NFL Fantasy Football Red Zone Report: Week 6

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

Davante Adams – Adams had a league-high five red zone targets this week; he caught two of them for a pair of touchdowns. He is now third in the NFL in red zone targets for the season with 15 and while his 47% catch rate in the red zone is not fantastic, his six red zone touchdowns lead the NFL. Many people were worried that the addition of Jimmy Graham would be a big hit to Adams in the red zone, but based on their targets of 15 for Adams and five for Graham, Adams is still the guy that Rodgers trusts the most.

Alshon Jeffery – Jeffery caught a pair of touchdowns on three targets and three receptions in the red zone this week. Jeffery grades as one of the best receivers in the NFL in the red zone and this strong game is far from surprising. His height, leaping ability, and knack for making tough catches in coverage are a perfect storm for the red zone. He already has three touchdowns in the red zone in just three games after missing the first three games with injury.

Tyreek Hill – Hill only had two red zone targets this week, but he made the most of them with two touchdowns. Hill is not your typical red zone threat as he is only 5’10 and 185 lbs, but he has been very successful this season. Thus far, he has hauled in five-of-seven red zone targets (71%) for three touchdowns. Hill is very likely to set a new career high in touchdowns this year as he already has six and his previous best was the seven he caught last season. He is a WR1 and should be viewed as such.

*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.

Red Zone Carries

Melvin Gordon – Gordon turned four red zone carries into three touchdowns this week. He now has nine red zone touchdowns on the season (six rushing, three receiving). Gordon has been fantastic in the red zone this year and has easily been the second best back, only behind Gurley. The Chargers will continue to feed Gordon and he will continue to score touchdowns at a high rate. He is looking like one of the better early picks from drafts this year.

Todd Gurley – Last week I wrote “Gurley is a beast - we know that - but what he is doing in the red zone is insane, even for him…. His fantasy production is borderline unfair.” Well, here we are again, as Gurley could seemingly make this section every single week. This week he had “only” five carries in the red zone (a low number for him, a high number for anyone else), but still managed to turn two of them into touchdowns. He also caught a pass in the red zone. He is line for another huge week in Week 7 against the 49ers.

Sony Michel – Michel had four red zone carries this week and turned two of them into touchdowns. He now has three such touchdowns on the season, but more importantly, he is second in the league in red zone carries with 21. He should continue to pick up touchdowns in his current role. He is a huge asset in standard leagues, while his value in PPR leagues is very touchdown dependent (he has only three receptions on the season).

*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.

Red Zone Passing

Jameis Winston – Despite the Bucs 34-29 loss to the Falcons, Winston put up big numbers in the red zone this week. He had 10 pass attempts in the red zone and four of them went for touchdowns. He spread it around too, with touchdowns to Barber, Godwin, Howard, and Brate. Unfortunately for Winston though, not all of his red zone completions went to his team, as he was also picked off in the red zone for the first time this season. Winston should have another strong fantasy game this week against the Browns.

Carson Wentz – Wentz threw seven passes in the red zone this week and three of them went for touchdowns. As noted above, three of those passes and two of those touchdowns went to Jeffery as the combo continue to be deadly in the red zone (Jeffery had seven red zone touchdowns in 2017 – fourth highest in the NFL). Wentz currently has seven red zone passing touchdowns and zero interceptions and there is little reason to think that success will end anytime soon.

Dak Prescott – Prescott had a career game against the Jags and was equally good in the red zone. He had seven pass attempts and two of them went for touchdowns. He also had one red zone rushing attempt, which also went for a touchdown. The rushing touchdown was his first of the year and was a nice chunk of his 82 rushing yard game. Prescott is unlikely to put up big passing game numbers this year (as shown by the fact that he doesn’t have more than 255 yards in any game or more than two touchdowns), but if he can continue to excel on the ground he will be a playable fantasy asset.

*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.

Team Defense Red Zone Stats

Indianapolis Colts – The Colts gave up an unsightly 42 points to the Jets in Week 6. However, despite the scoreboard, the Colts defense was outstanding in the red zone, holding the Jets to one touchdown on six tries. That paved the way for Jason Myers to set the Jets franchise record with seven field goals. The Colts have a bad defense, but they have been solid in the red zone and currently rank in the top half of the league in red zone defense. They appear to be in for a solid week as they face the Bills in Indy this week.

Tennessee Titans – The Titans entered Week 6 as the number one red zone defense, but leave as the number two after allowing the Ravens to score on all three of their red zone drives. It never really mattered though as the Titans offense mustered up a total of zero points. The Titans will have a tough task this week as they travel to London for a matchup with the Chargers, who bolster one of the game’s best red zone offenses.  

*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.