John Ross showed perfect timing in his return from a groin injury. Star wide receiver A.J. Green’s toe injury opens the door for Ross to see an increased target share. Tyler Boyd’s outlook dims because he absorbs the pressure of playing the No. 1 role. The current dynamic in Cincinnati’s receiving corps makes Ross, not Boyd, the Bengals receiver to utilize in fantasy football during Green’s absence. Without Green to draw the attention of opposing defenses top cornerbacks, Boyd faces tougher coverage. He struggled to a 3-65-0 line on four targets against a burnable Saints secondary.
Ross, meanwhile, showed upside by leading the team in targets (six) and catching his third touchdown of the season. While Ross’ 2-39-1 line wasn’t stellar, his knack for scoring and Andy Dalton’s willingness to target him in the red zone suggest a big stretch run for the former first-rounder. Of his 22 targets this season five have come in the red zone, and Ross’ averages a TD every three receptions.
John Ross Prototypical Upside Field Stretcher
John Ross’ advanced stats and metrics profile underscore his natural athleticism, scorching speed and big-play burst. His 4.22 mark in the 40-yard dash, which ranks in the 100th-percentile, set an NFL combine record and makes him the fastest player in the league. Sorry, Tyreek Hill. Ross’ 18.0 College YPR ranks in the 86th-percentile, reflects his ability to break loose and reinforces his 129.4 Burst Score (86th-percentile). He caught 17 touchdowns in his final season at Washington while averaging 14.2 yards per reception and totaling 1,150 receiving yards. He’ll demonstrate his field-stretching ability with more consistent target and snap shares with Green sidelined.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmNBShPv9xI
The caveat with Ross? The Bengals offense is a dumpster fire. They rank No. 25 in total offense and No. 21 in passing. Dalton’s 69.6 True Completion Percentage and 2.8 Accuracy Rating both rank No. 20, and he’s thrown 18 TDs to 10 interceptions. But with Ross back on the field, Dalton’s 38.5 deep ball completion percentage should improve.
Josh Reynolds Red Zone Relevance
Josh Reynolds enters the fantasy foray again following a season-ending knee injury to Cooper Kupp. Reynolds becomes the third option for Jared Goff behind Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods. He proved his worth while Kupp sat out in Weeks 7-8 with a sprained his MCL. During those two games Reynolds played 88.1- and 94.3-percent of the snaps, respectively. He exploded for two touchdowns while catching 3-of-5 targets for 42 yards in Week 8.
Josh Reynolds Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
He benefits from playing on a Rams squad which ranks No. 2 in total offense, No. 5 in passing and runs three WR sets 85-percent of the time. That puts Reynolds in position to absorb a healthy volume going forward. Up for grabs is Kupp’s 20.8-percent target share after he tore his ACL against the Seahawks. Unlike Kupp, who plays in the slot, Reynolds lines up at split end opposite fellow speedster Cooks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFjaMbedNiI
Reynolds sports a 100-percent (3-for-3) red zone catch rate this season and his build backs up his play in that area of the field. At 6-3, 194-pounds with a Catch Radius that ranks in the 87th-percentile, he offers Jared Goff an outstanding go-up-and-get-it guy. Reynolds earns a College Dominator Rating in the 80th-percentile, evidenced by his 12 TDs and 1,039 receiving yards on 61 targets in his final season at Texas A&M.
Josh Adams New Backfield Leader
For the second consecutive game, Josh Adams led the Eagles backfield in carries and rushing yards in Week 10, staking his claim on the lead role. He outplayed Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement during that time while seeing three red zone carries and averaging 6.8 YPC. That’s right on par with Adams’ 6.9 College YPC, which ranks in the 96th-percentile. He demonstrates that the efficient running style he perfected at Notre Dame translates well to the NFL. Smallwood (4.3 YPC) and Clement (3.3 YPC) don’t compare in that category.
Josh Adams Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
In his final season at Notre Dame in 2017 Adams handled a full workload, carrying the ball 206 times for 1,430 yards and nine TDs. Between his body of work in college and his recent success, he’s earned the trust of Eagles coach Doug Pederson, who said Adams will see more carries going forward. Adams locks in to the early-down role, though his upside is capped by his lack of targets (one). However, Adams’ 8-percent College Target Share shows he’s a capable receiver so that could change, especially if Adams keeps playing at his current high level. He’s the back to own in Philadelphia.
