NFL Week 8 High Value Targets

Sorry this week's "High Value Targets" piece is coming out a bit late.  My son had surgery yesterday, so I took the day off and spent a lot of time the day before prepping.  Thanks for your understanding, I hope this information still helps you win in your leagues this weekend!  So without further ado...my high value targets for week 8!

WR Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings

Stefon Diggs makes a big jump from "high value pick" to leading receiver in my high value picks after just 3 games due to his off the charts production over that time.  Over the course of those 3 games, he's been targeted 27 times, and he's caught 19 of them for a 70.3% catch rate.  He's turned those catches into 324 yards, for an average of 17.1 per catch and a staggering 12 per target, almost a full yard per target ahead of the second receiver on this list.  While he has only managed to convert one of those 19 catches into a touchdown, a .05 TD rate per reception is still higher than guys like Jeremy Maclin or Antonio Brown, and right on par with a guy like Keenan Allen, who has been tearing up fantasy leagues this year.  Look for Diggs to add some more touchdowns as he continues to get settled into the offense in Minnesota this week against Chicago, one of the worst defenses in the league.

WR John Brown, Arizona Cardinals
Over 11 yards per target is what earned John Brown second on this list.  He's being targeted more than 7 times a game, and reeling in at least 5 of them for what amount to over 80 yards per game.  Basically, every time he's being targeted he's earning you 1.8 points.  That's a pretty good floor.  And he's been doing it all season, for 7 games and 5 of them as a listed starter.  While he's listed as questionable this week, he may just be worth the risk to some of you out there due to his production being off the charts.

WR AJ Green, Cincinnati Bengals
Green is a name that shouldn't surprise anyone being on this list.  In fact, it surprised me he wasn't on it last week.  He's one of the 5 best receivers in the league in my opinion, and should be a lock for this list every week.  Through 6 games right now, he's being targeted more than 8 times per game, and catching almost 6 of those balls each game, for a 71.4% catch rate.  The 531 yards he's turned all those catches into give him an average of 10.8 yards per target, for third in the league among players being targeted a minimum of 5 times per game.  He's only turned 3 catches into touchdowns so far, but I expect him to add to that total at a slightly faster clip, perhaps 8 touchdowns in the final 10 games.  Use him with confidence each and every week, especially those when he faces an easy match up, like this weekend in Pittsburgh.

WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
"Father Time is undefeated".  You've heard the saying many times.  I'd very much like the person who coined that phrase to explain both Tim Duncan, and Larry Fitzgerald to me.  Maybe Tom Brady also.  These three guys are beating down Father Time.  Fitzgerald here has the best catch rate and touchdown rate of any receiver on this list at 77.9% and 13% respectively.  He's averaging 13.5 yards per reception, for a 10.54 per target average, and pulling in 6.5 catches a game on about 8 and a half targets a game.  On top of that 88 yards per game, he's averaging a touchdown a game.  So basically when you draft Fitzgerald to your DFS team, you're drafting 6 catches, 89 yards, and a touchdown.  That's 21 points.  That's a RIDICULOUS floor.  Draft him with confidence each and every week.

WR Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders
Rookie Amari Cooper was projected to hit the ground running in the NFL, and he's done just that, racking up 519 yards through the air in his first 6 games, and doing it against some tough competition at times, most notably Jason Varrett of the Chargers last Sunday.  This week he faces Darrelle Revis, and while I'm not sure I'd bet the house on him putting up a 100 yard game, I'm not sure I'd bet against him either.  He's being targeted more than 8 times a game, and while he has the lowest catch rate of any wideout on this list with just 66%, the catches he's making are going for distance, with an average of 15.7 yards per reception.  He's not yet a match-up proof guy, but he's getting there.

TE Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

Rob Gronkowski-not surprisingly-occupies the top tight end spot on this list, pulling in almost 6 catches a game for a jaw dropping 92 yards per game, a staggering amount for a tight end.  He's averaging a touchdown per game, with 7 in 7 games, and doesn't appear to be slowing up any.  He's nearly an unstoppable force in the league, and playing with perhaps the best quarterback to ever play in the league.  I don't see any reason to not build entire lineups around Gronk every week, he's totally match up proof and should be started with confidence anytime.

RB Danny Woodhead, San Diego Chargers
As I mentioned in my value plays article this week, Woodhead leads the league in receptions for a running back, so it shouldn't surprise anyone to see his name on this list as the top back.  QB Phillip Rivers is targeting him almost 7 times a game, and he's pulling in more than 5 of those balls, averaging more than 58 yards per game through the air.  That's 11 yards a reception, 8 yards a target, and a 78% catch rate.  Pretty good numbers for a running back priced in the mid 4000's every week, in ppr style (draft king) leagues.  That's 10.8 points you're starting each game with, before you talk about any running he might throw in, any big plays, or any touchdowns.  Not a bad way to live as a fantasy owner.