Welcome into the Week 4 edition of Redzone Risers and Fallers for the 2021 season. This is a brand new series for our site, and uses the redzone touches information that is freely available on our site. The reason for adding this tool, and making it available is its importance in helping you make better decisions when it comes to your roster. This week, and going forwards, we are going to also include fallers who have had decreased usage recently.
The idea is that if a player is starting to be used in the redzone more, then the opportunity to score is increased and you want to add them to your roster. If the opposite happens, you might look to sell that asset.
Now, in this series, we aren’t going to look at big-name players on the whole. That is to say, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara are expected to be used in and around the redzone. That is unless they start stop being used, in which case they will be included in the fallers.
Week 4 Redzone Risers
Malcolm Brown (RB, MIA) 35% RZ Touches
Brown was used in the redzone during his time with the Rams, and has carried that over to Miami. In the past few weeks, Brown has been used in the rotation in the backfield, especially in the redzone. Myles Gaskin saw significantly fewer snaps than Brown last time out, which could make him a good steal for virtually nothing in your league.
Damien Williams (RB, CHI) 17% RZ Touches
David Montgomery is projected to be out for the next 5 weeks with an injury. That should mean that Williams is going to be more heavily involved in the offense. The reason that his touches so far this season aren’t higher is that the team used David Montgomery heavily. With him out of the way, and Justin Fields still finding his feet, it’s no wonder he was a popular waiver wire selection this week.
Jamison Crowder (WR, NYJ) 22% RZ Touches
Crowder showed his value to the Jets after he finally returned to the field. It might say more about the Jets offense that in a single game Crowder represents just over 20% of the total touches in the redzone. Crowder is back, and has immediately become an important part of this offense, with his target share elsewhere on the field, it’s fine to put him in your lineup.
D.J. Moore (WR, CAR) 10% RZ Touches
Carolina have had a good start to the season, which was to be expected to a degree with the opening schedule for the team. Moore has stepped up as a bigger part of the offense, with Christian McCaffrey on the sidelines, especially in the redzone. Historically, Moore hasn’t been used near the goal-line, but if this trend continues, and McCaffrey continues to miss time, Moore will continue to have great upside.
Kyle Pitts (TE, ATL) 16% RZ Touches
Pitts came into the league with alot of hype, and struggled in the opening weeks of the season to live up to it. But, let’s be honest, it was never going to be easy to do it. The hype was too high. However, one area that he has improved in is being used and getting free in the redzone. With his raw ability and the passing volume, it should be only a matter of time until he repays the faith shown in him.
Zach Ertz (TE, PHI) 16% RZ Touches
Ertz looked to be moving on during the offseason, but a move never transpired, meaning he was to battle for targets. With the way that the offense has worked out, and the injuries that they have suffered Ertz continues to have a role in this offense.
Week 4 Redzone Fallers
Ty'Son Williams (RB, BAL) 21% RZ Touches
Williams was looking like the find of drafts, like James Robinson was last season. That was until the matchup against Detroit, where the wheels came off. Since then, the team has started heavily leaning on Latavius Murray. With the constant threat of Lamar Jackson in and around the redzone too, Williams is a bench stash or a drop (depending on the depth of your roster)
Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI) 13% RZ Touches
Goedert was set to be the Eagles starting TE, having targets galore with Zach Ertz set to leave. But, that hasn’t happened. Instead, Goedert has had one more touch than Greg Ward in the redzone, and behind Ertz. Goedert is still given targets elsewhere on the field, so while it’s not time to move on from him (especially given the TE position landscape) his ceiling is limited.
Mike Williams (WR, LAC) 9% RZ Touches
Williams has had a great season so far this season. He is narrowly behind Keenan Allen on targets but has more yards and TDs on the season. The only blip is his redzone usage. Having just under 10% of the touches in the redzone. The big reason for that is that the team continues to rely on Austin Ekeler on the ground and in the air, and looking to Allen to create space in tight areas. As well as Justin Herbert having the legs himself to run some of the attempts in. If Williams were to get more usage, he would be truly elite.
So, that’s this weeks edition of Redzone Risers and Fallers for the 2021 season, taking into account the action from Week 4. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or jump into our Discord server
Image Credit: Jasen Vinlove – USA TODAY Sports
