The NFL regular season is here. After months of speculating how players will be used and which rookies will break out, we finally have some concrete information. In some cases, this should lead to big changes in how we view players going forward. But it's important not to overreact.
PFF's fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2021.
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Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams
- Cooper Kupp: 9 targets, 7 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD (2-for-3 on contested targets)
- David Montgomery: 16 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD, (3 explosive runs), 1 target, 1 rec., 10 yards
SNAP COUNTS
Start Tyler Higbee every week: The Rams tight end ended up playing every offensive snap for Los Angeles, which is a rarity for tight ends. The amount of playing time alone makes him a top-10 option, but throw in this Rams offense and you have someone who could fight for a top-five spot.
Higbee caught five of the six passes thrown his way for 68 yards. And the Rams didn’t even run as many plays as an offense typically does, so his numbers could be even better in future weeks. He is available as a free agent in a limited number of fantasy leagues.
Start Darrell Henderson every week: Similarly, it’s rare to see a running back see 100% of a team's offensive snaps, but Henderson did this for the first 55 minutes of the game. The third-year back’s stat line wasn’t all that impressive until the fourth quarter, but the Bears have one of the NFL's better run defenses, so Henderson will have better weeks. Again, the Rams will run more plays in later weeks, leading to more touches on a regular basis, as well.
Consider trading Robert Woods: Second-year receiver Van Jefferson showed why he deserves more playing time in the second quarter. With the combination of Jefferson’s emergence and the offseason addition of DeSean Jackson, Woods is seeing a decrease in playing time. If you can find good value for Woods in a trade, it could very well be worth it. All it could take is one injury to one of the three other receivers and Woods could go back to playing close to 100% of offensive snaps.
Buy low on the Bears wide receivers: Even with a new quarterback, Allen Robinson II and Darnell Mooney dominated in targets — as expected. That didn’t lead to many receiving yards, but few wide receivers found success against the Los Angeles secondary in 2020. Both players will be fine in future weeks regardless of who is at quarterback.
Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
- Jameis Winston: 14-for-20, 148 yards, 5 TD (88.9% adjusted completion percentage)
- Alvin Kamara: 20 carries, 83 yards (0% stuffed rate), 4 targets, 3 receptions, 8 receiving yards, 1 TD
SNAP COUNTS
Pick up Adam Trautman instead of Juwan Johnson: The latter put up bigger fantasy numbers, but Trautman’s play will be far more sustainable. The second-year tight end out of Dayton played significantly on third downs — the role Jared Cook held last season — which led to a 30% target share over the game. Johnson played much less but converted his targets into touchdowns. Neither should be in starting lineups yet, but this is a promising start.
Don’t Start Marquez Callaway: He was arguably the most hyped receiver over the past month, but that only led to one catch on two targets for 14 yards. It wasn’t a great matchup for him, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will be worth starting in a better matchup. He should be left on the bench until he can prove that what he did in the preseason can carry on into the regular season.
Buy low on the Packers stars: The Packers' offense put up one of the most disappointing performances of Week 1, with none of their star players living up to expectations. They will likely find a way to fix things going forward and are worth trying to trade for.
Avoid Packers receivers not named Davante Adams: Marquez Valdes-Scantling was the clear second receiver for the Packers in the game, with the snap counts skewing things because Green Bay rested starters late. He only caught three of his eight targets for 17 yards, so it wouldn’t be surprising if players like Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb eat into his playing time. This will likely be an unpredictable situation from one week to another.
Denver Broncos at New York Giants
- Melvin Gordon III: 11 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD, (72 yards before contact), 3 targets, 3 rec., 17 receiving yards
- Sterling Shepard: 9 targets, 7 rec., 113 yards, 1 TD (4 explosive plays)
SNAP COUNTS
Sell high on Melvin Gordon III: He put up the biggest numbers of the day, but that won’t always be the case. He busted a run open for 70 yards, but Javonte Williams saw more playing time as the game went on. The rookie ended up with more carries and more total touches in the game — he just wasn’t able to get the big gain. It wouldn’t be surprising if the snap counts are even more in Williams' favor before the month is over.
