3 best red zone weapons for the 2023 NFL season

Few players find success in the red zone quite like these three NFL stars, who have proven over the past few years that they can find the endzone endlessly.

It would seem as if NFL teams would clamor over the game’s most efficient red zone weapons, but in actuality, league leaders find varying appreciation.

Any adept fantasy football player will be quick to rattle off statistics illustrating Austin Ekeler’s luck from the 20-yard line, yet the Los Angeles Chargers boldly chose not to extend his contract. Perhaps that’s only the case for the rare running back hybrid who ranks among the league’s best red zone scorers because the tight ends and wide receivers seem to get their well-deserved accolades. Fans of the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings could debate over which team wields the most impressive red zone threat, but there’s also a case to be made for a certain Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver who’s been a consistent performer each season.

For various reasons, here are three different red zone weapons that are likely to light up the end zone in 2023.

Best NFL red-zone weapons for 2023 season: 3. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

If Austin Ekeler truly is the de facto leader of a running back-led revolt in the NFL, he has earned the right to lead a rebellion. According to Fantasy Pros, “no player has scored more touchdowns over the past two seasons than Austin Ekeler.”

In 2022, Ekeler caught 18 of 23 targets inside the 20-yard line, resulting in 65 yards and five touchdowns. Because of this, Ekeler commanded 24 percent of targets within that range. His numbers were even more astounding beyond the 10-yard line: Ekeler caught 12 of 13 targets for three touchdowns, nabbing a 28.3 percent target share within that range.

Ekeler’s 78.26 percent catch rate inside the 20 and his 92.31 percent catch rate inside the 10 is the best in the NFL, considering the number of targets he received. Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman caught 8 of 10 inside the 20-yard line, which puts Ekeler’s 18-of-23 into perspective. No one saw the amount of volume and offered the same amount of ball security as Ekeler in 2022. Despite this, the Chargers have made it abundantly clear that Ekeler does not merit a significant financial reward or job security for his immeasurable contributions to the Chargers.

The undrafted underdog has been battling for his position for years, and his red zone numbers should be enough to garner substantial demand across the NFL. Somehow, there were no takers on an Ekeler trade, but there surely will be if anyone decides to trade him as a fantasy football asset this season.