X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Red Zone Risers/Fallers - Tevin Coleman, Julian Edelman, Derrick Henry

Richard King looks at red zone risers and fallers to identify players with higher fantasy football scoring potential in Week 9, based on touches and opportunity in the red zone.

We are now past the mid-point of the season, meaning it is time to look at getting your roster in shape for your playoff push and beyond to the championship weeks. As fantasy owners, we know that not all touches are equal. A touch in the red zone has an increased chance of scoring a touchdown.

To identify the players to target in trades, RotoBaller's Premium Red Zone Sleepers tool can give you a sense of who is being utilized more in the all-important area of the field to provide more scoring potential. A preview of the tool and the top players in red-zone touches is shown below.

Just like targets are the lifeblood of a receiver's value in PPR leagues, red zone touches are the most relevant factor to consider for standard leagues. Each week, I will identify some risers and fallers based on their red-zone touches, and what that means for your team.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Red Zone Risers

RUNNING BACKS

Tevin Coleman (RB, SF) - 26.3% Red-zone touch%

Honestly, I had to mention Coleman this week, given the strength of the performance he had last week. Three red-zone touchdowns off of five touches is a fantastic return. While I wouldn't expect that return to be repeated this season, Coleman has now established himself as the team's goal-line back. That role is extremely valuable in this committee backfield.

The San Fransisco 49ers lead the league in rushing attempts and, crucially for Coleman's value, that doesn't change in the red zone. The 49ers rush the ball on 62.5% of all plays they run in the red zone and given the dual-threat skill set that Coleman possesses, it's unlikely that he will see a dropoff in touches in this area of the field.

 

Latavius Murray (RB, NO) - 25.6% Red-zone touch%

I was unsure about including Murray in the article, only because the offense hasn't been what we would typically expect in New Orleans. Quarterback Drew Brees missed several weeks with his hand injury before Alvin Kamara also found himself on the sidelines. However, the amount of red-zone work that Murray has shouldered shouldn't be overlooked.

Murray has been given the ball on 18 of the last 32 plays in the red zone for the team, scoring four touchdowns. He now leads the team in red-zone touches with 22. While his heavy utilization is unlikely to be the same on the other side of the bye week, with the return of Kamara in particular, he should still have a role in the offense. The Saints have demonstrated in previous seasons that there are enough touches to support a tandem of options out of the backfield, and the team should continue to provide plenty of opportunities in the red zone. If you can find an owner who is ready to discount Murray with the imminent return of Kamara, then get a trade sorted sooner rather than later, especially if you are a Kamara owner.

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Julian Edelman (WR, NE) - 12.5% Red-zone touch%

The New England Patriots just seem to do it year after year, with Edelman one of the favorite targets for quarterback Tom Brady. The defense this season has been mighty impressive, giving their offense more time on the field. That has translated into the team running more plays than any other team in the red zone, with 104 plays run so far this season.

The offensive play-calling in the red zone has also been perfectly balanced this season, moving away from the team's reliance on power rushing attempts in previous years. The Patriots have a multitude of weapons that can be used with Sony Michel and James White leading the way on the ground and Edelman the leading receiver. Those three players account for over half of the red-zone touches for the team. While trying to trade for Edelman might be costly, it might pay dividends by the end of the season given his usage elsewhere on the field, too.

 

D.K. Metcalf (WR, SEA) - 12.5% Red-zone touch%

The Seattle Seahawks are a team that primarily runs the ball until they get to the red zone. Then the team flips to passing the ball, with 52.3% of their plays being pass attempts. While Chris Carson has been utilized on the ground and through the air, Metcalf leads the rest of the pack.

Metcalf offers a constant deep threat with his athletic ability and is also is the only big-bodied receiver that the team can rely on (at least until newly-signed Josh Gordon is ready to play). At the start of the season, Will Dissly filled that role but then found his way onto the injured reserve list. The Seahawks' offense has been an effective unit and currently ranks second in red-zone plays this season with 88, giving plenty of opportunities for the rookie receiver to add to his touchdown total.

