NFL

Week 2 Fantasy Football Market Share Report: Keenan Allen Is Awfully Busy

As quarterbacks fall, one after the other to season-ending or multi-game injuries, it's important to dive deeply into the players who are commanding the largest shares of their team's touches, and figuring out who benefits more than others.

One week is nice. But a sample size of two games establishes a pattern. Is it a guaranteed pattern of potential outcomes for the rest of the season? No. But a two-game sample size is actionable information that can be taken to other owners in trades.

Take advantage when you have the edge and find those growing patterns of consistency and take a chance when you see an edge other owners aren't seeing.

Rushing Market Shares

Aaron Jones

For all the talk of the shockingly-boring Green Bay Packers offense through two games, Aaron Jones has established himself as the clear workhorse.

Through two weeks, Jones has 36 attempts and 155 yards. He has mustered 137 yards before contact.

Per Pro Football Research, Jones has 2.6 rushing yards before contact per attempt, which is in line with Christian McCaffrey (2.7) and Austin Ekeler (2.8). It’s not elite, but his number is on the rise.

With another week under their belt, Green Bay is certain to let Jones continue to dominate the Packers’ backfield touches. With currently 18 rushing attempts per game, Jones is nearly tripling the running back rushing touches of Jamaal Williams, who is seeing seven running back touches per game.

Todd Gurley

The fear continues to be real for Todd Gurley owners and those trying to make a buck on the workhorse.

Through two games, Gurley is averaging 15 carries per game and 80 yards on the ground. And despite the dip in production, Gurley still has 87 yards before contact, more than Leonard Fournette (70) and Kerryon Johnson (44).

And for a guy who is supposed to be on bended knee, Gurley has 73 yards after contact and three broken tackles -- only Saquon Barkley (4) and McCaffrey (4) have more broken tackles.

Gurley has one touchdown thus far but a per-carry average of 5.3 yards. His attempts are down, but for all the attention given to Malcolm Brown, he's seeing just 8.5 attempts per game. Gurley is still nearly doubling the running back share given to Brown. Let other owners be afraid. Go out and grab Gurley as your RB2 and enjoy the games where he looks like himself and live with the others. He's in a timeshare, but he's still capable of blow-up games.

Receiving Market Shares

Keenan Allen

San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen reigns supreme after Week 2, averaging a 36 percent market share of targets and a staggering 329 air yards, according to airyards.com.

Allen, who has been targeted 25 times in two games, has 16 receptions for 221 yards and one touchdown. In Week 2 alone, Allen was targeted 15 times and had a 42 percent market share clip.

That figure should continue to hold steady as the Chargers drudge on trying to keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs. Allen is a top-tier WR1 under further notice.

Marquise Brown

For a team with a quarterback who is not supposed to support a legit high-end fantasy receiver, Baltimore Ravens rookie wideour Marquise Brown seems to be handling things fine. Brown is grabbing 29 percent market share of the Ravens’ passing targets and has 113 yards after catch (YAC), two touchdowns and 243 air yards in two games.

A Week 3 matchup with Kansas City’s soft defense figures to bring the best out of both offenses and a chance for Brown to build on his connection with Lamar Jackson. Brown is a high-upside WR2 and worth a look on the trade market.

Red Zone Market Shares

Josh Jacobs

For a rookie, Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs isn’t being used sparingly or being eased in.

Jacobs leads all running backs through two weeks with 12 red zone rushes and 92.3 percent of the Raiders' rushing red zone looks, according to profootballreference.com

With those 12 attempts, Jacobs has two touchdowns and the confidence of head coach John Gruden. Jacobs is a high-floor RB2, with low end RB1 potential.

Sony Michel

Despite a quiet Week 1, Sony Michel is among the league leaders in red zone rushes with eight attempts through two games.

Michel finally hit pay-dirt in Week 2, and despite that same lackluster opening game, Michel is handing 53 percent market share of the New England Patriots' red zone attempts on the ground. He should see good volume this week as New England hosts the injury-plagued New York Jets and are likely in clock-killing mode, a Michel specialty.

Emmanuel Sanders

Apparently, Emmanuel Sanders had a catastrophic injury last season. So far, you wouldn't know it.

Sanders leads all NFL receivers with seven red zone targets, which includes two touchdowns and a 38.9 percent market share of the Denver Broncos' red zone receiving targets.

And according to profootballreference.com, Sanders is receiving 66.7 percent of the team's targets inside the red zone. Technically, it's only seven targets and five receptions. But when Denver gets in the red zone and Joe Flacco needs to throw it, Sanders is the man.