While running backs seemed to grab a majority of the limelight in Week 3 of the NFL regular season, we still saw a significant amount of passing across the league. The pecking order for targets on each team continues to reveal itself and we’re also getting more than just a glimpse as to who the most trusted receivers inside the red zone seem to be. As always, we’ll start with the weekly targets leaders and take a detailed look at what Week 3 brought us, followed up with the overall targets leaderboard and analysis.

NFL Week 3 Target Leaders

Player Name
Pos
Team
Pass Att
Tgts
Rec
Rec Yds
TD
RZ Tgts
RZ Tgt%
Catch%
Tar%
Antonio BrownWRPIT441812140000.066.740.9
Kevin WhiteWRCHI3914662000.042.931.1
Terrelle PryorWRCLE38148144000.057.136.8
Emmanuel SandersWRDEN351391172555.669.236.1
Mike EvansWRTB5413101321214.376.922.4
Larry FitzgeraldWRARI50127600125.058.324.0
Jarvis LandryWRMIA381271201116.758.333.3
Adam HumphriesWRTB54129100000.075.020.7
John BrownWRARI5011670000.054.622.0
Michael FloydWRARI50114650250.036.422.0
Steve SmithWRBAL4011887000.072.727.5
A.J. GreenWRCIN28118770125.072.739.3
T.Y. HiltonWRIND371181741250.072.731.4
Allen RobinsonWRJAX38117572350.063.628.9
Michael ThomasWRNO5411771100.063.620.4
Coby FleenerTENO54117109100.063.620.4
Odell BeckhamWRNYG381171210337.563.628.9
Quincy EnunwaWRNYJ44114370342.936.425.0
Michael CrabtreeWROAK351181020150.072.731.4

We always give a nod to the weekly targets leader, but there’s really nothing more to say about Antonio Brown that hasn’t been said. The guy’s a stud and a must-start each and every week, regardless of match-up.

With the Bears limiting Alshon Jeffery’s workload due to a knee injury, new starting quarterback Brian Hoyer will continue to lean on Kevin White. At least he’ll try to. Maybe it was the two trying to build their on-field rapport, but with 14 targets and only six catches, White was not all that impressive. He’s still young and his NFL chops are still developing, so we’re not dismissing him. Just make sure you’re not relying too much on him and his production. The Bears are a bit of a mess right now, but the season is young and there’s so much more that can happen.

If Terrelle Pryor remains a focal point of this offense, and that goes for quarterback work as well, he could prove to be somewhat of a fantasy beast. His work as a receiver was obviously solid this week and should be moving forward as the Browns are likely to feast on garbage time throughout the season. But while the added passing yards are a small bonus, if he ends up under center inside the red zone, things could get very interesting.

It was a big day for Emmanuel Sanders and hopefully we’re looking at strong production moving forward. Trevor Siemian seems to be getting more comfortable in the offense and he will continue to heavily look in Sanders’ direction as he seems to be that steady, reliable, move the chains guy who, thankfully, also sees the ball inside the red zone.

The changing of the guard continues in Tampa as Adam Humphries continues to see strong target numbers. His ability to pick up significant yardage after the catch is a huge bonus and it’s starting to look like Vincent Jackson could be getting phased out even more. Expect to see Humphries join Mike Evans as the target percentage leaders for the Bucs this season.

Looks like Drew Brees is finally starting to spread things around a little more. It was likely due to Willie Snead being out with an injury, but in addition to Michael Thomas and Coby Fleener, Brandon Coleman saw some extensive work as well. While Brandin Cooks owners weren’t thrilled with the final fantasy results from this past week, it should be somewhat comforting to know that this offense can support multiple receivers each and every week. Thomas and Coleman may take a step back once Snead returns, but it looks like Fleener is starting to get locked in a little better here.

 

