Market Share Report: The Raiders Are a Nightmare Again

Target Market Shares

1. Adam Thielen Is Making the Most of His Opportunity

Allow the confusion around how to handle the Minnesota Vikings in fantasy for 2017 to commence. They're hard to diagnose across the board, and Adam Thielen certainly isn't helping.

Thielen finished Saturday with 15 targets, easily eclipsing second-place Kyle Rudolph's nine for the team lead. Thielen turned that into 12 receptions for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns, leaving Stefon Diggs and his line of 4 receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown in the dust.

In four games since Diggs' most recent injury, Thielen has had more targets between the two twice, they tied once, and Thielen left due to injury in the other. Heading into Week 17, we really don't know who will be the team's lead receiver for 2017. We can say definitively, though, that Thielen is making a convincing argument for his inclusion in the discussion, and we can't forget him in any offseason debates.

2. Brandon LaFell Keeps Getting Targets

Whenever a target monster like A.J. Green exits the lineup, you know somebody's going to benefit big time. Brandon LaFell didn't just see a bump, though. Dude became a monster himself.

In essentially six games with Green on the sidelines, LaFell has 24.04% of the Cincinnati Bengals' targets. When we narrow the scope to just the past three games, LaFell's market share jumps to 27.17%, the ninth-highest mark in the league. With Green likely to sit in Week 17, as well, we should expect LaFell to keep seeing heavy volume in a matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.

LaFell's usage shows two things. First, he's a fun potential DFS target in Week 17. Second, you'll want to own whoever winds up being the Bengals' No. 2 receiver next year in season-long. If something happens to Green, that person is likely to inherit a grotesque role, and even if they have some talent questions like LaFell, the volume may be enough to make them a tremendous fantasy asset.

3. Cam Meredith Fends Off Alshon Jeffery

The Chicago Bears' wide receivers have been a mess pretty much the entire year, and now is no different. But with a two-game sample under our belts, it does at least seem as if Cam Meredith holds a slight usage edge over Alshon Jeffery.

Meredith leads the team with 25 targets since Jeffery's return from suspension, including a 12-target day in Week 16. Jeffery is second on the team with 19 targets in those games, and no other player has more than 14. It's essentially a two-man show, and Meredith is leading the way.

The Bears face the Vikings in Week 17, a team that has allowed 72 points the past two games and is -- like the Bears -- no longer in playoff contention. Meredith has limited upside due to the offense in which he operates, but at $5,800 on FanDuel, he serves as an intriguing target for DFS in a situation where his price doesn't match his role.