Fantasy football isn’t that hard. It’s not easy, but I think that makes people try and find meaning in every single thing that takes place on the field.

In the 2014 Fantasy Football Draft Guide I taught you how important systems and schemes are to the outcome out on the field. We illustrated how size, body and age play vital roles in a player being able to maximize his output. We also showed how much influence an offensive line has on the production of the offense. All of this information helped you draft a very good team.

But that was only the start of what you’ll need to do if you are to win the championship this season. Each week you will be faced with decisions. These decisions will impact just how well your fantasy team does this season. In order to make the best lineup decisions each week you really need to break down who is on the field the most and who is touching the ball the most. If you follow those very basic principles you will do quite well week in and week out.

So every week I will be taking a close look at the amount of snaps that players who are in platoon situations are getting in order to uncover those hidden gems that win championships.

 

Saints RB’s (76 Total Snaps)

Pierre Thomas – 35

Mark Ingram – 20

Khiry Robinson – 12

Traviars Cadet - 12

Breakdown: Pierre Thomas appears to still be the lead RB in New Orleans but he is being used primarily in passing situations. Thomas only had seven snaps on running plays which is six less than Mark Ingram and one more than Khiry Robinson. Considering Robinson got the goal line carry I would say that Thomas’ upside is limited to PPR leagues.

 

Patriots WR’s (86 Total Snaps)

Julian Edelman – 83

Danny Amendola – 61

Kenbrell Thompkins – 46

Brandon LaFell – 39

Breakdown: By reading the boxscore you would have thought that Kenbrell Thompkins was the second WR on the field opposite Julian Edelman this past week. But in reality Danny Amendola was on the field a ton this past Sunday. Thompkins had 10 targets in his 46 snaps which is highly doubtful to continue. Anybody who drafted Brandon LaFell hoping for a breakout season will be sorely disappointed with his lack of snaps in week one.

 

Lions TE’s (68 Total Snaps)

– 43

Joseph Fauria – 29

Eric Ebron – 18

Breakdown: The Lions spent the 10th overall pick in Eric Ebron yet he is currently the third string TE here in Detroit. Despite a healthy dose of snaps Pettigrew really didn’t factor into the passing game with just one catch for nine yards. Joseph Fauria had three targets but hauled in just one pass for 26 yards. Ebron can be safely ignored in fantasy football this year.

 

Bills RB’s (58 Total Snaps)

C.J. Spiller – 29

Fred Jackson – 28

Anthony Dixon – 5

Breakdowns: It was pretty much an even split between Spiller and F-Jax last week with Spiller carrying the ball twice as much. The good news here is that as long as Spiller is touching the ball, fantasy production will follow. Bryce Brown was inactive in this game and Anthony Dixon really didn’t factor in much at all.

 

Raiders WR’s (56 Total Snaps)

Rod Streater – 54

Denarius Moore – 50

James Jones – 32

Andre Holmes – 2

Breakdown: When Matt Schaub was working with the first team Andre Holmes and James Jones were being used heavily in the Raiders offense. But when a change is made at QB, the entire WR landscape changes as well. That is what happened here in Oakland as Derek Carr strongly prefers Denarius Moore as his primary WR. Moore is definitely available in the majority of leagues right now and should be strongly considered as an add this week.

 

Chiefs TE’s (58 Total Snaps)

Anthony Fasano - 53

Travis Kelce – 19

Breakdown: So much for Kelce breaking out anytime soon. He was used for 14 out of his 19 snaps on passing plays. This is a tendency that opposing defenses will key on and have an answer for if Kansas City doesn’t switch it up more often.