most of his work throwing to the boundaries, and who was more prone to work the middle of the field? Includes obligatory mentions of Deshaun Watson, Jared Goff, and Jimmy Garoppolo.

Part I of our look at slot vs. wide focuses on wide receivers. What dilemma faces the Minnesota offense? And what kind of impact will Jarvis Landry have in Cleveland?

Does the SEC produce more NFL defenders than other conferences? Yes. Does it produce the best NFL defenders? That's complicated.

Our look at play-action pass in 2017 flips to the defensive side of the ball. Carolina was historically good, Houston was historically bad, and a long-standing question about year-to-year correlation gets cleared up.