Volume is king in fantasy football, and this report will help you understand which players are due more or less according to their roles. It is a great way to know who is overperforming (sell high) and underperforming (buy low) based on historical data tied to metrics we know drive volume.
- Overall offense: Which teams are enabling winning volume and efficiency across game scripts
- Quarterbacks: How involved is each quarterback in the running game and who is unlocking upside for their weapons
- Running backs: Which backs are handling early downs, short-yardage and passing downs
- Tight ends: Who is running enough routes and meeting critical targets per route thresholds
- Receivers: Which receivers are in the most routes and operating broadly within the offense
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WEEK 9 TAKEAWAYS
Waiver Wire
QB – Justin Fields‘ rostership is at 26% of Yahoo and 19% of ESPN leagues. The Bears have a bye in Week 10, but the rookie quarterback has two top-10 finishes in the last two games. He has 466 yards and two touchdowns through the air and 110 yards and a score on the ground. FAB: 25%-50%
RB – Rhamondre Stevenson is available in 90% of leagues and appears to be the primary handcuff to Damien Harris. Stevenson and Harris both suffered head injuries in Week 9. FAB: 5-10%
RB – Jordan Howard has taken over the short-down-and-distance role for the Eagles, which could continue even after Miles Sanders returns. The Eagles are running more lately, but this is still a three-back committee with a running quarterback, so temper expectations. FAB: 5-10%
RB – Sony Michel is the primary backup to Darrell Henderson in an elite offense and is a must-roster RB5-stash in most formats. He took over the two-minute offense and some of the long-down-distance work this week. He carries more upside than Stevenson or Howard. FAB: 2-5%
WR – Brandon Aiyuk topped 90% route participation for the second consecutive week and accounted for 22% of targets. He is a WR3 the rest of the way and is still available in 40-55% of leagues. FAB: 50%+
WR – Elijah Moore is garnering team-leading targets-per-route over the past three games and could push for more time down the stretch. He is rostered in less than 70% of leagues and has three top-36 finishes in the last three games. FAB: 15-25%
WR – Donovan Peoples-Jones has three consecutive top-36 finishes when healthy and is the best option to replace Odell Beckham Jr. as the vertical option. His routes should continue to grow. FAB: 10-20%
WR – Michael Gallup is expected to play in Week 10, but Dalton Schultz has carved out a role that could create a new obstacle for targets. FAB: 10-20%
Sell High
RB – Joe Mixon has three top-five finishes in his last four games and ranks as the RB4, but his underlying utilization and efficiency indicate he is most likely a touchdown-dependent high-end RB2.
Buy Low
WR – Mike Williams is on the field plenty in a pass-heavy offense with an ascending quarterback. The Chargers offense can support multiple high-end fantasy weapons. He is more valuable than his WR73, 79 and 46 finishes over the last three games.
Upgrades
RB – James Conner took over an every-down role with Chase Edmonds leaving the game after one snap. With Edmonds heading to short-term IR, Conner is a low-end RB1 for the fantasy stretch run.
WR – A.J. Brown is dominating utilization in the Titans passing attack that may not run quite as much with Derrick Henry out. Brown has the No. 1 overall WR1 upside every week.
WR – Marquise Brown continues to lead the Ravens' passing attack despite the arrival of Rashod Bateman. The third-year receiver is a WR1 the rest of the way.
Downgrades
WR – D.J. Moore‘s underlying utilization is top-notch, but Sam Darnold hasn't topped 175 yards passing in the last three games.
Data notes and acronyms:
1st/2nd = First and second downs
LDD = long down and distance (third and fourth down with three or more yards to go)
SDD = short down and distance (second, third and fourth down with two or fewer yards to go)
i5 = inside the five-yard line
2MIN = two-minute offense (hurry-up offense)
Close = score within three points
Lead = leading by four points or more
Trail = trailing by four points or more
Plays = penalties included for utilization splits and rates
Pass Play = all dropbacks (i.e., attempts, sacks and scrambles)
ADOT = average depth of target
Air Yards = ADOT multiplied by targets
TTT = average time to throw
PA = play action
PA Targets = percentage of player's targets that came using play action
Fantasy finishes = through Sunday night game
YPRR = yards per route run
TPRR = targets per route run
EZ = end zone
TOP = Time of possession
JUMP TO A TEAM:
ARZ | ATL | BLT | BUF | CAR | CIN | CHI | CLE | DEN | DAL | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LVR | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WFT
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Team Ranks
| Pace & TOP | Pass vs Run Splits | Pass by Game Script | Run by Game Script | |||||||
| Plays per Game | Plays per Minute | Time of Possession | Pass Rank | Run Rank | Trail Pass | Close Pass | Lead Pass | Trail Run | Close Run | Lead Run |
| 13 | 25 | 5 | 30 | 3 | 26 | 15 | 19 | 7 | 18 | 14 |
Pass-volume environment: Poor
Run-volume environment: Good
Pass/run tendencies: Balanced
The Cardinals led San Francisco by four or more points on 80% of snaps and ran the ball on 54% of plays in Week 9. They have played with a leading script a league-leading 57% of plays for the season.
