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 FullTime Fantasy‘s Advanced NFL Snap Counts Report: Week 12, we are able to pull some interesting takeaways that can help us win moving forward. Subsequently, snap counts are an important tool.
(minimum 10 snaps in Week 12)
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 might have been game flow related- the Cardinals were trailing by multiple scores throughout the game- but Michael Carter stole valuable reps away from James Conner. Since returning from IR, Conner hasn’t played nearly as much (or as well) as we predicted. Especially with Kyler Murray back under center. Unless that changes, Conner is no longer a must-start RB2.
•Keaton Mitchell led the Ravens in snaps and yards and was, by far, the most effective Baltimore back. Expect the committee to continue, but Mitchell has the most upside and Gus Edwards remains a TD-or-bust flex option.
•Now that we know that Jonathan Taylor will miss the next 2-3 weeks, Zack Moss becomes a locked-in RB2 with weekly RB1 upside. In Weeks 2-4, Moss was in on over 80% of Indy’s snaps and averaged 107.3 yards per scrimmage per game.
•D’Ernest Johnson has gone from 3 to 12, to 17, and finally 30(!) snaps in the last four games. We’ve also seen Travis Etienne’s target share slip during the stretch. Johnson is clearly Jacksonville’s RB2 now and warrants a waiver wire add in deeper leagues for Etienne managers.
•Kyren Williams didn’t quite play as many snaps as he had earlier this season but don’t let that fool you. The Rams were blowing out Arizona, which led to more fourth-quarter snaps for Royce Freeman. Williams dominated touches and targets while he was on the field.
•The Steelers continue to employ a 1-2 punch. Last week, Najee Harris was the better option. However, Harris has been outplayed all season by Jaylen Warren. Expect both backs to remain heavily involved each week and to be solid RB2/3 fantasy options each week.
TIGHT ENDS
•Isaiah Likely made an immediate impact filling in for Mark Andrews. Also, Likely led Baltimore with a 20% target share. He’s a borderline TE1 while Andrews is sidelined.
•The Bengals continue to employ a frustrating committee. Tanner Hudson (35.1%), Drew Sample (35.1%), and Irv Smith (41.3%) are all seeing significant playing time. However, Hudson is being utilized on 21% of his snaps. None of Cincinnati’s other tight ends are even at 9%.
•David Njoku’s 23.1% target share in Week 12 was the second-highest among all tight ends. Only Pat Freiermuth (34.4%) saw a greater share of his quarterback’s looks.
•Sam LaPorta’s 73 snaps led all tight ends in Week 12. However, for the season, three other tight ends have actually seen more playing time. Cade Otton, Cole Kmet, and David Njoku.
•Tucker Kraft played an impressive 96.4% of Green Bay’s snaps and caught both of his targets for 15 yards and a score. However, that 6.7% target share in a game where Green Bay had 377 yards of offense is a little concerning.
•Cade Otton and George Kittle were the only two tight ends to play every one of their team’s snaps in Week 12. Otton has played the most snaps (695) this season and leads the position with a 97.% snap share.
•The change of play-callers certainly benefitted Pat Freiermuth, who had a career-high 120 receiving yards. Muth now re-enters the weekly TE1 territory we were accustomed to him maintaining.
•Trevon Wesco out-snapped Chigoziem Okonkwo but those were hollow numbers. Wesco is strictly an in-line blocker. In 11 games he’s only earned two targets.
WIDE RECEIVERS
•With 65 more snaps, D.J. Moore has now played 745 plays for Chicago. That leads all wide receivers and Moore’s 92.9% snap share ranks fifth.
•Adam Thielen was out-snapped by Jonathan Mingo, but the bigger concern is Thielen’s total lack of involvement. Despite a positive game script, Thielen had a season-worst one catch and only saw three targets. No wonder the entire Carolina offensive coaching staff got canned.
•Odell Beckham continues to see a high target rate. However, Beckham simply isn’t playing enough. He’s been in on less than 42% of Baltimore’s snaps this season but leads the team by being utilized on 14.1% of his snaps.
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?
First, the number of times a player is on the field for a player can be incredibly useful. Also, 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?
Secondly, 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?
Finally, 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?
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? Also, NFL snap counts only outline playing time, and being on the field is only the first step to fantasy relevance. However, it’s not the only step. Subsequently, don’t emphasize snap counts over production.