Surprising Fantasy Stats
With Week 10 quickly approaching, it’s hard to believe we’re over halfway through the fantasy season. Injuries continue to pile up and there are still bye weeks between now and the fantasy playoffs. This has also been one of the most unpredictable fantasy seasons in recent memory. With that unpredictability comes some very surprising stats regarding some of your favorite players and some players who may be lesser known. Let’s take a look at a few. Here are 10 surprising fantasy stats after nine NFL weeks.
JAYDEN DANIELS (QB)
*Has the fewest passing attempts per game of any top-12 quarterback
Jayden Daniels has been impressive through the first half of the season. In the first nine games of his career, Daniels has been a top-12 fantasy quarterback in all but two games. He has found production through the air and on the ground. Daniels is currently the QB3 in fantasy and yet he has thrown fewer passes per game than any top-12 quarterback. Daniels has only attempted 25.3 passes per game this season, making him one of the more efficient quarterbacks in fantasy. He is a top quarterback option until he gives you a reason to view him otherwise.
BO NIX (QB)
*Is currently a top-10 fantasy quarterback
I know that this isn’t exactly an advanced metric, but no one had Bo Nix as a top-10 fantasy quarterback on their 2024 Bingo Card, so I had to include it. Nix has certainly had his share of peaks and valleys, but he has found his stride as of late finishing inside the top-10 at the position in three of the last five weeks. Some of this could be due to a less-than-daunting schedule, but four of his next five games are against very fantasy-friendly defenses so I expect Nix to keep things rolling. If you’re in the quarterback streaming business or need a bye-week fill-in, Nix is a solid option.
DERRICK HENRY (RB)
*On pace for nearly 25 touchdowns this season
Coming into the season there was no shortage of Derrick Henry doubters. Whether due to his age, or his situation, many experts and analysts believed he was being taken much too high in fantasy drafts. My how things have changed. Henry is the RB1 this season and has looked like the best running back in football. Plus, with 13 touchdowns, he is on pace for nearly 25 total touchdowns. That would be a ridiculous number if he hits it. Even if he doesn’t, he is the easiest start/sit decision every week. Keep firing him up and reaping the rewards.
JAHMYR GIBBS (RB)
*More yards per carry than any top-12 running back
As good as Derrick Henry has been, I would have expected him to be the leader in yards per carry, but as much work as he gets, perhaps it’s understandable that he’s been edged out by someone with 65 fewer carries. Jahmyr Gibbs is the current leader among top-12 fantasy running backs with 6.4 yards per carry. The Detroit Lions have one of the best running back duos with David Montgomery and Gibbs. Gibbs continues to put his dynamic playmaking on display and justify being selected in the second round of fantasy drafts. His ceiling is a bit limited working alongside Montgomery, but he is still a top-five option and if Montgomery goes down, Gibbs will win many people their leagues.
RICO DOWDLE (RB)
*Only lead running back who has yet to score a rushing touchdown
Rico Dowdle was a preseason sleeper pick. With Tony Pollard leaving for Tennesse, there was an obvious opening in the Dallas backfield for someone to emerge. Unfortunately, Dowdle has yet to live up to those expectations. While he just had his first 20+ point game of the season, Dowdle has yet to score a single rushing touchdown. In fact, he is the only lead running back who has failed to do so. He does have three receiving touchdowns, but he has not been able to get it done on the ground. The hope is that this past weekend is a sign of things to come, but with Dak Prescott set to miss a few games with a hamstring injury, space might be hard to come by for Dowdle.
TERRY MCLAURIN (WR)
*Highest depth of target among top 12 wide receivers
Jayden Daniels has done wonders for Terry McLaurin as far as fantasy is concerned. After being saddled with poor quarterback play throughout his career, McLaurin finally has a talented signal caller throwing him the ball. This has led to him being a top-seven wide receiver regardless of format. Not only does he get 6-10 quality targets every game, but much of that work is downfield. That is why McLaurin has the highest depth-of-target (15.2) among top-12 wide receivers. As long as Daniels is healthy and targeting McLaurin, he should be in your lineups.
MALIK NABERS (WR)
*Most air yards per game of any wide receiver
Malik Nabers has been a solid fantasy wide receiver through the first half of the season, finishing as a top-12 option in three of his first four weeks. While he has cooled over the last few weeks, he is still a young talent with many good days ahead. Part of what makes him such a good fantasy asset is his usage. Nabers only has two games with fewer than 11 targets. Many of these targets are happening downfield, leading to Nabers’ NFL-leading 139.3 air yards per game. His upside is limited with Daniel Jones under center, but the utilization makes him a good start every week.
MARVIN HARRISON JR. (WR)
*Most yards per reception of any top-25 wide receiver
This one is interesting because while it is Nabers who has the most air yards per game, he doesn’t have the most yards per reception. That honor would go to Marvin Harrison Jr. with 25, which is more than any top-25 receiver. Harrison Jr. has largely been a disappointment this season in fantasy. He started well, even finishing as the overall WR1 back in Week 2. But over the last five weeks, he only has one finish inside the top-50. There’s still time for him to turn things around, but so far Kyler Murray and he have not been on the same page.
MARK ANDREWS (TE)
*Fewest targets of any top-12 tight end
After the first few weeks of this season, people were ready to write Andrews off. But over the last four weeks, Andews has finished as a top-10 tight end three times. He is now the TE9 this season, and while that is nice to see, it does come with a sizable caveat. Andrews has received the fewest targets (29) of any top-12 tight end. This means his fantasy success so far has relied on getting in the endzone. There’s no reason Andrews can’t continue to score, but just know that in weeks when he doesn’t you will probably be disappointed.
TREY MCBRIDE (TE)
*Only top-12 tight end who has not scored a receiving touchdown
It’s hard to believe that Trey McBride is the TE4 this season without scoring a single receiving touchdown, but that just goes to show how wild this season has been. McBride does have one touchdown, but it was a flukey play where he recovered a fumble in the endzone. Still, while he has 60 targets this season (including five redzone targets) only one of those targets has come in the endzone. So instead of relying on touchdowns, he is getting it done with receptions and yardage. This gives him a safe weekly floor and if he ever finds his way into the endzone that will be the cherry on top.
