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.
Ravens RB
Javorius Allen was in for 47 snaps, followed by Alex Collins with 22. Despite the snap counts, Collins out touched Allen 15-13. When Collins is in the game there is a high chance that he is getting handed the football. Collins has zero receptions to this point in the season, and is a solid play in standard leagues. Allen provides more versatility and has more value in PPR leagues. Teams can key in on Collins running the ball when he is in the game, but it hasn’t stopped him from being the far more effective runner than Allen. The Ravens are comfortable with Allen as a blocker and pass catcher which allows him to stay on the field and get more touches than he probably should.
Saints RB
The Saints traded away Adrian Peterson prior to their week 6 matchup with the Lions, opening the door a bit further for Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara. Ingram was on the field for 47 snaps and Alvin Kamara for 30. Both had a slight increase and it was evenly distributed. Both RB’s played well and a similar snap count/usage should be expected going forward. Ingram can be started in both standard and PPR formats, while Kamara is mainly only playable in PPR for the time being.
Risers
Christian McCaffrey’s snap count rose from 37 in week 5 to 61 in week 6. The 61 snaps were a new season high for the rookie running back. He didn’t get many carries on the ground, finishing with just 4 carries for 8 yards, but he did a lot in the passing game; finishing with 10 receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers have yet to give McCaffrey a real shot at producing much on the ground but after veteran RB Jonathan Stewart “provided” -4 yards on 8 carries this week, that could change as early as week 7. For now, he is a great asset in PPR leagues and pretty useless in standard leagues. He has one of the largest variances based on league type in all of fantasy.
De’Anthony Thomas a week after playing a season high 11 snaps, was on the field for 36 this week against the Steelers. He made the most of the opportunities, as he was able to bust one of his three receptions open for a 57 yard touchdown. He finished the game with 61 yards. The Chiefs (like most teams) find ways to get their playmakers involved and Thomas is exactly that. He is far too risky for seasonal leagues right now, but could be worth a look in GPP contests in DFS. He is a player worth monitoring after the large increase in playing time.
Jordan Howard played a season high 54 snaps this week. The game went into OT which was a big cause for the increased snaps, but he also was playing well. He carried the rock for 167 yards on 36 carries, yes 36! Howard owners are certainly no longer worried about their early pick of Howard after this massive game. The Bears want to focus on the rushing attack to take pressure off rookie QB Mitch Trubisky and Howard should see plenty of volume on a weekly basis. Howard is fantastic in standard leagues. He loses some value in PPR, but is still a strong play.
Fallers
Mike Gillislee played a season low 13 snaps this week, one week after playing 24. He was running well early in the game, but had a costly fumble that landed him in the Bill Belichick doghouse for the large proportion of the remaining game. The fumble could prove costly for Gillislee going forward as fellow RB Dion Lewis continued to play well. Lewis converted a goal line carry into a touchdown; a role normally fulfilled by Gillislee, and could see more short yardage opportunities. You won’t find a bigger fan of Mike Gillislee’s game than me, but it’s time to take him out of your lineups (if you haven’t already). He has yet to see a single target in the passing game (nice play calling Josh McDaniels, way to really keep the defense on their toes) and is losing touches to Lewis.
Wayne Gallman was coming off two strong games in which he averaged 29 snaps per, but he played second fiddle to Orleans Darkwa this week and only finished with 15 snaps. He was not able to produce much with his opportunities, finishing with just 27 yards on 9 carries. He is worth holding onto, but should be left on the bench for the time being. The Giants are confident in Darkwa and he had a great game against the Broncos. For owners of Paul Perkins, if you haven’t already moved on, it’s time to let him go. He is fourth in the pecking order for the Giants going forward.
Andre Ellington had a huge drop in snap counts this week from 31 to 13. The 13 snaps were also a season low for Ellington. Two things caused this, one being the addition of Adrian Peterson who looked fantastic in his debut for the Cardinals. The second being game flow; the Cardinals were up big on the Bucs for the majority of the game and did not need to use much of their pass catching specialist. Ellington owners do not need to panic, the Cardinals will not be jumping out to 31-0 leads on a weekly basis (obviously) and Ellington should see an increased role next game.
Notable Snap Counts
Odell Beckham and Brandon Marshall are done for the year. Sterling Shepard was also out this week. So who was playing WR for the Giants? Roger Lewis played 48 snaps and Tavarres King played 46. Neither player was able to do much in their first week of extended playing time/opportunity. Lewis finished with one catch for 15 yards. King finished with one catch for 7 yards. Travis Rudolph, the only other active WR, finished with zero receptions. The Giants were able to lean on TE Evan Engram to find success in the passing game, and his fantasy stock is trending up. None of the WR’s provided much reason for optimism, but it is a situation worth monitoring. Someone will need to step up.