Taking a look at the week’s touches and targets leaders can go along way in projecting where fantasy points may come from in the 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.
Check out our Week 2 Sleepers: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends
Week 1 Touches Leaders
- James Conner – 36
- Adrian Peterson – 28
- Melvin Gordon – 24
- Todd Gurley – 23
- Carlos Hyde – 23
- Joe Mixon – 22
- Dalvin Cook – 22
- Lamar Miller – 21
- Dion Lewis – 21
- Jordan Howard – 20
James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers
So, James Conner looked really, really good. In less than ideal weather conditions, too. Conner picked up where DeAngelo Williams left off in 2015 when Le’Veon Bell was sidelined. Williams finished that season with the most fantasy points per game and was a Top 5 back.
I was wrong, though, Pittsburgh did give him Bell-like usage. Conner led Week 1 with 31 rushing attempts, 36 touches, 135 rushing yards and 192 total yards. That’s 48 more yards than he had in 14 games last season as a rookie. Conner will be productive as long as Bell remains sidelined, it’s just a question of how long will that be? It’s anybody’s guess. What should you do with Conner? Jake Ciely and I discussed that before his monster game on B.A.M.N, and nothing really changes: Ride it out and see what you can get for him. His value may never be higher.
Adrian Peterson, Washington Redskins
Adrian Peterson had a huge workload in his first game with Washington: 26 carries for 96 yards and two catches for 70 yards. Don’t count on that kind of production in the air on a weekly basis, but it’s clear AP will be given all he can handle. Peterson’s 3.6 yards per carry is nothing to write home about, but volume is important. No back had more red zone rushing attempts than Peterson’s seven. Last season when he had monster games, he followed it up with mediocre performances.
Carlos Hyde, Cleveland Browns
If you didn’t believe Carlos Hyde was the man in Cleveland, maybe 22 rushing attempts will help you buy in. Hyde finished one spot higher than where I had him last week (17). His expert consensus ranking on FantasyPros was RB23. For whatever reason the fantasy community is down on the former 49er. He was a value on draft day and opened up the same way in DFS ($4.5 DraftKings). Nick Chubb had three carries and Duke Johnson had five with only one catch. Duke did have six targets and won’t go anywhere, but Chubb is third on the depth chart and it’s clear. Hyde is very unlikely to repeat his career high 88 targets and 59 catches from last season, but owners have to be satisfied with the usage in Week 1.
Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers
Melvin Gordon had a career high 83 targets and 58 catches last season, which may have been a sign of things to come. He was the biggest beneficiary in Week 1 with Hunter Henry sidelined. Melvin Gordon led all backs with 13 targets and nine catches. He also led all Chargers in targets and catches. His 101 receiving yards were six back of what Keenan Allen finished with. Gordon is in for a massive usage rate and that shouldn’t surprise you. He finished fourth in touches last season and third in rushing attempts inside the 20 and 10-yard lines. Shoutout to Mike Williams who also looked great.
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Dalvin Cook had way more touches than I expected him to have in his first game in just under a year. Cook only had 40 yards on 16 carries, but he caught six of his seven targets for 55 yards. Positive sign for Cook owners as he looks ready to rock.
Dion Lewis, Tennessee Titans
Dion Lewis out-snapped Derrick Henry 47-20 and out touched him 21-11. Lewis was also more efficient on the ground as he churned out 75 rushing yards on 16 carries and added another 35 on eight targets. Henry started the game as the guy, but only managed 26 yards on 10 carries before Lewis took over in the second half. This is going to be a frustrating backfield to try and figure out from a week-to-week basis. Lewis had the goal-line touchdown and will always be involved in the passing game.
Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears
Head coach Matt Nagy said Jordan Howard would be involved in the passing game and he wasn’t lying. Howard caught all five of his targets and finished tied with Taylor Gabriel for the team-high in receptions. Howard had 29 catches on 50 targets as a rookie but has only averaged 1.6 catches per game over his first two NFL seasons. The Bears’ back totalled 97 yards on 20 total touches and should set career-highs in the passing game by the midway point of the season. Going forward that’s what you can expect: 20 touches for Howard and about 10 for Tarik Cohen. Don’t be surprised if Howard catches 50 balls this season.
Week 1 Targets Leaders
- Julio Jones – 19
- Michael Thomas – 17
- Antonio Brown – 16
- Odell Beckham Jr. – 15
- Jarvis Landry – 15
- Corey Davis – 13
- Melvin Gordon – 13
- Adam Thielen – 12
- Jared Cook – 12
- Emmanuel Sanders – 11
Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans
Corey Davis had a career high 13 targets and tied a career high with six catches in Week 1. Overall, it was a rough weekend for the Titans as they lost Delanie Walker for the season and Marcus Mariota suffered an elbow injury. The Walker loss should increase Davis’ usage rate, especially in the red zone. Davis’ three red zone targets were tops at the WR position. The sophomore wideout may be in for a ton of work in the passing game if health doesn’t get in the way. Six catches on 13 targets is not a great ratio, but he has breakout written all over him.
Jared Cook, Oakland Raiders
Your Week 1 fantasy football tight end 1: Jared Cook. While Amari Cooper was nowhere to be found, Cook led the Raiders with 12 targets, nine catches and 180 yards. it was a very tough matchup for Cooper, but he’s been pretty inconsistent over his short career. I don’t know what you can get for Cook, but know as an owner I’m looking to see. If he’s your second TE, flip one. There’s no need to roster two in small leagues. If playing DFS, keep Cook in mind when Cooper has to face a top corner. Which is the case this week against the Broncos, who struggle to cover the TE to begin with. Case in point: Will Dissly.
Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos
Emmanuel Sanders only had one more target than teammate Demaryius Thomas’ 10, but Sanders was far more efficient. Sanders grabbed 10 balls for 135 yards while Thomas had six for 63 yards. Both wideouts scored a touchdown which they failed to do in the same game in 2017. Sanders only scored two touchdown last season mind you, and they came in the same game. Now he just needs one more to tie his season-total from last season. Seattle has some issues defensively, but it’s clear both Denver wideouts are going to benefit from the addition of Case Keenum.
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