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Welcome to Season 2 of 'Targets and Touches', where we take a look at what pass-catchers saw the most targets each week, and what running backs had the highest number of overall touches. This is really invaluable when it comes to picking up free agents and trying to figure out who might be your best play because it's all about attention. If you're getting it on the field, you're getting it in the fantasy world. So let's start it off with the top ten receivers from Week 1. So who to focus on? How about who the potential Victor Cruz of 2012 is, a new must-start at RB, and why you can trust your eyes enough to play one and only one Redskins RB in Week 2.
Also checking in with 10 targets were Andre Johnson, Steve Johnson, and Arte Johnson (okay not the 'Laugh In' guy), Dexter McCluster and Lance Moore. Moore is clearly the No. 2 WR in New Orleans and needs to play in your flex every week. McCluster is interesting. He has a pretty good rapport with Matt Cassel and that can't be denied. Is he worth picking up? Absolutely, because his season has the potential to follow along the lines of Victor Cruz in 2011: a slot guy getting balls due to mismatches because of all the attention being spent on a bigger, No. 1 WR. This could be THE breakout of this season. Take a chance.
When I see someone with 56 attempts in a game, I think Kobe Bryant against Oklahoma City, but that was Michael Vick against Cleveland on Sunday. Normally I wouldn't expect Maclin and Jackson to be on this list every week, but for some reason Andy Reid refuses to load up LeSean McCoy when the team isn't going well. Both are strong flex plays until the Eagles offense returns to sanity (and becomes McCoy-centric), but don't hold your breath.
The good news: Josh Freeman looked for Vincent Jackson more than double anyone else. The bad news: Jackson caught four balls for 47 yards. It's only one week, but my radar is really up on this situation. I think we've seen the best Jackson has had to offer in his career - and while you can hope for a big 'change of scenery' season, I'm not sold on him at all. He's an iffy-matchup-based flex play right now. Could I sound any more unconvinced on him?
Now we get to Kevin Ogletree. (Just an FYI, when I asked him on NFL Fantasy Live this week which Cowboys WR to start in Week 2, he first said himself, then he said Dez Bryant. So use that for what you will.) Is he worth trying to nab him off the waiver wire? Sure. Because you have at least one 'dead weight' spot on your bench you can afford to get rid of for Ogletree. So go for it. You never know, right? Just don't be surprised if you're waiving him in two weeks.
*Side note - The PackersRandall Cobb saw nine targets on Sunday and caught all nine of them. Can't do any better than that. However he said he was surprised how much he was used in the passing game, so be wary - there's a lot of guys who get the football in Green Bay so don't expect Cobb to do this regularly.
Leading the way with 28 touches apiece were Doug Martin and Alfred Morris. Seriously. You can expect that to continue for Martin, who got all but six of the Bucs RB carries and was involved in the passing game as well. Morris? I know it's a Mike Shanahan offense, so you never really know what's going on (sort of like when I watched 'Deadwood'), but this much we can glean: you cannot start Roy Helu or Evan Royster in Week 2, but you can put Morris in your flex. Even with a great game you still have no idea what Mike Shanahan will do. He could start Earnest Byner this week.
Shonn Greene tallied 27 touches for New York, and garbage-timed his way to a nice fantasy day. Everyone hates Greene because he's pedestrian and no one wants to say anything nice about the Jets. (Like everyone I work with, but that's OK, I bring it on myself by doing the Jets airplane in the newsroom every time they score.) But here's the thing: there is literally no one else on the Jets who is going to run the football. He'll get all the carries. You can count on him for between 20-25 rushing attempts per week, which means he's in your lineup as a flex or a weaker No. 2 RB.
Welcome to Fantasy Football, Stevan Ridley! I've been high on him all pre-season long and he came through for me Week 1 (unlike CJ2K and DeAngelo -1 Williams). Some things to know about Patriots running backs: the last four years, the teams' No. 1 RB has averaged over 100 more carries than their No. 2. RB. Ridley is a different player than BenJarvus Green-Ellis - he runs with power and speed which was on display against Tennessee. He'll get all the goal-line work. Don't expect 125 yards every week, but 75 and a TD? Certainly. He has to start for you as a strong RB 2.
Jason Smith hosts NFL Fantasy Live on the NFL Network and writes fantasy and other pith for NFL.com. Talk to him on Twitter @howaboutafresca, and listen to his Fantasy Podcast with Michael Fabiano and Elliot Harrison every week on nfl.com. He only asks you never bring up when the Jets play poorly.
