Week 5 Fantasy Football Pass Targets (RB & TE)

Posted by Tom Blaz on 10/02/2012 | 2 Comments

Tags: Ray Rice, Joique Bell, Marcel Reece, DeMarco Murray, Mikel Leshoure, Jackie Battle, Michael Turner, Willis McGahee, Chris Johnson, Arian Foster, Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham, Martellus Bennett, Antonio Gates, Dennis Pitta, Vernon Davis

Note to self- Do whatever it takes to get both Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy on my fantasy football teams in future seasons.  Arian Foster you ask? Injury concerns and the Ben Tate presence are a slight distraction with Marshawn Lynch the only running back worthy of argument. Dreams aside, Jamaal Charles appears fully recovered from injury and is the next best all-around bet along with Maurice Jones-Drew. The sleeper of the year remains Alfred Morris, who has quietly been nearly as important to the resurgent Redskins offense as Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III. Jason Witten owners are feeling a bit better this week, actually a lot better after he was targeted more than any tight end in week four, catching 13 of 14 Tony Romo attempts (with the rest going to the Bears).

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Running Backs

As mentioned last week, running back targets appear to be down this season. Our every down, all around great guy Ray Rice the only double digit back, in fact no other (semi) regular stud feature back was targeted more than seven times. With Mikel Leshoure taking over the duties in Detroit, Joique Bell's emergence has coincided with Kevin Smith's disappearance. Marcel Reece is more of a tight end than anything and its hard to imagine why Oakland would target him eight times and Darren McFadden only once. DeMarco Murray was the seven previously mentioned with Willis McGahee more involved than usual in the Denver passing game, targeted half a dozen times. Michael Turner had a huge game on the ground and was even targeted five times as a bonus! Jackie Battle gave San Diego the best chance to win (Norv Turner's words, not mine) and his four targets came at the expense of Ryan Matthews. Take a look at that list of backs that were targeted only once or twice. Chris Johnson has an excuse as he was busy saving his fantasy career on the ground. We give C.J. Spiller, Reggie Bush and Matt Forte a pass due to injury concerns. On the season, Darren Sproles no surprise atop the leader board, but Pierre Thomas is stealing a bit of his thunder in the Saints passing game. McFadden was averaging nine targets through the first three weeks before getting the big uno in week four. Dexter McCluster is more of a receiver, but qualifies in some leagues as a running back. Trent Richardson is trying to give the 'Skins Morris a run for the top rookie back. Cedric Benson receiving a vote of confidence from coaches this week to remain the Packers "workhorse" back. James Casey received a share in Houston, adding to the dilution of Arian Foster a bit.

Week 4 Risers

11 Ray Rice BAL

8   Joique Bell DET

8   Marcel Reece OAK

7   DeMarco Murray DAL

6   Willis McGahee DEN

5   Michael Turner ATL

5   Mikel Leshoure DET

4   Jackie Battle SD

Week 4 Fallers

2 Arian Foster HOU

2 Chris Johnson TEN

2 C.J. Spiller BUF

2 Ryan Matthews SD

1  Darren McFadden OAK

1  Reggie Bush MIA

1  Matt Forte CHI

Season Leaders

32 Darren Sproles NO

30 Ray Rice BAL

28 Darren McFadden OAK

23 Dexter McCluster KC

21 Trent Richardson CLE

19 LeSean McCoy PHI

18 Marcel Reece OAK

17 DeMarco Murray DAL

16 Pierre Thomas NO

16 Jamaal Charles KC

16 Joique Bell DET

15 Maurice Jones-Drew JAX

15 Doug Martin TB

14 Chris Johnson TEN

14 James Casey HOU

13 Cedric Benson GB

13 Mike Tolbert CAR

13 Arian Foster HOU

13 Chris Ogbonnaya CLE

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Tight Ends

If you watched any of the Monday Night Football pregame, you saw that Dallas was going to make an effort to make Jason Witten a big part of the passing game. Coming into the Chicago game, Witten had nearly as many drops as catches as he works his way back from the lacerated kidney suffered in the preseason. Rob Gronkowski delivered what everyone expects week to week, especially with Aaron Hernandez still sidelined. Jimmy Graham is listed, but nine targets for him might actually be a down game. Brandon Pettigrew continues to outperform Jermaine Gresham as the next jumbo tight end to join the elite. Scott Chandler is red zone money and might be available in your league. Greg Olsen is Cam Newton's security blanket, much more important this season than last. Jordan Cameron and Ben Watson were both targeted half a dozen times in Cleveland, we like Cameron as an athletic, emerging star. Martellus Bennett came down to earth a bit, but we consider him a top play every week. Antonio Gates is working through the "banged up" phase he has each and every season. Dennis Pitta was a huge disappointment, expecially for the legions of owners that have picked him up this season. Vernon Davis only targeted a pair of times is an abberation as he is the main man in the 49ers passing game. No real surprises among the league leaders with the exception of Pitta, who is still going to put up some serious numbers this season, despite his struggles in week four. Expect Vernon Davis and Jermichael Finley to move up the list, they may be a pair for you to target if you can get them cheap.

Week 4 Risers

14 Jason Witten

11 Rob Gronkowski NE

9   Jimmy Graham NO

9   Brandon Pettigrew DET

8   Scott Chandler BUF

7   Greg Olsen CAR

6   Owen Daniels HOU

6   Jacob Tamme DEN

6   Jordan Cameron CLE

6   Ben Watson CLE

4   Delanie Walker SF

Week 4 Fallers

5   Tony Gonzalez KC

3   Martellus Bennett NYG

3   Antonio Gates SD

2   Dennis Pitta BAL

2   Vernon Davis SF

2   Brandon Myers OAK

Season Leaders

40 Jimmy Graham NO

35 Jason Witten DAL

35 Brandon Pettigrew DET

33 Tony Gonzalez ATL

33 Dennis Pitta BAL

31 Greg Olsen CAR

29 Brent Celek PHI

29 Rob Gronkowski NE

28 Owen Daniels HOU

27 Jermichael Finley GB

26 Martellus Bennett NYG

25 Jacob Tamme DEN

25 Jermaine Greshman CIN

23 Anthony Fasano MIA

23 Scott Chandler BUF

23 Kyle Rudolph MIN

22 Vernon Davis SF

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Good luck this week and don't forget that Dallas, Detroit, Oakland and Tampa Bay are off!

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