Tight End Red Zone 2016 Target Stats
| Inside 20 | Inside 10 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Tm | Tgt | Rec | Catch% | TD | %Tgt | Tgt | Rec | Catch% | TD | %Tgt |
| Kyle Rudolph | MIN | 24 | 14 | 58% | 5 | 32% | 10 | 6 | 60% | 4 | 35% |
| Antonio Gates | SDG | 18 | 8 | 44% | 7 | 19% | 7 | 5 | 71% | 5 | 20% |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | 17 | 6 | 35% | 4 | 23% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 8% |
| Cameron Brate | TAM | 16 | 10 | 63% | 8 | 24% | 7 | 5 | 71% | 4 | 29% |
| Coby Fleener | NOR | 16 | 9 | 56% | 2 | 15% | 5 | 2 | 40% | 2 | 10% |
| Hunter Henry | SDG | 16 | 10 | 63% | 7 | 17% | 7 | 6 | 86% | 5 | 20% |
| Travis Kelce | KAN | 16 | 8 | 50% | 3 | 20% | 7 | 3 | 43% | 1 | 21% |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | 16 | 9 | 56% | 2 | 24% | 5 | 2 | 40% | 1 | 29% |
| Delanie Walker | TEN | 16 | 8 | 50% | 5 | 23% | 5 | 3 | 60% | 3 | 19% |
| Jason Witten | DAL | 16 | 10 | 63% | 2 | 30% | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 12% |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | 14 | 6 | 43% | 3 | 16% | 5 | 2 | 40% | 2 | 22% |
| Charles Clay | BUF | 13 | 7 | 54% | 3 | 25% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 11% |
| Dennis Pitta | BAL | 13 | 7 | 54% | 2 | 18% | 4 | 2 | 50% | 1 | 15% |
| Jack Doyle | IND | 12 | 9 | 75% | 4 | 17% | 5 | 4 | 80% | 3 | 14% |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz | HOU | 12 | 6 | 50% | 3 | 18% | 7 | 4 | 57% | 2 | 23% |
| Jesse James | PIT | 12 | 7 | 58% | 3 | 18% | 7 | 4 | 57% | 3 | 24% |
| Jordan Reed | WAS | 12 | 8 | 67% | 5 | 15% | 8 | 5 | 63% | 5 | 22% |
| Jacob Tamme | ATL | 11 | 7 | 64% | 3 | 12% | 6 | 4 | 67% | 1 | 13% |
| Martellus Bennett | NWE | 10 | 8 | 80% | 5 | 14% | 5 | 4 | 80% | 4 | 15% |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | 9 | 6 | 67% | 4 | 13% | 5 | 3 | 60% | 2 | 14% |
| Jared Cook | GNB | 9 | 5 | 56% | 1 | 9% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 4% |
| Tyler Eifert | CIN | 9 | 5 | 56% | 5 | 13% | 6 | 2 | 33% | 2 | 21% |
| Clive Walford | OAK | 9 | 2 | 22% | 2 | 10% | 6 | 1 | 17% | 1 | 14% |
| Zach Miller | CHI | 8 | 6 | 75% | 4 | 11% | 5 | 4 | 80% | 3 | 16% |
| Trey Burton | PHI | 7 | 4 | 57% | 1 | 8% | 3 | 2 | 67% | 1 | 13% |
| Jermaine Gresham | ARI | 7 | 3 | 43% | 1 | 9% | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 8% |
| Dion Sims | MIA | 7 | 5 | 71% | 4 | 14% | 5 | 3 | 60% | 3 | 28% |
| Julius Thomas | JAX | 7 | 4 | 57% | 3 | 10% | 2 | 2 | 100% | 2 | 9% |
| Will Tye | NYG | 7 | 4 | 57% | 1 | 12% | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 12% |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | 6 | 3 | 50% | 1 | 8% | 3 | 1 | 33% | 0 | 8% |
| Eric Ebron | DET | 6 | 5 | 83% | 1 | 7% | 3 | 2 | 67% | 1 | 9% |
| Ryan Griffin | HOU | 6 | 4 | 67% | 2 | 9% | 3 | 2 | 67% | 2 | 10% |
| Lance Kendricks | LAR | 6 | 3 | 50% | 2 | 11% | 4 | 1 | 25% | 0 | 21% |
| Vance McDonald | SFO | 6 | 4 | 67% | 2 | 13% | 1 | 1 | 100% | 1 | 10% |
| Richard Rodgers | GNB | 6 | 3 | 50% | 2 | 6% | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 6% |
| Gary Barnidge | CLE | 5 | 3 | 60% | 2 | 9% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 11% |
| Daniel Brown | CHI | 5 | 3 | 60% | 1 | 7% | 4 | 2 | 50% | 1 | 13% |
| Garrett Celek | SFO | 5 | 3 | 60% | 3 | 10% | 2 | 2 | 100% | 2 | 20% |
| Rob Gronkowski | NWE | 5 | 2 | 40% | 1 | 7% | 4 | 2 | 50% | 1 | 12% |
| Austin Hooper | ATL | 5 | 3 | 60% | 2 | 5% | 3 | 2 | 67% | 2 | 7% |
| Brandon Myers | TAM | 5 | 2 | 40% | 1 | 7% | 1 | 1 | 100% | 1 | 4% |
| C.J. Uzomah | CIN | 5 | 2 | 40% | 1 | 8% | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 11% |
Tight End Red Zone Target Notes
