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.
The Jaguars got a defensive TD in this game which tends to limit
snaps for the offense.
RB Tank Bigsby
(14.3%) continues to be an afterthought. He had just two touches
in this game.
Al Michaels noted early in the broadcast that the Jags coaches
thought Christian Kirk (80.4%) could have a big game out of the
slot. He caught 6 of six targets for 90 yards and a TD while Calvin Ridley (87.5%) was a ghost finishing with a 1-5-0 line on four
targets.
The Saints offense continues to struggle with timing and looks
out of sync with Derek Carr at quarterback. It’s good news
for Alvin Kamara (73.3%), especially in PPR leagues, as the checkdown
is being used at a high rate. This was Kamara’s second game
with 14 targets!
Jamaal Williams (22.2%) returned to action which sent Kendre Miller’s (3.3%) value plummeting. Miller can be released
unless you have a deep bench.
This is the second-straight week that TE Taysom Hill (57.8%)
was being used like a tight end in the passing game. He now has
13 targets and 11-99-0 in the last two weeks. His 4-50-0 through
the air and 5-18-1 on the ground should easily make him a top
10 TE this week.
CLE @ IND
Offensive Snaps Browns: 75
Colts: 70
Jerome Ford (42.7%) left in the 4th quarter with an ankle injury
which allowed Kareem Hunt (25.3%) and Pierre Strong Jr. (30.7%)
some extra work. There two would likely split time if Ford were
to miss Week 8 with Hunt being the preferred option given his
goaline role.
Amari Cooper played 88.0% of the snaps and had a 22.9% target
share but caught only 2 passes as Deshaun Watson (16.0%) left
this game early after being checked for a concussion. Watson was
cleared but HC Kevin Stefanski opted to go with P.J. Walker as
Watson came into the game with a shoulder injury.
TE David Njoku played 96.0% of the snaps and had a 25.7% target
share, his highest target share of the season.
We’ve seen Jonathan Taylor’s snap share increase
the last two weeks, but he split time evenly this week with Zack Moss. Both played 50% of the snaps. The new normal? Taylor had
24 opportunities while Moss had 22.
Alec Pierce played 100.0% of the snaps but is clearly the WR3
in this offense behind Michael Pittman Jr. (97.1%) and Josh Downs
(71.4%). Downs has 22 more targets than Pierce for the season.
The Bills liked the matchup with TE Dalton Kincaid (60.6%) this
week as he saw a 20.5% target share while fellow TE Dawson Knox
(63.4%) had just a 7.7% target share.
The Patriots continue to give all of their running back touches
to Rhamondre Stevenson (65.0%) and Ezekiel Elliott (35.0%). Rhamondre
had 15 opportunities while Zeke had 11.
We saw increase playing time for Zamir White (21.5%) who had
just 5 touches. Josh Jacobs (66.2%) continues to be inefficient,
sporting 2.9 yards per carry this season.
D’Onta Foreman’s
monster game (16-89-2, 3-31-1) happened on just 46.5% of the snaps
as he split time with Darrynton
Evans (47.9%). Travis
Homer was active but only played 3 snaps. Evans saw 15 touches
as the Bears torched the Raiders 30 to 12.
Terry McLaurin (88.4%), Jahan Dotson (84.1%) and Curtis Samuel
(55.1%) all saw a target share above 22.2% this week. Dotson’s
43 yards was his highest yardage output of the season.
Saquon Barkley (83.8%) is one of the few workhorse backs in the
league. He’s had 24 and 28 touches the last two weeks.
TE Darren Waller (82.4%) had his best game of the season and
led all Giants pass catches with a 29.6% target share.
ATL @ TB
Offensive Snaps Falcons: 65
Buccaneers: 73
Bijan Robinson
(16.9%) played just 11 snaps as it was revealed after the game
that he was suffering from a bad headache that started Saturday
night. He went through warmups but still didn’t feel right and
HC Arthur Smith decided to roll with Tyler
Allgeier (50.8%) and Cordarrelle
Patterson (40.0%) and running back. Yikes. Bijan had 1 carry
late in the game and says that he will be ready for Week 8.
Van Jefferson (49.2%) is seeing his playing time increase but
Drake London (84.6%) is the only WR that is fantasy viable in
this offense.
Kyle Pitts (52.3%) and Jonnu Smith (53.8%) continue to split
time as both remain on the high-end TE2 radar.
Rachaad White (75.3%) is a volume-based RB2 who catches passes
but lacks any real upside. He has just 1 TD on the season.
Trey Palmer (64.4%) continues to operate as Tampa’s No.3
receiver but isn’t getting enough looks to be counted on
in starting lineups.
