5 Game Fantasy Target Split

NFL Player 5G 5G Total Reggie Wayne 70 60 130 Brandon Marshall 56 51 107 Calvin Johnson 56 51 107 Wes Welker 66 53 105 Larry Fitzgerald 55 49 104 A.J. Green 56 48 104 Victor Cruz 57 47 104 Jason Witten 40 56 96 Roddy White 45 48 93 Dwayne Bowe 57 36 93 Andre Johnson 30 60 90 Steve Johnson 46 43 89 Brian Hartline 53 35 88 Vincent Jackson 46 42 88 Tony Gonzalez 47 40 87 Dez Bryant 48 38 86 Marques Colston 50 36 86 DeSean Jackson 46 40 86 Demaryius Thomas 46 39 85 Percy Harvin 48 37 85 Steve Smith 38 46 84 Miles Austin 34 50 84 Davone Bess 38 44 82 Brandon Lloyd 45 37 82 Eric Decker 43 35 78 Donnie Avery 47 31 78 Mike Wallace 34 44 78 Julio Jones 46 31 77 Jimmy Graham 42 35 77 Anquan Boldin 38 38 76

With every NFL player now finished their bye week, Gridiron Experts wanted to create a comparison of the top 30 most targeted players first five games, to their second five games. The table to the right splits each NFL player into two columns. While most fantasy players see a relatively equal number targets from the first half of the season to the second half, there are some notable differences and trends.

*It should be noted that Jimmy Graham and Percy Harvin each missed time. Their five game split should not be compared.

Increased Second Half Targets

Andre Johnson, Texans- While his week 11 match-up saw a massive spike of 19 targets, the top wide receiver for the Houston Texans has doubled his targets from the first five games of the season. With nagging injuries and easier opponents on the schedule, it only makes sense that we’re now just starting to see this fantasy stud take off. (First 5 games 30 Targets. Second 5 games 60 Targets.)

While his week 11 match-up saw a massive spike of 19 targets, the top wide receiver for the Houston Texans has doubled his targets from the first five games of the season. With nagging injuries and easier opponents on the schedule, it only makes sense that we’re now just starting to see this fantasy stud take off. (First 5 games 30 Targets. Second 5 games 60 Targets.) Miles Austin, Cowboys– Austin’s fantasy production has been slightly quieter the last two weeks, but there is a noticeable increase in targets sent his way through the second half of the season. With the best yet to come and a possible playoff window open, Tony Romo should lean on Austin even more in the coming weeks. It should also be noted that Dez Bryant’s slump has helped the amount of balls thrown Austin’s way. Nevertheless, it’s a noticeable spike. (First 5 games 34 Targets. Second 5 games 50 Targets.)

Decreased second half targets

Brian Hartline, Dolphins – Easily one of the most noticeable drop-offs is Brian Hartline of the Miami Dolphins. After a few massive fantasy games in weeks two and four, this waiver wire gem has definitely cooled off. (First 5 games 53 Targets. Second 5 games 35 Targets.)

– Easily one of the most noticeable drop-offs is Brian Hartline of the Miami Dolphins. After a few massive fantasy games in weeks two and four, this waiver wire gem has definitely cooled off. (First 5 games 53 Targets. Second 5 games 35 Targets.) Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs– With the Kansas City Chiefs total implosion, Dwayne Bowe’s fantasy drop-off is expected. With quarterback problems and injuries across the board, Bowe’s seen far less targets the past five games opposed to the first five. You got a better chance with a William Hill football coupon. (First 5 games 57 Targets. Second 5 games 36 Targets.)

NFL Top 30 Fantasy Targets

This following is the top 30 most targeted fantasy players after 11 weeks.

RK Player Pos TM 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 11 Total 1 Reggie Wayne WR IND 18 7 15 bye 20 10 11 11 9 11 18 130 2 Brandon Marshall WR CHI 15 5 11 8 17 bye 10 14 10 13 4 107 3 Calvin Johnson WR DET 7 12 12 12 bye 13 11 8 8 13 11 107 4 Wes Welker WR NE 5 11 10 11 15 14 8 9 bye 11 11 105 5 Larry Fitzgerald WR ARI 11 5 9 15 15 12 7 11 12 bye 7 104 6 A.J. Green WR CIN 11 12 11 9 13 11 6 bye 9 10 12 104 7 Victor Cruz WR NYG 11 17 8 13 8 13 11 8 11 4 bye 104 8 Jason Witten TE DAL 3 10 6 14 bye 7 8 22 8 10 8 96 9 Roddy White WR ATL 8 11 8 12 6 8 bye 4 10 13 13 93 10 Dwayne Bowe WR KC 6 15 16 12 8 9 bye 6 10 9 2 93 11 Andre Johnson WR HOU 10 4 4 6 6 12 10 bye 10 9 19 90 12 Steve Johnson WR BUF 10 5 11 10 10 11 7 bye 7 9 9 89 13 Brian Hartline WR MIA 8 12 9 19 5 0 bye 6 12 10 7 88 14 Vincent Jackson WR TB 10 10 7 11 bye 8 14 6 4 7 11 88 15 Tony Gonzalez TE ATL 6 10 12 5 14 7 bye 5 5 15 8 87 16 Dez Bryant WR DAL 5 7 8 13 bye 15 3 11 4 5 15 86 17 Marques Colston WR NO 11 4 4 13 18 bye 10 10 4 6 6 86 18 DeSean Jackson WR PHI 11 8 10 9 8 8 bye 8 7 8 9 86 19 Demaryius Thomas WR DEN 7 11 11 6 11 2 bye 9 8 11 9 85 20 Percy Harvin WR MIN 8 13 11 6 10 14 5 12 6 bye 85 21 Steve Smith WR CAR 11 4 4 6 13 bye 9 16 7 7 7 84 22 Miles Austin WR DAL 4 10 9 6 bye 5 9 16 9 4 12 84 23 Davone Bess WR MIA 7 6 7 12 6 9 bye 9 9 6 11 82 24 Brandon Lloyd WR NE 8 13 12 7 5 12 8 4 bye 6 7 82 25 Eric Decker WR DEN 7 8 11 9 8 9 bye 6 11 4 5 78 26 Donnie Avery WR IND 8 10 9 bye 8 12 6 7 8 6 4 78 27 Mike Wallace WR PIT 6 5 11 bye 8 4 15 9 5 8 7 78 28 Julio Jones WR ATL 9 7 7 8 15 8 bye 5 6 5 7 77 29 Jimmy Graham TE NO 10 13 8 9 2 bye 10 11 8 6 77 30 Anquan Boldin WR BAL 5 4 7 12 10 6 8 bye 5 7 12 76