Week 5 AFC Targets and Touches

With Week 4 in the books, it’s time again to review opportunity data.

Note: if a player has an asterisk next to a number in their data set, that indicates the player was injured during the game. Also, this data will stick to fantasy relevant players meaning that running backs and wide receivers that only see one target or touch per-game will not be included. The NFC targets and touches report comes out every Wednesday.

Baltimore Ravens

Targets: Steve Smith (Week 1: 7, Week 2: 16, Week 3: 17, Week 4: 7*), Justin Forsett (7, 4, 7, 1), Crockett Gillmore (4, 6, 3, 0), Lorenzo Taliaferro (0, 3, 1, 1), Kamar Aiken (3, 7, 1, 7), Marlon Brown (2, 4, 5, 4), Maxx Williams (2, 1, 7, 4)

RB Touches: Justin Forsett (18, 19, 14, 27), Lorenzo Taliaferro (0, 10, 4, 4), Buck Allen (10, 2, 3, 5)

Red zone Targets: Steve Smith (2, 3, 2, 0*), Crockett Gillmore (1, 2, 0, 0), Justin Forsett (1, 0, 0, 0), Lorenzo Taliaferro (0, 2, 0, 0), Kamar Aiken (0, 0, 0, 1)

Red zone Carries: Justin Forsett (0, 5, 0, 2), Lorenzo Taliaferro (0, 1, 1, 0), Buck Allen (0, 0, 0, 1)

CBs Thrown At (via PFF): Jimmy Smith 11, 7, 10, 4 (Allowed: 7 -60, 4-62-1, 7-126-1, 2-28) and Lardarius Webb 5, 10, 3, 10 (2-24, 5-90-1, 1-9-0, 10-72-1)

Analysis: Steve Smith has four microfractures in his back and will miss at least one week with the injury. Michael Campanaro (back) was moved to I.R. ending his season, leaving Kamar Aiken and Marlon Brown as the Ravens’ lone healthy wide receivers. The Ravens receiving core is obviously decimated.

Justin Forsett had a bounce-back game on Thursday Night Football, with five runs going for 10 or more yards and averaged a robust 5.6 yards per carry. Baltimore’s schedule should be fairly conducive to run production over the next four weeks, as three of Forsett’s next four matchups are favorable outside of the Cardinals in Week 7 (Browns, 49ers and Chargers).

Buffalo Bills

Targets: Sammy Watkins (3, 8, 2*, 0), Charles Clay (4, 6, 7, 13), Percy Harvin (5, 5, 8, 8), LeSean McCoy (4, 3, 3, 0), Robert Woods (2, 3, 5, 5), Karlos Williams (0, 2, 0, 4), Chris Hogan (0, 1, 4, 5)

RB Touches: LeSean McCoy (20, 18, 12, 0) and Karlos Williams (6, 8, 12, 21)

Red zone Targets: Charles Clay (0, 1, 0, 0), LeSean McCoy (0, 0, 1, 0), Percy Harvin (0, 0, 1, 2), Chris Hogan (0, 1, 1, 0), Robert Woods (0, 0, 0, 1)

Red zone Carries: LeSean McCoy (3, 2, 1, 0), Karlos Williams (1, 2, 0, 2), Tyrod Taylor (0, 1, 0, 1)

CBs Thrown At: Stephon Gilmore 15, 13, 6, 10 (7-110, 8-57-1, 3-66-1, 4-49-1), Ronald Darby 7, 9, 11, 7 (5-41, 3-48, 4-51, 2-6), Nickell Robey 8, 6, 4, 4 (5-31, 5-72, 3-37, 3-18)

Analysis: Without Sammy Watkins (calf) and LeSean McCoy (hamstring), the Bills’ offense noticeably lacked horsepower. Tyrod Taylor’s receivers weren’t open often, Percy Harvin and Robert Woods each dropped a pass, and Buffalo put up just 10 points and averaged 4.6 yards per play in a great spot at home against a below-average Giants’ defense. Without McCoy in the lineup, Karlos Williams received 21 touches but only averaged 2.2 yards per carry – but coming into the game, the Giants ranked sixth in Football Outsiders’ Run Defense DVOA. With McCoy possibly out for multiple weeks, Williams profiles as an explosive fantasy RB2 in Week 5 against the Titans.