DET @ BAL
Offensive Snaps Lions: 75
Ravens: 60
Dan Campbell mentioned early in the week that Jahmyr
Gibbs was going to get a lot of work and he did (11-68-1,
9-58-0). Gibbs played on 86.7% of the snaps and demonstrated why
he can be RB1 as he received 10 targets in the passing game as
the Lions played from behind. Craig
Reynolds (9.3%) was barely used.
The early deficit was huge for Amon-Ra St. Brown (97.3%) who
saw a 38.8% target share. Jameson Williams played 44.0% of the
snaps as Kalif Raymond (36.0%) left with a hamstring injury.
Gus Edwards and Justice Hill both played 50.0% of the snaps.
With Ravens playing from ahead, Edwards out-touched Hill 15 to
5.
Emari Demercado was the lead back for the Cardinals and played
on 80.3% of the snaps while Keaontay Ingram (0.0%) was strictly
used on special teams. Damien Williams (18.2%) only had 1 carry.
We don’t know if Demercado’s lead back status is sticky
given he only had 3 touches in Week 6. Stay tuned…
The Cardinals are using a tight wide receiver group with Marquise Brown (82.4%), Michael Wilson (83.3%) and Rondale Moore (66.7%)
but have a subpar quarterback isn’t helping their value.
Brown had a 21.2% target share.
DK Metcalf
was Inactive so the Seahawks basically played Jake
Bobo (75.0%) in his position. Bobo saw a 20.8% target share
as did Tyler
Lockett while Jaxon
Smith-Njigba (63.3%) saw a 29.2% target share. Bobo will be
a fantasy consideration whenever Metcalf is out.
PIT @ LAR
Offensive Snaps Steelers: 59
Rams: 68
Najee Harris (57.6%) has seen exactly 14 carries in his last
three games. He finally found the endzone for the first time this
year as did Jaylen Warren (45.8%) on 7 touches.
Diontae Johnson (66.1%) played for the first time since injuring
his hamstring in Week 1 and had a 26.1% target share. George Pickens
(89.8%) led the team with a 34.8% target share.
We got word late in the week that Zach Evans wasn’t going
to be a thing at running back for the Rams. Instead, Darrell Henderson
(57.4%) and Royce Freeman (42.6%) split the duties with Henderson
handling 20 opportunities and Freeman 12. Henderson is the preferred
option here for the time being.
It’s been seven weeks and we’ve yet to get a full
game from Aaron Jones. He was once again limited due to his hamstring
injury, playing just 35.9% of the snaps and getting out-touched
by AJ Dillon (56.2%) 17 to 11. Jones has been one of the big disappointments
of the fantasy season.
The Broncos three-headed RBBC is a nightmare. Javonte Williams
(52.5%), Samaje Perine (25.4%) and Jaleel McLaughlin (16.9%) are
difficult to trust in any given week. Williams is the lead RB
of the group but he comes with high risk.
Austin Ekeler
(63.5%) spent some time on the sidelines in the first half with
an injury but later returned. While he has out, Joshua
Kelley (36.5%) busted off a 49-yard TD run. Ekeler’s had two
subpar performances since returning in Week 6.
Rookie Quentin Johnston (54.0%) had just a 6.7% target share
as the offense continues to run through Keenan Allen (93.7%) and
Josh Palmer (98.4%) at wideout.
Isiah Pacheco (52.9%) got there, but it took a while. His first
every TD reception came late in the fourth quarter. He has 10
targets in the last two games.
Jeff Wilson (14.3%) returned to action this week and didn’t
see a carry. He had 1 target, playing behind Raheem Mostert (53.1%)
and Salvon Ahmed (36.7%).
Jaylen Waddle (44.9%) left with a back issue then later returned.
It seems he’ll be fine moving forward. Cedrick Wilson and
Braxton Berrios both played 59.2% of the snaps.
The Eagles running back tandem is stable with D’Andre
Swift (68.1%) and Kenneth
Gainwell (31.9%) filling their typical roles. Boston
Scott didn’t play an offensive snap.
With Deebo Samuel out, Jauan Jennings (73.6%) stepped into a
starting role and saw a 31.0% target share, the highest of all
49ers’ receivers. Ray-Ray McCloud (35.8%) filled the third
receiver role behind Brandon Aiyuk (98.1%).
TE George Kittle played 96.2% of the snaps and saw a 24.1% target
share.
Cam Akers (38.6%) saw an increase in usage this week which could
be a sign of things to come. Akers had 13 opportunities while
Alexander Mattison (52.9%) had 11.
Jordan Addison (74.3%) left the game for a bit with cramps but
did return to add two more catches to his total (7-123-2). He’s
the clear No.1 option at WR for the Vikings with Justin Jefferson
out. K.J. Osborn played 92.9% of the snaps and should be rostered.
TE T.J. Hockenson (84.3%) is the No.2 receiving option and saw
a 27.9% target share.