Pick up Tim Patrick: Jerry Jeudy left the game early with a high-ankle sprain, which could keep him out for some time. Patrick was seeing just as many snaps as Jeudy before the injury, including as one of the primary players in two-receiver sets. He should be an every-snap player for as long as Jeudy is out and should still be on the field a lot even when he’s back. He caught all four targets for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Don’t worry about Saquon Barkley: The team limited Barkley’s playing time early, but he started seeing more time as the game went on. He played every snap in the third quarter and saw his time decrease again in the fourth quarter when the game became out of reach. His stat line of 26 yards on 10 carries was rather unimpressive, but this was also potentially his most difficult matchup of the season. He might take a few weeks to be worth his fantasy draft status, but he should get there.
Start Sterling Shepard: The Giants receiver quietly put up one of the biggest receiving lines of the week. He was one of the most undervalued players in fantasy drafts this season, and he’s already paying off for those who believed in him. He played more in the slot compared to last season, which is where he plays best. He needs to be on fantasy rosters and in starting lineups.
Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs
- Nick Chubb: 15 carries, 83 yards, 2 TD (6 avoided tackles), 2 targets, 2 rec., 18 yards
- Tyreek Hill: 15 targets, 11 rec., 197 yards, 1 TD (39.5% threat rate)
SNAP COUNTS
Drop Austin Hooper: The Browns used all three of their tight ends significantly last season, but Hooper was the clear receiving option on the team during that time, giving him the most fantasy value. David Njoku saw more time as a receiver in this game while Hooper was used more as a blocker than usual. The Browns spread the ball around too much to offer fantasy value to a second tight end.
Pick up Mecole Hardman: The former first-round pick took a step closer to becoming a fantasy-relevant wide receiver. He played the vast majority of snaps, clearly ahead of Byron Pringle. This only led to three catches on three targets for 19 yards. Kansas City’s offense would be unstoppable if Hardman emerged as a legitimate receiving threat.
Buy low on Clyde Edwards-Helaire: The Kansas City running back was another player whose his snap count is an indication of future success. He ran the ball 14 times while no other back on the team handled more than one carry. Similarly, CEH was the only back to see a target. He should see significant touches with a different game script.
Monitor Anthony Schwartz: The Browns didn’t have Odell Beckham Jr. in this game, which allowed the third-round rookie to see significant playing time. It was surprising to see him play ahead of Rashard Higgins and catch three of five passes for 69 yards. It’s possible Schwartz sees some time when Beckham is back ahead of Donovan Peoples-Jones, who had a relatively quiet game with just a 4-yard catch.
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots
- Damien Harris: 23 carries, 100 yards, (3.1 yards after contact per carry), 3 targets, 2 rec., 17 receiving yards
- Jaylen Waddle: 6 targets, 4 rec., 61 yards, 1 TD (11.2 aDOT)
SNAP COUNTS
Sell high on Nelson Agholor: The Patriots receiver put up the most impressive numbers for the team with 5 catches on 7 targets for 72 yards and a touchdown, but he was uniquely suited to perform well against Miami’s defense. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if he falls to the fourth or fifth target in matchups that benefit other skill players on New England’s offense. Similarly, buy low on the Patriots tight ends and Jakobi Meyers.
Always start Damien Harris: The Patriots running back was the focal point of New England’s offense. J.J. Taylor was a healthy inactive for this game, and rookie Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled one of his two touches. He should continue to see close to 20 touches if not more per game and needs to be in starting lineups.
Don’t start Mike Gesicki: The Dolphins tight end has always been hit or miss, but his misses could be more frequent this season. He rarely played in two-tight end sets, which cost him some potential pass routes. He was able to make up for it in the past by being one of the top two receiving options on the field. That won’t be true with Jaylen Waddle on the field, and he will fall further with Will Fuller V coming back. The tight end didn’t catch either of his targets.
