Which wide receivers get the most targets in the fourth quarter?

Why this matters

The closing period is really several different games stacked on top of each other. A team protecting a lead often shortens its passing tree and leans on the run, while a team chasing the game abandons balance almost entirely, and a wide receiver's target count in this window depends heavily on which version of that period he played in.

Targets measure opportunity, not production, so this split rewards receivers who stay on the field and get looked at even when the catches do not follow. A possession receiver who runs safe, high-target routes late in games can out-count a bigger name who sees fewer, more explosive looks, which makes this list a workload signal rather than a fantasy-points signal.

Treat this as a proxy for how often a receiver's team finds itself in a competitive finish rather than a measure of who wins that finish. A player can rank here because his offense trails constantly, not because he is especially trusted once the game is on the line, so check the team's overall record before assuming the role is permanent.