Week 10 Target Report highlights
What happens when a team that despises running the ball gets behind early in a game? Target report madness.
We don’t have to give the Eagles any more reason to throw. Third-and-1 has been a passing down for Andy Reid for the last five seasons. But now that Brian Westbrook is out indefinitely and the Eagles’ defense is getting leakier by the game, Donovan McNabb is going to be chucking.
So when someone like DeSean Jackson gets an absurd 16 targets and Jason Avant goes for 156 yards in Week 10, eyebrows should be raised. Even in the Eagles’ “spread it around style,” target report madness can ensue.
Anyway, on to this week’s highlights. Here are four pass-catching situations that caught our eye in Week 10:
RAMS
Steven Jackson: 13
Brandon Gibson: 9
Donnie Avery: 6
Randy McMichael: 5
Daniel Fells: 3
Danny Amendola: 2
Keenan Burton: 1
Billy Bajema: 1
Maybe I’m too pumped up about Brandon Gibson, but this guy has me excited. He’s going to start the rest of the way and have every opportunity to succeed. Amendola is strictly a slot guy and Donnie Avery can stretch the field. It just feels right.
LIONS
Calvin Johnson: 13
Dennis Northcutt: 8
Brandon Pettigrew: 6
Bryant Johnson: 6
Maurice Morris: 5
Kevin Smith: 5
Will Heller: 4
Derrick Williams: 2
Jerome Felton: 2
I was assigned to the Vikings vs. Lions game Sunday and got a good look at Calvin Johnson. The knee looks fine to me (For what it’s worth, Matt Stafford’s knee does not look fine to me). The Lions dropped 10 passes in this game and Bryant Johnson proved once again he’s not a good NFL player. The Lions sorely need a playmaker opposite Calvin.
COWBOYS
Miles Austin: 9
Jason Witten: 8
Roy Williams: 7
Patrick Crayton: 6
Marion Barber: 4
Tashard Choice: 2
Martellus Bennett: 2
Kevin Ogletree: 1
There’s one guy that likes all the double teams Austin is seeing -- Roy Williams, who finally hopped over the 100-yard barrier last week. Witten’s struggles are really frustrating owners and it doesn’t look like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. His targets are there, but the deeper routes and red zone looks aren’t.
CHARGERS
Antonio Gates: 8
Darren Sproles: 4
Malcom Floyd: 3
Legedu Naanee: 3
Vincent Jackson: 3
Mike Tolbert: 2
LaDainian Tomlinson: 1
No, Vincent Jackson was not hurt. Chalk it up as a fluke. Malcom Floyd continues to struggle for both targets and catches since being named a starter. He’s really the fourth option in the passing game, although he retains value as the deep threat.
TARGET REPORT QUICK HITTERS:
Laveranues Coles had nine targets last week and had his second straight nice game since Chris Henry went down. He’s not an upside guy, but he can help some owners. … Lance Long only saw four targets last week, but that number will rise with Dwayne Bowe now out. … Dallas Clark has caught 64 out of the 78 balls that have come his way, a ridiculous 82 percent. Meanwhile, Greg Olsen is at 56 percent (34-of-61). … Justin Forsett was targeted eight times last week out of the backfield. He could see even more against the Vikings’ rugged pass defense this week.
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