Paying attention to who is getting targeted and/or getting carries in the red zone and down near the goal line are both very important in all fantasy formats. Touchdowns are major point boosters in PPR leagues and even more so in standard. The weekly report will be a one-stop shop where you can find all the information you could possibly need when it comes to the red zone. Each week I will point out some notable performances for that week and then include season totals. Let’s dive in!

Red Zone Targets

Larry Fitzgerald – Fitz was targeted five times in the red zone this week and hauled in three of them. One of those receptions was for a touchdown, his second of the year. He also snagged a two-point conversion and topped the 100 yard mark for the first time this season. This was a very strong game for the veteran wide out and it was the first game with Byron Leftwich as the team’s offensive coordinator, which could possibly be a sign of good things to come for one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history.

Jordan Thomas – Here is a name you probably weren’t expecting to see (I wasn’t expecting to have to talk about him, that’s for sure). The Texans tight end was targeted three times in the red zone and caught all three passes, with two of them resulting in touchdowns. It was the first two touchdowns of the rookie’s career. He is not going to have very much volume, but he likely gained Watson’s trust in the red zone and could make for an asset in standard/touchdown dependent leagues.

Alvin Kamara – Kamara caught a pair of passes in the red zone this week and took one of them into the end zone. He also carried the ball once and scored a touchdown. Kamara has been a red zone machine this year; he currently ranks first in targets and second in rushing attempts (albeit a large margin from first). He has seven total red zone touchdowns with five through the air and two on the ground. Kamara hasn’t been nearly as electric as he was in his rookie season, but he is still getting the job done.

*The below tables are the top-10 in targets for the season in the red zone and inside the 10 yard line. Take note that targets inside the 10 are also included in inside the 20.

 Inside the 20  Inside the 10
 TargetsReceptionsCatch %Touchdowns  TargetsReceptionsCatch %Touchdowns
Alvin Kamara 181372%2 DeAndre Hopkins 12650%3
JuJu Smith-Schuster 171059%2 Michael Thomas 9889%4
Davante Adams 15747%6 Jared Cook 9778%2
Eric Ebron 15747%6 T.Y. Hilton 9444%4
Jarvis Landry 15747%2 Jeff Heuerman 8225%1
Zach Ertz 14750%3 Melvin Gordon 8675%3
A.J. Green 14643%4 Chris Godwin 8450%4
DeAndre Hopkins 14857%4 Cooper Kupp 7457%2
Michael Thomas 141286%4      

 

Red Zone Carries

Joe Mixon – Mixon picked up three red zone carries this week and plunged two of them into the end zone for touchdowns. He also hauled in a pass in the red zone. Mixon now has four red zone rushing touchdowns on the season, but has managed to only rush for 33 yards on 16 attempts (sixth worst YPC among the 21 running backs with at least 14 red zone carries). Overall, Mixon is having a great season and is a must-start on a weekly basis.

Christian McCaffrey – CMC rushed four times in the red zone this week and delivered a touchdown. He also caught a pass in the red zone for a second touchdown. The receiving touchdown was a fluke play where McCaffrey was not the intended receiver, but the ball was deflected and he came down with it. While he may not have been the intended receiver, all touchdowns count the same in the fantasy world. The rushing touchdown was his first red zone rushing touchdown of the year. He only has 12 red zone carries and has the lowest percentage of his team’s carries by anyone with at least 12 red zone carries (41%).

Marlon Mack – Mack makes his second straight appearance here and he has had three straight great games. This week he carried the ball five times in the red zone and he took two of them to the house for his second and third touchdowns of the year. Mack is quickly climbing up the charts and has turned himself into a fantasy stud. Over the last three games he has compiled 56 carries, 347 rushing yards (6.2 YPC), three rushing touchdowns, five receptions, 54 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown. Unfortunately for his fantasy owners the Colts have their bye week this week before taking on the Jaguars in Week 10.

*The below tables are the top-10 in carries for the season in the red zone and inside the five yard line. Take note that carries inside the five are also included in inside the 20.

