Surprising NFL stat shows Giants receiver is better than numbers suggest

There's no single metric to determine how good an NFL wide receiver is but some can tell a bigger story than what the surface numbers show.

This may be the case for New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson.

Entering his third season in the NFL, Robinson's career up to this point has essentially been split in half due to a torn ACL.

The quick-hitting slot option showed promise during his rookie season before the injury, but his efficiency metrics dropped after making his return in 2023. This is especially true in terms of yards per route run (YPRR).

According to Pro Football Focus , Robinson posted a 1.31 YPRR in 2023, which ranked 64th among receivers with at least 35 targets. Not great.

However, NFL analyst Ian Hartitz noticed a disparity in Robinson's YPRR metric and his Open Score from ESPN, which measures separation. In the latter metric, Robinson was one of the top receivers.

Hartitz went on to say in a reply to this post that "these dudes have a better case than most for still being good at football despite some lackluster receiving efficiency last year."

Robinson provides the Giants with a quick-winning option from the slot. His YPRR metrics probably aren't ever going to be among the elites simply given the nature of his position. And that metric also depends significantly on quarterback play.

The passing offense for the Giants is one that needs to take a major step forward in 2024. Much of it relies on the production from Daniel Jones and the offensive line.

However, Robinson can aid some of those concerns as a highly targeted weapon from the slot in Brian Daboll's offense.

We'll see what's in store for Robinson as he enters his third NFL season, but it's clear the numbers don't paint the full picture of what he could be.