James Gardner is a Versatile WR for Miami (OH). James's 2016 season ranks in the 100th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 72 plays — a elite rate for the WR.
Balanced profile without a single dominant trait — contributes across multiple dimensions.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadree Henderson | Pittsburgh | 2016 | 63 | 0.530 | 1.6 | 33.4 |
| DeAndre Hughes | Air Force | 2021 | 60 | 0.470 | 1.3 | 28.2 |
| Keytaon Thompson | Mississippi State | 2017 | 70 | 0.460 | 1.2 | 32.2 |
| Savion Williams | TCU | 2024 | 56 | 0.450 | 1.1 | 25.2 |
| Javion Posey | Florida Atlantic | 2020 | 53 | 0.450 | 1.4 | 23.8 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Rec | Rec Yds | Avg | Rec TD | Long | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @Iowa | L21-45 | 10.3 | 6 | 95 | 15.8 | 2 | 29 | 1.70 |
| 2 | vsEastern Illinois | L17-21 | — | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 1 | 14 | 0.54 |
| 3 | vsWestern Kentucky | L24-31 | 15.5 | 5 | 136 | 27.2 | 1 | 70 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Rec 5 · Rec Yds 92 · Avg 18.4 · Rec TD 1
| 0.82 |
| 4 | @Cincinnati | L20-27 | -3.6 | 6 | 79 | 13.2 | 1 | 31 | 0.56 |
| 5 | vsOhio | L7-17 | -2.1 | 4 | 63 | 15.8 | 0 | 22 | 0.70 |
| 6 | @Akron | L13-35 | -5.6 | 1 | 18 | 18.0 | 0 | 18 | 1.05 |
| 7 | vsKent State | W18-14 | -12.0 | 3 | 56 | 18.7 | 0 | 22 | 0.08 |
| 8 | @Bowling Green | W40-26 | -6.6 | 9 | 120 | 13.3 | 0 | 23 | 0.54 |
| 11 | @Buffalo | W35-24 | -18.8 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 | 0.43 |
| 13 | vsBall State | W21-20 | -7.0 | 4 | 62 | 15.5 | 0 | 24 | 0.76 |
| 1 | vsMississippi State | L16-17 | 5.4 | 5 | 92 | 18.4 | 1 | 24 | 0.95 |