Week 9 Target Watch: NFC
Welcome to the Week 9 NFC Target Watch. I thought I’d switch it up and do NFC targets first this week for all you crazies. Below I have all the targets for each player over the last seven weeks and then their average number of targets for the season in parentheses and then below that I have the red zone targets and touches for each player for the last five weeks. The AFC version will be live Wednesday night.
Arizona Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald: 7-BYE-7-6-5-10- 6 (6.9), John Brown: 6-BYE-7-6-5-10- 5 (6), Michael Floyd: 9-BYE-7-7-3-4- 5 (6), Andre Ellington: 4-BYE-7-9-9-6- 4 (5.9), John Carlson: 3-BYE-3-6-4-6- 8 (4.2), Ted Ginn: 3-BYE-2-1-1-0- 2 (1.5), Rob Housler: dnp-BYE-1-3-1-1- 0 (1.3), Stepfan Taylor: 0-BYE-0-2-2-0- dnp (1), Robert Hughes: 0-BYE-0-1-0-2- 2 (0.9), Jaron Brown: 1-BYE-0-1-1-1- 2 (0.9), Darren Fells: 1-BYE-dnp-0-0-0- dnp (0.2), Troy Niklas: 0-BYE-0-dnp-dnp-dnp- 0 (0.2)
Probably the weirdest target leader for a team this week is John Carlson who led the Cardinals with eight targets. He did catch a touchdown, but he only caught two passes for 19 yards and dropped three. Sure, keep throwing it his way when you have Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Ellington and John Brown, no biggie!
But thankfully for the Cards they still won the game and all the other offensive players were more efficient. Andre Ellington continues to put together good total numbers as he averages 6 targets per game. He is now averaging 109 total yards per game as well. Against the Cowboys he rushed 21 times for 95 yards and caught four targets for 39 yards and a touchdown. That is the kind of usage you want from your running back.
Michael Floyd on the other hand is not getting the usage we want. Since the bye he’s averaging five targets per game and that’s what he saw against Dallas. This wide receiver group is nearly impossible to get a good read on right now. Even Jaron Brown got into the action last week.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: John Carlson: Run 0/ Tar 7, Andre Ellington: Run 10/ Tar 3, Larry Fitzgerald: Run 0/ Tar 3, Michael Floyd: Run 0/ Tar 2, Jaron Brown: Run 0/ Tar 2, Rob Housler: Run 0/ Tar 2, John Brown: Run 0/ Tar 1, Ted Ginn: Run 0/ Tar 1, Stepfan Taylor: Run 3/ Tar 1, Robert Hughes: Run 0/ Tar 1, Marion Grice: Run 3/ Tar 0
John Carlson had four red zone targets and caught the one for a touchdown. Hopefully that experiment is over.
Atlanta Falcons
Julio Jones: 11-8-16-12-8-6- BYE (10.4), Roddy White: dnp-14-4-6-15-6- BYE (8.6), Harry Douglas: 2-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-5- BYE (5.5), Levine Toilolo: 2-2-2-6-5-2- BYE (3.5), Devin Hester: 1-7-4-1-5-0- BYE (3.1), Devonta Freeman: 1-2-6-3-5-1- BYE (3), Steven Jackson: 0-2-6-2-1-0- BYE (1.9), Antone Smith: 0-0-3-4-2-0- BYE (1.8), Jacquizz Rodgers: 1-4-2-1-1-3- BYE (1.8), Eric Weems: 5-0-0-1-1-0- BYE (1), Patrick DiMarco: 3-1-0-0-0-2- BYE (0.8), Courtney Roby: 2-0-0-dnp-dnp-dnp- BYE (0.5), Bear Pascoe: 0-0-0-0-0-1- BYE (0.1)
If you woke up early for this game as a Lions fan you probably wanted to go back to sleep, but things turned around as the Falcons did everything they could to lose and lose they did.
With a strong first half there were a few positive plays and Devonta Freeman’s touchdown catch and run was one of them. He looked great in the open field and like Antone Smith and even Jacquizz Rodgers, they all look spryer than Steven Jackson. This backfield really could use a running back whose best attribute isn’t falling forward. Of course Steven Jackson is a good pass blocker, but they need a spark and SJax is barely smoldering. But I digress.
The Falcons running backs were led again by Jackson, who scored a touchdown on 18 carries for 60 yards (3.3 yards per carry) and had no targets, while Jacquizz Rodgers has become mostly a receiving back as he’s averaging under two carries per game over the last five. Antone Smith left with a neck stinger, but looks to be okay so he can continue to spread the looks out between four running backs, while none get enough to be worthwhile in fantasy.
