The fantasy football championship week is finally here.
The early slate of games produced plenty of league-winning performances, including two-touchdown outings from David Montgomery, Darrel Williams, Boston Scott, Devin Singletary, Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was arguably the standout player of the weekend, as he found the end zone three times en route to an AFC North title.
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.
Click here for more PFF tools:
Rankings & Projections | WR/CB Matchup Chart | NFL & NCAA Betting Dashboards | NFL Player Props tool | NFL & NCAA Power Rankings
Best Bets Tool
Table Notes
- Snaps include plays called back due to penalties like offensive holding or defensive pass interference. The other three stats have these plays removed.
- Targets may differ from official NFL sources. The most likely discrepancy would be from a clear thrown away pass, where the NFL may give the target to the nearest receiver, while this data will not.
- Carries are only on designed plays. Quarterback scrambles won’t count for the total number of carries in the game.
TB @ NYJ | LV @ IND | LAR @ BAL | JAX @ NE | KC @ CIN | ATL @ BUF | MIA @ TEN | NYG @ CHI | PHI @ WFT | ARZ @ DAL | DEN @ LAC | HOU @ SF |
CAR @ NO | DET @ SEA | MIN @ GB |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New York Jets
- Cyril Grayson: 6 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD, (2 explosive receptions)
- Braxton Berrios: 8 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD, (38.7% threat rate), 2 carries, 12 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Mike Evans | 56 | 42 | 7 | 0 |
| Tyler Johnson | 49 | 37 | 6 | 0 |
| Cyril Grayson | 47 | 26 | 8 | 0 |
| Antonio Brown | 26 | 20 | 5 | 0 |
| Breshad Perriman | 11 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Rob Gronkowski | 70 | 44 | 11 | 0 |
| Cameron Brate | 21 | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| O.J. Howard | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Le'Veon Bell | 26 | 21 | 3 | 3 |
| Ke'Shawn Vaughn | 24 | 11 | 2 | 8 |
| Ronald Jones | 20 | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| Total | 74 | 51 | 48 | 21 |
| New York Jets | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Jeff Smith | 59 | 33 | 4 | 0 |
| Braxton Berrios | 53 | 31 | 12 | 1 |
| Keelan Cole | 50 | 30 | 5 | 0 |
| D.J. Montgomery | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Kenny Yeboah | 37 | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| Daniel Brown | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Ty Johnson | 31 | 17 | 3 | 5 |
| Austin Walter | 25 | 8 | 0 | 14 |
| Michael Carter | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 61 | 35 | 29 | 25 |
The Buccaneers without Antonio Brown: The Buccaneers started the game with Mike Evans, Brown and Tyler Johnson as their most common grouping in three-receiver sets, but Cyril Grayson rotated in more often than a fourth wide receiver typically would. Brown made his exit from the team in the third quarter, resulting in Grayson taking over as a full-time starter. He led the team in offensive snaps in the second half among wide receivers, with 34 of a possible 41.
Grayson will likely be a starter both next week and in the playoffs, but the main concern would be Breshad Perriman. The veteran receiver missed last week with COVID-19 and was used sparingly in this game. It’s possible Perriman sees more offensive snaps going forward, and that could come at the expense of Grayson. Johnson could also see a decrease in snaps if Perriman is used more.
Tampa Bay’s crowded backfield: Ronald Jones ran the ball 20 times last week in Tampa Bay’s blowout of the Panthers in the team's first full game without Leonard Fournette. Jones played over half of the snaps in the first half but suffered an ankle injury early in the third quarter and didn’t return. Ke’Shawn Vaughn had been the clear third-down back last week, but he and Le’Veon Bell split the third downs throughout this game.
Bell ended up with more first- and second-down snaps in the second half, but Vaughn ended up running with the ball more. That is an odd distribution, making it difficult to predict how the Bucs' backfield will look next week if Jones misses time. The fact that Bell was splitting third-down snaps with Vaughn even before the Jones injury isn’t a great sign for Vaughn's chances of an increased role in 2022.
Monitor the Michael Carter concussion: The rookie running back suffered a concussion early in the game that kept him out for the rest of the day. Prior to the injury, he had a 55-yard run. As a result, he ended up having the most rushing yards of anyone in this game. Tevin Coleman also missed this contest due to COVID-19.