Cincinnati Bengals

Targets: A.J. Green (8, 4, 13, 9), Tyler Eifert (12, 5, 3, 4), Jeremy Hill (0, 1, 0, 0), Giovani Bernard (6, 3, 4, 0), Marvin Jones (3, 5, 8, 2), Mohamed Sanu (3, 2, 4, 6)

RB Touches: Jeremy Hill (19, 11, 12, 9) and Gio Bernard (14, 23, 16, 13)

Red zone Targets: A.J. Green (2, 2, 3, 1), Tyler Eifert (2, 2, 2, 0), Mohamed Sanu (1, 1, 2, 2), Gio Bernard (1, 0, 0, 0), Marvin Jones (1, 2, 2, 0)

Red zone Carries: Jeremy Hill (8, 0, 4, 4), Gio Bernard (2, 6, 4, 2)

CBs Thrown At: Dre Kirkpatrick 7, 5, 8, 10 (3-31, 4-67-1, 4-53-1, 7-122), Adam Jones 7, 7, 5, 1 (5-42, 5-47, 4-36, 0-0), Leon Hall 5, 3, 3, 5 (3-5, 2-14, 3-33, 3-30)

Analysis: Giovani Bernard has out-touched Jeremy Hill in three straight games (52:32) and has out-snapped Hill in two of the last three weeks (120:77). Jeremy Hill will continue to get the carries at or near the goal line – he has six carries inside of the five yard line to Bernard’s two through four games – but both will cut into each other’s weekly ceiling. Each back is an RB2 in fantasy, but Bernard has the higher PPR floor.

Cleveland Browns

Targets: Travis Benjamin (3, 4, 10, 10), Duke Johnson (0, 0, 7, 10), Andrew Hawkins (6, 4, 6, 3), Brian Hartline (5, 3, 7, 6), Gary Barnidge (5, 1, 10, 6), Taylor Gabriel (4, 1, 5, 5), Isaiah Crowell (2, 0, 0, 3)

RB Touches: Isaiah Crowell (14, 15, 10, 13) and Duke Johnson (7, 12, 10, 17)

Red zone Targets: Andrew Hawkins (1, 0, 2, 0), Gary Barnidge (0, 0, 2, 2), Taylor Gabriel (0, 0, 1, 0), Travis Benjamin (0, 0, 2, 0), Duke Johnson (0, 0, 0, 1)

Red zone Carries: Isaiah Crowell (2, 2, 3) and Duke Johnson (0, 0, 0, 1)

CBs Thrown At: Joe Haden 7, 8, 6, 0 (6-99-1, 3-34-1, 6-87, 0-0), Tramon Williams 5, 5, 7, 6 (3-19, 3-37, 3-26, 2-16), Pierre Desir 0, 0, 2, 9 (0-0, 0-0, 1-7, 6-111-1)

Analysis: Isaiah Crowell’s snap percentage by week: 49.3%, 49%, 40%, and 36.5%. Duke Johnson’s snap percentage through four games: 43.7%, 53.1%, 44%, and 60.8%. The Browns’ next five opponents do not bode well for rushing success against four above-average run defenses. The Browns face: the Ravens, Broncos, Rams, Cardinals and the Bengals.

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Denver Broncos

Targets: Emmanuel Sanders (12, 14, 9, 6), Demaryius Thomas (11, 14, 13, 12), C.J. Anderson (8, 1, 1, 1) Jordan Norwood (5, 5, 3, 0) Owen Daniels (2, 5, 9, 5), Virgil Green (1, 3, 1, 0), Ronnie Hillman (0, 1, 1, 1), Bennie Fowler (0, 0, 4, 1)

RB Touches: C.J. Anderson (16, 13, 9, 12) and Ronnie Hillman (12, 9, 8, 12)

Red zone Targets: Demaryius Thomas (0, 0, 0, 2) Emmanuel Sanders (0, 2, 0, 1), Owen Daniels (0, 0, 2, 2)

Red zone Carries: C.J. Anderson (0, 0, 4, 2) and Ronnie Hillman (1, 2, 1, 2)

CBs Thrown At: Chris Harris Jr. 5, 4, 4, 7 (4-13, 4-58, 3-20, 4-48), Aqib Talib 4, 5, 9, 7 (2-25, 1-7, 7-70, 6-70-1), Bradley Roby 3, 0, 3, 8 (2-11, 0-0, 1-5, 6-86)

Analysis: HC Gary Kubiak said he is “going to play both (Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson)” and it sounds like Hillman could become the “1A” to Anderson’s “1B”. Outside of Hillman’s 72-yard touchdown, neither back was stellar against the Vikings in Week 4.

