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 13 weeks of the NFL season and the last set of bye weeks are this week for next week’s target report. We'll go through some team and player usage tendencies. Before we get into the Target Report for Week 13, 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: Quez Watkins (deeper 12 and 14 team), Samaje Perine (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 13 Target Report

Arizona Cardinals

On bye in Week 13.

Week 13 Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: DeAndre Hopkins, James Conner, Marquise Brown, Kyler Murray

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

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Atlanta Falcons

Same old story with those Atlanta Falcons — run, run, run to their own detriment. But wait, we have a pulse with Drake London! Has it gotten so bad with Kyle Pitts gone that the Falcons decided to consolidate some targets to London (6-95, 12 targets), their top draft pick in 2022?

London was excellent, but the worst part about it is that you only started him in fantasy football if you were desperate despite the Steelers being one of the worst pass defenses in football against the wide receiver position. THAT is how bad the passing game has been for the Falcons — when we can’t even take advantage of good matchups because of the putrid offensive environment for their wide receivers and tight ends.

No other Falcons had more than two receptions, and only one (Olamide Zaccheaus) had more than two targets.

Week 13 Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: LOL

Keep Them Rostered: Drake London, Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier, Marcus Mariota (14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson left this game with a knee injury and Tyler Huntley had to come in and right the ship for the Ravens. To be fair, even with Jackson, the ship is still steering a bit sideways, but Huntley did his best to at least dink and dunk his way to a victory in a game no passing touchdowns were scored. 

Awesome. (Probably sarcasm.)

Targets were spread out amongst a bunch of pass catchers, but Demarcus Robinson (7-41, eight targets, 83% routes) and Mark Andrews (4-53, seven targets) led the way for Baltimore. Can we get the vintage Andrews that Huntley peppered with targets to round last season? Andrews has been underwhelming despite posting three straight top-12 performances, but I sure hope so. He needs it. 

Week 13 Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Mark Andrews, Lamar Jackson (when healthy)

Keep Them Rostered: Demarcus Robinson (deeper 12 and 14 team), Kenyan Drake

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Buffalo Bills

The Bills stayed the Bills and even if they only scored 24 points, there was a lot of goodness to be had. 

Stefon Diggs is #good. No surprise there.

Even when scoring a touchdown and earning seven targets, if you started Gabe Davis, you were a bit disappointed. We went through this as our generation’s Mack Hollins, but Davis (2-15-1, seven targets) is just what he is at this point: a boom-or-bust WR3 with high peaks and low valleys.

James Cook (6-41, six targets) was much more involved in the offense this week and more often than he has the entire season. Cook ran a season-high share of both routes (41%) and snaps (43%) and earned six targets, cutting away more work from Devin Singletary (2 targets, no catches) and putting a little more ambiguity into this backfield.

Week 13 Buffalo Bills Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Stefon Diggs, Josh Allen

Keep Them Rostered: Gabe Davis, Isaiah McKenzie, Devin Singletary, James Cook, Dawson Knox (deeper 12 team and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Carolina Panthers

On bye in Week 13.

Week 13 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Yikes.

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

The Bears were split evenly with their run and pass, but while Justin Fields didn’t throw a touchdown pass (but connected on 40+-yard deep shots to Equanimeous St. Brown and N’Keal Harry), he still put up a solid effort on the ground with 71 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 13.

Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool (5-28, six targets, 82% routes — most as a Bear), and Cole Kmet (6-72, seven targets, 96% routes) are only part of the equation in Chicago; they’re going to need to get an offensive line and potentially another pass-catcher. But Fields has the tools to succeed and he’s great as a standalone option.

Week 13 Chicago Bears Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Justin Fields

Keep Them Rostered: David Montgomery, Cole Kmet, Chase Claypool

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cincinnati Bengals

The big-brained Bengals decided to completely erase Travis Kelce and in turn, beat the Chiefs for the third time this calendar year. Without Joe Mixon, the Bengals rode Samaje Perine (6-49, seven targets, 50% routes; 21 carries, 106 yards) and he looked better than Mixon has this season, full stop.

