This article is part of our Red Zone Watch series.
Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton is always the top option for the Panthers when they are near the goal line, but they'll have to come up with a new plan if he has to miss time because of the concussion he suffered Sunday against the Falcons. Newton not only leads the Panthers in red-zone carries, he is also the only player with a carry from inside the five-yard line, which makes it difficult to project who might get the opportunities if they get close against the Bucs in Week 5. Will they trust Derek Anderson to throw it to his big receivers like Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen, or will they run with Fozzy Whittaker or Cameron Artis-Payne? Whittaker is the only one with a carry inside the 10 this season, but Artis-Payne out-carried him against the Falcons on Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys
After a few weeks of having Dak Prescott, Alfred Morris and Lance Dunbar take his goal-line opportunities, Ezekiel Elliott scored his second goal-line TD of the year Sunday against the 49ers. Elliott leads the NFL in rushing yards, though he's 16th in yards per carry, but if he keeps staying on the field when the Cowboys are close to the goal line, he's likely to pay off the high price fantasy owners had to pay on draft day to get him.
Houston Texans
There is no question the Texans' backfield belongs to Lamar Miller, as he's gotten 87.5 percent of the team's red-zone carries, including
Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton is always the top option for the Panthers when they are near the goal line, but they'll have to come up with a new plan if he has to miss time because of the concussion he suffered Sunday against the Falcons. Newton not only leads the Panthers in red-zone carries, he is also the only player with a carry from inside the five-yard line, which makes it difficult to project who might get the opportunities if they get close against the Bucs in Week 5. Will they trust Derek Anderson to throw it to his big receivers like Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen, or will they run with Fozzy Whittaker or Cameron Artis-Payne? Whittaker is the only one with a carry inside the 10 this season, but Artis-Payne out-carried him against the Falcons on Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys
After a few weeks of having Dak Prescott, Alfred Morris and Lance Dunbar take his goal-line opportunities, Ezekiel Elliott scored his second goal-line TD of the year Sunday against the 49ers. Elliott leads the NFL in rushing yards, though he's 16th in yards per carry, but if he keeps staying on the field when the Cowboys are close to the goal line, he's likely to pay off the high price fantasy owners had to pay on draft day to get him.
Houston Texans
There is no question the Texans' backfield belongs to Lamar Miller, as he's gotten 87.5 percent of the team's red-zone carries, including 100 percent inside the 10. Unfortunately, the volume hasn't been high, as he has only two carries inside the 10 and one inside the five, while quarterback Brock Osweiler has thrown 14 times in the red zone, including four inside the 10. Miller was a solid goal-line finisher last season, albeit in limited touches, but his fantasy upside is definitely capped if coach Bill O'Brien keeps the ball in the air in close.
New Orleans Saints
Mark Ingram was a productive red-zone option last season, but fantasy owners got a shock to the system (and their teams) Sunday, as they watched fullback John Kuhn score three touchdowns (one receiving) from inside the five-yard line against the Chargers in San Diego. Kuhn came into the game with six touches through the first three games (four carries, two receptions), but he had five Sunday (three carries and two receptions), and he's now found the end zone four times in the last two weeks. Ingram is still dominating the total touches, but his fantasy value takes a hit if Kuhn keeps coming in when the Saints get near the goal line. That said, the volume of those opportunities isn't likely to be significant, which keeps Kuhn from being a viable fantasy option in most leagues.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers aren't expected to score a ton of points this season, but when they have some short opportunities to do so, it's clear that Carlos Hyde will be involved. The Niners have run the ball more than 71 percent of the time inside the red zone, a figure that increases to nearly 79 percent inside the 10-yard line. Additionally, quarterback Blaine Gabbert has significantly spread the ball around, as eight players have been targeted inside the red zone, with Shaun Draughn and Torrey Smith co-leading the team with two. Again, the 49ers aren't likely to put a ton of points on the board, but Hyde at least gives fantasy owners the security of knowing he'll get touches when they are close to the goal line.
Tennessee Titans
If there was any question who the main offensive threat was in Tennessee, DeMarco Murray has certainly answered that it's him. Through four games, Murray has not only gotten 80 percent of the team's red-zone carries, including every single one from inside the 10-yard line, he also leads them in red-zone targets and targets inside the 10-yard line. As long as Murray is healthy, Derrick Henry is far from a useful fantasy option.
Washington Redskins
Washington has gone to the pass more than 60 percent of the time on its red-zone snaps this season, including nearly 70 percent inside the 10. However, quarterback Kirk Cousins has really struggled connecting on his passes, completing just 10 of 28 in the red zone and just 4 of 16 inside the 10. His 35.7 red-zone completion percentage is the lowest of any quarterback with at least 10 attempts in that area (26 quarterbacks). Additionally, his 16 pass attempts from inside the 10-yard line co-lead the league with Drew Brees, but Cousins' 25 percent completion rate is lower than all but one QB (Andy Dalton) with at least five attempts. If Cousins keeps struggling to connect from in close, it might be time to increase running back Matt Jones' touches.
