NFL Target Analysis Week 5

Target Breakdown

Cooper Kupp , WR LAR - Kupp continues to prove he is Goff's go to receiver as he was targeted 17 times in their Week 5 game against the Seahawks. Kupp now has a league leading 63 targets on the season while ranking second in receptions, just four behind Michael Thomas of the Saints. As long as he stays healthy, which has always been the problem, Kupp is on track to finish among the top five fantasy wide receivers this season.

Austin Ekeler , RB LAC - With Melvin Gordon active for Week 5 there were many owners of Ekeler who were worried about the hit in value that he was likely going to take....Whelp, those fears were put aside for at least one more week as Ekeler was targeted a ridiculous 16 times against the Broncos. He caught 15 of those 16 passes and now ranks 3rd in the NFL in receptions. Yes, that is correct, Ekeler ranks third among receivers and running backs in total catches with 39. Eventually Gordon is going to definitely take over the workload but there is no doubt that Ekeler has a role in this offense whether Gordon plays or not.

Dede Westbrook , WR JAX - For good reason there has been a lot of hype surrounding Jaguars receiver D.J. Chark but in Week 5 we saw both Chark and Westbrook have solid games. Westbrook saw a season high 11 targets, catching seven passes for 82 yards. I am thrilled to see that Minshew will continue to go to Westbrook here because occasionally you find the younger quarterbacks will focus too heavily on their top guy which is Chark at this point. Week 6 will be a very interesting game to watch when it comes to the Jaguars receivers as they play the Saints which should mean Marshon Lattimore covers Chark and that could leave a soft match up for Westbrook to thrive.

Gerald Everett , TE LAR - The Rams have a ton of talent at the receiver position in the aforementioned Kupp but also Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods so it has to surprise many that tight end Gerald Everett has been a target monster over the last two weeks, totaling 19 while hauling in 12 catches for 180 yards and a score. The Rams used a second round pick on Everett in the 2017 draft so the talent was certainly there to be this type of receiving threat. Though unlikely still floating around your league at this point, if he is, you should go pick him up.

Austin Hooper , TE ATL - Keeping with the tight ends, Austin Hooper saw nine more targets in Week 5 to give him 42 on the year which is just two less than Julio Jones . Hooper has been great converting those targets into receptions as his 34 catches rank him seventh in the NFL this season. Week 6 is going to present the ultimate tight end match up for Hooper as he faces a Cardinals team that, until last week, had been torched by tight ends all season long.

Geronimo Allison , WR GB - With Davante Adams on the sideline due to a foot injury we saw Allison lead the Packers with eight targets. He unfortunately was only able to convert those eight targets into two catches as the Packers passing attack really struggled once again. However, targets = oppurtunity and with Adams likely sitting out Week 6 again there is the upside for Allison here as he faces the Lions on Monday Night Football.

Mike Evans , WR TB - Evans found himself on Lattimore Island in Week 5 as he was targeted just three times and held to zero catches in the Bucs loss to the Saints. It has largely been a frustrating season for anybody owning the skill position players on Tampa Bay that is not named Chris Godwin who had seven catches on nine targets and two scores in this same game. Matching Evans with three targets was tight end O.J. Howard who at least managed two catches but still a very disappointing outing here.

Emmanuel Sanders , WR DEN - For the second time in three weeks Sanders put up a total dud performance for the Broncos as he was targeted just two times by Joe Flacco against the Chargers. There have been some swirling trade rumors surrounding Sanders as we approach the NFL trade deadline and I am sure he is not thrilled with his current involvement in the team's offense on a week-to-week basis given how productive he has shown to be when given the looks. If you haven't already had him on your radar, now is the time to look at DaeSean Hamilton if Denver is going to move on from Sanders.

Jamison Crowder , WR NYJ - So, Crowder only managed three targets in Week 5 but I am really bringing him up here because Sam Darnold is returning to the Jets in Week 6 after being sidelined with Mono for the past few weeks. Remember all the way back in Week 1? Seems so long ago I know but Crowder had 17 targets in that game as Darnold was very content with taking the underneath route. If Crowder is a free agent and you need a bye week fill-in then there is some intrigue here for me.

Sony Michel , RB NE - So, this is being written after the Patriots and Giants have already played their Week 6 contest and therefore we have even a little more data here to follow this trend and that trend is Sony Michel being involved in the passing attack. Michel was a solid pass catcher in college but that aspect of his game has been non-existent since entering the NFL however, in Week 5 he caught all three of his targets for 32 yards. In Week 6 he was targeted another three times, catching two of those for 27 yards. If Michel is going to be giving up 2-to-3 catches a game now that is going to be a big boost to his fantasy production in PPR leagues, especially since it doesn't seem like he is going to be getting the red zone carries anytime soon.