Roddy White and Julio Jones led the Falcons with six targets apiece and neither hit 70 yards. The Lions defense is good, but Julio Jones needs more looks. Just one crease and he’s gone.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Roddy White: Run 0/ Tar 3, Devonta Freeman: Run 0/ Tar 2, Julio Jones: Run 0/ Tar 1, Devin Hester: Run 0/ Tar 1, Jacquizz Rodgers: Run 1/ Tar 1, Levine Toilolo: Run 0/ Tar 1, Bear Pascoe: Run 0/ Tar 1, Patrick DiMarco: Run 0/ Tar 1, Antone Smith: Run 0/ Tar 1, Matt Ryan: Run 0/ Tar 0, Steven Jackson: Run 9/ Tar 0
Jackson had five carries, including a touchdown, while nobody else saw more than one target.
Carolina Panthers
Kelvin Benjamin: 11-9-11-8-6-7- 10 (8.7), Greg Olsen: 7-5-9-11-8-3- 4 (7.3), Jerricho Cotchery: dnp-7-4-10-8-5- 5 (5.9), Jason Avant: 6-3-4-7-5-1- 4 (4.2), Mike Tolbert: 3-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp- dnp (3.7), Jonathan Stewart: 3-dnp-dnp-dnp-2-5- 0 (2.3), Philly Brown: 9-4-1-1-0-dnp- dnp (2.1), Brenton Bersin: 1-1-1-3-5-0- 1 (1.6), Darrin Reaves: 1-5-1-1-0-0- dnp (1.3), Brandon Williams: 0-dnp-2-1-3-0- 1 (1), Ed Dickson: 0-0-2-1-1-1- 2 (0.9), Fozzy Whittaker: dnp-dnp-dnp-2-dnp-dnp- dnp (0.7), DeAngelo Williams: dnp-0-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp- 1 (0.7), Chris Ogbonnaya: dnp-dnp-0-0-1-0- 0 (0.2)
Cam Newton and company were not on Thursday night. Drops and errant throws were the refrain throughout the game. Newton wasn’t as bad as his numbers, but coupled with poor receiver play he would have had to have actually been Superman to put up fantasy numbers.
Kelvin Benjamin caught just two of 10 targets for 18 yards and that line pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the Panthers stats in this one.
It was good to see Jonathan Stewart have another somewhat productive game and stay healthy in the process. He ran eight times for 46 yards while DeAngelo Williams ran eight times for 20 yards. They will continue to hurt each other, but Stewart at least deserves to be on the radar.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Kelvin Benjamin: Run 0/ Tar 8, Greg Olsen: Run 0/ Tar 7, Jason Avant: Run 0/ Tar 3, Brenton Bersin: Run 0/ Tar 2, Brandon Williams: Run 0/ Tar 2, Chris Ogbonnaya: Run 2/ Tar 0, Fozzy Whittaker: Run 2/ Tar 0, Jonathan Stewart: Run 6/ Tar 0, Cam Newton: Run 11/ Tar 0, Darrin Reaves: Run 6/ Tar 0, DeAngelo Williams: Run 1/ Tar 0
Benjamin had four red zone targets and caught zero. They aren’t going to go away from him, so these numbers still remain a positive.
Chicago Bears
Matt Forte: 7-6-12-13-7-8- BYE (8.8), Brandon Marshall: 6-6-5-9-10-10- BYE (8.2), Martellus Bennett: 8-11-5-8-8-7- BYE (8.1), Alshon Jeffery: 13-7-7-7-7-8- BYE (7.6), Santonio Holmes: 3-0-3-0-0-0- BYE (1.6), Dante Rosario: 1-1-4-0-2-2- BYE (1.5), Josh Morgan: 0-4-0-1-0-0- BYE (1.1),
If you didn’t watch the game or look at the final score and just played fantasy football like you should, this game went pretty well for everyone not named Brandon Marshall.
Jay Cutler threw three touchdown passes, with one each going to fantasy starters Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte. Bennett had his best game in a while, catching six of seven targets for 95 yards and a touchdown, while Matt Forte continues to play amazing football even as his team falls apart around him.
Forte has now caught five or more passes in each game this season and leads the team with 8.8 targets per game. He is on pace for 116 receptions, 980 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. Oh, and he also dabbles in running the ball, in which he’s on pace for 1,124 yards and 6 more touchdowns. If you add all those fantasy points up in a PPR league, you have a lot of fantasy points. He currently has more fantasy points than Andrew Luck in one point PPR. That’s the Andrew Luck who is on pace to set the single season passing yardage record.
