The NFL Red Zone channel was basically invented so fantasy players could scan the line of scrimmage for their dudes before demanding — out loud, often using profanity — that the QB throw in his direction. It’s fun, even though it clearly takes away from the actual competition at hand just so we can accumulate enough fake points to defeat our real friends.
We need red zone targets because they lead to touchdowns. And some pass catchers haven’t seen their fair share of end zone splashes considering their target-shares to this point.
Let’s take a quick look at the top of the red zone target leaderboard, where four wideouts have seen 10 or more looks through four weeks. Each has proven to be a valuable fantasy commodity, no matter the draft price.
JuJu Smith-Schuster: 13 targets, 6 receptions, 1 TD
Michael Thomas: 11 targets, 10 receptions, 3 TDs
Cooper Kupp: 10 targets, 6 receptions, 2 TDs (4 total)
A.J. Green: 10 targets, 5 receptions, 4 TDs (5 total)
The rest of the top 20 includes several red zone monsters we’re all familiar with: DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, Jarvis Landry, T.Y. Hilton and rookie TD machine Calvin Ridley.
It also includes some guys who might be undervalued at this point. Mining for receivers who are getting plenty of red zone looks — but not the TDs — offers a few names we might be able to make a play for in our leagues.
Nelson Agholor is a great trade target right now. His seven red zone targets are tied for seventh in the league, and he’s pulled down five with one TD. Last season, the former first-rounder saw as many targets (9) inside the 10 as Gronk, and four of his eight scores on the season came inside the 20. There’s still time for the slot-man to kick his breakout season into gear with Carson Wentz getting back up to speed and Alshon Jeffrey healthy and opening up the field.
The Jets have struggled a bit since the exciting debut of savior Sam Darnold, but Quincy Enunwa has garnered a ton of looks and put up steady production along the way. Enunwa’s 37 total targets ranks him just behind T.Y. Hilton and ahead of Keenan Allen on the year, with weekly tallies of 10, 11, 8 and 8. He’s been consistent with yardage totals (63, 92, 57, 66), and recall that Darnold missed him wide open in the end zone against Miami or we’re looking at two TDs in four games. Enunwa is seeing designed screens and red zone targets — six so far for only two catches and no scores.
Marvin Jones has been a fixture in the red zone for the Lions in past years, and he’s among the league leaders again in 2018 even though his seven looks thus far have only produced a single catch, which went for a touchdown. Second-year man Kenny Golladay will continue to steal some of Jones’ downfield shots, but Marvin is still getting his near the goal line. Plus, Golden Tate leads the team with three TDs after averaging just five a year over the past three seasons.
Tyler Boyd had already emerged as the Bengals No. 2 receiver before Tyler Eifert’s gruesome ankle injury landed him on IR and second-year man John Ross hit the shelf with a groin issue. The former second-rounder has been a clutch third-down weapon for Andy Dalton while also seeing seven looks inside the 20 for five receptions and a touchdown. Eifert’s absence offers up a bunch of red zone looks for Boyd and big guy A.J. Green.
Sterling Shepard has been heavily targeted in the red zone during his young career — prior to this season, nine of Shepard’s 10 career TDs had come inside the 10. Here he is again, ranking 12th in the league with six red zone looks through four games, good for five catches and two scores. Odell Beckham is wondering aloud why his aging quarterback won’t throw the ball more than 20 yards down the field. And the more Eli Manning checks down, the more balls are going Shepard’s way. Plus, Evan Engram is out multiple weeks with an MCL injury, which means one less red zone weapon for Eli.
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