In this mini-series, I’m picking 3 Receivers, 3 Running Backs and 3 Quarterbacks who have made it into the top 20 for Redzone usage in the last two consecutive seasons.

Looking at Redzone usage could be a huge help when it comes to choosing between players in your draft. You might have two very similar players but knowing one is used a lot more in the Redzone could be a massive edge.

Players targeted in the Redzone should have a bigger opportunity to find the endzone. With that, you might find a player picks up an extra 3 or 4 TD’s over players who aren’t getting the Redzone targets. Don’t forget, we all love players who score TD’s in Fantasy Football.

This time around I’ve looked at Redzone receptions and chosen 3 players to keep an eye on for 2020.

Jarvis Landry – WR – Cleveland Browns

Even with the likes of Odell Beckham and RB Nick Chubb on the Browns, Landry is being used down in the Redzone. 2019 saw Landry finish 4th overall on the Redzone reception list.

In 2018 Landry was targeted 18 times inside the 20 and caught 9 of them scoring 2 TD’s. 7 of the 18 targets were within the 10 catching 4 and scoring 1TD.

In 2019 Landry was targeted 20 times inside the 20 and caught 11 of those scoring 5 TD’s. 11 of these targets were actually within the 10 where Landry caught 6 and scored 4 of his 5 Redzone TD’s.

Right now you can pick up Landry as the WR 28 coming off the board 63rd overall. The WR just before is Diggs heading over to his new team and the WR after is AJ Green who’s coming back from injury having not played for a while.

Last season, both Diggs and Landry managed to get into the endzone 6 times. Knowing that the Browns use Landry a lot in the Redzone, plus the fact that Diggs is going into a new system after a crazy off-season makes me look towards choosing Landry over Diggs.

James White – RB – New England Patriots

PPR league players take note. This is an RB getting onto the top 20 Redzone reception list for 2 consecutive seasons. White is a versatile RB that gets used in a number of ways but New England likes to use him a lot for passing plays.

To be getting into the top 20 on a regular basis is massive for a player who you will find a lot further down the draft rankings. Right now he’s going 79th overall and as the 30th RB off the board.

Whites numbers for the past two seasons have got him into the top 20 for Redzone usage in both seasons. In 2018 he had 22 balls thrown his way inside the 20. He caught 16 of those and turned those into 7 TD’s. Of the targets inside the 20, 9 of those were inside the 10 where he caught 4 and turned all 4 into TD’s.

In 2019 White was targeted 19 times inside the 20. He caught 16 of those and picked up 4 TD’s. Of his targets inside the 20, 5 were inside the 10 where he caught 4 and pulled in 1 TD.

Right now you can get White in a PPR draft as the RB 30 which puts him as the 77th overall player. Looking at the two RBs either side of White at this ADP we can see White gets a lot more opportunity to feature in the Redzone.

Raheem Mostert had only 3 targets come his way in the Redzone. Mostert is just In front of White in the draft as the 70th overall pick. Tarik Cohen was 61 places behind White on the Redzone chart, down in 70th with 9 targets. Cohen comes just after White in the draft at 86th overall.

Zach Ertz – TE – Philadelphia Eagles

The TE debate about when to take one and who is worth a higher investment keeps ongoing. The Ertz debate can be cloudy at times too especially when the Eagles have another nifty TE in Goedert.

Right now Ertz has an ADP of 32nd overall and the 3rd TE off the board. The two debates come thick and fast here as it’s a high draft pick for a TE and one that’s got competition.

When it comes to the Redzone, Ertz is definitely worth the high TE pick. In 2018 Ertz topped the Redzone reception chart with 27 targets in the 20. Ertz caught 16 of those and picked up 7 TD’s from them. From those 27 targets, 10 were Inside the 10. Ertz caught 7 and turned 5 into TD’s.

Downward Turn?

In 2019 it wasn’t quite as prolific but Ertz was still in the top 20 finishing 16th on the list. Ertz was targeted 16 times inside the 20. He caught 8 passes for 5 TD’s. From the 16 targets, 5 of those were inside the 10. Ertz caught 4 and scored a TD on all of those receptions.

Looking at Ertz’s Redzone usage to Kittle’s and Kelce’s, the two TE’s that are going above him in the draft. He’s right up there with them. Kelce ranked above Ertz after being targeted 19 times and catching 7 of those. He only turned those into 2 TD’s.

GeorgeKittle finished just 3 places behind Ertz on the Redzone list. Kittle was targeted the same as Ertz with 16 and caught 10 of those. Kittle only managed to turn those into 2 TD’s too.

So if you are trying to work out who to choose in an upcoming draft and need an edge to make a final call, hopefully, this gives you what you need to work that out.

Next up are the Redzone Rushers.

Until then Rush Nation, keep rushing.

-Pittsy @PittsyNFL