I talk about this all the time, but still the subject of targets is too often overlooked. As an example, last week Jets tight end Dustin Keller was targeted 10 times. Unfortunately he only caught two of them for various reasons. However, the targets suggest a trend towards opportunity. Would you rather play a guy getting the ball thrown his way 3-4 times a week or 9-10 times a week? The more targets, the more chances for production. That's why a guy like Vinsanthe Shiancoe is a fantasy anomaly. he only gets 3-4 targets a game, but most of those are in the redzone.
If you're in a PPR league, targets are even more important, because targets mean more potential conversions to point per reception. Imagine if Keller caught 8 of those passes last week and only missed two? He'd have added a TD worth of scoring without ever getting to the endzone.
So let's take a look through the first half of the fantasy season at who is getting the most targets. This will give fantasy owners a better idea of who they might find increased production from in the second half. These high-target guys should be high-target acquisitions in trade talks.
|
Running Back |
Team |
|
Wide Receiver |
Team |
|
Tight End |
Team |
|
| 1. Ray Rice |
BAL |
43 |
1. Andre Johnson |
HOU |
70 |
1. Owen Daniels |
HOU |
56 |
| 2. Tim Hightower |
ARI |
39 |
2. Randy Moss |
NE |
67 |
2. Kellen Winslow |
TB |
51 |
| 3. Maurice Jones-Drew |
JAC |
37 |
3. Chad Ochocinco |
CIN |
64 |
3. Vernon Davis |
SF |
50 |
| 4. Steve Slaton |
HOU |
34 |
4. Steve Smith |
NYG |
64 |
4. Antonio Gates |
SD |
50 |
| 5. Steven Jackson |
STL |
33 |
5. Larry Fitzgerald |
ARI |
63 |
5. Dallas Clark |
IND |
47 |
| 6. Reggie Bush |
NO |
31 |
6. Wes Welker |
NE |
62 |
6. Heath Miller |
PIT |
46 |
| 7. Chester Taylor |
MIN |
30 |
7. Steve Smith |
CAR |
57 |
7. Chris Cooley |
WAS |
45 |
| 8. Joseph Addai |
IND |
29 |
8. Reggie Wayne |
IND |
57 |
8. Brent Celek |
PHI |
44 |
| 9. Fred Jackson |
BUF |
28 |
9. Santonio Holmes |
PIT |
56 |
9. Tony Gonzalez |
ATL |
44 |
| 10. Matt Forte |
CHI |
27 |
10. Hines Ward |
PIT |
55 |
10. John Carlson |
SEA |
41 |
| 11. Darren Sproles |
SD |
26 |
11. Nate Burleson |
SEA |
54 |
11. Greg Olsen |
CHI |
40 |
| 12. Leon Washington |
NYJ |
26 |
12. T.J. Houshmandzadeh |
SEA |
53 |
12. Jason Witten |
DAL |
40 |
| 13. Chris Johnson |
TEN |
25 |
13. Roddy White |
ATL |
53 |
13. Zach Miller |
OAK |
38 |
| 14. Kevin Smith |
DET |
25 |
14. Mario Manningham |
NYG |
52 |
14. Dustin Keller |
NYJ |
36 |
| 15. Jerome Harrison |
CLE |
24 |
15. Anquan Boldin |
ARI |
51 |
15. Todd Heap |
BAL |
34 |
| 16. Kevin Faulk |
NE |
23 |
16. Lee Evans |
BUF |
48 |
16. Jeremy Shockey |
NO |
34 |
| 17. DeAngelo Williams |
CAR |
23 |
17. Santana Moss |
WAS |
48 |
17. Randy McMichael |
STL |
31 |
| 18. Brian Westbrook |
PHI |
22 |
18. Sidney Rice |
MIN |
48 |
18. Marcedes Lewis |
JAC |
29 |
| 19. LeSean McCoy |
PHI |
21 |
19. Marques Colston |
NO |
47 |
19. Brandon Pettigrew |
DET |
28 |
| 20. Mewelde Moore |
PIT |
20 |
20. Torry Holt |
JAC |
47 |
20. Visanthe Shiancoe |
MIN |
28 |
| 21. Adrian Peterson |
MIN |
20 |
21. DeSean Jackson |
PHI |
46 |
21. Donald Lee |
GB |
27 |
| 22. Cadillac Williams |
TB |
20 |
22. Derrick Mason |
BAL |
46 |
22. Sean Ryan |
KC |
25 |
| 23. Jamaal Charles |
KC |
19 |
23. Louis Murphy |
OAK |
46 |
23. Daniel Coats |
CIN |
23 |
| 24. Tashard Choice |
DAL |
18 |
24. Vincent Jackson |
SD |
45 |
24. Daniel Fells |
STL |
21 |
| 25. Ricky Williams |
MIA |
18 |
25. Mark Clayton |
BAL |
44 |
25. Jermichael Finley |
GB |
21 |
| 26. Ladell Betts |
WAS |
17 |
26. Dwayne Bowe |
KC |
43 |
26. Jerramy Stevens |
TB |
21 |
| 27. Larry Johnson |
KC |
17 |
27. Brandon Marshall |
DEN |
43 |
27. Ben Watson |
NE |
21 |
| 28. Marshawn Lynch |
BUF |
17* |
28. Mohamed Massaquoi |
CLE |
43 |
28. Kevin Boss |
NYG |
20 |
| 29. Ryan Grant |
GB |
16 |
29. Braylon Edwards |
NYJ |
42 |
29. Anthony Fasano |
MIA |
20 |
| 30. Frank Gore |
SFO |
14** |
30. Mike Sims-Walker |
JAX |
42^ |
30. Bo Scaife |
TEN |
18^^ |
- *Marshawn Lynch missed the season's first 3 games
- ** Frank Gore only played in 4 partial games.
