Taking a look at the week’s touches and targets leaders can go a long 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.
Week 2 Touches Leaders
- Saquon Barkley – 25
- Todd Gurley – 22
- Joe Mixon – 22
- Ezekiel Elliott – 22
- Christian McCaffrey – 22
- Marshawn Lynch – 20
- Tevin Coleman – 20
- Kareem Hunt – 19
- Alvin Kamara – 19
- Jamaal Williams – 19
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon Barkley had a remarkable 16 targets, 14 catches and 25 touches in Week 2 on route to 108 total yards. His second 100 yard showing in as many games. He didn’t just lead all running backs in touches, but he led all backs in targets and receptions. In fact, his 14 grabs were the most in the NFL last week (tied with Christian McCaffrey). It wasn’t a great standard league day as he only managed 28 rushing yards on 11 attempts finishing as RB16 (10 points), but the volume is going to be there all season. The line continues to look bad in New York and they just lost their starting center. It’ll likely result in Barkley finishing Top 5 in touches, targets and catches (if you had any doubt). The rookie back has 22 targets (second most) and 16 catches (third most) through his first two NFL games.
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
As you’ll see below in the overall touches leaders, Joe Mixon’s potential as a true bell cow running back has been on full display in his sophomore season. Mixon’s 22 carries were the second most last week and he missed a chunk of snaps due to a knee injury.
Unfortunately, Mixon had to have arthroscopic knee surgery on that knee and will reportedly be sidelined 2-4 weeks. Rough news for owners as his 179 rushing yards are the second most through two weeks. Mixed emotions as well as concerns on the knee arise, but a relief that a near return is likely. I wouldn’t be selling Mixon, I’d be trying to buy from a worried owner. In the meantime, Gio Bernard can be treated as an RB2.
Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons
There should be no surprise that Tevin Coleman finished as an RB1 in standard formats this week. Coleman racked up 107 rushing yards on 16 attempts and pulled in all four of his targets for another 18 yards. Coleman is a low-end RB1 for as long as Devonta Freeman is sidelined and that could be a couple more weeks.
Coleman finished with double-digit carries in only five games in 2017, but he had at least 19 carries in two games (mostly three) without Freeman. 36 percent of Coleman’s rushing yards and four of his five rushing touchdowns came with Freeman out.
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
Kareem Hunt had 75 rushing yards on 18 attempts in Week 2, which was a bit more efficient than the 49 yards he had on 16 carries in Week 1. The attempts have been pretty consistent over the first two games, but I know Hunt owners are disappointed, especially in PPR formats. Hunt not only led the league in rushing yards last season, but he had 53 catches on 63 targets as a rookie. The Chiefs’ back only has one catch on two targets so far.
It’s positive that his only catch resulted in a touchdown, but you’d like to see more work in the passing game. Especially considering the Chiefs have put up 80 points in two games, with Patrick Mahomes throwing 10 touchdowns. This is a high powered offense and Hunt is going to get his, but you have to remember you’re dealing with Andy Reid. The attempts will also be there, but the red zone work will be pretty inconsistent. Hunt received a lot of checkdowns from Alex Smith last season and that’s carried over to Washington with Chris Thompson. Mahomes has shown he’s not afraid to take his shots and it doesn’t look like Hunt will repeat his 50-catch total.
Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers
Jamaal Williams had 59 rushing yards and added 12 more through the air on 19 total touches last week. Honestly, that’s better than I predicted for Williams against a stout run defense in Minnesota. Williams has 106 rushing yards on 31 attempts through two games without Aaron Jones. Is that enough to keep the starting gig now that Jones is ready to return? Probably not. Jones looked great at times last season and in the preseason leading up to his suspension. He may struggle to pass block, but he’ll definitely cut into Williams’ workload.
Williams did, however, have more red zone rushing attempts and work in the passing game last season. Point is, it’s a split backfield now and I wouldn’t expect either to finish in the top 10 in touches from week-to-week, unless one emerges as the ‘hot hand’. I feel strongly that man could be Jones.