Brandon Marshall led the team in targets, but that was the only thing, as he caught just three of 10 targets for 35 yards. This feels like a buy low situation because those numbers can’t keep up or down as the case may be.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Martellus Bennett: Run 0/ Tar 10, Brandon Marshall: Run 0/ Tar 8, Matt Forte: Run 14/ Tar 7, Alshon Jeffery: Run 0/ Tar 5, Josh Morgan: Run 0/ Tar 2, KaDeem Carey: Run 1/ Tar 0, Jay Cutler: Run 1/ Tar 0
Marshall and Bennett both had two red zone targets, while Forte and Jeffery had one, but Bennett, Forte and Jeffery were able to convert while Marshall wasn’t. He will.
Dallas Cowboys
Dez Bryant: 7-6-14-10-12-7- 10 (9.6), Jason Witten: 5-5-5-5-2-8- 7 (5.6), Terrance Williams: 3-7-6-2-3-7- 7 (5.1), DeMarco Murray: 4-1-8-6-1-4- 4 (3.8), Cole Beasley: 2-2-4-2-0-2- 2 (2.2), Lance Dunbar: 1-3-0-4-0-2- 2 (1.7), Dwayne Harris: 0-2-3-0-0-1- 1 (1), Gavin Escobar: 1-1-0-2-3-0- 0 (1), Devin Street: 0-1-0-0-0-1- 0 (0.6), James Hanna: 0-1-0-0-0-1- 0 (0.2), Tyler Clutts: 0-0-0-1-0-0- 0 (0.1)
The Cowboys done got Weeden’d last Sunday. Before the last five minutes of the game Brandon Weeden hadn’t completed a pass to Terrance Williams or Dez Bryant and didn’t complete one to Bryant until they were under the two-minute warning, despite eight targets. There’s no doubt that this team is dead in the water without Tony Romo.
That lack of a passing game helped shut down the normally dominant run game as DeMarco Murray was unable to eclipse 100 yards rushing for the first time this season. His 19 carries for 79 yards actually is quite impressive as the Cardinals are one of the top rushing defenses in the league and they didn’t really need to worry about Weeden beating them.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Dez Bryant: Run 0/ Tar 7, Terrance Williams: Run 0/ Tar 5, Gavin Escobar: Run 0/ Tar 3, Jason Witten: Run 0/ Tar 2, Lance Dunbar: Run 0/ Tar 1, DeMarco Murray: Run 17/ Tar 1
There weren’t many red zone plays for the Cowboys, but Bryant was able to save himself from a horrid fantasy line with a short touchdown reception in the waning minutes.
Detroit Lions
Golden Tate: 7-10-9-12-13-15- BYE (10), Calvin Johnson: 10-2-1-dnp-dnp-dnp- BYE (7.4), Reggie Bush: 8-6-5-dnp-6-dnp- BYE (5.7), Joique Bell: 0-4-dnp-3-5-3- BYE (3.9), Eric Ebron: 1-4-4-4-dnp-dnp- BYE (3.3), Theo Riddick: 0-0-dnp-6-dnp-12- BYE (3), Corey Fuller: 2-1-4-5-5-6- BYE (3), Jeremy Ross: 3-2-2-3-4-3- BYE (2.5), Joseph Fauria: 2-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp- BYE (2), Brandon Pettigrew: 1-2-3-0-6-dnp- BYE (2), Kellen Davis: dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-2- BYE (2), Ryan Broyles: dnp-2-1-0-0-2- BYE (1), George Winn: dnp-dnp-2-0-0-1- BYE (0.8), Jed Collins: 0-0-0-0-0-0- BYE (0.2)
I’ll be sad to see the sans Megatron Golden Tate go, but the Lions sure won’t. Tate led the team once again with Calvin Johnson out, as he caught seven of 14 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown. Whenever Johnson has been hurt in the past it’s meant certain defeat for the Lions, but depth at running back and Golden Tate, coupled with an improved defense, has allowed them to weather the storm. And it sure was stormy as the team did not look sharp once again, but managed to eke out a win.
Theo Riddick might have been the top reason they won this game. His receiving and run after the catch skills came in handy as he replaced the ailing Reggie Bush. He was second to Tate in targets with 12 and caught eight of them for 74 yards and a touchdown and made the key one-handed grab on the final drive.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Golden Tate: Run 0/ Tar 5, Theo Riddick: Run 1/ Tar 4, Joique Bell: Run 16/ Tar 3, Reggie Bush: Run 1/ Tar 2, Corey Fuller: Run 0/ Tar 2, Eric Ebron: Run 0/ Tar 2, Brandon Pettigrew: Run 0/ Tar 1, Jordan Thompson: Run 0/ Tar 1, Ryan Broyles: Run 0/ Tar 1, Jed Collins: Run 1/ Tar 0, George Winn: Run 1/ Tar 0, Matthew Stafford: Run 1/ Tar 0
Riddick led the team with six looks in the red zone and caught the one touchdown. It will be interesting to see how they use him when Bush returns, because it will be tough keeping him off the field.