Tight end Hayden Hurst left the game early on (19% of routes) with a calf injury and it’s one that’s severe enough to already be ruled out for Week 14. Of course, we always talk about consolidation of targets for the Bengals, so while the team did bring in former Giant Tanner Hudson to likely get some receiving work since that’s not what likely starter Mitchell Wilcox does, it’s great for the stud receivers there to get more of the consolidation.

Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd saw 58% of the team’s targets and 90% routes per dropback or better in Week 13. Chase (7-97, eight targets) looked all the way back, Higgins (3-35-1, five targets) chipped in with a touchdown, and Boyd (4-60, five targets) was perfectly fine.

Week 13 Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Takeaways:

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

Keep Them Rostered: Samaje Perine (likely more work coming with Mixon back, at worst a priority handcuff/contingent play), Tyler Boyd

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cleveland Browns

You could really tell that Deshaun Watson hadn’t played football in two years, but the Browns were so run-heavy (-17% PROE, second-lowest of Week 13) and facing a terrible Texans team, so it really doesn’t matter.

With only 131 receiving yards and zero touchdowns to go around for the pass-catchers, it was mediocrity across the board. Even Amari Cooper (4-40, 100% route participation) wasn’t immune, despite earning a team-high nine targets.

You have to figure that as Watson gets more comfortable getting back into practice routines and weekly game action, the passing game efficiency and production will follow. Until then? It only makes Cooper a startable option heading into these high-leverage fantasy playoff weeks.

Week 13 Cleveland Browns Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Amari Cooper, Nick Chubb, David Njoku (when healthy)

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

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Dallas Cowboys

Well, it WAS 21-19 Cowboys in the fourth quarter, and then Dallas hung 33 points (almost the equivalent of the Denver Broncos offensive output (35) in Weeks 11-13) on the Colts. Yikes.

The Cowboys didn’t need to pass too much, but when they did, 66% of the targets went to one of CeeDee Lamb (5-71-1, seven targets), Michael Gallup (4-23-2, seven targets), or Dalton Schultz (2-33, six targets). All three had routes per dropback of at least 84% and both Lamb (1) and Gallup caught touchdowns.

Dallas will stay skewed towards the run more often than not (-6.2% PROE) as they are typically in the bottom half of the weekly PROE leaders but are able to have spikes in their passing game production thanks to Dak Prescott in addition to their passing-game efficiency and accompanied run game.

Week 13 Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Takeaways:

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

Keep Them Rostered: Michael Gallup

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Denver Broncos

Denver has been the lowest-scoring offense in the league with just 13.8 actual points per game this season, but we’re always looking for that breakout game. We’re through 12 weeks here and let’s just be honest — it ain’t coming.

All Denver could muster was three field goals and Courtland Sutton (one target, 39% routes) left the game early with a hamstring injury that head coach Nathaniel Hackett is already saying "It’s not looking good for this week for him” in regards to Sutton’s Week 14 availability.

Shouldering the load for the Broncos in the receiving game was tight end Greg Dulcich (6-85, eight targets, 81% routes), who bounced back with strong production on excellent metrics (4.05 YPRR, 0.86 WOPR). Jerry Jeudy (4-65, four targets) also chipped in. 

We see the weapons and think it could be so much better, but we get sucked into the Denver Broncos' cone of influence. This is who they are… and it’s #not good.

Week 13 Denver Broncos Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Courtland Sutton (I’m a glutton for punishment)

Keep Them Rostered: Jerry Jeudy, Greg Dulcich, Latavius Murray, Russell Wilson (deeper 12 and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: If you need to dump Russell Wilson, I get it completely. He only has EIGHT passing touchdowns on the season.

Detroit Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown (11-114-2, 12 targets) is a menace. So #good.

The Lions blew the doors off of the Jaguars in the D.J. Chark (5-98, six targets, 95% routes) revenge game. Josh Reynolds (3-19, four targets, 77% routes) was the only other Lion to run a moderately capable routes percentage, but with St. Brown and Chark’s great days, the lack of production is expected now that he’s shuffled down the pecking order.