Cameron Brate didn’t play in his Week 17 game, but that didn’t stop him from leading all tight ends in red-zone (RZ) touchdowns in 2016. Not only did Brate replace Austin Seferian-Jenkins, but he made himself his own fantasy commodity by the end of the year. While it’s unlikely he ever leads the NFL in anything ever again, it’s clear he’s here to stay in the Buccaneers rotation. Chargers tight end duo Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry he found their way to seven touchdowns this year. While Gates is seemingly on his last legs, it appears he’ll be back once again in 2017, further elongating and blocking any young tight ends from developing behind him. Despite only being third in RZ receiving touchdowns. Kyle Rudolph had a tremendous season for the Vikings this year despite the teams overall struggles. His 24 RZ targets is first among tight ends, and second among all receiving options.
Tight End Red Zone 2015 Target Stats
| Inside 20 Yard Line | Inside 10 Yard Line | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Team | Targets | Rec | Ctch% | TD | Tgt% | Targets | Rec | Ctch% | TD | Tgt% |
| Rob Gronkowski | NE | 25 | 16 | 64% | 10 | 25% | 13 | 8 | 62% | 7 | 31% |
| Jordan Reed | WAS | 24 | 17 | 71% | 10 | 27% | 11 | 9 | 82% | 7 | 27% |
| Gary Barnidge | CLE | 23 | 9 | 39% | 8 | 26% | 13 | 5 | 38% | 5 | 41% |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | 20 | 12 | 60% | 5 | 27% | 9 | 4 | 44% | 2 | 30% |
| Ben Watson | NO | 16 | 10 | 63% | 5 | 22% | 4 | 3 | 75% | 3 | 16% |
| Tyler Eifert | CIN | 15 | 12 | 80% | 11 | 23% | 7 | 6 | 86% | 6 | 26% |
| Richard Rodgers | GB | 15 | 10 | 67% | 7 | 15% | 9 | 6 | 67% | 6 | 21% |
| Delanie Walker | TEN | 15 | 12 | 80% | 4 | 27% | 9 | 7 | 78% | 4 | 29% |
| Jordan Cameron | MIA | 14 | 6 | 43% | 3 | 21% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 6% |
| Heath Miller | PIT | 14 | 9 | 64% | 2 | 16% | 8 | 3 | 38% | 2 | 22% |
| Antonio Gates | SD | 13 | 6 | 46% | 5 | 18% | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 14% |
| Travis Kelce | KC | 13 | 6 | 46% | 4 | 18% | 4 | 1 | 25% | 1 | 21% |
| Jason Witten | DAL | 13 | 8 | 62% | 3 | 18% | 7 | 3 | 43% | 2 | 20% |
| Owen Daniels | DEN | 12 | 5 | 42% | 4 | 15% | 4 | 2 | 50% | 2 | 17% |
| Coby Fleener | IND | 11 | 6 | 55% | 2 | 14% | 3 | 2 | 67% | 2 | 10% |
| Kyle Rudolph | MIN | 10 | 4 | 40% | 3 | 23% | 7 | 3 | 43% | 3 | 41% |
| Julius Thomas | JAX | 10 | 5 | 50% | 3 | 11% | 6 | 3 | 50% | 3 | 14% |
| Will Tye | NYG | 10 | 5 | 50% | 3 | 12% | 6 | 4 | 67% | 3 | 16% |
| Scott Chandler | NE | 9 | 6 | 67% | 4 | 9% | 6 | 4 | 67% | 3 | 14% |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | 9 | 3 | 33% | 1 | 17% | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 15% |
| Kyle Juszczyk | BAL | 9 | 7 | 78% | 4 | 12% | 7 | 5 | 71% | 4 | 24% |
| Austin Seferian-Jenkins | TB | 9 | 3 | 33% | 2 | 13% | 7 | 3 | 43% | 2 | 20% |
| Martellus Bennett | CHI | 8 | 5 | 63% | 2 | 11% | 5 | 2 | 40% | 2 | 14% |
| Jared Cook | RAM | 8 | 3 | 38% | 0 | 23% | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 9% |
| Larry Donnell | NYG | 8 | 4 | 50% | 2 | 10% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 0 | 5% |
| Eric Ebron | DET | 8 | 6 | 75% | 5 | 11% | 4 | 3 | 75% | 3 | 11% |
| Crockett Gillmore | BAL | 8 | 5 | 63% | 3 | 11% | 3 | 2 | 67% | 2 | 10% |
| Jimmy Graham | SEA | 8 | 3 | 38% | 1 | 13% | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 11% |
| Ladarius Green | SD | 8 | 5 | 63% | 3 | 11% | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 5% |
| Jermaine Gresham | ARI | 8 | 2 | 25% | 1 | 8% | 3 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 7% |
| Josh Hill | NO | 8 | 4 | 50% | 2 | 11% | 4 | 2 | 50% | 1 | 16% |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 50% | 0 | |||