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Overall Targets Leaderboard

Player Name
Pos
Team
Pass Att
Tgts
Rec
Yds
TD
RZ Tgts
RZ Tgt%
Catch%
Tgt%
Antonio BrownWRPIT1184024305218.360.033.9
Mike EvansWRTB14237213013529.456.827.4
Jarvis LandryWRMIA11335243141218.268.632.7
T.Y. HiltonWRIND12434182941631.652.928.6
Larry FitzgeraldWRARZ12132202183733.362.526.4
A.J. GreenWRCIN11532222951422.268.828.6
Allen RobinsonWRJAC12731161832425.051.624.6
Terrelle PryorWRCLE9731142440112.545.232.0
Odell BeckhamWRNYG10730192800630.063.328.0
Emmanuel SandersWRDEN9429172052960.058.630.9
Marvin JonesWRDET12029184082318.862.125.0
Jeremy MaclinWRKC11829151661210.551.725.2
Amari CooperWROAK11829152700214.351.724.8
Tavon AustinWRLA9129141451133.348.332.2
Jordy NelsonWRGB9427172064847.163.029.0
Doug BaldwinWRSEA11027202762635.374.125.7
DeAndre HopkinsWRHOU10927162232321.459.325.0
Stefon DiggsWRMIN9227203251233.374.129.3
Greg OlsenTECAR10927182591228.666.725.5
Kevin WhiteWRCHI1072713132000.048.126.5
Brandon MarshallWRNYJ1132712160000.044.423.5
Jordan MatthewsWRPHI10226152042527.858.025.7
Kyle RudolphTEMIN9226141662350.053.828.3
Brandin CooksWRNO14026152242330.058.019.0
Steve SmithWRBAL1182616170000.061.522.0
Jamison CrowderWRWAS12425161752838.164.020.7
Quincy EnunwaWRNYJ11325171831428.668.021.7
Tajae SharpeWRTEN10725141570318.856.023.4
Will FullerWRHOU10925122421321.448.023.1
Jordan ReedTEWAS12425161900314.364.020.7
Cole BeasleyWRDAL9925202130212.580.025.8
Michael CrabtreeWROAK11825192201214.376.021.4
Adam HumphriesWRTB1422518201000.072.018.5
Michael FloydWRARZ1212491341733.337.519.8
Dennis PittaTEBAL1182418183000.075.020.3
Allen HurnsWRJAC12723131790531.356.518.3
Dez BryantWRDAL9923111501425.047.823.7
Julian EdelmanWRNE8723181800323.178.326.4
Jeremy KerleyWRSF962312114019.152.224.0
DeSean JacksonWRWAS1242314238114.860.919.0
Coby FleenerTENO14023101441110.043.516.8
Kelvin BenjaminWRCAR10922131993342.959.120.8
Vincent JacksonWRTB142229990317.640.916.3
Golden TateWRDET1202213940212.559.119.0
Kenny BrittWRLA9122141990133.363.624.4
Michael ThomasWRNO1402217185100.072.316.1
Travis BenjaminWRSD10021172292520.081.021.4
Travis KelceTEKC11821171971526.381.018.3
Eric DeckerWRNYJ1132191942428.642.918.3
DeAngelo WilliamsRBPIT118211489118.360.017.8
Jason WittenTEDAL9920141420637.570.020.6
Tyrell WilliamsWRSD10020112011624.055.020.4
Jacob TammeTEATL10320141541426.770.019.6
Pierre GarconWRWAS12420131350419.065.016.5
Demaryius ThomasWRDEN9420152381320.075.021.3
Alshon JefferyWRCHI10720142710323.170.019.6
Giovani BernardRBCIN11520161411316.740.017.9
Eric EbronTEDET12020141681318.870.017.2
Torrey SmithWRSF962081031218.240.020.8
Julio JonesWRATL1032010188200.050.019.6

Target Percentage Leaders

This is where we start checking in on each team’s pecking order and there’s no bigger change than the target distribution in Detroit. By a significant margin (25% to 19%), it is easy to see that Marvin Jones has supplanted Golden Tate as the primary receiver and favorite target for Matthew Stafford. The assumption heading into the year was that Tate would be the primary but apparently his shadow does not cast as wide as A.J. Green’s. We’re not going to anoint Jones as a WR1 just yet, but in this high-octane Jim Bob Cooter offense, should this continue, we could be very soon.

There seems to be little doubt that Stefon Diggs is the No. 1 guy in Minnesota, but coming in a very close second right now is tight end Kyle Rudolph with a 28.3-percent target rate. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise though as tight ends coach Pat Shurmur worked with Sam Bradford in Philadelphia and St. Louis. You know he’s whispering to Bradford all the while teaching Rudolph his quarterback’s tendencies. If Rudolph doesn’t get locked into blocking duty because the offensive line is struggling, he should prove to be a solid red zone threat and regular fantasy contributor.

Dez Bryant continues to narrow the gap in targets between him and Cole Beasley, but until he really takes over, Beasley is going to be worth owning in fantasy leagues. He’s only a bye-week filler in 12-team leagues for now, but if Dak Prescott continues to look his way, his value could climb steadily. Nothing huge, but steadily.

The situation in San Francisco could be worth monitoring as Jeremy Kerley seems to be garnering more attention than Torrey Smith. The passing attack is still a bit of a dumpster fire, but should it start to click, whichever player is seeing the majority of targets, he just might be worth using during the bye weeks.

Red Zone Target Leaders

The expectation coming into this season was that Kirk Cousins was going to be looking for Jordan Reed inside the red zone as much as possible. Maybe defenses were expecting that too and keying in one the tight end, because Cousins has made a major pivot away from Reed and towards Jamison Crowder this year. And not by a little. We’re talking eight red zone targets for Crowder to just three for Reed. That’s 38.1% to just 14.3%. There’s no guarantee that this will last, but for now, it gives Crowder significant value in standard leagues and a decent boost in PPR formats.

They say you don’t trust rookies, but it sure looks like Philip Rivers is putting a lot of faith in Tyrell Williams right now. The youngster has six red zone targets right now and, considering his size and wingspan, should continue to see the looks inside the 20 whenever Rivers wants to expose a favorable height match-up.

The four targets aren’t exactly huge, but it’s evident that Matt Ryan likes having a pass-catching tight end inside the red zone. Jacob Tamme has been a nice addition to this passing game and now that the Falcons don’t have to lock him on the line to help block, he is going to be a featured target this season. Hopefully the line stays healthy and Tamme stays productive.

Potential Risers

Sterling Shepard
Mike Wallace
DeVante Parker
Zach Miller
DeMarco Murray

Potential Fallers

Pierre Garcon
Michael Thomas
Quincy Enunwa
Vincent Jackson
DeAngelo Williams

Week 4 Game to Watch

New Orleans Saints at San Diego Chargers

While it’s pretty easy to see that Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams should have themselves quite the day running circles around the Saints’ defensive backs, figuring out exactly who Drew Brees will use might be a tougher task. Brandin Cooks should fare well and, if healthy, Willie Snead will see some significant work. But again, I’m looking at a very favorable match-up for Coby Fleener, so he should definitely be active for you this week. Also, with Antonio Gates sidelined again, keep a watchful eye on Hunter Henry. The rookie had a strong game until the very end, but should be able to shake it off without issue.