Backfield Breakdown: Week 8 Recap & Week 9 Sleepers

Backfield Breakdown: Week 8 Recap & Week 9 Sleepers

This article is part of our Backfield Breakdown series.

We have plenty of answers below, but if you're looking for help on Jeremy McNichols vs. Adrian Peterson, you'll have to grab a ticket and get in line.

Usage Leaderboards

Week 8

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TargetsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
1Khalil Herbert84.3%2363.9%27.4%2745.5%8.81
2Najee Harris81.9%2681.3%38.6%3053.7%211
3Joe Mixon76.4%1487.5%514.7%2647.4%25.15
4Ezekiel Elliott75.3%1666.7%614.6%3940.8%11.30
5Austin Ekeler75.0%1155.0%1029.4%3244.7%24.41
6Derrick Henry74.0%2890.3%00.0%2251.9%6.80
7Jonathan Taylor73.8%1680.0%48.3%3940.4%21.21
8D'Andre Swift72.1%1266.7%515.6%3139.5%8.10
9Dalvin Cook71.2%1875.0%26.1%2538.3%7.81
10Michael Carter70.7%1555.6%1428.6%3736.4%32.22
11Alvin Kamara67.1%1959.4%411.4%2540.7%16.63
12Aaron Jones65.8%1544.1%1131.4%2839.3%243
13Carlos Hyde65.8%947.4%815.7%3829.4%13.20
14Elijah Mitchell65.5%1869.2%00.0%1441.9%19.71
15Mike Davis64.2%945.0%622.2%2435.0%11.60
16Zack Moss63.9%834.8%717.1%3026.9%11.80
17Leonard Fournette61.7%857.1%512.2%2726.2%

We have plenty of answers below, but if you're looking for help on Jeremy McNichols vs. Adrian Peterson, you'll have to grab a ticket and get in line.

Usage Leaderboards

Week 8

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TargetsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
1Khalil Herbert84.3%2363.9%27.4%2745.5%8.81
2Najee Harris81.9%2681.3%38.6%3053.7%211
3Joe Mixon76.4%1487.5%514.7%2647.4%25.15
4Ezekiel Elliott75.3%1666.7%614.6%3940.8%11.30
5Austin Ekeler75.0%1155.0%1029.4%3244.7%24.41
6Derrick Henry74.0%2890.3%00.0%2251.9%6.80
7Jonathan Taylor73.8%1680.0%48.3%3940.4%21.21
8D'Andre Swift72.1%1266.7%515.6%3139.5%8.10
9Dalvin Cook71.2%1875.0%26.1%2538.3%7.81
10Michael Carter70.7%1555.6%1428.6%3736.4%32.22
11Alvin Kamara67.1%1959.4%411.4%2540.7%16.63
12Aaron Jones65.8%1544.1%1131.4%2839.3%243
13Carlos Hyde65.8%947.4%815.7%3829.4%13.20
14Elijah Mitchell65.5%1869.2%00.0%1441.9%19.71
15Mike Davis64.2%945.0%622.2%2435.0%11.60
16Zack Moss63.9%834.8%717.1%3026.9%11.80
17Leonard Fournette61.7%857.1%512.2%2726.2%7.30
18Darrell Henderson61.2%1445.2%25.9%2528.3%22.34
19Cordarrelle Patterson60.4%945.0%518.5%1835.0%18.20
20Chase Edmonds59.3%735.0%412.5%2323.8%15.90
21Myles Gaskin57.4%1252.2%410.8%2434.1%8.50
22Melvin Gordon56.6%1047.6%312.0%1832.5%19.20
23Nick Chubb55.9%1669.6%13.2%1739.5%7.90
24Chuba Hubbard55.4%2451.1%28.3%1041.7%14.11
25Damien Harris53.9%2359.0%12.9%1640.4%142
26Rex Burkhead48.3%428.6%411.1%2416.3%13.81
27Alex Collins48.2%1040.0%00.0%1522.2%4.41
28J.D. McKissic45.7%312.5%821.6%2822.9%17.30
29Boston Scott44.6%1226.1%16.3%1121.1%182
30Javonte Williams43.4%942.9%416.0%1327.5%6.80
31AJ Dillon39.7%1647.1%00.0%1228.6%7.80
32James Conner37.3%525.0%00.0%1311.9%14.21
33Devin Singletary34.7%730.4%12.4%1615.4%3.90
34Antonio Gibson32.9%833.3%38.1%1422.9%8.40
35JaMycal Hasty32.7%311.5%27.4%1411.6%5.30
36Brandon Bolden31.6%410.3%00.0%177.0%2.60
37Nyheim Hines31.3%15.0%510.4%2210.6%6.40
38Kenneth Gainwell30.8%1328.3%00.0%422.8%2.70
39D'Ernest Johnson30.5%417.4%39.7%1311.6%9.90
40Sony Michel29.9%929.0%25.9%1020.8%7.60
41Ameer Abdullah29.7%817.0%520.8%1118.3%9.60
42Mark Ingram28.9%618.8%25.7%1414.8%7.20
43Ty Johnson28.0%414.8%612.2%1513.6%19.60
44Tony Pollard26.0%729.2%12.4%1116.3%3.70
45Scottie Phillips25.0%535.7%38.3%1016.3%40
46Jordan Howard24.6%1226.1%00.0%221.1%17.73
47Salvon Ahmed23.5%730.4%25.4%918.2%3.80
48Jaret Patterson22.9%1145.8%12.7%422.9%4.60
49Rashaad Penny19.6%728.0%00.0%315.6%0.72
50Rhamondre Stevenson15.8%820.5%25.9%315.8%40

