RADIO
Playoff time is almost here and finding players with scoring potential is more crucial than ever. Let's evaluate the all-important red zone stats 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 13 of the 2017 NFL season, based on red zone opportunities.
Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge #2 is back with a massive $100,000 grand prize and $203,250 total prize pool, paying down to 100th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 8 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 17th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $100,000! Sign Up Now!
Red Zone Risers
RUNNING BACK
Joe Mixon (RB, CIN) - 32.5% Red-zone touch%
Rookie running back Joe Mixon has really turned it up in the past few weeks. With fellow teammate Jeremy Hill on IR, Mixon has finally started to come into his own and embrace the lead running back role. In the past four weeks, Mixon has scored three touchdowns. The past two weeks he has logged over 20 carries and seems to be the workhouse back for the Bengals going forward. In terms of red-zone status, he has been climbing up the chart, rapidly. This guy needs to be in your starting rotation as he will more than likely continue to see massive amounts of touches and goal-line chances.
WIDE RECEIVER
Jarvis Landry (WR, MIA) - 24.1% Red-zone touch%
Ladies and Gentlemen, Jarvis Landry leads NFL wide receivers in red-zone touch percentage. This was the same guy who last season only found pay-dirt four times. Landry, has posted six touchdowns in the last eight contests and has been doing well with a myriad of below average quarterbacks like Jay Cutler and Matt Moore. It clearly doesn't matter who is throwing him the ball as he has proven every week to be extremely consistent with scoring. So if you have Landry, sitting him on the bench is a scenario you don't want because you can count on him for a solid and consistent 12-14 points each week, even in standard leagues. Those are WR2 numbers right there.
TIGHT END
Jimmy Graham (TE, SEA) - 22.3% Red-zone touch%
It really seems like Jimmy Graham catches a touchdown every week. It seems this way because it actually is this way. Graham has scored eight touchdowns in the last seven weeks averaging more than a touchdown a week. He has 23 red-zone touches which leads all tight ends by a large margin. Rob Gronkowski is a distant second with 16. He has been Russell Wilson's go-to target in the red zone every single week and is considered a TE1 no matter who they play.
Red Zone Fallers
RUNNING BACK
Kenyan Drake (RB, MIA) - 9.3% Red-zone touch%
Kenyan Drake has only really been on the fantasy football map since Jay Ajayi was traded to the Eagles. Even after that he has been splitting carries with fellow teammate Damien Williams. Up to this point, Drake only has five red-zone touches. Williams will not play this week due to a shoulder injury, which would make Drake the lone ball carrier for the Dolphins. Even against a stellar Broncos run defense, Drake is worthy of a flex start. Just pray that the Dolphins offense can actually run some plays from inside the five yard-line or that Drake breaks a long run against a depleted Broncos D-line.
WIDE RECEIVER
Doug Baldwin (WR, SEA) - 5.8% Red-zone touch%
Doug Baldwin? Say it isn't so! Well, it is so. Baldwin only has six red-zone touches the entire season. He has one red-zone touchdown, but four total touchdowns as he seems to make his plays from outside the 20-yard mark. His fantasy numbers have been below average the past couple of weeks and he has a tough matchup against the Eagles in Week 13 for Sunday night football. However, Baldwin is still Baldwin and is more reliable than not. Start him in your WR2 slot.
TIGHT END
Tyler Kroft (TE, CIN) - 6.5% Red-zone touch%
Tyler Kroft has only five red-zone touches out of his teams 77 red-zone plays. The very interesting statistic here is with five touches he has five touchdowns. That's right folks; he has a 6.5% team red-zone touch percentage, but has a 100% red-zone touchdown percentage. Kind of wacky right? Anyways, even though he has found the end-zone five times, his numbers haven't been good enough for you to start him. If you do start him, pray he gets two red-zone touches, because based on his current streak they will be touchdowns.
Red Zone Sleepers Tool
RotoBaller's Premium tools offer more detailed insight to player values and help you identify which players to target on the waiver wire and/or trade market. Start with a free one-week trial, including NFL Optimizer and DFS Premium and get an advantage on the competition!
