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Receiving: 4 / 34 / 0 on 7 targets
Yet another game that makes Evans owners want to put him on the milk carton. Evans got one deep target, but he was well-covered on the play. He got open over the middle on the no huddle drive and had his best reception of the day, and another improvisational throw by Trent Edwards glanced off of Evans hands. He also had an excellent block on a good Fred Jackson run, but it's looking like another dismal year ahead for Evans.
Evans drew a long pass interference penalty when Charles Woodson basically tackled him, but otherwise he was quiet because Trent Edwards either didn't have time or got skittish any time the Bills called a downfield passing play. He shouldn't be dropped, but he shouldn't be started until the corpse of this offense gets off the examining table.
Receiving: 5 / 54 / 0 on 8 targets
Evans had an early 3rd down conversion pass float over his head in the red zone on the team's opening drive. But he held his head up and kept plugging away at the young New England secondary and was able to contribute making a handful of plays, breathing life into the passing game. He converted a 3rd and 5 on a slant route in the 2nd half leading to a Bills FG and did a nice job of finding open space, separating from defenders and competing for position. Evans missed a 5 yard TD pass in the 2nd quarter due to a fine defensive play by Patriots DB Arrington. Fitzpatrick looked Evans way again deep in the end zone on a long shot down the sideline in the 3rd quarter, but the ball was overthrown.
Receiving: 1 / 6 / 0 on 6 targets
Evans was blanketed completely by the Jets, mostly cornerback Antonio Cromartie and was unable to get clear of coverage at all, often having to fight off Cromartie to make sure the corner didn't get an interception. Evans couldn't even get free during garbage time and was a complete non-factor in the game.
Receiving: 5 / 87 / 1 on 8 targets
Evans is a talented player that will have a nice display through the air every odd game, and then proceeds to disappear due to Buffalo's overall offensive woes. He had a spectacular catch and beat the JAX CB on a deep route for a touchdown, but was largely invisible the rest of the game. Fitzpatrick was off target on his targets to Evans due to pressure and inconsistent play. Evans can fight for the ball in the air and usually wins, as he displayed on a contested comeback route. He also had another JAX CB beat for a touchdown, but a bad pass hit the ground instead.
Receiving: 6 / 105 / 3 on 10 targets
Evans is always a threat to blow the top off of any defense and score at any time, as 3 of his 6 catches were for touchdowns. After Evans caught the first fade touchdown pass, defenders began starting to respect his speed and play off of him. This allowed Evans to play with the type of coverage that suits his style, as he can get inside of the defender and lose him in coverage. Fitzpatrick knows Evans can beat his man deep in the right situation and forces a safety to stay over him. Evans showed amazing concentration and Chemistry with Fitzpatrick on a tightly fitted touchdown pass on a post route between 3 defenders that left little room for error, and that had an ensuing hit waiting for Evans. He also caught a short hitch route, made a defender miss and took it in for another score. He has the speed to make defenders play off him, but also the quickness to make them pay when they play too far off him. Evans is a valuable component in this offense that helps out a lot of other players by the attention he receives.
Receiving: 5 / 56 / 0 on 9 targets
Evans had a few targets deep, but was unable to do much with them. Evans is a deep threat who will have down games, but it's nice to see him still get 5 receptions on a down day. Fitzpatrick scarcely had time to make any reads, so it's not surprising that Evans wasn't able to get open deep.
Receiving: 3 / 31 / 0 on 8 targets
Evans had a largely uneventful day with three catches for 31 yards. Part of his stat line may have been effected by the fact that Steve Johnson was seemingly getting open on practically every pass play the Bills were running, so quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was likely looking Johnson's way first, and then Parrish or Evans' way second. Although Evans is always a week away from bouncing back with an impressive game, his cringingly inconsistent performance have left many a fantasy owner exasperated and confused. On the lighter side of things, a Roscoe Parrish injury could be the spark Evans needs to begin performing consistently week in and week out.
Receiving: 2 / 52 / 0 on 5 targets
Evans got open deep at least three times in this game, but Fitzpatrick was only able to hit him once. His production is going to continue to fluctuate greatly from week to week, but it will surely rise in games the Bills don't control, which should be most of them.
Receiving: 2 / 72 / 0 on 8 targets
Evans made a big play early in the game as he basically ran right by the defender and hauled in a long pass. But at this point, Evans has almost been phased out of the offense, aside from long passes. His mission is to get down the field, and he usually draws coverage away from the middle of the field. Evans also had another potential TD as he broke away into the endzone, only to have Fitzpatrick just barely overthrow him. He's still a very important part of the offense, as a deep threat, but doesn't get his number called often due to the emergence of some of the other young playmakers for Buffalo.
Receiving: 1 / 9 / 0 on 7 targets
Even before Evans' fumble, he wasn't receiving the bulk of the looks from Fitzpatrick. Targeted deep a few times, Evans was often blanketed by Ike Taylor or other Steelers' defenders. He's clearly not the best receiver on this team anymore, and that's more a positive for the Bills than a knock on Evans. He's a "specialty" receiver now with Johnson and other weapons emerging around him. Evans still has the speed to get deep on coverage --- especially as focus shifts to the others in this offense --- but he's not the go-to guy at this point, as evidenced by his stat line in this game.
Receiving: 3 / 72 / 0 on 6 targets
Lee Evans didn't get going until late in the game, but he helped out Fitzpatrick as he took some deep shots including a catch along the boundary for 23 yards on a wing and a prayer from Fitzpatrick. Evans gained 23 yards on a medium slant route from Fitzpatrick early on, but the Bills offensive line could not protect their quarterback, meaning any deep shots were limited.
Receiving: 0 / 0 / 0 on 1 targets
Evans didn't record a catch and left the game with an ankle injury.
I didn't count a single target to Evans, but he generally is the big play
threat, and his loss shortened the field for Cleveland defenders.