---
slug: "target-share"
title: Target Share
depth_tier: entry
side: OFFENSE
category: Analytics
source_id: "ANA-0009"
created: 2026-04-19
updated: 2026-04-19
canonical: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/target-share
aliases:
  - "target share %"
  - target percentage
  - target rate
---
# Target Share

## Short Definition

The percentage of a team's passing attempts directed at one receiver—the primary measure of receiving opportunity, independent of catches or yards.

## Definition

Target share is the percentage of a team's passing attempts directed at a specific receiver. A receiver with a 25% target share receives one of every four passes his quarterback throws. It is the primary measure of receiving opportunity—how often a player is the intended target regardless of whether he catches the ball.

Target share matters because volume drives production. A talented receiver who only sees 10% of targets will accumulate fewer statistics than a less talented receiver at 25%, even if the first player is more efficient on a per-target basis. Understanding target share separates offense-driven volume from individual skill when evaluating receiving performance.

Target share is scheme and lineup dependent. A team with one dominant receiver naturally concentrates target share; a spread offense may distribute targets more evenly across five receivers. When a receiver moves to a new team, his historical target share may not translate because his new offense runs differently or already has established targets.

In fantasy football, target share is one of the most reliable predictors of weekly production—more targets means more opportunities to score points. In analytical evaluation, target share sets the opportunity baseline before measuring how a player performed within that opportunity. Air yards per target, yards per reception, and EPA per target all measure quality; target share measures quantity.

## Example

"She ran 42 routes and saw 12 targets—28.6% target share. In a 5v5 format where the QB is throwing 40 times a game, that's the volume that produces stat lines worth rostering."

## Common Confusion

Target share measures opportunity, not production. A receiver with a 28% target share who catches 50% of those targets gets a lot of looks but converts below average. High target share signals offensive reliance—efficiency metrics like EPA per target determine whether that reliance is paying off.

## Related

- air-yards
- yac-yards-after-catch
- separation-score
- epa-expected-points-added
- snap-count

---
Source: https://learningfootball.xyz/terms/target-share