As many of you know, most of my weekend was spent enjoying the wonderful world of Phish, Halloween and Las Vegas, but fear not…I did manage to set aside a little bit of time for some football. OK, maybe there were a few distractions, but I did pay enough attention to see just how “off” Week 8 was in comparison to each of the seven weeks prior. Obviously, six teams on a bye had plenty to do with it, but we saw just six wide receivers and three tight ends clear the century mark in receiving yards, a total that was significantly lower than usual. We did see five other wideouts and two other tight ends clear the 90-yard barrier, so maybe it wasn’t as bad as a cursory glance makes it appear, but it doesn’t change some of the things we took away from the Week 8 games.

One of the things I took away from the week can actually be found in my most recent column in the New York Post – the surge we saw in tight end production last season was more of a one-season surge than it was a developing trend in the NFL. At this point in the season last year, we saw seven tight ends in the top-15 for targets for the week and had 11 tight ends with a minimum of 45 targets through eight games. This season, we had just two tight ends in the top-15 for targets in Week 8 and just eight with a minimum of 45 targets on the season. In addition to that, receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns are all down at the position.

So what’s the issue? As I said in the article, it’s a complete lack of consistency. Maybe it’s the injuries, maybe it’s the play-calling, maybe it’s the struggles we’ve seen with a number of offensive lines. We’ve still got a lot of the same names out there, but save for Rob Gronkowski, we’re just not seeing tight ends getting the same targets and overall workload.

That, in turn, means that upgrading at the position should not be a priority for you as you’re approaching your league’s trade deadline. Making a trade for Gronk is one thing, but if you’re talking about the difference between going from Coby Fleener or Kyle Rudolph to Delanie Walker or Jordan Reed, it is not all that significant. Too many fantasy owners get caught up in trading for a guy like Reed or Travis Kelce, but given injuries and an overall reduction in targets, you’re probably much better off seeking an upgrade at the receiver, running back or quarterback position.

Now let’s get to the Week 8 targets!

Week 8 Target Leaders

Player Name
Pos
Team
Pa Att
Tgts
Rec
Yds
TD
RZ Tgts
RZ Tgt%
Catch%
Tgt%
A.J. GreenWRCIN42189121000.050.042.9
Michael CrabtreeWROAK581681080228.650.028.1
Allen RobinsonWRJAX54156700220.040.027.8
Amari CooperWROAK5815121731114.380.026.3
Dez BryantWRDAL391441131342.928.635.0
Davante AdamsWRGB341412740220.085.736.8
Jordan MatthewsWRPHI431411651111.178.632.6
Terrelle PryorWRCLE48136101000.046.225.5
Stefon DiggsWRMIN3713876100.061.535.1
Jamison CrowderWRWAS551391071120.069.223.2
Jordan ReedTEWAS55139991120.069.223.2
J.J. NelsonWRARI45128792350.066.726.7
Tyler EifertTECIN4212910212100.075.028.6
Larry FitzgeraldWRARI451110740116.790.924.4
Theo RiddickRBDET41118771133.372.726.8
Allen HurnsWRJAX54117981330.063.620.4
Quincy EnunwaWRNYJ34114931240.036.432.4
Mike EvansWRTB3211450000.036.431.4

A quick nod to A.J. Green for leading the week in targets, but there’s really not much to say about him that we don’t already know. The guy is a must-start each and every week, regardless of the match-ups. Sure, there will be some weeks where he doesn’t lead your fantasy team to success, but leaving a guy like Green on the bench is a sure-fire way to guarantee a loss.

A big, hearty welcome back to Dez Bryant who showed that he and Dak Prescott are still on the same page despite the recent weeks off due to injury. Dez is obviously the top gun as far as Cowboys receivers go and should continue to see a significantly higher number of targets than both Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams. To me, he still poses a reasonably strong risk due to his extensive injury history and recent knee troubles, so I’m not running out to deal for him, but if the right offer comes my way, I’ll make the move.