Quarterbacks
| Player | Week | ADOT | Adjusted Comp % | TTT | YPA | Play Action | Designed Rush Att | Scrambles | Sacks | i5 Att | PPR Rank |
| Kyler Murray | 7 | 9.3 | 85% | 3.02 | 9.3 | 49% | 11% | 6% | 14% | 0% | 9 |
| 8 | 9.5 | 73% | 2.58 | 8.0 | 25% | 26% | 3% | 8% | 0% | 25 | |
| 9 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| YTD | 8.8 | 79% | 2.81 | 8.6 | 36% | 13% | 5% | 7% | 21% | 7 | |
| Colt McCoy | 7 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 9 | 3.4 | 92% | 2.37 | 9.4 | 42% | 16% | 3% | 10% | 0% | 13 | |
| YTD | 3.4 | 92% | 2.37 | 9.4 | 42% | 5% | 3% | 10% | 0% | 43 |
Rest of season:
- Murray: top-five QB
Running backs
| Player | Week | Snaps | Rush Att | Routes | Targets | TPRR | SDD Snaps | i5 Att | LDD Snaps | 2MIN Snaps | PPR Rank |
| James Conner | 7 | 30% | 28% | 17% | 0% | 0% | 40% | 0% | 25% | 0% | 23 |
| 8 | 37% | 26% | 30% | 0% | 0% | 33% | 100% | 11% | 0% | 20 | |
| 9 | 77% | 55% | 72% | 19% | 24% | 75% | 100% | 90% | – | 1 | |
| YTD | 46% | 42% | 30% | 4% | 10% | 66% | 57% | 23% | 17% | 11 | |
| Chase Edmonds | 7 | 69% | 42% | 77% | 8% | 8% | 60% | 100% | 63% | 88% | 27 |
| 8 | 59% | 37% | 58% | 13% | 19% | 67% | 0% | 89% | 100% | 19 | |
| 9 | 1% | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | – | 67 | |
| YTD | 53% | 28% | 56% | 14% | 20% | 31% | 14% | 73% | 83% | 21 | |
| Eno Benjamin | 7 | 6% | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 68 |
| 8 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | |
| 9 | 24% | 24% | 19% | 0% | 0% | 25% | 0% | 10% | – | 32 | |
| YTD | 3% | 4% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 6% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 95 |
Edmonds left the game after one play with what is believed to be a high-ankle sprain which could force him to short-term IR.
Upgrade: Conner handled a near every-down role with Edmonds knocked out of the contest and finished as the No. 1 RB on the week. He ran a route on 72% of dropbacks and managed the SDD and LDD work. He is a must-start RB1 if Edmonds misses time.
Upgrade: Benjamin spelled Conner but doesn't have a specific role (so far) and is a low-end cuff if Edmonds misses time.
