Josh Doctson
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Josh Doctson‘s career strengths and weaknesses as told by the advanced analytics and film.

New York Jets training camp primers:

Here’s everything you need to know about former first-round pick Josh Doctson as he looks to win a spot on the Jets’ wide receiver depth chart.

Two positive stats to maintain

Solid downfield play-making

Doctson’s best work has come in the intermediate and deep ranges. From 2017-18, he averaged 9.8 air yards per reception, which ranked 28th out of 93 qualified wide receivers (71st percentile).

Decent hands

Over the course of his career, Doctson has made 81 receptions and been credited with six drops. That gives him a drop rate of 6.9%, slightly below the 2019 wide receiver average of 7.5%.

Doctson also has yet to fumble the ball over 82 career touches.

Two negative stats to improve

Catch rate

Doctson owns an abysmal career catch rate of 50% (81 grabs on 162 targets). That ranks 96th out of 100 qualified wide receivers since 2016 (4th percentile).

While Doctson ranks 39th out of 100 in yards per reception since 2016 (13.6), his awful catch rate drops him down to 89th in yards per target (6.8).

Getting open

As described earlier, drops (at least blatant ones) have not been a major issue for Doctson. The main cause of his low catch rate has simply been his inability to create separation as a route-runner, which has led to a lot of low-percentage contested situations on throws his way.

Failing to separate not only hurts your on-ball efficiency, but it’s going to lead to some long stretches of silence. When you’re not getting open, you’re not going to get targeted very often, and your volume production will suffer. The numbers clearly showcase how Doctson has struggled in this area.


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Michael Nania is one of the best analytical New York Jets minds in the world, combining his statistical expertise with game film to add proper context to the data. Nania scrapes every corner, ensuring you know all there is to know about everyone from the QB to the long snapper. Nania's Numbers, Nania's QB Grades, and Nania's All-22 give fans a deeper and more well-rounded dive into the Jets than anyone else can offer. Email: michael.nania[at]jetsxfactor.com - Twitter: @Michael_Nania
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JetOrange
JetOrange
3 years ago

So the question maybe can WR coaches, Shawn Jefferson, and Hines Ward, tun Josh Doctson ‘s career around ?

JetOrange
JetOrange
3 years ago
Reply to  Michael Nania

Very important thought. Believe Jefferson is all about route running, can make a huge difference in the WR’s performance for those that embtace. Ward can make my monster blockers out of Mims and /or Cage , Doctson if he is smart.

JetOrange
JetOrange
3 years ago

Doctson has the perfect body type , and intermediate game that offsets speedsters Mims, & Perriman. Big Vyncent Smith fan , doesn’t have the body type, but has speed, length, gets separation with quickness, breakout year more than a gadget guy. Cager , perfect body type for intermediate game, plays ST. In short last stop for Doctson …toast.

verge tibbs
verge tibbs
3 years ago

Thanks for the knowledge. I had no idea, just thought doctson was a guy who maybe never made it because of injuries and bad qbs. But from these stats, this guy looks absolutely detrimental to a young qb. He ran such bad routes that if you told me he was being leaned on to throw games, id believe you, lol. Im kidding. But yea, id rather see campbell or cager flash in tc and earn that last spot. And then the other one show enough to make the ps.

verge tibbs
verge tibbs
3 years ago
Reply to  verge tibbs

i mean, yea, i do see the positives here too. But hopefully we’ll have mims making those incredible catches but at a better rate than doctson. We’ll see.

verge tibbs
verge tibbs
3 years ago
Reply to  Michael Nania

Yea man, im still really excited about Mims. His raw talent plus what seems to be a really good coach in jefferson plus some nfl experience. And if him and darnold click, which im sure they will, sky’s the limit! Its hard to temper my expectations, i do understand it likely will take a year or 2. But still…. pumped!