Hangin' in the Red Zone

by: John Holler

Editor's Note: Below you will find a portion of the Red Zone statistics for QBs and Fantasy Analysis of those Statistics. If you'd like to read the sections covering RBs, WRs, and TEs, please click HERE to order our 2025 Pre-Season Draft Guide.

One of the most underrated stats in the NFL is who are the players who are leaned on heavily when a team gets into the Red Zone? When inside the opponents 20-yard line, not only is there the potential to score a touchdown, there is an expectation of scoring.

Some players thrive in the Red Zone while others disappear. Before finalizing your draft board, it is worth it to take the time to see who flies and who fizzles in close.

NOTE: When it comes to passing and receiving, we use the traditional Red Zone line of the opponent's 20-yard line. However, when a player runs the ball from the 10- or 15-yard line, there isn't a realistic expectation of scoring, so the Red Zone numbers for rushing begin at the opponent's 5-yard line.

 

QUARTERBACKS

 

2024 (minimum 50 attempts)

 

Player At-Cm-Yd-TD-Int

Joe Burrow 122-71-446-30-0

Patrick Mahomes 99-65-350-22-2

Sam Darnold 93-59-371-26-3

Jared Goff 93-61-373-23-0

Aaron Rodgers 83-42-256-19-2

Baker Mayfield 78-57-379-29-1

Brock Purdy 75-46-319-17-1

Jordan Love 72-48-340-19-2

Caleb Williams 72-36-232-13-0

Matthew Stafford 71-33-224-16-1

Bo Nix 68-44-325-22-1

Jayden Daniels 66-41-280-19-1

Kyler Murray 66-41-262-16-1

Lamar Jackson 64-45-389-32-1

Josh Allen 61-32-244-20-1

C.J. Stroud 59-33-183-16-0

Tua Tagovailoa 57-41-255-16-0

Justin Herbert 57-29-184-12-0

Bryce Young 56-29-194-11-1

Geno Smith 54-29-241-13-4

 

WHAT THE NUMBERS TELL US

• Hurts didn't make the list thanks to Saquon Barkley
• Nobody was even close to RZ pass attempts than Burrow
• Burrow didn't turn the ball over in the Red Zone
• Darnold was near the top in RZ TDs, but his three interceptions were a problem
• More than half of Mayfield's Red Zone completions went for touchdowns
• Purdy doesn't make his money throwing Red Zone touchdowns
• Stafford throws too many RZ incompletions
• Jackson was amazing in TD passes – 32 touchdowns in 45 completions
• Allen should have more RZ scoring punch
• Herbert sucks in Red Zone scoring
• Nobody threw more RZ interceptions than Smith

 

Last Three Years (minimum 120 attempts)

 

Att-Com-Yrd-TD-Int

Patrick Mahomes 330-203-1,191-80-7

Jared Goff 276-168-1,091-64-2

Joe Burrow 273-167-1,086-63-3

Josh Allen 241-129-965-654-64-8

Justin Herbert 232-127-698-47-2

Geno Smith 206-102-789-48-7

Kirk Cousins 206-118-800-45-6

Dak Prescott 199-122-890-53-5

Matthew Stafford 199-94-641-41-1

Lamar Jackson 191-119-902-63-5

Tua Tagovailoa 185-119-766-49-2

Baker Mayfield 184-112-769-49-3

Trevor Lawrence 179-94-682-42-5

Jordan Love 176-105-703-45-5

Russell Wilson 174-98-727-40-4

Brock Purdy 170-115-788-42-4

Aaron Rodgers 169-97-640-39-4

Derek Carr 162-81-571-36-3

Jalen Hurts 161-92-651-35-4

Kyler Murray 148-88-551-33-1

Sam Darnold 133-81-531-34-5

C.J. Stroud 128-67-440-32-2

 

WHAT THE NUMBERS TELL US

• Mahomes is the leader across the board, but throws too many interceptions in the RZ
• Goff is surprisingly strong in the Red Zone
• Nobody has thrown more RZ interceptions than Allen
• Herbert isn't prolific in the Red Zone
• Stafford throws too many incompletions
• More than half of Jackson's Red Zone completions are touchdowns
• Wilson doesn't throw a lot of RZ touchdowns
• Hurts does most of his Red Zone damage with his legs, not his arm
• Murray doesn't turn the ball over in the Red Zone

QB RUSHING (minimum 3 attempts)

 

2024

 

At-Yd-TD

Jalen Hurts 18-16-11

Josh Allen 11-11-7

Jayden Daniels 11-4-4

Anthony Richardson 10-24-5

Justin Fields 7-14-4

Bo Nix 6-13-4

Brock Purdy 6-9-3

Daniel Jones 6-2-2

Justin Herbert 3-12-2

Bryce Young 3-9-2

Russell Wilson 3-6-2

Trevor Lawrence 3-5-2

Malik Willis 3-3-1

Joe Burrow 3-2-1

Derek Carr 3-1-1

Michael Penix 2-5-1

Jordan Love 2-5-1

Dak Prescott 2-4-1

Deshaun Watson 2-3-1

Mac Jones 2-1-1

Joe Milton 2-1-1

Kenny Pickett 2-1-1

Sam Darnold 2-1-1

C.J. Stroud 2-3-0

Jared Goff 2-1-0

Geno Smith 2-(-6)-0

 

WHAT THE NUMBERS TELL US

• Hurts' fantasy value is high because of his rushing TDs
• Allen calls his own number a lot in close
• Richardson did damage in part-time play
• Fields put up good RZ numbers before being benched
• Nix quietly got solid Red Zone production
• Burrow doesn't run a lot in close
• With the run game Detroit has, Goff doesn't get his number called much

 

Last Three Years (minimum 7 attempts)

 

At-Yd-TD

Jalen Hurts 53-46-33

Josh Allen 36-42-19

Justin Fields 23-35-11

Daniel Jones 15-(-1)-5

Trevor Lawrence 14-16-10

Anthony Richardson 13-29-7

Brock Purdy 13-9-6

Kyler Murray 13-(-8)-6

Joe Burrow 12-16-5

Russell Wilson 11-21-7

Jayden Daniels 11-4-4

Patrick Mahomes 11-4-4

Kenny Pickett 10-9-5

Justin Herbert 9-16-4

Lamar Jackson 9-7-2

Bryce Young 7-9-2

 

WHAT THE NUMBERS TELL US

• Hurts has almost three times as many RZTDs as anyone but Allen
• Allen is the primary Red Zone rusher in Buffalo's offense
• Despite not being a full-time starter, Fields does a lot of damage in close
• Lawrence is effective when he calls his own number near the goal line
• Daniels made this list despite just one season on his resume
• Jackson isn't a Red Zone rushing threat despite his speed

 

RUNNING BACKS

 

As mentioned atop this release, if you like to read the entire Red Zone feature, please click HERE to order our 2025 Pre-Season Draft Guide.

back to top of page