After marching through the top 10 defensive players in 2018 the past couple of weeks, CUSportsNation.com now looks at the top 10 offensive players. The ranking is according to the analytics/grades according to Pro Football Focus. Wide receiver Laviska Shenault takes the top spot.
Note: Players needed to have seen 100 snaps in order to be on this list... 19 Buff offensive players saw 100+ snaps
2018 STATS
9 games played
86 receptions
1,011 receiving yards
6 touchdowns
11 receptions of 20+ yards
112.3 receiving yards per game
11.8 receptions per game
639 yards after catch
46 first down receptions
28 avoided tackles
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17 rushing attempts
115 yards
5 touchdowns
SHENAULT VS THE PAC-12
Here is how Shenault's offensive grades and advanced statistics stack up to other wide receivers in the Pac-12 that had a minimum of 30 targets (48 WRs qualify for this).
Overall offensive grade: No. 2
Receiving grade: No. 1
Drop grade: No. 16
Yards after catch: No. 1
First down receptions: No. 4
Avoided tackles: No. 1
% of targets caught: No. 3 (80.6%)
SHENAULT'S RECEIVING CHART
The chart below shows Shenault's stats for each part of the field. Here is how to read it:
Targets/Receptions (drops)
Yards (Yards after catch)
TD/INT
NFL QB rating when targeted
TOP GAME OF THE SEASON
Shenault's highest single game grade of the season came in the opener against Colorado State, as the then sophomore broke onto the scene in a huge way. The Rams -- and the entire country -- were not ready for Shenault's talents. He had a single game grade of 90.4 and avoided eight tackles, tied for a season (ASU was the other game). Shenault finished the contest with 11 receptions on 12 targets for 211 yards and a touchdown.
OUTLOOK ON SHENAULT
Not sure what to say that's not obvious. Shenault is an ultra-talented wide receiver who dominated last season when healthy. Whether it was in the slot, outside, at H-back, or taking QB snaps in the wildcat, Shenault did everything for the Buffs' offense. Maybe he was relied on too much, and the offense sputtered when he was injured for three games, and it couldn't get back on the right track.
Shenault had toe surgery and shoulder surgery in the offseason and will miss spring ball, but wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini is confident that he'll be ready for fall camp.
"He’ll be back healthy in the fall and ready to go," Chiaverini told CUSportsNation.com. "He’s a dynamic player so we’re excited to get him back."
In this article, we looked at how Shenault's PFF grades and analytics from 2018 stack up against the Pac-12. Let's look at against the country (minimum 50 targets):
Receiving grade: No. 6
Yards after catch: No. 5
Avoided tackles: No. 2
Top Buff Offensive Players in 2018
No. 10 Tony Brown (60.2 grade)
No. 9 Colby Pursell (60.9 grade)
No. 8 Aaron Haigler (62.7 grade)
No. 7 Josh Kaiser (63.5 grade)
No. 6 Juwann Winfree (67.7 grade)
No. 5 William Sherman (70.0 grade)
No. 4 KD Nixon (70.5 grade)
No. 3 Travon McMillian (70.9 grade)
No. 2 Steven Montez (74.5 grade)
Top Buff Defenders in 2018
No. 10 Rick Gamboa (65.8 grade)
No. 9 Derrion Rakestraw (70.5 grade)
No. 8 Evan Worthington (71.9 grade)
No. 7 Israel Antwine (72.3 grade)
No. 6 Delrick Abrams Jr. (72.5 grade)
No. 5 Davion Taylor (74.1 grade)
No. 4 Drew Lewis (74.7 grade)
No. 3 Javier Edwards (76.9 grade)
No. 2 Mustafa Johnson (82.7 grade)
No. 1 Nate Landman (86.1 grade)
