First and foremost: 

Happy Thanksgiving to the entire #FAmily!

Targets are paramount when it comes to evaluating pass-catchers for fantasy football. There are no receiving yards, touchdowns, or receptions without a target. We want the players on our rosters in fantasy football who will earn these targets because targets are the most important thing to look at when trying to separate one pass-catcher from another on a base level. Sure, the player that earned 160 targets may be a better fantasy option than the player who earned 110, but that doesn’t take into account the offenses these players are in, the target share percentages on their particular team, how deep down the field these targets were earned, and so on. Each week, we’ll take a weekly team-by-team look into these target earners and separate the wheat from the chaff. 

We're through 11 weeks of the NFL season, and we get a reprieve on our bye weeks as every team will play in Week 12! In our Target Report, we'll go through some team and player usage tendencies. Before we get into the Target Report for Week 11, let's dive into a legend of terms we'll be referencing:
 

Bye Weeks:

Week 8: Chiefs, Chargers

Week 9: Browns, Cowboys, Broncos, Giants, Steelers, 49ers

Week 10: Ravens, Bengals, Patriots, Jets

Week 11: Jaguars, Dolphins, Seahawks, Buccaneers

Week 12: No byes!

Week 13: Cardinals, Panthers

Week 14: Falcons, Bears, Packers, Colts, Saints, Commanders
 

NOTE:

Start Your Studs: Players you should be starting in all formats, regardless of matchup. Use your judgment in shallower leagues where players who are typically startable are plentiful.

Keep Them Rostered: Players that should be rostered in all formats assuming 12-team leagues with six-player benches. League size designations or other designations (bench stash, etc.) will be in parenthesis next to players for deeper leagues. As always, this is a general recommendation; depending on your league, use your best judgment.

Example: Terrace Marshall (14), Alexander Mattison (bench stash).

Dump ‘Em: Players that you should be dropping from your rosters. Use your judgment in deeper leagues where players with usefulness on waivers aren’t as plentiful.

NFL Week 11 Target Report

Arizona Cardinals

No Kyler Murray again this week for the Cardinals but adding to the “fun” is that they got just two snaps of Rondale Moore as he left the game with a groin injury. Greg Dortch (9-103, 10 targets) came in to take on the Moore role in the slot and ran 94% of routes. The offensive environment here with Colt McCoy is in a word, lacking, and Trace McSorley came in to relive McCoy after the game was well in hand.

Trey McBride (4-14, four targets) in the post-Zach Ertz era ran 77% of routes which was… fine… if you want me to put a label on it. Taking a peek at what kind of role could develop didn’t yield the greatest results for McBride’s first week as starter, but he should be rostered in most fantasy formats at the very least. He should get time to get acclimated as the season finishes up.

Week 11 Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: DeAndre Hopkins, James Conner, Kyler Murray (when healthy), Rondale Moore, Marquise Brown (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Greg Dortch (if Rondale Moore remains out), Trey McBride, Keaontay Ingram (deep 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: There’s no reason to keep Robbie Anderson on a roster at this point after running just 18% of routes in Week 11. Dump him.

Atlanta Falcons

Only Kyle Pitts notched over 30 receiving yards and more than three receptions in Week 11 but the kicker is that he is out for the season as he’ll elect to have surgery on a Grade 2 MCL sprain.

Am I still going to draft Pitts in 2023 at an even bigger discount?

Marcus Mariota only threw for 130 yards on 20 pass attempts and scored a rushing touchdown. You can’t trust anybody still in this offense. Certainly not Drake London, who scored a touchdown on one catch (three targets).

Week 11 Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Cordarrelle Patterson

Keep Them Rostered: Drake London, Tyler Allgeier, Marcus Mariota (deep 12 & 14)

Dump ‘Em: Kyle Pitts is electing surgery for his Grade 2 MCL sprain, so he’s likely done for the year. Safe drop.

Baltimore Ravens

This game was a 3-3 tie heading into the fourth quarter and it took a Lamar Jackson rushing touchdown and field goal to put them ahead of the Panthers. What a freaking mess.

33 pass attempts for the Ravens and more than half were thrown to a returning Mark Andrews 6-63, eight targets) and Demarcus Robinson (9-128, nine targets, 81% routes). This passing game hasn’t been able to replace Marquise Brown from last season, but they tried to with Rashod Bateman and now have to fill his spot with retreads like Robinson. The Ravens have been in trouble with the passing game a ton this season and Andrews is the only thing that consistently works here.

