Matthew Golden leads NFL with 12 deep targets of 20-plus yards

Malik Nabers, Chris Olave, and Davante Adams trail with 11.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Most deep targets (20+ yard) this season Matthew Golden 12 Malik Nabers 11 Chris Olave 11 D Via @PFF on X

What happened: Per PFF, Matthew Golden paces the league in targets of 20 or more yards downfield during the 2026 regular season. Malik Nabers, Chris Olave, and Davante Adams sit tied right behind him at 11 deep targets apiece, while rookie Denzel Boston has drawn 10.

Why it matters: Golden entered his second season facing pressure from PFF after being selected 23rd overall in the 2025 draft. Commanding the league's highest volume of downfield looks establishes the former first-round pick as a primary vertical threat alongside established veterans Olave and Adams, while Boston's 10 targets place the 39th overall pick from the 2026 draft in the top tier of deep-ball usage.

By the numbers: 2026 deep targets (20+ yards, per PFF): Matthew Golden 12, Malik Nabers 11, Chris Olave 11, Davante Adams 11, Denzel Boston 10. Golden has converted six receptions of 20 or more yards this season.

What to watch: Week 6 action continues across the league as Golden looks to maintain his edge atop the downfield target leaderboard.

Sources

@PFF 2026-10-15T13:37:24.931562+00:00

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