Overall Touches Leaders
- James Conner – 49
- Saquon Barkley – 45
- Todd Gurley – 45
- Joe Mixon – 44
- Adrian Peterson – 42
- Ezekiel Elliott – 40
- Carlos Hyde – 40
- Melvin Gordon – 39
- Christian McCaffrey – 38
- Jordan Howard – 37
James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers
Le’Veon Bell led the league with 406 touches last season and through two weeks, his backup running back from that season leads the NFL in touches with 49 after leading last week in touches. Conner has 152 rushing yards on 39 attempts and three rushing touchdowns. He’s added another 105 through the air on 10 catches.
It’s amazing that the Steelers have been able to plug Conner in for Bell, and there hasn’t been much of a difference in production. At least not in the fantasy circle as Conner is RB3 in standard and PPR formats. 17 yards on eight carries is certainly not Bell-like, but he saved his day with a touchdown and had five grabs for 48 yards against KC. As long as Bell is sidelined, Conner has top five potential at the position each week. If you have two or three stud backs you like, I would continue to shop him around as it’s possible Bell returns at some point.
Week 2 Targets Leaders
- JuJu Smith-Schuster – 19
- Antonio Brown – 17
- Saquon Barkley – 16
- Christian McCaffrey – 15
- Chris Thompson – 14
- Allen Robinson – 14
- Zach Ertz – 13
- Stefon Diggs – 13
- Adam Thielen – 13
- Golden Tate – 12
Overall Target Leaders
- Antonio Brown – 33
- Michael Thomas – 30
- Golden Tate – 28
- Julio Jones – 29
- JuJu Smith-Schuster – 27
- Adam Thielen – 25
- Christian McCaffrey – 24
- Odell Beckham Jr. – 23
- Saquon Barkley – 22
- Nelson Agholor – 22
Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
Christian McCaffrey hasn’t quite hit that expected usage rate of 25-30 touches a game as the Panthers said he would, but there’s been an increase over his first two games. Not as much on the ground, though, as McCaffrey averaged 7.3 rushing attempts per game last season and has nine per game so far. If you thought 80 catches (five per game) last season was a lot, well he’s likely going to top that in his sophomore season. McCaffrey has 20 grabs on 24 targets already, which is five more catches and five more targets per game than he averaged as a rookie.
Greg Olsen is likely sidelined for awhile and McCaffrey continues to get a majority of the snaps and targets. Much like Thompson in Washington, these running backs can be considered WR1’s for their respective teams.
Nelson Agholor, Philadelphia Eagles
Nelson Agholor finished as WR23 in PPR formats last season and was one of the better waiver wire pickups in 2017. He may end up being one of the better value picks of 2018 as he’s on his way to improving on his breakout campaign. Agholor’s 22 targets are the eighth most among wideouts through two games, and his 16 catches rank sixth.
Instead of saying “well Alshon Jeffery is out”, I’ll remind the fantasy community that while Jeffery’s presence on the field may have helped Agholor last season he doesn’t need him to be successful. In fact, Agholor’s getting more volume and is about to get Carson Wentz back. Agholor is averaging double the amount of targets (11) and catches (8) per game with Jeffery sidelined. Alshon doesn’t appear to be close to returning and Mike Wallace is out indefinitely.
Regardless of the returns, the work in the slot is not going to disappear, so don’t be surprised to see him in here regularly. He also led his team in red zone targets last season and cashed in one of his team-high three RZ targets this season for a touchdown. Drafted well outside the Top 30 at his position, but a good bet to repeat or improve on his numbers from last season.
*Updated – The Eagles have signed Jordan Matthews who played in Philly under Doug Pederson in his first season as the head coach. There’s talk Matthews could take his role back in the slot, but let’s not forget the team chose Agholor over Matthews, and it’s been Agholor who has succeeded since. I don’t expect this addition to hurt Agholor all that much.
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