October 20, 2016

Demetri Raftopoulos examines which NFL wide receivers and tight ends saw a surprisingly high number of targets in Week 6 of the fantasy football season and could become a desirable waiver target and add for Week 7.

I went a little crazy this week, but the 2016 season has been nothing short of abnormal in the early going; which is why we love this game.

Here is a look at the surprise target grabbers from Week 6, and a look at possible breakout options for Week 7 based on the usage they are seeing in the passing game. You can ask me more waiver wire and game day questions on Twitter @DemetriRafto.

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Surprise Week 6 Target Grabbers

Ty Montgomery - (WR, GB)

Ty Montgomery led the Green Bay Packers with 12 targets during Week 6's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Randall Cobb was a close second with 11, but Montgomery certainly came as more of a surprise. Montgomery finished the day with 10 receptions and 98 yards; the young receiver's first crooked numbers of the season. Montgomery had been nonexistent in Green Bay's offense in all prior weeks of the 2016 campaign.

With the Packers inability to establish anything on the ground, Montgomery had his inaugural breakout game after hinting at his potential last season. According to NFL.com, the Packers recently traded for running back, Knile Davis, adding much-needed depth to their less than impressive rushing attack. However, if Davis struggles against the Chicago Bears Thursday night, we can expect another heavy amount of pass attempts from Aaron Rodgers. Montgomery should be added in PPR formats.

Cameron Meredith - (WR, CHI) 

Many believed that Cameron Meredith's explosive Week 5 performance would be a one-time thing; an ephemeral spotlight shone on a player who would never be able to establish consistency. I was one of them, simply because, who is Cameron Meredith?

Well, he surprised us again, finishing Week 6's contest tied (with DeAndre Hopkins) for the most targets from the wideout position with 15. Meredith reeled in 11 of those for 113 yards. His 15 targets boosts his two-week total, since relevancy introduced him to us, to 27. Meredith has quickly become Brian Hoyer's favorite target. With Eddie Royal questionable for Thursday night's contest, Meredith remains on the WR3 radar against a Green Bay Packers squad that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers.

Charone Peake  - (WR, NYJ) 

This is likely a name that only New York Jets fans have heard of. There hasn't been a ton to enjoy from Gang Green so far in 2016, but with Eric Decker out for the season, different names will continue to emerge. Charone Peake led the Jets with 10 targets Monday night, reeling in five catches for 43 yards, in another unimpressive showing for the team's offense. Peake tallied only four targets, four catches, and 36 yards in his two other games in a professional NFL uniform.

The Jets are in complete disarray. Ryan Fitzpatrick will remain the team's starting quarterback against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7, so Peake could see a similar amount of targets. But he and the entire Jets squad are too risky to warrant a start (Even Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte are becoming liabilities).

Possible Week 7 Breakout Options

Ricardo Louis - (WR, CLE)

With Corey Coleman expected to miss his fifth straight game, and the potential absence of Terrelle Pryor, Sr. for Week 7's matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Ricardo Louis has a chance to build off of his best performance of his young career. The rookie out of Auburn reeled in five catches on nine targets for 65 yards. The numbers are nothing crazy but with Cleveland's offensive weapons continuing to dwindle, Louis' target total could again flirt with double-digits. Forty-two of his 65 yards came on one throw from Cody Kessler Week 6, proving his home run potential.

The Browns will likely lean heavier on the run to find success against the Bengals early, but they will also likely be playing catchup, forcing the ball to remain in Kessler's hands. He's a plug-and-play punt, with a side of heavy risk, for leagues with 14-16 teams, and should be considered in Daily Fantasy tournaments to free up cap space.

Rishard Matthews - (WR, TEN)

Matthews has quietly produced the past three weeks, specifically in PPR leagues, and heads into a favorable matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. According to Yahoo! Sports, the Colts are ranked 29th in receiving defense and 20th in yards allowed per game to the position.

Matthews has emerged as another growing weapon for his rapidly maturing quarterback, Marcus Mariota. He has found the end zone in two straight contests, and has done enough with his low target-volume to produce for fantasy. Expect a steady rise in his targets, starting Week 7. He'll likely see a boost in ownership.

Adam Thielen - (WR, MIN) 

Stefon Diggs is expected to make his return versus the Philadelphia Eagles Week 7, but the second-year receiver was held out of practice on Tuesday. This is slightly alarming news for his status, while the panic could set in even more if he sits again on Wednesday. Enter Adam Thielen, Mr. Reliable. Thielen has reeled in 20 of his 25 targets over a five-game span and is coming off his best performance of the season prior to Minnesota's Bye Week. Thielen saw a season-high eight looks after not being targeted more than five times in a single game in 2016.

Thielen draws a tough matchup against an Eagles team that has allowed the fifth fewest amount of fantasy points to wide receivers. But if Diggs misses action, Thielen's target-volume will definitely increase again. He has certainly earned the trust of Sam Bradford regardless. He's a sneaky, and undoubtedly risky, play on Sunday.

Other Options: Gary Barnidge (TE, CLE) @ARI, Marqise Lee (WR, JAX) vs OAK, Jack Doyle (TE, IND) vs @TEN