Through four games, C.J. Anderson has 43 carries and Hillman has 39. 13 (33.3%) of Hillman’s carries have gone for 5 or more yards while Anderson has had nine carries (20.9%) of 5-plus yards. Hillman has had eleven carries (28.2%) go for zero or fewer yards while Anderson has had 14 carries (32.6%) stopped for no gain or less. This backfield is trending towards a direct timeshare unless one back runs away with the starting job.

Houston Texans

Targets: DeAndre Hopkins (13, 11, 14, 22), Nate Washington (11, 8, 9, 0*), Cecil Shorts (8, 12, 9, 10), Arian Foster (0, 0, 0, 5), Garrett Graham (1, 5, 1, 6)

RB Touches: Arian Foster (0, 0, 0, 11), Alfred Blue (10, 6, 31, 6), Chris Polk (6, 16, 5, 6)

Red zone Targets: DeAndre Hopkins (4, 2, 1, 7), Cecil Shorts (1, 3, 0, 2), Nate Washington (1, 1, 1, 0*), Garrett Graham (0, 1, 0, 1)

Red zone Carries: Arian Foster (0, 0, 0, 0), Chris Polk (1, 1, 0, 2), Alfred Blue (1, 0, 5, 1)

CBs Thrown At: Kareem Jackson 6, 7, 9, 5 (6-52-1, 5-44, 6-117, 4-41), Johnathan Joseph 5, 9, 12, 2 (2-11, 5-74-1, 2-24, 2-9), Kevin Johnson 0, 3, 5, 3 (0-0, 1-2, 4-74-1, 2-8)

Analysis: In his first game back from groin surgery, Arian Foster saw 42.3% of the Texans’ snaps and had 11 touches (eight carries for 10 yards). It’s not an unexpected slow start for a player coming off surgery that missed almost all of training camp and the first three games of the season. Outside of Foster’s return, there isn’t much to analyze in Houston after Week 4. We all know DeAndre Hopkins is going to continue to be gouged with targets.


Indianapolis Colts

Targets: T.Y. Hilton (14, 7, 7, 13), Donte Moncrief (11, 8, 7, 9), Frank Gore (3, 1, 2, 7), Andre Johnson (10, 7, 1, 2), Dwayne Allen (6, 0, 0, 0), Phillip Dorsett (3, 6, 3, 3), Coby Fleener (1, 0, 6, 12)

RB Touches: Frank Gore (10, 16, 15, 17) and Josh Robinson (4, 10, 2, 3)

Red zone Targets: T.Y. Hilton (2, 2, 0, 1), Andre Johnson (2, 0, 0, 0), Donte Moncrief (2, 0, 1, 1), Dwayne Allen (2, 0, 0, 0), Frank Gore (0, 0, 0, 1), Coby Fleener (0, 0, 0, 2)

Red zone Carries: Frank Gore (0, 4, 3, 4) and Josh Robinson (2, 2, 1, 0)

CBs Thrown At: Vontae Davis 2, 7, 6, 9 (0-0, 4-53-1, 4-50-1, 4-55) and Darius Butler 6, 0, 0, 12 (6-100-1, 0-0, 0-0, 10-134-1)

Analysis: Without Andrew Luck (throwing shoulder), the Matt Hasselbeck-led Colts offense squeaked out 16 points including overtime against the Jaguars at home. Not much analysis is needed here without Luck and – at press time – it sounds like Luck is due back for Week 5.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Targets: Allen Robinson (6, 12, 9, 12), T.J. Yeldon (4, 4, 3, 3), Allen Hurns (7, 4, 4, 15), Marcedes Lewis (0, 4, 2, 8)

