Cincinnati Bengals
A.J. Green: 4-14-5-10-8-7-BYE (48), Jerome Simpson: 9-9-4-3-7-9-BYE (41), Jermaine Gresham: 8-5-8-7-7-6-BYE (41), Andre Caldwell: 1-4-12-5-4-4-BYE (30), Brian Leonard: 2-2-1-2-3-2-BYE (12), Cedric Benson: 1-3-1-1-0-1-BYE (7), Bernard Scott: 0-0-0-2-2-1-BYE (5)
Andy Dalton and the Bengals looked like the worst team in the league in preseason and now, amazingly, they don't. Dalton continues to find A.J. Green in the end zone. Green's rookie campaign is feeling very similar to Tampa Mike Williams' rookie season. Green's ability to make the tough catch will keep red zone targets coming his way.
Jerome Simpson saw a ton of targets and cashed them in for a 100 yard game in Week 6. This isn't going to be the norm, but it's good to see that he can take a plus matchup and make good on it.
Cleveland Browns
Ben Watson: 7-4-10-9-BYE-8-4 (42), Greg Little: 3-5-5-8-BYE-12-7 (40), Mohamed Massaquoi: 7-6-6-9-BYE-7-2 (37), Josh Cribbs: 3-3-6-8-BYE-5-6 (31), Montario Hardesty: 0-0-4-9-BYE-4-2 (19), Peyton Hillis: 8-4-dnp-6-BYE-1-dnp (19), Evan Moore: 6-1-3-2-BYE-3-4 (19), Alex Smith: 0-5-4-2-BYE-3-2 (16), Chris Ogbonnaya: dnp-dnp-dnp-0-BYE-dnp-5 (5)
Colt McCoy is spreading the ball around well just not productively. Kind of like spreading peanut butter on a brick. That's not going to do much for your hunger. They are second in passing attempts with 42 per game to the New Orleans Saints' 42.7, but the Saints average 341 yards passing per game to the Browns' 216.8. That discrepancy means that there aren't many fantasy points to go around in Cleveland, especially when you target so many players.
Dallas Cowboys
Jason Witten: 9-14-9-10-BYE-4-6 (52), Miles Austin: 9-15-dnp-dnp-BYE-10-5 (39), Dez Bryant: 8-dnp-4-5-BYE-8-8 (33), Laurent Robinson: dnp-dnp-5-10-BYE- 2-3 (20), Felix Jones: 4-2-3-7-BYE-4-dnp (20), Tashard Choice: 1-2-1-5-BYE-5-0 (14), Demarco Murray: 1-1-0-1-BYE-2-2 (7)
This week was all DeMarco Murray's as he ran for a Cowboys' record 3.5 gazillion yards or thereabouts. That didn't leave much room for receptions and Dez Bryant and Jason Witten led in that department while both getting touchdowns. Miles Austin was the odd man out this week. But the good news is that Murray most likely doesn't have all that many 253 yard games in him so Miles, Dez and Jason will most likely be able to all get their fair share of fantasy love going forward.
Denver Broncos
Eric Decker: 5-9-12-10-5-BYE-3 (44), Daniel Fells: 6-2-4-3-4-BYE-4 (23), Willis McGahee: 7-2-5-2-1-BYE-0 (17), Matt Willis: 2-4-3-1-3-BYE-2 (15), Eddie Royal: 6-3-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-4 (13), Demaryius Thomas: dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-10 (10), Lance Ball: 1-1-5-2-0-BYE-0 (9), Knowshon Moreno: 3-dnp-0-1-3- BYE-2 (9)
I can't remember who was playing quarterback for the Broncos on Sunday, but they sure targeted Demaryius Thomas a lot. Ten out of 27 passes to be exact. Not one Bronco had more than three receptions or 42 yards and after Thomas not one had over four targets. If we are to go from this game alone Thomas would be the only receiver worth contemplating in Denver. Eddie Royal and Eric Decker saw by far the most snaps of the receivers with 67 and 71 while Thomas had 45, but targets trump time on the field for the most part.
Willis McGahee will be out a couple weeks after hand surgery which leaves the door open for Knowshon Moreno. Lance Ball will be the co-goal line back with their QB, but Moreno will see a lot of work running and receiving the ball.
Detroit Lions
Calvin Johnson: 10-7-11-13-6-9-11 (67), Brandon Pettigrew: 6-3-13-9-5-14-6 (56), Jahvid Best: 5-8-7-8-4-8-dnp (40), Nate Burleson: 5-9-2-4-4-10-3 (37), Titus Young: 1-7-8-5-4-5-3 (30), Maurice Morris: 2-0-2-0-1-1-4 (10), Tony Scheffler: 1-3-1-1-1-dnp-3 (10)
Calvin Johnson is Calvin Johnson and he's going to get it done. After him Brandon Pettigrew continues to see plenty of targets. Tony Scheffler returned this week and that isn't the greatest news for Pettigrew, but he still saw 6 targets.
Maurice Morris played 39 to Keiland Williams' 18 snaps and is still the player I'd want if Jahvid Best continues to be sidelined due to his concussion. His upside isn't great, but he'll get rushes and receptions and Williams main value will come from goal line carries.