Somehow, the Ravens are 7-3, but if they need to score points in a hurry come playoff time, they’re going to have a lot of trouble doing so.

Week 11 Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Mark Andrews, Lamar Jackson

Keep Them Rostered: Kenyan Drake, Gus Edwards (deep 12 & 14 team), Justice Hill (deep 12 & 14 team), Devin Duvernay (deep 12 & 14 team), Isaiah Likely (deep 12 & 14 team),  

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Buffalo Bills

The Bills were pretty run heavy for the first time this season, so in turn, that didn’t allow for the volume we typically expect. Dawson Knox turned his best fantasy effort of the season with Gabe Davis (5-68, seven targets) and Stefon Diggs (4-48-1, five targets) trailing in production but still putting up at least decent days. All three players ran routes on at least 83% of dropbacks.

The only other player to catch a pass in Week 11 was Devin Singletary, with 86 rushing yards and a touchdown, plus 2-11 on two targets.

Week 11 Buffalo Bills Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Devin Singletary

Keep Them Rostered: Gabe Davis, Devin Singletary, Dawson Knox, Nyheim Hines, Isaiah McKenzie (deep 12-& 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Carolina Panthers

Baker Mayfield was back under center and the result was about as good as one would expect Baker Mayfield in 2022 to perform on this Carolina ghost ship that’s hit multiple icebergs and about to run aground.

Zero touchdowns, only one pass-catcher above 26 receiving yards (Terrace Marshall), zero startable assets. Yes, that includes DJ Moore.

Just stay away.

Week 11 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: *shudders*

Keep Them Rostered: DJ Moore, D’Onta Foreman, Terrace Marshall (deep 12 & 14 team), Chuba Hubbard (deep 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Chicago Bears

Justin Fields has been awesome for the Bears, but the passing game is not seeing consistent gains thanks to the threat Fields poses. We’re three weeks removed from Chase Claypool (2-11, three targets) being traded to Chicago and he’s still only running 53% of routes. Only five Bears even caught a pass and only six were targeted. No Bear finished with over 55 receiving yards and the only touchdown went to Darnell Mooney — who missed a second touchdown if it weren’t for an overthrow attributed to Fields.

Just 21 pass attempts total in Week 11 for the Bears, probably going to get anybody the desired volume you want in fantasy.

Week 11 Chicago Bears Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Justin Fields (if healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: David Montgomery, Cole Kmet, Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, Khalil Herbert (when healthy)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals had the highest Pass Rate Over Expected (+8.9%) in Week 11 which the was lowest top PROE of any week this season. This week STUNK in terms of teams passing which is the lifeblood of most of fantasy scoring. Joe Mixon left the game with a concussion and entered the protocol, so Samaje Perine (4-52-3, four targets, 55% routes) smashed with three receiving touchdowns. He’ll be a top-15 running back play if Mixon can’t make it out of concussion protocol in Week 12.

Tee Higgins (9-148, 13 targets, 91% routes, 34% TPRR) smashed as well without the touchdowns and looked like the best player on the field throughout the entire game. If Ja’Marr Chase makes his return to the lineup this week, this passing game could take off even more than it already has.

Week 11 Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Ja’Marr Chase (when healthy), Tee Higgins, Joe Burrow, Tyler Boyd, Joe Mixon (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered:  Hayden Hurst, Samaje Perine (must-start if Mixon remains out, 14 team hold if Mixon is active)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cleveland Browns

41 pass attempts for the Browns and Amari Cooper (8-113-2, 12 targets, third-most air yards in Week 11) dominated every metric for the Browns with 55% of air yards, a robust 2.83 yards per route run (YPRR), and 31% target share. I don’t think anybody expected Cooper would be WR9 in fantasy points per game after 11 weeks, but here we are. The great thing is that Cooper can actually improve on this with Deshaun Watson entering the fold in a couple of weeks.

Even Donovan Peoples-Jones (5-61, six targets, 98% routes) has been a top-36 fantasy wide receiver in every week since Week 6. It’s wild what the Browns are doing in the passing game compared to offseason and even preseason expectations.

David Njoku (2-17, three targets, 42% routes) didn’t play a full share of routes in his return to the lineup as he still ceded quite a bit of work to Harrison Bryant (4-41, seven targets, 58% routes) but I’m expecting those numbers to flip in the next week or two as Njoku gets healthier.