D’Andre Swift is back in our good graces after getting back to pre-injury levels of routes and snaps at 51% for both — compared to Jamaal Williams’ 20% routes and 30% snaps. Swift is a sight for sore eyes and it couldn’t have come at a better time for fantasy managers who stuck with him.

Jameson Williams only played eight snaps and two routes but earned a 22-yard target that he didn’t come down with. We’re still stashing if you have the room.

Week 13 Detroit Lions Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: D’Andre Swift, Amon-Ra St. Brown

Keep Them Rostered: Jamaal Williams, D.J. Chark, Jared Goff, Jameson Williams (stash still)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Green Bay Packers

Even in victory, the Packers were content to play down to the Bears’ talent — a damning shot to the coaching if there ever was one. Still, #RegressionSzn doesn’t apply to Christian Watson (3-48-1, six targets; 46-yard rushing touchdown) as while he ONLY caught one touchdown pass, he took a 46-yard jet motion handoff for another score.

Watson is a bit unfair at this point and needs to be started across the board. What a cheat code.

Besides the greatest player to ever wear #9 for the Packers, targets were pretty spread out with Allen Lazard (5-67, six targets) and Aaron Jones (5-24, five targets, only 34% routes) leading the way outside of Watson.

Jones was a bit banged up and only played a handful of snaps in the second half, which led to AJ Dillon (3-26, three targets; 93 rushing yards and a touchdown) getting a lot more run than he’s typically gotten in 2022.

Week 13 Green Bay Packers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Christian Watson, Aaron Jones

Keep Them Rostered: Allen Lazard, Aaron Rodgers, AJ Dillon

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Houston Texans

You’re lucky if you can squeeze any blood from this stone in a given week, but if you tossed Nico Collins (3-35-1, 10 targets, 72% routes) into your lineups, you were disappointed… until he caught a touchdown. He was wildly inefficient, as is the case for the Texans’ pass-catchers no matter who the quarterback is, but at least the day was salvaged to a degree.

With no Brandin Cooks in Week 13, it was your typical assortment of misfit pass-catching toys trying to patch together an NFL offense and get through the season. There’s nobody we’re paying serious attention to for the rest of the season.

Week 13 Houston Texans Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Dameon Pierce

Keep Them Rostered: Nico Collins, Brandin Cooks (when healthy)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Indianapolis Colts

Here’s the thing with the Colts' offense: there’s usually one bankable performance each week in the passing game, and it’s more often than not from Michael Pittman. Pittman (2-16, four targets) disappointed greatly in Week 13, but the production came mostly from Alec Pierce (4-86-1, eight targets, 75% routes), who caught his touchdown thanks to a trademark interception attempt by Trevon Diggs that failed.

Pierce was the one target for Matt Ryan’s helium lobs, as he comprised roughly half (49%) of the team’s air yards on the night. There’s a reason Ryan was initially benched, and it’s not because he’s a super great quarterback.

With Kylen Granson (4-19, six targets, 55% routes) inactive for Week 12, Jelani Woods (2-28, four targets, just 28% routes) was able to have a monster game with minimal competition. With Woods taking a dip in routes in Week 13, it shows he’s clearly behind Granson in the pecking order.

Week 13 Indianapolis Colts Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman

Keep Them Rostered: Parris Campbell (deep 12 and 14 team leagues), Alec Pierce (14 team leagues)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars were thoroughly embarrassed by a vastly superior (!) Lions team in Week 13, but there were a couple of highlights, including Christian Kirk (6-104, eight targets, 85% routes) who continues to be just awesome for fantasy managers that took the chance on Kirk with a new opportunity on a new team.

Andrew Cooper-favorite Evan Engram caught a touchdown on 5-30 and seven targets, thus stringing us along on this season-long ride we’ll never feel satisfied with. That’s the best way I can put the Engram experience into words.

Week 12 hero Zay Jones followed up his 14-target, 11-145 performance with a two-catch dud in Week 13, exhibiting how quickly the Jaguars’ offense can turn from thriving to spoiled in just a week’s time.