Green Bay Packers
Greg Jennings: 8-8-10-7-5-10-10 (58), Jermichael Finley: 4-6-8-6-7-4-2 (37), Jordy Nelson: 8-2-5-6-7-3-4 (35), James Jones: 1-2-6-3-7-1-4 (24), James Starks: 1-4-4-6-3-2-4 (24), Donald Driver: 7-1-2-4-2-5-1 (22), Randall Cobb: 2-2-1-3-2-0-2 (12), Ryan Grant: 1-3-1-dnp-1-2-0 (8), John Kuhn: 2-2-1-1-1- 0-1 (8)
Another day and another nearly flawless game from Aaron Rodgers. Right now he could turn Benard Berrian into a top 10 receiver. Yes, he's that good. Like Colt McCoy and Drew Brees, he likes to throw to many different receivers (KUHHHHHHHNN!!!!) and the only extremely reliable one has been Greg Jennings. Jordy Nelson is the No. 2 non kicker/quarterback fantasy player on the Packers right now even though Finley has been target more. The battle for second should be a close one. After that the two Jameses are battling over 4th and 5th. Jones and Starks are picking up the scraps that they can and doing it admirably. Ryan Grant is pretty much droppable at this point. Starks outplays him at every turn.
Houston Texans
Owen Daniels: 2-5-9-7-11-3-5 (42), Andre Johnson: 11-9-12-5-dnp-dnp-dnp (37), Jacoby Jones: 3-4-2-1-11-7-4 (32), Arian Foster: dnp-2-dnp-5-7-11-5 (30), Derrick Mason: 6-2-10-3-1-4-1 (27), Kevin Walter: 2-dnp-3-1-6-8-4 (24), Joel Dreessen: 1-2-1-1-9-2-2 (18)
Much like the Cowboys, the Texans let their running back do most of the heavy lifting in Week 7. With 234 total yards and 3 touchdowns there wasn't much left for the rest of them. Owen Daniels continues to be a safe play week in and week out and is currently 7th overall in fantasy points for tight ends.
Ben Tate added 104 yards in relief of Foster who had 30 touches. He’ll need more blowout games like this to really rack up the yards so don’t count on him.
The numbers by each name are targets for weeks' 1-7 followed by the total year to date targets in parenthesis. All snap count data comes from our friends over at Pro Football Focus
Arizona Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald: 7-9-8-11-8-BYE-10 (53), Early Doucet: 3-6-6-6-16-BYE-5 (42), Andre Roberts: 4-7-6-0-6-BYE-5 (28), Rob Housler: 0-0-0-1-8-BYE-6 (15), Jeff King: 3-2-0-1-6-BYE-1 (13), Alfonso Smith: dnp-0-5-0-0-BYE-0 (5), LaRod Stephens-Howling: 1-dnp-dnp-1-0-BYE-3 (5)
So far Kevin Kolb has not been the answer, but he is the question, such as, is this guy any good? How can he not get the ball to one of the best receivers in the league and so on and so forth.
Early Doucet and Andre Roberts split targets, but Doucet caught all five of his targets and scored a touchdown whereas Mr. Roberts caught one of his for a whopping 8 yards.
With Beanie "Bone Bruise" Wells out with, well, you know his name, Alfonso Smith and LaRod Stephens-Howling will split time. Smith will be the early down/goal line back while Stephens-Howling will be in on all passing downs.
Atlanta Falcons
Roddy White: 13-4-17-11-9-5-10 (69), Tony Gonzalez: 7-9-8-9-8-3-8 (52), Julio Jones: 6-7-7-17-4-dnp-dnp (41), Harry Douglas: 4-2-7-0-5-4-7 (29), Jason Snelling: 7-3-2-dnp-2-1-1 (16), Jacquizz Rodgers: 5-0-3-1-1-1-4 (15), Michael Turner: 4-1-0-2-0-3-1 (11)
Roddy White is still the guy, but he's not as explosive as he's been in the past and the Falcons miss Julio Jones quite a bit. Harry Douglas has some ability and had a decent game last week, but Jones is a special player and fits well in this offense.
Baltimore Ravens
Anquan Boldin: 7-7-14-2-BYE-9-12 (51), Ray Rice: 5-8-7-5-BYE-7-8 (40), Ed Dickson: 5-6-9-12-BYE-3-5 (40), Torrey Smith: 1-0-8-6-BYE-5-5 (25), Dennis Pitta: 2-3-1-1-BYE-5-3 (15)
If you watch the last Monday night football game in its entirety I must commend you on your ability to control your gag reflex. I'm not ready to give up on any of the Ravens just yet though. The Jaguars defense has been stout all season and every team is entitled to an off night. Anquan Boldin remains the go to guy with Torrey Smith behind him. I find it hard to believe Lee Evans will completely usurp Smith since Boldin and Evans together make for a pretty old/slow tandem.
