Five highest-graded wide receiver performances from the NFL playoffs’ divisional round

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After diving into the top wide receivers by PFF receiving grade all year, we're doing the same for the divisional round. These were the five highest-graded wide receivers during the second week of the NFL playoffs. To qualify, players needed to have logged at least 15 receiving snaps.

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1. Cooper Kupp, Seattle Seahawks (88.5)

Kupp caught everything that came his way against the 49ers, bringing in all five of his targets for 60 yards. He brought in a sideline strike between Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha for 21 yards late in the first quarter. He later found room near the sideline again for a 15-yard gain late in the third quarter to move Seattle to San Francisco’s 15-yard line, already up by three touchdowns. Kupp finished the game with three catches of 10-plus yards and averaged 4.00 yards per route run.

The ninth-year veteran from Eastern Washington has made 52 catches for 653 yards and two touchdowns in his first season in Seattle. He has gained 29 first downs, secured five contested catches and averaged 5.7 yards after the catch per reception. The 32-year-old can still stretch the field, having been on the end of 16 explosive gains this season. He owns the second-highest threat rate among the Seahawks' receiver group (16.4%). Now, he'll face his old team, the Los Angeles Rams, in the NFC Championship game.

Four of Kupp’s catches against the 49ers came outside the numbers, where he has gained a huge chunk of his yards this season. He has secured 28 of 38 targets outside the numbers for 367 yards, 13 first downs and both of his scores, all culminating in an 83.4 PFF receiving grade on targets outside the numbers.

2. Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots (80.8)

Boutte came down with a falling one-handed grab over All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. for a 32-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give New England a double-digit lead. It was his third explosive gain of the game, as he also came down with catches of 25 and 18 yards in the second quarter. Boutte finished the contest with those three catches for 75 yards. He averaged 7.3 yards after the catch per reception and generated a 143.8 passer rating when targeted.

Boutte has logged 40 catches for a career-high 692 yards in his third NFL season, in addition to tallying 32 first downs, seven touchdowns and seven contested catches. He ranks fourth among the Patriots' receivers in threat rate (12.8%), but he’s generating a team-high 139.2 NFL passer rating when targeted.

The 23-year-old has caught seven of nine passes for 141 yards during the playoffs. He ranks second on the Patriots in targets and leads the receiver corps with a 78.4 PFF overall grade.

A 2023 sixth-round pick, Boutte has been a vertical threat for the Patriots all season, as 37 of his 55 targets have come from 10-plus yards downfield. He has caught 14 of 20 targets at the intermediate level for 228 yards, ranking third on the team in PFF receiving grade at that depth (96.9). He is one of three Patriots receivers to have seen at least 20 targets between 10 and 19 yards downfield (Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins).

Boutte joins teammate Demario Douglas in sporting a perfect 99.9 PFF receiving grade on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield. He has brought down 12 of those 17 targets for 340 yards and six touchdowns. Not only does he lead New England in targets from that depth, but he is also tied for first at the position in touchdown catches from that range (Courtland Sutton and Chris Olave).

3. DJ Moore, Chicago Bears (80.1)

Moore recorded five catches for 52 yards in the Bears‘ overtime loss to the Rams. He took a shallow crosser for 34 yards on the first play of scrimmage — his longest gain of the day. He also gave Chicago its first score of the game with a three-yard touchdown catch on the opening play of the second quarter.

Moore finished his eighth season with 61 catches for 798 yards and eight touchdowns (tied for ninth most), and he earned a 73.1 PFF receiving grade during the playoffs. He was one of four Bears with more than 700 receiving yards, pacing the receiver corps while finishing second behind rookie tight end Colston Loveland (906). Moore gained 31 first downs, secured eight of 14 contested targets and racked up 14 catches of 20-plus yards. 

The Bears (106 targets) and the Rams (103 targets) were the top two play-action passing teams this season, with Moore ranking 11th in targets (33) on such plays. He turned 22 play-action catches into 313 yards, three touchdowns, 16 first downs and 12 plays of 15-plus yards. He earned a 73.7 PFF receiving grade on play-action targets — a top 20 mark for the position.

4. Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos (79.6)

Mims, after a quiet regular season, exploded for a season-high eight catches and 93 yards against the Bills in the divisional round. He brought in each of his targets and accounted for four gains of 15-plus yards, including a 26-yard touchdown catch over Dane Jackson with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter to give Denver a narrow lead. It was Mims' second catch of 20-plus yards in the game, and he produced a near-perfect 154.7 passer rating when targeted.

The special teams ace (79.2 PFF return grade) has 45 catches for 415 yards and two touchdowns entering the AFC Championship game. He ranks second on the Broncos in yards after the catch (263) and third in threat rate (19.0%). Mims has forced four missed tackles, secured three contested catches and amassed eight gains of 20-plus yards this season.

Most of the 23-year-old's targets come at short depths. He is tied for fifth in targets behind the line of scrimmage (24), where he has 23 catches for 101 yards (ninth most) and an 80.9 PFF receiving grade. He also owns an 82.1 PFF receiving grade on throws within nine yards of the line of scrimmage, where he’s brought in 14 of 16 targets for 109 yards and six first downs.

Mims is also dangerous downfield, with his showing against the Bills being a prime example. He has caught six of 15 deep targets for 164 yards and two touchdowns this season, leading to a 96.5 PFF receiving grade at that depth.

5. Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (72.4)

Shakir caught seven of nine targets for 75 yards in the Bills' loss to the Broncos. His longest play came early in the fourth quarter when he turned a short target into a 46-yard gain before finally being stopped at Denver’s 16-yard line with Buffalo down by six. Shakir forced three missed tackles and made two catches of 10-plus yards in the game.

In a decimated Bills receiver room, Shakir was Buffalo’s only receiver to gain more than 800 receiving yards this season (876). The fourth-year player was one of the best receivers in the league post-catch, ranking second to only Puka Nacua in yards after the catch (665), yards after contact (337) and missed tackles forced (25). Shakir caught four touchdown passes, gained 34 first downs, recorded 17 explosive gains and racked up eight catches of 20-plus yards.

He caught all but two of his targets this postseason, finishing with 19 catches for 157 yards. His 81.7 PFF receiving grade in the playoffs ranked fifth best among wide receivers.

Shakir is also one of the best short-area threats in the league, leading the position in targets (43), catches (38) and receiving yards (252) from behind the line of scrimmage this season. He scored twice from those targets and garnered the second-best PFF receiving grade at that level (91.6).

Meanwhile, Shakir ranked seventh in receiving yards on passes within nine yards of the line of scrimmage, bringing in 45 of 50 targets for 440 yards and 14 first downs. He forced 13 missed tackles and tallied 13 gains of 15-plus yards on his way to an elite 93.8 PFF receiving grade.