Target The Targets
How clutch is a pass catching running back in fantasy? An RB that gets targeted often out of the backfield makes a huge difference when it comes to fantasy value. A great example is Tevin Coleman vs. Derrick Henry. Both had about 110 carries and 500 yards on the ground last season. Tevin Coleman finished as RB17 compared to Henry’s mediocre RB40. So finding those running backs that get targets are essential to finding a late round plug and play or a potential flex play.
Receptions and targets are the reason David Johnson and LeVeon Bell have pulled away from Ezekiel Elliott in the race for top fantasy back. It’s also why LeSean McCoy’s ADP continues to move. I expect to see rookies like Joe Mixon and Christian McCaffery to be high on next year’s list.
Keep in mind, this list is targets per game they actually played in. This is the true scope of how many times these running backs are being thrown to per game.
| Rank | Player | Games Played | Targets | Targets Per Game Played |
| 1 | David Johnson | 16 | 120 | 7.5 |
| 2 | Theo Riddick | 10 | 67 | 6.7 |
| 3 | LeVeon Bell | 15 | 94 | 6.3 |
| 4 | James White | 16 | 86 | 5.4 |
| 5 | Giovani Bernard | 10 | 51 | 5.1 |
| 6 | Darren Sproles | 15 | 71 | 4.7 |
| 7 | Bilal Powell | 16 | 75 | 4.7 |
| 8 | Duke Johnson | 16 | 74 | 4.6 |
| 9 | Charles Sims | 7 | 32 | 4.6 |
| 10 | T.J. Yeldon | 15 | 68 | 4.5 |
| 11 | Melvin Gordon | 13 | 57 | 4.4 |
| 12 | DeMarco Murray | 16 | 67 | 4.2 |
| 13 | Devonta Freeman | 16 | 65 | 4.1 |
| 14 | Chris Thompson | 16 | 62 | 3.9 |
| 15 | LeSean McCoy | 15 | 58 | 3.9 |
| 16 | Ty Montgomery | 15 | 56 | 3.7 |
| 17 | Todd Gurley | 16 | 58 | 3.6 |
| 18 | Mark Ingram | 16 | 58 | 3.6 |
| 19 | Travaris Cadet | 15 | 54 | 3.6 |
| 20 | Jerick McKinnon | 15 | 53 | 3.5 |
| 21 | C.J. Anderson | 7 | 24 | 3.4 |
| 22 | Kenneth Dixon | 12 | 41 | 3.4 |
| 23 | Jordan Howard | 15 | 50 | 3.3 |
| 24 | Isaiah Crowell | 16 | 53 | 3.3 |
| 25 | Rashad Jennings | 13 | 42 | 3.2 |
| 26 | Shane Vereen | 6 | 19 | 3.2 |
| 27 | C.J. Prosise | 6 | 19 | 3.2 |
| 28 | Tevin Coleman | 13 | 40 | 3.1 |
| 29 | Matt Forte | 14 | 43 | 3.1 |
| 30 | Latavius Murray | 14 | 43 | 3.1 |
| 31 | Kyle Juszczyk | 16 | 49 | 3.1 |
| 32 | DeAngelo Williams | 9 | 27 | 3.0 |
| 33 | Justin Forsett | 9 | 27 | 3.0 |
| 34 | Spencer Ware | 14 | 42 | 3.0 |