| Clive Walford | OAK | 7 | 2 | 29% | 2 | 13% | 1 | 1 | 100% | 1 | 6% |
| Ed Dickson | CAR | 6 | 4 | 67% | 2 | 8% | 3 | 2 | 67% | 2 | 10% |
| Anthony Fasano | TEN | 6 | 3 | 50% | 2 | 11% | 4 | 1 | 25% | 1 | 13% |
| Michael Hoomanawanui | NO | 6 | 4 | 67% | 3 | 8% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 8% |
| Marcedes Lewis | JAX | 6 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 7% | 3 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 7% |
| Zach Miller | CHI | 6 | 4 | 67% | 3 | 8% | 3 | 3 | 100% | 3 | 9% |
| Mychal Rivera | OAK | 6 | 2 | 33% | 1 | 11% | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 6% |
| Cameron Brate | TB | 5 | 3 | 60% | 1 | 7% | 3 | 1 | 33% | 1 | 9% |
| Brent Celek | PHI | 5 | 5 | 100% | 3 | 9% | 1 | 1 | 100% | 1 | 5% |
| Garrett Celek | SF | 5 | 4 | 80% | 3 | 8% | 3 | 2 | 67% | 2 | 14% |
| Jacob Tamme | ATL | 5 | 2 | 40% | 1 | 7% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 7% |
| Dwayne Allen | IND | 4 | 2 | 50% | 1 | 5% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 7% |
| Blake Bell | SF | 4 | 1 | 25% | 0 | 6% | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 5% |
| Derek Carrier | WAS | 4 | 4 | 100% | 1 | 5% | 2 | 2 | 100% | 1 | 5% |
| Jack Doyle | IND | 4 | 3 | 75% | 1 | 5% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 7% |
| Chris Gragg | BUF | 4 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 10% | 1 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 6% |
| Garrett Graham | HOU | 4 | 1 | 25% | 1 | 5% | 2 | 1 | 50% | 1 | 7% |
Tight End Red Zone Target Notes
Given tight ends are muscular giants on the gridiron, they receive a lot of the looks inside the red zone. Their ability to shed defensive backs and create mismatches provides us with fantasy looks for touchdowns come inside the 20. There were a couple teams in the NFL where the tight ends were the featured player down inside the red zone. There are a few reasons for this — they are simply a dominant red zone target or they have a relatively weak wide receiving core. Gary Barnidge was one of those tight ends who led their team. He had a 27% target rate inside the red zone, and ended up finishing with eight touchdowns in the red zone. The next closest player was Travis Benjamin with 16%, and he only ended up with one red zone touchdown. Barnidge was in that tier one fantasy production for tight ends in 2015.
Richard Rodgers for the Green Bay Packers was an interesting target last season. He finished with eight touchdowns inside the red zone, which was more than Rob Gronkowski, and as many as Antonio Brown and DeAndre Hopkins. This might baffle you and you are asking why? For one, Jordy Nelson was injured in 2015, leaving 29% of red zone targets up for grabs. Rodgers capitalized on his absence, and you could have too. He was a cheap tight end who put together a few scoring weeks, even though he is not a downfield receiving tight end.
There are a few tight ends to keep an eye on this season who could be in a similar situation as Rodgers was last. Eric Ebron could see a tick up in red zone targets, as Calvin Johnson's 25% target rate will gone in 2016. Andre Johnson and Coby Fleener are both out of Indianapolis, leaving Dwayne Allen a possibility to pickup some of the 21 targets they will leave behind. Ladarius Green has been a tight end on our watch list for sometime, and now in Pittsburgh will sit as the number two man in the red zone behind Antonio Bryant. Heath Miller had 19% of the targets in 2015, and Martavis Bryant had 15%. Both are out of the picture in 2016, and Green should pick up a fair share. Red zone targets will open up value for tight ends, as well as separate the elite fantasy producers to your average ones.