Targets - Week 4-  10/04/11

TARGETS - WEEK 4

YO PYROS!!!  Check week 4 off the schedule and let’s hope this first quarter treated you right.  Let’s dig into some targets and find out who was being served the quarter pounder with cheese…

If you’re a first timer just checking in for this weekly report, here’s how we break it down…

The Gravy Train…

The Gravy Train showcase is to “target” the guys who will be regulars at the top of the list throughout the season.  Rain or shine, this crew will find a way to be here most weeks.  These are your work horses that can you can ride to your league’s playoff door.

Eating with the Big Dogs…

This section showcases guys who had a great feeding by their offensive coordinators this week but who will see the top of the list infrequently.  Or, a fresh face on the rise that has shown he just may belong with the Big Dogs.

Dude, Where’s my Pizza…

Here’s where we highlight this week’s batch of players that normally should be fed but we’re starved out over the weekend.

RUNNING BACK CARRIES + TARGETS 

The Gravy Train… I know it’s his first week back with a full helping, but Arian (Australian for Hamstring) Foster was back to his old self, grinding down the carries like a starved wolf pack at B-Dubs on .35 cent wing night.  Good to see you back at the top kid. 

Eating with the Big Dogs…  Chris Wells is 18^th overall on carries for the season, but got his eat on last Sunday with a 27 pack of nuggets (2^nd overall this week).  It’s clearly impressive what this kid could do on the Gravy Train.  He took advantage of the serving and knocked out 138 yards and 3 Tuddies for a career day.  Did I mention Targets are important yet?

Dude, Where’s my Pizza?...  The Florida Times Union reported MJD said his shortage of carries against the Saints Sunday was part of the game plan…  “We thought we could attack their defense in the passing game.”  MJD knocked out 84 yards on 11 carries – close to 8 per tote.  With a rookie QB and Mike Thomas at WR1, I’m thinking that game plan sucked.  Count on 20+ carries this week for the Human Bowling Ball.

WIDE RECEIVER TARGETS

The Gravy Train…  I know we have a remarkably talented class of Wides in the NFL today, but best in show has to go to Calvin Johnson.  Megatron is stupidly ridiculous and if he keeps seeing these fat targets all season, he’ll be eyeballing some big season records by years end.

Eating with the Big Dogs… Welcome to the eating contest kid.  Julio Jones gorged himself this weekend with 17 targets and threw down some very respectable numbers for a rookie wide.  Most of us expected big things out of JJ and this is a nice sign early on for a splendid rookie campaign.

Dude, Where’s my Pizza?...  Steve Johnson has had a great first quarter season but this weekend, he left a little meat on that bone.  With only 6 targets, 43^rd overall, SJ disappointed with just four catches for 58 yards.  If he sees five more targets in week 4, he would be tied for 3^rd overall in the league.  Come on Fitz!  Feed the Beast!

TIGHT END TARGETS 

The Gravy Train…  Its official, Jimmy Graham is going to have a monster season and he’ll be riding first class on the Targets Gravy Train in New Orleans the rest of the year.  Drew Brees is lovin’ his large target, and Graham is rewarding him with big production. 

Eating with the Big Dogs…  I liked Ram Rookie TE Lance Kendricks as a sleeper this year and he finally showed up.  Welcome to the table Rook, there’s plenty of production to be had if you can get served each week.  I’m still convinced Bradford is going to get pass happy at some point this season, so if you’re desperate for a TE, this might be somewhere to look. 

Dude, Where’s my Pizza?... Anytime I see Jermichael Finley with a measly six targets in a game, you’ll be seeing his name right here.  Still, the TE was clearly getting double teamed heavy all game, and Rodgers took advantage with Jennings, Nelson, and Jones.   

QUARTERBACK THROWING ATTEMPTS + CARRIES

The Gravy Train…  Fortunately, I am not one of the masses who have to admit I was wrong about Cam Newton’s skill set, but I am definitely shocked at the amount of pass attempts the rook is flailing out there.  Fig Newton is feasting on attempts like they were cookies, sitting at 4^th overall on the season.  He continued his feeding frenzy in week 4 landing the #3 spot.

Eating with the Big Dogs…  Last week I featured Colt McCoy here with 39 attempts and stated “this was as big a feeding as you’ll see this year.”  Looks like I’m going have to eat those words cause Colt looked like Kobayashi at a Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest this weekend.  61 attempts!

Dude, Where’s my Pizza…  With the return of V-Jax and Gates, I was counting on a monster year out of Old Man Rivers, but he has only dropped 5 TD’s over the first 4 weeks.  At least owners can usually look forward to him chowing down some attempts and digesting the yards.  Though this week was a bit scrawny with only 31 attempts for the 21^st spot overall, he still put up 300+ yards.  Just imagine what he could have done on the Gravy Train.  

by Mike Spike Jønes

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- 10/04/11