Doesn't include MNF. GL Looks = Targets + Carries inside the 5-yard line

    

Full Season

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TargetsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
1Najee Harris85.7%12878.5%4918.3%25548.8%142.28
2Alvin Kamara80.1%13360.7%3720.3%16348.4%137.68
3Ezekiel Elliott72.1%11854.1%2610.3%22334.3%125.912
4Derrick Henry70.8%21984.2%207.8%16354.6%193.39
5D'Andre Swift69.6%9049.2%5719.7%26435.1%145.46
6Darrell Henderson67.6%11051.9%248.8%21231.4%122.811
7Austin Ekeler65.3%8452.8%4215.3%21234.6%153.25
8Aaron Jones65.2%10450.5%3915.5%20835.7%1439
9Mike Davis65.1%7545.5%3011.2%21827.9%69.83
10James Robinson62.6%8855.0%249.2%17433.0%109.55
11Joe Mixon60.7%13767.8%218.7%14041.5%1318
12Chase Edmonds59.9%7530.6%3715.1%20324.4%97.82
13Leonard Fournette59.1%10156.4%3911.4%21431.6%121.89
14Jonathan Taylor57.4%12157.1%259.5%16637.2%152.415
15Melvin Gordon54.9%8846.8%228.2%17927.8%100.52
16Miles Sanders53.1%6330.0%249.9%16722.2%62.84
17Myles Gaskin52.4%6639.5%4012.9%19125.9%93.42
18Michael Carter52.1%7349.3%3714.4%14631.8%92.55
19Antonio Gibson51.0%11153.6%217.7%12633.3%95.67
20Devin Singletary49.1%6733.2%197.3%15421.2%57.82
21Chuba Hubbard47.2%10846.2%269.4%13031.3%794
22J.D. McKissic47.1%3215.5%4215.3%18616.9%91.43
23Cordarrelle Patterson46.5%6438.8%4115.3%14127.4%134.12
24Damien Harris46.2%11857.0%124.3%11131.6%99.711
25Zack Moss45.5%6230.7%218.1%12620.4%75.54
26Javonte Williams44.5%7841.5%269.6%13526.3%813
27Elijah Mitchell43.8%8141.8%41.9%8225.8%68.32
28Dalvin Cook43.4%9850.5%207.6%10628.7%73.73
29James Conner42.3%9438.4%52.0%9323.0%92.28
30Khalil Herbert41.8%8133.8%104.9%9724.3%54.53
31Ty Johnson40.8%3523.6%2610.1%13916.7%59.35
32David Johnson40.7%2915.6%2510.4%15413.7%50.10
33Nick Chubb40.1%10642.4%62.6%9127.5%90.76
34Alex Collins38.3%7437.8%73.4%8722.8%54.94
35Kareem Hunt36.2%6927.6%2410.4%10721.8%104.24
36Nyheim Hines36.1%3516.5%2911.1%13814.4%510
37Kenneth Gainwell33.7%3918.6%3112.8%10315.7%68.10
38AJ Dillon33.4%6833.0%124.8%8820.3%53.91
39David Montgomery33.3%6928.8%94.4%8120.2%59.82
40Tony Pollard31.4%6831.2%166.3%8220.9%72.81
41Jamaal Williams30.8%7138.8%186.2%8722.3%69.12
42Alexander Mattison30.5%7036.1%197.3%7722.7%59.81
43Carlos Hyde29.8%3320.6%124.6%9612.8%27.42
44Jeremy McNichols25.3%72.7%2710.6%1296.5%51.10
45Brandon Bolden25.0%146.8%227.8%1118.4%47.61
46Samaje Perine24.6%3115.3%125.0%7911.1%45.21
47Christian McCaffrey23.6%5222.2%176.2%7216.9%58.42