Ty Johnson became the receiving back for the Jets, and while he has handled that role for most of the season, he played just one offensive snap in the past two weeks to make more opportunities for Carter. Austin Walter became the primary rusher for the team in this game. Coleman would have an opportunity for a big game next week if he’s able to return but Carter misses a game. If both are out again, this is a situation to avoid in DFS.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Indianapolis Colts
- Jonathan Taylor: 20 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD (4.0 yards after contact per carry); 1 reception, 6 yards
- Zay Jones: 8 receptions, 120 yards, (33.3% threat rate)
| Las Vegas Raiders | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Zay Jones | 48 | 30 | 10 | 1 |
| Bryan Edwards | 46 | 24 | 2 | 0 |
| Hunter Renfrow | 43 | 29 | 9 | 0 |
| DeSean Jackson | 16 | 14 | 3 | 0 |
| Tyron Johnson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Foster Moreau | 62 | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| Daniel Helm | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Bowers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Josh Jacobs | 38 | 16 | 4 | 16 |
| Jalen Richard | 13 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Peyton Barber | 11 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Total | 62 | 34 | 32 | 27 |
| Indianapolis Colts | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Michael Pittman Jr. | 55 | 28 | 6 | 0 |
| T.Y. Hilton | 36 | 24 | 3 | 0 |
| Zach Pascal | 35 | 22 | 2 | 0 |
| Ashton Dulin | 26 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Dezmon Patmon | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Mo Alie-Cox | 33 | 16 | 5 | 0 |
| Jack Doyle | 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Kylen Granson | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Jonathan Taylor | 41 | 12 | 2 | 20 |
| Nyheim Hines | 21 | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| Deon Jackson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 58 | 29 | 24 | 25 |
The return of Jack Doyle: Doyle played all of two snaps last week before suffering a leg injury that kept him out for the rest of the game. He was able to suit up for Week 17 despite his questionable designation, but the Colts obviously kept him on a pitch count. In his stead, Mo Alie-Cox took the primary receiving role, catching three passes for 28 yards.
Doyle is likely to return to his full role next week if he’s fully healthy. Alie-Cox is a free agent after the season and could be looking for a new home.
Raiders wide receivers for 2022: Las Vegas could have several changes at wide receiver next season. Hunter Renfrow is the only sure thing for 2022, given that he’s still on his rookie deal and playing very well, and he helped the side to victory with seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown today. However, the star of the show was none other than impending free agent Zay Jones, the team’s best outside receiver, as he managed to put up his first 100-yard game of the season.
Bryan Edwards served as the Raiders' other outside receiver, but he was held without a catch for the third time in eight weeks and has now been held to 30 or fewer yards in six straight games. The Raiders will likely need at least one outside receiver and potentially two if they don’t bring Jones back.
Los Angeles Rams @ Baltimore Ravens
- Cooper Kupp: 6 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD, (3 avoided tackles)
- Sony Michel: 19 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD, (4 avoided tackles), 3 receptions, 25 receiving yards
| Los Angeles Rams | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Cooper Kupp | 58 | 36 | 7 | 0 |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | 57 | 36 | 7 | 0 |
| Van Jefferson | 31 | 18 | 5 | 0 |
| Bennett Skowronek | 27 | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Tyler Higbee | 56 | 31 | 8 | 0 |
| Kendall Blanton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Sony Michel | 57 | 30 | 5 | 19 |
| Jake Funk | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 58 | 36 | 34 | 20 |
| Baltimore Ravens | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Rashod Bateman | 59 | 36 | 10 | 0 |
| Marquise Brown | 54 | 34 | 8 | 0 |
| Devin Duvernay | 30 | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| Tylan Wallace | 20 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Sammy Watkins | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Mark Andrews | 58 | 38 | 6 | 0 |
| Nick Boyle | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Eric Tomlinson | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Devonta Freeman | 48 | 25 | 1 | 14 |
| Latavius Murray | 19 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Total | 71 | 39 | 29 | 30 |
Rashod Bateman trending up: Bateman played on over 80% of snaps for the third straight game after playing on 70% or less in his first eight. He led the Ravens' skill players in offensive snaps, targets and receptions. Sammy Watkins was a clear fifth on the depth chart. He’s a 2022 unrestricted free agent who is unlikely to return.
Bateman is building a case to be a high-upside draft pick next season in what should be an even better Baltimore offense thanks to a strong end of the season and his previous competition likely gone.
Monitor the Van Jefferson injury: Jefferson had a solid game through three quarters, tallying four catches for 63 yards. However, he seemed to injure his leg when Sony Michel dove in the end zone awkwardly onto his leg. There were no reports of an injury, but he grabbed at his leg shortly after and didn’t return to the game.
Ben Skowronek took his offensive snaps over the rest of the game. He would become an every-snap starter if Jefferson misses any time. Odell Beckham Jr. becomes a more important part of the Rams' offense if Jefferson is out. He scored the game-winning touchdown with Jefferson off the field.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots
- Rhamondre Stevenson: 19 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD (0% stuffed rate)
- Kristian Wilkerson: 4 receptions, 42 yards, 2 TD (18.4 aDOT)
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Marvin Jones Jr. | 46 | 30 | 6 | 0 |
| Laquon Treadwell | 39 | 24 | 6 | 0 |
| Tavon Austin | 32 | 24 | 5 | 0 |
| Laviska Shenault Jr. | 13 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Jeff Cotton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Luke Farrell | 35 | 21 | 2 | 0 |
| Chris Manhertz | 16 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Kahale Warring | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Dare Ogunbowale | 31 | 20 | 2 | 9 |
| Ryquell Armstead | 15 | 7 | 2 | 6 |
| Total | 48 | 31 | 27 | 15 |
| New England Patriots | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Kristian Wilkerson | 60 | 31 | 8 | 0 |
| Jakobi Meyers | 56 | 31 | 8 | 0 |
| Kendrick Bourne | 43 | 29 | 6 | 2 |
| Gunner Olszewski | 14 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Matthew Slater | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Jonnu Smith | 41 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Hunter Henry | 40 | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 40 | 14 | 0 | 19 |
| Brandon Bolden | 18 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
| Damien Harris | 16 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| Total | 72 | 35 | 33 | 35 |
N’Keal Harry a healthy scratch: With Nelson Agholor out for the second consecutive week due to a concussion, 2020 undrafted rookie Kristian Wilkerson took over as the starter while Harry was a healthy inactive.