Week 13 Jacksonville Jaguars Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk

Keep Them Rostered: Zay Jones, Trevor Lawrence, Evan Engram

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Kansas City Chiefs

A weird, weird game for those invested in the Chiefs, as the Chiefs were stymied by the Bengals' two-deep shell that’s been sweeping the nation and with most defensive attention put on Travis Kelce (4-59, six targets), they dared the Chiefs to throw to other targets. Besides a couple of deep shots to Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2-71, six targets), it did #not work. In fact, the Chiefs’ pass rate had not been this low (58%) since Week 5.

Clearly, this game is an aberration for guys like Kelce who will produce much more often than not, but it shows that the Bengals can be successful in completely taking away a player and forcing a team’s hand to target others. Patrick Mahomes and Kelce are not infallible. No other Chief after MVS and Kelce had more than four targets or three receptions.

Week 13 Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes

Keep Them Rostered: Isiah Pacheco, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jerick McKinnon (deep 12 and 14 team leagues), Skyy Moore (deep 12 and 14 team leagues)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Las Vegas Raiders

Seems #good!

Besides Davante Adams and Josh Jacobs, if you’re looking for more offense out of the rest of the Raiders, you’ll be looking for a while. No other Raider totaled more than 35 total yards. That was Mack Hollins (5-35, nine targets). There’s “consolidation of the offense”, and then there are the Raiders.

Darren Waller (I know, I know) may come back as soon as Week 15, so we’re still holding onto him based on the lack of strength at tight end.

Week 13 Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams

Keep Them Rostered: Darren Waller (when healthy), Mack Hollins, Hunter Renfrow (when healthy), Derek Carr

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers dropped back to pass a whopping 56 times (second-most in Week 13) and at the very least, Justin Herbert targeted his top-four pass-catchers to the tune of 82% of the targets. This includes Keenan Allen (6-88-1, 14 targets, 98%) who is obviously all the way back but likely too late for most fantasy managers who drafted him in the third round. Allen will undoubtedly have one of the lowest percentages of his rostership on playoff rosters.

Josh Palmer (7-60, 11 targets, 96% routes) also compiled double-digit targets and is pretty close to a locked-in start while the Chargers are minus Mike Williams.

Week 13 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Takeaways:

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

Keep Them Rostered: Josh Palmer, Gerald Everett

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams have John Wolford, Bryce Perkins, and now Baker Mayfield at quarterback. This team STINKS.

I don’t think there’s a pass-catcher to roster, let alone to start. 

Not even if you paid me.

Not Tutu Atwell (2-48) and certainly not Tyler Higbee (2-14), who led the team in targets (five) in Week 13.

Look elsewhere because it’s not going to get better. Sadly, it could get MUCH worse.

Week 13 Los Angeles Rams Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: If you’re looking for studs, they’re left back in 2021.

Keep Them Rostered: Tyler Higbee (and that’s even a stretch; he’s wholly unstartable but tight end is so gross. At your own risk.)

Dump ‘Em: Everybody, lol. Including Matthew Stafford, who won’t play again in 2022.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins peaked on the first play of the game, with Tua Tagovailoa hitting Trent Sherfield for a 75-yard touchdown — his only catch of the game. After that, it was downhill from there as the 49ers stymied them for the most part. The Dolphins sure tried to pass their way out of it, with a huge 20.7% PROE (second-highest of any team in 2022) and 80% raw pass rate, the tops in Week 13. 

41% of that target volume fell on Tyreek Hill (9-146-1, 14 targets) with Jaylen Waddle (1-9, five targets) in and out of the lineup with a lower leg injury. Waddle’s been banged up all season with a shoulder injury earlier and now this lower leg. Still, it’s admirable to see Waddle gutting it out, but he’s clearly not 100% and likely won’t be for the rest of the season.