 

TIGHT END

Darren Fells (TE, HOU) - 9.2% Red-zone touch%

The landscape for tight ends season after season seems to be a barren wasteland, and this year is no different. Outside of the top options at the position, the production week to week is limited to touchdown opportunities. The Houston Texans rank in the top 10 in the number of plays run in the red-zone, and they have changed their approach this season. The Texans added offensive talent this offseason, with additions to their backfield forcing the team to shift from their reliance on DeAndre Hopkins.

Darren Fells touched the ball three times last week, converting those touches into two touchdowns. The offense might not constantly look his way, but if you are looking for a bye-week fill-in, rolling the dice on the veteran could be beneficial for your roster.

 

Red Zone Fallers

RUNNING BACK

Derrick Henry (RB, TEN) - 38.5% Red-zone touch%

For the second week in a row, I've included a running back who has had over 30% of his team's touches in the red zone. The reason I wanted to highlight Henry is that the offense has changed in Tennessee. The change to quarterback Ryan Tannehill looks like it is likely to continue for the rest of the season, meaning the split of touches needs to be reexamined from the time Marcus Mariota was benched. Last week the team ran seven plays in the red zone with Dion Lewis the only running back who touched the ball. In the past two weeks, since the change at quarterback, the team has run 14 plays in the red zone and Henry has had just three of those touches.

With the Titans offense ranking towards the bottom of the league in red-zone opportunity, even a small deviation from constantly handing Henry the ball will dramatically impact his fantasy value. If you are able to find an owner who believes in his red-zone ability and get a decent value for him, try to trade him before the narrative shifts.

 

WIDE RECEIVER

JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR, PIT) - 14.0% Red-zone touch%

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a number of changes to their offense in the offseason, which should have given Smith-Schuster more opportunities for the team. However, the changes during the season seem to have derailed the offense. The Steelers' quarterback play has been inconsistent, at best, after losing Ben Roethlisberger to injured reserve and with Mason Rudolph missing some time with a head injury.

That struggle has meant that the Steelers have currently run the third-fewest number of plays in the red zone, behind only the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. With the team's struggles on offense, Pittsburgh has entrusted their running backs with the ball in the red-zone, running on 53.5% of their plays so far this season. With the pass-catching ability of both James Conner and Jaylen Samuels, the opportunity for Smith-Schuster is limited in a situation that is unlikely to change for the rest of the season.

 

TIGHT END

Jimmy Graham (TE, GB) - 12.7% Red-zone touch%

The Green Bay Packers offense has finally started to get moving this season after an initial struggle to install the new offense. Aaron Rodgers has once again been entrusted with the ball in the red zone with the Packers having one of the heaviest tendencies to throw the ball.

All of that would normally mean that the tight end in the offense would be a valuable asset, particularly one that has had over 10% of the touches in the red zone. However, the Packers running back duo of Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams have both demonstrated their pass-catching abilities near the end zone in recent weeks. The Packers are also getting set to welcome Davante Adams back into the fold after he missed time with a toe injury. That limits the opportunity that can be afforded to Graham, who has struggled to get separation this season.

 

Red Zone Sleepers

RotoBaller's Premium tools offer more detailed insight into player values and help you identify which players to target on the waiver wire and/or trade market. Start with a free one-week trial, including NFL Optimizer and DFS Premium and get an advantage on the competition!