Wilkerson not only outperformed Harry last week, but he made a bigger impact in Week 17 than Agholor has made all year. It wouldn’t be surprising if Wilkerson keeps the fourth spot on the depth chart with Agholor back. Harry is probably playing his last year with the Patriots.
Monitor the Damien Harris injury: Harris suffered a hamstring injury in the first half and didn't return for the second — not that he needed to, with the Pats up by 25 points at the midway point. The Patriots' lead back scored two touchdowns on nine carries before his departure.
It’s worth keeping an eye on the injury report before making any DFS decisions for Week 18. He and Rhamondre Stevenson split early downs in the first half, just as they had in recent weeks before the injury. The rookie would be in line for a big day rushing if Harris is ruled out for the last game of the season.
Laviska Shenault Jr. limited: Shenault missed last week due to a positive COVID-19 test, but he was also dealing with foot and shoulder injuries prior to that. He played today but was limited to just a few snaps per quarter. He caught two passes in his limited time.
Tavon Austin took Shenault’s role for most of the game but was limited to two yards on three catches. It would be best not to rely on Shenault in DFS next week.
Jaguars' other injured players: The Jaguars didn’t have their top two running backs or their top two receiving tight ends this week. Dare Ogunbowale took roughly two-thirds of the carries and routes run, while Ryquell Armstead took the other third. Ogunbowale scored a receiving touchdown to help the fantasy managers who were desperate enough to start him. However, it marked a remarkable return for Armstead, who missed all of 2020 due to a post-COVID-19 myocarditis diagnosis.
Fifth-round rookie tight end Luke Farrell was given an opportunity to take the receiving snaps this week. He played significant time early in the season, typically catching one pass per game. However, his playing time decreased over the second half of the season, with his last catch occurring in October. He caught one of two passes for seven yards.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Cincinnati Bengals
- Ja’Marr Chase: 11 receptions, 266 yards, 2 TD (4-for-5 on contested targets)
- Darrel Williams: 14 carries, 88 yards, 2 TD (42.9% first down rate); 3 receptions, 19 receiving yards
| Kansas City Chiefs | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Tyreek Hill | 52 | 32 | 9 | 1 |
| Demarcus Robinson | 39 | 24 | 2 | 0 |
| Byron Pringle | 29 | 20 | 4 | 0 |
| Mecole Hardman | 19 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Josh Gordon | 12 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Marcus Kemp | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Travis Kelce | 48 | 34 | 7 | 1 |
| Blake Bell | 24 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Noah Gray | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Darrel Williams | 49 | 26 | 3 | 14 |
| Derrick Gore | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Jerick McKinnon | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 61 | 37 | 33 | 21 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Ja'Marr Chase | 64 | 44 | 12 | 0 |
| Tee Higgins | 58 | 44 | 5 | 0 |
| Tyler Boyd | 54 | 43 | 6 | 0 |
| Stanley Morgan Jr. | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Thomas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| C.J. Uzomah | 63 | 37 | 5 | 0 |
| Drew Sample | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mitchell Wilcox | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Joe Mixon | 50 | 27 | 8 | 12 |
| Samaje Perine | 20 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Chris Evans | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 70 | 46 | 37 | 17 |
Kansas City without Clyde Edwards-Helaire: Edwards-Helaire was ruled out with a shoulder injury on Saturday, allowing Darrel Williams to get the start. When Edwards-Helaire missed time earlier in the season, Jerick McKinnon typically handled double-digit snaps, but the veteran played only three snaps today. McKinnon is an unrestricted free agent who is unlikely to be back next season.
This was the first time all season that any Kansas City running back has played more than 80% of the snaps. Williams is also an unrestricted free agent that Kansas City will likely try to re-sign. His fantasy value is likely higher in Kansas City than it would be with most other teams.
Joe Mixon’s mixed day: The Bengals running back had a quiet day on the ground, gaining only 46 yards on 12 carries. He is consistently good for double-digit carries, but he’s been more game-script-dependent than other elite fantasy backs this season. He finished with fewer than 70 rushing yards for the 11th time this season.
While this was an underwhelming performance on the ground, it was a very promising day as a receiver, as he caught 7-of-8 passes thrown his way for 40 yards. The last time he caught seven passes in a game? November 25, 2018.
