Best Catches to Targets from Week Eleven

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Coby Fleener
Fantasy owners are saying it’s about time one of the Colts tight ends had an impact from a fantasy football perspective. Fleener has to stay consistent to alleviate some of the pressure on the Colts receivers and Andrew Luck overall. He finished with eight catches on ten targets.

Marquise Goodwin
Credit has to go to the Buffalo Bills front office. They have gotten the biggest bang for the buck in many positions on the field, but especially at wide receiver. Time and time again they’ve relied on low round draft picks or undrafted free agent wide receivers to step into a premier role. Goodwin did so with the top of the Bills depth chart sidelined. He had six catches on eight targets against an alleged improved Jets defense.

Alshon Jeffrey
All the talk is on the Bears quarterback situation currently. It should be on how the offense keeps ticking without missing a bit. A big reason to why they’re so successful has to do with their tall and physical receivers in Jeffrey’s and Marshall. It’s a tandem that has torched defenses week after week. In poor weather conditions as playoff fields will pose a team needs big target wide receivers to get the ball to. Jeffrey’s finished with seven catches on eleven targets.

Vinny Jackson
When you get the majority of your quarterback’s yards you know you’re having a good day. Jackson caught ten balls on twelve targets for over 160 yards receiving. Glennon on the day only threw for around 230 yards.

Garret Graham
Graham had a significant day for a tight end that could have been picked up on waivers. More than likely people scooped up John Carlson instead. I wouldn’t rush to sub out a tight end for Graham just yet. Houston has issues galore at quarterback and now commotion has started with Andre Johnson. This will likely be Graham’s top game of the season.

Jordy Nelson
A poor decision by the Packers to do a fake punt instead of pinning the Giants turned out to cause an avalanche of issues. For the most part Scott Tolzien performed solid besides for a poor fourth quarter. Nelson hauled in eight catches on nine targets.

Others: DeLanie Walker 10 catches/10 targets, Kendall Wright 9 catches/12 targets, DeSean Jackson 4 catches/4 targets, Pierre Garcon 6 catches/10 targets, Tony Gonzalez 7 catches/9 targets, Michael Floyd 6 catches/11 targets, Ace Sanders 8 catches/10 targets, Andre Johnson 10 catches/17 targets, Charles Clay 6 catches/7 targets, LaDarius Green 4 catches/5 targets, Marques Colston 5 catches/8 targets, Victor Cruz 8 catches/11 targets, John Carlson 5 catches/7 targets, Wes Welker 8 catches/10 targets, Brandon LaFell 7 catches/8 targets

Potential Fourth Quarter Killers for Week Eleven

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TY Hilton
The past two weeks Hilton has had second half statistical surges as the Colts have trailed. Against Tennessee the Colts shouldn’t get behind, or be behind by insurmountable points. At the same token I do not expect the Colts to adjust their offense at any point in this game. After the performance Andrew Luck had against the Rams the Colts are going to want Luck to regain all confidence. They’ll have him firing from quarter one until a kneel down occurs.

Tiquan Underwood
Mark Glennon’s first outing where he didn’t look like a third string quarterback was against the Atlanta Falcons about a month ago. In that game he hit Vincent Jackson on a couple of deep balls and nearly led a comeback in Atlanta. Tampa finally got their first win of the season against the Dolphins and should be able to be competitive against a reeling Falcons team. Atlanta should be giving extra attention to Jackson after what happened last game, leaving Underwood available for some big plays.

Rashard Jennings
Quietly Oakland is in the top five in the NFL rushing the football. It isn’t happening with a premier back carving up defenses each week. It’s happening with a duel threat quarterback in Terrelle Pryor. Houston is at the point where the team is going to start looking worse as the weeks go on. Case Keenum has dazzled with some touchdown passes to Andre Johnson, but the team has still lost both games he has played in. Teams that come into the season with high expectations that whittle away are always team to capitalize on. Jennings will get over 100 yards rushing on the road in Houston.

Rob Gronkowski
An area the strong Carolina Panthers defense still is vulnerable in is pass defense. The Panthers caught a break against the 49ers last week when Vernon Davis exited early with an injury. The backup tight end had a chance to haul in a throw late in that game that could of led to a touchdown. The prior week the Panthers struggled with Tony Gonzalez and I expect the Patriots to be able to attack the Panthers with Gronk the entire game.

Reggie Bush
I’m not buying the Steelers first impressive defensive performance against the Buffalo Bills. EJ Manuel was just returning from an injury and did not look comfortable the entire day. This is the same Steelers defense that has aged and has big time issues with speed. Detroit possesses that with its receivers and the all-important Reggie Bush. This game could possibly be Bush’s best game of the season.