Buffalo Bills
Stevie Johnson: 6-14-10-6-5-10-BYE (51), David Nelson: 6-13-8-3-2-6-BYE (38), Fred Jackson: 1-2-6-8-6-6-BYE (29), Scott Chandler: 5-4-3-2-1-1-BYE (16), Naaman Roosevelt: dnp-dnp-1-1-7-2-BYE (11), C.J. Spiller: 1-1-1-1-2-5-BYE (11), Brad Smith: 0-0-1-4-1-0-BYE (6)
Early on the Bills' receiver situation looked ripe for the fake football pickings but lately it has been difficult to figure out who the secondary receiver to trust might be, if any. In Week 6 we saw Naaman Roosevelt once again put up a decent line, but this time with only two targets and one reception that went 60 yards for a touchdown. We just can't rely on him taking a slant for six every week with just two targets. David Nelson moved back up the target list and had six with four receptions for 64 yards. Even though he didn't get into the end zone that was a good sign for him after having low target numbers before Donald Jones was hurt.
I often make a point to point out the lack of time C.J. Spiller spends on the field but I couldn't do that last week. His 35 snaps were more than he had totaled in the three previous weeks combined. He also had a season high five targets and five receptions but for a measly 34 yards. With the injuries to Parrish and Jones, Spiller has stepped up in the slot. Chan Gailey says this isn't a permanent change but it at least gives Spiller some chance to touch the ball. He's not getting enough work to warrant picking him up yet but it's worth keeping an eye on.
Carolina Panthers
Steve Smith: 11-13-7-10-7-7-9 (64), Greg Olsen: 6-4-10-7-5-10-3 (45), Jeremy Shockey: 3-5-7-5-7-7-4 (38), Legedu Naanee: 5-7-2-11-7-2-3 (37), Jonathan Stewart: 3-8-3-4-1-3-0 (22), Brandon LaFell: 5-5-0-6-2-1-3 (22), DeAngelo Williams: 2-4-3-1-0-3-0 (13)
Steve Smith continues to be the only non Cam Newton you can start at will from the Panthers. Greg Olsen was on the cusp, but his production has slackened after the turf toe monster got him. I'd be afraid of him until he can show he is 100 percent. Legedu Naanee and Brandon LaFell are still cancelling each other out even though LaFell got into the end zone last week. They both only had three targets which isn't enough for us fake footballers.
Jonathan Stewart continues to outplay DeAngelo Williams and is the one to own of the two, but they still hurt each other in fantasy land.
Chicago Bears
Matt Forte: 6-14-8-5-7-7-4 (51), Devin Hester: 5-9-5-2-7-7-9 (44), Johnny Knox: 4-6-9-4-2-4-6 (35), Dane Sanzenbacher: 1-7-7-2-10-3-3 (33), Roy Williams: 4-dnp-4-1-1-4-5 (19), Kellen Davis: 5-1-2-1-3-3-dnp (15)
There isn't much to say about Matt Forte besides heaping praise so I'll move onto the wide receivers. Whoops, the heaps of praise just slid down into the gutter. Amazingly Roy Williams showed up this week. He caught four of five targets for 59 yards and a touchdown. With nine targets Devin Hester had a stat line like Devin Hester, 4 receptions for 46 yards. Johnny Knox had his best game in a month with 3 receptions for 53 yards. Yes, this receiving corps is pretty sad, but I'm going to go out on a very slim limb in a wind storm and say that Roy Williams leads this team in receiving from here on out. That might not mean too much in fantasy, but in a land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
Cincinnati Bengals
A.J. Green: 4-14-5-10-8-7-BYE (48), Jerome Simpson: 9-9-4-3-7-9-BYE (41), Jermaine Gresham: 8-5-8-7-7-6-BYE (41), Andre Caldwell: 1-4-12-5-4-4-BYE (30), Brian Leonard: 2-2-1-2-3-2-BYE (12), Cedric Benson: 1-3-1-1-0-1-BYE (7), Bernard Scott: 0-0-0-2-2-1-BYE (5)
Andy Dalton and the Bengals looked like the worst team in the league in preseason and now, amazingly, they don't. Dalton continues to find A.J. Green in the end zone. Green's rookie campaign is feeling very similar to Tampa Mike Williams' rookie season. Green's ability to make the tough catch will keep red zone targets coming his way.
Jerome Simpson saw a ton of targets and cashed them in for a 100 yard game in Week 6. This isn't going to be the norm, but it's good to see that he can take a plus matchup and make good on it.
Cleveland Browns
Ben Watson: 7-4-10-9-BYE-8-4 (42), Greg Little: 3-5-5-8-BYE-12-7 (40), Mohamed Massaquoi: 7-6-6-9-BYE-7-2 (37), Josh Cribbs: 3-3-6-8-BYE-5-6 (31), Montario Hardesty: 0-0-4-9-BYE-4-2 (19), Peyton Hillis: 8-4-dnp-6-BYE-1-dnp (19), Evan Moore: 6-1-3-2-BYE-3-4 (19), Alex Smith: 0-5-4-2-BYE-3-2 (16), Chris Ogbonnaya: dnp-dnp-dnp-0-BYE-dnp-5 (5)
Colt McCoy is spreading the ball around well just not productively. Kind of like spreading peanut butter on a brick. That's not going to do much for your hunger. They are second in passing attempts with 42 per game to the New Orleans Saints' 42.7, but the Saints average 341 yards passing per game to the Browns' 216.8. That discrepancy means that there aren't many fantasy points to go around in Cleveland, especially when you target so many players.