Mixon also had a great receiving game last week, with six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. He could be a top-five pick in redraft leagues if he becomes a dependable receiver.
Atlanta Falcons @ Buffalo Bills
- Devin Singletary: 23 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD (5 avoided tackles)
- Mike Davis: 8 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD (3.0 yards after contact per carry), 1 reception, 15 receiving yards
| Atlanta Falcons | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Olamide Zaccheaus | 51 | 29 | 3 | 0 |
| Russell Gage | 42 | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| Christian Blake | 26 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Frank Darby | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Parker Hesse | 37 | 22 | 3 | 0 |
| Kyle Pitts | 27 | 14 | 4 | 0 |
| Lee Smith | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Mike Davis | 27 | 13 | 2 | 8 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | 27 | 13 | 2 | 9 |
| Qadree Ollison | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 53 | 30 | 21 | 20 |
| Buffalo Bills | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Gabriel Davis | 66 | 30 | 3 | 0 |
| Stefon Diggs | 60 | 28 | 9 | 0 |
| Cole Beasley | 37 | 21 | 6 | 0 |
| Isaiah McKenzie | 24 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Jake Kumerow | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Marquez Stevenson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Dawson Knox | 67 | 26 | 2 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Devin Singletary | 61 | 25 | 1 | 23 |
| Zack Moss | 16 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 76 | 31 | 24 | 40 |
Gabriel Davis with another start: Emmanuel Sanders missed his second game in three weeks. This allowed Davis to see another start for the Bills. He led the team in receiving yards (40) and was one of two receivers with multiple receptions. Sanders is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, as are backups Isaiah McKenzie and Jake Kumerow. Buffalo could also save $6.1 million in cap space by releasing Cole Beasley, who will be 33 by the start of the next season. The odds of Davis seeing significant playing time for Buffalo in the 2022 season are high.
Monitor the Kyle Pitts injury: Pitts had a great start to the day with a 61-yard catch, making him the first rookie tight end with over 1,000 receiving yards since Mike Ditka. Unfortunately, he was grabbing his leg near the end of the first half. He played two snaps early on in the third quarter but didn’t return to the game.
Hayden Hurst would ordinarily be the Falcons' backup receiving tight end, but he is on the COVID-19 list. This left Atlanta with Parker Hesse as its receiving tight end for the rest of the second half. Hesse had two career catches in three seasons prior to the game. He caught three passes for 31 yards in this game.
Miami Dolphins @ Tennessee Titans
- D’Onta Foreman: 26 carries, 132 yards, 1 TD, (6 avoided tackles)
- Dontrell Hilliard: 8 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD (4.8 yards before contact per carry), 3 receptions, 33 receiving yards
| Miami Dolphins | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| DeVante Parker | 58 | 41 | 13 | 0 |
| Jaylen Waddle | 57 | 40 | 7 | 0 |
| Isaiah Ford | 17 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Mack Hollins | 12 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Mike Gesicki | 47 | 35 | 7 | 0 |
| Durham Smythe | 41 | 21 | 3 | 0 |
| Adam Shaheen | 19 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Cethan Carter | 1 | |||
| HB | ||||
| Duke Johnson Jr. | 36 | 25 | 3 | 7 |
| Myles Gaskin | 15 | 8 | 1 | 5 |
| Phillip Lindsay | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 62 | 44 | 38 | 15 |
| Tennessee Titans | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | 44 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| A.J. Brown | 40 | 16 | 5 | 0 |
| Chester Rogers | 20 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Racey McMath | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Dez Fitzpatrick | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Geoff Swaim | 57 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Anthony Firkser | 29 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| MyCole Pruitt | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| D'Onta Foreman | 41 | 6 | 0 | 26 |
| Dontrell Hilliard | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| Jeremy McNichols | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 63 | 19 | 18 | 40 |
Miami’s fluid backfield: The Dolphins used the same three running backs as last week but found different ways to use them. Duke Johnson Jr. and Phillip Lindsay split carries last week, with Myles Gaskin barely involved in the run game. Johnson alone was the clear leader in carries this week, gaining seven yards per carry. Gaskin was only close to Johnson in carries thanks to Miami running in the last two minutes to get the game over with. Gaskin had consistently been the third-down back all season, but Johnson also took over that role today. Gaskin is no guarantee to make the roster next season after his decline in usage this year.
Monitor the MyCole Pruitt injury: Pruitt suffered a scary fractured and dislocated ankle in the second quarter which will cost him the rest of this season and puts the start of the 2022 season at least in question. We wish him a speedy and successful recovery. This left Anthony Firkser seeing significantly more playing time, as he usually just plays on third downs but played in two tight end sets today. The Titans had a big lead, so the tight ends spent most of the day blocking. This remains a situation to avoid in DFS despite the injury.