Green Bay Packers
Jordy Nelson: 7-12-3-16-5-5- BYE (9.8), Randall Cobb: 6-9-4-7-7-7- BYE (6.9), Davante Adams: 3-3-4-8-1-9- BYE (4.4), Eddie Lacy: 1-2-3-0-3-9- BYE (3), Andrew Quarless: 5-0-2-5-1-3- BYE (2.8), James Starks: 1-0-2-5-1-1- BYE (1.6), Jarrett Boykin: 4-dnp-dnp-dnp-0-0- BYE (1.4), Richard Rodgers: 0-2-1-0-2-5- BYE (1.4), Kevin Dorsey: dnp-dnp-dnp-0-2-0- BYE (0.7), Jeff Janis: dnp-0-2-0-dnp-dnp- BYE (0.7), Brandon Bostick: 0-0-0-0-2-0- BYE (0.3), DuJuan Harris: 0-0-0-0-0-0- BYE (0.2), John Kuhn: 0-0-1-0-0-0- BYE (0.2)
You know there was something a little off with the Packers offense when Eddie Lacy and Davante Adams lead the team in targets and receptions. It’s not as if they didn’t play well, but this season has consistently been Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb at the top of that list. Of course you take what the defense gives you sometimes and it worked out well for Lacy who caught eight of nine targets for 123 yards receiving, by far his best receiving game of his career. And even better for his fantasy owners who have been rightfully worried about a timeshare between James Starks and him. Starks had just three looks in this game compared to Lacy’s 22. Of course Starks had been dealing with an ankle issue the week prior and it must have been still bothering him. But this game for Lacy should have vaulted him back up into every-series back consideration.
Randall Cobb may have been third on the target list, but he was first in yards and touchdowns as he caught five of seven targets for 126 yards and a touchdown. He just can’t stop scoring touchdowns.
Jordy Nelson was the dud for the week with just three receptions on five targets for 25 yards. He was often covered by Keenan Lewis and with good options in better circumstances throughout the lineup, it was Nelson’s turn to take a back seat. It won’t happen often.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Jordy Nelson: Run 0/ Tar 11, Randall Cobb: Run 0/ Tar 8, Davante Adams: Run 0/ Tar 4, Andrew Quarless: Run 0/ Tar 3, Richard Rodgers: Run 0/ Tar 2, Eddie Lacy: Run 16/ Tar 1, Brandon Bostick: Run 0/ Tar 1, James Starks: Run 2/ Tar 0, John Kuhn: Run 2/ Tar 0, Aaron Rodgers: Run 5/ Tar 0
Nelson continues to see targets in the red zone as he had two, but couldn’t connect.
Minnesota Vikings
Greg Jennings: 7-4-6-6-7-6- 10 (6.3), Cordarrelle Patterson: 5-4-4-8-4-12- 7 (6.2), Kyle Rudolph: 5-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp- dnp (5.7), Chase Ford: dnp-4-4-5-3-6- 7 (4.8), Jarius Wright: 0-10-8-6-4-3- 4 (4.6), Matt Asiata: 6-4-3-2-2-5- 5 (3.9), Jerick McKinnon: 5-3-5-6-4-1- 4 (3.4), Charles Johnson: dnp-dnp-3-3-dnp-5- 1 (3), Rhett Ellison: 2-1-2-1-1-1- 4 (1.6), Adam Thielen: 0-0-5-0-1-1- 0 (1.1), MarQueis Gray: 0-0-2-0-0-0- 0 (0.2), Joe Banyard: 0-0-2-0-0-0- 0 (0.2), Jerome Felton: 0-0-0-0-0-1- 0 (0.1)
I was ready to write about Teddy Bridgewater missing on his deep passes, especially a gimme touchdown to Cordarrelle Patterson on blown coverage, but he made up for it with some precision short to intermediate passing and played one of his better games.
Matt Asiata stole both Bridgewater's passing and Jerick McKinnon’s rushing touchdowns, but both looked promising and really, can Asiata rush for three touchdowns more than three times? Good question because I bet there were plenty of people that wrote about how it would be nearly impossible after he did it last season and now he’s done it twice this season. All of his rushing touchdowns for his career have come in games he’s rushed for three touchdowns in. He should change his number to 3.