      

Week 8 Injury Report

Inactives

Miles Sanders (ankle)

Saquon Barkley (ankle)

Tevin Coleman (hamstring)

Christian McCaffrey (IR/hamstring)

David Montgomery (IR/knee)

Chris Carson (IR/neck)

Clyde Edwards-Helaire (IR/knee)

Kareem Hunt (IR/calf)

Malcom Brown (IR/quad)

    

In-Game Injuries

Kylin Hill suffered an ACL tear on a kickoff return.

James Robinson injured his heel/foot and left after playing just eight snaps.

Damien Williams injured his knee early in the game and didn't return.

Justin Jackson left with a quad injury.

Derrick Henry may need season-ending surgery on his foot.

      

Week 8 Route Report

 RoutesTgtTgt/RtYds/Rt
1Carlos Hyde33824.2%1.21
2Michael Carter321443.8%2.97
3Ezekiel Elliott28621.4%0.82
4Jonathan Taylor27414.8%1.93
5Austin Ekeler261038.5%2.31
6D'Andre Swift26519.2%0.92
7J.D. McKissic25832.0%3.32
8Aaron Jones231147.8%2.22
9Joe Mixon22522.7%2.64
10Zack Moss22731.8%1.77
11Khalil Herbert2129.5%-0.19
12Leonard Fournette21523.8%0.81
13Najee Harris20315.0%1.45
14Rex Burkhead20420.0%1.35
15Dalvin Cook19210.5% 
16Chase Edmonds18422.2%2.17
17Darrell Henderson18211.1%0.17
18Nyheim Hines18527.8%1.22
19Alvin Kamara17423.5%0.88
20Melvin Gordon17317.6%0.88
21Myles Gaskin17423.5%1.12
22Derrick Henry1500.0% 
23Ty Johnson14642.9%5.07
24Cordarrelle Patterson13538.5%2.85
25Elijah Mitchell1300.0% 
26JaMycal Hasty13215.4%2.23
27Mike Davis13646.2%1.69
28D'Ernest Johnson12325.0%0.58
29Nick Chubb1218.3%0.67
30Ameer Abdullah11545.5%3.18
31Antonio Gibson11327.3%1.82
32Alex Collins1000.0% 
33James Conner1000.0% 
34Jeremy McNichols10330.0%3.30
35Kyle Juszczyk10110.0%1.10

       

Week 8  Red-Zone Report

Inside the 5-Yard Line

 SnapsLooksCarriesRush TDTgtsRec TD
1Joe Mixon1153120
2Darrell Henderson842121
3Alvin Kamara533100
4Jordan Howard333200
5Aaron Jones933100
6Boston Scott522200
7Rashaad Penny222000
8Damien Harris422100
9Michael Carter322000
10Dalvin Cook111000
11Alex Collins511000
12Austin Ekeler211100
13Jonathan Taylor611100
14Rex Burkhead111100
15Khalil Herbert111000
16Alex Armah210011
17Najee Harris411000
18James Conner111100
19Elijah Mitchell311100
20Jakob Johnson310010
21Chuba Hubbard111000

    

Red Zone Looks (carries + targets)

 SnapsLooksCarriesRush TDTgtsRec TD
1Damien Harris1298110
2Darrell Henderson1986121
3Joe Mixon1685131
4Alvin Kamara1575120
5Jordan Howard866200
6Aaron Jones1864120
7Austin Ekeler754110
8Khalil Herbert953020
9Michael Carter1154110
10Chuba Hubbard555100
11Elijah Mitchell755100
12AJ Dillon644000
13Najee Harris1444100
14Sony Michel644000
15Zack Moss633000
16Melvin Gordon432111
17Derrick Henry633000
18Jonathan Taylor1033100
19Dalvin Cook333000
20Alexander Mattison321010
21Chase Edmonds522100
22Ty Johnson320021
23Rex Burkhead321110
24James Conner622200
25D'Ernest Johnson322100
26Boston Scott522200
27Alex Collins722000
28Rashaad Penny222000

      

Week 9 Waivers & Sleepers

Picking from players rostered in half or less of Yahoo Leagues.

Waivers, Pt. 1 Top Adds & Streamers

  1. Jeremy McNichols - 8% rostered
  2. Adrian Peterson - 4%
  3. Carlos Hyde - 7%
  4. Boston Scott - 20%
  5. Latavius Murray - 40%
  6. Devonta Freeman - 22%
  7. Salvon Ahmed - 2%

    

Waivers, Pt. 2 Bench Stashes & Sleepers

  1. Sony Michel - 35%
  2. Rhamondre Stevenson - 8%
  3. Ronald Jones - 25%
  4. Mark Ingram - 37%
  5. Jeff Wilson - 16%
  6. Ty Johnson - 5%
  7. Jaret Patterson - 2%
  8. JaMycal Hasty - 2%
  9. DeeJay Dallas - 2%
  10. Anthony McFarland - 1%
  11. Larry Rountree - 1%

     

Week 9 Drops & Benchings

Drop'em

Devin Singletary

Damien Williams

David Johnson

Phillip Lindsay

Joshua Kelley

   

Bench'em

Kenneth Gainwell

D'Ernest Johnson

Nyheim Hines

Samaje Perine

       

Week 8 Game-by-Game Breakdowns

Packers (24) at Cardinals (21) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Aaron Jones65.8%1544.1%1131.4%2839.3%243
AJ Dillon39.7%1647.1%00%1228.6%7.80
  • In seven games with Davante Adams inactive since the beginning of 2019, Jones has averaged 26.0 PPR points and 6.7 targets.
    • In 31 games with Adams playing, Jones has averaged 17.4 PPR points and 4.0 targets.
    • Jones has averaged 14.3 carries in both scenarios, but he's seen more targets and scored more TDs (1.43 per game) with Adams absent. It's not a huge sample, but it's also not that surprising.... Adams is a target hog and red-zone hog, and Jones is the team's second-best weapon.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Chase Edmonds59.3%735.0%412.5%2323.8%15.90
James Conner37.3%525.0%00%1311.9%14.21
  • Despite modest workloads overall, Edmonds and Conner accounted for all of Arizona's TDs. Conner scored from nine and two yards out, after Edmonds hit paydirt from 11 yards out in the first quarter.
  • Kyler Murray finished without a TD for the first time this year. It happened three times last year, though only twice in full games.

         

Bengals (31) at Jets (34) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Joe Mixon76.4%1487.5%514.7%2647.4%25.15
Samaje Perine25.5%00.0%25.9%135.3%3.60
  • Perine had 11 carries and 48 percent snap share the week before, albeit with nine of his carries coming in the fourth quarter (of a 24-point win over Baltimore). In this one, he barely played apart from third down.
  • Mixon played 100% of first-down snaps, 72% of second-down snaps and 20% of third-down snaps.
    • Perine took eight of the 10 snaps on third down, but played just six snaps otherwise.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Michael Carter70.7%1555.6%1428.6%3736.4%32.22
Ty Johnson28.0%414.8%612.2%1513.6%19.60
La'Mical Perine7.3%13.7%00%31.5%0.30
  • Carter's snap share was down just a tick from 72% the week before, but the 15 carries were a career high, and the 14 targets marked his second straight week with a new high in that category.
    • Carter saw two or three targets in each of his first five games (14 total), but now has 23 in two games since the bye.
  • Carter took 71% of first-down snaps, 72% of second-down snaps and 67% of third-down snaps.
    • Johnson played four of four snaps on 3rd-and-long, but Carter got more playing time on 3rd-and-medium/short.
  • Carter is the headliner for good reason, but Johnson also had his best fantasy game of the year, and his two largest target totals of the season have come in the past two games (same as Carter.
    • The two RBs have combined for 36 targets the past two weeks. Wild. 91 pass attempts over a two-week span is a lot, but it's not thaaat much.
    • Carter did have two drops Sunday, his third and fourth of the season.
  • Tevin Coleman (hamstring) was inactive.