Rest of season:
- Edmonds: low-end RB2 upon return
- Conner: low-end RB1 while Edmonds is out, touchdown-dependent low-end RB2 after
- Benjamin: stash RB5 while Edmonds is out
Receivers and tight ends
| Player | Pos | Week | Routes | TPRR | Targets | ADOT | Air Yards | EZ Tgts | 3rd/4th Down Targets | PA Targets | PPR Rank |
| DeAndre Hopkins | WR | 7 | 97% | 27% | 35% | 9.2 | 34% | 67% | 33% | 67% | 11 |
| 8 | 25% | 22% | 6% | 21.0 | 16% | 0% | 14% | 0% | 52 | ||
| 9 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.0 | 0% | – | 0% | 0% | 0 | ||
| YTD | 80% | 18% | 18% | 13.0 | 28% | 40% | 21% | 37% | 19 | ||
| A.J. Green | WR | 7 | 86% | 10% | 12% | 21.0 | 26% | 0% | 17% | 67% | 37 |
| 8 | 95% | 23% | 26% | 11.6 | 34% | 100% | 14% | 13% | 39 | ||
| 9 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.0 | 0% | – | 0% | 0% | 0 | ||
| YTD | 81% | 17% | 16% | 12.7 | 26% | 25% | 14% | 37% | 37 | ||
| Christian Kirk | WR | 7 | 74% | 20% | 19% | 13.0 | 27% | 33% | 17% | 60% | 19 |
| 8 | 78% | 21% | 19% | 12.7 | 28% | 0% | 0% | 17% | 51 | ||
| 9 | 97% | 21% | 23% | 9.0 | 45% | – | 0% | 33% | 15 | ||
| YTD | 76% | 20% | 18% | 12.8 | 29% | 25% | 14% | 31% | 24 | ||
| Rondale Moore | WR | 7 | 49% | 19% | 12% | -0.7 | -1% | 0% | 17% | 0% | 68 |
| 8 | 70% | 15% | 13% | -2.5 | -4% | 0% | 14% | 25% | 67 | ||
| 9 | 88% | 19% | 19% | -1.0 | -4% | – | 33% | 40% | 45 | ||
| YTD | 54% | 23% | 15% | 1.2 | 2% | 5% | 16% | 30% | 45 | ||
| Antoine Wesley | WR | 7 | 3% | 0% | 0% | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 104 |
| 8 | 53% | 16% | 10% | 15.3 | 17% | 0% | 14% | 67% | 101 | ||
| 9 | 75% | 13% | 12% | 15.3 | 38% | – | 0% | 100% | 34 | ||
| YTD | 15% | 13% | 2% | 15.3 | 4% | 0% | 1% | 83% | 151 | ||
| Zach Ertz | TE | 7 | 54% | 21% | 15% | 10.3 | 17% | 0% | 17% | 50% | 6 |
| 8 | 70% | 16% | 13% | 4.3 | 6% | 0% | 14% | 50% | 14 | ||
| 9 | 84% | 19% | 19% | 0.8 | 3% | – | 33% | 40% | 27 | ||
| YTD | 22% | 20% | 5% | 4.8 | 3% | 0% | 17% | 46% | 14 |
With Hopkins and Green out, Kirk saw a season-high 97% routes-per-pass play while his TPRR held steady (21%), resulting in a 23% target share. Moore also saw a season-high in route participation at 88%, but he remained limited to targets close to the line of scrimmage (-1.0 ADOT).
Monitoring: Ertz eclipsed the 80% route barrier, but it could just be the result of missing Hopkins and Green.
Rest of season:
- Hopkins: low-end WR1
- Kirk: boom-bust WR3
- Green: low-end WR3
- Moore: stash WR5
- Ertz: high-end TE2
ATLANTA FALCONS
Team Ranks
| Pace & TOP | Pass vs Run Splits | Pass by Game Script | Run by Game Script | |||||||
| Plays per Game | Plays per Minute | Time of Possession | Pass Rank | Run Rank | Trail Pass | Close Pass | Lead Pass | Trail Run | Close Run | Lead Run |
| 18 | 12 | 20 | 10 | 23 | 10 | 19 | 4 | 23 | 14 | 29 |
Pass-volume environment: Good
Run-volume environment: Average
Pass/run tendencies: Pass-balanced
Quarterbacks
| Player | Week | ADOT | Adjusted Comp % | TTT | YPA | Play Action | Designed Rush Att | Scrambles | Sacks | i5 Att | PPR Rank |
| Matt Ryan | 7 | 9.5 | 73% | 2.73 | 8.4 | 26% | 10% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 13 |
| 8 | 7.7 | 72% | 2.42 | 4.9 | 26% | 5% | 3% | 9% | 0% | 31 | |
| 9 | 9.6 | 80% | 3.04 | 10.7 | 30% | 9% | 8% | 5% | 0% | 3 | |
| YTD | 7.9 | 75% | 2.63 | 6.9 | 29% | 5% | 2% | 4% | 0% | 18 |
The Falcons got back to the vertical passing attack in Week 9 despite the absence of Calvin Ridley.
