Keenan Allen must really like this time of the year.
It's not quite like his mid-November-to-early December 2017 surge en route to earning the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award, when Allen set an NFL record with at least 10 catches, 100 yards and one score in three consecutive games. But Allen again is the midst of an awesome roll.
Fantasy's WR2 overall in his past four games, Allen has averaged 9-91-1 receiving, including a monstrous 14-catch, 148-yard, 1-TD primetime explosion on the Steelers on Monday night. And Philip Rivers should be ready to lean on his favorite receiver a ton again Sunday vs. Cincinnati with Melvin Gordon still ailing.
To wit: Allen has 26 (!) combined targets over his past two games, coinciding with Gordon suffering his knee injury. And the Bengals have permitted 14 combined passing touchdowns over their past four games against formidable quarterbacks (apologies to Lamar Jackson and Case Keenum). Philip Rivers has targted Allen in the red zone three times since Gordon went down — 25 percent of the receiver's overall looks this season — and Cincinnati brings the NFL's 26th-ranked red 'D' to town.
Owners know well of Allen's dominance since he once again has saved his best for fantasy crunch time. More casual NFL fans would know about him, except the Chargers are once again flying under the radar despite nipping at the AFC-leading Kansas City Chiefs' heels with a 9-3 record. But isn't it time everyone learned about one of the game's best receivers?
1. Michael Thomas, Saints at Bucs
2. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans vs. Colts
3. Antonio Brown, Steelers at Raiders
4. Julio Jones, Falcons at Packers
5. Davante Adams, Packers vs. Falcons
6. Keenan Allen, Chargers vs. Bengals
7. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs vs. Ravens
8. Adam Thielen, Vikings at Seahawks
9. T.Y. Hilton, Colts at Texans
10. Mike Evans, Bucs vs. Saints
11. Tyler Lockett, Seahawks vs. Vikings
12. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers at Raiders
13. Stefon Diggs, Vikings at Seahawks
14. Amari Cooper, Cowboys vs. Eagles
15. Brandin Cooks, Rams at Bears
16. Josh Gordon, Patriots at Dolphins
17. Jarvis Landry, Browns vs. Panthers
18. Kenny Golladay*, Lions at Cardinals
19. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks vs. Vikings
20. Julian Edelman, Patriots at Dolphins
21. Robert Woods, Rams at Bears
22. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals vs. Lions
23. Allen Robinson, Bears vs. Rams
24. Tyler Boyd, Bengals at Chargers
25. Courtland Sutton, Broncos at 49ers
26. Alshon Jeffery, Eagles at Cowboys
27. Dante Pettis, 49ers vs. Broncos
28. Calvin Ridley, Falcons at Packers
29. Corey Davis, Titans vs. Jaguars
30. Chris Godwin, Bucs vs. Saints
31. Marquise Goodwin, 49ers vs. Broncos
32. D.J. Moore, Panthers at Browns
33. Tre'Quan Smith, Saints at Bucs
34. Curtis Samuel, Panthers at Browns
35. Adam Humphries, Bucs vs. Saints
36. Anthony Miller, Bears vs. Rams
37. Golden Tate, Eagles at Cowboys
38. Antonio Callaway, Browns vs. Panthers
39. Quincy Enunwa, Jets at Bills
40. Demaryius Thomas, Texans vs. Colts
41. Jordy Nelson, Raiders vs. Steelers
42. Kenny Stills, Dolphins vs. Patriots
43. Michael Crabtree, Ravens at Chiefs
44. David Moore, Seahawks vs. Vikings
45. Bruce Ellington, Lions at Cardinals
46. Mike Williams, Chargers vs. Bengals
47. Devin Funchess, Panthers at Browns
48. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers vs. Falcons
49. Sterling Shepard, Giants at Washington
50. John Brown, Ravens at Chiefs
51. Mohamed Sanu, Falcons at Packers
52. Donte Moncrief, Jaguars at Titans
53. Randall Cobb, Packers vs. Falcons
54. Josh Reynolds, Rams at Bears
55. Jamison Crowder, Washington vs. Giants
56. John Ross, Bengals at Chargers
57. Josh Doctson, Washington vs. Giants
58. Zay Jones, Bills vs. Jets
59. Robby Anderson, Jets at Bills
60. Keith Kirkwood, Saints at Bucs
