Snap Count And Usage Analysis - Fantasy Football Risers and Fallers for Week 4

September 28, 2023

Joey analyzes fantasy football snap counts risers and fallers. Are these fantasy football players emerging, or a risk for starting them in Week 4 lineups?

Welcome RotoBallers to another edition of snap count and usage analysis. As we head into Week 4, we will look and analyze snap count and usage from several players across the league – some good and some not so great. 

Week 3 was a high-scoring week, which means some player’s usage might have gone under the radar. With Los Angeles Chargers wideout Keenan Allen catching 18 passes for 215 passes and Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert punching in four touchdowns, those two veterans stole the show this past weekend. 

There were plenty of notable high snap count and usage that we saw in Week 3, and some surprising stars that saw low usage this past week. So, let’s dive in and analyze all of this. 

Surprisingly High Snap Count/Usage From Last Week

RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons - 81% snap count 

The Atlanta Falcons might be finally unleashing rookie running back Bijan Robinson. After seeing just 63% of the snaps in Week 1 and getting out-touched by backup running back Tyler Allgeier, that changed big time in Week 3. 

Robinson played a season-high 81% of the Falcons offense snaps compared to Allgeier’s 30%. The rookie running back saw 34 more snaps than the latter and continues to see more opportunities on offense. 

It wasn’t the most efficient week for Robinson in Week 3 but the high snap share and usage is a great sign for his long-term upside this season. The rookie had just 10 carries for 33 yards while catching four of six targets for 27 yards. He out-touched Allgeier once again this past weekend. 

As the rookie gets more acclimated to the NFL, the Falcons will gradually get Robinson more snaps on the field. This was likely just the start of the team unleashing the eighth overall pick. 

WR Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens - 93% snap count 

Rookies usually take time to produce in fantasy football but we’re starting to see plenty of them already giving fantasy managers some joy this early into the year. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is certainly one of those players. 

Flowers has already been a big part of Baltimore’s offense and is coming off a Week 3 game where the rookie played a season-high 67 snaps on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. That helped him catch eight of 10 targets for 48 yards. He also ran once for two yards on the ground. 

It wasn’t necessarily a great fantasy performance for the rookie. However, the high usage and snap share is a great sign for Flowers long-term. His 25 targets through three weeks is 12 more than any other Raven playmaker. He also has two 10-target games through three weeks and is on pace for over 130 targets.

Flowers has scored less than 10 fantasy points in half-PPR formats in back-to-back weeks, but the usage has been there. So if you can buy him, he could provide your team a big boost later in the year. 

RB De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins -- 41% snap count 

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane is an example of not to panic when rookies don’t produce right away. The Dolphins selected Achane in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but the start of his career hasn’t been smooth sailing. 

Achane dealt with a shoulder injury for most of the preseason and then was a healthy scratch in Week 1. In Week 2, he saw just six snaps. However, with Salvon Ahmed (groin) missing Week 3, the rookie stepped up in the RB2 role and showed his potential in a big way. 

He ran 18 times for 203 yards and two touchdowns while also catching four passes for 30 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Mostert was the team’s RB1, but Achane had his fair share of opportunities as the backup. He played 30 snaps and saw just seven fewer snaps than the veteran. 

The 70-20 blowout win was hard to evaluate how the team’s running back situation would have gone if the game was close. Achane, though, proved that he can be a weapon on the ground for the Dolphins. It’ll be interesting to see how the running back room plays out going forward with Jeff Wilson Jr. (knee) likely returning in Week 5. 

Other Players To Note: 

• Kyren Williams (100% snap count)
• Alexander Mattison (80% snap count)

Surprisingly Low Snap Count/Usage From Last Week

RB Dalvin Cook, New York Jets - 25% snap count

Many fantasy managers didn’t know what to expect from the Jets backfield this season with both running backs Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall in New York. However, after Week 3, it’s pretty evident that Cook is the backup to Hall. 

On Sunday against the New England Patriots, Cook played a season-low 16 snaps. In context, third-string running back Michael Carter played one fewer snap (15) than the veteran. Hall was the clear RB1 playing 31 of 63 snaps. 

Cook was also inefficient on the ground in Week 3. He had just eight carries for 18 yards and three catches for 11 yards in a game that was close throughout. It’s not a good look that the 28-year-old running back has averaged just 2.3 yards per carry so far in the early going. 

Cook is a must-sit every week and is closing in on drop territory in 10-team leagues. The veteran hasn’t done much with his chances, and Hall continues to get healthier. 

RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans - 38% snap count 

Tennesee Titans running back Derrick Henry made this list following Week 1’s limited action. He played an unusually low 48% of the team snaps in a close 16-15 loss. However, Henry’s 38% snap share entered a new low for the veteran back. 

Henry played just 18 snaps on Sunday in a blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns, seeing roughly just 38% of the Titans offensive snaps. That’s the lowest percentage of snaps the veteran has played since Week 11 of the 2018 season. 

We haven’t seen the same explosiveness from Henry so far, and he enters Week 4 with zero broken tackles. In Week 3, he had just 11 carries for 20 yards, while backup running back Tyjae Spears played 27 of 48 snaps (56%) on Sunday. 

A large reason why Henry saw his lowest snap share since 2018 was due to Tennessee falling behind big. That allowed the Titans to go with Spears who is the team’s receiving back. Still, it’s a season-long concern that if the team falls behind early in games, they’ll completely push the three-time Pro Bowler to the bench. 

RB Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders - 37% snap count 

The Washington Commanders have been in control of their victories in the first two weeks of the season over the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos. So, it’s been hard to fully evaluate the team’s running back room. 

In Sunday’s blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills, we now know that if the team falls behind, it’s not good news for Robinson. The second-year back played a season-low 20 snaps and 37% of Washington’s offensive snaps. 

With the team trailing, the Commanders went with running back Antonio Gibson in the passing game. He played 33 of 54 snaps and was targeted five times out of the backfield in the loss. 

Despite the low volume, Robinson was still efficient with his touches – running 10 times for 70 yards. This low usage is something to keep an eye on for the 24-year-old going forward, especially next week when the Commanders play the Philadelphia Eagles on the road. 

Other Players To Note:  

• Kadarius Toney (2 snaps played)

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