Week 2 Red Zone Alert - Risers and Fallers

Gladys Tyler reviews the top red zone risers and fallers heading into Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season at QB, RB, and WR to help fantasy football managers find an edge in their weekly lineups.

We finally have a week of data.  So was Week 1 a trend or an aberration?

We can look at last year's red-zone stats and see if players are continuing on a path or trailblazing a new one, be it good or bad.

Let's begin with a look back at the top red-zone passers and then the top targets at receiver and running back.

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Top QB Red Zone Passers in Week 1

Bototm QB Red Zone Passers in Week 1

What the Actual…?

Last season, the top five quarterbacks in red-zone passes inside the 20-yard line were:

Aaron Rodgers
Russell Wilson
Josh Allen
Patrick Mahomes
Baker Mayfield

Did anyone really think Rodgers's Week 1: 15-of-28, 133 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions was no aberration?

The Packers were seventh in passing percentage in Week 1 and they passed the ball 71.15% of their plays. But when you are down 3-17 at half-time, that tends to happen.

• Josh Allen was seventh in red-zone passes inside the 20-yard line for Week 1. Just a note, he also led all quarterbacks with 21 rushing attempts inside the red zone, and that was 30% of the Buffalo Bills rushing attempts.

Top RB Red Zone Rushers in Week 1

Bottom RB Red Zone Rushers in Week 1 (Starters)

Ekeler, who many drafted for his dual capabilities, had ZERO targets in Week 1.

He led the team in rushing attempts with 15, for 57 yards and one touchdown.  The last time he finished a game with zero targets was Week 6 of the 2018 season.

Josh Jacobs, who finished the game with 10 rushing attempts for 34 yards (3.4 average yards per rush), had three red zone rushing attempts converting two for touchdowns.

Rushing Attempts Per Game Week 1:

1. Houston Texans 41 attempts
2. New Orleans Saints 39 attempts
3. Cincinnati Bengals 36 attempts
4. Baltimore Ravens 34 attempts
5. Arizona Cardinals 33 attempts

Week 1 rushing and red zone rushing attempts correlated with only New Orleans and Arizona (Chase Edmonds had two red zone rushing attempts with zero touchdowns).

• Red Zone Alert: Look for Melvin Gordon to be a red zone riser in week two as the Broncos will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Look for Josh Allen to be a red zone rushing faller, but a riser in passing attempts.

Top WR/TE Red Zone Targets in Week 1

Top Target Leaders - Week 1

Additional Notes

• Tampa Bay led Week 1 in passing percentage 78.12% their opponents, the Dallas Cowboys were second at 76.62%. That correlates nicely with the top receivers in targets and red zone targets. Tampa Bay plays the Atlanta Falcons, who gave up three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown to the Philadelphia Eagles. Look for Godwin, Mike Evans, and Rob Gronkowski to be red zone risers.
• Jalen Hurts’ spread the luv around, although Goedert was the only receiver with red-zone targets. DeVonta Smith had eight targets, six receptions, and one touchdown.  He was followed by Jalen Reagor with six targets, six receptions, and one touchdown.  Goedert only had five targets, and it is telling that four of them were in the red zone. The Philadelphia Eagles play the San Francisco Niners. Zach Ertz has also been cleared to play.  Look for Goedert to be a red zone faller for Week 2.

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