RADIO
Snap counts are not the be-all-end-all for fantasy production but they paint a clear picture with the necessary context. Every snap is an opportunity for a player to make his presence felt and if their snaps go up or down, you get an idea of what the team thinks of their skill-set. A running back can have all the rushing talent in the world but if he can't catch the ball or is useless in pass protection, their snaps will not reflect that talent.
We do not have much of a sample for rising or falling snaps but for the sake of trying to identify worthwhile trends early, that's the basis we will use. Snap% listed reflect a player's usage in Week 2 contests.
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Rising Snaps
WR Rondale Moore ARI (46%)
Rondale Moore was bound to be more involved in the Cardinals' offense given his explosive nature. Moore is an enigma at 5'7" because he plays so much bigger than he appears. His 13 targets through two games rank 1st on a talented Cardinals' roster!
Moore's 77-yard TD reception this past weekend against the Vikings (on a busted coverage) definitely aided his stat-line of 7 catches, 114 yards, and a TD but the signs are there that Moore is a must-roster player who could even be Flex-ed as his targets increased from 5 to 8.
Once the rushing attempts come in and Moore's snaps hit at least the 60% mark, it is wheels up for this future fantasy star.
WR K.J. Hamler (71%)
With Jerry Jeudy injured, K.J. Hamler's snaps increased from 36% to 71%. However, his targets went down, rather than up. This could have been a matter of game script as Denver sustained a substantial lead but they also held a two-score lead the week prior versus the Giants.
Hamler's usage will vary weekly as he is not the most reliable target but does provide high-value looks on the field with his team-high aDOT. Tim Patrick's recent injury may help boost looks to Hamler for the short-term but he is not someone worth trusting in a lineup at the moment.
RB Michael Carter (45%)
The Jets are a mess but at least they seem smart enough to get the rookies more involved early on. Obviously, Zach Wilson was dubbed starter but Elijah Moore has seen his fair share of reps, and now, Michael Carter seems to have a lead-back role incoming.
Tevin Coleman's snaps fell from 26% to 10% while Carter's increased from 25% to 45%. Not to say Carter will slowly drain the rest, but there is room for more growth, especially if he outplays Ty Johnson.
Carter has looked good with limited touches and has a place in the receiving game with 5 targets through two games. He was probably over-drafted but that's not to say he cannot become start-able in the near future if things continue to break right and this Jets' offense lifts itself from rock bottom.
Falling Snaps
WR Antonio Brown TB (44%)
This may solely be due to the Buccaneers demolishing the Falcons but after playing 65% of the snaps in Week 1, 44% is not too encouraging. Antonio Brown blew the doors off Dallas then proceeded to go missing with three targets, one reception, and just 17 yards.
Brown will continue to play as the WR3 and have his big games but he may have teased managers into thinking he was back to full WR1 form. There's still plenty of the season to go, however, and this could just be a blip.
RB Mark Ingram II HOU (31%)
Mark Ingram looked like Mark Ingram in Week 1 but after Week 2, it may just have been a case of facing the Jaguars. Ingram's snaps dipped and the backfield looked much more like the committee everyone expected with four backs rotating heavily. Mark Ingram led the team in backfield touches while David Johnson was present for 43% of the snaps.
Ingram will carry the load when the Texans are leading but let's just assume that is not happening too often moving forward...
RB Mike Davis ATL (64%)
This is a fascinating development. While there was plenty of (rightful) skepticism surrounding Mike Davis taking on a bell-cow role to justify his Round 5 ADP, the rumors about Cordarelle Patterson acting as the RB2 were largely scoffed at while many assumed Atlanta would sign and rotate a better backup than the since-released Quadree Ollison.
Cordarelle Patterson is very much so looking like that complementary back with 21 touches through two games and two TD to boot! Patterson represents a thorn in Davis's side as Davis is closer to a JAG than anything given his profile and career history. Patterson's not a world-beater but it is hard to deny his talent as evident through his special teams' contributions for the past decade.
Mike Davis's snaps dipping from 75% to 64% may be a stabilization or the first snowball in an avalanche. His 48 yards on 13 targets thus far will not cut it if he wants to stick around heavily.
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