It appears that running backs, except for a few, are not a real big part of the passing game thus far in 2012. Ray Rice, Darren Sproles and Darren McFadden are the top 3 targeted running backs thus far, but backs like LeSean McCoy and Maurice Jones-Drew aren't figuring in the passing game as much as expected in 2012.
Fantasy Football PPR Target Report, Week 4: Running Backs
Which running backs were targeted the most in Week 4? Read on.
Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire
Hitting the Bullseye
Ray RIce, BAL
Ravens running back Ray Rice was the only back with more than 10 targets in Week 4, as he caught eight of his 11 targets for 47 yards. For the season, he has caught 22 of his 30 targets for 174 yards, and is on pace for close to 90 receptions on 120 targets. The Ravens are throwing the ball more this season, relying on the arm of quarterback Joe Flacco, rather than the legs of Ray Rice. This could actually extend Rice's career by a year or two.
Darren Sproles, NO
After zero receptions in Week 3, Saints running back Darren Sproles was more involved in the team's offense, catching five of the seven balls thrown to him for 44 yards and a touchdown against the Packers. With the Saints owning the worst defense in the NFL, they will be playing from behind quite a bit, so Sproles should continue to see plenty of targets as the season rolls along.
Missing the Mark
Darren McFadden, OAK
McFadden was a first-round pick in many drafts a month ago, but he has yet to fulfill the production fantasy owners expected from him. I am also starting to wonder what the Raiders are doing with him, as he is rarely used in the passing game, after a huge Week 1 performance. McFadden caught his only target this week for just four yards, and still ranks third among all running backs in targets with 28, but after the big Week 1 performance, fantasy owners expected more of the same from him.
Let’s take a look at the running backs who were targets in Week 4:
Player | Targets | Rec. | Yd | Avg | TD |
Rice, Ray RB BAL | 11 | 8 | 47 | 5.9 | 0 |
Bell, Joique RB DET | 8 | 6 | 72 | 12 | 0 |
Reece, Marcel RB OAK | 8 | 5 | 54 | 10.8 | 0 |
Sproles, Darren RB NO | 7 | 5 | 44 | 8.8 | 1 |
Richardson, Trent RB CLE | 6 | 4 | 57 | 14.2 | 0 |
McGahee, Willis RB DEN | 6 | 6 | 23 | 3.8 | 0 |
Leshoure, Mikel RB DET | 5 | 4 | 37 | 9.2 | 0 |
Jones-Drew, Maurice RB JAC | 5 | 5 | 42 | 8.4 | 0 |
Turner, Michael RB ATL | 5 | 3 | 68 | 22.7 | 1 |
Martin, Doug RB TB | 5 | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 |
Draughn, Shaun RB KC | 5 | 4 | 34 | 8.5 | 0 |
Casey, James RB HOU | 5 | 5 | 36 | 7.2 | 1 |
McCoy, LeSean RB PHI | 4 | 3 | 17 | 5.7 | 0 |
Rodgers, Jacquizz RB ATL | 4 | 4 | 40 | 10 | 0 |
Peterson, Adrian RB MIN | 4 | 4 | 20 | 5 | 0 |
Lynch, Marshawn RB SEA | 4 | 4 | 37 | 9.2 | 0 |
Ogbonnaya, Chris RB CLE | 4 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
Snelling, Jason RB ATL | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1.7 | 0 |
Charles, Jamaal RB KC | 4 | 3 | 23 | 7.7 | 1 |
Bradshaw, Ahmad RB NYG | 4 | 3 | 38 | 12.7 | 0 |
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