Average Depth of Target (aDOT)
The average distance downfield a receiver's targets travel, measured from the line of scrimmage. High aDOT indicates a deep threat; low aDOT indicates a short-area receiver.
Like comparing a home-run hitter to a contact hitter in baseball — the deep-ball guy hits fewer but bigger, while the short-area guy is steady.
Why it matters
aDOT predicts reception and yardage volatility — high aDOT players have boom/bust games (fewer catches, more yards per catch), while low aDOT players are more consistent.
How DMP uses this
DMP factors aDOT into variance estimates for receiver props, applying higher variance to deep threats and lower variance to slot receivers and running backs.
Common mistake
Assuming high aDOT means a better receiver — it just means they run deeper routes, which come with lower catch rates and higher variance.