RADIO
We're starting to get a sense of which players are integral parts of their team's offense, especially in the red zone. And we all know as fantasy players that touches in this area more often than not lead to players scoring the thing that will send your team into victory each week- touchdowns. Still, injuries and bye weeks demand that we find under-the-radar players who have great opportunity to contribute as well. We always need to dig deeper to find great values at the skill positions. Just like targets are the lifeblood of a receiver's value in PPR leagues, red zone touches are the most relevant factor to consider for standard leagues.
In this article each week, we'll identify red zone risers and fallers who could see their fantasy value impacted by usage in the most critical area of the field. RotoBaller's Red Zone Sleepers tool is a great way to get an edge on the competition by identifying players with greater scoring opportunities.
Let's take a look at which players could be touchdown risers or fallers in fantasy football for Week 6 of the 2018 NFL season, based on red zone opportunities.
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Red Zone Risers
RUNNING BACK
David Johnson, (RB, ARI) - 65.0% Red-zone touch%
The Arizona Cardinals have not been a great team on offense, that much is clear. They currently rank last in number of trips to the red zone with only 20 visits in the season so far, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise however that the team have looked to their most talented player in running back Johnson in that area of the field, entrusting him with 13 touches which amount to a league-high 65.0% of the teams touches. To add to this Johnson has converted 4 of those touches to touchdowns. Going forward the Cardinals look to have found their rookie quarterback Josh Rosen to be more effective than the veteran Sam Bradford, however, given the struggles that the team has had so far this season, it might be that Johnson continues to get a high share of the few touches that the team has.
Carlos Hyde, (RB, CLE) - 50.0% Red-zone touch%
At the start of the season, Carlos Hyde had become somewhat of a fantasy afterthought. The Cleveland Browns had drafted Nick Chubb in the draft, and there was no great expectation that the Browns offense would be that effective. Going into Week 6 we now know that the offense is looking much improved and that Hyde has really taken control of this backfield. Hyde has managed to show his dominance in the team's depth chart by his usage in the red zone, where he has touched the ball on 50% of the team's red-zone plays, currently ranking third in player red-zone touch percentage. While the number of visits is not the highest in the NFL currently (in fact in the lower quarter of the league with 32 visits to the red-zone) he has touched the ball on 50% of his teams plays. In recent weeks with the involvement of rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, the number of visits should increase going forward, meaning if Hyde keeps up his involvement he will be a great fantasy asset to own going forward.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Juju Smith-Schuster (WR, PIT) - 33.3% Red-zone touch%
The Pittsburgh Steelers are the only team that has two wide receivers in with over 20% of their teams touches in the red zone with Smith-Schuster being joined by perennial WR1 Antonio Brown. The Steelers have involved Smith-Schuster on 15 of their 45 visits to the red zone this year (and returning with 2 touchdowns), with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looking as good as ever and the team passing on 2 out of every 3 visits so far this season, Smith-Schuster looks like he will be able to enjoy being the second receiver in the high-powered Steelers offense, normally getting less attention than Brown.
Davante Adams (WR, GB) - 26.3% Red-zone touch%
The Green Bay Packers have entrusted their franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers yet again to finish their drives in the end zone with the Packers currently only beaten by the Indianapolis Colts and the Minnesota Vikings in their pass-heavy plays in the red zone. Adams was proved himself to be a great option for Rodgers last year, and with injuries to both Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison, he has yet again proved himself to be the number one look for Rodgers. Adams also is the joint in the league high of red zone touchdowns so far this season with 4 coming in this part of the field.
TIGHT END
Eric Ebron (TE, IND) - 22.2% Red-zone touch%
Eric Ebron is the only tight end that has accounted for more than 20% of his team's red zone touches. Quarterback Andrew Luck has traditionally preferred passing to the tight end position, and even though he only joined the team this year it looks as though Ebron has become one of the primary options for the team. While Ebron should expect to split time on the field once Jack Doyle returns from injury at the moment Ebron is the best tight end option for the Colts.
Red Zone Fallers
RUNNING BACK
Latavius Murray (RB, PIT) - 9.4% Red-zone touch%
Latavius Murray has seen an increased number of touches, with fellow running back Dalvin Cook missing time with injury. However, while Murray may be being used more in the game he has been used as the teams second choice goal-line back with Roc Thomas equalling Cook's red zone touches with 4 a piece. The Vikings are one of the teams with a heavier pass to run ratio in the red zone, which should be the case going forward especially if Kirk Cousins is able to keep up his pace so far. The Vikings offense has been effective this year, but with the impressive wide receivers, Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs being able to open the field up the team have had one of the fewer numbers of red zone visits this year.
WIDE RECEIVER
Tyreek Hill (WR, KC) - 9.1% Red-zone touch%
Going into Week 6 the Kansas City Chiefs offense led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been one of the more potent attacks in the league. Hill has never been a red zone player, owing to his size but also to the options that are available to the team in tight end Travis Kelce, running back Kareem Hunt as well as wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Hill is still a great fantasy player to have in your lineup, due to the electric pace that he has but his red zone opportunities look to be limited in the team.
TIGHT END
Jordan Reed (TE, WAS) - 5.6% Red-zone touch%
Jordan Reed looked as though he would have a great bounce back this season with the team announcing the signing of quarterback Alex Smith. Smith has traditionally targetted tight ends, enjoying the elite Travis Kelce in his time in Kansas City. However, that hasn't been the case for Reed with him only getting two touches from his teams 36 visits to the red zone. The team itself have opted to not put the ball in Smiths hands in the red zone, with the team being the team with the heaviest ratio to the run in the league. While having a great end zone rusher in Adrian Peterson, given the shoulder injury that meant he left the field on Monday night the team may trust their quarterback to make more plays in the red zone in the teams next few games.
Red Zone Sleepers
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