Red Zone Watch: Week 9

Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons scored four red-zone touchdowns Thursday against the Buccaneers, including three through the air. However, not a single one of those opportunities went to a running back, and specifically starter Devonta Freeman, who was expected to get a bigger workload due to the injury absence of Tevin Coleman. Freeman still got five red-zone carries, including three inside the 10-yard line, but wideout Taylor Gabriel scored on a nine-yard run, while running back Terron Ward was given three opportunities from inside the 10. Making matter worse for Freeman's fantasy owners, all of Ryan's passing touchdowns came on plays inside the 10-yard line, as wide receiver Julio Jones, tight end Austin Hooper and fullback Patrick DiMarco were the beneficiaries of the scores. It's certainly a plus that Freeman is getting a decent number of opportunities in the red zone, but unless he starts scoring more often, the Falcons may look toward Sunday as a recipe for success.

Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars signed running back Chris Ivory this past offseason to enhance their ability to run the ball in the red zone, as he was one of the best finishers from that area in the league last season (mostly due to a high usage with the Jets). Despite T.J. Yeldon coming off a decent rookie season, the combination of the two backs figured to create somewhat of a committee approach, which always hurts for fantasy purposes. Throw in the fact that they had very capable wide receivers in Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee, and there was little reason to be optimistic that one single player would take over when the team was close to the goal line. That fear reared itself pretty heavily Sunday against the Chiefs, as both Ivory (two) and Yeldon got carry opportunities inside the red zone (in fact, all of them came from inside the 10) but both failed to convert. However, Yeldon was able to score on a 13-yard pass play late in the game, but that was far after Robinson caught a one-yard touchdown himself. Fantasy decisions don't start with who gets the opportunities in the red zone, but it can be a helpful piece of the decision-making process. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, they have so many options, none of which is elite, that the red-zone opportunities are almost a moot point.

Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have relied heavily on Spencer Ware this season in the absence of Jamaal Charles (knee), but without the former available Sunday against the Jaguars, backup Charcandrick West led the team in carries (13). However, not a single one of those touches came in the red zone, as fourth-stringer (and Sunday's backup) Knile Davis got the only running back carry in the red zone, though it's worth noting that it wasn't inside the 10. Meanwhile, quarterback Nick Foles threw six times inside the 20, including twice inside the 10. West may be getting more touches with Charles and Ware out, but it's pretty clear that coach Andy Reid doesn't see him as a big asset when the Chiefs get close to the end zone.

San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are the most active team in the red zone this season, and they came into this week throwing on 60 percent of their plays inside the 20, including 57 percent inside the 10. However, second-year running back Melvin Gordon was the workhorse Sunday against the Titans, as the Chargers turned to him 12 times in the red zone, including 10 carries, four of which were inside the 10. Meanwhile, they passed nine times in the red zone, with two targets going to Gordon as well. Additionally, quarterback Philip Rivers threw just once inside the 10, a six-yard touchdown to Tyrell Williams. Despite the score, it's becoming clearer that the offense is going to revolve around Gordon, who rumbled for 196 yards Sunday and added 65 receiving yards. Now that they finally trust their starting running back, Gordon is likely to get plenty of touches near the end zone, which is a great position to be in when your team has run the most red-zone plays in the NFL this year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers' backfield is a hot mess without Doug Martin and Charles Sims, and while it appeared as if Mike James or Peyton Barber could provide some fantasy upside given the increase in opportunities, the Bucs clearly have no intention of letting them try to make an impact from in close. The Bucs rushed only twice in the red zone Thursday against the Falcons, with none coming inside the 10-yard line. On the flip side, quarterback Jameis Winston threw six times inside the 20, half of which came inside the 10 and turned into touchdowns. Wideout Mike Evans opened the scoring with a three-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter, followed by Adam Humphries' seven-yard TD grab in the fourth quarter to bring the Bucs within 20, and then tight end Cameron Brate's two-yarder with just under a minute left to bring the Buccaneers within 15. Evans is the clear No. 1 on offense, and while he isn't going to catch every pass, it looks like the Bucs are at least going to rely on Winston's arm as opposed to any non-Martin legs in the red zone.