Stand pat on Myles Gaskin: The Dolphins' backfield saw a lot of attention in the preseason after Malcolm Brown started a game, but today we saw what the Dolphins backfield will likely be like most of the season. Gaskin was the clear starter but played in barely over half of the snaps — a notable drop from last season. He put up respectable numbers, but it will be difficult for him to exceed his ADP this season without more touches
Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals
- Adam Thielen: 10 targets, 9 rec., 92 yards, 2 TD (3-for-3 on contested targets)
- Joe Mixon: 29 attempts, 127 yards, 1 TD (8 avoided tackles), 4 targets, 4 rec., 23 yards
SNAP COUNTS
Make a waiver claim for Tyler Conklin: With Irv Smith Jr. out for the season, Conklin is the clear receiving tight end option for the Vikings. The Vikings traded for Chris Herndon for the Jets, but he was largely used for two-tight end sets. He only put up 41 yards on his four catches in this game but should be more involved in the offense in future weeks.
Pick up K.J. Osborn in deeper leagues: The Vikings used to stay in 12 personnel most games, but the injury to tight end forced them to use more three-receiver sets. Osborn was just as involved in the offense as the other two big-name wide receivers. He probably can’t be worth trusting as a starter at this point, but he could develop into a fantasy starter with more work.
Start Ja’Marr Chase: He was only in 15.3% of starting lineups in ESPN leagues after his four drops throughout the preseason. He led the Bengals in targets (7), receptions (5) and yards (101), including a 50-yard touchdown this week. The Bengals had an early lead, allowing Cincinnati to rely more on the run than the passing game. Chase should see double-digit targets when the Bengals need to pass more.
Los Angeles Chargers at Washington Football Team
- Austin Ekeler: 15 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD, 0 targets (3.5 yards after contact per carry)
- Antonio Gibson: 20 carries, 90 yards (6 avoided tackles), 5 targets, 3 rec., 18 yards
SNAP COUNTS
Pick up Larry Rountree III in deeper leagues: The Chargers spent all of last season — as well as August this year — without a clear backup behind Austin Ekeler. The sixth-round rookie appears to have won the job after Joshua Kelley was inactive and Justin Jackson barely played. Some thought he would be the goal-line back for Los Angeles, but Ekeler took both goal-line carries. Rountree is unlikely to have much standalone value without this role but would have significant value if Ekeler has a long-term injury.
Pick up Dyami Brown in deeper leagues: The third-round rookie was an every-down starter in this game with Curtis Samuel on injured reserve. Brown was targeted just as much as Terry McLaurin but only caught one of the four passes and lost yards. Brown has at least two more weeks to prove he deserves significant playing time going forward. He doesn’t necessarily need to beat out Samuel when he’s back, as Washington could limit Adam Humphries‘ playing time instead.
Pick up Taylor Heinicke in Superflex leagues: Fitzpatrick took a blow to the back and didn’t return to the game. It’s unclear how long he might be out for, but Washington has a short week playing the Giants on Thursday Night Football. The backup quarterback could be a fantasy starter in Superflex leagues in that matchup.
Lower your expectations for the young Charger receivers: Both rookie wide receiver Josh Palmer and tight end Donald Parham were popular late-round best-ball picks, but neither was a large part of the Chargers' offense in this game. The third-round rookie was a distant fourth on the depth chart. Parham saw significant playing time, but more often than not, it was as a blocker. The free-agent addition Jared Cook ran 29 pass routes to Parham’s 13. Neither young player should be expected to make much of an impact over the next month or two.
Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons
- Miles Sanders: 15 carries, 74 yards, (46 yards before contact), 5 targets, 4 rec., 39 receiving yards
- DeVonta Smith: 7 targets, 6 rec., 71 yards, 1 TD (3 explosive plays)
SNAP COUNTS
Always start Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith: The Eagles quarterback had one of the best games of the week thanks to three touchdowns in the air and 62 yards on the ground. Philadelphia’s first-round receiver was his favorite target, leading the team in targets, receptions and yards. They are on rosters in almost every league but were probably left on a lot of benches. This shouldn’t be the case going forward.
