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John Laghezza's fantasy football RB/WR breakouts watch for Week 11 based on snap count risers/fallers in 2025. Whose usage and fantasy value is trending up or down?
Worst thing you can do as a fantasy gamer in the coming high-leverage weeks down the stretch is start guys who don't see the field. And without question, the best way to avoid that playing-time pitfall is to keep strict tabs on usage trends as they develop. Funny how easy it is to not realize someone's losing high-value opportunities.
Fantasy's already inherently variant. Zeroes can happen to the very best players as a response to the wrong game script, but one thing in fantasy will never change — you've got to earn snaps in order to score points.
That's where I come in, fresh out of the smoke-filled lab every Tuesday at RotoBaller with the week's Snap Count Risers and Fallers Watch. It's times like this I'm glad for due diligence — there are a few easy-to-overlook spots rumbling with outcome-changing potential.
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Usage Bumps I'm Buying
Sean Tucker, RB, TB
Bucky Irving drafters... it's well past time to panic. For some reason, the Bucs' starting running back's injury didn't warrant an I.R. trip, yet we're on the verge of seven weeks missed this Sunday, with zero concrete timetable for return. But that's another story for a different day.
Rachaad White filled in admirably for a bit, but the book was always out on the flaws in his game — completely devoid of explosive plays. In 65 carries as the lead back, White produced precisely zero runs of +13 yards. Zero! Of the 42 RBs with +40 carries in that timeframe, White's 1.6% explosive rush rate ranks (drum roll) dead last.
Sean Tucker's clearly the better runner, absolutely dusting White's efficiency metrics in terms of yards/rush, explosive rushes, and missed tackles forced per attempt. Tampa's struggled a bit on offense recently, but all the pieces are in place for a late-season push with Tucker soaking up some high-value work on a good offense.
Now that I've prefaced this with a solid and rational case, it's time to release the beast. Tucker was one of my favorite league-winning dark horses all summer, rooted in a ceiling argument which hasn't changed much — a 95th percentile outcome on this trade means lifting a trophy.
Tampa's got as much offensive firepower as anyone; plus, we've seen Baker Mayfield elevate multiple fantasy assets, and I don't think they'll be shy about featuring Tucker if he's giving them the best chance to win the division. I keep thinking back to how good he looked in Week 6 last year against New Orleans.
Sean Tucker powers it in for the Bucs TD on 4th down 💪
TBvsNO on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/dZ6uNf7eK3
— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2025
Aaron Jones, RB, MIN
Rumors of veteran Aaron Jones' demise were greatly exaggerated if his usage since returning is any indication. Always known as a fantasy producer, many figured he'd assume a backseat role to the younger Jordan Mason entering the holiday season. Not so fast...
In three games since returning, Jones easily leads the Vikings' backfield in touch share (56%), carries (23), and targets (12) — while more than doubling handcuff Jordan Mason up in fantasy points per snap (0.35) and points per touch (1.09). Kevin O'Connell's in need of a stabilizing force with wildcard J.J. McCarthy under center, making Jones a sneaky pop to finish as a rest-of-season backend RB1.
Aaron Jones gives the @Vikings an early lead 😤
BALvsMIN on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/vEVyicK4ps
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025
Andrei Iosivas, WR, CIN
Especially in an age of suppressed aerial attacks, third wideouts are so easily forgotten in fantasy circles. With that, it's important not to miss the forest for the trees when there's so much juicy volume involved. Age is clearly just a number to Joe Flacco, with 40 years on Earth having zero bearing on his ability to drop back and pass. Since taking over QB duties for Cincy, Andrei Iosivas ranks inside the NFL's top-30 in routes run.
Sure, Yoshi's going to get overlooked at times in favor of alpha dogs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — but that doesn't remove the chance to pop off in a carnival game when attached to the league's worst defense. Three different Bengal WRs scored +17 fantasy points Sunday. Crazy!
JOE FLACCO. ANDREI IOSIVAS. #BENGALS LEAD LATE.
Wow. pic.twitter.com/EuYHKosMMQ
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) November 2, 2025
Calvin Austin III, WR, PIT
Pittsburgh's still looking for answers on offense in a push to win a soft AFC North division. Using mostly a rotational approach to the WR room, the Steelers may finally be settling on fourth-year wideout Calvin Austin III as an every-down player. For the first time in over six weeks, PIT deployed Austin almost exclusively with DK Metcalf in 2-WR only sets.
Aaron Rodgers' sway on personnel decisions borders on legendary at this point. The fact that Austin is leading all Steeler WRs in targets (19) and catches (11) since returning from injury means something heading down the stretch. PIT's going to be competitive through the winter, and anywhere we can find production could be useful.
Steelers take the lead on a Rodgers to Austin TD!
PITvsNE on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/hU16Wmjo5R
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025
Devaughn Vele, WR, NO
The Saints trading a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Denver for Devaughn Vele left lots of analysts scratching their heads — only compounded once realizing he's racked up all of two catches for 24 yards so far this season. Say what you will, at least moving on from WR Rashid Shaheed immediately addressed the latter.
The good news? Vele achieved the unicorn last week, posting a rare 100% route participation rate in his first game as a starter. The bad news? Well, he still plays for the Saints, who happen to run a lot of +3TE sets. Regardless, all the signals for a solid risk-reward ratio are there.
Honorable Mentions - Flex Usage On The Rise
Since no one can predict injuries with any verifiable degree of certainty, our best-case scenario is to identify, assess, and adjust. Basically, put yourself in the best potential spot in the event you wind up being right. Every player's utilization trend on the list below is worthy of attention and bordering on fantasy viability in deeper leagues, if not there already.
- Alvin Kamara, RB, NO
- Blake Corum, RB, LAR
- Chimere Dike, WR, TEN
- Christian Watson, WR, GB
- Dontayvion Wicks, WR, GB
- Jalen Nailor, WR, MIN
- Jalen Coker, WR, CAR
- Kimani Vidal, RB, LAC
- Kyle Williams, WR, NE
- Luther Burden III, WR, CHI
- Michael Wilson, WR, ARI
- Tez Johnson, WR, TB
- Ty Johnson, RB, BUF
- Tyler Lockett, WR, LV
- Woody Marks, RB, HOU
Noteworthy Usage Downturns
Conversely, arguing for pulling the plug on a fantasy asset is a lot simpler. Every team's experiencing injuries — if you're failing to earn opportunities at this point, it's likely not happening. And once the red flag's waving on usage, it's hard to turn things around.
Not sure I'd go so far as to call it a drop list. Depending on your league, it can be near-impossible to cut any RB with even an outside shot at playing time, I get it. At the very least, avoid starting any of these guys — even out of desperation.
Flex Usage Trending Down
- Bhayshul Tuten, RB, JAX
- Brashard Smith, RB, KC
- Christian Kirk, WR, HOU
- Chuba Hubbard, RB, CAR
- Devin Neal, RB, NO
- DJ Moore, WR, CHI
- Emanuel Wilson, RB, GB
- Jahan Dotson, WR, PHI
- Jaret Patterson, RB, LAC
- Jaylin Lane, WR, WAS
- Jaylin Noel, WR, HOU
- Jordan Mason, RB, MIN
- Kenneth Gainwell, RB, PIT
- Matthew Golden, WR, GB
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, MIA
- Ollie Gordon II, RB MIA
- Ray Davis, RB, BUF
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