2015 Top Positional Target Report AFC North/2016 Predictions

Figure 1. Summary of 2015 League Team Targets vs Usage By Positions (Color Coded League Rankings)

Legend for the Color Coding in Figures 2 to 5

• Green is the Positions Number 1,
• Orange is the Position’s Number 2,
• Yellow is the Position’s number 3 and
• Blue is the Position’s fourth or greater targeted player.

BAL 2015 Target Analysis

In Figure 1, the data shows that this team in 2015 used its RBs at a very high level. I predict that that trend continues for 2016. The TE spot was under used and the WR were used at the league average.

2016 Prediction (RB++) (TE- ) (WR 0).

Figure 2 BAL 2015 WEEK by WEEK TOP Target Records by Position.

I have only noted the by color which player was the top at the position in that week!

RB Analysis. BAL in 2015 shared the targets, but early in the first 3 weeks, Justin Forsett was the only RB targeted. After his injury, BAL shared targets between the 2 other RBs. BAL may be a one RB biased target if Forsett is in. Given the Dixon injury, Allen will be the pass catcher in here and Forsett will be the 1/2 back!

The WR position was top targeted to Kamar Aiken and Steve Smith. Given the new additions, the WR group is cloudy.

The TE positon was underused and Gilmore will be the main early season TE to tbe Top targeted as he was 8 out 16 weeks in 2015. Maxx Williams was top targeted 6 of 16. The Ben Watson Injury, opens the door for BAL to repeat their TE usage and top targeting. I expect not change.

CIN 2015 Target Analysis

Analysis of the 2015 CIN team’s top positional targeted players, showed that they targeted the RB at an above average level. Cin was below average on TE targeting and just average at WR targeting.

2016 Prediction (RB+), (TE 0) and (WR o). The TE targets are based on the availability of a non-injured TE for the 2016 season

Figure 3. CIN 2015 WEEK by WEEK TOP Target Records by Position.

Analysis of the 2015 top targets by position suggests that Giovani Bernard is the only “goto” RB for targets. He was the top target 14 out of 16 weeks. Cin also focused on one TE as its top target. That only was switch with the injury of Tyler Eifert. The WR top target was A J Green for 12/16 week and Marvin Jones for 4/16 weeks. The team can focus on a second WR, so expect the number 2 WR to Green in 2016 to enjoy some dominate weeks as the top target in 2016.

CLE 2015 Target Analysis

Analysis of the 2015 CLE targets seen in Figure 1 reveals that CLE was very poor in targeting its RBs. They were in the bottom of the league in that positional targeting. The team was just average in WR targeting and above average in getting the ball to the TE (Gary Barnidge).

2016 Prediction. (RB 0), (TE+) and (WR 0)

Figure 4 CLE 2015 WEEK by WEEK TOP Target Records by Position.

The top targeted player data showed that the team was biased to one main player per position. In the RB position it was Duke Johnson and TE was it was Barnidge. In the WR position, Travis Benjamin dominated the targets in 12 of 16 weeks. Three other WRs were in play for the other 4 weeks.

PIT 2015 Target Analysis

The data presented for PIT in Figure 1 showed that this team was in the league lowest group in RB and TE targeting while in the league top level for it WR.

2016 Prediction. (RB 0), (TE-) and (WR++).

Levon Bell should get PIT back to average in RB targets and Antonio Brown will be highly favored to keep PIT at the WR’s top targeting levels for the league.

Figure 5 PIT 2015 WEEK by WEEK TOP Target Records by Position.

In looking at the team’s targeting tops, Bell was at the team’s top when not injured but PIT used Deangelo Williams to receive the RB targets. The TE was dominated by Health Miller for 15/16 weeks with Jesse James having one top target week in week 13. James should be considered the replacement until proven otherwise. The heavily targeted WRs, had Brown the target tops for 15/16 week. That should not change in 2016!