         

Eagles (44) at Lions (6) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Boston Scott44.6%1226.1%16.3%1121.1%182
Kenneth Gainwell30.8%1328.3%00%422.8%2.70
Jordan Howard24.6%1226.1%00%221.1%17.73
  • This was infuriating for anyone who started Gainwell, even though his 13 carries were easily a season high.
    • Scott and Howard got the high-value touches, and both scored a pair of TDs from inside the 5-yard line.
  • Scott got the start, which wasn't too surprising. He then played all 16 snaps in the first quarter, which was surprising.
    • Scott then played just three snaps (23%) in the second quarter, while Gainwell got six (46%) but only one touch, and Howard got four snaps (31%) and took four carries for 21 yards and a TD.
  • The third quarter was essentially a 50/50 split between Howard (54% snap share, 8-36-1 rushing) and Scott (46% snaps, 3-5-1 rushing, one target).
    • Gainwell didn't play at all in the third quarter. Or the first.
  • Gainwell then played 100% of snaps in the fourth quarter, taking 12 carries for 24 yards.
    • In other words, Gainwell got just one carry and six snaps before the fourth quarter.
  • Stat table for pre-Q4:
 SnapsSnap %CarriesRush YdsRush TDTgtsGL Looks
Boston Scott2956.90%1260212
Jordan Howard1631.40%1257203
Kenneth Gainwell611.80%13000

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
D'Andre Swift72.1%1266.7%515.6%3139.5%8.10
Godwin Igwebuike18.0%316.7%39.4%814.0%8.80
Jermar Jefferson16.4%211.1%412.5%614.0%12.90
  • Jamaal Williams (thigh) was inactive after being listed as questionable.
  • Swift played 96% of snaps before the fourth quarter.
    • Igwebuike got 53% in the fourth quarter and took four touches for 35 yards, with Jefferson getting 35% and turning his three touches into 26 yards and his first career TD.

         

Rams (38) at Texans (22) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Darrell Henderson61.2%1445.2%25.9%2528.3%22.34
Sony Michel29.9%929.0%25.9%1020.8%7.60
Buddy Howell9.0%516.1%00%19.4%1.10
  • Henderson played 81% of snaps before halftime, with a 12-80-1 rushing line and a three-yard receiving TD on two targets.
    • Michel got 19% in the first half, with three carries for nine yards and two catches for 14 yards.
    • Henderson played only 44% of snaps in the third quarter and none at all in the fourth.
    • Howell got all his snaps and touches in the fourth quarter.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Rex Burkhead48.3%428.6%411.1%2416.3%13.81
Scottie Phillips25.0%535.7%38.3%1016.3%40
David Johnson18.3%214.3%12.8%87.0%1.30
Phillip Lindsay13.3%321.4%00%47.0%0.80
  • Johnson got the start, but neither he nor Lindsay took on more work in the first game without Mark Ingram (now with the Saints... more on him later). Burkhead and Phillips picked up the slack instead.
    • Actually, Johnson's 18% snap share was a season low, after four straight weeks between 43 and 57 percent.
    • Even in the first half, Johnson played just one-third of the snaps.
  • Burkhead played 36% of snaps through three quarters but didn't get any touches until the fourth quarter.
    • Burkhead then had four carries and four targets on 18 snaps (62%) in the fourth quarter. Including a one-yard TD.
    • Yes, the Texans ran nearly as many plays in the fourth quarter as in the first three combined. They had three straight TD drives in the fourth, right after a streak of four consecutive three-and-outs. Strange. I wasn't watching...