RB Touches: T.J. Yeldon (15, 28, 13, 24)

Red zone Targets: Allen Robinson (2, 1, 0, 1) and Allen Hurns (1, 0, 0, 2)

Red zone Carries: T.J. Yeldon (1, 6, 1, 3)

CBs Thrown At: Aaron Colvin 5, 5, 6, 5 (2-14, 5-53, 6-63-1, 2-24) and Davon House 3, 2, 4, 11 (1-37, 1-18, 2-23, 5-33)

Analysis: Granted, WRs facing the Colts that don’t see much of Vontae Davis tend to feast, Allen Hurns firmly put himself on the fantasy WR4 radar with a 11-116-1 receiving line against the Colts. In a reoccurring theme, it’s great to see Allen Robinson averaging double-digit targets per-game but the Jags’ offensive inefficiencies will weigh down his weekly ceiling. Again I’ll re-iterate much like his teammate Robinson, T.J. Yeldon is a low-end RB2 in fantasy on volume alone but the Jags’ infrequent red zone trips severely limits his touchdown ceiling.

Kansas City Chiefs

Targets: Jeremy Maclin (9, 7, 11, 13), Jamaal Charles (8, 5, 7, 6), Travis Kelce (6, 5, 10, 7), Jason Avant (0, 0, 4, 5), Chris Conley (0, 0, 1, 7)

RB Touches: Jamaal Charles (21, 25, 16, 17)

Red zone Targets: Jamaal Charles (2, 3, 0, 0), Jeremy Maclin (2, 1, 2, 0), Travis Kelce (1, 1, 2, 1), Chris Conley (0, 0, 0, 1)

Red zone Carries: Jamaal Charles (1, 3, 4, 0)

CBs Thrown At: Marcus Peters 13, 14, 4, 5 (8-122-2, 6-55-1, 3-22-1, 4-81-1) and Sean Smith 0, 0, 0, 3 (0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 1-5)

Analysis: As long as Jeremy Maclin continues to see near 10-plus targets per-game, he’ll hook and crook his way into low-end WR2 production. There really isn’t much else to discuss here. Jamaal Charles is a no-brainer top-3 option each week and Travis Kelce continues to have a bankable floor (eight PPR points) at fantasy football’s most volatile position. One thing to note: Knile Davis hasn’t received a touch in the last two weeks and has seemingly been supplanted by Chandrick West as the Chiefs’ No. 2 back.

Miami Dolphins

Targets: Jarvis Landry (12, 10, 13, 12), Lamar Miller (1, 6, 3, 2), Jordan Cameron (7, 4, 8, 9), Rishard Matthews (6, 7, 10, 3), Greg Jennings (3, 5, 3, 7), Kenny Stills (3, 4, 1, 8), Damien Williams (1, 4, 3, 1), DeVante Parker (0, 1, 7, 0)

RB Touches: Lamar Miller (14, 15, 10, 8), Damien Williams (2, 5, 3, 1), Jonas Gray (0, 0, 9, 1)

Red zone Targets: Jarvis Landry (3, 1, 3, 5), Jordan Cameron (2, 0, 2, 2), Damien Williams (1, 1, 0, 1), Rishard Matthews (1, 0, 0, 0), Kenny Stills (1, 0, 0, 1), DeVante Parker (0, 0, 4, 0), Greg Jennings (0, 0, 0, 2)

Red zone Carries: Lamar Miller (0, 3, 1), Damien Williams (1, 0, 0), Jonas Gray (0, 0, 4) – No red zone carries in Week 4

CBs Thrown At: Brent Grimes 4, 9, 3, 3* (1-4, 5-81, 3-14, 3-89*), Brice McCain 4, 7, 10, 4 (3-49, 4-80-1, 6-100, 1-5), Jamar Taylor 8, 4, 4, 4 (7-54, 2-26, 3-49-1, 3-31)

Analysis: Joe Philbin is out as Miami’s head coach and the Dolphins have scored just 16.3 points per-game heading into their much-needed Week 5 bye. On a positive note, Jarvis Landry is on pace for 188 targets and already has 12 red zone targets in four games. Let’s re-evaluate this offense again when they return in Week 6 against the Titans.