Greg Jennings led in targets with 10 and caught six for 76 yards. His production has become slightly more stable, but his upside remains low.
Chase Ford has also stepped up with five and six receptions in his last two games, topping 60 yards in both while scoring a touchdown in Week 9. Like Jennings, his upside remains low and Kyle Rudolph should be back soon.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Greg Jennings: Run 0/ Tar 6, Chase Ford: Run 0/ Tar 2, Cordarrelle Patterson: Run 0/ Tar 2, Jarius Wright: Run 0/ Tar 2, Joe Banyard: Run 0/ Tar 2, Adam Thielen: Run 0/ Tar 1, Jerick McKinnon: Run 4/ Tar 1, Teddy Bridgewater: Run 0/ Tar 0, Christian Ponder: Run 1/ Tar 0, Matt Asiata: Run 5/ Tar 0
Asiata was the main man in the red zone with five carries and three touchdowns. McKinnon did see three attempts as well.
~
New Orleans Saints
Jimmy Graham: 8-11-5-BYE-2-6- 7 (7.8), Brandin Cooks: 10-6-11-BYE-3-7- 3 (6.8), Marques Colston: 5-10-6-BYE-10-5- 3 (5.9), Pierre Thomas: 3-2-10-BYE-4-dnp- dnp (4.8), Kenny Stills: 5-3-3-BYE-5-4- 8 (4.6), Travaris Cadet: 0-6-5-BYE-9-5- 5 (3.9), Joe Morgan: dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-dnp-dnp- dnp (3), Mark Ingram: dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-3-2- 2 (2.4), Robert Meachem: 1-1-4-BYE-3-0- 2 (2.2), Ben Watson: 1-1-7-BYE-3-0- 1 (2), Josh Hill: 2-1-3-BYE-1-1- 2 (1.5), Khiry Robinson: 0-3-2-BYE-0-dnp- dnp (1), Erik Lorig: dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-dnp-1- 1 (1)
Mark Ingram led the way in this game rushing 30 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t the best yards per carry you’ll ever see, but a Saints running back getting 30 carries is noteworthy. At their best the Saints have always been a good running team and it looks like they are getting back to that.
After that it was mainly the Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills show through the air, with Stills leading in targets and Graham leading in production. That left Brandin Cooks and Marques Colston with just three targets each. This just goes to show you how hard it is to predict the targets each week for the Saints. If it’s not Jimmy Graham you are taking a risk with just about any Saints player, but the upside is hard to keep away from.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Jimmy Graham: Run 0/ Tar 6, Brandin Cooks: Run 2/ Tar 3, Travaris Cadet: Run 0/ Tar 3, Kenny Stills: Run 0/ Tar 2, Marques Colston: Run 0/ Tar 2, Josh Hill: Run 0/ Tar 2, Pierre Thomas: Run 2/ Tar 1, Erik Lorig: Run 2/ Tar 1, Khiry Robinson: Run 5/ Tar 0, Mark Ingram: Run 16/ Tar 0, Drew Brees: Run 1/ Tar 0
Ingram ran the ball 11 times in the red zone and found the end zone twice. That is a ton of attempts for a single game. Jimmy Graham had two targets and converted on one for a touchdown and a first down on the other.
New York Giants
Rueben Randle: 10-10-10-9-9-BYE- 11 (8.6), Victor Cruz: 6-10-6-3-dnp-BYE- dnp (6.8), Odell Beckham Jr: dnp-dnp-5-4-6-BYE- 11 (6.5), Larry Donnell: 6-8-1-2-7-BYE- 8 (6.1), Corey Washington: dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE- 6 (6), Jerrel Jernigan: dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE- dnp (4.5), Preston Parker: 4-5-3-1-3-BYE- 6 (3), Rashad Jennings: 0-2-2-dnp-dnp-BYE- dnp (2.6), Peyton Hillis: 0-0-0-5-3-BYE- 6 (1.8), Andre Williams: 0-1-2-0-3-BYE- 1 (1.5), Daniel Fells: 2-2-0-2-1-BYE- 0 (1.1), Kevin Ogletree: dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-0-BYE- 1 (0.5), Adrien Robinson: 0-1-1-2-0-BYE- 0 (0.5)
Eli Manning was horrible in this game, but still managed to tie for the fifth best fantasy total for quarterbacks. That shows you right there the difference between real life and fantasy.
