Each week, I’ll look at snaps, usage, touches, target shares
and pull out the highlights you need to know from each game. Snap
shares are in parenthesis next to each player’s name.
As much as we might want this to be different, it’s not
what’s happening on the field. David Montgomery (34 touches)
is the clear lead running back for the Lions. He played 70.7%
of the snaps Thursday night while Jahmyr Gibbs (12 touches) played
37.3%.
Josh Reynolds (73.3%) remains in No.2 wide receiver for the Lions.
TE Sam LaPorta played 80.0% of the snaps.
Aaron Jones returned from his hamstring injury but was clearly
limited, playing just 35.1% of the snaps while AJ Dillion played
66.7%. This needs to be flipped if the Packers want to win games.
Similar to Jones, Christian Watson (45.6%) was limited in his
return which allowed Romeo Doubs (87.7%) to see 13 targets as
the Packers tried to dig themselves out of a hole. Jayden Reed
played 66.7% of the snaps.
Tight end Luke Musgrave (24.6%) left early with a concussion.
Josiah Deguara filled in playing 63.2% of the snaps.
ATL @ JAX
Offensive Snaps Falcons: 58
Jaguars: 66
Bijan Robinson (75.9%) has played at least 72% of the snaps the
last three weeks. He out-touched Tylre Allgeier 19 to 8 in Week
4.
R.I.P. Kyle Pitts (61.5%). Dude saw fewer targets than fellow
tight end Jonnu Smith (55.2%) who finished with a 6-6-95-0 line.
Through four weeks, Pitts has 1 more target than Jonnu.
Travis Etienne (84.8%) continues to have a strong role but has
lacked efficiency over the first four weeks (just 3.8 yards per
carry).
Calvin Ridley’s (80.3%) target share has dropped every
week – 34.4%, 19.5%, 17.5%, 6.7%. Tim Jones (59.1%) operated
as the No.3 wideout with Zay Jones and Jamal Agnew on the inactive
list.
TE Evan Engram
saw a 26.7% target share, 5th among tight ends this week.
PIT @ HOU
Offensive Snaps Steelers: 59
Texans: 71
Najee Harris
(49.2%) and Jaylen
Warren (49.2%) played the same number of snaps. Najee saw
more carries (14 to 8) while Warren saw more targets (6 to 2).
The Steelers had a tight three-WR group of George Pickens (98.3%),
Allen Robinson (84.7%) and Calvin Austin (89.8%). Pickens led
the group with a 25.9% target share.
Dameon Pierce (59.2%) finally topped the 20-touch mark this season
with 25 against the Steelers. He’s still averaging just
2.8 yards per carry.
Just an 11.1% target share for Tank
Dell (70.4%) this week as Nico
Collins (76.1%) went nuts (7-168-2).
TE Dalton
Schultz played just 49.3% of the snaps as the Texans rolled
30-6 over the Steelers.
LAR @ IND
Offensive Snaps Rams: 82
Colts: 64
Overtime allowed the Rams to run 82 plays. Kyren Williams (72.0%)
finally got some relief with Ronnie Rivers playing 28% of the
snaps but Williams still had 28 touches.
Cooper Kupp
is eligible to play in Week 5. We’ll see if he does and what effect
that will have on Puka
Nacua (95.1%) who had a 25.6% target share this week. Van
Jefferson’s (86.6%) playing time could take a hit.
Zack Moss (82.8%) still had good role but not surprisingly saw
fewer carries (18) with Anthony Richardson back in the mix. Trey Sermon (15.6%) operated as the No.2 RB.
MIN @ CAR
Offensive Snaps
Vikings: 48
Panthers: 72
Cam Akers (29.2%) got some run as the No.2 RB behind Alexander Mattison (68.8%) but the Vikings ran just 48 plays in this game.
Mattison out-touched Akers 18 to 7.
Just 19 pass attempts for Kirk Cousins which led to quiet games
from the Vikings secondary receivers. Jordan Addison played 58.3%
of the snaps.
Miles Sanders (43.1%) came into this game with a groin injury
and played less than Chuba Hubbard (54.2%). Both saw the same
number of touches (16).
Adam Thielen (90.3%), D.J. Chark (91.7%) and Terrace Marshall Jr. (62.5%) led the Panthers receiving group. Marshall had a 32.3%
target share and finished with a 9-56-0 line.
Mike Evans (36.6%) left with a hamstring injury which allowed
Chris Godwin (74.6%) to see 11 targets and lead the team with
a 36.7% target share.
Alvin Kamara’s first game of 2023 saw him get 14 targets,
13 receptions for… 33 yds. He also led the team in rushing
with 11 carries (51 yds). Kendre Miller (7.7%) and Tony Jones
(16.9%) filled the backup role.
TE Taysom Hill played 50.8% of the snaps, had 1 pass attempt
(13 yds), 4 carries (10 yds) and 1 reception (7 yds).
Terry McLaurin (80.8%), Jahan Dotson (71.8%) and Curtis Samuel
(69.2%) remain the top three receivers in the passing game. All
three were above a 20% target share in Week 4.
Rashaad Penny
was a healthy scratch for the Eagles. D’Andre
Swift (63.4%) and Kenneth
Gainwell (38.0%) were the only RBs to take a snap with Swift
commanding 18 touches to 6 for Gainwell.
A.J. Brown
(95.8%) and DeVonta
Smith (98.6%) combined for 22 targets. TE Dallas
Goedert (100%) has yet to get on track in this offense. He
had an 11.8% target share against the Commanders.
MIA @ BUF
Offensive Snaps Dolphins: 65
Bills: 58
Rookie Devon Achane (60.0%) played more snaps than Raheem Mostert
(43.1%) but touches were relatively equal (11 to 10). Achane is
averaging an insane 11.4 yards per carry on 27 attempts this season.