Week 11 Cleveland Browns Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Amari Cooper, Nick Chubb, David Njoku

Keep Them Rostered: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Kareem Hunt, Deshaun Watson (stash)

Dump ‘Em:  N/A

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys’ routes shares are heavily skewed because the starters did not play much late in the game due to the blowout nature. That said, only two Cowboys had more than three receptions: CeeDee Lamb (5-45, five targets), and Tony Pollard (6-109-2, six targets).

Pollard was AWESOME in Week 11 even with Ezekiel Elliott back. He’s continually a major part of the game plan (as he should be) and he’s proving his worth with awesome plays like this:

What a wheel route. Pollard is must-start. Somebody tell Jerry Jones, post-haste.

Week 11 Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: CeeDee Lamb, Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Dalton Schultz

Keep Them Rostered: Michael Gallup

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Denver Broncos

The 2022 Denver Broncos seem the be case study in how much they can screw up on a football field. It’s really an interesting case here as Melvin Gordon’s latest fumble turned out to be the last straw as he was cut by the team this week. 

Playing the role of Jerry Jeudy this week was Kendall Hinton (3-57, three targets, 86% routes) and Hinton was fine, almost notching an early touchdown before the referees wiped it away.

Courtland Sutton led the charge for the disappointing Broncos with a team-high seven targets and 5-80 on 97% routes. 

It’s not great, it hasn’t been great, and this is the most interesting thing the Broncos have going for them this season. It’s certainly not the on-field product.

Week 11 Denver Broncos Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy (when healthy), Greg Dulcich

Keep Them Rostered: Russell Wilson, Latavius Murray, Chase Edmonds, Kendall Hinton

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Detroit Lions

The Lions in their upset of the Giants in Week 11 were very condensed with their targets. Amon-Ra St. Brown (7-76, eight targets, 93% routes) and Kalif Raymond (3-33, seven targets, 85%) accounted for 60% of the team’s targets. St, Brown in particular came within a yard of a touchdown and that led to one of three touchdowns on the ground for Jamaal Williams. 

Variance should swing back in St. Brown’s favor in terms of the touchdowns. As always, he’s a week-in, week-out stud that should never leave your lineup. We are on pins and needles waiting for Jameson Williams to make his Lions’ debut as his return from IR window was opened up by the team. His upside is tremendous and could provide league-winning upside in ways Raymond, DJ Chark, and other secondary wide receivers can only dream of.

Week 11 Detroit Lions Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jamaal Williams

Keep Them Rostered:  D’Andre Swift, DJ Chark, Jared Goff, Kalif Raymond, Jameson Williams (priority hold)

Dump ‘Em: Not worth holding on to Brock Wright or any other Detroit tight end as it’s a split role between multiple players and not worth prognosticating. Safe drop for Wright or any of them.

Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers the third-most efficient quarterback on the field last Thursday, if you want to count Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry, who completed both pass attempts and even threw for a touchdown! It wasn’t for lack of trying, as the Packers found themselves down a score for most of the game and abandoned the run again (just 19 rush attempts). Probably not the most ideal game plan when your top statistical wide receiver is somebody (Randall Cobb) who was past their prime several seasons ago that Rodgers lobbied to have brought back.

The team is still in contention for a playoff spot, but it’ll take a couple of miracles, an ocean of holy water, and an immediate reversal of all the witch doctor voodoo from this offseason. Why not have some fun with it at this point?

That’s pretty much what the Christian Watson (4-48-2, six targets) experience has been the last two weeks, as he has FIVE touchdowns on eight receptions. Probably not sustainable, but at the very least, he’s run routes on 91% and 78% in those two weeks. You can’t NOT start him right now, but the well will dry up eventually. Or maybe it won’t, which would be par for the course in 2022.

Cobb (5-73, six targets, 65% routes) and Allen Lazard (5-57, 11 targets, 98% routes) have been used more consistently to move the ball in the passing game but are lower-upside targets.

While Watson has gone off, it’s been at the expense of even medium-range outcomes for Lazard, who has 15 targets in the last two weeks but just a combined eight receptions and 102 yards to show for it. I’m struggling to call him anything more than a flex option with no games over six receptions all season, though his floor is solid with no fewer than 7.5 fantasy points in any matchup.

Week 11 Green Bay Packers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Aaron Jones

Keep Them Rostered: Christian Watson, Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard, AJ Dillon, Romeo Doubs (when healthy)

Dump ‘Em: Sammy Watkins was dropped to fifth on Green Bay’s depth chart this week, so you can drop him from all fantasy rosters to celebrate.

Houston Texans

The Texans are #bad.