New England Patriots – On Bye in Week 4

Targets: Rob Gronkowski (8, 13, 7), Julian Edelman (12, 19, 11), Dion Lewis (5, 9, 5), Danny Amendola (3, 2, 5), Aaron Dobson (1, 8, 3), Scott Chandler (1, 5, 2)

RB Touches: Dion Lewis (19, 13, 13) and LeGarrette Blount (0, 2, 19)

Red zone Targets: Rob Gronkowski (4, 1, 2) Julian Edelman (1, 4, 2), Scott Chandler (1, 2, 2), Aaron Dobson (0, 2, 1), Danny Amendola (0, 0, 2)

Red zone Carries: Dion Lewis (2, 3, 4) and LeGarrette Blount (0, 2, 9)

CBs Thrown At: Malcolm Butler 11, 2, 5 (10-151-1, 1-32-1, 2-66-1) and Logan Ryan 0, 5, 4 (0-0, 4-39, 4-49)

New York Jets

Targets: Brandon Marshall (9, 10, 14, 11), Eric Decker (3, 11, 0, 5), Bilal Powell (4, 5, 8, 1), Chris Ivory (1, 2, 0, 2), Devin Smith (0, 0, 9, 6), Zac Stacy (0, 0, 2, 3)

RB Touches: Chris Ivory (21, 16, 0, 29), Bilal Powell (14, 16, 17, 1), Zac Stacy (0, 0, 4, 7)

Red zone Targets: Brandon Marshall (2, 1, 3, 2), Eric Decker (1, 2, 0, 2), Chris Ivory (1, 0, 0, 0), Bilal Powell (1, 1, 0, 0), Devin Smith (0, 0, 1, 1), Zac Stacy (0, 0, 0, 1)

Red zone Carries: Chris Ivory (7, 4, 0, 2), Bilal Powell (2, 1, 0, 0), Zac Stacy (0, 0, 0, 1)

CBs Thrown At: Darrelle Revis 6, 9, 2, 3 (3-37, 5-75, 0-0, 1-2), Buster Skrine 2, 10, 5, 10 (1-11, 6-65, 4-34, 6-82), Antonio Cromartie 1, 4, 4, 7 (1-54-1, 3-71-1, 0-0, 5-64-1)

Analysis: Those that looked past the Jets’ offense for fantasy production this offseason have been burned badly to start the year. With the carnage and lack of consistent production at the position, Chris Ivory has become a top-15 RB option who has averaged 3.3 yards per carry after contact in his three healthy games. Brandon Marshall has shredded opposing secondaries for 100-plus yards in three straight games and Eric Decker has turned his five red zone targets into three touchdowns.

Oakland Raiders

Targets: Amari Cooper (9, 11, 11, 9), Michael Crabtree (8, 16, 9, 6), Latavius Murray (7, 3, 1, 5), Mychal Rivera (2, 5, 1, 3)

RB Touches: Latavius Murray (21, 18, 27, 19), Taiwan Jones (4, 3, 2, 0), Roy Helu (0, 0, 1, 7)

Red zone Targets: Amari Cooper (0, 0, 0, 1), Michael Crabtree (1, 1, 2, 0), Mychal Rivera (0, 1, 0, 1)

Red zone Carries: Latavius Murray (0, 2, 8, 1) and Taiwan Jones (0, 0, 1, 0)

CBs Thrown At: D.J. Hayden 9, 8, 9, 5 (7-67-1, 5-54, 6-62-1, 4-56-1), Neiko Thorpe 3, 10, 9, 9 (3-38-1, 5-104, 5-89, 4-24), David Amerson 4, 8 (3-32, 5-44) – Amerson joined OAK in Week 3

Analysis: From a fantasy perspective, Oakland’s offense continues to be very easy to diagnose. Amari Cooper is a target hog who is a season-long WR2 and will post week-winning WR1 weeks along the way. Despite fumbling in Week 4 against Chicago, Latavius Murray is a low-end RB1 in fantasy just based on volume alone and after four games he is on pace for 1,188 rushing yards on 272 carries.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Targets: Antonio Brown (11, 11, 13, 9), Le’Veon Bell (0, 0, 8, 7), Heath Miller (11, 2, 3, 2), Darrius Heyward-Bey (7, 5, 3, 5), Markus Wheaton (7, 4, 3, 1)

