I don’t think the NFL makes enough use of the “target” stat. Those stats are provided in the game-by-game stat releases, but they don’t get included in the season-long presentations of the individual numbers. They’re telling numbers, I think; they help in the understanding of how a player is performing.

They’re part of the quarterback’s body of work, of course. You don’t see that Philip Rivers completed 27 passes. You see that he completed 27 out of 45 or whatever.

It should be the same with the pass catchers. With those in there, you can see not only yards per completion, which is important, but also completion percentages for individual players and average yards per pass play for individual players. Average yards per pass play is arguably more important than average yards per pass attempt.

At tight end, Travis Kelce was the most effective tight end last year on a per-play basis. He caught 67 of the 87 passes thrown his way, which is outstanding, and he also got downfield. It worked out to 9.9 yards per pass play, which was over a yard ahead of all of the other tight ends with at least 40 catches.

Kelce looks good. I think he belongs in the top 5 at tight end this year.

Two other unheralded type guys finished over 9 yards per play – Niles Paul and Luke Willson – but I don’t think anybody will be drafting either of those guys.

The worst tight ends last year were Levine Toilolo, Vernon Davis, Eric Ebron, Mychal Rivera and Jeff Cumberland.

TIGHT ENDS: AVERAGE YARDS PER TARGET
RkPlayerRecTgtYardsAvg
1.Travis Kelce, K.C.67878629.9
2.Niles Paul, Wash.39525079.8
3.Luke Willson, Sea.22403629.1
4.Jordan Cameron, Clev.24484248.8
5.Heath Miller, Pitt.66887618.6
6.Rob Gronkowski, N.E.821301,1248.6
7.Coby Fleener, Ind.51927748.4
8.Antonio Gates, S.D.69998218.3
9.Greg Olsen, Car.841221,0088.3
10.Delanie Walker, Tenn.631088908.2
11.Zach Ertz, Phil.58867028.2
12.Julius Thomas, Den.43604898.2
13.Dwayne Allen, Ind.29503957.9
14.Jason Witten, Dall.64907037.8
15.Charles Clay, Mia.58846057.2
16.Jimmy Graham, N.O.851248897.2
17.Jordan Reed, Wash.50654657.2
18.Martellus Bennett, Chi.901299167.1
19.Scott Chandler, Buff.47704977.1
20.Andrew Quarless, G.B.29463237.0
21.Larry Donnell, NYG63926236.8
22.Owen Daniels, Balt.48795276.7
23.Jace Amaro, NYJ38533456.5
24.John Carlson, Ariz.33543506.5
25.Jared Cook, St.L.52986346.5
26.Brent Celek, Phil.32533406.4
27.Jermaine Gresham, Cin.62794605.8
28.Jeff Cumberland, NYJ23462475.4
29.Mychal Rivera, Oak.581015345.3
30.Eric Ebron, Det.25492485.1
31.Vernon Davis, S.F.26502454.9
32.Levine Toilolo, Atl.31542384.4

—Ian Allan