Snap counts tell us who is playing but they don’t always paint a clear picture of who is producing for our fantasy football lineups. By digging deep into the snap counts from Week 12, we are able to pull some interesting takeaways that can help us win moving forward.
(minimum 10 snaps in Week 2)
SNAPS Total offensive snaps played by player.
SNAP % Percentage of offensive snaps played.
RUSH % Percentage of snaps played where player had a rushing attempt.
TGT % Percentage of snaps played where player was targeted by a pass attempt.
TOUCH % Percentage of snaps played where player touched the football (includes pass attempts, rush attempts and receptions).
FPTS Fantasy points scored by player.
PTS/100 SNAPS Average fantasy points scored by player per 100 snaps
RUNNING BACKS
• It’s now or never for Dameon Pierce. The rookie back saw a huge uptake in targets and out-rushed Rex Burkhead 15-0. Pierce also ran 16 routes in his 39 snaps. Facing a Chicago defense that just allowed 193 rushing yards to Green Bay’s running backs, this is the game we’ve been waiting for since August.
• Clyde Edwards-Helarie is leading all running backs with .6 fantasy points per snaps through two games. He’s also commanded 33.3% of Kansas City’s rushes and boasts a 13.5% target share.
• Joe Mixon leads all running backs with 63 snaps per game. He also ranks third with a 78% rush share, trailing only Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor.
• The league leader with an 85.3% team rush share, Josh Jacobs gets a Week 3 date versus a Tennessee Titans defense that has allowed the fourth most rushing yards (277) to running backs so far in 2022.
• Seattle has divulged into an ugly committee. In Ken Walker’s first action this season, he played one-quarter of the snaps and touched the ball six times. Those figures will likely increase, with an even split with Rashaad Penny likely. With the Seahawks likely to be trailing often, this is a situation to avoid in fantasy.
• Michael Carter played more than twice as many snaps as Breece Hall, but it was Hall who was the better fantasy option. Carter ran 24 routes and saw five targets, but Hall was far more productive on the ground. We expect the Jets to stick with a one-two punch, with Carter remaining more valuable as a receiver.
TIGHT ENDS
• Remember how we urged caution with O.J. Howard? After snagging two scores in week one, Howard’s snaps actually increased to 18. However, he ran just six routes and commanded one target. Houston will continue to rotate tight ends in a frustrating manner, with Brevin Jordan being the best bet. Even still, Jordan is little more than a weak streaming TE2 on a week-to-week basis.
• Speaking of AFC South committees, the Colts split their tight end snaps evenly. Kylen Granson ran 19 routes to Mo Alie-Cox’s 17, but Alie-Cox had one more target. As poorly as Matt Ryan has looked through two starts, this is a situation to avoid.
• Tyler Conklin leads all tight ends with a 73.5% snap rate. He also is tied with Travis Kecle for fourth at the position with 16 targets. As long as Joe Flacco remains under center, Conklin looks like a solid streaming option.
• Another Tyler, the Ram’s Hibee, is the only tight end with a higher snap rate (96.1%) than Tyler Conklin. With Van Jefferson still sidelined, expect Higbee to remain on the field an awful lot this week against a Cardinals’ defense that has been the worst in the league defending the position so far.
WIDE RECEIVERS
NFL Snap Counts Frequently Asked Questions
What are NFL snap counts?
Snap counts represent the total number of offensive plays a player participated in during a given week.
Why should I care about NFL snap counts?
The number of times a player is on the field for a player can be incredibly useful. It helps track usage, and how players are used and provides fantasy football managers with the ability to look beyond the usual on-field production by adding context to those more traditional statistics.
How are your NFL snap-count numbers compiled?
NFL snap counts are tracked by the NFL Game Statistics and Information System (GSIS). For the last two years, each player has had a chip inserted in his shoulder pads so that radio transmitters in stadiums can track his every move on the field. This is how the GSIS compiles snap counts (and other on-field information).
How can I use NFL snap counts to leverage my success in fantasy football?
Understanding playing time can be a key factor in setting your weekly lineup. In particular, understanding and identifying trends that might give you an early jump on acquiring free agents or making trades for players who might quietly be gaining playing time.
What are the possible drawbacks to using NFL snap counts as part of my fantasy football lineup strategy?
As FantasyPros recently noted, studying snap counts and the percentage of snaps played is one of the easiest ways that we can determine one of the most basic, but important questions for potential fantasy success: Is this player even on the field often enough to make a difference? That said, NFL snap counts only outline playing time, and being on the field is only the first step to fantasy relevance. It’s not the only step. Don’t emphasize snap counts over production.