Week 3 Fantasy Football Pass Targets (RB & TE)

Posted by Tom Blaz on 09/18/2012 | 0 Comments

Tags: Darren Sproles, Ray Rice, Arian Foster, Chris Ogbonnaya, Pierre Thomas, Trent Richardson, Cedric Benson, Jamaal Charles, Dennis Pitta, Jimmy Graham, Brent Celek, Tony Gonzalez, Martellus Bennett

With the dreaded running back by committee plauging the NFL, fantasy owners need to find added value at the position. Receiving yards and touchdowns is an obvious option and futher to that, the number of times a player is targeted by his teams quarterback. The NFL is a copy cat league and more and more teams are going to the double tight end formation to try and duplicate the great success in New England at the position.

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Running Backs

-He's back! While he doesn't get the carries of an everydown back, Darren Sproles is a weekly threat to receive double digit "looks" from Drew Brees.

-Ray Rice is one of only three every down backs remaining in the NFL. When he gets double digit targets, he is worthy of the number one overall pick.

-Arian Foster when healthy, along with LeSean McCoy are the other two three down backs, their "double down" value of pass targets is invaluable.

-Chris Ogbonnaya has assumed Peyton Hills' receiving fullback role, too bad he doesn't carry the ball.... at all.

-Did Pierre Thomas take a giant step in taking over the Saints duties from Mark Ingram?

-Trent Richardson and Cedric Benson owners are feeling a little better this week.

-No need to worry about Reggie Bush only getting targeted four times, he was too busy carrying the ball most of the time.

-Same with Maurice Jones-Drew who is in process of wrapping up his pre-season.

-Chris Johnson owners should be doing anything and everything to get value for him in a trade, think Tim Lincecum.

-Bad enough that Albert Morris has taken over the ball carrying in Washington, it appears that Roy Helu has fallen behind Evan Royster on third down as well.

Week 2 Risers

13/14 Darren Sproles NO

6/10   Ray Rice BALi

6/7     Arian Foster HOU

6/6     Chris Ogbonnaya CLE

4/6     Pierre Thomas NO

4/5     Trent Richardson CLE

4/4     Cedric Benson GB

3/4      Jamaal Charles KC

(catches/targets)

Week 2 Fallers

3/4 Reggie Bush MIA

3/3 Maurice Jones-Drew JAX

2/3 LeSean McCoy PHI

2/3 Chris Johnson TEN

2/3 Kevin Smith DET

0/3 Doug Martin TB

2/2 Ryan Williams ARZ

1/1 Roy Helu WAS

(catches/targets)

Season Leaders

25 Darren McFadden OAK

22 Darren Sproles NO

15 Ray Rice BAL

12 LeSean McCoy PHI

11 Matt Forte CHI

10 Reggie Bush MIA

10 Chris Johnson TEN

10 Arian Foster HOU

Tight Ends

-Dennis Pitta had a coming out party last Monday against Cincinnati and showed he was for real on Sunday.

-Jimmy Graham gets a glance from Drew Brees on more than half of the Saints passing plays.

-Scary to think about the action that Rob Gronkowski is going to get with Aaron Hernandez sidelined with injury.

-Tony Gonzalez had a huge Monday night, prompting Jon Gruden to question if this is indeed his last season.

-Martellus Bennett is finally out of the shadow of Jason Witten and has become Eli Manning's security blanket.

-Who is Brandon Myers? Most of the fantasy now knows about the Oakland tight end.

-Jermichael Finley continues to have trouble holding on to the ball, but figures to get alot of action as teams take away Aaron Rodgers' deep ball.

-Kyle Rudoplh is the real deal, but remains subject to the inconsistent play of Vikes quarterback Christian Ponder.

-Greg Olsen is now the only worthy tight end on the Carolina roster, consider his one catch on Sunday an abberation.

-Marcedes Lewis got alot of owners excited in week one, then promptly disappears without a target on Sunday.

Week 2 Risers

8/15 Dennis Pitta BAL

7/13 Jimmy Graham NO

8/11 Brent Celek PHI

7/10 Tony Gonzalez KC

5/10 Martellus Bennett NYG

4/10 Jason Witten DAL

6/9   Rob Gronkowski NE

6/6   Brandon Myers OAK

(Catches/Targets)

Week 2 Fallers

4/5 Jermichael Finley GB

4/5 Jermaine Greshman CIN

3/5 Kyle Rudolph MIN

3/4 Brandon Pettigrew DET

3/4 Coby Fleener IND

1/3 Greg Olsen CAR

1/3 Tony Scheffler DEN

0/0 Marcedes Lewis JAX

(Catches/Targets)

Season Leaders

23 Dennis Pitta BAL

23 Jimmy Graham NO

19 Brent Celek PHI

17 Owen Daniels HOU

16 Tony Gonzalez ATL

16 Martellus Bennett NYG

16 Jermichael Finley GB

15 Rob Gronkowski NE

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Next, a look at the rising (and falling) targets at wide receiver!

Tom Blaz is a writer for Fantasy Alarm and co-owner of The Recruiting Eagle a website focusing on Auburn University Athletics.