The Bills used a more balanced approach at RB this week as they
jumped out to a big lead by halftime. James Cook (39.7%), Latavius Murray (32.8%) and Damien Harris (27.6%) all played but the running
game wasn’t a big factor.
TE Dalton Kincaid (51.7%) and Dawson Knox (50.0%) played almost
the same number of snaps but Knox saw just 1 target while Kincaid
had 5.
CIN @ TEN
Offensive Snaps Bengals: 53
Titans: 66
The Bengals have struggled mightily on offense to start the season
with only 3 TDs. Joe Mixon (79.2%) played well ahead of Trayveon Williams (11.3%).
Tee Higgins (50.9%) is likely going to miss some time with a
rib injury. Trenton Irwin (41.5%) appears to be the next man up
with Andrei Iosivas (18.9%) also in the mix.
With Irv Smith out, Tanner Hudson (43.4%) saw 2 targets as the
pass-catching tight end for the Bengals.
Derrick Henry
(59.1%) continues to share time with Tyjae
Spears (53.0%). Henry out-touched Spears 23 to 8 against the
Bengals. Spears has some stand-alone value as a Flex option.
Gus Edwards (69.0%) got the bulk of running back touches (17)
for the Ravens. Justice Hill (12.1%) came into the game with a
Questionable tag while Melvin Gordon played 19.0% of the snaps.
Jaleel McLaughlin (33.0%) made the most of his 10 touches (104
yds, 1 TD) but would likely be a timeshare with Samaje Perine
(45.8%) if Javonte Williams (16.7%) misses time with a hip injury.
Some expected an increased role for Marvin Mims this week. He
played on 35.4% of the snaps (as did Brandon Johnson) which was
up from his 24.2% share last weeks but still far from a significant
role. He saw two targets (2 rec, 47 yds) and played well behind
Jerry Jeudy (62.5%) and Courtland Sutton (83.3%).
It was Khalil Herbert (77.8%) who dominated the Bears backfield
in Week 5 over Roschon Johnson (22.2%). Herbert had 22 touches
compared to Roschon’s 6.
Chase Claypool was inactive and likely on his way out of Chicago.
D.J. Moore (93.1%) is the only viable fantasy receiver but Equanimeous St. Brown did step in for 58.3% of the snaps.
TE Cole Kmet (73.6%) had his breakout game (7-85-2) of 2023 with
a 28.1% target share.
LV @ LAC
Offensive Snaps Raiders: 73
Chargers: 65
Josh Jacobs managed 25 touches including 8 receptions while playing
69.9% of the snaps. Zamir White (9.6%) and Ameer Abdullah (20.5%)
filled their typical roles for the Raiders.
Rookie Aidan
O'Connell got the start at QB and Davante
Adams (86.3%) missed a portion of this game with a shoulder
injury but still managed a 34.2% target share. Jakobi
Meyers (95.9%) remains an every-down player.
Joshua Kelley (60.0%) had a disappointing run as a starter, filling
in for Austin Ekeler (ankle). He had only two targets in the passing
game the last three weeks and never found the endzone. The Chargers
have a bye in Week 5 and we should see Ekeler back in Week 6.
Once again, the Patriots used just two running backs: Rhamondre Stevenson (63.6%) and Ezekiel Elliott (40.0%). Their offense was
anemic against the Cowboys. QB Bailey Zappe (27.3%) got in for
garbage time.
Tony Pollard only played 52.9% of the snaps as this game got
out of hand. Rico Dowdle (8.6%) left with a hip injury and may
miss some time. Deuce Vaughn played 34.1% of the snaps.
TE Jake Ferguson saw a 19.4% target share on 55.7% of the snaps.
Deebo Samuel (87.3%) came into this game banged up and only saw
3 touches… all runs. Brandon Aiyuk did his damage on 76.4%
of the snaps. TE George Kittle (96.4%) had 1 target and 1 catch.
KC @ NYJ
Offensive Snaps Chiefs: 70
Jets: 59
With Chiefs passing game stuck in mud against the Jets-D, RB
Isiah Pacheco (60.0%) handled 23 touches and produced 158 yds
and 1 TD.
The Chiefs WR room remains unplayable. Four players saw at least
a 45% snap share including Skyy Moore (58.6%), Marquez Valdes-Scantling
(54.3%), Justin Watson (61.4%) and Rashee Rice (45.7%). Rice led
the group with a mediocre 17.2% target share.
The Jets are still using all three running backs with Breece Hall (44.1%), Dalvin Cook (25.4%) and Michael Carter (30.5%). Carter is playing on third downs and Cook has predictably been
inefficient.
Garrett Wilson (93.2%) saw a 35.9% target share as has peppered
with short throws against the Chiefs defense. Allen Lazard (86.4%)
operated in two-WR sets.
SEA @ NYG
Offensive Snaps Seahawks: 55
Giants: 75
It was kind of rough-go for Kenneth Walker (70.9%) who’s
finally stat-line looked OK but was largely bottled up until he
broke off a 31-yard run late. Zach Charbonnet (23.6%) isn’t
seeing enough touches (6) yet to have stand-alone value.
WR Jake Bobo (38.2%) is seeing enough playing time to be annoying
for the rest of the Seattle receivers, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba
(52.7%) who isn’t fantasy relevant right now.
Matt Breida (73.3%) was used heavily in the dump-off passing
game (5 catches, 48 yds) as Daniel Jones was getting demolished
by the Seahawks defense (11 sacks). The Giants continued to slam
Breida up the middle which wasn’t working (14 carries, 30
yds).
Gary Brightwell (25.3%) was the clear backup to Breida. The Giants
need Saquon back.