Dallas Cowboys
Jason Witten: 9-14-9-10-BYE-4-6 (52), Miles Austin: 9-15-dnp-dnp-BYE-10-5 (39), Dez Bryant: 8-dnp-4-5-BYE-8-8 (33), Laurent Robinson: dnp-dnp-5-10-BYE- 2-3 (20), Felix Jones: 4-2-3-7-BYE-4-dnp (20), Tashard Choice: 1-2-1-5-BYE-5-0 (14), Demarco Murray: 1-1-0-1-BYE-2-2 (7)
This week was all DeMarco Murray's as he ran for a Cowboys' record 3.5 gazillion yards or thereabouts. That didn't leave much room for receptions and Dez Bryant and Jason Witten led in that department while both getting touchdowns. Miles Austin was the odd man out this week. But the good news is that Murray most likely doesn't have all that many 253 yard games in him so Miles, Dez and Jason will most likely be able to all get their fair share of fantasy love going forward.
Denver Broncos
Eric Decker: 5-9-12-10-5-BYE-3 (44), Daniel Fells: 6-2-4-3-4-BYE-4 (23), Willis McGahee: 7-2-5-2-1-BYE-0 (17), Matt Willis: 2-4-3-1-3-BYE-2 (15), Eddie Royal: 6-3-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-4 (13), Demaryius Thomas: dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-10 (10), Lance Ball: 1-1-5-2-0-BYE-0 (9), Knowshon Moreno: 3-dnp-0-1-3- BYE-2 (9)
I can't remember who was playing quarterback for the Broncos on Sunday, but they sure targeted Demaryius Thomas a lot. Ten out of 27 passes to be exact. Not one Bronco had more than three receptions or 42 yards and after Thomas not one had over four targets. If we are to go from this game alone Thomas would be the only receiver worth contemplating in Denver. Eddie Royal and Eric Decker saw by far the most snaps of the receivers with 67 and 71 while Thomas had 45, but targets trump time on the field for the most part.
Willis McGahee will be out a couple weeks after hand surgery which leaves the door open for Knowshon Moreno. Lance Ball will be the co-goal line back with their QB, but Moreno will see a lot of work running and receiving the ball.
Detroit Lions
Calvin Johnson: 10-7-11-13-6-9-11 (67), Brandon Pettigrew: 6-3-13-9-5-14-6 (56), Jahvid Best: 5-8-7-8-4-8-dnp (40), Nate Burleson: 5-9-2-4-4-10-3 (37), Titus Young: 1-7-8-5-4-5-3 (30), Maurice Morris: 2-0-2-0-1-1-4 (10), Tony Scheffler: 1-3-1-1-1-dnp-3 (10)
Calvin Johnson is Calvin Johnson and he's going to get it done. After him Brandon Pettigrew continues to see plenty of targets. Tony Scheffler returned this week and that isn't the greatest news for Pettigrew, but he still saw 6 targets.
Maurice Morris played 39 to Keiland Williams' 18 snaps and is still the player I'd want if Jahvid Best continues to be sidelined due to his concussion. His upside isn't great, but he'll get rushes and receptions and Williams main value will come from goal line carries.
Green Bay Packers
Greg Jennings: 8-8-10-7-5-10-10 (58), Jermichael Finley: 4-6-8-6-7-4-2 (37), Jordy Nelson: 8-2-5-6-7-3-4 (35), James Jones: 1-2-6-3-7-1-4 (24), James Starks: 1-4-4-6-3-2-4 (24), Donald Driver: 7-1-2-4-2-5-1 (22), Randall Cobb: 2-2-1-3-2-0-2 (12), Ryan Grant: 1-3-1-dnp-1-2-0 (8), John Kuhn: 2-2-1-1-1- 0-1 (8)
Another day and another nearly flawless game from Aaron Rodgers. Right now he could turn Benard Berrian into a top 10 receiver. Yes, he's that good. Like Colt McCoy and Drew Brees, he likes to throw to many different receivers (KUHHHHHHHNN!!!!) and the only extremely reliable one has been Greg Jennings. Jordy Nelson is the No. 2 non kicker/quarterback fantasy player on the Packers right now even though Finley has been target more. The battle for second should be a close one. After that the two Jameses are battling over 4th and 5th. Jones and Starks are picking up the scraps that they can and doing it admirably. Ryan Grant is pretty much droppable at this point. Starks outplays him at every turn.
Houston Texans
Owen Daniels: 2-5-9-7-11-3-5 (42), Andre Johnson: 11-9-12-5-dnp-dnp-dnp (37), Jacoby Jones: 3-4-2-1-11-7-4 (32), Arian Foster: dnp-2-dnp-5-7-11-5 (30), Derrick Mason: 6-2-10-3-1-4-1 (27), Kevin Walter: 2-dnp-3-1-6-8-4 (24), Joel Dreessen: 1-2-1-1-9-2-2 (18)
Much like the Cowboys, the Texans let their running back do most of the heavy lifting in Week 7. With 234 total yards and 3 touchdowns there wasn't much left for the rest of them. Owen Daniels continues to be a safe play week in and week out and is currently 7th overall in fantasy points for tight ends.
Ben Tate added 104 yards in relief of Foster who had 30 touches. He’ll need more blowout games like this to really rack up the yards so don’t count on him.
Indianapolis Colts
Reggie Wayne: 11-8-13-8-7-6-4 (57), Pierre Garcon: 6-5-10-8-8-11-6 (54), Austin Collie: 3-10-7-7-2-6-5 (40), Dallas Clark: 5-8-6-4-5-7-dnp (35), Joseph Addai: 4-4-2-2-1-dnp-2 (15), Brody Eldridge: 0-1-1-1-0-0-3 (6), Delone Carter: 0-0-1-0-3-1-0 (5)
The Saints gave the Colts a good old fashion whoopin' last Sunday night and there isn't much good you can take from it as a Colts' fan. Pierre Garcon continues to be Curtis Painter's first read and Delone Carter looked decent running against a defense that had no real need to put their resources into stopping the run. Donald Brown also looked okay and they were on the field an equal amount of snaps so keep your wits about you when bidding that free agent money.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Mike Thomas: 11-10-8-11-7-6-1 (54), Jason Hill: 5-dnp-5-9-7-3-8 (37), Marcedes Lewis: 3-dnp-2-7-4-8-3 (27), Maurice Jones-Drew: 0-4-3-4-0-3-3 (17), Deji Karim: 3-1-2-1-4-1-0 (12)
If it wasn't for the defense and Maurice Jones-Drew this team would be right in the thick of the Suck for Luck race. The Jaguars are averaging 128.4 yards passing a game. The Panthers averaged 141 last season. Do you remember how unbelievably horrid the Panthers were last season? If you are holding out hope for Mike Thomas and Jason Hill I can understand it, but it’s probably time to stop.
Kansas City Chiefs
Dwayne Bowe: 8-8-6-9-11-BYE-10 (52), Steve Breaston: 2-2-6-5-5-BYE-9 (29), Dexter McCluster: 5-5-6-4-2-BYE-2 (24), Leonard Pope: 6-3-3-1-3-BYE-dnp (16), LeRon McClain: 0-2-0-4-0-BYE-2 (8), Jonathan Baldwin: dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-5 (5)
Dwayne Bowe missed a touchdown by the width of a split hair, but is proving many wrong with another good season. And this season comes with a worse offense. Amazingly Steve Breaston has risen from the ashes to have some fantasy relevance as well. Matt Cassel had a miserable game, but was still able to at least keep Breaston and Bowe from getting shutout. That's something.
Miami Dolphins
Brandon Marshall: 13-11-7-8-BYE-13-9 (61), Davone Bess: 7-5-9-5-BYE-3-12 (41), Brian Hartline: 7-7-4-5-BYE-6-2 (31), Reggie Bush: 10-1-1-2-BYE-2-2 (18), Anthony Fasano: 6-2-2-4-BYE-2-2 (18), Daniel Thomas: dnp-1-3-dnp-BYE-1-5 (10)
With Champ Bailey harassing Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess got a whole slew of targets, finishing with 7 receptions and just 52 yards. Marshall still had 9 targets and 6 receptions, but didn't do much more with 61 yards. The good news is that Matt Moore continues to target Marshall even when he shouldn't which is helpful in fantasy.
Daniel Thomas had a poor game but had over 20 looks and was on the field for 45 plays compared to Reggie Bush's 26. That's hard to come by so don’t throw it away.
Minnesota Vikings
Visanthe Shiancoe: 1-7-2-8-6-7-8 (39), Percy Harvin: 4-8-5-7-2-9-3 (38), Michael Jenkins: 3-3-10-1-6-6-8 (37), Devin Aromashodu: 0-2-2-2-5-2-5 (18), Adrian Peterson: 3-2-5-1-0-1-1 (13), Kyle Rudolph: 1-1-3-4-0-3-dnp (12), Toby Gerhart: 0-1-2-1-0-2-0 (6), Greg Camarillo: 0-dnp-dnp-dnp-0-3-3 (6)
Visanthe Shiancoe and Michael Jenkins both saw eight targets with Percy Harvin out for much of the game with a rib injury. Christian Ponder didn't put up great numbers, but has a much livelier arm than Donovan McNabb and could help one of these receivers become fantasy relevant. A lot depends on Harvin's ribs going forward. He's had the problem since training camp and they could decide to rest him. That would not only help Jenkins and Shiancoe, but Harvin in the long run.