Davis Mills was especially bad and that cost him his job as vagabond and former Panthers scourge and fill-in quarterback Kyle Allen will get the start for the Texans in Week 12.

If there was any bigger sign to abandon ship on the Brandin Cooks (3-70, six targets) or Nico Collins (5-48, seven targets) trains, we haven’t seen it yet. 

Week 11 Houston Texans Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: *laugh track*

Keep Them Rostered: Dameon Pierce, Brandin Cooks,  Nico Collins (deep 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: There’s nobody else on this roster that warrants redraft consideration, and it’s stretching it for Cooks and Collins, but they’re running the most routes consistently. That counts for something. Not much, but something.

Indianapolis Colts

Somehow, the mad lads almost pulled off an upset of the Eagles, but they were not having it.

Matt Ryan was his usual milquetoast self, throwing zero touchdowns and getting the ball to Michael Pittman (6-75, seven targets), Alec Pierce (3-28, eight targets), and Parris Campbell (5-67, six targets) a combined 68% of the team’s total targets. No other Colts receiver or tight end had more than one catch, so we’re looking pretty consolidated here.

I’m back on the Pittman train here though as we know Ryan loves to get his main guys involved and Pittman is certainly the best example of that going for the Colts. He also has a pretty favorable schedule in the fantasy playoffs with matchups that should either be neutral or slightly learning towards more passing with @MIN, LAC, and @NYG. 

Still, it’s the Colts. Ryan isn’t one to pepper his targets downfield or even with much upside. Ryan allows his targets to compile. Fine for PPR, but with an obviously capped ceiling here.

Week 11 Indianapolis Colts Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Jonathan Taylor

Keep Them Rostered: Michael Pittman, Parris Campbell, Alec Pierce, Matt Ryan, Deon Jackson (deep 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Jacksonville Jaguars

Bye in Week 11.

Week 11 Jacksonville Jaguars Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk

Keep Them Rostered: Evan Engram, Trevor Lawrence, Zay Jones (deeper 12 & 14 team), Marvin Jones (14 team), JaMycal Hasty (14 team)

Dump ‘Em: Darrell Henderson was cut and can be dropped even as he was picked up by the Jaguars. He figured to be a spell or third option to Etienne and Hasty in the backfield.

Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce is #good. Three touchdowns (and 6-115) should do that. So is Patrick Mahomes. I feel like that's not said enough.

Skyy Moore (5-63) only ran routes on 42% of routes but earned six targets and put up a strong 38% TPRR, which means he was drawing targets even in the limited number of routes. That’s a good sign for a young player and is indicative of future target-earning potential. It’s metrics like that and not raw target totals that portend future usage.

With no JuJu Smith-Schuster, Justin Watson (3-67, four targets, 97% routes) was on the field a ton. On the field NOT a ton was Kadarius Toney, who got hurt with a hamstring injury and left the game with just one catchless target on 24% routes.

Week 11 Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, JuJu Smith-Schuster (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jerick McKinnon, Isiah Pacheco, Justin Watson (deep 12 & 14 team), Skyy Moore

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Las Vegas Raiders

I wonder if Davante Adams was open on this game-winning touchdown:

This touchdown capped off Adams’ amazing day (7-141-2, 13 targets) and between him and Mack Hollins (6-52, nine targets, 100% route participation), they accounted for 68% of air yards and almost 60% of targets for the Raiders.

Besides Josh Jacobs (all 24 rushing attempts for the Raiders, 159 total yards) on the ground, there were no other performances to write home about for Vegas in the win over the hapless Broncos.

Week 11 Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs, Darren Waller (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Hunter Renfrow, Derek Carr, Mack Hollins (deep 12 team), Foster Moreau (should be rostered with Waller out, dropped when Waller returns)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Los Angeles Chargers

The story of the cursed 2022 Los Angeles Chargers continues.

Mike Williams returned and almost immediately left again after making his only catch with a re-aggravation of his high ankle sprain. A seriously tough break but at the very least, Keenan Allen (5-94, seven targets) returned to run 74% of routes and looked pretty good all things considered.

Josh Palmer (8-106-2, 10 targets, 95% routes) was the star as he looked really good and should hang around with Allen drawing some coverage away unlike before where the Chargers didn’t really have a threat to key in on to loosen some other guys up.

