Taking a look at the Week 5 touches and targets leaders can go a long way in projecting where fantasy points may come from in the near future. Each week I’ll break down which running backs led the way in touches, including red zone opportunities. Most of the top performers in touches and targets from a week-to-week basis are not only owned in most leagues, but started as well. This will give us a clearer view of where touchdowns may come from. A plus for the DFS players out there.
Week 5 Touches Leaders
- Alfred Blue – 28
- Ezekiel Elliott – 27
- Todd Gurley – 26
- LeSean McCoy – 26
- Joe Mixon – 25
- James Conner – 25
- Melvin Gordon – 23
- Kareem Hunt – 23
- Christian McCaffrey – 22
- Nyheim Hines – 22
Alfred Blue, Houston Texans
Alfred Blue had 20 carries and led the Week with 28 total touches filling in for an injured Lamar Miller. Blue wasn’t efficient on the ground (46 rushing yards), but he reeled in eight catches for 73 yards. Miller is expected to return this week, but should he miss more time, we now know the kind of usage Blue will get. There’s a better back in Houston you should target, though.
Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts
Nyheim Hines was a hot waiver wire pickup last week and he didn’t disappoint, especially in PPR formats. Hines led the Colts’ with 15 carries and 45 rushing yards, but it’s his work in the passing game that’s exciting. Hines’ nine targets and seven catches ranked third on the team. His 29 catches lead Indy, and Andrew Luck leads the NFL in passing attempts. The work should continue for Hines. He makes for a strong PPR flex play each week.
Overall Touches Leaders
- Todd Gurley – 120
- Ezekiel Elliott – 115
- Carlos Hyde – 106
- James Conner – 106
- Saquon Barkley – 102
- Melvin Gordon – 101
- Alvin Kamara – 98
- Kareem Hunt – 98
- Christian McCaffrey – 90
- David Johnson – 89
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Mark Ingram returned to the lineup in Week 5 and he led the Saints with 16 carries and 53 rushing yards. He also had two rushing touchdowns and two catches. Alvin Kamara finished with six carries and 39 total yards on nine touches. It was the first unproductive game of his career. The New Orleans Saints didn’t need Kamara in this game as they made easy work of the Washington Redskins. Kamara has reportedly been dealing with a knee injury so this may have just been a case of giving him the week off. The Saints head into this week with a bye, so owners may actually want to deal him. It’s a great chance to buy low on the superstar back. Both Ingram and Kamara were productive together last season.
Week 5 Targets Leaders
- Donte Moncrief – 15
- Eric Ebron – 15
- Emmanuel Sanders – 14
- James White – 14
- John Brown – 14
- Odell Beckham Jr. – 14
- Antonio Brown – 13
- DeAndre Hopkins – 13
- Michael Crabtree – 12
- Davante Adams – 12
Donte Moncrief, Jacksonville Jaguars
Donte Moncrief came away tied for the Week 5 high with 15 targets. He leads Jacksonville with 37 targets, but he’s fourth on the team in catches with 18. A lot of his work came in garbage time last week against a weak KC secondary. It’s hard to trust any of these wideouts in this offense as Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook are just as involved. I lean Westbrook as he leads the team in catches and yards, but it’s Moncrief who leads the team with five red zone targets.
Overall Target Leaders
- Adam Thielen – 66
- Antonio Brown – 66
- Odell Beckham Jr. – 59
- Zach Ertz – 58
- DeAndre Hopkins – 57
- Jarvis Landry – 56
- Davante Adams – 55
- Julio Jones – 55
- Stefon Diggs – 55
- JuJu Smith-Schuster – 53
Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
Zach Ertz has been a target monster this season and has a target share of at least 27 percent in all five games this season. Ertz has finished as a TE1 in all five of his weeks which is more than you can say about any other tight end in football. He has 35 targets, 25 catches and 295 yards with a touchdown in his three games with Carson Wentz. Beast!
Overall Red Zone Rushing Attempts
- Todd Gurley – 32
- Alvin Kamara – 20
- Sony Michel – 17
- Carlos Hyde – 15
- Marshawn Lynch – 15
- Adrian Peterson – 13
- James Conner – 12
- Ezekiel Elliott – 12
- Kareem Hunt – 12
- Alfred Morris – 12
Sony Michel, New England Patriots
Sony Michel picked up another six red zone rushing attempts and now ranks inside the Top 3 overall. Michel has totaled 17 points in PPR leagues in back-to-back weeks now. He has 43 carries, 210 yards, and two rushing touchdowns in his last two games without Rex Burkhead in the lineup. If you have Michel, you have yourself a player. It’s a positive that he’s been productive with James White balling out as well.
Alfred Morris, San Francisco 49ers
With Matt Brieda sidelined due to an ankle injury, all of the work on the ground should go to Alfred Morris. That includes all of the work in the red zone as well. Morris ranks inside the Top 10 in red zone rushing attempts, which is positive for his outlook. The problem is, how often are the 49ers going to get inside the red zone? Volume is volume, and you can’t ignore that when scanning the waiver wire.
Overall Red Zone Targets
- Alvin Kamara – 16
- JuJu Smith-Schuster – 15
- Michael Thomas – 12
- Eric Ebron – 12
- Jared Cook – 11
- A.J. Green – 11
- Cooper Kupp – 11
- Davante Adams – 10
- Melvin Gordon – 9
- DeAndre Hopkins – 9
Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts
Eric Ebron racked up another four red zone targets last week and now ranks inside the Top 3 overall. Ebron had a Week 5 high 15 targets last week and continues to get a ton of looks with Jack Doyle sidelined. Ebron has only reeled in 26 of his 45 targets, but he has five touchdowns in five games. He’s clearly Andrew Luck’s number one option in the red zone. Ebron had two touchdowns in his first two games of the season with a healthy Doyle on the field, so I wouldn’t worry about him returning. Ebron has 36 targets in his last three games and is currently TE3 on the season.
Melvin Gordon, Los Angles Chargers
It’s a bit surprising to see Melvin Gordon lead the Los Angeles Chargers in red zone targets. Gordon only has 11 red zone rushing attempts which is tied for 12th. His 49 last season were the third most and his 52 in 2016 were the fourth most. This season, it seems he’s getting all of the looks inside the red zone. Keenan Allen only has five red zone targets after leading all wideouts with 24 last season. The loss of Hunter Henry as resulted in more work in the passing game for Gordon, as his 38 targets rank fourth and his 28 catches rank fifth among backs. Gordon averaged 5.1 targets and 3.6 catches last season, compared to 7.6 targets and 5.6 catches per game this season.
Check out our Week 6 Sleepers: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends
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