After seeing a decline in players with double-digit targets, the Week 6 targets are increasing again. 20 different players spanning three positions had double-digit targets in Week 6, which is impressive considering four teams were on a bye.
Some weeks are more run-heavy; some weeks are more pass-heavy. Week 6 was the latter. Even with injuries plaguing quarterbacks around the league (and yes, the big one to Aaron Rodgers), passes are still being thrown (sometimes by running backs, thanks Tarik Cohen).
With only two teams on bye for Week 7, the number of players seeing double-digit targets should be high again. However, this is a game that changes by the week, so nothing is certain.
What is certain is that Fantasy owners should be watching the targets, especially the top target leaders. Some players may be available in leagues – and those are the players to (excuse the pun) target.
Please note none of the charts below show total receptions, total Fantasy points or touchdowns. The sole purpose of this analysis is to look at targets.
Week 6 Target Watch
Each week I will be reviewing the targets from the past week, the season and even digging deeper by examining running back and tight end. I will also be analyzing any trends I find along the way.
Week 6 Double-Digit Targets
| Player | Team | Targets |
| Jarvis Landry * | Miami Dolphins | 14 |
| Demaryius Thomas | Denver Broncos | 14 |
| Christian McCaffrey | Carolina Panthers | 14 |
| Marvin Jones, Jr. | Detroit Lions | 14 |
| Adam Thielen | Minnesota Vikings | 13 |
| Kelvin Benjamin | Carolina Panthers | 13 |
| Robby Anderson | New York Jets | 12 |
| Pierre Garcon * | San Francisco 49ers | 12 |
| Melvin Gordon | Los Angeles Chargers | 12 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | New York Jets | 11 |
| Larry Fitzgerald * | Arizona Cardinals | 11 |
| Jack Doyle | Indianapolis Colts | 11 |
| Jordy Nelson | Green Bay Packers | 10 |
| Rob Gronkowski | New England Patriots | 10 |
| Antonio Brown * | Pittsburgh Steelers | 10 |
| Chris Ivory | Jacksonville Jaguars | 10 |
| Davante Adams * | Green Bay Packers | 10 |
| Michael Crabtree | Oakland Raiders | 10 |
| Marqise Lee | Jacksonville Jaguars | 10 |
| Alshon Jeffery | Philadelphia Eagles | 10 |
After being a repeat visitor on this list, Andre Ellington disappeared in Week 6. Jarvis Landry continues his run as a solid option in PPR format with 14 targets. He caught eight of those targets for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Pierre Garcon, Larry Fitzgerald, Antonio Brown, and DaVante Adams also had double-digit targets in back-to-back weeks. Adams is the most impressive out of that group, given the injury to Aaron Rodgers. Brett Hundley threw the ball 33 times and 10 of those passes were directed at Adams (10 were also directed at Jordy Nelson). While Hundley is certainly a downgrade from Rodgers, Fantasy value for the pass-catchers may not be entirely lost.
Top 10 Target Leaders
| Player | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Total |
| Antonio Brown, PIT | 11 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 10 | 74 |
| DeAndre Hopkins, HOU | 16 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 65 |
| Larry Fitzgerald, ARI | 13 | 6 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 62 |
| Keenan Allen, LAC | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 61 |
| Jarvis Landry, MIA | BYE | 15 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 57 |
| Pierre Garcon, SF | 10 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 56 |
| Zach Ertz, PHI | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 53 |
| Adam Thielen, MIN | 10 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 53 |
| A.J. Green, CIN | 10 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 51 |
| Christian McCaffrey, TEN | 7 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 50 |
Two changes occurred this week: Odell Beckham, Jr. and Dez Bryant dropped off this list. ODB is on IR and Bryant had a bye. Count on Bryant being back after Week 7. Taking their place are Adam Thielen and Christian McCaffrey. It’s pretty impressive that a running back is on the list of the Top 10 targets so far this season, but the Panthers use McCaffrey more as a pass-catcher than a running back.
Adam Thielen was a popular pre-season sleeper. With Stefon Diggs injured, Thielen had 13 targets. He caught nine passes for 97 yards in Week 6. Thielen has had at least five receptions every week. He’s earned his way to solid WR2 status, especially with Diggs out.
Top Tight End Targets In Week 6
| Jack Doyle | Indianapolis Colts | 11 |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | New York Jets | 11 |
| Rob Gronkowski | New England Patriots | 10 |
| Austin Hooper | Atlanta Falcons | 9 |
| Kyle Rudolph * | Minnesota Vikings | 9 |
After making this list five weeks in a row, Zach Ertz only had five targets in Week 6. He caught two of them, both for touchdowns, so Fantasy owners had nothing to complain about. Jack Doyle and Austin Seferian-Jenkins take the top spot for Week 6. Doyle is still available in more than half of Yahoo leagues. With Andrew Luck nowhere near a return, Jacoby Brissett will continue to look to his tight end, giving Doyle weekly TE2 value with upside.
Top Running Back Targets In Week 6
| Christian McCaffrey | Carolina Panthers | 14 |
| Melvin Gordon * | Los Angeles Chargers | 12 |
| Chris Ivory | Jacksonville Jaguars | 10 |
| Matt Forte | New York Jets | 8 |
| James White * | New England Patriots | 7 |
| Theo Riddick | Detroit Lions | 7 |
For some reason, the Arizona Cardinals essentially ignored Andre Ellington in Week 6. The team finally established a running game, thanks to Adrian Peterson, cutting into Ellington’s workload. He’s fallen off this list (one target isn’t going to cut it), but some new names have arrived: Chris Ivory, Matt Forte and Theo Riddick. All are known to be pass-catching running backs. However, all also aren’t reliable Fantasy options each week. Forte’s value depends on Bilal Powell being out; Ivory needs Leonard Fournette to be out. Theo Riddick doesn’t typically put up solid enough numbers to have Fantasy value.
Sarah Lewis
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