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 6, 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 6)
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
•We tried to warn you about overspending on Emari Demercado. Even though he led the Cardinals in snap share, Demercado scored the fewest fantasy points out of Arizona’s backfield. The Cardinals are going to resort to a committee to replace James Conner. And that’s a situation to avoid.
•Kareem Hunt was integral in Cleveland’s upset of the 49ers. Jerome Ford out-snapped Hunt 38-28. However, Hunt only had two fewer touches. Also, Hunt was the preferred back in passing situations and scored. If that kind of split continues, Hunt can have RB3/flex value moving forward.
•Is Dameon Pierce falling out of favor? Devin Singletary out-snapped and out-played Pierce in Houston’s win. Also, in post-game comments, DeMeco Ryans intimated it was by design. Pierce has been one of the least efficient backs in the NFL. He’s only managed to accumulate 51.5 fantasy points. Far below his 85.3 expected fantasy points.
• Kyren Williams is expected to miss multiple games. Expect the Rams to go to more of a committee, rather than use a feature back like they have Williams. His 82% snap rate leads all NFL running backs. Expect Zach Evans and Royce Freeman to split touches.
• Breece Hall continues to see his role expand. Meanwhile, Dalvin Cook becomes less significant by the week. Hall has now exceeded 52% of the snaps in back-to-back games.
• We will monitor Christian McCaffrey’s oblique injury. However, if CMC misses a game, don’t discount Elijah Mitchell. Jordan Mason was the hot waiver wire add. However, Mitchell has been the team’s established RB2 when healthy.
TIGHT ENDS
• This was the first time all season that Trey McBride out-snapped Zach Ertz. Ertz’s snap count has declined for three consecutive games, so it may not be an anomaly. However, both tight ends had the same 13.2% target share. Ertz remains fantasy-relevant for at least one more week.
• Even after a Week 6 dud, Cole Kmet ranks in the top 10 in snaps per game (52.7), snap rate (83.2%), and target share (19.4). However, with Justin Fields looking at an extended absence, Kmet can no longer be penciled in as a weekly TE1.
• Dallas Goedert has played the most snaps (409) of any tight end. Also, he ranks third with a 92.3% snap share. That trails only Cade Otton and Tyler Higbee. However, Goedert ranks only 28th with .075 fantasy points per snap.
•The Seahawks know how to utilize an even rotation. Colby Parkinson, Will Dissly, and Noah Fant all played within two snaps of each other. However, it was Parkinson who led the group with a 12.1% target share. This is a situation to avoid.
WIDE RECEIVERS
• Zay Flowers is the only Baltimore wideout that should be in fantasy lineups. Odell Beckham has done very little in his 164 snaps. Also, Rashod Bateman is averaging just 0.046 fantasy points per snap. Nelson Aghlor has been more productive than both and has quietly played over 54% of the Ravens’ snaps. Also, Flowers ranks 10th in the NFL with a 28.6% target share. Stud.
• It is hard to trust Tee Higgins coming off of an injury. Last year, Higgins infamously returned, played one snap, and never returned. Last week, he dipped down to a lowly 53.7% snap share and posted a quiet 2/20/0 line. With Cincinnati on bye this week, fantasy managers should expect Higgins to be 100% in Week 8.
• Might be a good time to sell high on Brandin Cooks. His overall usage is good, but Cooks scored fewer than seven fantasy points in each of Dallas’ first four games. He’s also seen four targets in four of the five games. Take advantage of the touchdown on national TV and see if you can get any value in return.
•Michael Pittman leads all NFL wide receivers with a 98.6% snap rate. Pittman’s 28.3% target share also ranks 11th. That’s higher than Amon-Ra St. Brown and D.J. Moore.
• Very encouraging to see Jaxon Smith-Njigba finally show out. JSN played a season-high 51 snaps and had by far his best fantasy output.
• Devonta Smith now leads all NFL wideouts with 434 snaps. However, Smith is averaging just 12.2 PPR points per contest. That ranks 37th. His 22.7% target share is encouraging, but Smith has been a disappointment.
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.