Others: DeMaryius Thomas, Keenan Allen, Eddie Lacy, Pierre Thomas, and Pierre Garcon

Stretching the Field Post Week Ten

Tiquan Underwood
Confidence in having Glennon as a permanent future starting quarterback has to be waning. There have been a handful of games the Bucs could have won if Glennon would throw better passes. Monday the Bucs got away with Glennon’s inaccuracy and mistakes. Underwood had 21 yards a catch on three receptions.

Pierre Garcon
After the Redskins woes the first few weeks it looked like RG3 and the offense was on its way to a miserable season. Instead Garcon and the Redskins have been one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL. With Garcon healthy he is showcasing why he received a hefty contract offer from the Redskins. He had seven catches for well over 100 yards Sunday.

Golden Tate
Over the last month there might not be a receiver in the league that has risen from a mediocre week to week performer to a standout. Tate has been sensational and a go to receiver for Russ Wilson when the offense appeared to be struggling. It made some strides against the Falcons thanks to six catches for over a hundred yards.

Riley Cooper
With Nick Foles quarterbacking the Eagles have designed two to three plays a week where a home run ball is going to go Cooper’s way. Suddenly he has risen up the fantasy charts as the deep ball continues to hit for long touchdowns. He hauled in two out of three catches for big touchdowns Sunday.

Tavon Austin
Three touchdowns from Austin made it look like he was wearing his old West Virginia uniform. He was a blur at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and catapulted the Rams to a blowout road win. All St. Louis has to do is figure out a way to keep Austin involved in the offense on a week to week basis. Quick screens and more deep ball attempts have to be in the Rams arsenal.

TY Hilton
For the second consecutive week Hilton was a second half fantasy football killer. He could of scored a touchdown in the third quarter if he did not trip over his own two feet. At any rate Hilton’s fantasy value is growing as he continues to have success as the Colts number one receiver.

AJ Green
Thank goodness for Andy Dalton that he has one of the best wide receivers in football at his disposal. If it weren’t for Green, Dalton may have been seated on the bench a long time ago. Having a guy like Green keeps a young quarterbacks confidence up. Green finished Sunday with a miracle hail mary catch on eight catches for over 150 yards.

Julius Thomas
People that stole Thomas off of waivers early this season are smirking widely that he was able to return quickly from his injury. He is a bonus asset to a position that finding a top tier fantasy scorer is golden. Thomas hauled in three catches for 96 yards on three catches.

Best Catches to Targets From Week Ten

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Rishard Matthews
Matthews had hardly been involved in the Dolphins offense this season, but had eleven catches on fourteen targets Monday night. It’ll remain to be seen if the Dolphins can keep Matthews involved in the offense or if it was a one game ordeal. Based upon the high amount of targets it’s safe to say Miami will continue to find a way to involve him.

John Carlson
If you’re in need of a tight end for a span of a few weeks than here he is. Carlson hauled in all seven targets from Christian Ponder and should continue to see quick route throws his way. We will have to see how Ponder’s non throwing shoulder injury affects the passing game, but look for Carlson to be an adequate tight end.

Brandon Marshall
Fantasy radar alerts before the season were mindful of Marshall’s hip. He had been limited in preseason because of it and it appeared that he may be a liability throughout the season. That has not been the case. Instead Marshall has continued to be a top ten receiver in the NFL. He hauled in seven catches out of twelve targets Sunday.

Jarrett Boykin
Boykin stands to continue to be a fantasy threat with Aaron Rodgers out. With a third string quarterback at under center, Boykin stands to be a familiar option for Scott Tolzien. Reps from third string quarterbacks don’t typically go to the team’s standout receivers. So Boykin’s eight catches on thirteen targets Sunday are a stat to keep looking forward to.

Kendall Wright
Wright continually is a high target receiver. Unfortunately in the Titans offense neither Jake Locker or Ryan Fitzpatrick has had success with throws down the field. That means Wright is great in PPR leagues but does not offer the threat of high yardage or touchdowns. He caught seven of nine passes Sunday.

TY Hilton
Hilton has proved me wrong and has been able to step up as the number one receiver in consecutive weeks. For it to continue the Colts need to run the football more and develop targets to other options. Hilton had seven catches on eight targets, and did most of his damage in the second half.

Others: Jordan Reed 6 catches/9 targets, Harry Douglas 7 catches/8 targets, Golden Tate 6 catches/7 targets, Alson Jeffrey 9 catches/18 targets, Brandon Pettigrew 5 catches/5 targets, Antonio Brown 6 catches/11 targets, AJ Green 8 catches/15 targets, Steve Smith 6 catches/11 targets, DeAndre Hopkins 6 catches/11 targets, Andre Roberts 5 catches/8 targets, DeMaryius Thomas 7 catches/10 targets, All Saints receivers

Who to Use For an Aaron Rodgers Fill In?

