RADIO
We're starting to get a sense of which players are integral parts of their team's offense, especially in the red zone. 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 5 of the 2017 NFL season, based on red zone opportunities.
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Red Zone Risers
RUNNING BACK
Le'Veon Bell, (RB, PIT) - 52.4% Red-zone touch%
You probably drafted Le'Veon Bell in the top three of your fantasy football draft expecting numbers like this. Bell shot up the red-zone rankings in Week 4 with a monster performance against the Baltimore Ravens with 35 carries for 144 yards and two touchdowns. He also hauled in four receptions for 42 yards. So far this season Bell has 22 red-zone touches out of his teams 42 plays with three touchdowns. He has been heating up in the past two weeks. Keep your "bell-cow" running back (no pun intended) firmly planted into your RB1 slot in Week 5 and beyond.
Kareem Hunt, (RB, KC) - 43.3% Red-zone touch%
Running back Kareem Hunt has been taking full advantage of Spencer Ware's preseason injury. He currently ranks as fantasy football's number two running back behind only Todd Gurley. He has 13 out of 30 team red-zone touches with three touchdowns. Hunt also has a knack for breaking off the big-yardage score as well. He has a tough matchup in Week 5 at the Houston Texans, but you can't play the start or sit game with this young stud.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Larry Fitzgerald (WR, AZ) - 23.3% Red-zone touch%
It should come as no surprise that the grizzled veteran Larry Fitzgerald leads the wide receiver category in red-zone touch percentage. He currently has 10 out of 43 of his teams red zone touches with two touchdowns. After all these years he's still a WR1, folks. Quarterback Carson Palmer continues to feed him the rock and should be started in all league formats in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jarvis Landry (WR, MIA) - 23.1% Red-zone touch%
The Miami Dolphins this year have only run 13 plays in the red-zone in their three games. Landry currently is second in wide receiver red-zone percentage with three touches out of those 13 plays. However, the Miami offense has been really bad and Landry is only averaging 9.5 fantasy football points a game in half-point PPR formats. Don't let these red-zone numbers deceive you into starting him. Even if the Dolphins do get in the red-zone, look for wide receiver DeVante Parker to get more looks.
TIGHT END
Cameron Brate (TE, TB) - 18.2% Red-zone touch%
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, Cameron Brate is the tight end red-zone leader in touches. Brate has been strong this year scoring three touchdowns in the past three games. Even though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted TE O.J. Howard in the first round, Brate has been their main guy as he was last year. Since Brate already played this week, keep him in your radar if still available in your league. With six red-zone touches out of 33 red-zone plays and three touchdowns, do yourself a favor and pick him up off the waiver wire.
Red Zone Fallers
RUNNING BACK
Isaiah Crowell (RB, CLE) - 7.4% Red-zone touch%
Those of you who drafted Crowell in the 4th round of this years draft are immediately wishing they can take it back. He is averaging under seven FFB points per game and only has two red-zone touches out of his teams 27 red-zone plays. If he is still on your team, drop him. Drop him now. After you drop him, double check to make sure that he was dropped. Then, begin to look elsewhere for running back help. Preferably his teammate Duke Johnson Jr. who has been getting more of the goal-line carries and been catching the ball a lot out of the backfield.
WIDE RECEIVER
Tyreek Hill (WR, KC) - 3.3% Red-zone touch%
Hill has become a very versatile WR in the league. He takes handoffs, he scores touchdowns on big plays, and he is used during punt-returns on special teams. What he doesn't do well is earn red-zone touches. Hill only has one lonely red-zone touch this entire year in four games with the Kansas City Chiefs out of 30 red-zone plays. It's a boom or bust mentality for this young wide receiver. He will score you 24 FFB points, or he will score you seven. However, his numbers this year-to-date so far are still good enough to earn WR1 accolades. Keep him in your lineup all weeks because the boom will probably outweigh the bust.
TIGHT END
Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN) - 9.1% Red-zone touch%
After a stellar 2016 season, Rudolph is off to a very slow start. He has only earned three red-zone touches out of his teams 33 plays with one touchdown. So far this year, Rudolph only has 10 catches in four games. Quarterback Sam Bradford looks to make his return in Week 5 for MNF against the Chicago Bears, which should help. The absence of Dalvin Cook could lead the team to lean more pass-heavy out of necessity as well. Rudolph could be a buy-low candidate despite his early lack of involvement.
Red Zone Sleepers
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