Fantasy football: 5 winning strategies to ace your draft for 2018
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: Don’t Undervalue Receiving Targets and Rush Attempts
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Similar to the stat splits, you should pay attention to a player’s targets (if he’s a wide receiver or tight end) along with his rushing attempts (if he’s a running back).
This is equally important to consistency as splits are, but it gives you an indication where that particular player is on a team’s depth chart. So if you’re looking for a late-round sleeper, this is how you can measure up value.
Of course, the player has to actually produce on the field. A stuffed run still constitutes a rushing attempt, and a dropped pass is a target the last I checked.
But they’re also pretty good indicators of a coaching staff’s trust.
If you’re not clear on what I mean, here’s a different example. In fantasy hockey, you’ll strike gold if you nab a top-scoring defenseman. But they’re rare. To identify the next level, I always look at shot attempts. A high shot total often equates to him being on a power play unit or at least having a scoring mindset.
At the NFL level, you’re looking for a receiver who has the trust of his quarterback. Same goes with a running back, especially if he’s part of a two-piece committee.