         

Dolphins (11) at Bills (26) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Myles Gaskin57.4%1252.2%410.8%2434.1%8.50
Salvon Ahmed23.5%730.4%25.4%918.2%3.80
Patrick Laird14.7%00.0%12.7%92.3%20
  • Laird stepped in as the No. 3 back with Malcolm Brown (quad) on IR.
    • Laird got seven of his 10 snaps in the fourth quarter. So he had less of a role than Brown.
  • Ahmed has three straight games with exactly seven carries and two targets, playing 23-30% of snaps. Brown's absence/presence didn't seem to matter for him.
  • In his past five games, Gaskin has touch totals of 2, 15, 7, 19, 15. With 19 and 15 being the past two weeks.

   

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Zack Moss63.9%834.8%717.1%3026.9%11.80
Devin Singletary34.7%730.4%12.4%1615.4%3.90
  • The seven targets were a career high for Moss, who previously had never seen more than four in a game.
    • He managed just 19 yards on eight carries, needing a 6-39-0 receiving line to avoid a total bust of a day.
  • This was Singletary's fifth consecutive game with single-digit PPR points and less than 50% of snaps. He can be dropped in shallow leagues, and also in some medium-depth ones.

         

Steelers (15) at Browns (10) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Najee Harris81.9%2681.3%38.6%3053.7%211
Anthony McFarland9.7%13.1%00%31.9%0.10
Kalen Ballage4.2%13.1%00%21.9%-0.30
Benny Snell2.80%00.00%12.9%21.9%1.70
  • McFarland made his first appearance of the season but got just one touch behind workhorse Najee.
    • Note that the second-year pro got more playing time than Ballage and Snell.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Nick Chubb55.9%1669.6%13.2%1739.5%7.90
D'Ernest Johnson30.5%417.4%39.7%1311.6%9.90
Demetric Felton15.3%14.3%13.2%74.7%2.70
  • The Browns trust Johnson enough to keep Chubb in his usual role, more or less, with Kareem Hunt (IR/calf) out of the lineup.
    • It was also Chubb's first game back from a calf injury of his own, to be fair.
  • Johnson scored another TD and took five touches for 29 yards.

         

Titans (34) at Colts (31) - OT 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Derrick Henry74.0%2890.3%002251.9%6.80
Jeremy McNichols23.3%00.0%39.38165.6%6.30
  • McNichols has a 21-203-1 receiving line on 27 targets, but he's taken just seven carries all year. Henry has 219, while the Titans' other tailbacks have combined for 11.
  • Dontrell Hilliard was the No. 3 back Sunday, making his first appearance for the Titans. He didn't get any snaps on offense but did play 16 on special teams.
    • Mekhi Sargent is on the practice squad. He was active Weeks 1-3 but played just two snaps on offense and hasn't been on the roster since September.
  • RB Darrynton Evans, a 2020 third-round pick, was recently placed on IR for a second time this season, ruling him out for the rest of the year. He has a knee injury.
  • Adrian Peterson! (They signed him Monday.)

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Jonathan Taylor73.8%1680.0%48.3%3940.4%21.21
Nyheim Hines31.3%15.0%510.4%2210.6%6.40
Marlon Mack1.3%00.0%00.0%00.0%00
  • Taylor hit a season high for snap share for the third straight week, this time making it north of 70 percent for the first time all season.
    • He's also up to five straight games with 14 or more carries and multiple targets.
    • And also five in a row with 114 or more total yards.

         

Panthers (19) at Falcons (13) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Chuba Hubbard55.4%2451.1%28.3%1041.7%14.11
Ameer Abdullah29.7%817.0%520.8%1118.3%9.60
Royce Freeman14.9%612.80%14.2%410.0%2.50
  • Abdullah signed with the Panthers last weekend and had a sizable role in his first game with the team, pushing Freeman back to No. 3 on the depth chart.
  • Hubbard lost a fumble on his first touch but nonetheless ended up matching his season high of 24 carries. He's reached double digits in six straight games, with two or more targets and at least 47 percent snap share each week.
    • The rookie is averaging only 3.6 YPC and 4.6 YPT, but the fumble at least was his first.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Mike Davis64.2%945.0%622.222435.011.60
Cordarrelle Patterson60.4%945.0%518.521835.018.20
  • Davis rejoined the offense after getting just four touches last week despite playing his normal amount of snaps.
  • Patterson got 14 touches, after 21 and 16 the previous two weeks. The 60% snap share Sunday was his second largest of the season, behind only 73% from the week before.

