Let’s talk TARGETS! What’s more influential to CFF than targets? This week’s pulse has a heavy influence on the receiving side of things. All about who’s getting targets and who we are targeting.
THE CAROLINA CONUNDRUM
North Carolina is a fascinating example of the WR room changing dynamics from one week to the next. Kobe Paysour led UNC with 18 targets (9 each week) through the first two weeks. Nate McCollum sat out week one, played sparingly in week two, then blew the damn doors off the Gophers for 20 FREAKING TARGETS in week three. What the hell changed?!! Let’s look at the snaps distribution (per PFF):
Clearly, the change was Paysour moving out of the slot receiver position. He actually played more snaps than he did the week before with McCollum limited, but almost exclusively out wide in Week 3. Maybe this was due to an injury in the first half to Gavin Blackwell, or maybe it was just the plan in order to feature McCollum. Either way, the slot WR has led UNC in receiving every single week.
THE GOLDEN FLOUNDER
Houston’s Matthew Golden and his 30 targets is good for a 10 target/game average. This is fantastic. What is not fantastic, though, is his 31.6% drop rate, which is the highest in the country for anyone with 20+ targets. This must improve if he is going to produce like the top-ten WR that many of us projected. Six drops through just three games is unacceptable and it’s hard to shake a reputation for having hands like a fish.
THE TOP PPR RUNNING BACK
Let’s talk for a second about Ashton Jeanty’s ridiculous receiving line. In terms of running backs, the supersoph leads the nation in targets (17), receptions (15), and yards (245). He is second in TDs (2) and missed tackles forced (7). He is averaging 17.8 yards after contact per reception and spends 27% of his snaps either lined up in the slot or out wide. He’s demonstrated his worth and belongs somewhere on the field no matter the status of George Holani.
TOP TIGHT END TARGET TRAVESTY
It’s not necessarily target related, but what an awful year to “target” TEs early in drafts. Gadsden and Lachey are done for the year. Kuithe and Hunt have yet to play a snap. Bowers and Taylor have been hampered by injury. And while Sanders, Yurosek, and Maryland have all had their moments early on, they have all also had games with zero catches. Pain. Lots and lots of pain here.
PASS DEFENSES TO TARGET
Most of the bottom feeder pass defenses find themselves there because our sample size is small and they have already played elite pass offenses like USC, Washington, Oklahoma, or Colorado. However, two pass defenses stand out for all the wrong reasons.
- Central Michigan – 129th in pass yards allowed with 371/game. Opponents so far- Michigan State, New Hampshire, and Notre Dame. A slight pass was given for the Irish, but Sparty is a mess in the passing game, and New Hampshire hung 493(!) yards on the Chippewas through the air.
- Georgia State- 125th in pass yards allowed with 317/game. Opponents so far- Rhode Island, Connecticut with their backup QB, and Charlotte with their backup QB. Holy smokes. This secondary has to defend Malik Nabers later this season. Lol.
Target QBs and WRs to start every chance you have when they match up against CMU and GSU.
That’s a wrap for week 4, folks. Good night and good luck!
