Fantasy Football: Week 4 Target Report
Just like that, we are through the first quarter of the NFL season. Now, we should have a good sense of expected targets where it no longer surprises us for certain players. With that said, there will always be target numbers to call out on both ends of the spectrum: those target numbers that are surprisingly higher than expected and those lower. Let’s not waste time with an elongated intro and get right to the Week 4 Target Report.
Corey Davis: 15 targets, 9 rec
The hero against the defending Super Bowl champions, Corey Davis saved the final of his 15 targets for his best with a TD with 5 seconds left in overtime. With Rishard Matthews out of the picture, the sophomore wideout is looking to take the lead in this offense. He did just that on Sunday as he completed his day with 9 receptions on 15 targets for 161 yards and that game-winning touchdown. This was the second time Corey Davis had double-digit targets this season but was by far his best performance of the year thus far. Davis has shown the world that he is capable of monster games and more importantly, he has proven himself to Marcus Mariota as a reliable target that gives this Titans team a chance to win.
Keke Coutee: 15 Targets, 11 rec
Welcome to the NFL Keke Coutee! He had more targets than any other Texan in Week 4. Keke Coutee had the most receptions (11) by a WR making his NFL debut since 1970 according to ProFootballTalk. Will Fuller had injured his hamstring in this game and would have been good to get back in if it wasn’t for Coutee stepping up in his absence. There is no doubt, DeAndre Hopkins is still the top receiver in this offense. The impressive debut from Coutee could hinder Will Fuller’s target share moving forward if the rookie can earn the looks from Deshaun Watson. Coutee should be owned in all leagues but should not be considered over other solid WR2 options just yet.
Tyler Boyd: 15 targets, 11 rec
Tyler Boyd has done it again for the 3rd week in a row. Boyd has 7 or more targets and 90+ yards in each of his last 3 games. He has earned an every week spot on your fantasy starting rosters. This was the 2nd game where Tyler Boyd drew as many or more targets than A.J. Green. Through 4 weeks, Boyd now leads A.J. Green in targets, receptions, and receiving yards despite his awful, 3 receptions for 26 yards performance in Week 1.
John Ross: 2 targets, 2 rec
If a guy like Tyler Boyd can prove dominance in the Bengals offense and John Ross can’t make an impact, it’s time we move on from Ross as a fantasy option. There were hopes after Week 1 because he caught a TD but it was his only catch of the day and it went for 3 yards. This past week was his best game to date, accumulating 52 yards and a TD. Temper your expectations as this was a shootout and Ross was only targeted 2 times. If John Ross can only conjure up 2 targets on a day that Andy Dalton throws the ball 41 times, you may want to stay away from him and not let the 52 yards/1 TD stat line fool you.
Nyheim Hines: 11 targets, 9 rec
Rookie running back Nyheim Hines tied for the most targets on the Colts offense in Week 4 with 11. He took full advantage of his largest target share of the season converting it into 63 yards and 2 TDs. Hines now has 26 targets on the season and should be a trusted option for Andrew Luck in the weeks ahead. Hines doesn’t do much for the run game but he is still the RB to own out of this offense with his pass-catching abilities. He has more than double the fantasy points than any other option in the Colts backfield. He may not be an everyday starter but he is a sneaky flex play if you need one.
David Johnson: 4 targets, 3 rec
For someone who is supposed to be more involved in the passing game, 4 targets aren’t much to write home about. Luckily, Johnson made the most of it, totaling 41 receiving yards and a touchdown; however, this target count should be at least double for a talented pass-catching back like D.J. The Arizona Cardinals do not have a ton to be excited about this year but if they want to start winning games, they will want to give as much opportunity to their most talented player. We can only hope we see more targets for David Johnson moving forward.
Jared Cook: 13 targets, 8 rec
Only 4 games into the season and Jared Cook has done it again! This time, he racked up the most targets on the team with 13 and turned it into 8 catches for 110 yards an 2 touchdowns. This performance was the best of any tight end (at least for fantasy purposes) so far in 2018. This was the second time in the young season that Jared Cook ended the week as the top-ranked TE. Jared Cook is third-best among tight ends in targets on the season, behind Zach Ertz and Travis Kelce. Clearly, Derek Carr has his best games when he targets Cook early and often. This could be more than a fluky trend for Cook as we move through the season which only boosts his value at a position that could use more consistent production.
George Kittle: 8 targets, 6 rec
This is definitely a good sign for Kittle given the fact that he is now without Jimmy Garoppolo. C.J. Beathard had a pretty decent game as the backup and targeted Kittle more than any other receiving option for the 49ers. Kittle rewarded Beathard with 125 receiving yards and a touchdown. Although the 49ers lost the game, they did come within 2 points of the Los Angeles Chargers and that should be encouraging moving forward for a team that has lost their star QB and RB for the season. Quarterbacks in high-pressure situations tend to lean on the tight end position and lucky for C.J. Beathard, he’s got a very talented option at the position to target.