               

    49ers (33) at Bears (22) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Elijah Mitchell65.5%1869.2%00.0%1441.9%19.71
JaMycal Hasty32.7%311.5%27.4%1411.6%5.30
  • Mitchell has played 61-to-68 percent of snaps in all five of his games, taking 9-to-19 carries in each one. He's drawn just four targets and rarely stays on the field for third downs or the hurry-up offense, but the rookie ranks fourth in the NFL with 86.6 rushing yards per game.
    • 5.3 YPC helps, and while it won't be easy to maintain, it's not out of the question in Kyle Shanahan's offense.
  • Hasty has played 34% of snaps in back-to-back weeks since returning from IR, getting six carries and eight targets. He had six carries and six targets over the first two weeks of the season before landing on IR.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Khalil Herbert84.3%2363.9%27.4%2745.5%8.81
Ryan Nall10.0%12.8%00%51.8%0.40
Damien Williams5.7%25.6%00%13.6%-0.30
  • Williams played four snaps in the first quarter before exiting with a knee injury, losing three yards on his two carries. Williams missed the rest of the game, and Herbert played 86% of snaps after the first quarter.

         

Patriots (27) at Chargers (24) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Damien Harris53.9%2359.0%12.9%1640.4%142
Brandon Bolden31.6%410.3%00177.0%2.60
Rhamondre Stevenson15.8%820.5%25.9%315.8%40
  • Harris is up to four straight games with 14-plus carries and a touchdown. He's scored in five of eight games this year, and in one of the three non-TD games he had 25 touches for 117 total yards.
  • Bolden wasn't targeted, but he still led the backfield in pass snaps, and got most of the playing time in obvious passing situations.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Austin Ekeler75.0%1155.0%1029.4%3244.7%24.41
Larry Rountree13.3%420.0%00%410.5%1.10
Justin Jackson11.70%315.0%00%37.9%7.90
  • Ekeler was a late addition to the injury report last week, ultimately listed as questionable with a hamstring injury. Naturally, he finished with season highs for targets and snap share.
  • Jackson had a nice 75-yard run but was caught from behind. Derrick Henry would not have been impressed.
  • Joshua Kelley worked as the No. 2 back in the final two games before LA's Week 7 bye. However, he was a healthy scratch for this one, with Rountree and Jackson splitting RB work.
    • I have no clue what this backfield will look like if Ekeler misses time, but it isn't likely to be easy/pretty for fantasy purposes.

         

Jaguars (7) at Seahawks (31) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Carlos Hyde65.8%947.4%815.7%3829.4%13.20
Dare Ogunbowale19.7%210.5%12.0%125.9%2.80
James Robinson10.5%421.1%23.9%49.8%4.90
  • Robinson injured his foot/heel in the first quarter and didn't play at all after that.
  • Hyde played 73% of snaps after the first quarter, with Ogunbowale getting 24%.
    • After Q1, Hyde got eight carries and seven targets, while Ogunbowale saw just two and one, respectively.
    • After Q1, Hyde got 79% of first-down snaps, 77% of second-down snaps and 67% of third-down snaps.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Alex Collins48.2%1040.0%00%1522.2%4.41
Travis Homer28.6%416.0%14.6%1211.1%8.20
Rashaad Penny19.6%728.0%00%315.6%0.72
DeeJay Dallas3.6%14.0%00%12.2%0.60
  • Penny was held to seven yards on seven carries, after nine yards on six carries the week before. Small sample, sure, but he also just doesn't look good. Would he even be on the team if he wasn't a first-round pick?
  • Homer got 83% of the third-down snaps. He took 10 of his 16 snaps on third down.
  • Collins played 64% of snaps in the first quarter and 57% in the third.
    • He got only 33% in the second, but that was with Homer getting 57%, not Penny stealing a bunch of carries.
    • There were just seven snaps in the fourth quarter. Three for Collins, and two apiece for Penny and Homer.
  • Seattle ran only 52 plays in the game.