While 74 yards with no touchdown wasn’t exactly super-productive, the fact that Davante Adams saw double-digit targets for the second week in a row should have you paying him more attention. Jordy Nelson still doesn’t seem to be back to 100-percent and Randall Cobb is getting more and more banged-up as the weeks pass. That leaves Adams as the most reliable option for now. Aaron Rodgers used him as a chain-mover this week with Cobb on the sidelines, but when you look at his game log and see his 18.1 yards per reception mark, you know he’s a multi-purpose receiver who is more than capable of spreading the field. In fact, owners of Adams should actually be psyched by his usage this past week as the heavy target load and 12 receptions means that Rodgers has full confidence in him in all situations.

If this week’s performance by Jamison Crowder isn’t enough to convince you that he is a viable option each and every week, I don’t know what you’re looking for in a wideout. He had a two-week lull during Weeks 4 and 5, but still maintains an average of just over seven targets per game, has 11 red zone targets on the year, has four touchdowns and now has back-to-back 100-yard performances. With the way Kirk Cousins is chucking the rock again coupled with both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson seeing fewer looks than usual, Crowder definitely warrants weekly consideration.

J.J. Nelson does not. While Cardinals coach Bruce Arians declared Nelson his No. 2 receiver during the post-game presser, there’s a huge amount of skepticism to be had here. Granted, neither Michael Floyd nor John Brown have been consistently effective and both have also dealt with their share of injuries, but with the bye week coming up and two weeks’ worth of practice to help prepare for an inept 49ers defense, both receivers will have more than enough of an opportunity to prove to Arians that they should still be on the field in lieu of Nelson. If you’re setting waiver claims for this week, you can go after Nelson if you like, but consider him more of a contingency pick or potential stash in dynasty/keeper formats.

Click Next to get to the Overall Targets Leaderboard & Analysis ---->

 

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Overall Targets Leaderboard

Player Name
Pos
Team
Pa Att
Tgts
Rec
Yds
TD
RZ Tgts
RZ Tgt%
Catch%
Tgt%
A.J. GreenWRCIN28888598963824.267.131.3
Mike EvansWRTB26986445956929.051.232.7
T.Y. HiltonWRIND31182467094820.556.127.1
Larry FitzgeraldWRARZ326815655451028.669.125.2
Amari CooperWROAK32380527872717.165.025.2
Brandon MarshallWRNYJ285773454021335.144.225.6
DeAndre HopkinsWRHOU29776404343720.052.625.8
Terrelle PryorWRCLE29176415323519.254.026.6
Emmanuel SandersWRDEN273754456731742.558.728.0
Michael CrabtreeWROAK323754756961024.462.723.6
Antonio BrownWRPIT27475485925624.064.027.5
Odell BeckhamWRNYG27070406303934.657.125.9
Allen RobinsonWRJAC290703236631228.645.724.2
Julio JonesWRATL2797043859436.561.425.3
Jarvis LandryWRMIA21365465721421.170.833.2
Demaryius ThomasWRDEN273644253541127.565.623.9
Tavon AustinWRLA23764362992726.956.327.4
Greg OlsenTECAR25963406212937.563.524.7
Alshon JefferyWRCHI29263365831718.457.122.1
Julian EdelmanWRNE24962413581825.066.124.9
Golden TateWRDET28262384341616.261.320.0
Mike WallaceWRBAL18961354903725.057.420.9
Jordy NelsonWRGB275603141561528.851.722.3
Marvin JonesWRDET28259366564924.361.019.0
Quincy EnunwaWRNYJ28559365023718.961.019.6
Jordan ReedTEWAS32159424153716.371.218.8
Jeremy KerleyWRSF21358303312522.751.727.6
Travis BenjaminWRSD29358385093712.165.520.1
Kelvin BenjaminWRCAR25957314674729.254.422.4
Jamison CrowderWRWAS321574049841125.670.218.2
Davante AdamsWRGB27557404245815.470.221.2
Dennis PittaTEBAL18957383350414.366.719.5
Allen HurnsWRJAC290563144321126.255.419.4
Brandin CooksWRNO30856365305613.664.318.5
DeSean JacksonWRWAS32156304161511.653.617.8
Pierre GarconWRWAS32155363961920.965.517.5
Jeremy MaclinWRKC25555303762718.454.622.3
Randall CobbWRGB27555393882917.370.920.4
Michael ThomasWRNO30855425003715.976.418.2
Jordan MatthewsWRPHI22855364193513.565.524.3
David JohnsonRBARZ32655354070617.163.617.1
Kyle RudolphTEMIN23654313223633.357.423.1
Zach MillerTECHI29254403933718.474.118.9
Tyrell WilliamsWRSD293533253021119.060.418.3
Stefon DiggsWRMIN23652354662316.767.322.2
Doug BaldwinWRSEA25051384812623.174.521.9
Will FullerWRHOU29751253722514.349.017.3
Mohamed SanuWRATL27950323423919.664.018.1
John BrownWRARZ32649283501411.457.115.2
Kenny BrittWRLA23748335352415.468.820.5
Sterling ShepardWRNYG27048313342311.564.617.8
Gary BarnidgeTECLE29147334030311.570.216.4
Duke JohnsonRBCLE29147342970415.472.316.4
Jimmy GrahamTESEA25046304421623.165.219.7
Cole BeasleyWRDAL22146374433514.380.420.9
Tajae SharpeWRTEN24846232590414.350.020.7
Travis KelceTEKC255453437731026.375.618.2