New York Giants @ Chicago Bears
- David Montgomery: 22 carries, 64 yards, 2 TD (2 avoided tackles); 2 receptions, 17 receiving yards
- Darnell Mooney: 7 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD (3 explosive plays)
| New York Giants | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Kenny Golladay | 45 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| David Sills | 40 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Pharoh Cooper | 19 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Alex Bachman | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Evan Engram | 36 | 15 | 2 | 0 |
| Kyle Rudolph | 26 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Chris Myarick | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Saquon Barkley | 30 | 8 | 1 | 21 |
| Devontae Booker | 27 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
| Total | 56 | 16 | 11 | 37 |
| Chicago Bears | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Darnell Mooney | 56 | 36 | 11 | 0 |
| Allen Robinson II | 46 | 29 | 6 | 0 |
| Damiere Byrd | 29 | 26 | 2 | 0 |
| Marquise Goodwin | 24 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| Jakeem Grant | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Cole Kmet | 53 | 29 | 4 | 0 |
| Jesse James | 28 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Jimmy Graham | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| David Montgomery | 45 | 18 | 2 | 22 |
| Damien Williams | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Khalil Herbert | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Ryan Nall | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 66 | 41 | 30 | 24 |
The return of Allen Robinson II: Robinson played just his second game since Week 9 after dealing with a hamstring injury and then recovering from COVID-19. Robinson was rotated in and out of the game more often than usual to start the game. It is somewhat surprising for him to play if he’s not 100%, as this is a contract year and the Bears are eliminated from the playoffs. He caught four passes for 35 yards. Chicago will likely need to add one or two wide receivers to complement Darnell Mooney next season.
Saquon Barkley’s first 100-yard game: Barkley achieved his first 100-yard rushing game since Dec. 22, 2019. The Giants' run game had been ineffective since Barkley’s return, which forced New York to implement more of a committee approach with Barkley and Devontae Booker. The two backs continued to split carries and routes today, but Barkley was able to run 21 times because the Giants' passing game was almost a non-starter. New York was without several of their top wide receivers, and New York’s first few dropbacks resulted in turnovers. Barkley's standing in 2022 redraft leagues will be heavily debated over the next several months.
Games like this also make it more likely Daniel Jones remains the quarterback in New York for one more season. He wasn’t great this season with constant injuries at wide receiver, but the Giants have been so much worse without him.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Football Team
- Boston Scott: 14 carries, 47 yards, 2 TD, (35.7% first down rate), 4 receptions, 39 receiving yards
- Jaret Patterson: 12 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD, (3.6 yards after contact per carry), 5 receptions, 41 receiving yards
| Philadelphia Eagles | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| DeVonta Smith | 58 | 29 | 6 | 0 |
| Jalen Reagor | 31 | 19 | 1 | 1 |
| Quez Watkins | 31 | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| Greg Ward | 13 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| J.J. Arcega-Whiteside | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Dallas Goedert | 57 | 22 | 7 | 0 |
| Jack Stoll | 34 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyree Jackson | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Boston Scott | 32 | 13 | 4 | 14 |
| Jordan Howard | 21 | 9 | 0 | 11 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | 8 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 61 | 29 | 24 | 32 |
| Washington Football Team | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Terry McLaurin | 60 | 40 | 7 | 0 |
| Cam Sims | 47 | 33 | 5 | 0 |
| Adam Humphries | 33 | 28 | 2 | 0 |
| DeAndre Carter | 22 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| Dyami Brown | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Dax Milne | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| TE | ||||
| John Bates | 58 | 35 | 4 | 0 |
| Ricky Seals-Jones | 13 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Sammis Reyes | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Jaret Patterson | 39 | 22 | 4 | 12 |
| Wendell Smallwood | 16 | 11 | 2 | 4 |
| Jonathan Williams | 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 63 | 42 | 30 | 20 |
The Eagles without Miles Sanders: Sanders missed the game with a hand injury. Jordan Howard had a stinger from last week, and it seemed like he wouldn’t see a lot of snaps based on pregame warmups. Still, both Howard and Boston Scott took double-digit carries for the team. Scott ended up with two goal-line touchdowns, but both backs saw at least two goal-line carries. Kenneth Gainwell wasn’t very involved in the game plan. Expect a similar distribution of snaps and touches if Sanders misses another game.
The Football Team without Antonio Gibson: Gibson landed on the COVID-19 list and J.D. McKissic is on injured reserve, so Washington was down to its third-string running back. Jaret Patterson played the Gibson role, while Wendell Smallwood handled the McKissic role. Neither back was as effective as the usual starters.
Football Team changes at receiver: Washington has dealt with various injuries at wide receiver and tight end. They have slowly been changing how the team deploys its backups. Cam Sims had played 20% of offensive snaps or less in most games this season, but it was closer to 50% the previous three games. He saw a season-high 74% of offensive snaps today, which included four catches for 48 yards. This was more bad news for both DeAndre Carter and rookie Dyami Brown.
Monitor the Ricky-Seals Jones injury: The Washington tight end suffered a neck injury after colliding with a camera man, and he was carted off the field. John Bates was already seeing more routes run than Seals-Jones prior to the injury, and he kept the receiving role throughout the second half. The rookie caught three passes for 35 yards. He has a chance to be the tight end of the future in Washington.