- ^ Mike Sims-Walker had 42 targets in only 4 starts
- ^^Bo Scaife had 18 targets in only 3 starts.
--RB Notes--
Obviously Leon Washington is done for the season, and while Shonn Greene will get his carries, he's not likely to get many passes.
Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch are two guys who catch a lot of balls as RBs and right now their price tags are lower than they should be. Now's the time to make a move.
Jamaal Charles has been the buzz pick-up this week in the assumption he'll replace Larry Johnson. His price tag may be too high at the moment, be he does catch the ball well, and whether or not he gets the full starting gig, he does have value in PPR leagues.
Ladell Betts is sort of the forgotten man in Washington, but he's a Clinton Portis injury away from fantasy stud. Portis has struggled all season, and sooner or later, Betts is going to be a solid bet. Grab him if you have bench depth.
Finally, Steven Jackson is my RB Value pick. He has yet to score a TD, which certainly shouldn't last through this weekend. He's 2nd in rush attempts, 3rd in rush yardage, 5th in targets and 8th in receptions and receiving yards among RBs. There is not a better buy low, Value Pick for your fantasy buck. Make some offers today before he has a big game vs. the Lions.
--WR Notes--
While the Giants' Mario Manningham and Steve Smith are both on this list, over the last 4 weeks it has been Hakeem Nicks who is sneaking in the back door. Use these target stats to work a nice trade with someone who has more upside.
One guy I really like on this list is Dwayne Bowe. He started the season in the dog house, but coach Todd Haley and QB Matt Cassell are committed to making him their star player. He's off this week, so a desperate owner might sell under-value for a bye week replacement.
Sidney Rice may be harder to acquire now, but he has clearly become Brett Favre's number one guy. He's a guy I'd trade Smith or Manningham for.
And speaking of Steve Smith, the Panthers stud WR has been abysmally absent for fantasy owners this season. However, that's hardly his fault. And the law of probability where opportunity and talent collide, mean he won't stay down much longer. he has the same number of targets as the Colts reggie Wayne. What he's lacking are a dozen less receptions and a few TDs to balance him out. Those will start to come in the second half. He's my WR Value pick for the second half, along with the Packers Greg Jennings.
--TE Notes--
Probably the two biggest surprises on this list are Vernon Davis and Greg Olson. They should be flip-flopped, but Davis has become the 49ers top pass target. He is finally fulfilling the long lauded talent we have all been waiting to see. Olsen was supposed to be a top 5 TE pick this season, but double teams and a poor start by Jay Cutler has hurt his numbers. That said, he's still 11th in targets. He just needs more of those to turn into receptions, and trust me, they will. He is my TE Value pick.
Chris Cooley went and got himself banged up this week, but TE Fred Davis stepped right in and never missed a step. Davis is off this week meaning a lot of people skipped over him and he is available in the FA pool. But if Monday's 10 target, 8 catch, 78 yard performance tells us anything, it's that QB Jason Campbell will look his way often.
Another guy I like in deeper leagues at TE is the Raiders, Zach Miller. He's only got one TD so far but he's 5th in yards for TEs. I think he'll get 3-4 TDs in the second half and make himself a decent TE pick who is probably available on most free agent lists.
I believe a lot will begin to change this week moving forward, so cast your lines now and work the deal before Sunday's games begin. The opportunity is in the targets, so target the values the other owners can't see. Every league has brand name junkies and impatient owners. Find the owners who you can make the best deals with, and get cracking!