Target Percentage Leaders

As expected, 49ers receiver Jeremy Kerley continues to see his target rate drop. He’s sitting at 27.6-percent after Week 7/8 (the team is coming off a bye) which is down from 30-percent in Week 5. Again, it’s not a matter of ability as much as it is the change in quarterback. Though he didn’t make the overall leaderboard, Torrey Smith’s target percentage (15.2) has actually climbed by just over 3.0-percent in the same time span.

Another situation to monitor with regard to target percentage has to be in Indianapolis. With the return of Donte Moncrief, it is very possible that T.Y. Hilton’s rate starts to go down. Andrew Luck’s early-season numbers have not been very good in comparison to what we usually expect from him, but with the return of Moncrief, you can expect him to start improving with another strong, reliable option available to him. Hilton may retain the top place in the pecking order over the remainder of the season, but you can expect the current gap between the two to dwindle each week.

Red Zone Target Leaders

After target rate, all bets are off with regard to the difference between Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. A-Rob sees the majority of targets, but once the Jaguars get inside the red zone, Hurns gets a near-even split in targets from Blake Bortles, something he’s actually maintained from last season. It doesn’t help the value in PPR leagues all that much, but in standard formats, he should certainly get a little bump as this is the only consistent stat for the Jags’ passing attack from last year to this season.

Whether you’d like to admit it or not, Jarvis Landry’s value continues to take a tumble. Sure, his target rate inside the red zone remains strong with regard to the rest of the Dolphins’ receivers, but given the ineptitude of Miami’s offense, his team-leading 21.1-percent red zone target rate has only provided four looks inside the 20 over the first seven games of the season. It’s nice that on the rare occasion the Fins get into the red zone, Landry gets a look, but without the touchdowns, his relevance is pretty limited to being a WR3 in a PPR format.

Potential Risers

Dez Bryant
Willie Snead
Anquan Boldin
Delanie Walker
Theo Riddick

Potential Fallers

Tajae Sharpe
Cole Beasley
John Brown
Jeremy Kerley
Pierre Garcon

Week 9 Game to Watch:

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers

While most will turn to the Packers/Colts game which has a week-high 54 O/U, I’m looking at this game due to both defenses being absolutely atrocious. Yes, both teams will likely open the game with a heavy dose of running, but in the end, things are going to open up significantly for both quarterbacks and allow them to expose some pretty weak secondaries. Torrey Smith and Vance McDonald should see plenty of targets in this game and how much do you have to love Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead and Michael Thomas here? Just keep in mind that the 49ers rank eighth in the league against the tight end, so you can probably overlook Coby Fleener.