Arizona Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys
- Antoine Wesley: 4 receptions, 30 yards, 2 TD, (2 for 3 on contested targets)
- Michael Gallup: 3 receptions, 36 yards, 1 TD, (2 for 2 on contested targets)
| Arizona Cardinals | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Christian Kirk | 68 | 38 | 8 | 0 |
| A.J. Green | 62 | 36 | 5 | 0 |
| Antoine Wesley | 43 | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| Greg Dortch | 17 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Andy Isabella | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Zach Ertz | 69 | 38 | 9 | 0 |
| Darrell Daniels | 32 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| David Wells | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Chase Edmonds | 61 | 27 | 6 | 18 |
| Eno Benjamin | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Jonathan Ward | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 76 | 41 | 34 | 30 |
| Dallas Cowboys | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| CeeDee Lamb | 58 | 40 | 4 | 0 |
| Amari Cooper | 58 | 40 | 5 | 0 |
| Cedrick Wilson | 30 | 21 | 6 | 0 |
| Michael Gallup | 26 | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| Noah Brown | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Dalton Schultz | 60 | 33 | 9 | 0 |
| Jeremy Sprinkle | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sean McKeon | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Ezekiel Elliott | 45 | 20 | 2 | 9 |
| Tony Pollard | 19 | 12 | 4 | 3 |
| Total | 64 | 43 | 33 | 14 |
Monitor the Michael Gallup injury: Gallup suffered what is suspected to be a torn ACL late in the first half and was immediately ruled out for the rest of the game. This likely means Gallup is out for the rest of the season. Cedrick Wilson replaced him in three-receiver sets, and he caught six passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. Wilson will be a factor for Dallas both next week and in the playoffs.
CeeDee Lamb’s upside is also increased with the injury. Typically Gallup and Amari Cooper play in two tight end sets, but Lamb took over in those formations in the second half. This means Lamb no longer leaves the field on offense. He will be a more attractive option in DFS the rest of the year.
Wilson is an unrestricted free agent after this season, which will likely make it harder for him to find a big contract this offseason. The Cowboys will struggle to find the cap space for him.
The Cardinals deal with injuries: Arizona didn’t have both James Conner and Rondale Moore for a second straight week. All of the ramifications of this were as expected. Chase Edmonds saw the vast majority of snaps at running back. He gained 53 yards on 18 carries rushing. Both Christian Kirk and A.J. Green had over 70 receiving yards with fewer receiving options. Arizona used more two tight end sets than usual to try helping the run game. This limited the playing time of Anotine Wesley, but that didn’t stop him from scoring two touchdowns. Once the Cardinals are back at full strength, the fantasy points will be harder to predict because they will be divided among more players.
Denver Broncos @ Los Angeles Chargers
- Noah Fant: 6 receptions, 92 yards, 1 TD, (3 explosive plays)
- Mike Williams: 3 receptions, 63 yards, 1 TD, (16.0 aDOT)
| Denver Broncos | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Courtland Sutton | 52 | 28 | 5 | 0 |
| Seth Williams | 43 | 24 | 1 | 0 |
| Kendall Hinton | 36 | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| Diontae Spencer | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Travis Fulgham | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Noah Fant | 53 | 25 | 7 | 0 |
| Albert Okwuegbunam | 30 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Eric Saubert | 19 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Javonte Williams | 30 | 11 | 1 | 14 |
| Melvin Gordon III | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 |
| Mike Boone | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 60 | 31 | 27 | 25 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Mike Williams | 56 | 30 | 3 | 0 |
| Keenan Allen | 49 | 26 | 9 | 0 |
| Jalen Guyton | 32 | 17 | 2 | 1 |
| Josh Palmer | 31 | 14 | 4 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Stephen Anderson | 52 | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Tre' McKitty | 35 | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Hunter Kampmoyer | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Austin Ekeler | 39 | 18 | 3 | 17 |
| Justin Jackson | 25 | 10 | 3 | 12 |
| Joshua Kelley | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 67 | 32 | 28 | 34 |
The Broncos are thin at wide receiver: Denver had 12 players missing today due to Covid, including Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick. Seth Williams and Kendall Hinton took over as the lead wide receivers opposite Courtland Sutton. While those two saw an increase in snaps, it was the Broncos star players who saw more targets. Sutton and tight end Noah Fant both had their best receiving games since mid-October. They both could be sneaky DFS options next week if Jeudy and/or Patrick miss another game.
The Chargers are thin at tight end: Los Angeles spent most of the season with a four-man rotation at tight end. Donald Parham landed on injured reserve a few weeks ago, while Jared Cook landed on the Covid-19 list two days ago. Stephen Anderson took over as the lead tight end but didn’t see his first target until the last six minutes of the game in garbage time. Tre’ McKitty also saw significant playing time and caught three passes for 22 yards. Cook is a free agent after the season. Los Angeles will have plenty of options if they want to add a tight end in free agency this offseason.