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A broken collarbone will cost Aaron Rodgers a crucial period in the regular season on the field and for fantasy football owners. Most people that drafted Rodgers high probably ignored the need for a fantasy backup quarterback. Similar to the way the Packers did with bringing in Seneca Wallace after preseason.

Fantasy owners figured they would just need a spot starter for one game. In all likelihood that led to you just swapping a bench player for a waiver wire quarterback acquisition for a week. Someone serviceable to just get you points at the position for one week. Now you must rethink how you are going to get points at the quarterback position with Rodgers out for at least three weeks.

Here are a few quarterbacks to think about picking up in the time being.

Christian Ponder
I know it draws the ire of Rodgers owners to even have to think about picking up Ponder. It is a tremendous downgrade. In terms of fantasy points though you are going to get a bargain with ponder. The negativity surrounding his name has high merit from his poor performances throughout the last year and a half. Last week he showed signs though with his legs and arm. If he can keep the passing game going with the force of AP, he is going to continue to get chunks of fantasy points with his legs. That’s the type of bonus you want to find at this juncture.

Carson Palmer
Palmer is another name that is one no one would want. He has been a turnover machine. But the Cardinals somehow have managed to be a .500 team and are coming off their bye week. The Cardinals can get themselves in contention for a wild card spot with a strong push. With newfound success with Andre Ellington at running back, the Cardinals are going to come out of the bye week with the ability to attack down the field. Don’t be surprised if Palmer performs better as teams are going to have to trust the Cardinals running game a bit more.

Others: Joe Flacco, Big Ben, and Case Keenum

Best Catches to Targets from Week Nine

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Mike Wallace
Wallace finally had a game where his catches to targets were a decent rate. Tannehill and Wallace have struggled all season at utilizing Wallace’s big play abilities. The story surrounding Miami’s offensive line has a lot to do with that. Tannehill has been planted on his back and not given enough time to get the football down the field. Maybe that will change. Thursday Wallace finished with six catches on eight targets.

Jason Witten
It’s about time we had a Jason Witten sighting. The tight end was the difference on a day that Dez Bryant was held in check. Witten looked in old form as he was able to get over the middle and even was able to get some yards after the catch. He had eight catches on ten targets.

Keenan Allen
Going into the season many Chargers fans and fantasy owners were worried at who Brees would target game to game. Antonio Gates has been steady, but it’s been the rookie Keenan Allen who has blown past expectations. He had one of the strongest months in October and has carried it over to the first game of November. He finished with eight catches on eleven targets.

Tony Gonazlez
Gonzalez was on his way to another career type of game against the Carolina Panthers. In the first half Matt Ryan was targeting Gonzalez nearly every pass play. I would have as well as the Carolina Panthers chose to play Gonzalez with just a linebacker. It was a mismatch every time and resulted in a close game at half at just 14-10. Ron Rivera and the Panthers did the smart thing and rethought their coverages on Gonzalez. The game flipped from there and Gonzalez only ended up with six catches on nine targets, mostly from the first half.

Brandon LaFell
LaFell almost ended up in the fantasy doghouse. He finished with six catches on nine targets but should have had eight catches on nine targets. On two deep ball throws in the second half Cam Newton placed the ball in good spots for LaFell. He just couldn’t find the ball and make the catch. His involvement with the offense was a good sign, but LaFell needs to get his hands on more balls.

Doug Baldwin
Baldwin is one of the unheralded Seahawks that has helped them get two wins, one against Houston and the comeback against Tampa Bay. The connection is just there and the Seahawks are going to need Baldwin on the field more until the offensive line gets better. Baldwin finished with six catches on ten targets.

Jerricho Cotchery
Cotchery had a game that may be his last big game of his career. Every athlete has one. Cotchery has been the third receiver on the Steelers for a few years now after a solid stint with the Jets. Sunday he made fantastic catches and scored three touchdowns. I would not recommend picking up Cotchery off the waiver wire.

Others: AJ Green 11 catches/19 targets, Dwayne Bowe 7 catches/12 targets, Lance Moore 6 catches/10 targets, Greg Jennings 6 catches/9 targets, Pierre Garcon 7 catches/11 targets, Rod Streater 5 catches/6 targets, Torrey Smith 5 catches/8 targets, Rob Gronkowski 9 catches/10 targets, TY Hilton 7 catches/11 targets, Brandon Marshall 7 catches/13 targets