 Inside the 20  Inside the 5
 AttemptsYardsTouchdowns  AttemptsYardsTouchdowns
Todd Gurley 4712911 Todd Gurley 1497
Alvin Kamara 28755 James Conner 1086
James Conner 21577 Carlos Hyde 1065
Sony Michel 21493 Kareem Hunt 9185
Adrian Peterson 21343 Sony Michel 772
Kareem Hunt 20545 Saquon Barkley 722
Lamar Miller 19362 Alvin Kamara 684
Jordan Howard 17433 Adrian Peterson 663
Carlos Hyde 17335 Jordan Howard 663
Saquon Barkley 16303 David Johnson664
David Johnson16365 Marlon Mack 602
Marlon Mack 16583 Alfred Morris 631
Joe Mixon 16334 Javorius Allen 643

 

Red Zone Passing

Deshaun Watson – Watson, as noted above, hit Thomas twice for red zone touchdowns this week and it didn’t end there as Watson also found DeAndre Hopkins for a score. In total, Watson had six pass attempts and three touchdowns in the red zone this week. Watson has one of the worst red zone completion percentages in the entire NFL at 42% (only higher than Manning, Bortles, and Fitz), but he has made up for it with volume and mistake free football. His 47 red zone pass attempts are good for sixth best in the NFL and he has 11 touchdowns to zero interceptions.  

Cam Newton – Newton attempted four passes in the red zone this week and tossed a pair of touchdowns. He also carried the ball three times in the red zone and delivered a touchdown on the ground to go along with the two through the air. Newton has been absolute money in the red zone this year, both as a passer and as a rusher; he has completed 65% of his passes for nine touchdowns and zero interceptions while also running the ball eleven times for 41 yards and four touchdowns. His ability to run over defenders makes him an unstoppable and unpredictable force for Carolina.

Patrick Mahomes – Another week, another Patty Mahomes sighting in the red zone report. This week he had just five pass attempts in the red zone, but still managed to toss three touchdowns. He also ran once. Mahomes moved into a tie for the league-lead in red zone passing touchdowns with 19 (Andrew Luck ) and has just once interception. He is second in attempts at 55 and he has completed a solid 58% of them. Last week I wrote “No matter what criteria or stat you use/look at, Mahomes has been one of the best quarterbacks in football this year and should be the MVP at this point in the season (sorry Gurley).” I still stand by that.

*The below tables are the top-10 in pass attempts for the season in the red zone and inside the 10 yard line. Take note that pass attempts inside the 10 are also included in inside the 20.

 Inside the 20  Inside the 10
 AttemptsCompletetionsComp%TDINT  AttemptsCompletetionsComp%TDINT
Andrew Luck 593559%191 Deshaun Watson 311445%90
Patrick Mahomes 553462%191 Patrick Mahomes 261454%110
Drew Brees 543667%110 Derek Carr 261662%51
Eli Manning 512141%71 Andrew Luck 251664%120
Jared Goff 493265%122 Drew Brees 251872%100
Deshaun Watson 472349%110 Jared Goff 231252%72
Andy Dalton 422662%131 Mitchell Trubisky 231357%80
Tom Brady 412356%120 Tom Brady 211152%90
Kirk Cousins 412561%100 Joe Flacco 211152%61
Joe Flacco 412459%101       

 

Team Defense Red Zone Stats

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Bucs red zone defensive woes continued this week as they gave up touchdowns on all four of the Bengals trips. They already ranked dead last in red zone touchdown percentage against and that mark now sits at an abysmal 88%. Yes, 88%! That is 11% higher than the next closest team. This defense has been awful as a whole and when the opposing offense makes it into the red zone against them you can basically chalk up a touchdown.

Washington Redskins – The Redskins held the Giants to just one touchdown on four red zone drives. This defense has been scary good this year and the addition of HaHa Clinton-Dix should only make it even better. This strong week moved them outside of the bottom-10 in red zone touchdown percentage against and it would be far from surprising to see them continue to trend in the right direction. However, they do have a tough matchup on tap this week with the Falcons, who boast one of the best offenses and one of the best red zone offenses in the NFL.  

*The below table shows the red zone stats for all 32 teams. How many attempts have been made against each team, how many touchdowns were converted, and the percentage of how often those red zone drives result in touchdowns.

TeamRZAttRZTDRZTD% TeamRZAttRZTDRZTD%
Bucs252288% Seahawks191158%
Panthers171377% Rams191158%
Saints231774% Patriots261558%
Falcons322372% Ravens211257%
Texans211571% Raiders281554%
Bengals291966% Lions231252%
Bills261765% Dolphins311652%
Chiefs281864% Colts261350%
Browns291862% Chargers241250%
Packers211362% Jaguars221150%
Redskins201260% Jets261246%
Bears15960% Vikings301343%
Broncos251560% Giants281243%
49ers352160% Eagles291241%
Cardinals251560% Cowboys19737%
Steelers241458% Titans18633%