One of the free agent waiver wire pickups of the week will look to become a factor in the red zone as early as this week. Arizona Cardinals’ rookie tight end Trey McBride will look to step up in the absence of Zach Ertz, and reward those fantasy football managers who invested a good chunk of their FAAB into the former Colorado St. standout. In this week’s red zone report, we’ll look at Josh Allen’s recent red zone struggles, and if there’s anything to be worried about, as well as the red zone backfield usage in San Francisco this past week. Speaking of that, welcome back, Elijah Mitchell! Additionally, we’ll break down an NFC North running back who refuses to relinquish his role, and an NFC West wide receiver that has largely been a fantasy football bust this season. From red zone passing, to rushing, to receiving, we’ll take a look at some notable numbers from the first nine weeks of the season that can help your fantasy football teams the rest of the way. Using the red zone report here at Fantasy Alarm, here are the key numbers and notes in this week’s red zone analysis.

 

 

 

NFL Red Zone Report

Red Zone Passing

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Typically, being tied for the lead in red zone interceptions isn’t a great thing, but it’s been more of a recent problem compared to a season-long issue for Buffalo’s Josh Allen. Over the last two weeks, he’s just 3-for-10 with one touchdown inside the red zone, and the interceptions have been problematic. He’s tied with Trevor Lawrence for most red zone interceptions on the year, but I wouldn’t fret with Allen. His 2.9 percent interception rate is only slightly above his career mark (2.4%) and he’s a guy that is always going to take the chances. Ideally, he cuts back on the interceptions a bit, but he’s still, at worst, a top three or four option at the position.

 

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers

Jimmy G has been money in the red zone this year, let’s be honest. He’s completing over 60 percent of his passes with a 9:1 TD/INT ratio. Excellent! He has a loaded supporting cast around him, and even if the 49ers lean a bit run-heavy in the red zone moving forward, Garoppolo will still have every opportunity to get his chances, making him a steady QB2 the rest of the way for those in 2QB/superflex set ups. He has multiple touchdown passes in four of his last five games, and he’s averaging 265.4 passing yards during this stretch.

 

Red Zone Rushing

Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions

Okay, Williams isn’t going anyway. Sure, Swift has been banged up, but I did not have Jalen Hurts, Joe Mixon and Jamaal Williams being the league leaders in rushing attempts through Week 10 of the 2022 NFL season. If you did, you are either lying, or are absolutely insane! Despite D’Andre Swift being available the past couple of weeks, Williams has outcarried Swift in the end zone 11 to 3, and while Williams may not play more than half of the snaps, he is the primary red zone back, and Williams has double-digit touches in every single game this season, including 40 carries over the last two weeks! Here are some crazy numbers for Williams this year:

  • 76 percent of team’s rushing attempts inside the red zone
  • 88 percent of team’s rushing attempts inside the 10-yard line
  • 92 percent of team’s rushing attempts inside the five-yard line

 

Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers

Okay, well, this is something I didn’t expect. Christian McCaffrey saw 14 carries and six targets, and Mitchell saw a game-high 18 carries and two targets. McCaffrey played on 65 percent of the snaps, compared to 35 percent for Mitchell, but when Mitchell was on the field, there was a very good probability he was getting the football. Beyond that, Mitchell saw more red zone touches (8-5) than McCaffrey, so maybe Mitchell will have some flex value, especially in deeper formats, down the stretch as the de facto RB2 in this offense. Even with a stud back like McCaffrey, the team will continue to deploy multiple running backs, and perhaps this will help keep Mitchell healthy, and McCaffrey fresh.

 

 

 

Red Zone Receiving

Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Zach Ertz was one of the most targeted players in the National Football League in the red zone this season, and McBride will have a chance to step up into a potentially lucrative role as the tight end for the Cardinals. Ertz had four red zone touchdowns this season, and only Kansas City’s Travis Kelce had more red zone targets at the tight end position than Ertz. The rookie out of Colorado St. may only have four catches on the season but he boasts big time potential, seeing as he racked up over 100 receptions and 1,4000 yards in final two seasons in college. He was never a big touchdown guy, so here’s to hoping we see a few scores from the rookie down the stretch, especially if you put a good chunk of FAAB on him.

 

Allen Robinson, Los Angeles Rams

With no Cooper Kupp the next four weeks as he was placed on injured reserve, Robinson will have an opportunity to be the alpha in the passing attack. Even with Kupp healthy, Robinson led the team in red zone targets, and one would think his fantasy floor should be elevated the next month or so. Tyler Higbee and Van Jefferson will most certainly be involved, but fantasy managers who invested a first half of the draft pick on Robinson may finally get some performances that equate to the invested draft capital. Robinson has just one game this year with more than 60 receiving yards, but upcoming matchups against the Saints, Chiefs, Seahawks, and Raiders provide multiple opportunities for 60+ yard games for Robinson, and ideally a touchdown, or two.

 

 

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