Week 13 vs. Bengals
There was an odd number of days in the week last week, so obviously, Keenan Allen saw double-digit targets. He caught seven of his 10 looks for 85 yards, his seventh straight game with at least 50 receiving yards, and 10th of the season. But Allen was once again held out of the endzone, and his lack of scoring saw his output round out to 12 Half PPR points. Allen is up to WR17 on the season, despite his solid weekly floor.
The Bengals rank 14th in aFPA to wide receivers this season, but Allen's target reliability makes him fairly easy to trust, though difficult to get too excited about. He can be started as a mid-tier WR1 this week.
Week 12 vs. Broncos
Week 11 was just another workday for Keenan Allen. He saw 13 targets, matching a season-high, catching nine for 112 yards, a new high point in 2021. Allen posted 15.7 Half PPR points, good for WR14 for the week. Allen is now averaging 13.0 Half PPR points per outing, good for WR19. A few touchdowns certainly wouldn't hurt him or his fantasy managers. Allen has found the end zone just twice in 2021.
Fantasy managers can probably expect more of the same from Allen in the week ahead. The Broncos rank 17th in aFPA allowed to the wide receiver position. Given his consistent workload, Allen is probably one of the safest options in the entire NFL. He projects as a low-end WR1 in Week 12.
Week 11 vs. Steelers
Week 10 saw just another day at the office for Keenan Allen, who saw 11 targets for the third game in a row and sixth time this season. Allen responded by catching eight balls for 98 yards, posting 13.8 fantasy points along the way. These were enough for his second straight top 12 finish, despite his lowest fantasy output in three games.
Allen should be in for another good day against the Steelers in Week 11. The Steelers currently rank 22nd in aFPA and will be without star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Look for Allen to once again post low-end WR1 numbers this week.
Week 10 vs. Vikings
It was a vintage performance from Keenan Allen in Week 9 against the Eagles. He tied a season-high with 13 targets, catching 12 of them for 104 yards. It was his first 100-yard outing since Week 2. Allen finished with 16.4 fantasy points in Half PPR formats, finishing as a WR1 for the first time this season. He has 16+ fantasy points in back-to-back games.
He has an excellent chance to continue this form in Week 10. The Vikings have been incredibly welcoming to wide receivers in 2021, ranking 26th in aFPA to the position. Allen projects to be a high-end WR2 this week.
Week 9 vs. Eagles
Keenan Allen posted his best fantasy outing of the season against the Patriots as he caught six of his 11 targets for 77 yards and a score to give him 16.7 Half PPR points. But it still wasn't enough for him to crack WR1 airspace, which he has failed to do all season. Allen averages just 12.0 fantasy points per game and sits as the WR27.
The only team ranking ahead of the Eagles in aFPA to wide receivers are the Chargers. So perhaps we shouldn't expect big things from Allen this week. That being said, the Eagles do allow teams to target the short to intermediate areas of the field, and that is where Allen does his best work. Still, he's backend WR2 projection this week.
Week 8 vs. Patriots
It's not quite happening for Keenan Allen in fantasy terms so far in 2021. He's tied for 12th among all wide receivers with 56 targets, while only 10 have catches than Allen who has 39. But he's only managed 419 receiving yards (23rd) and a single touchdown. He is the WR34 in half-PPR formats and the WR29 in fantasy points per game. Allen has been a WR3 or worse in four of his six games this season.
It is tough to get too excited about Allen as anything more than a low-end WR2 against the Patriots this week. The Patriots are 20th in aFPA allowed to the wide receiver spot this season. They've allowed one or fewer receiving scores in four of their games so far this season. Allen has scored a receiving touchdown in three of his last four games against AFC East opposition, and his fantasy managers will be hoping he can make it four out of five this week.
Week 6 vs. Ravens
There is a lot to like about Keenan Allen's numbers so far in 2021. He has commanded 51 targets, the third-most among all wide receivers. Only four players have more receptions than Allen, who has 34 catches on the year. But 16 have more yards than his 369, and 41 have scored more touchdowns. Allen has a solitary score on the year. Allen has at least eight targets in every game, but Week 5 was his third consecutive game with less than 100 receiving yards. He is currently the WR23 in half-PPR formats.
The Ravens have been fairly stingy towards fantasy wide receivers in 2021, ranking 10th in aFPA. They've allowed the ninth-fewest receptions to the position (58), while only ten teams have given up fewer receiving yards (803). However, Allen could find some joy from the slot against the Ravens. Their primary slot corner Tavon Young has allowed 13 receptions for 166 yards this season, the fourth-most yards allowed by any slot corner. Allen is projected for a low-end WR1 week. Mike Williams is also banged up and might not be able to play in Week 6. If he misses out, Allen could see a massive bump in targets.
Week 5 vs. Browns
Keenan Allen saw double-digit targets for the third time in four games this season on Monday night against the Raiders. He reeled in seven for a paltry 36 yards and has just 86 yards combined in his last two games. He cracked the 100-yard mark in each of his first two games of the season. Still, Allen has seen more targets (42) than all wide receivers not named Adams or Kupp. Allen has 28 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown through four weeks but is currently the WR31 in Half PPR formats.
Allen and the Chargers should face a stern test this week against the Browns. Cleveland is fourth in aFPA to the WR position, allowing just 23.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers through four weeks. Allen is likely to continue working the slot, having seen precisely 50% of his seasons' targets when lined up inside. The Browns' primary slot corner has been Troy Hill, who has allowed eight of 14 targets to be completed for 82 yards. Allen is projected to be a high-end WR2 this week.
Week 4 vs. Raiders
Keenan Allen continues to be one of the most consistent wide receivers in the NFL, with his deeds through three weeks of the season perfectly capturing this perception. Allen is second among all wide receivers with 32 targets, while only seven players have more receptions than Allen's 21. He is ninth with 258 receiving yards. Allen is currently the WR12 on the year, averaging 17.6 fantasy points per game. Allen has played 61.7% of his snaps in the slot, which is a position that teams haven't attacked too much against the Raiders so far in 2021. Raiders slot defenders have been targetted 12 times, on which they have allowed 10 receptions for just 58 yards. The Raiders have allowed the sixth-most receptions to wide receivers this season with 48, although they are only 17th in receiving yards allowed with 507. The Raiders have only allowed one wide receiver to find the end zone, and are 24th in aFPA to the position. Allen is likely to line up against Nate Hobbs in the slot, and Hobbs is currently PFF's fifth-ranked cornerback this season.
Week 2 vs. Chiefs
Like his quarterback, Keenan Allen is doing a lot of good work so far this season with the prospect of so much more to come. Allen is sixth among all wide receivers in targets (20) and receiving yards (208). But he has yet to find the endzone in 2021 and is the only wide receiver inside the top 10 in yardage yet to score a touchdown. The Chiefs have faced two run-heavy offenses so far this season, a contributing factor towards their having only allowed 19 receptions for 301 yards and a score to wide receivers in 2021. Allen has lined up in the slot on 65.6% of his plays, and the Chiefs have been slightly vulnerable inside. They've allowed 10 receptions for 121 yards and a score to the slot so far this season. Still, on paper Allen and the Chargers wide receivers could be in for a tough afternoon.
