Fantasy Football: Week 8 Target Report
We are officially halfway through the NFL season and we have witnessed some impressive target numbers through 8 games. Adam Thielen, Jarvis Landry, and Odell Beckham Jr. each already have 90+ targets on the year. Zach Ertz leads all tight ends with an impressive 84 targets and James White and Saquon Barkley both have 70+ targets out of the running back position. It’s no secret the NFL is throwing the ball a ton more and that makes things exciting for fantasy football. Let’s take a look at which players were worth a mention in the Week 8 Target Report.
Stats listed are based on 1/2 PPR scoring.
Mike Evans: 13 targets, 6 rec
Mike Evans had his most targets of the season and things only improved when Ryan Fitzpatrick stepped in. “FitzMagic” entered the game and immediately threw a 72-yard bomb to Evans for a touchdown. It doesn’t matter who’s in a QB, they all know to target one of the elite WRs in the game; however, Fitzpatrick is a slight upgrade to all the Tampa Bay wideouts as he is a slinger. So stock up on your Bucs WRs and enjoy the fantasy goodness that Fitzpatrick gives out!
Larry Fitzgerald: 12 targets, 8 rec
Insert new offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and 8 receptions on 12 targets for 102 yards and a TD later for Larry Fitzgerald. Who would have thought to give your best players the ball and it would yield positive results? Fitzgerald has fantasy value once again and his outlook rest of season has taken a turn for the better. He’s on bye Week 9 but then should get plenty of targets when the Cardinals play from behind against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10. Welcome back to fantasy relevance, Larry!
Jarvis Landry: 12 targets, 8 rec
How does a player earn this amount of volume and do so little with it? In classic Landry fashion, he had a monster week in targets (12) and receptions (8) all for just 39 yards and no score! This doesn’t happen every week. Landry is 2nd in the league with 94 targets halfway through the season. He is an every week start with his 10+ targets per game.
Sammy Watkins: 9 targets, 8 rec
Sammy Watkins had his best game of the season in Week 8 with 8 receptions on 9 targets for 107 receiving yards and 2 TDs. Watkins has shown he’s got this amazing ceiling a few times already this season. He has this upside in this high scoring, Chiefs offense. With Tyreek Hill dealing with a groin injury, Watkins should see increased volume. He is an every week start despite his scary floor at times.
Devante Parker: 9 targets, 6 rec
In his first game fully implemented in the offense, Davante Parker caught 6 balls on 9 targets for 134 yards. Kenny Stills continues to deal with an injury and Albert Wilson is out for the season. This sets the stage for Parker to expand his role in this offense. He has already taken advantage of his opportunity in a big spotlight game and may have earned more target share in this offense because of it.
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Alshon Jeffery: 5 targets, 4 rec
There were a lot of things before the start of this game that hinted at a lower production day for Alshon Jeffery. The Eagles traveled to London to face the Jaguars. Jeffery would be paired up with Jalen Ramsey. So at the end of the day, the 4 receptions on 5 targets for 35 yards should not have been shocking to Jeffery owners. Do not panic. Alshon Jeffery has been a very productive WR since Week 4. In the 4 games previous to last week, Jeffery totaled 306 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. The addition of Golden Tate will compliment Alshon’s skillset and should benefit the offense as a whole moving forward.
Josh Gordon: 6 targets, 4 rec
Despite reports that the Patriots were going to bench Josh Gordon for “a few series” for showing up late to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Gordon started and played the entire game. He finished the night with just 42 yards. Besides his 100-yard game in Week 7, Gordon has not surpassed 50 receiving yards in any other game this season. Although he has 6 or more targets in each of his last 3 games, Josh Gordon will continue to be the 4th option in this offense behind James White, Julian Edelman, and Rob Gronkowski.
Jalen Richard: 8 targets, 8 rec
Jalen Richard now has back to back weeks with 8 targets. With Marshawn Lynch on IR and Amari Cooper shipped out to Dallas, Richard is in for an expanded role in this offense. Richard will continue to get targeted heavily while Doug Martin acts as the “Thunder” in the offense. This will be the formula until or if Marshawn returns. Jalen Richard is the RB in Oakland to own and should be in consideration of a start in your fantasy lineups on a weekly basis.
Jordan Reed: 12 targets, 7 rec
Jordan Reed got how many targets!? 7 receptions on 12 targets, Jordan Reed is back! …Not so fast. It seems Reed took a page out of the book of Jarvis Landry and somehow only ended his day with 38 yards receiving. Despite leading all TEs in targets in Week 8, Jordan Reed finished the week as the TE17. To give you some perspective on how bad that is, the TE11 for Week 8 finished the day with single-digit fantasy points in half PPR formats. I think it’s time we stop dreaming of what Jordan Reed once was and wake up to the reality of his fantasy irrelevance.
Jack Doyle: 7 targets, 6 rec
Welcome back, Jack! In his first game back since Week 2, Jack Doyle wasted no time in being fantasy gold from the tight end position with 70 yards and a TD in Week 8! Eric Ebron‘s stock is taking a significant hit with Doyle’s return gaining just 3 targets in Week 8 which is Ebron’s lowest target number of the season. Yes, this is one game but we have seen this productivity from Jack Doyle on a consistent basis dating back to last year. Doyle is a must-own in all formats given the volatility at the position.