Target Share Report – Week 13

by Aditya Fuldeore · Fantasy Football

In evaluating pass-catching performance, target-earning metrics can be key factors to see how much of an offensive role a player is earning. Target Share shows how many passes of a team’s total a player is earning. Targets per route run, or Target Rate, breaks that down further and measures a player’s target-earning efficiency. These stats together help identify trends in player usage and potential fantasy breakouts or regressions. We have wrapped up 13 weeks of football and land a week before most leagues start their fantasy playoffs. In this final Target Share Report, I touch on the top target-earner at each position thus far, and one player to eye heading into the fantasy playoffs.

Running Backs

Alvin Kamara

The PPR scam continues for Alvin Kamara. Catching passes from Derek Carr, Kamara has his second straight season of a top three Target Share. He leads all backs with a 22.4-percent (No. 1) Target Share. The Saints are now down Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Taysom Hill.

Kamara is the sole primary option in the offense and is both the team’s best remaining rusher and receiver. He doesn’t necessarily see elite targets, but the sheer volume keeps him in elite RB1 territory. Fantasy playoff teams will have him slotted the entire playoff run.

Kenneth Walker

Making his living off receptions this season, Kenneth Walker‘s 13.2-percent (No. 6) Target Share has bolstered his 3.7 yards per carry. Walker is the recipient of several Geno Smith checkdowns every game, averaging just under four receptions per game. It has kept his value in the back end RB1 range, averaging 16.7 (No. 10) fantasy points per game. If your league still allows trades (primarily Dynasty leagues), he is a player to acquire for fantasy playoffs because of his spike-week potential from his passing game usage.

Note: Walker (ankle/calf) is banged up for Week 14. Zach Charbonnet saw nine targets in two games without Walker. He will be an RB2 if Walker misses time.

Wide Receivers

Malik Nabers

The wide receiver position has seen a new elite player emerge. Malik Nabers leads all wideouts with a 36.3-percent (No. 1) Target Share according to this Target Share Report. His alpha-like presence in the Giants’ offense is the biggest since Odell Beckham Jr. This led to elite games early in the season, with three top seven fantasy finishes in his first four games. However, Nabers’ production has decreased since then. This was not due to a lack of targets, but lack of quality opportunities in the lethargic Giants offense.

While Nabers has not had a top-20 finish since Week 4, his target volume keeps him in fantasy lineups. He is an elite Dynasty receiver and should expect to continue earning targets at a high level throughout his career.

Parker Washington

In the Jaguars’ latest game, Parker Washington caught 6-of-12 targets for 103 yards and a touchdown. His previous spurt of usage was catching 6-of-10 targets between Weeks 8 and 9. Washington has not had the consistent success of a playable receiver but has shown spikes of usage and production.

With Trevor Lawrence out for the season, Mac Jones will be stepping in and the offense will look different. Perhaps Week 13 was a preview into the last few games of a lost season for the Jaguars. Heading into the fantasy playoffs, you can bank on recent production and burgeoning players ready to contribute when called on. Washington is worth adding.

Tight Ends

Trey McBride

The top target-earning tight end this season has been Trey McBride, posting a 28.2 -percent (No. 1) Target Share according to this Target Share Report. Toss in a 30.7-percent (No. 4) Target Rate and McBride has fully lived up to where fantasy managers were drafting him. A walloping 24 receptions on 27 targets over the last two weeks have given fantasy managers a final playoff push and bumped McBride up to 14.9 (No. 3) fantasy points per game. The only reason he is not putting up higher numbers has been the lack of touchdowns. He has a rushing score, but no receiving scores this season. Mathematical regression indicates touchdowns should hit, but you never know. Regardless, McBride is your top target-earning tight end and an elite start in the fantasy playoffs.

Jonnu Smith

How did we get here? Jonnu Smith is the Dolphins’ top target over the last three games, seeing 30 targets in that span. This has pumped him up to a 19.4-percent (No. 12) Target Share on the season, with a 29.2-percent (No. 5) Target Rate. Smith has three-straight top-five fantasy finishes built upon a diverse receiving game.

He runs routes both in-line and from the slot while seeing red zone usage and totaling 345 (No. 2) yards after catch on the season. Teams that drafted or picked up Smith are ecstatic. Consider him a TE1 heading into the fantasy playoffs; he should be started every week.

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