The NFL's 10 Best Deep-Ball Wide Receivers in 2017
4. Ted Ginn, New Orleans Saints
Deep Targets: 22 | Target NEP per Target: 1.19 | Success Rate: 59.09%
With the Carolina Panthers in 2016, Ted Ginn Jr. did one thing exceptionally well: convert on deep balls. The New Orleans Saints seemed to take notice, and they made the most out of their free-agent signing.
Below is a look at how the Saints utilized Ginn this year compared to what he did in Carolina last year.
| Ted Ginn's Usage | Percentage of Targets Deep | Overall Target NEP per Target | Deep Target NEP per Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| In 2017 | 31.43% | 0.62 | 1.19 |
| In 2016 | 23.16% | 0.16 | 1.11 |
Even though Ginn's deep-target efficiency was almost the same, his overall efficiency went through the roof. Part of this is likely tied to playing half his games indoors with Drew Brees, but they also catered his usage to what he does best. Imagine formulating your schemes around your players' strengths.
This isn't to say that Ginn was just a deep gadget with the Saints. His average depth of target actually decreased to 12.1 yards from 12.3, according to AirYards.com. But by getting him involved close to the line of scrimmage and deep down the field, they were able to properly leverage Ginn's strengths in a way the Panthers never seemed to do.
Ginn is entering his age-33 season, and the Saints could easily beef up at the position this offseason. So this may not wind up giving him long-term value for fantasy. But it does show that the Saints are able to recognize areas in which their individual players excel and put them in scenarios in which they are more likely to succeed. That amps up the value of whoever winds up getting volume from this team going forward.
