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Joey analyzes fantasy football snap counts risers and fallers. Are these fantasy football players emerging, or a risk for starting them in Week 3 lineups?
The fantasy football season is in full swing as we enter Week 3. There's been plenty of unpredictable things that happened in the first two weeks, and there will be plenty more craziness over the next 15 games.
The Cowboys D/ST has the second most fantasy points through Week 2 (52) in PPR formats, only Tyreek Hill has more (59.5 points). Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nucua both rank top six overall in PPR formats. And don't forget about Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. being the RB3 so far.
Each week, this article will tackle which players saw an increase or decrease in snap count and usage on offense. It doesn't mean you should be trading or acquiring these players right away. But it's something to monitor going forward.
Surprisingly High Snap Count/Usage From Last Week
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts - 98% snap count
Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss missed multiple weeks during the preseason and in Week 1 with a fractured forearm. In his first game action of the season, he overtook Deon Jackson for the starting job and was the team's workhorse back in Week 2 against the Houston Texans.
Moss played 55 of the Colts' 56 offensive snaps and saw action on 98% of the team's snaps on Sunday. The 25-year-old running back also capitalized on those opportunities by running 18 times for 88 yards and one touchdown. He also caught four passes for 19 yards in the passing game.
Keep firing up Zack Moss 🚀 pic.twitter.com/HGKsOwMvGA
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) September 19, 2023
Running backs don't see that type of volume anymore, especially in this day and age. So, to see Moss play almost every snap in Week 2 is quite amazing. He should be picked up in every league and is a weekly RB2 going forward until Jonathan Taylor (ankle) returns – if he ever does.
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams - 95% snap count
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams made this list last week after out-snapping Cam Akers in Week 1. One week later, Akers was a healthy scratch, and Williams essentially ran away with the team's starting running back job.
Not only did the second-year back play a whopping 95% of the team snaps, but he also had 20 touches against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. With those touches, Williams had 14 carries for 52 yards and one touchdown on the ground and six catches for 48 yards and one touchdown through the air. He finished with 28 fantasy points and was the fantasy RB2.
Kyren Williams: the RB2 for fantasy football through 2 weeks, leading all RBs in targets (12).
Just like we all predicted... pic.twitter.com/0o1loRwL0P
— Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) September 19, 2023
Williams has been a surprise star this season, and with the Rams seeking a trade partner for Akers, the young running back will be a high-end RB2 moving forward. His 10 targets in Week 2 are also a great sign he'll be utilized in the passing game throughout the year.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans - 23.3% target share
This article will tackle snap share and usage every week, and Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins falls under the latter this week on the list. After he saw 11 targets in Week 1 and brought in six catches for 80 yards, Collins followed it up with a career day in Week 2.
He caught seven passes for 146 receiving yards and one touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. His seven catches and 146 yards were both career-highs for the former Michigan star. On top of that, Collins ranks fifth among all pass catchers in air yards this season (270).
Collins has been rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud's favorite option in the passing game through two weeks, seeing 20 targets and ranking fifth in receiving yards in the NFL (226). The wideout has easily been the most targeted Texans' playmaker on offense, and he should be rostered in all 10-plus team leagues. His usage will also continue to grow as the season progresses.
Other Players To Note:
- Christian McCaffrey (100% snap count)
- D'Andre Swift (31 touches)
Surprisingly Low Snap Count/Usage From Last Week
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans - 45% snap count
Houston Texans running back Dameon Pierce has not been the workhorse back that we all envisioned entering the year. In Week 1, Pierce saw just 45% of the team snaps. In Week 2, that continued as he played just 37 offensive snaps against the Indianapolis Colts.
Pierce has officially entered himself into a running back by committee in Houston. In Week 1, Devin Singletary and Mike Boone played a combined 52% of the Texans snaps. Then, last week, Singletary and Dare Ogunbowale saw a combined 55% of the team's offensive snaps. The second-year running back is certainly trending in the wrong direction in fantasy.
Through 2 weeks:
Jordan Love QB2
Mac Jones QB7
Joe Burrow QB32Kyren Williams RB2
Breece Hall RB30
Dameon Pierce RB44Puka Nacua WR3
Josh Reynolds WR10
Ja'Marr Chase WR63Hunter Henry TE2
Kylen Granson TE7
George Kittle TE26Just like we all expected! 🫠
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) September 19, 2023
Pierce's has also not been effective with his touches this year. He had just 15 carries for 31 yards with two catches for four yards in Week 2. The low snap share is worrisome for Pierce's long-term status this season, and he might not be the same fantasy RB2 as last year.
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers - 41% snap count
What a surprise Week 2 was for Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett. In a new offensive system with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, the appeal was there to draft Everett later in drafts. Most managers who punted the tight end position in drafts this summer were likely confident the Chargers' playmaker could be their TE1.
But after Week 2, he's looking less appealing as a tight end fantasy option. Everett played just 41% of the Chargers' snaps against the Tennessee Titans, which was down from his 68% snap share in Week 1. Backup tight end Donald Parham Jr. actually ran more with the offense on Sunday – 34 snaps compared to Everett's 28.
In a nice matchup for the Chargers offense, Everett had three catches on three targets for 47 yards. It wasn't a horrible fantasy day for the veteran tight end but it was concerning that Parham saw more offensive snaps in Week 2. This is certainly something to monitor in the coming weeks.
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons - two catches
It's looking bleak for Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts in fantasy football. Despite the Falcons throwing the ball 32 times against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 -- which is abnormal for them -- Pitts only reeled in two catches for 15 yards in the contest.
Pitts continues to disappoint fantasy managers who took a chance on his talent in the middle rounds. The Falcons' run-first scheme has hurt the tight end's fantasy potential for years, and that has continued into the 2023 season. But even when Atlanta does throw, the 22-year-old doesn't get many opportunities to showcase his skills.
Kyle Pitts through Week 2:
2022:
10 targets
4 receptions
38 receiving yards
0 TDs2023:
8 targets
4 receptions
59 receiving yards
0 TDs pic.twitter.com/MaoP9dUbxP— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) September 18, 2023
Pitts did get two end zone targets on Sunday, which is a good sign Atlanta is at least trying to get him the ball but neither throw by quarterback Desmond Ridder was relatively close. The usage is just not there for the tight end, and he shouldn't be started in most 10-12-team leagues until further notice.
Other Players To Note:
- Antonio Gibson (Six touches)
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