As an Oklahoma Sooners fan, I've been fond of second-year wide receiver Pro Football Focus, Stills had the 13th-most receiving yards and 4th-most touchdowns on balls thrown at least 20 yards in 2013. When you look at his numbers in that regard, it's amazing what he was able to achieve when compared to his counterparts, given his limited opportunities.
| Player | Targets | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns | Catch Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Gordon | 36 | 15 | 511 | 6 | 24.2 |
| Alshon Jeffrey | 31 | 14 | 570 | 4 | 45.2 |
| Jordy Nelson | 19 | 13 | 439 | 1 | 68.4 |
| Brandon Marshall | 31 | 13 | 397 | 5 | 41.9 |
| Calvin Johnson | 36 | 10 | 371 | 4 | 27.8 |
| Kenny Stills | 14 | 6 | 340 | 5 | 42.9 |
Stills scored on all but one of his 20-plus yard receptions, and finished 2013 with more yards and touchdowns on deep passes than Antonio Brown, Andre Johnson and Dez Bryant.
Why He's In Prime Position To Breakout
As i mentioned earlier, with Darren Sproles and Lance Moore out of the picture, there will be plenty of opportunities up for grabs on the Saints offense. Let's simplify table one and take a deeper look at what the Saints lost this offseason.
| Player | Receptions | % of Team Total | Rec. Yards | % of Team Total | Rec. Touchdowns | % of Team Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darren Sproles | 71 | 15.9 | 604 | 11.7 | 2 | 5.1 |
| Lance Moore | 37 | 8.3 | 457 | 8.9 | 2 | 5.1 |
| Total Lost | 108 | 24.2 | 1,061 | 20.6 | 4 | 10.2 |
There are touches to be had and points to be scored, and Stills is in prime position to alleviate their losses. Darren Sproles and Lance Moore will take about 150 targets with them to their respective teams, leaving a hole in the Saints offense. The question is, will Stills fill that hole, or will a newcomer to the team take some looks?
The only thing holding Stills back from making a huge statistical leap this year, aside from injury, is the Saints' 2014 first-round pick and former Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks. A versatile weapon, Cooks is expected to line up both on the outside and in the slot, and play an important role in their offense. With the former Beaver's arrival, Stills is no longer the fastest wide receiver in the bunch - Cooks ran a 4.33 40 compared to Stills' 4.38 - but could certainly benefit from his versatility and ability to stretch the field, which, combined with Graham, could certainly open up the field for the rest of the New Orleans playmakers.
Stills in 2014
Without a doubt, Stills is in line to top his 2013 numbers, but by how much? He certainly should see his Reception NEP per target dip as a result of more volume, but if he's able to sustain his 2013 average in the slightest, he could become a great asset in 2014. The issue is Brandin Cooks, and how much volume the rookie receiver will see himself. But with Graham running a muck all over the field, Colston on one side and Cooks' potential to stretch the field or produce intermediately, it's hard not to love the upside Stills has this year.