Tracking snap counts is a good way to get an indication of how much a player is on the field, and what their future usage outlook could look like. We are going to dive into some of the more interesting situations around the league regarding snap count numbers. You will also see risers and fallers; which is a useful tool for valuing a player’s fantasy stock. The notable snap counts section is based around injuries sustained in the previous week or suspensions.
Bucs TE
O.J. Howard played 56 snaps to Cameron Brate’s 25. Through the first nine weeks of the season the two tight ends were playing very similar snap count totals; however, over the last five weeks Howard has out snapped Brate 260 to 165. The production has flipped back and forth between the two tight ends, and this week it was Howard who had the strong game. Howard finished with four receptions on six targets for 54 yards and a touchdown. Brate had just one reception on one target for eleven yards. It has become hard to predict which Bucs tight end will be the one to produce on a weekly basis, making it hard to trust either one of them.
Risers
Will Fuller returned from injury this week and played 67 snaps; it was 100% of the team’s offensive snaps. He finished with three receptions for 26 yards on five targets. It was an underwhelming return to action for Fuller. Fuller has struggled mightily in every game he has played without Deshaun Watson under center. Fuller will be able to return to fantasy stardom once Watson returns from his torn ACL in 2018. Tom Savage, to this point, has only been able to support one receiver. Anyone not named DeAndre Hopkins is unplayable.
Albert Wilson played a season high 66 snaps. The increased playing time led to Wilson matching his season highs in targets (seven) and receptions (five), while also posting a new season high in receiving yards with 72 yards. It was a strong performance by the Chiefs number two receiver and he has now posted 12+ fantasy points (in PPR formats) in two of his last three games. Included within his five catches was this beauty. Despite the solid run Wilson is having, it is still not enough to warrant a roster spot on your fantasy team this deep into the season. He can also still be avoided in DFS for the time being, but is worth keeping an eye on.
DeMarco Murray played 47 snaps this week, seeing a sizable increase after averaging 31.5 snaps over the last two weeks. Derrick Henry played just 13 snaps. The increased playing time for Murray didn’t result in better fantasy production though, as one of the bigger busts of the 2017 fantasy season continued to struggle. He finished with 11 carries for 34 yards (3.1 YPC) and added in two receptions for 13 yards. Murray has now averaged less than 4.0 YPC in seven of his last eight games. Over that span, Murray has rushed for 279 yards on 95 carries (2.9 YPC). He can be left on the bench.
Fallers
Mike Davis played 15 less snaps this week and was in for 25% less of the Seahawks offensive snaps. J.D. McKissic played 31 snaps. This was due to two things, the first being the big shot he took to the ribs in the third quarter, the other being the Seahawks were playing from behind late in the game. Davis still had a solid performance, as he finished with 15 carries for 66 yards and “added” in one reception for negative one yard. Davis is currently listed as questionable for week 15 (due to the ribs), but news broke that he is moving around well, and it is a good sign for his playing status. If he is able to play, he will make for a nice start in fantasy and DFS.
Josh Reynolds played 16 less snaps in week 14 than he did in week 13, despite Robert Woods still being out this week with injury. He hauled in both of his targets and finished with just 17 yards receiving. Outside of a solid week 12 in which Reynolds finished with four receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown, the rookie hasn’t done much in the Rams passing attack. Woods is expected to make his return in week 15, bumping Reynolds back to complete fantasy irrelevance. Even at a cheap/punt price in DFS, Reynolds should not be used.
Notable Snap Counts
Zach Ertz was out with a concussion injury this week. Brent Celek and Trey Burton both played an increased snap share and both produced. Brent Celek played 47 snaps and finished with one catch for a five yard touchdown. Trey Burton played 48 snaps and finished with five receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Ertz has been a top-three tight end in the league this season, but the Eagles didn’t miss a beat without him this week. Burton has proven to be THE guy in games that Ertz can’t go and made a few really nice plays that can be seen: here. In two games without Ertz this season, Burton has put up a total of seven receptions for 112 yards and three touchdowns. If Ertz can’t play in week 15, Burton will once again be a popular DFS option.
Rob Gronkowski was out this week with suspension. Dwayne Allen played all 56 of the Patriots offensive snaps and played 19 more than the week before. Despite the increased playing time, Allen struggled to get involved within the Pats offense. He did receive a season high five targets, but was only able to turn that into two receptions for 10 yards. Allen continues to be a disappointment for the Patriots as he has now hauled in just seven of 18 targets on the season. Gronk will make his return in week 15 and will continue to be the only fantasy relevant tight end on the Patriots.
Joe Mixon, much like Ertz, was out this week while dealing with a concussion sustained in week 13. Giovani Bernard started in place of Mixon and played a season high 46 snaps. Bernard had a strong game as he finished with 11 carries for 62 yards and added in six receptions for an additional 68 yards. The six receptions and 68 receiving yards were both new season highs for the fifth year running back out of North Carolina. As I mentioned in last week’s edition (NFL Snap Counts: Week 13) Bernard was a must start this week with a PPR floor of eight-to-eleven fantasy points. Both of these statements came true as Bernard finished with 19 points in PPR formats and was a strong start for any fantasy lineup.