Buy low on Kyle Pitts: The No. 4 pick was hyped all offseason but had a relatively quiet start with 31 yards and no touchdowns. He saw eight targets, which is pretty impressive for a rookie tight end, and should put up better numbers with that high target share in future weeks. This is possibly the cheapest Pitts will ever be in trade talks.
Sell High on Dallas Goedert: The veteran tight end scored a touchdown, making him one of the most valuable tight ends in fantasy football this week, but he was only in for a little more than half of the pass plays. Zach Ertz was rumored to be on his way out all offseason, but he and the Eagles worked things out. The 30-year-old saw slightly more playing time when both were healthy but missed part of the third quarter with injury. The limited playing time will make him less reliable going forward.
Waiver Wire Add Kenneth Gainwell: Boston Scott appeared to be the primary backup in Philadelphia, but it was clear Gainwell has earned the No. 2 job. The rookie was mostly used in the two-minute drill and later downs. He doesn’t have much standalone value yet, but that could change as the season goes on. The Eagles were expected to use more of a committee approach at running back, which lowered Miles Sanders‘ ADP, and those expectations were met in this game.
Pick up Cordarrelle Patterson: The league’s best kick returner of all time was the clear backup running back in Atlanta with Wayne Gallman a healthy inactive. He lined up all over the field for the Falcons and led the team in rushing yards with 54 on seven carries. He has wide receiver eligibility on some fantasy sites, which could make him an attractive option for standard leagues at wide receiver.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
- Diontae Johnson: 10 targets, 5 rec., 36 yards, 1 TD (34.5% threat rate)
- Stefon Diggs: 13 targets, 9 rec., 69 yards (4 first downs)
SNAP COUNTS
Drop Eric Ebron: The Steelers drafted Pat Freirmuth to be the tight end of the future, but he’s already starting to take some of Ebron’s playing time. This rookie had more playing time even though the veteran ran more routes. Ebron only ran a route on 17 of 38 pass plays. That won’t be enough for him to ever be in fantasy lineups, and that could even decrease as the season progresses.
Don’t overreact to Devin Singletary: Zack Moss was a healthy inactive, giving the full running back job to Singletary. The surprises continued as the Bills went with five wide receivers for the entire first drive, with Isaiah McKenzie lining up in the backfield for two of the three plays. Singletary aggravated his shoulder injury and missed a lot of the game. He was able to return, but it’s possible the game plan was for McKenzie to see more of those snaps. Singletary can be added off the waiver wire in leagues where he’s available, but he should only be started with caution.
Buy low on Najee Harris: The rookie’s stat line was unimpressive with under 50 yards and a touchdown, but he played every offensive snap against a good Bills defense. It’s very rare for any running back to see 100% of snaps, and Harris did it in his first game. It’s unlikely whoever drafted Harris will be too discouraged from this game, but it can’t hurt to try getting him now.
Don’t pick up Gabriel Davis: The second-year receiver was a clear fourth player on Buffalo’s depth chart both in terms of playing time and targets. The three starters had at least eight each, while Davis only had five. He was the one to score the touchdown today, but in other weeks it will be the other Bills receivers far outplaying Davis. The other Bills receivers could all be considered buy-low options this week.
Seattle Seahawks at Indianapolis Colts
- Tyler Lockett: 5 targets, 4 rec., 100 yards, 2 TD (24.0 aDOT)
- Jonathan Taylor: 17 carries, 56 yards, (6 avoided tackles) 7 targets, 6 rec., 60 receiving yards
SNAP COUNTS
Start Nyheim Hines in the flex spot: Indianapolis relied heavily on both backs in both the run and pass game. There was concern Carson Wentz wouldn’t target the running backs as much as Philip Rivers did, but Hines (8) and Taylor (7) finished first and second on the team in targets. There was also concern with Marlon Mack being healthy, but the veteran didn’t see any offensive snaps. The sophomore back will still see the majority of the carries, but Hines should still see enough touches to be a solid flex option most weeks.
