NFL Target & Percentage Ownership Report: Week 13

Running Backs

(E=Elite, S=Safe, C=Contrarian, V=Value)

Adrian Peterson - Though Peterson will face a tough Seattle defense this week there is absolutely no disputing that the offense solely runs through him. Peterson exploded against the Falcons this past weekend for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 29 carries. The most drastic take away here is Peterson is $700 cheaper than he was last week. You may notice by the chart above that the discrepancy between salaries is a lot tighter this week which really will limit the margin between ownership. Peterson in the tough matchup is worth the risk on price alone, but his volume should see him produce regardless.

Doug Martin - Martin finished week 12 with 97 yards on 14 carries, most of which came in the first half. The reason for Martin not seeing much second half work remains a question, but the Bucs were playing from behind. Martin is seeing a healthy workload however and is one week removed from a 27 carry outburst. This week the Bucs get a struggling Atlanta defense that just got torched by Adrian Peterson. Look for Martin's week 12 struggles to make him under owned and in a great spot for a tournament play.

LeSean McCoy - When 18 fantasy points is your lowest output in four weeks, you're probably running pretty well. McCoy put up another strong effort against a surging Kansas City defense last week when he ran for 70 yards and caught 3-of-5 targets for 31 yards and a touchdown. McCoy now has three touchdowns in four weeks and is averaging over 20 fantasy points during that stretch. Bills backup Karlos Williams was also knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury, so should he miss time McCoy may see a few added carries and push him over the 20 carry mark for only the second time this year. McCoy's ceiling seems to be limited a little bit by the Bills recently struggling offense, but he has proven himself as a safe option week in and week out.

Giovani Bernard - Bernard is a bit of a boom or bust play, but his implementation into the running and passing game makes him a valuable asset in the right matchup. Bernard is just one week removed from posting an eight reception, 128 yard performance through the air. He was shut down a bit last week against St. Louis but did top over 40 yards receiving for the third straight week. Fellow running back Jeremy Hill left Sunday's contest with an ankle injury, should he miss any time Bernard's value would reach elite territory against a porous Cleveland defense. If Hill suits up Bernard should still see plenty of value for a $4,500 price tag.

David Johnson - With the news that Chris Johnson has been diagnosed with a fractured tibia and Andre Ellington with turf toe, the running back duties may shift to rookie David Johnson this week against St. Louis. Johnson currently leads all rookies with seven touchdowns on the season and is averaging near four yards per carry in his small sample size. The Rams would be the rookies first test, which is not the ideal first matchup, but a starting running back looking for a chance for $3,400 is too good to pass up.

Wide Receivers

(E=Elite, S=Safe, C=Contrarian, V=Value)

Julio Jones - The Atlanta Falcons are a team in peril right now, losing their last four games and five of their last six. Star receiver Julio Jones was shut out and quiet in week 12, catching five balls for 56 yards, his second lowest totals on the year. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan also threw two interceptions inside the opponents 30 yard line, not helping the fantasy outlook for Jones. If there is a brightside to the down performance is it created a $400 price drop and Jones has a matchup this week to get him back on track. Atlanta travels to Tampa Bay this week, a team that just gave up a big game to the Colts number one receiver T.Y. Hilton. Expect 'getting the ball to Jones' to be one of the key themes at Falcons' practice this week.

Alshon Jeffery - After missing week 11 due to injury, Jeffery returned to face the Packers in week 12, posting a seven catches for 90 yards. It was a welcomed sign for Jeffery owners to see him get his normal amount of targets, albeit being a shade on the low side. Jeffery has been one of our favorite value plays this week and $6,900 still feels way too low for the upside Jeffery has. This week the Bears, who now again sit in a playoff hunt, welcome the league worst 49ers to Soldier field. This is prime matchup to take advantage as San Francisco ranks near the bottom of all defensive categories.

T.Y. Hilton - There was a bit of a panic after Hilton only saw four targets in the Colts week 11 game against Atlanta, but the star receiver responded with a big 95 yard-two touchdown performance in week 12. Hilton has been up-and-down this season, but we can chalk that up to inconsistent quarterback play and playing more snaps with Matt Hasselbeck than Andrew Luck. I want to stress that this pick isn't overreaction to a big game for Hilton, but rather matchup based. The Colts travel to Pittsburgh this week in a game that could have wild card implications. The Steelers currently rank 7th in defense against the rush, but 30th against the pass, making Hilton an intriguing tournament play.

Brandon LaFell - It was easy to want to pencil in LaFell in your lineups last week due to all the injuries the Patriots have in their wide receiving core. However on paper a matchup with the Broncos was less than ideal. LaFell was still a great tournament option, but the Denver weather and defensive play got the best of him. This week however the Patriots host an Eagles team that has given up an average of 38 points over their last two games and rank near the bottom of the NFL in total defense. LaFell saw nine targets last week which is an encouraging sign that more of the same is coming this week, the difference being he may be able to pay some of those off this time.

DeVante Parker - With Rishard Matthews being injured in the first quarter, DeVante Parker got his first real playing time of the season and seized his opportunity. On in relief Parker hauled in 4-of-10 targets for 80 yards and a touchdown. It was an encouraging sign seeing the rookie finally get playing time and flourish with the given chance. If Matthews was to miss time Parker would surely slot into the starting lineup for the Dolphins. At $3,300 Parker is definitely a player you want to keep your eye on leading into this weekends contests.

Tight End

(E=Elite, S=Safe, C=Contrarian, V=Value)

Greg Olsen - Over Olsen's last five weeks he has failed to fall below 54 yards receiving and has posted between 12 and 19 fantasy points in those contests. Olsen has been the poster boy for consistency this year and that is sometimes what you are looking for in a cash game tight end. Olsen is bolstered this week by a matchup against the league worst pass defense in the New Orleans Saints. Olsen is a bit chalky this week, so expect him to be highly owned in cash games, but he is looking at the best matchup he has had for five weeks, five weeks that he has performed in greatly.

Delanie Walker - It was just two weeks ago that the Jaguars and Titans matched up on Thursday night football and here they are already at it again. Back in that week 11 matchup Walker hauled in eight passes for 109 yards to lead the Titans in receiving. Walker in fact has only fallen below 90 yards receiving one time over the past four weeks. Walker week in and week out will be a target in DFS as he is the Titans leading receiver and has the ability to see double digit targets weekly.

Julius Thomas - It's been an up and down year for first year Jaguar Julius Thomas. Thomas missed the first four weeks of the season with a foot injury and was slowly being worked into a comfort zone in the offense. It is hard to say if week 12 was his coming out party or a fluke, but we do know how much of a talent Thomas really is. At $4,000 Thomas is a fantastic tournament play this week.

Scott Chandler - As it stands right now Scott Chandler figures to be the highest owned player in week 13 DFS. With the Patriots already struggling with injuries to their receiving core they suffered possibly the biggest one in Rob Gronkowski going down with an apparent knee injury. It is yet to be known the extent of the injury, but regardless Chandler is in line to see a large workload this week against the Eagles. In week 12 against the Broncos Chandler saw a team high 11 targets.