RB Touches: Le’Veon Bell (0, 0, 26, 29) and DeAngelo Williams (22, 24, 1, 2)

Red zone Targets: Heath Miller (3, 2, 2, 0), Antonio Brown (1, 1, 1, 0), Le’Veon Bell (0, 0, 2, 2), Darrius Heyward-Bey (0, 0, 0, 1)

Red zone Carries: Le’Veon Bell (0, 0, 3, 2) and DeAngelo Williams (6, 7, 0, 0)

CBs Thrown At: William Gay 7, 9, 4, 3 (5-37, 6-61, 4-44, 2-15) and Antwon Blake 4, 8, 3, 10 (4-41, 6-54, 2-32, 6-76)

Analysis: I’m very interested to see the Steelers’ target distribution looks like when Martavis Bryant returns. His presence immediately eats directly into Darrius Heyward-Bey’s workload along with Markus Wheaton’s, although Wheaton has barely been involved over the past two weeks. Michael Vick caps this offense’s ceiling until Ben Roethlisberger returns, but at least all of their skill-position players are back and all systems go.

San Diego Chargers

Targets: Keenan Allen (17, 4, 18, 7), Danny Woodhead (7, 6, 4, 4), Stevie Johnson (6, 6, 5, 8*), Ladarius Green (6, 6, 0, 6), Melvin Gordon (3, 1, 1, 2), Malcom Floyd (2, 4, 7, 2)

RB Touches: Melvin Gordon (17, 17, 14, 14) and Danny Woodhead (16, 13, 8, 12)

Red zone Targets: Stevie Johnson (2, 1, 1, 0*), Keenan Allen (2, 0, 1, 0), Ladarius Green (2, 0, 0, 1), Danny Woodhead (2, 0, 0, 0), Malcom Floyd (1, 0, 2, 0)

Red zone Carries: Danny Woodhead (6, 1, 0, 0) and Melvin Gordon (0, 0, 0, 1)

CBs Thrown At: Jason Verrett 4, 3, 2, 0 (1-6, 2-38, 2-24, 0-0), Brandon Flowers 4, 6, 0*, 10(2-39, 4-70-2, 0-0, 7-64), Patrick Robinson 4, 2, 3, 4 (2-27, 1-2, 2-24, 2-19)

Analysis: The Chargers’ offensive line is in absolute shambles. Three of San Diego’s five starting offensive linemen were inactive in Week 4 and Melvin Gordon was held to 38 yards on 12 carries. Gordon only averaged 0.2 yards before first contact against the Browns’ below average run defense.

Antonio Gates is due back in Week 5 and the Chargers likely won’t immediately toss Ladarius Green out of the offense with Gates back. Again, it’s hard to speculate what his presence means for the offense as a whole but San Diego loves to throw when they get inside of the 20-yard line. The Chargers are 64% pass-heavy inside of the red zone through for weeks this season.

Tennessee Titans – On Bye in Week 4

Targets: Kendall Wright (4, 4, 12), Bishop Sankey (4, 2, 2), Delanie Walker (3, 0*, 10), Harry Douglas (2, 8, 6), Justin Hunter (2, 2, 2), Dorial Green-Beckham (0, 2, 2), Dexter McCluster (0, 4, 2), Antonio Andrews (0, 0, 2)

RB Touches: Bishop Sankey (14, 12, 7), Dexter McCluster (2, 14, 6), Antonio Andrews (0, 0, 13)

Red zone Targets: Kendall Wright (0, 0, 4), Delanie Walker (1, 0, 0), Harry Douglas (1, 1, 0), Bishop Sankey (1, 2, 0), Dorial Green-Beckham (0, 1, 2), Justin Hunter (0, 0, 1)

Red zone Carries: Bishop Sankey (1, 1, 2) and Antonio Andrews (0, 0, 4)

CBs Thrown At: Coty Sensabaugh 3, 6, 4 (1-18, 4-84-1, 0-0), Perrish Cox 2, 1, 8 (1-6, 0-0, 7-78-1), Blidi Wreh-Wilson 6, 3, 5 (2-18, 1-50-1, 2-56)