Which teams are throwing the most to one receiver? Which teams are spreading it around the most? A good way to answer that is by using a Concentration Index. Let’s use Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts as an example. Eric Ebron is the team’s leading receiver with 326 receiving yards, which represents 18.2% of the team’s total 1,796 receiving yards. To calculate a team’s concentration index in receiving yards, you need to square the percentage of receiving yards by each player, and sum the results. For example, 18.2% squared is 3.3%; do that for every player on Indianapolis and the total is 12.6%.
As it turns out, that’s the most diverse passing attack in the NFL. The most concentrated passing attack? That’s in Detroit:
The table below shows the concentration index for each team through six weeks, along with each team’s passing efficiency (as measured by ANY/A). Here’s how you read the top line. Detroit has the highest concentration index. The Lions have 1,404 receiving yards and have averaged 6.17 ANY/A, which ranks 20th in the NFL. Tate is the team’s leading receiver with 31% of the Lions receiving yards, and the team has a concentration index of 23%.
If you sort by Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt, Philip Rivers and Drew Brees stand out having outstanding pass efficiency while also having diverse passing attacks.