Manning’s garbage time stat bump also helped out Odell Beckham Jr. who made eight receptions on 11 targets for 156 yards while his counterpart Rueben Randle didn’t fare as well on the same amount of targets, catching just four for 49 yards.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Rueben Randle: Run 0/ Tar 7, Odell Beckham Jr: Run 0/ Tar 6, Larry Donnell: Run 0/ Tar 3, Victor Cruz: Run 0/ Tar 2, Corey Washington: Run 0/ Tar 2, Andre Williams: Run 11/ Tar 1, Peyton Hillis: Run 2/ Tar 1, Preston Parker: Run 0/ Tar 1, Eli Manning: Run 1/ Tar 0
The red zone targets were spread out fairly evenly, but Larry Donnell and Corey Washington are the ones that were able to get into the end zone.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jeremy Maclin: 10-16-11-3-BYE-16- 7 (10.5), Riley Cooper: 7-8-5-7-BYE-9- 6 (6.5), Jordan Matthews: 9-7-7-6-BYE-11- 4 (6.5), Zach Ertz: 3-6-6-5-BYE-8- 2 (5.1), Darren Sproles: 4-4-0-4-BYE-dnp- 5 (4.3), LeSean McCoy: 3-0-4-2-BYE-5- 2 (3.4), Brent Celek: 4-2-3-5-BYE-4- 2 (3.1), Josh Huff: dnp-dnp-1-1-BYE-4- 4 (2.5), Jeff Maehl: 1-0-dnp-0-BYE-1- 3 (0.9), James Casey: 1-0-0-1-BYE-0- 0 (0.2), Chris Polk: 0-0-0-dnp-BYE-1- 0 (0.2),
Jeremy Maclin just keeps on keeping on, this time with yet another two-touchdown game and his third 150+ yard game of the season. He only saw seven targets, but made them count as he caught six for 158 yards and the two touchdowns.
He caught one touchdown from Nick Foles and the other from Mark Sanchez after he took over for Foles. Sanchez looked competent and like he wouldn’t slow the offense down. We'll see, but the system is made for offense.
After Maclin the production thinned down with Darren Sproles as the second leading receiver with 46 yards. Jordan Matthews did find the end zone again and caught three of four targets for 40 yards while Riley Cooper caught just two of six for 26 yards and no touchdowns.
LeSean McCoy had another nice game with 123 total yards, but once again was unable to get into the end zone. Chris Polk did get a rushing touchdown and also the only carry within the five-yard line. I truly doubt he’s the no doubt goal line back now, but he’s not helping McCoy’s touchdown chances.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Zach Ertz: Run 0/ Tar 4, Jeremy Maclin: Run 0/ Tar 3, Jordan Matthews: Run 0/ Tar 3, Darren Sproles: Run 1/ Tar 2, LeSean McCoy: Run 11/ Tar 2, Brent Celek: Run 0/ Tar 2, Riley Cooper: Run 0/ Tar 2, Josh Huff: Run 0/ Tar 1, Chris Polk: Run 4/ Tar 0
San Francisco 49ers
Anquan Boldin: 6-7-8-9-10-BYE- 7 (7.8), Michael Crabtree: 11-8-4-8-7-BYE- 9 (7.5), Steve Johnson: 9-2-2-6-7-BYE- 5 (4.6), Vernon Davis: dnp-3-dnp-6-5-BYE- 3 (4.3), Brandon Lloyd: 4-5-5-1-6-BYE- 1 (3.3), Derek Carrier: 2-2-2-0-3-BYE- 1 (2), Carlos Hyde: 2-1-1-1-2-BYE- 2 (1.4), Frank Gore: 0-2-1-1-1-BYE- 3 (1.2), Bruce Ellington: 1-0-1-0-4-BYE- 1 (1), Vance McDonald: dnp-dnp-2-2-0-BYE- 0 (1), Bruce Miller: 0-0-1-1-0-BYE- 1 (0.5), Kassim Osgood: 0-0-0-0-1-BYE- 0 (0.1)
Colin Kaepernick received a negative grade at Pro Football Focus of -6.8 for this game. In comparison Brandon Weeden received a -5.1. That’s where we are with Kap at the moment. We know he can turn it around on a dime, but he and his offense needs a deduction in upside for the time being.
Michael Crabtree led the way in targets with nine and caught five for 40 yards. He did just miss a touchdown, his second just miss in as many weeks. He’s not a stud by any means this season and can probably be benched on good fantasy teams, but he’s not waiver wire fodder as the leading target on the team and some close calls.
