Welcome into the Week 3 edition of Redzone Risers and Fallers for the 2022 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.
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 3 Redzone Risers
Jamaal Williams (RB, DET) 44% RZ Touches
Second week of Williams being a redzone riser. Part of his heavy involvement was that D’Andre Swift was forced to the sidelines with injury, but Williams continues to be heavily used in the redzone. At this point, this is a clear strategy of the Lions to use Williams near the goal-line.
Tony Pollard (RB, DAL) 27% RZ Touches
The Dallas backfield is becoming more of a split, as Pollard has been taking work away from Ezekiel Elliott. Pollard has only seen one more opportunity than Elliott in the redzone, showing how the backfield is split. The role is growing for Pollard, who is already being used as the pass-catcher out of the backfield.
Allen Robinson (WR, LAR) 21% RZ Touches
What a difference a few weeks can make. To start the season, Robinson was ‘washed’ and ‘could be dropped’. Clearly an over-reaction, but that can really be seen in the RZ. Robinson seems to have immediately developed chemistry with Matthew Stafford near the endzone, where he was given 3 opportunities last week, now equalling Cooper Kupp for the season.
Zay Jones (WR, JAX) 16% RZ Touches
Another return for Jones, with his involvement again being highlighted in Jacksonville. It isn’t the most high powered offense, but the team are still going to get downfield. Jones is one of the top 20 players at the position when it comes to involvement in the redzone (tied with teammate Christian Kirk)
David Njoku (TE, CLE) 14% RZ Touches
Njoku had a turnaround week, after struggling to start the season. The gameplan really suited Njoku as a receiver, and he lead the team in receptions. This offense doesn’t scream with receiving talent, and while it’s run heavy, being utilized in the redzone increases Njoku’s fantasy appeal.
Week 3 Redzone Fallers
Darrell Henderson (RB, LAR) 17% RZ Touches
Henderson is a prime faller. The Rams offense was leaning on him out of the backfield to start the season, but that looks to have changed. The return of Cam Akers to fitness continues. As a result, the team have moved away from using Henderson near the goal-line.
Jahan Dotson (WR, WAS) 9% RZ Touches
Dotson hit the headlines early in the season with some TD scores. But the team has evolved from him, increasing their usage of Curtis Samuel in the offense. You may not have had high expectations, but if you did, time to dampen them.
T.J. Hockenson (TE, DET) 11% RZ Touches
Hockenson hasn’t really hit the highs that people would have hoped for. Targets on the field are being hit with Amon-Ra St. Brown performing well, as well as the ground game moving the chains. With RZ targets now also lacking, the only reason to keep him is because the TE landscape is somewhat barren.
So, that’s this weeks edition of Redzone Risers and Fallers for the 2022 season, taking into account the action from Week 3. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or jump into our Discord server
Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea – USA TODAY Sports