Add Zach Pascal off the waiver wire: It was clear that Pascal was the Colts starting wide receiver throughout the preseason despite Parris Campbell’s return from injury. He led the Indianapolis wide receivers and tight ends in targets, leading to two touchdowns. He probably can’t be trusted in starting fantasy lineups yet, but there is a chance he becomes Wentz’ favorite target at wide receiver.
Monitor the Seahawks backup RB situation: Rashard Penny and Alex Collins battled for the backup job in the preseason. Penny won, leading to Collins being inactive, but he also left the game with a left calf injury and didn’t return. The veteran Seahawk has dealt with the injury all week, so he likely re-aggravated it. Seahawks starter Chris Carson has a history with injuries, so the primary backup in Seattle will likely have value as a fantasy starter at some point this season.
Don’t pick up Gerald Everett: The free agent addition might seem like a good add after scoring a touchdown, but he will be inconsistent from one week to another. The Seahawks used him and Will Dissly interchangeably throughout the game. Seattle has a history in recent seasons of using multiple players at tight end, and this year appears to be no different.
Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans
- DeAndre Hopkins: 7 targets, 6 rec., 83 yards, 2 TD (2.52 YPRR)
- Christian Kirk: 5 targets, 5 rec., 70 yards, 2 TD (2 for 2 on contested catches)
SNAP COUNTS
Don’t overreact to Christian Kirk’s stat line: The Cardinals wide receiver put up some big numbers but is the clear third receiver on the depth chart and could fall to fourth. Rondale Moore saw most of his snaps come in four-wide receiver sets but also looked very good in his opportunities. The veteran might have some short-term value, but Kirk could also lose more of his snaps in 11 personnel as the season progresses.
The Cardinals back are who we thought they were: Arizona used their running backs as many anticipated this offseason. Both Chase Edmonds and James Conner saw significant carries. Edmonds was the clear receiving back, while Conner saw more playing time as Arizona got closer to scoring. Both backs will be flex options all season, as expected.
Don’t add Anthony Firkser: The popular sleeper led the Titans' tight ends in snaps, but that’s not likely to continue. Tommy Hudson played significantly in 11 and 12 personnel on early downs in the preseason — he missed the game with a toe injury. The Titans fell behind early, which kept them in 11 personnel and passing most of the game. Tennessee only played six snaps in 12 or 21 personnel, and Firkser wasn’t in for any of those plays. The Titans will likely run those a lot more in future weeks, and Firkser will also see less time in 11 personnel once Hudson is healthy.
Buy low on the Titans offense: No one in the offense put up the fantasy numbers expected, but this seemed to be an off week for the Titans. They should improve in future weeks.
New York Jets at Carolina Panthers
- Corey Davis: 7 targets, 5 rec., 97 yards, 2 TD (17.1 aDOT)
- Christian McCaffrey: 21 carries, 98 yards, 9 targets, 8 rec., 89 yards (4 total explosive plays)
SNAP COUNTS
Always start Corey Davis: The free-agent addition dominated the preseason, seeing targets on 10 of 13 pass routes. His target share wasn’t quite as high in Week 1, but he remained very effective despite the Jets' offense starting slow. He should be viewed as an every-week fantasy starter.
Monitor the Panthers receivers: Terrace Marshall Jr. was clearly third on the Panthers depth chart, but he had twice as many targets and three times as many catches as veteran Robby Anderson. The rookie isn’t getting enough playing time now to be put in fantasy starting lineups, but if he’s seeing this many targets in Week 1, he should have plenty of opportunities to show he deserves more snaps.
Drop Tevin Coleman: The Jets used the top three running backs on their depth chart significantly in this game. The veteran was the clear option to run with the ball, but all three had carries. We can expect fourth-round rookie Michael Carter to see more playing time as the season goes on. With a three-man rotation in New York, Coleman can’t be a fantasy starter. Similarly, Carter being this involved in Week 1 is bad news for Ty Johnson. Carter should get picked up in leagues where he is available.
