It’s almost cliché at this point to call Danny Woodhead underrated and overlooked, and yet here we are with Woodhead going as the 39th running back off the board in standard scoring leagues. This, of course, is happening despite finishing last season 19th in fantasy points among running backs in standard scoring, and 12th in PPR leagues.
Looking more closely at the stats, these numbers don’t come as much of a surprise. Woodhead is quietly one of the most utilized red zone receiving threats in the league, giving him big touchdown potential. His 23 targets in the red zone last year have him tied for seventh in the NFL (across all positions), and only three targets below league leaders Jimmy Graham and Calvin Johnson.
Woodhead also saw plenty of volume last year, posting a career-high 106 carries (despite starter Ryan Mathews playing in all 16 games) and ranking fourth among running backs in targets with 87.
When you combine that kind of touchdown potential and volume with Woodhead’s efficiency (ranked second among running backs in 2013 in Reception Net Expected Points per target, and first in the same category in 2012), you get a player ready for another big year.