Houston Texans @ San Francisco 49ers
- Elijah Mitchell: 21 carries, 119 yards, (89 yards after contact), 2 receptions, 11 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
- Brandin Cooks: 7 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD, (30.3% threat rate)
| Houston Texans | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Brandin Cooks | 53 | 33 | 10 | 0 |
| Chris Conley | 49 | 34 | 2 | 1 |
| Nico Collins | 40 | 25 | 5 | 0 |
| Jalen Camp | 21 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Veasy | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Pharaoh Brown | 42 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Brevin Jordan | 35 | 20 | 2 | 0 |
| Jordan Akins | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Rex Burkhead | 44 | 21 | 6 | 16 |
| Royce Freeman | 15 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Jaylen Samuels | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 67 | 36 | 30 | 26 |
| San Francisco 49ers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Brandon Aiyuk | 57 | 24 | 6 | 0 |
| Deebo Samuel | 54 | 24 | 6 | 7 |
| Jauan Jennings | 31 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| Trent Sherfield | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Travis Benjamin | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| George Kittle | 60 | 23 | 2 | 1 |
| Charlie Woerner | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ross Dwelley | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Elijah Mitchell | 36 | 8 | 2 | 21 |
| Jeff Wilson Jr. | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| JaMycal Hasty | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 63 | 26 | 23 | 35 |
The return of Elijah Mitchell: Mitchell missed the last three weeks with injury, but came back today without missing a beat. He was rotated out more often than usual but mostly for pass plays or run plays by Deebo Samuel. He was the only true running back on the 49ers roster to run with the ball today. Mitchell can safely be used in DFS lineups the rest of the season.
Trey Lance as a starter: Lance had a fine game in his second start, throwing for 249 yards and two touchdowns while rushing eight times for 31 yards. He could have had a rushing touchdown, but it was called back by a holding penalty. Lance is only the ninth quarterback with multiple games of eight or more carries this season, and he did it in his only two starts. His constant rushing and talent around him will make him a very high-risk, high-upside quarterback in 2022 fantasy drafts.
Texans hit with Covid: The Texans were forced to make a number of changes on their depth chart due to Covid. Running back David Johnson and wide receivers Danny Amendola and Chris Moore were all on the list. Royce Freeman saw an increase in snaps at running back and gained 25 yards on six carries. Rookie Jalen Camp and Jordan Veasy both saw their first NFL action in December, and this marked their second game each. Neither saw a target. It wouldn’t be surprising if most players mentioned in this paragraph aren’t on the team in 2022.
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints
- Alvin Kamara: 13 carries, 32 yards, (47 yards after contact), 5 receptions, 68 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
- Chuba Hubbard: 17 carries, 55 yards, (55 yards after contact), 1 TD, 3 receptions, 13 receiving yards
| Carolina Panthers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Robby Anderson | 60 | 34 | 2 | 0 |
| D.J. Moore | 56 | 33 | 8 | 0 |
| Terrace Marshall Jr. | 44 | 28 | 2 | 0 |
| Brandon Zylstra | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Shi Smith | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Ian Thomas | 54 | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| Stephen Sullivan | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Colin Thompson | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Chuba Hubbard | 32 | 13 | 4 | 17 |
| Ameer Abdullah | 29 | 14 | 4 | 6 |
| Total | 61 | 34 | 24 | 25 |
| New Orleans Saints | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Marquez Callaway | 49 | 29 | 10 | 0 |
| Lil'Jordan Humphrey | 37 | 25 | 2 | 0 |
| Deonte Harris | 24 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| Kenny Stills | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Ty Montgomery | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| TE | ||||
| Adam Trautman | 48 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Juwan Johnson | 27 | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Alvin Kamara | 45 | 22 | 6 | 13 |
| Adam Prentice | 20 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Tony Jones Jr. | 9 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 58 | 34 | 23 | 24 |
Terrace Marshall Jr. trending up: Marshall has been a disappointment for most of the season. He spent most of November and December either inactive or low on the depth chart. He caught his first pass since mid-October last week against the Buccaneers. He was the clear third wide receiver in offensive snaps despite being relatively healthy at the position, which was a step forward for Marshall. He caught two passes for double-digit yards for the first time since Oct. 10. There is still plenty of room to grow, but he has taken small steps in the right direction.
The return of Deonte Harris: Harris returned to the Saints after his three-game suspension. Tre’Quan Smith missed this game with a shoulder injury, so Harris should have seen a big opportunity in this game. Lil’Jordan Humphrey was ahead of Harris on the depth chart today. Both receivers ended up with two catches on two targets. Harris has been one of the highest-graded wide receivers over the last two seasons on a small sample size, and he would ideally see a larger role.
Saints backup running back: Mark Ingram was limited in practice all week with a knee injury and ended up missing the game. Tony Jones Jr. was expected to be the clear backup, but Adam Prentice ended up with more offensive snaps and routes run. The Saints don’t trust either back as much as they do Ingram, and Alvin Kamara sees many more snaps without Ingram than with him.
