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by Pat Yasinskas
Who’s got the best hands in the NFC South? Heck, let’s go ahead and make the question for the whole NFL.


Meachem
The answer probably will shock you. At least by one mathematical compilation, the answer is New Orleans’ Robert Meachem. It’s a pretty simple formula, really. Just take the number of targets and the number of receptions and come up with the catch percentage.

Meachem is at 80 percent (54 targets and 43 receptions). That puts him slightly ahead of Jacksonville’s Mike Thomas (79 percent) and New England’s Wes Welker (78 percent). Meachem is the only NFC South receiver in the top 10, provided by ESPN Stats & Information.

One other impressive stat about Meachem is that he leads the league in yards per target, including only receivers that have been targeted at least 50 times. Meachem is averaging 13.14 yards per target, almost two full yards ahead of Hakeem Nicks, who ranks second. New Orleans’ Marques Colston also ranks 10th on the list, averaging 10.29 yards per target.

Going back to catch percentage and flipping it over to guys who have shown bad hands, Tampa Bay’s Antonio Bryant has been targeted 77 times, but has only 37 receptions. That’s a 48-percent catch rate, which ties him for No. 8 on the list of worst catch percentage. In case you’re interested, Oakland’s Louis Murphy has the league’s worst catch percentage at 33 percent.

papz

It's just a fun statistic. Of Bryant's 77 targets, how many of those balls were actually on target with the variety of quarterbacks that have thrown him the football this year? Not many I would think.

neugey

Good for Meachem and Colston, but Major grains of salt here. All pass attempts were not created equal.

Papa Voodoo

I thought Meachem was a lock for the Pro Bowl for sure

foreverfan

Now I realize why we drafted him.

Savant

He also has the most accuarate qb in the leauge throwing to him. Not to say he doesn't have good hands but you've gotta look at other factors. Plus it's hard for any receiver in this offense to make the pro bowl. We spread it around too much. Colston had the best chance but he's had to many dropped passes and turnovers to deserve it imo.

MatthewT

Meachem is having a very nice season. Seriously, I really don't recall this guy dropping passes. Very nice to have a QB like Brees pumping him the ball, Meachem may elevate himself to a starting roll if he keeps it up.

D_it_up

Had he caught fire sooner this season, he may very well have been. His TD's are impressive at 9, but no one is going to be making a Prow Bowl when he is 26th in the conference in receiving yards.

FireVenturi

Couple things....
One......why dont they just take how many catches versus how many drops with a min of 50? Players with a good qb benefits in this formula.
Second.....Colston shoulda made it before Meach.
Third....I think Meach will start next year and make the pro bowl.

strato

MEACHY!!!!!!!!!!!