Rest of season: mid-range QB2 with spike potential
Running backs
| Player | Week | Snaps | Rush Att | Routes | Targets | TPRR | SDD Snaps | i5 Att | LDD Snaps | 2MIN Snaps | PPR Rank |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | 7 | 73% | 67% | 67% | 11% | 14% | 100% | 100% | 58% | 46% | 20 |
| 8 | 60% | 47% | 47% | 19% | 33% | 75% | 0% | 63% | 0% | 11 | |
| 9 | 56% | 41% | 54% | 21% | 30% | 33% | 100% | 50% | 80% | 7 | |
| YTD | 48% | 39% | 42% | 15% | 31% | 52% | 43% | 42% | 31% | 6 | |
| Mike Davis | 7 | 60% | 19% | 60% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 83% | 69% | 65 |
| 8 | 64% | 47% | 44% | 19% | 36% | 75% | 0% | 75% | 100% | 26 | |
| 9 | 56% | 41% | 35% | 4% | 9% | 67% | 0% | 58% | 20% | 57 | |
| YTD | 64% | 45% | 54% | 10% | 16% | 59% | 29% | 72% | 74% | 34 |
Trend: Patterson is the RB8 on the season. He continues to split work with Davis and tack on additional looks at receiver. Over the past three games, 41% of his snaps have come outside or in the slot: He is a near every-down player at this point.
Rest of season:
- Patterson: low-end RB1 while Ridley is out
- Davis: low-end RB3
Receivers and tight ends
| Player | Pos | Week | Routes | TPRR | Targets | ADOT | Air Yards | EZ Tgts | 3rd/4th Down Targets | PA Targets | PPR Rank |
| Russell Gage | WR | 7 | 60% | 24% | 16% | 12.8 | 22% | 0% | 22% | 17% | 15 |
| 8 | 68% | 0% | 0% | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 121 | ||
| 9 | 84% | 27% | 29% | 8.5 | 24% | 0% | 36% | 13% | 19 | ||
| YTD | 41% | 17% | 8% | 7.7 | 8% | 6% | 10% | 13% | 89 | ||
| Tajae Sharpe | WR | 7 | 24% | 20% | 5% | 4.0 | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 66 |
| 8 | 68% | 29% | 23% | 13.8 | 43% | 0% | 25% | 0% | 37 | ||
| 9 | 84% | 3% | 4% | 8.0 | 3% | 0% | 0% | 100% | 78 | ||
| YTD | 42% | 14% | 7% | 9.2 | 8% | 0% | 7% | 11% | 102 | ||
| Olamide Zaccheaus | WR | 7 | 7% | 33% | 3% | 10.0 | 3% | 0% | 0% | 100% | 78 |
| 8 | 38% | 8% | 4% | 12.0 | 6% | 0% | 0% | 100% | 97 | ||
| 9 | 57% | 16% | 11% | 17.3 | 18% | 67% | 0% | 100% | 4 | ||
| YTD | 54% | 12% | 7% | 11.5 | 11% | 25% | 7% | 48% | 76 | ||
| Kyle Pitts | TE | 7 | 79% | 27% | 24% | 18.6 | 47% | 0% | 33% | 33% | 2 |
| 8 | 97% | 20% | 23% | 14.2 | 44% | 0% | 50% | 17% | 35 | ||
| 9 | 76% | 22% | 21% | 14.2 | 30% | 33% | 18% | 17% | 16 | ||
| YTD | 81% | 21% | 19% | 11.9 | 30% | 25% | 22% | 27% | 7 | ||
| Hayden Hurst | TE | 7 | 60% | 16% | 11% | 7.5 | 9% | 0% | 0% | 25% | 22 |
| 8 | 59% | 15% | 12% | 4.3 | 7% | 0% | 0% | 67% | 40 | ||
| 9 | 38% | 23% | 11% | 3.3 | 3% | 0% | 27% | 0% | 34 | ||
| YTD | 50% | 16% | 9% | 7.5 | 9% | 6% | 10% | 35% | 28 |
Ridley missed Week 9 and will miss at least the next two games as he takes care of his mental health.
Waiver/Upgrade: Gage ran a season-high 84% of routes and posted his second top-24 finish in three games. Gage is available in 85% of leagues. FAB: 2-5%
Waiver/Upgrade: Sharpe also saw a season-high in routes at 84% but hasn't done as much with the work. FAB: 1% in deep formats only
Buy-low: If the Pitts manager in your league is sweating the last two sub-par finishes, make an offer. The rookie's utilization remains elite on the routes and TPRR fronts.
Rest of season:
- Ridley: Top-12 WR upon return
- Pitts: Top-three TE
- Gage: low-end WR4
- Sharpe: low-end WR5
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