Buy low on Elijah Moore: The Jets didn’t have two of their top four wide receivers, but it was still promising for Moore to play nearly every offensive snap despite other veteran options on the roster. His only catch went for three yards, but he should be more involved with the Jets' offense as the season progresses.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans
- Brandin Cooks: 7 targets, 5 rec., 132 yards (19.1 aDOT)
- D.J. Chark Jr.: 12 targets, 3 rec., 86 yards, 1 TD (4 catchable targets)
SNAP COUNTS
Make it a priority to add Carlos Hyde: The Jaguars made it pretty clear they would be a passing team in the preseason, and that remained true in Week 1. They didn’t give much indication of how they would use their running backs, but it appears Robinson is their receiving back and Hyde is their rushing back.
Robinson received both offensive snaps near the goal line, but they were both pass plays. The big question will be who gets to run it in when Jacksonville tries to run in a score. If the answer is Hyde, then he could have some flex value.
Add James O’Shaughnessy: The Jaguars tight end ran a route on 44 of the team's 56 pass plays. It’s unlikely Jacksonville reaches over 50 pass attempts too often, but it’s clear O’Shaughnessy will be a popular target. He caught six of eight passes for 48 yards in this game. His backup caught a touchdown, but he should be the one to find the endzone in future weeks. If he can keep up that playing time and target share, he is a borderline starting fantasy tight end.
Start Brandin Cooks every week: The veteran receiver has played for many teams in his career with many quarterbacks, and he has produced in every situation. He was started in only 31.3% of Yahoo leagues this week, and now plenty of fantasy managers regret having him on the bench. While the matchup was favorable for him this week, he will be able to make up for future difficult matchups with more volume.
Don’t overreact to Mark Ingram II’s stats: The Texans gave Ingram the ball 26 times, and he ran for 85 yards and a touchdown. The Texans could only do this because they had a big lead early in the game, which is unlikely to happen very often down the road. They also took advantage of one of the weaker run defenses in the NFL. All four starters for Houston saw double-digit snaps, and it will be even closer to each back seeing 25% of snaps in the future.
San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions
- Deebo Samuel: 12 targets, 9 rec., 189 yards, 1 TD (48.0% target share)
- T.J. Hockenson: 10 targets, 8 rec., 97 yards, 1 TD (7 first downs)
SNAP COUNTS
Don’t start Brandon Aiyuk: The 49ers' second preseason game was surprising because Trent Sherfield rotated in with Aiyuk alongside the starters. Those eyebrow raises turned into red flags as Sherfield started the game and took most of Aiyuk’s playing time. There is no denying how well the free-agent addition has played over the past month.
Aiyuk could regain his starting job at some point this season, but it might be on a rotational basis. It’s worth noting that Mohamed Sanu seems to have a clear hold on the slot role, so it’s unlikely both receivers would be on the field at the same time without Deebo Samuel losing playing time.
Aiyuk is not a buy-low candidate because he might never be a clear starter this season. If anything, he should be traded if someone is willing to pay for him. Similarly, Sherfield probably shouldn’t be a waiver wire target since he will at best be competing for playing time.
Add Elijah Mitchell: Rookie Trey Sermon was inactive today because the 49ers didn’t view him as a top-three back on the team. Raheem Mostert started the game but left after four snaps with a knee injury and didn’t return. Mitchell took over and had a great game against the Lions' defense, seeing 19 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Assuming Mostert misses more time, Mitchell might be the most popular waiver wire target of the week. Sermon could be cut in small leagues with light benches, but he also could be worth holding onto if a roster spot is available.
Pick up Tyrell Williams: The free-agent addition took a helmet-to-helmet hit that cost him half of the game, but he was the clear top wide receiver for the team prior to the injury. He ran a pass route on all 23 of the Lions' first-half pass plays. No other wide receiver had more than 14 in that time. A number of other receivers ran a lot of second-half routes, which gave them some decent numbers, but Williams will be the player to have for the long term.
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