New England Patriots
Wes Welker: 12-11-20-14-8-10-BYE (75), Aaron Hernandez: 10-8-dnp-dnp-9-14-BYE (41), Deion Branch: 9-10-3-4-8-5-BYE (39), Rob Gronkowski: 7-6-9-5-4-7-BYE (38), Chad Ochocinco: 3-2-4-2-3-1-BYE (15), Danny Woodhead: 1-2-5-0-dnp-3-BYE (11), Julian Edelman: 2-0-3-1-dnp-dnp-BYE (6), BenJarvus Green-Ellis: 1-1 -0-1-1-1-BYE (5)
Thankfully this offense can supply enough work for Welker, Hernandez, Gronkowski and Branch who collectively totaled 36 targets and 24 receptions in Week 6. Aaron Hernandez has returned from his injury at full force with 23 targets in his last two games.
It looked like Stevan Ridley would get a lot of work against Dallas with three carries on the first drive, but it was all BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead after that. Ridley was only on the field for eight snaps whereas Green-Ellis and Woodhead were there for 30 and 32.
New Orleans Saints
Jimmy Graham: 7-7-8-14-12-11-7 (66), Darren Sproles: 9-10-9-7-7-11-6 (59), Marques Colston: 9-dnp-dnp-3-6-11-7 (36), Robert Meachem: 8-4-8-6-5-2-2 (35), Lance Moore: dnp-4-9-6-6-3-4 (32), Pierre Thomas: 5-4-1-4-3-1-6 (24), Devery Henderson: 9-3-4-1-1-2-2 (22), Mark Ingram: 0-0-2-2-2-1-1 (8)
The Saints are finally doing a good job of narrowing down who we should use in fantasy, at least in the receiving game. Graham, Colston and Sproles are startable each week because they aren't going to dip below six targets.
The running game is another story. Mark Ingram should be the work horse and goal line back, but goal line opportunities are going to receivers and Jed Collins too often, while Pierre Thomas and Sproles are taking away other carries. And now he has hurt his heel. This could be good news for Pierre Thomas who finally had a decent game, but we could also see Chris Ivory if Ingram is out. It's all very mysterious.
New York Giants
Hakeem Nicks: 11-7-5-14-7-7-BYE (51), Mario Manningham: 7-7-dnp-5-9-8-BYE (36), Victor Cruz: 2-2-5-9-11-4-BYE (33), Ahmad Bradshaw: 2-5-5-5-5-2-BYE (24), Jake Ballard: 3-1-1-3-4-5-BYE (17)
Victor Cruz came down to earth this week with only four targets after having 20 the two weeks before. He was on the field for 24 snaps to 53 for Manningham and 65 for Nicks. Manningham came excruciatingly close to scoring a couple touchdowns. And Jake Ballard also came within inches of a touchdown, but Ahmad Bradshaw hoarded them all for himself. This gave Eli Manning a big fat zero touchdowns. Oh the perils of fake football.
New York Jets
Dustin Keller: 8-6-9-8-2-5-8 (46), Plaxico Burress: 9-2-6-8-8-4-8 (45), Santonio Holmes: 10-4-2-11-6-4-3 (40), LaDainian Tomlinson: 7-2-6-3-1-4-4 (27), Shonn Greene: 1-2-7-0-2-2-1 (15), Jeremy Kerley: 0-0-0-1-3-4-7 (15)
The use of Plaxico Burress as the goal line receiver hurt Shonn Greene and probably elevated Burress' value in fantasy circles. He hasn't gone over 55 yards since week 1 and his only real value is through touchdowns which you just can't rely on from receivers at the goal line. So be wary. Santonio Holmes slipped to third on the target list which is downright criminal. And the third down specialist was Jeremy Kerley who saw seven targets and caught four of them, but for only 29 yards.
Shonn Greene has now had 20-plus touches three weeks in a row. He's a pretty mediocre talent, but it's hard to beat his opportunities coupled with a nice schedule on the horizon.
Oakland Raiders
Darrius Heyward-Bey: 7-dnp-3-7-12-9-11 (49), Denarius Moore: 1-8-6-5-6-4-5 (35), Darren McFadden: 1-8-3-6-3-1-1 (23), Jacoby Ford: 4-dnp-dnp-2-7-4-5 (22), Derek Hagan: dnp-8-3-5-3-0-dnp (19), Brandon Myers: 5-3-1-0-1-1-1 (12), Michael Bush: 1-0-2-4-0-1-3 (11)
Darrius Heyward-Bey has clearly become the No. 1 receiver for Oakland and has topped seven targets and 82 yards in his last four games. Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson and DHB are the only receivers to do that. And getting to 89 yards receiving with Kyle Boller and a just-from-the-couch Carson Palmer at the helm is quite an accomplishment.
Darren McFadden gets a bye week to rest his foot which looks like it should be enough time to do so, but Michael Bush was the clear No. 1 when he was gone getting 56 snaps to Taiwan Jones' 8. Grab Mr. Bush if you are a McFadden owner.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jeremy Maclin: 3-15-7-11-8-7-BYE (51), DeSean Jackson: 12-3-6-9-7-6-BYE (43), Jason Avant: 7-4-5-8-10-4-BYE (38), LeSean McCoy: 3-4-3-9-7-4-BYE (30), Brent Celek: 3-7-2-4-5-9-BYE (30), Steve Smith: 0-2-5-0-0-1-BYE (8)
Jeremy Maclin is the more complete wide receiver in Philadelphia and is showing it by averaging 8.5 targets and 6 receptions a game this season. DeSean Jackson is a riskier proposition from week to week, especially in PPR leagues. But you knew that already.
Brent Celek saw his highest target total for the season with seven and found the end zone for the first time. This is a good sign for him, but we'll probably need to take a wait and see attitude for now.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Wallace: 11-9-7-4-7-6-7 (51), Antonio Brown: 9-6-8-10-4-2-9 (48), Hines Ward: 9-6-4-4-8-4-4 (39), Heath Miller: 5-3-6-3-4-6-4 (31), Emmanuel Sanders: 3-3-5-2-3-4-7 (27), Rashard Mendenhall: 1-2-4-2-dnp-0-2 (11)
After Hines Ward left the game with an ankle injury, Antonio Brown saw a nice uptick in targets and eclipsed the 100 yard mark. Emmanuel Sanders also had a nice game with 5 receptions and a touchdown, but Brown is continuously targeted more than Sanders. If Ward is slowed by his injury Brown could make a permanent leap.
San Diego Chargers
Vincent Jackson: 3-15-8-4-6-BYE-8 (44), Mike Tolbert: 9-9-5-8-3-BYE-1 (35), Malcom Floyd: 8-2-5-3-7-BYE-4 (29), Ryan Mathews: 5-9-4-5-1-BYE-5 (29), Randy McMichael: 3-1-5-6-6-BYE-3 (24), Antonio Gates: 13-1-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE-7 (21)
Philip Rivers has not been himself with 7 touchdowns to 9 interceptions this season. If Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates can stay on the field that TD number should increase. Malcom Floyd is hurting again as well, but no other receiver has really stepped up. Patrick Crayton and Vincent Brown are next in line, but will most likely cancel each other out.
Ryan Mathews is the clear No. 1 running back, but Mike Tolbert continues to be the clear goal line back. As long as Mathews can stay healthy he'll easily get the bulk of the work, but Tolbert will cap his upside enough to keep him from top 5 status.
Seattle Seahawks
Ben Obomanu: 6-6-2-4-10-BYE-2 (30), Doug Baldwin: 6-2-4-6-9-BYE-3 (30), Sidney Rice: dnp-dnp-10-6-5-BYE-5 (26), Mike Williams: 5-3-1-5-dnp-BYE-4 (18), Justin Forsett: 5-3-3-4-1-BYE-1 (17), Marshawn Lynch: 2-2-3-4-6-BYE-dnp (17), Anthony McCoy: 3-3-0-0-6-BYE-4 (16), Zach Miller: 4-2-3-6-0-BYE-dnp (15), Golden Tate: 5-2-3-0-3-BYE-1 (14), Leon Washington: 2-1-1-1-1-BYE-4 (10)
The Seahawks target numbers are a hot mediocre mess. Whenever we think a player is going to step up or at least show some consistency they don't. The Seahawks are only averaging 182 yards passing and one receiving touchdown a game and that doesn't lend itself to many fantasy points for anyone. And now that Marshawn Lynch is hurting that clouds that backfield as well. Run for Mt. Rainier and find a log cabin to hole up in to ride this offense out.
San Francisco 49ers
Michael Crabtree: 2-dnp-6-9-5-15-BYE (37), Vernon Davis: 6-2-9-6-3-2-BYE (28), Josh Morgan: 2-5-4-3-6-dnp-BYE (20), Frank Gore: 4-3-2-2-2-5-BYE (18), Delanie Walker: 1-4-2-3-3-3-BYE (16), Ted Ginn: 0-7-0-1-0-5-BYE (13), Braylon Edwards: 5-2-dnp-dnp-dnp-dnp-BYE (7), Kendall Hunter: 0-0-2-5-0-0-BYE (7)
I mentioned that Crabtree was crab walking his way up the target tree and then he gets a whole slew of targets against the Lions. Of course the running game is what moves the 49er offense, but 15 targets would get my aunt Betty on PPR radars.
Vernon Davis only had two targets while he was helping fight off the Lions pass rush. He is susceptible to these types of games this season and looking at the effectiveness of the opponent's pass rush may be worthwhile in analyzing his weekly matchup.
St. Louis Rams
Brandon Lloyd: 11-dnp-7-11-BYE-dnp-12 (45), Danario Alexander: dnp-7-8-8-BYE-10-6 (39), Brandon Gibson: 5-8-7-1-BYE-10-dnp (31), Lance Kendricks: 5-4-3 -9-BYE-6-dnp (27), Greg Salas: 3-8-dnp-dnp-BYE-10-2 (23), Cadillac Williams: 10-5-2-dnp-BYE-3-1 (21), Steven Jackson: 0-dnp-1-8-BYE-5-5 (19), Michael Hoomanawanui: dnp-2-3-1-BYE-0-3 (9)
Of course Lloyd’s numbers above here are from the Denver doldrums, but that 12 is a great number of targets to start his career as a Ram. A.J. Feeley was the one throwing him the ball, but in reality it was Josh McDaniels, well, not reality, but you know. McDaniels knows Lloyd and knows he is better than any receiver they have and no matter who is at quarterback, Lloyd will be the go to guy. I don't completely trust this Rams offense to click enough to give Lloyd WR1 numbers out of the gate, but his ceiling got a lot higher in St. Louis.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Williams: 10-4-9-8-9-13-11 (64), Kellen Winslow: 8-8-4-6-9-10-12 (57), Preston Parker: 6-7-1-7-3-5-6 (35), Earnest Graham: 9-5-8-6-0-2-1 (31), Arrelious Benn: 7-2-4-1-4-6-1 (25), Dezmon Briscoe: 2-4-0-0-2-2-10 (20), Kregg Lumpkin: 1-0-1-3-1-0-8 (14), Luke Stocker: 1-1-2-4-dnp-dnp-3 (11)
Mike Williams is the fifth most targeted player in all of the NFL and leads his team in red zone targets. So why is he 52nd in fantasy points and tied for second in fantasy points for Tampa Bay wide receivers? That is a good question. All I can tell you is they haven't given up on him in the slightest. And he did have a decent game with 6 receptions for 75 yards in London. The touchdowns will come.
Earnest Graham is done for the year and Kregg Lumpkin is clearly a third down back at best. They are hoping LeGarrette Blount will be back after the bye. I would be too.
Tennessee Titans
Nate Washington: 7-11-9-4-8-BYE-3 (42), Chris Johnson: 7-5-7-2-3-BYE-6 (30), Lavelle Hawkins: 0-4-5-4-8-BYE-7 (28), Damian Williams: 2-dnp-3-4-11-BYE-4 (24), Jared Cook: 2-3-2-6-9-BYE-2 (24), Javon Ringer: dnp-2-2-0-6-BYE-1 (11), Craig Stevens: 3-1-1-1-0-BYE-1 (7)
The Titans are going to be an erratic team at best until they get Chris Johnson going and it's starting to get worrisome that he ever will get it going. "It" being any semblance of speed, power, lateral moves, etc...
The passing game misses Kenny Britt, but they trudge on. Nate Washington is still the No. 1 receiver with 49 snaps, but he only had three targets! Donnie Avery, Lavelle Hawkins and Jared Cook split time after Damian Williams left the game with a possible concussion. Cook isn't able to block effectively so Craig Stevens and Daniel Graham see a lot of time on run and play action which hurts Cook's upside which is evident in his two targets. He got into the end zone, but he needs more targets to be fantasy relevant week to week.
Washington Redskins
Jabar Gaffney: 7-8-6-4-BYE-10-8 (43), Santana Moss: 8-9-8-10-BYE-6-2 (43), Fred Davis: 6-7-3-6-BYE-11-8 (41), Anthony Armstrong: 6-4-0-dnp-BYE-dnp-4 (14), Roy Helu: 0-4-2-0-BYE-4-2 (12), Terrence Austin: 0-dnp-4-0-BYE-1-6 (11)
The Redskins lost Santana Moss and Tim Hightower, but their replacements aren't exactly clear cut. Jabar Gaffney and Fred Davis had eight targets a piece, but Davis did more with those targets and now with Chris Cooley on IR he should benefit the most. Gaffney will see an uptick in looks, but Anthony Armstrong, Terrence Austin (who had 6 targets) and Leonard Hankerson will all see enough work to hurt each other’s value to a degree.
With Hightower gone the workload will be split between Ryan Torain and Roy Helu. Like many committee backfields their value will be dependent on the game situation. Torain will most likely be the early down/goal line back while Helu will be the third down back. Of course that can change at any second with Shanahan at the helm, but that's the way it sorted out after Hightower went down.
Target Leaders
Before we move on let's take a quick look at the league leaders for average targets per start at each position for the last 4 weeks shall we? I'll present these sans analysis and let you bask in their statistical glow.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Wes Welker (10.7), Julio Jones (10.5), Mike Williams (10.2), Brandon Marshall (10), Dwayne Bowe (10), Demaryius Thomas (10 - 1 game), Calvin Johnson (9.8), Darrius Heyward-Bey (9.8), Larry Fitzgerald (9.7), Michael Crabtree (9.7)
TIGHT ENDS
Aaron Hernandez (11.5), Jimmy Graham (11), Kellen Winslow (9.2), Brandon Pettigrew (8.5), Fred Davis (8.3), Visanthe Shiancoe (7.2), Tony Gonzalez (7), Ben Watson (7), Antonio Gates (7), Jermaine Gresham (6.7), Jason Witten (6.7), Ed Dickson (6.7)
RUNNING BACKS
Darren Sproles (7.8), Arian Foster (7), Ray Rice (6.7), LeSean McCoy (6.7), Fred Jackson (6.7), Jahvid Best (6.7), Steven Jackson (6), Matt Forte (5.8), Felix Jones (5.5), Marshawn Lynch (5)