Detroit Lions @ Seattle Seahawks
- Rashaad Penny: 25 carries, 170 yards, 2 TD, (5 explosive runs), 2 receptions, 15 receiving yards
- D.K. Metcalf: 6 receptions, 63 yards, 3 TD, (32.1% threat rate)
| Detroit Lions | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | 53 | 35 | 11 | 2 |
| Trinity Benson | 48 | 28 | 4 | 0 |
| KhaDarel Hodge | 48 | 32 | 8 | 0 |
| Tom Kennedy | 24 | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Jared Pinkney | 28 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Ross Travis | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| D'Andre Swift | 36 | 26 | 3 | 4 |
| Jamaal Williams | 20 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| Craig Reynolds | 14 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 63 | 38 | 35 | 21 |
| Seattle Seahawks | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Tyler Lockett | 60 | 32 | 3 | 1 |
| D.K. Metcalf | 48 | 28 | 9 | 1 |
| Freddie Swain | 36 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| D'Wayne Eskridge | 24 | 11 | 3 | 1 |
| Penny Hart | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Gerald Everett | 51 | 22 | 5 | 0 |
| Will Dissly | 28 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Colby Parkinson | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Rashaad Penny | 46 | 18 | 3 | 25 |
| Travis Homer | 24 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| DeeJay Dallas | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 72 | 33 | 28 | 39 |
Rashaad Penny on the rise: Penny put together an excellent day on the ground to help lead the Seahawks to victory. He leads the league in rushing yards over the last four weeks at 481, with nearly 100 yards more than Jonathan Taylor in second place. Penny is an unrestricted free agent after this season and has made himself a lot of money over the last month. He could be the lead back in Seattle in 2022, but it would require the Seahawks to move on from Chris Carson for anyone to get too excited for Penny in fantasy drafts.
The return of D’Andre Swift: Swift returned to the Lions after missing the last four weeks. His role was a bit more limited to what it had been most of the season. Jamaal Williams was the clear back in rushing situations. Craig Reynolds remained a part of the rotation but only gained 4 yards on four carries. Swift maintained his role as the receiving back but only caught two passes for seven yards. Williams had just as many targets on significantly fewer routes run.
Swift should keep the role of the Lions receiving back for a long time, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he doesn’t go back to seeing double-digit carries per game consistently.
Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
- Davante Adams: 11 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD (5 explosive plays)
- A.J. Dillon: 14 carries, 63 yards, 2 TD (35.7% first down rate); 2 receptions, 20 receiving yards
| Minnesota Vikings | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Justin Jefferson | 54 | 42 | 11 | 0 |
| K.J. Osborn | 51 | 40 | 5 | 0 |
| Dede Westbrook | 39 | 33 | 1 | 0 |
| Ihmir Smith-Marsette | 13 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Tyler Conklin | 50 | 35 | 8 | 0 |
| Chris Herndon | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Luke Stocker | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| Dalvin Cook | 29 | 18 | 3 | 9 |
| Alexander Mattison | 18 | 15 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 54 | 42 | 35 | 10 |
| Green Bay Packers | Snaps | Routes Run | Targets | Carries |
| WR | ||||
| Davante Adams | 62 | 39 | 13 | 0 |
| Allen Lazard | 56 | 34 | 6 | 0 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | 49 | 35 | 3 | 0 |
| Equanimeous St. Brown | 18 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Juwann Winfree | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| TE | ||||
| Tyler Davis | 32 | 20 | 2 | 0 |
| Josiah Deguara | 30 | 20 | 3 | 0 |
| Dominique Dafney | 19 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Marcedes Lewis | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| HB | ||||
| A.J. Dillon | 40 | 23 | 2 | 14 |
| Aaron Jones | 31 | 21 | 6 | 8 |
| Patrick Taylor Jr. | 11 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Total | 75 | 45 | 40 | 29 |
Monitor Dalvin Cook‘s health: Cook appeared on the injury report due to an illness this past week, but he's been hampered by a shoulder injury over the last month, too. The Vikings put in some backups in the middle of the fourth quarter, but Cook took his last offensive snap late in the third. He gained 13 yards on nine carries and gained 0 yards on three catches. Now that the Vikings are eliminated from the playoffs, there is at least a chance that Cook won’t play next week.
Tyler Davis' role on the rise: The Packers have rotated a number of players at tight end since Robert Tonyan landed on injured reserve. The two constants have been Marcedes Lewis and Josiah Deguara, who have handled the early-down work and third-down work, respectively.
Lewis spent time on the COVID-19 list this past week, which likely contributed to his decrease in playing time tonight. As a result, Davis and Deguara saw an increase in snaps.
There is a chance the Packers want to give Davis more of a chance on third downs, as Deguara hasn’t made a huge impact in the passing game. Davis caught two passes for nine yards, while Deguara extended his streak of games with two or three catches to nine games. It won’t make sense to trust any of them in DFS in Week 18. Davis could be an option in various playoff contests as a very deep sleeper.
It’s also worth noting the snap counts of all the Packers players will be skewed, as backups started playing more snaps as the game went on due to the blowout.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.