Fantasy Football Week 3: Top 20 Touchdown Targets You Must Play
As fantasy football week 3 draws slowly closer, our attention shifts towards the most elusive aspect of the game: touchdowns. At first blush, there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to who picks up the scores from week to week, as many teams' top backs and receivers see scrubs routinely become the recipient of goal line carries and passes.
But, a closer look shows us that there are some players who offer hope. They are in some cases models of consistency; in others, they could be players who are due, or guys who have become their quarterback's favorite target.
These are the top 20 guys who are locks to get a touchdown in Week 3.
20. Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints
1 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: With Reggie Bush's injury, Thomas is the primary running back in New Orleans. Teams no longer have to worry about Bush's dual-threat capabilities out of the backfield, and can focus on shutting down Pierre.
Why He Will: Thomas is the best back in New Orleans, a team who seems to be trying to run the ball more this year than last, given Drew Brees' drop in pass attempts thus far. With Reggie Bush sidelined with a broken bone in his leg, Thomas is going to get his usual workload, plus Bush's carries. Atlanta's decent against the run, but they're not great, as Tim Hightower ran over, around, and through them in Week 2. Even if Atlanta shuts him down running the ball, Thomas is a great receiver, who can score catching the ball as well.
Likelihood of a Score: 7.5 out of 10. Thomas is a great back, but it's possible someone else poaches a goal-line attempt from him and gets his score. Still, it's likely that he'll find the end zone this week.
19. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
2 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: Thomas is a rookie, and the Colts' secondary has been locking down on teams' passing games quite effectively through two weeks thus far. If Kyle Orton decides to throw the ball, he might look elsewhere, to veteran targets.
Why He Will: Thomas annouced his return to health in a big way last week against Seattle, torching the Seahawks for 97 yards and a score on 8 catches. He's big and fast, and is easily the most athletic wideout in Denver. Thomas showed last week that he's already got a connection with Kyle Orton, and even with the Colts' secondary coming to town next week, Thomas should have a touchdown catch.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 8 out of 10. If Kyle Orton throws a touchdown pass, rest assured it will probably be going to Thomas.
18. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
3 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: While Maclin is an excellent wideout, he didn't seem to have a great connection with this week's starter, Kevin Kolb, during the preseason. If that's still true, Maclin could struggle to find the end zone.
Why He Will: Maclin has been a model of consistency through the first two weeks of the season, finding the painted rectangle in both of his team's first two games. He's one of Philly's most sure handed targets, meaning that even if Kolb still doesn't have a great connection with him, he's likely to get a look in the red zone.
Likelihood of a Score: 8 out of 10. Maclin was consistently good in weeks 1 and 2, so he should get you a touchdown this week.
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17. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
4 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: After his 41 point outburst in week 1, Foster returned to Earth in Week 2, racking up just 69 yards on 19 carries. He also failed to score a touchdown. This week, Houston takes on Dallas, and the Cowboys' defense will be looking to prove that last week was just an aberration.
Why He Will: Foster is a talented back, and the Texans stopped running the ball in the second half when they realized that the Redskins couldn't stop Matt Schaub from throwing. Expect a more balanced offense in Week 3 against the Cowboys. Plus, when Houston's in the red zone, there isn't a much better option than Foster, who's big and powerful.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 8 of 10. Foster has proven himself as the starter in Houston, and should get every opportunity to score a touchdown this week.
16. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens
5 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: Rice has yet to cross the plane of the goal line for the Ravens in two weeks. He's looked good, but the team continues to give Willis McGahee the goal line touches.
Why He Will: Rice is as veratile a running back as there is in the NFL. He's a great rusher and receiver, and the Browns aren't nearly as good defensively as Cincinnati or New York were. If there's a player ready to go off for a big week, it's Rice.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 8 of 10. Rice could get his goal line looks poached by McGahee again, but he has the talent to score from farther out, and against the Browns, he should do just that.
15. Mark Clayton, WR, St. Louis Rams
6 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: Through two weeks, Clayton has had a game where he's put up big yards, but no scores, and a game where his yards have disappeared, but he had a pair of touchdowns. If the trend continues, he'll get his points through yards, not scores in Week 3.
Why He Will: Clayton is the most reliable receiver in St. Louis. He's going to get most of the looks in and around the red zone, and has some big play potential as well. While this team prefers to run with Steven Jackson near the end zone, Clayton gives them a sure-handed option around the goal line as well.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 8 of 10. Clayton might not get his touchdown, but he should get plenty of looks in the red zone. A score seems likely.
14. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
7 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: McCoy hasn't gotten the kind of touches we'd like to see from an every down back thus far this season, and Jacksonville could minimize his impact in this one.
Why He Will: Even with Michael Vick stealing a few carries from him in Weeks 1 and 2, McCoy managed to score 43 points, including a 30 point outburst against the Lions last week. With Kevin Kolb getting back up to speed, don't be surprised to see McCoy get plenty of carries, particularly around the goal line.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 8.5 out of 10. McCoy has shown he belongs as an elite runner in the NFL and a touchdown seems like a foregone conclusion for the Eagles' back.
13. Randy Moss, WR, New England Patriots
8 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: Defenses have been keying on Moss the first two weeks of the season, and have limited his production. Against the Bengals last week, Moss failed to score a touchdown, and the trend could continue in Week 3.
Why He Will: Buffalo's secondary is nowhere near as good as Cincinnati or New York's secondaries were. Moss should have a field day in the first half against their lackluster defensive corps.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 8.5 out of 10. Moss will score this week, unless Wes Welker poaches his end zone looks.
12. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
9 of 20
Why He Might Not Score: Derek Anderson. The Cardinals quarterback has struggled mightily through two games, and those struggles cost Fitz a touchdown look against a lackluster Atlanta secondary last week. With Nnamdi Asomugha marking him in Week 3, he could miss out on the end zone again.
Why He Will: Fitz could be the most talented wide receiver in the NFL. Even with defenses keying on him, he's put up solid numbers over two weeks. Something tells me he won't be denied this week against Oakland. He might not catch a ton of passes, but expect one of them to be in the end zone.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 8.5 of 10.
11. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos
10 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: The Colts were successsful at not letting Ahmad Bradshaw or Brandon Jacobs beat them in Week 2, and Moreno hasn't proven he can run against a decent defense yet.
Why He Will: The Colts struggled against Arian Foster in Week 1, a back whose skills are similar to Moreno's. Plus, he's scored in both of Denver's first two games, and is the team's go-to option in the red zone.
Likelihood of a touchdown: 8.5 of 10. Moreno should continue to put up the consistently solid numbers that he showed in his first two games of the year.
10. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions
11 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: Best is a rookie, which means he's going to have ups and downs. The Vikings defense is as good as anyone against the run, and Best could find himself bottled up for most of the game.
Why He Will: Best has been a touchdown machine through the first two weeks of the season, racking up 5 to help make up for some lackluster yardage numbers.He's also an excellent receiver in the flat, and with Minnesota's pass rush, they can be gouged by pass catching running backs.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 8.5 of 10. Best has been a machine through two weeks, and Minnesota hasn't proven they can stop running backs this year.
9. Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers
12 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: The Bengals secondary has done an excellent job of locking down on star receivers so far this season, and without another option to worry about, Cincinnati will key on locking Smith down.
Why He Will: Smith has been keyed on by defenses all season long, but that hasn't stopped him from scoring in both of his team's first two games. Jimmy Clausen will throw to him early and often, and the law of averages is that one of those will wind up as a score.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 8.5 of 10. Smith will score this week, even if his yardage totals aren't great.
8. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears
13 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: Forte has yet to record a rushing touchdown for the Bears this season, and that doesn't look like it'll change this week against Green Bay.
Why He Will: Forte's value comes less from his running ability and more from his transcendent pass catching skills. He's easily the best receiving back in the NFL, and he's torched both opponents through two weeks in the passing game. Expect him to do it again to Green Bay in Week 3.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 8.5 of 10. Forte probably won't score a rushing touchdown, which is why this number isn't higher. But his receiving skills and his place as one of Jay Cutler's favorite targets make him a lock to score a receiving touchdown.
7. Anquan Boldin, WR, Baltimore Ravens
14 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: Boldin has yet to score a touchdown reception in his two games with the Ravens, and last week, he was held to just 35 yards on 5 catches against the Bengals.
Why He Will: Boldin is one of the most talented wideouts in the NFL, and he showed it in week 1 against the Jets. With the Browns anemic secondary, Boldin should have no trouble finding the end zone this week.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 9 of 10. Boldin is as close to a lock for a touchdown this week as your can get without being one.
6. Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers
15 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: There's really nothing to dislike about playing Gore this week.
Why He Will: Kansas City's defense isn't all that good, and Gore is one of the NFL's best backs, evidenced by his 102 yard, 1 touchdown performance on Monday night against the Saints. Plus, he's a skilled receiver, which teams seem to forget about.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 9 of 10. Gore's combination of rushing and receiving means he'll give the Browns fits this week.
5. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions
16 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: The Vikings' pass rush is going to give Shaun Hill fits on Sunday, and the Lions' backup quarterback doesn't have the arm strength to make them pay for it. That means Johnson probably won't be catching too many deep touchdown passes in this game.
Why He Will: Minnesota's secondary is among the most overrated units in football. They don't have the kind of weapons necessary to contain a Calvin Johnson, and even the weak armed Hill should be able to find him for a couple of looks in the end zone.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 9 of 10. Johnson might not have a ton of yards, but a touchdown seems likely.
4. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans
17 of 20
Why He Might Not Score: There is nothing this week that should prevent Johnson from scoring a touchdown.
Why He Will: Andre Johnson re-asserted himself as the best wideout in the NFL last week, with a 158 yard, 1 touchdown explosion against the Redskins. He's huge, fast, and has some of the best hands in the league. There is no one in the Dallas secondary who can handle him.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 9.5 out of 10. Johnson will catch one this week, unless Matt Schaub decides not to throw the ball again.
3. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
18 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: If Brett Favre decides to throw all game long against the Lions crappy secondary, there won't be many touches for Peterson.
Why He Will: Detroit's defense hasn't been all that good thus far this season. Last week, Peterson exploded against the Dolphins, and he should continue that trend against the Lions this week.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 9.5 of 10. Peterson is a work horse, and if Favre's still feeling shaky, they'll give him the ball all game long.
2. Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
19 of 20
Why He Might Not Score This Week: Maybe he gets hurt, or Jeff Fisher loses his mind.
Why He Will: Did you see what the Colts did to the Giants' run defense on Sunday night? Now, imagine what someone with Johnson's talent will do. Exactly. Plus, the Titans won't throw the ball much after Vince Young's meltdown last week.
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 10 of 10. Johnson's a lock.
1. Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis Colts
20 of 20
Why He Might Not Score: If Peyton Manning has a case of severe memory loss, he might forget how reliable his connection with Wayne has been.
Why He Will: Wayne has been incredibly consistent through the first two games of the year, putting up 99 yards on 7 catches with a score in Week 1, and 96 yards on 7 catches with a score in Week 2. Guess what he's going to do this week?
Likelihood of a Touchdown: 10 of 10. He's a lock to find the end zone at least once in this game.
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