Snap Count Observations: Week 11
The box score is often deceiving. If you simply look at the counting stats or points scored by a player, you’re going to miss the bigger picture and possibly miss out on the waiver wire addition that can win you a future matchup. Chasing last weeks points is never the way to win next week. Week 11 had some interesting data on the snap distributions.
Jermaine Gresham 78% / Troy Niklas 29% / Ricky Seals-Jones 14%
Raise your hand if you had any idea who Ricky Seals-Jones was prior to Sunday’s TE2 performance? OK, now those of you who are diehard Texas A&M or Arizona Cardinal fans, put your hands down. Anyone left? I didn’t think so. The undrafted rookie came out of nowhere to catch his first 3 passes of his career, two of which were touchdowns. In what must be one of the most efficient stat lines of the year, Seals-Jones finished as the #2 TE for Week 11, just .4 PPR points behind TE1 Jimmy Graham, while only playing 8 snaps. He was targeted by Blaine Gabbert on 5 of them. Gabbert and Seals-Jones may have spent time together on the practice field and may have some report, but chasing this outlier box score is probably a bad idea for TE streamers.
Jordan Howard 49% / Tarik Cohen 49% / Benny Cunningham 27%
John Fox hates fantasy football and was clearly trolling the last few Tarik Cohen owners holding out hope for fantasy points. After getting 8 total touches the past three games, Coach Fox was telling everyone that Benny Cunningham was playing ahead of Cohen because of veteran preference and pass protection. Of course, no one had Cohen in their starting lineup when he ended up playing the same number of snaps as Jordan Howard, scored his third TD (second rushing) on the season and seeing more than four targets for the first time since Week 2. The Week 12 matchup against the red-hot Eagles could lead to PPR flex-worthy points for the rookie who is owned in less than 50% of ESPN leagues.
Marvin Jones 98% / Golden Tate 76% / Kenny Golladay 56% / T.J. Jones 46%
Rookie Kenny Golladay is being worked more and more into the Lions passing game since returning from injury. In Week 10, he posted a 21% snap share and increased it to 56% in Week 11. He’s not being targeted heavily but is being targeted deep, with 116 yards on just 4 receptions and 6 targets. Owned in just 11% of ESPN leagues, he could be a nice bench stash for a playoff run as a high upside flex play in a plus matchup.
Devontae Booker 59% / C.J. Anderson 36% / Jamaal Charles 5%
C.J. Anderson scored a TD for the first time since Week 2 but was out-touched (19 – 15) by second-year back, Devontae Booker. Even with Anderson getting the TD, Booker ended the day with more points in both Standard and PPR scoring leagues. According to ESPN, Booker is available in 90% of leagues. That should drastically increase prior to Week 12.
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LeGarrette Blount 47% / Corey Clement 30% / Jay Ajayi 20% / Kenjon Barner 3%
“Hey Siri, what’s the definition of Running Back By Committee?”
“Here’s what I found on the web for what is the definition of Running Back by Committee”:
The 2017 Philadelphia Eagles
Corey Clement lead the Eagles RB’s in fantasy scoring with his 50yds and a TD on 6 carries. Jay Ajayi only played 13 snaps and touched the ball on 8 of them. Those 8 touches lead the team with 101 yards (71 yards came on one carry and 10 yards from one reception). Kenjon Barner played just two snaps Sunday; one was a 22-yard reception while the other was a 4 yard TD run. All three players outscored “lead back” LeGarrette Blount. The final score might indicate that the Eagles destroyed the Cowboys, however, they were trailing 9-7 at the half. Looking back through the season, the Eagles have been using multiple backs every game. While this is a potent offense, it’s going to continue to be unpredictable for fantasy purposes.
J.D. McKissic 68% / Mike Davis 22% / Eddie Lacy 8 %
Last week I pointed out that J.D. McKissic was a potential flex option in PPR leagues in Week 11 and he didn’t disappoint, posting 10.3 PPR points. He played a surprising 68% of the offensive snaps and racked up most of his points in the passing game, with 5 receptions on 6 targets. The newly signed Mike Davis (activated Tuesday from the practice squad) was looking good until a groin injury sidelined him for the night and likely Week 12. Eddie Lacy was unproductive on his 3 touches and couldn’t punch in a goalline opportunity. Thomas Rawls will likely be back for the Week 12 matchup with San Francisco, but McKissic should continue to see enough playing time for a Flex play in PPR leagues.