More Risers and Fallers




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Griffin Conine

To Have Shoulder Surgery On Tuesday
Luke Keaschall

Twins Prospect Luke Keaschall Suffers Broken Forearm
Logan Gilbert

Leaves Friday's Start With Forearm Tightness

Vikings Select Tai Felton To Finish Day 2

Seahawks Select Quarterback Jalen Milroe With The 92nd Pick Overall

Browns Select Dillon Gabriel 94th Overall

Packers Pick Savion Williams At No. 87 overall

Steelers Snag Kaleb Johnson In Round 3

Broncos Select Wide Receiver Pat Bryant With The 74th Overall Pick

Texans Select Jaylin Noel With 79th Pick

Lions Select Wide Receiver Isaac TeSlaa With The 70th Overall Pick
Jack Leiter

To Start On Sunday

Patriots Add Wide Receiver Kyle Williams In Round 3

Browns Draft Harold Fannin Jr. With 67th Pick
Garrett Mitchell

Makes Early Exit
Luke Keaschall

Removed Early On Friday
Blake Snell

Likely Avoids Major Injury
Cole Ragans

Dealing With Mild Groin Strain

Broncos Add RJ Harvey To Backfield With 60th Pick

Raiders Select Jack Bech With 58th Pick

Chargers Add Wide Receiver Tre Harris In Round 2
Detroit Lions

Lions Acquire 57th Pick From Broncos

Seahawks Draft Elijah Arroyo 50th Overall
Carolina Panthers

Panthers Acquire 51st Pick From Broncos
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Snag Will Johnson At No. 47

Jets Add A Pass-Catcher With Mason Taylor At No. 42

Rams Select Terrance Ferguson With 46th Pick
Houston Texans

Texans Acquire 48th Pick From Raiders, Draft Aireontae Ersery

Saints Snag Tyler Shough At No. 40
Brenton Doyle

Out For Personal Reasons On Friday
Brandin Podziemski

Not On Injury Report For Game 3
Jimmy Butler III

Warriors Optimistic About Jimmy Butler III Playing Saturday
Jae'Sean Tate

To Remain Out Saturday
Jock Landale

Unavailable For Game 3
Terry Rozier

Out On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Ruled Out For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Orlando
Kevin Love

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Available For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Magic
Gary Payton II

Iffy For Saturday's Action
Jayson Tatum

Officially Available On Friday For Game 3 Against Magic
Will Smith

Back From Injury On Friday
Luke Kennard

Questionable For Game 4 On Saturday
Darius Garland

Listed As Questionable For Game 3
Ja Morant

To Miss Game 4 On Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Available For Game 3 In Minnesota
Aaron Ekblad

Available To Return Saturday
Erik Swanson

Ryan Burr Progressing
Daulton Varsho

To Return On Tuesday At The Latest
Max Scherzer

Takes Positive Step On Friday
Aleksander Barkov

Questionable For Saturday
Gabriel Landeskog

Set For Larger Role In Game 4
Calvin Pickard

To Start Game 3 For Oilers
Randy Arozarena

Resting For First Time This Year
Jonas Siegenthaler

To Play Limited Minutes In Game 3
MLB

Red Sox-Guardians Game Postponed On Friday
Luke Hughes

Remains Out On Friday
MLB

Tigers-Orioles Postponed On Friday
Patrik Laine

A Game-Time Decision Friday
Yainer Diaz

Out On Friday Against Royals
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Hopes To Start Rehab Assignment Next Week
Salvador Perez

Sitting Out For First Time This Season
Jaylen Brown

Questionable For Game 3 On Friday
Brendan Donovan

Back In Action On Friday
Jimmy Butler III

Could Miss Game 3 On Saturday
Coby Mayo

Getting On A Roll At Triple-A
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Cade Cunningham

Collects Double-Double In Loss
Jalen Brunson

Drops 30 Points In Game 3
Karl-Anthony Towns

Leads All Scorers In Game 3 Victory
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
Nicolas Dalby

An Underdog At UFC Kansas City
Randy Brown

A Favorite At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Set To Open Up UFC Kansas City Main Card
Ikram Aliskerov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Sergei Bobrovsky

Shuts Out Lightning In Game 2
Cam Fowler

Finishes Thursday's Win With Five Points
Robert Thomas

Posts Four Assists In Game 3 Win
Pavel Buchnevich

Celebrates Hat Trick During Four-Point Performance
Dylan DeMelo

Battling An Illness
Marcus Johansson

Exits Early Thursday
Aleksander Barkov

Hurt In Game 2
Jrue Holiday

Tagged As Questionable For Friday
Jayson Tatum

Likely Out Again On Friday
Anthony Cirelli

Good To Go Thursday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Looks To Bounce Back In Game 2
Rasmus Ristolainen

To Miss Training Camp
Jonas Siegenthaler

Returns To Practice
Aliaksei Protas

Traveling With Capitals
Gabriel Vilardi

Still Out On Thursday
Max Pacioretty

Set To Join Maple Leafs Lineup For Game 3
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF