THE FANTASY FIXX
Target Practice: Week Seven in the NFL
As we get deeper into the fantasy season, mistakes are magnified and each loss becomes monumental. There’s no room for error and every owner hoping to extend the fantasy season needs to be on top of the numbers as well as the injuries.
With week seven next on the slate, it’s too late into the season to be counting on luck, it’s time to start doing your homework. If you are hoping to set that winning lineup, then you have once again targeted the right place, because we have your weekly fix right here!
Who’s worried….
As we get deeper into the fantasy season, mistakes are magnified and each loss becomes monumental. There’s no room for error and every owner hoping to extend the fantasy season needs to be on top of the numbers as well as the injuries.
With week seven next on the slate, it’s too late into the season to be counting on luck, it’s time to start doing your homework. If you are hoping to set that winning lineup, then you have once again targeted the right place, because we have your weekly fix right here!
Who’s worried….
The signs are there and it appears his time could be coming now. The Bears tight end Greg Olsen still has yet to put up number one tight end numbers, but his time could be nearing closer than you think. Last Sunday Olsen caught five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, ranking 5th in fantasy scoring for tight ends. The bigger number to pay attention looking ahead is the 11 passes thrown in his direction (ranked tops for TE’s in week six).
The Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has yet to set any fantasy scoring sheets on fire this season, but his dormant beginnings could be changing soon. In his last two starts Bowe has managed to snag 11 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. The hidden value here is the 24 passes that have gone in his direction as well. Expect Bowe to only get better.
Despite the past two relatively quiet weeks for Giant’s receiver Steve Smith, fantasy owners should take comfort in knowing he’s still on Eli’s radar every Sunday. In his last two starts Smith has only seven receptions, but he was targeted 11 times; a slight drop from what he had seen. With Hixon a healthy return and the rookie Nicks emerging, Smith is still Eli’s go-to and should find an easier time this weekend to get open. Smith leads the NFL with 41 receptions and ranks in the top five in passing targets; don’t worry.
The Vikings and quarterback Brett Favre’s newest weapon this season appears to be their 3rd year receiver Sidney Rice. Over the past four weeks Rice has been seeing a steady diet of seven targets per game and when he’s been on the radar, he’s been productive. Over the same span he’s averaged 4.5 catches, 91-yards, and a half touchdown per game (that’s 12 fantasy points per game).
It’s a gradual and steady growth for the Bronco’s wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Week six was hardly a big week after going three straight with a touchdown. Marshall only caught five passes for 49 yards last Sunday, but over his last four starts he has had no fewer than six targets in each game while averaging eight over that stretch. The biggest key for the Bronco’s receiver is his level of efficiency; catching nearly 70 percent of the passes thrown his direction and averaging over nine fantasy points per game.
Keep your Eye on these gems…
The Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has yet to set any fantasy scoring sheets on fire this season, but his dormant beginnings could be changing soon. In his last two starts Bowe has managed to snag 11 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. The hidden value here is the 24 passes that have gone in his direction as well. Expect Bowe to only get better.
Despite the past two relatively quiet weeks for Giant’s receiver Steve Smith, fantasy owners should take comfort in knowing he’s still on Eli’s radar every Sunday. In his last two starts Smith has only seven receptions, but he was targeted 11 times; a slight drop from what he had seen. With Hixon a healthy return and the rookie Nicks emerging, Smith is still Eli’s go-to and should find an easier time this weekend to get open. Smith leads the NFL with 41 receptions and ranks in the top five in passing targets; don’t worry.
The Vikings and quarterback Brett Favre’s newest weapon this season appears to be their 3rd year receiver Sidney Rice. Over the past four weeks Rice has been seeing a steady diet of seven targets per game and when he’s been on the radar, he’s been productive. Over the same span he’s averaged 4.5 catches, 91-yards, and a half touchdown per game (that’s 12 fantasy points per game).
It’s a gradual and steady growth for the Bronco’s wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Week six was hardly a big week after going three straight with a touchdown. Marshall only caught five passes for 49 yards last Sunday, but over his last four starts he has had no fewer than six targets in each game while averaging eight over that stretch. The biggest key for the Bronco’s receiver is his level of efficiency; catching nearly 70 percent of the passes thrown his direction and averaging over nine fantasy points per game.
Keep your Eye on these gems…
On Monday night against the San Diego Chargers, the Bronco’s tight end Tony Scheffler had his 2009 coming out party. Scheffler caught six passes for over 100 yards and scored an important touchdown in the Monday night matchup. It was the tight end’s first big game this season and more importantly over the past two weeks, he has seen an increased activity in the Bronco’s passing game. In his last two starts Scheffler has seen 12 balls thrown his way and in that stretch he’s grabbed 10 of those throws. Keep your eye on Scheffler, it’s starting to look more and more like the Broncos will be getting him more involved in the vertical game.
Since his glory days as part of the “Greatest Show on Turf” the Jaguar’s wide receiver Torry Holt has not been as productive. Last season was his lowest totals for yards and receptions since his rookie season, but 2009 looks to be a different story. Holt is not lighting any fires at the moment, but he’s been very steady over the past couple of weeks. Holt has 12 receptions for 196 yards and has been targeted 21 times. He may not be considered a weekly must start or reliable fantasy starter, but ranking in the top 25 in both yards and receptions he’s worth watching.
Since his glory days as part of the “Greatest Show on Turf” the Jaguar’s wide receiver Torry Holt has not been as productive. Last season was his lowest totals for yards and receptions since his rookie season, but 2009 looks to be a different story. Holt is not lighting any fires at the moment, but he’s been very steady over the past couple of weeks. Holt has 12 receptions for 196 yards and has been targeted 21 times. He may not be considered a weekly must start or reliable fantasy starter, but ranking in the top 25 in both yards and receptions he’s worth watching.
Here is the breakdown for fantasy pass catchers (targets) this season;
Through Six weeks:
Top-30 Targeted Pass-catchers
Player.....................................Targt Recpt FPTS
Johnson, Andre WR HOU............66 36 78
Moss, Randy WR NE....................58 38 71
Smith, Steve WR NYG..................55 41 75
Burleson, Nate WR SEA...............54 32 53
Houshmandzadeh, T.J. WR SEA.....53 31 43
Ochocinco, Chad WR CIN............53 29 59
Ward, Hines WR PIT....................52 41 67
Welker, Wes WR NE....................52 36 54
Fitzgerald, Larry WR ARI..............50 35 64
Holmes, Santonio WR PIT............49 28 48
Wayne, Reggie WR IND................48 32 68
Daniels, Owen TE HOU...............47 32 58
Holt, Torry WR JAC...................47 27 38
Smith, Steve WR CAR.................47 21 26
Mason, Derrick WR BAL.............46 26 53
Winslow, Kellen TE TB...............46 29 51
Boldin, Anquan WR ARI..............44 29 32
Clayton, Mark WR BAL...............44 20 37
Gates, Antonio TE SD................44 29 52
Manningham, Mario WR NYG......44 24 61
Marshall, Brandon WR DEN.........43 29 55
Rice, Ray RB BAL......................43 33 93
Clark, Dallas TE IND...................42 35 54
Sims-Walker, Mike WR JAC.........42 28 55
White, Roddy WR ATL...............42 27 61
Carlson, John TE SEA................41 24 38
Through Six weeks:
Top-30 Targeted Pass-catchers
Player.....................................Targt Recpt FPTS
Johnson, Andre WR HOU............66 36 78
Moss, Randy WR NE....................58 38 71
Smith, Steve WR NYG..................55 41 75
Burleson, Nate WR SEA...............54 32 53
Houshmandzadeh, T.J. WR SEA.....53 31 43
Ochocinco, Chad WR CIN............53 29 59
Ward, Hines WR PIT....................52 41 67
Welker, Wes WR NE....................52 36 54
Fitzgerald, Larry WR ARI..............50 35 64
Holmes, Santonio WR PIT............49 28 48
Wayne, Reggie WR IND................48 32 68
Daniels, Owen TE HOU...............47 32 58
Holt, Torry WR JAC...................47 27 38
Smith, Steve WR CAR.................47 21 26
Mason, Derrick WR BAL.............46 26 53
Winslow, Kellen TE TB...............46 29 51
Boldin, Anquan WR ARI..............44 29 32
Clayton, Mark WR BAL...............44 20 37
Gates, Antonio TE SD................44 29 52
Manningham, Mario WR NYG......44 24 61
Marshall, Brandon WR DEN.........43 29 55
Rice, Ray RB BAL......................43 33 93
Clark, Dallas TE IND...................42 35 54
Sims-Walker, Mike WR JAC.........42 28 55
White, Roddy WR ATL...............42 27 61
Carlson, John TE SEA................41 24 38
Cooley, Chris TE WAS................41 27 40
Jackson, DeSean WR PHI...........41 19 49
Johnson, Calvin WR DET............41 22 39
Royal, Eddie WR DEN................41 18 13
[points based on traditional scoring]
Jackson, DeSean WR PHI...........41 19 49
Johnson, Calvin WR DET............41 22 39
Royal, Eddie WR DEN................41 18 13
[points based on traditional scoring]
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