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. Next to each player’s name you will see a number inside of parenthesis, for example John Smith (2), that 2 would represent how many snaps he played this week. We are going to dive into some of the more interesting situations around the league regarding snap count numbers.
Risers
Kenyan Drake (39) had a big uptick in snap percentage this week as he was on the field for 85% of the Dolphins snaps, compared to 53% in Week 15. Surprisingly in Week 15 Drake did not see an increase in touches after Gore went down with injury, but that somewhat changed this week. He finished the game with six carries for 23 yards and four receptions for 31 yards. It was a tough matchup with the Jags and the Dolphins offense struggled as a whole. He has a better matchup on tap in Week 17 as the Fins take on the Bills.
Charcandrick West (19) saw his snap total increase by 18 this week and he was on the field for 31% of the Chiefs snaps. Despite the large rise in playing time, West did not have much involvement in the Chiefs offense as he finished with just one carry and two receptions. However, he did make the most of those two receptions as he piled up 37 yards and a touchdown. He should be on your fantasy radar though and any involvement he has will just be taking away touches from the guys that matter.
Marquise Goodwin (38) played his most snaps since Week 10 in the 49ers 14-9 loss to the Bears. It was a tough matchup on paper for Goodwin and the niner offense and that was the end result as well. He was targeted a season high eight times, but did not manage to do much with the high dosage of targets as he finished with three receptions for 29 yards. Goodwin was a huge bust in fantasy this year, but it wasn’t entirely his fault, as the offense has looked pedestrian all season after losing Garoppolo in Week 3.
Fallers
Allen Hurns (4) played a season low snap total and snap percentage (8%). He had no targets and appears to be fully phased out of the offense. This run-first offense cannot support four receivers and since Hurns is the number four option, it will take an injury or two for him to have any kind of involvement. I would not be surprised if he is cut in the offseason. He hasn’t been fantasy relevant for a while.
Notable Snap Counts
D’Onta Foreman (31) made his season debut this week and was on the field for 48% of the Texans snaps. Even though he had a touchdown reception, this wound up being a performance to forget for Foreman as it was a pitiful performance out of the young back. He finished with seven carries for NEGATIVE one yard and also fumbled the ball (Texans recovered). Yikes. Lamar Miller appears to be on track to play in Week 17, which would seemingly diminish any type of value that Foreman has.
C.J Anderson (51) made his Rams debut and boy what a debut it was. Even though he was signed just a few days prior to the game the team thrust him into a large workload that saw his on the field for 75% of the snaps. No way anyone can argue with that decision though as Anderson finished with 20 carries for 167 yards and a score. However, if Gurley returns from injury for Week 17 Anderson’s value will take a massive hit as he will be nothing more than a handcuff.
Player News
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Tyreek Hill’s second wrist surgery was part of the original plan and his timeline remains unchanged.
Hill announced the second surgery on social media and Pelissero quickly added some context to the situation. The speedy receiver suffered the wrist injury just before the start of the season and it lingered throughout the year, though he never missed a game because of it. If the second surgery truly is a non-story, an offseason to recover might be what Hill needs to return to form after a down 2024 season. On the other hand, Hill is 31 years old, played his worst football last year, and his offense prioritized targets for Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane. As it stands, Hill might have the highest risk-reward split in fantasy drafts.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports there are “multiple people in the league who believe the new regime is not so high on Travis Etienne.”
Fowler also noted Tank Bigsby’s fumbling issue but didn’t directly relate that to the feelings of the new brain trust in Jacksonville. The Jags clearly felt they were lacking at running back this offseason and addressed that opening via the draft with Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round and LeQuint Allen in the seventh. The pair of additions complicate an already-messy backfield by committee. Etienne is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is a long-shot to be brought back in 2026. The Jags could opt to move on early by trading him, clearing $6.1 million in cap space in the process. If the team does trade Etienne, Tuten would likely be the team’s top back in the long run, making him a high-upside bet in early fantasy drafts.
Broncos signed third-round pick WR Pat Bryant to a four-year contract.
The deal includes $1.4 million guaranteed and is worth $6.6 million in total. Sean Payton compared aspects of Bryant’s game to those of Michael Thomas in his post-draft press conference and there are at least a few similarities in their profiles. Bryant stands at 6'2/204 and ran a 4.61-second Forty at the combine. Thomas measured in at 6'3/212 and clocked a 4.57-second Forty. Though the two have similar physical characteristics, Thomas was known for his proficiency from the slot while Bryant primarily played on the outside as a field-stretcher at Illinois. Bryant’s transition to slot duties may take some time, but third-round draft capital makes him worth a shot in dynasty leagues.
Colts EDGE Samson Ebukam (Achilles) said he is expected to be cleared for training camp.
Ebukam suffered a torn Achilles in training camp last year and did not play in the 2024 season. He broke out in 2023 with a career-high 9.5 sacks in his first season with the Colts. He now has one year left on his deal and will be looking for a rebound season as he stares down free agency in 2026
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Steelers are “counting on” a 2025 jump for WR Roman Wilson.
Wilson, per Fowler, “looks like a different player than from his injury riddled rookie campaign.” Steelers general manager Omar Khan said in February that the team has “a lot of confidence” in Wilson, the 84th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft who played just five offensive snaps as a rookie after suffering a serious hamstring injury in October. Wilson, entering his age-24 season, had 789 yards and 12 touchdowns on 49 catches in his final season at Michigan. He was 19th among all college wideouts in yards per route run in 2023. An injury-free offseason could position Wilson as the clear No. 2 receiver behind DK Metcalf in 2025.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Steelers “remain in contact with Aaron Rodgers and are hopeful that he’ll be a Steeler.”
Things have been quiet on the Rodgers front since the NFL Draft, though he remains a factor for the QB-needy Steelers, who on Wednesday traded George Pickens to Dallas in exchange for draft picks. That leaves DK Metcalf and perhaps Roman Wilson as the Steelers’ top two receivers. Metcalf’s fantasy fortunes would get a bit of a bump if Rodgers lands with the Steelers. The team’s commitment to a massively run-heavy approach should limit Metcalf’s upside, however. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio suggested Rodgers is waiting to sign with Pittsburgh until after the NFL’s schedule release “so that the league can’t saddle the Steelers with extra prime-time and/or short-week games.” We’ll continue to monitor the never-ending Rodgers saga.