Week 13 Miami Dolphins Fantasy Takeaways:

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

Keep Them Rostered: Jeff Wilson, Raheem Mostert

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Minnesota Vikings

Not a lot of passing yards to be had here (173) and just one touchdown, but at least it went to the right guy. Justin Jefferson (7-45-1, 11 targets) had everything in Week 13 but the yardage. Everything else is primo, and he’s never NOT been #good. Maybe in preschool, but even then, the dude was probably a STUD at duck, duck, goose.

The typically condensed offense was on full display as always, with T.J. Hockenson (4-33) and Adam Thielen (2-27) both notching six targets but putting up relatively subpar efforts considering the 35 pass attempts the Vikings had.

Week 13 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook

Keep Them Rostered: T.J. Hockenson, Adam Thielen, Alexander Mattison, Kirk Cousins

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New England Patriots

When your leader in receiving yards (Marcus Jones — 2-51-1, two targets — who scored the only touchdown for the Patriots as well) is a cornerback and kick returner, you’re in dire straits.

Rhamondre Stevenson (6-24, eight targets) ran a season-high (for any running back) 98% of snaps as he led the team in targets and essentially was their offenses outside of the Jones touchdown.

Jakobi Meyers (3-22, five targets) left the game with a possible concussion after just 63% of routes.

Week 13 New England Patriots Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Rhamondre Stevenson

Keep Them Rostered: Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Henry (deeper 12 and 14 team)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New Orleans Saints

Can we be honest here? I hope so because I'd like to think this is a safe space.

This game was especially brutal to watch until Tom Brady ripped out the barely beating heart of the Saints with a game-winning touchdown to Rachaad White.

The worst part was that we know how insanely talented Chris Olave (4-65, six targets) is, but the Saints have spread their pass routes out to so many options in this offense that it caps their upside and cuts them off at the knees. No Saints pass-catcher ran more than 80% of routes, and Olave’s 79% led the way.

I’ve noticed Rashid Shaheed (4-75, four targets) getting a major bump in the pass-catching hierarchy over the last month or so. His routes have climbed in the last four weeks from 16% up to a season-high 73% routes per dropback in Week 13. At least he’s providing SOME upside with explosivity and big-play ability, unlike Jarvis Landry (2-14, three targets, 70% routes), who has been just kind of there.

Week 13 New Orleans Saints Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave

Keep Them Rostered: Rashid Shaheed (deep 12 and 14 team leagues), Jarvis Landry (deep 12 and 14 team leagues), Juwan Johnson (deep 12 and 14 team leagues)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New York Giants

The Giants have finally figured out some kind of regularity with their wide receiver and tight end group it seems after just 13 weeks of football. Better late than never!

Darius Slayton (6-90, eight targets, 98% routes) is a pretty solid fantasy start most weeks as he’s always live for a longer touchdown and running virtually every route for the Giants. Daniel Bellinger (5-24, five targets) came back from a nasty eye injury to run routes on 87% of routes and has some competition with Isaiah Hodgins (5-44-1, six targets, 88%) as the second target in this offense.

It’s still a pretty untalented group when considering the whole group and it is lower volume, but Slayton is startable most weeks.

Week 13 New York Giants Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Saquon Barkley

Keep Them Rostered: Darius Slayton, Isaiah Hodgins, Daniel Bellinger, Daniel Jones

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New York Jets

The Jets had 58 pass attempts in Week 13, so the volume was plentiful and it was great to see. While Garrett Wilson (8-162, 15 targets, 231 air yards — most in Week 13) is going to have to fight recency bias all-star Christian Watson for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, what Wilson is doing is phenomenal. Imagine being able to get him in the ninth or tenth round of 2022 drafts. We won’t get that discount next season, however.

Also notching double-digit targets was Corey Davis (5-85, 10 targets) and Elijah Moore (2-7, six targets) ran routes on 75%, his highest routes percentage since demanding a trade earlier in the season.

Week 13 New York Jets Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Garrett Wilson

Keep Them Rostered: Zonovan Knight, Corey Davis, Elijah Moore (deep 12 and 14 team leagues), Ty Johnson (14 team leagues)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Philadelphia Eagles