         

Washington Football Team (10) at Broncos (17) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
J.D. McKissic45.7%312.5%821.6%2822.9%17.30
Antonio Gibson32.9%833.3%38.1%1422.9%8.40
Jaret Patterson22.9%1145.8%12.7%422.9%4.60
  • McKissic is now just 4.2 points behind Gibson in PPR scoring this year. Not 4.2 per game, 4.2 total.
  • Patterson, the undrafted rookie out of Buffalo, had a non-garbage-time role for the first time this season.
    • In the first quarter, Patterson got six snaps and five carries (for 17 yards). Just two fewer snaps than Gibson, and with two more carries.
    • Patterson got at least two snaps and one carry in every quarter.
  • Gibson's shin injury likely was a factor in the rookie's involvement. Gibson has been playing through a stress fracture for at least a month now, and it remains to be seen if it'll still bother him after a Week 9 bye.
  • Each RB finished with 11 touches.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Melvin Gordon56.6%1047.6%312.0%1832.5%19.20
Javonte Williams43.4%942.9%416.0%1327.5%6.80
  • No change in usage, though Gordon scored both of Denver's TDs (on a 15-yard reception and seven-yard rush).
    • He also lost a fumble, his first of the year, and finished with 62 total yards.

         

Buccaneers (27) at Saints (36) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Leonard Fournette61.7%857.1%512.2%2726.2%7.30
Giovani Bernard21.7%214.3%12.4%117.1%10.70
Ronald Jones15.0%321.4%12.4%69.5%2.90
  • Fournette played 15 of 16 snaps in the fourth quarter. The Bucs lost by nine points, but it was a close, back-and-forth game.
  • Prior to the fourth quarter, Fournette took 50% of snaps, with Bernard getting 27% and RoJo at 21%.
    • Fournette had six carries and three targets. Bernard had two and one. RoJo had three and one.
    • Bernard's one target was a seven-yard TD in the third quarter.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Alvin Kamara67.1%1959.4%411.42540.716.63
Mark Ingram28.9%618.8%25.71414.87.20
  • Kamara's snap share was a season low, and this was his first time below 82 percent since the Week 1 blowout win over Green Bay.
  • Ingram had a role throughout, including catches for 18 and 7 yards on back-to-back plays at one point in the first quarter.

         

Cowboys (20) at Vikings (16) 

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Ezekiel Elliott75.3%1666.7%614.63940.811.30
Tony Pollard26.0%729.2%12.41116.33.70
  • The usual, but with a few less touches for Pollard in a close game.

     

 Snap %CarriesCarry Sh.TgtsTgt Sh.Pass Sn.Touch Sh.PPRGLL
Dalvin Cook71.2%1875.0%26.12538.37.81
Alexander Mattison12.1%28.3%26.168.520
  • This was Mattison's second game in a row with very little role. The plays Cook missed were often four-wide with no RB.

         

Giants () at Chiefs () 

Coming Tuesday/Wednesday

  •  

     

  •  

Want to Read More?
Subscribe to RotoWire to see the full article.

We reserve some of our best content for our paid subscribers. Plus, if you choose to subscribe you can discuss this article with the author and the rest of the RotoWire community.

Get Instant Access To This Article Get Access To This Article
RotoWire Community
Join Our Subscriber-Only NFL Chat
Chat with our writers and other RotoWire NFL fans for all the pre-game info and in-game banter.
Join The Discussion
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jerry Donabedian
Jerry was a 2018 finalist for the FSWA's Player Notes Writer of the Year and DFS Writer of the Year awards. A Baltimore native, Jerry roots for the Ravens and watches "The Wire" in his spare time.
Ryan Grubb and the History of College Coaches Headed to the NFL
Ryan Grubb and the History of College Coaches Headed to the NFL
10 Sneaky Tricks For Your Upcoming Rookie Draft (Video)
10 Sneaky Tricks For Your Upcoming Rookie Draft (Video)
NFL Draft Decisions: Navigating Make-or-Break Moments
NFL Draft Decisions: Navigating Make-or-Break Moments
Dynasty Startup Draft LIVE! Superflex; ROOKIES Included! (Video)
Dynasty Startup Draft LIVE! Superflex; ROOKIES Included! (Video)