Anquan Boldin had the best game of anyone on the team with six receptions on seven targets for 93 yards and a touchdown. He loves playing the Rams. He still hasn’t topped 100 yards this season, but does have two 90+ yard games in his last three, including two touchdowns.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Michael Crabtree: Run 0/ Tar 4, Anquan Boldin: Run 0/ Tar 4, Steve Johnson: Run 0/ Tar 3, Carlos Hyde: Run 7/ Tar 2, Frank Gore: Run 3/ Tar 1, Vance McDonald: Run 0/ Tar 1, Derek Carrier: Run 0/ Tar 1, Bruce Ellington: Run 0/ Tar 1, Colin Kaepernick: Run 5/ Tar 0
They only ran three plays in the red zone with Crabtree, Gore and Kaepernick.
Seattle Seahawks
Doug Baldwin: 5-BYE-5-3-11-8- 6 (6.1), Jermaine Kearse: 2-BYE-2-7-7-2- 7 (4.4), Marshawn Lynch: 5-BYE-6-2-2-4- 5 (3.6), Luke Willson: 0-BYE-4-6-dnp-4- 5 (2.9), Cooper Helfet: dnp-BYE-2-1-6-4- 0 (2.6), Zach Miller: 2-BYE-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp- dnp (2.3), Paul Richardson: 1-BYE-0-dnp-5-3- 6 (2.1), Bryan Walters: 5-BYE-0-3-0-dnp- dnp (1.7), Robert Turbin: 1-BYE-0-0-4-3- 2 (1.5), Kevin Norwood: dnp-BYE-dnp-dnp-1-2- 1 (1.3), Ricardo Lockette: 1-BYE-0-1-0-2- 1 (1.1), Derrick Coleman: 1-BYE-0-0-dnp-dnp- dnp (0.4)
Marshawn Lynch was the catalyst of this game for the Seahawks as he totaled 143 yards and two touchdowns, the only offensive touchdowns of the day for the Seahawks. After him there wasn’t anyone you’d have wanted on your fantasy team as Russell Wilson completed less than 50% of his passes for 179 yards and no touchdowns.
Doug Baldwin was second in targets, catching five of six for 38 yards, while Jermaine Kearse led with seven targets, but only caught one for four yards. That’s no bueno.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Jermaine Kearse: Run 0/ Tar 5, Marshawn Lynch: Run 13/ Tar 4, Luke Willson: Run 0/ Tar 4, Doug Baldwin: Run 0/ Tar 3, Cooper Helfet: Run 0/ Tar 3, Percy Harvin: Run 1/ Tar 2, Paul Richardson: Run 0/ Tar 1, Russell Wilson: Run 7/ Tar 0, Robert Turbin: Run 2/ Tar 0
Lynch saw four rushing attempts in the red zone and scored on two. Luke Willson and Jermaine Kearse both had two targets and no receptions.
St. Louis Rams
Jared Cook: 9-BYE-10-11-3-3- 5 (6.6), Brian Quick: 4-BYE-9-4-2-2- dnp (5.6), Kenny Britt: 7-BYE-6-6-3-5- 4 (4.4), Austin Pettis: 4-BYE-6-4-dnp-dnp- dnp (3.6), Benny Cunningham: 2-BYE-4-2-5-1- 3 (2.9), Lance Kendricks: 7-BYE-1-2-3-1- 2 (2.9), Tavon Austin: dnp-BYE-2-5-4-2- 3 (2.9), Zac Stacy: 6-BYE-5-3-0-4- dnp (2.9), Chris Givens: 3-BYE-dnp-dnp-1-2- 2 (2.2), Stedman Bailey: 0-BYE-3-2-0-3- 1 (1.5), Tre Mason: dnp-BYE-dnp-1-0-1- 2 (1), Cory Harkey: 0-BYE-0-0-1-0- 1 (0.6), Trey Watts: 0-BYE-2-0-0-0- 1 (0.5), Damian Williams: dnp-BYE-dnp-1-dnp-dnp- 0 (0.5)
Austin Davis threw for 105 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions and the Rams somehow beat the 49ers. I’m guessing the 49ers defense is not all that happy with their offense right now. As a team the Rams didn’t even hit 200 total yards.
Benny Cunningham led the team in receiving with three receptions for 38 yards and Jared Cook led in targets with five, catching two for 12 yards. That’s nothing to write home about unless you are the defense.
