RADIO
Welcome to Week 4 of the fantasy football season. This article series takes the recent snap and touch history of skill players into account, and now that we have three weeks in the books there is a bit more of a sample to work with.
Week 3 saw a litter of players across the league see curious usage, and that is always worthy of a write-up. This piece takes a look at the snaps and touches from each week to break down what is or is not important for fantasy football moving forward.
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Running Back Snaps for Fantasy Football
Devin Singletary (73%), Buffalo Bills
This past weekend versus Miami, Singletary saw a season-high in snaps and touches in what is the most neutral game Buffalo has had all season. This resulted in not only Singletary cracking 10 PPR points for the first time, but 20 in what can be deemed a "bellcow" role.
Singletary's 11 targets were most impressive of all as he managed 9 receptions, 78 yards, and a TD on them. He was presumably on pace to be usurped as the receiving back by rookie James Cook but that does not appear the case as of now. Even with Josh Allen commanding most of the goal-line touches and RBs like Cook and Zack Moss mixing in, Singletary can be in consideration for fantasy managers moving forward.
Jamaal Williams (45%), Detroit Lions
Jamaal Williams saw an increase in his snaps and role after D'Andre Swift left Sunday's game due to a shoulder injury. With 22 touches on fewer than 50% of the snaps, Williams produced 107 total yards and 2 TD. He should handle the bulk of the load in swift's absence with RB3 Craig Reynolds mixing in.
Luckily, Williams is the significantly better receiving back who's drawn 188 targets throughout his career while Reynolds is more proficient on the ground. For the next few games with Swift out, Williams is a near must-start fantasy option while deeper leagues can see if Reynolds vultures a TD or breaks a few long runs.
Chase Edmonds (44%), Miami Dolphins
Chase Edmonds now has 2 rushing TD on the year which equals his total from 2021. He is still not utilized enough as a receiver to trust in lineups and the decline in snap-share is quite concerning. With Edmonds' decline has come Mostert's rise but not in performance. Mostert mustered a mere 11 yards on 10 opportunities (targets+rushes) despite a season-high in snaps.
The snaps have been steadily favoring Mostert since Week 1 but performances like Week 3 certainly do not help his cause. Edmonds remains the superior back to roster in Miami given his abilities as a receiver and could see significant touch-loads as they play in games they will certainly come to lose after starting the season 3-0.
Wide Receivers Snaps for Fantasy Football
Mack Hollins (97%), Las Vegas Raiders
Mack Hollins' snaps have been relatively high throughout the season but his high came in Week 3 with Hunter Renfrow out due to a concussion. Hollins had what is easily a career game thanks to the attention pulled towards Davante Adams and Darren Waller —10 targets, 8 catches, 158 yards, and a TD is what his season-long stat-lines looked like prior to this season!
Through 3 games, Hollins has more receiving yards than he did in all 17 games of 2021 on the same amount of receptions. While it is fair to believe that a career year that comes with several fantasy-relevant games is coming, Hollins will lose all reliability once Renfrow returns to the lineup and he is relegated to the 4th option at best in a tie with the running backs. He is not worth adding unless Renfrow is declared out later this week.
Romeo Doubs (89%), Green Bay Packers
Thanks to the absences of Sammy Watkins and Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs played a career/season-high number of snaps and was targeted 8 times. He caught all 8 targets for 73 yards and TD in what may be his breakout game. Doubs had drawn the eye of MVP QB Aaron Rodgers in camp and now that he is showing it on Sunday, there may be plenty more to come.
Doubs was not the most tanalizing prospect given his mid-level athletic traits and small-school pedigree, but his production since his freshman year is undeniable. He is well worth the add in fantasy but should not be started until the production is proven for more than one game.
Jerry Jeudy (54%), Denver Broncos
Jeudy left in the first quarter of Week 2 due to an injured rib, didn't practice until this past Friday, yet still suited up for Sunday's game against San Francisco. While managing to play around half of the offensive snaps, Jeudy failed to produce much on 6 targets.
The fact that he played and is not dealing with a more severe injury is cause for optimism more than anything. Jeudy is a necessary cog in the Broncos' offense given their lack of depth at WR and a speedster with as much talent as Jeudy is necessary on the field at all times. He amassed 89% of the snaps in Week 1 and that should be the range of expectation moving forward as he is further removed from injury.
Skyy Moore (13%), Kansas City Chiefs
Skyy Moore is dealing with multiple issues at once. Not only is he running as the WR5 behind a fringe player like Justin Watson, but he is fumbling in his returning duties and leaving little to be desired of his presence on the field. Moore produced from a young age at a small school (much like Doubs) but has not found his footing as fast in the league.
Whether it is his youth or the more talented depth chart ahead of him, we cannot ignore that Moore is nothing more than an expensive handcuff WR who can be dropped if production is necessary now.
Tight Ends Snaps for Fantasy Football
Tyler Conklin (79%), New York Jets
Tyler Conklin played 100% of the snaps in Week 2 but that came with the absence of fellow offseason TE acquisition, C.J. Uzomah. Conklin has swiftly taken the reins as TE1 for the Jets and that has come with a massive amount of targets as has 24 through 3 games which is good for third in the NFL in a tie with Travis Kelce.
The usage should simmer down as Zach Wilson re-integrates into the Jets offense and Flacco's low aDOT plays out but there is no denying that the Jets value Conklin and plan to have him play a significant role this season. He is worthy of starting for managers with no other options and should be considered in the Tyler Higbee range of high-volume, low-efficiency Tight Ends.
Noah Fant (55%), Seattle Seahawks
The former first-round TE who was traded as part of the package for Russell Wilson has seemingly fallen out of favor with the Seahawks. Fant's running the most route of the trio that includes him, Will Dissly, and Colby Parkinson, but Fant's second in snaps. It seems his blocking is not admired by the coaching staff and that is preventing him from seeing the field enough to be even worthy of a stream.
Not only that, but Fant has been extremely inefficient. He has seen 10 targets and only produced 54 yards (good for a team-low 1.115 yards per route run). If you have Fant in a redraft league, feel free to drop him and if you must, Dissly is a worthy stream given that he is second to DK Metcalf in Seahawks' red-zone targets.
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