Week 11 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Austin Ekeler, Justin Herbert, Mike Williams (when healthy), Keenan Allen

Keep Them Rostered: Josh Palmer, Gerald Everett, DeAndre Carter (deeper 12 & 14 team), Isaiah Spiller (deeper 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams in the post-Cooper Kupp era are putrid. Not to mention, Matthew Stafford left the game with what was considered a concussion, so they had backup quarterback Bryce Perkins in for the remainder of the game. He offers some mobility but likely at the cost of any shred of passing efficiency. If you were hoping that the post-Kupp era would yield some increased volume for Tyler Higbee, Allen Robinson, Van Jefferson and/or Ben Skowronek, you’d be left wanting more.

Higbee (4-45, eight targets) led the team in targets, and besides those four players mentioned, only one other receiver or tight end ran more than THREE pass routes. It’s condensed, but it doesn’t mean that it’s good.

The Rams sold their soul last season for the Super Bowl. Would they do it again? Absolutely. Would any team? For sure. The receipts are arriving, though, and it’s looking not that #good.

Week 11 Los Angeles Rams Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Tyler Higbee, Matthew Stafford, Ben Skowronek, Cooper Kupp (started when/if healthy, obviously), Cam Akers, Kyren Williams, Van Jefferson (deep 12 and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: Darrell Henderson was cut and can be dropped even as he was picked up by Jacksonville.

Miami Dolphins

Bye in Week 11.

Week 11 Miami Dolphins Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Tua Tagovailoa

Keep Them Rostered: Raheem Mostert,  Jeff Wilson, Mike Gesicki

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Minnesota Vikings

For being a “good” team, the Vikings looked HORRENDOUS. Uncompetitive, even. Routes shares for the top-four guys (Justin Jefferson (3-33, five targets), T.J. Hockenson (5-34, nine targets), Adam Thielen, and K.J. Osborn) were all in the 75-81% range and were pulled when the game was out of hand. They could only muster 183 yards of total offense and 105 passing yards with Kirk Cousins before he gave way to backup quarterback Nick Mullens.

Week 11 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, Dalvin Cook, Adam Thielen

Keep Them Rostered: Kirk Cousins, Alexander Mattison, K.J. Osborn (deeper 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A 

New England Patriots

Target distribution was very flat across the board in Week 11, which was pretty atypical for New England, who has usually been Jakobi Meyers (4-52, six targets, 97% routes) and scraps for the rest. Rhamondre Stevenson (6-56, six targets, 79% routes) has worked his way in as well into the receiving equation. After those two, only one other pass-catcher ran routes on more than 75% of dropbacks.

It’s not a passing game environment where we’re starting multiple wide receivers or tight ends outside of Meyers. It’s just not strong or consistent enough for that.

Week 11 New England Patriots Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Jakobi Meyers, Rhamondre Stevenson

Keep Them Rostered: Damien Harris, DeVante Parker (when healthy), Hunter Henry (deeper 12 & 14 team), Tyquan Thornton (deeper 12 & 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New Orleans Saints

One thing that was honestly wild to see with the Saints’ pass-catchers in Week 11 was that all of their route percentages were spread out. No Saints ran more than 69% of routes and that includes Chris Olave (5-102-1, six targets, 63% routes). Olave is the clear money-maker for fantasy purposes and hopefully this was a one-week blip or a specific gameplan vs. the Rams last week.

I’m still interested in Jarvis Landry (3-33-1, four targets, 59% routes) and Juwan Johnson (3-47-1, four targets, 69% routes) as ancillary pieces of this offense for fantasy purposes, but spreading out routes amongst multiple pass-catchers is not the greatest thing for fantasy. We want condensed offenses and knowing which pass-catcher will get the most routes each week.

Week 11 New Orleans Saints Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave

Keep Them Rostered: Jarvis Landry, Andy Dalton (deeper 12 and 14 team), Mark Ingram (deeper 12 and 14 team), Juwan Johnson, Taysom Hill (deeper 12 and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New York Giants

Just when the Giants were finding pass-catchers on offense to get them to the promised land (second in the NFC East, apparently), they go and lose Wan’Dale Robinson (9-100, 13 targets, 69% routes) for the remainder of the season with an ACL tear. 

Again, we can’t have nice things.

At least there’s still Darius Slayton (5-86, 10 targets, 88% routes), who’s been pretty solid for the Giants over the last month and change. Over half of the targets went to Robinson and Slayton, who would have been the only players you were realistically starting in fantasy anyway out of the pass-catchers.

Week 11 New York Giants Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Saquon Barkley

Keep Them Rostered: Darius Slayton, Daniel Jones 

Dump ‘Em: Can dump Wan’Dale Robinson after his ACL tear will sideline him for the rest of the season.

New York Jets