Probably the most interesting news was that Zac Stacy didn’t see the field this week and Tre Mason led the team with 19 carries for 65 yards. That’s not winning you any fantasy games, but 19 carries against a poor run defense probably could.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Jared Cook: Run 0/ Tar 3, Benny Cunningham: Run 4/ Tar 3, Trey Watts: Run 0/ Tar 2, Lance Kendricks: Run 0/ Tar 2, Brian Quick: Run 0/ Tar 2, Zac Stacy: Run 4/ Tar 2, Chris Givens: Run 0/ Tar 1, Austin Pettis: Run 0/ Tar 1, Tre Mason: Run 7/ Tar 1, Stedman Bailey: Run 0/ Tar 1, Austin Davis: Run 1/ Tar 0, Tavon Austin: Run 3/ Tar 0,
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vincent Jackson: 9-10-12-13-BYE-5- 12 (9.6), Mike Evans: 7-7-dnp-8-BYE-7- 11 (7.6), Louis Murphy: dnp-11-7-9-BYE-2- 4 (6.6), Austin Seferian-Jenkins: dnp-7-3-5-BYE-4- 3 (4), Bobby Rainey: 8-2-4-3-BYE-6- 3 (3.9), Doug Martin: dnp-2-5-2-BYE-2- dnp (2.6), Brandon Myers: 5-1-0-2-BYE-2- 0 (2.5), Robert Herron: 3-dnp-1-2-BYE-0- 0 (1.3), Luke Stocker: 2-0-0-0-BYE-0- 0 (0.4), Russell Shepard: 0-2-0-0-BYE-0- 0 (0.2), Jorvorskie Lane: 0-0-0-0-BYE-dnp- dnp (0.2), Mike James: 1-dnp-0-0-BYE-0- 0 (0.1)
This looks like the week we saw Mike Evans pass Vincent Jackson as the #1 receiver. Well, at least for a week. Evans had one less target than Jackson, but caught seven of 11 targets for 124 yards and two touchdowns, and also had another catch that was ruled out of bounds, but wasn’t. Jackson had 12 targets, but caught just six for 86 yards.
After those two, Bobby Rainey was the main back as he ran 19 times for 87 yards and caught one of three targets for 34 yards. For some reason they went away from him in the second half. He's earned starting duties and we'll have to wait and see how Charles Sims fits in.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: Louis Murphy: Run 0/ Tar 3, Austin Seferian-Jenkins: Run 0/ Tar 3, Bobby Rainey: Run 6/ Tar 2, Mike Evans: Run 0/ Tar 2, Vincent Jackson: Run 0/ Tar 2, Robert Herron: Run 0/ Tar 1, Doug Martin: Run 1/ Tar 0, Mike James: Run 1/ Tar 0, Mike Glennon: Run 1/ Tar 0
Jackson and Evans each saw one target in the red zone while Rainey had three looks.
Washington
Pierre Garcon: 16-6-3-6-6-4- 5 (6.9), DeSean Jackson: 11-4-11-5-5-7- 7 (6.8), Andre Roberts: 6-5-9-9-4-5- 5 (5.7), Jordan Reed: dnp-dnp-dnp-11-6-7- 1 (5.2), Niles Paul: 9-4-2-2-2-3- 2 (4.3), Roy Helu: 1-5-7-2-3-2- 5 (3.3), Alfred Morris: 0-3-1-3-0-1- 3 (1.2), Logan Paulsen: 2-3-3-0-1-0- 0 (1.2), Ryan Grant: 1-1-0-0-0-0- 0 (1.1), Darrel Young: 2-1-0-0-1-1- 0 (0.9), Aldrick Robinson: 0-1-0-dnp-dnp-dnp- dnp (0.6)
Even with Robert Griffin back there’s no slowing down DeSean Jackson who led the team with seven targets and caught four for 120 yards and a touchdown. But after him the leading receiver was Roy Helu, who caught four of five targets for 46 yards.
Alfred Morris had his best game since Week 2. These are the games he was drafted for as he totaled 109 yards and two touchdowns. He needs close, competitive games like this to shine, but thankfully for his fantasy owners, Roy Helu continues to be below average in pass blocking, so Morris will remain in there often to help the often injured Griffin.
Red Zone Targets+Touches: DeSean Jackson: Run 0/ Tar 6, Roy Helu: Run 1/ Tar 3, Andre Roberts: Run 0/ Tar 3, Niles Paul: Run 0/ Tar 2, Jordan Reed: Run 0/ Tar 2, Alfred Morris: Run 11/ Tar 1, Pierre Garcon: Run 0/ Tar 1, Logan Paulsen: Run 0/ Tar 1, Robert Griffin III: Run 2/ Tar 0, Kirk Cousins: Run 1/ Tar 0, Colt McCoy: Run 3/ Tar 0
Morris had four rushing attempts in the red zone and scored on two of them and also had a target! DeSean Jackson had three targets in the red zone and caught two of them, including his touchdown. Pierre Garcon had zero targets in the red zone.
