- The New York Giants rely on Cam Skattebo: New York turned Skattebo into a feature back, and he reached 100 yards for the first time this season.
- Kenyon Sadiq breaks out for the New York Jets: The first-round rookie tight end caught seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, taking advantage of additional playing time and targets while others were out with injury.
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PFF's fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2026.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Buffalo Bills
Los Angeles uses more of a committee in the backfield: All three of the Chargers' running backs played between 24-42% of snaps.
The Chargers began the season with Omarion Hampton playing a dominant 74.3% of snaps on early downs. Keaton Mitchell saw more time in passing situations, leading Hampton to play 58.2% of snaps in Week 1. In Week 2, Kimani Vidal mixed in a little more in passing situations, and Hampton’s snap rate remained high on early downs.
This week, Vidal worked in even more, leaving Hampton to barely be on the field in passing situations. Mitchell played 38.6% of the early-down snaps, up from 23.7% over the first two weeks. Mitchell was also the more impressive running back in the box score. He totaled nearly as many rushing yards as Hampton despite receiving roughly half the carries, and he caught a touchdown pass.
Over three games, Mitchell has averaged more yards per carry and more yards after contact per carry. While Hampton has the better first-down rate, Mitchell owns the better clip of breaking 5-or-more-yard runs, and Mitchell’s number is more than double Hampton’s on 10- and 15-yard runs. We could see Mitchell’s touches continue to improve, making him a solid waiver option.
Chargers adjust down tight ends: Los Angeles focused its passing game on wide receivers down its top two tight ends.
The Chargers began the season with David Njoku and Charlie Kolar as their two top tight ends, with Njoku playing more on third downs, Kolar on early downs and the two sharing 12 personnel. This left little room for Oronde Gadsden, who was considered a potential fantasy starter at the start of 2026 before Los Angeles made the two free-agent additions. However, Njoku suffered a knee and fibula injury last week, landing him on injured reserve, while Kolar endured a forearm injury, which kept him out of this game and will likely hold him out longer. In response, Los Angeles signed Hayden Rucci, who had experience in Mike McDaniel's offense, and elevated Patrick Herbert, brother of Justin Herbert, off the practice squad.
The rotation was straightforward, with Gadsden taking 25 of 30 snaps out of 11 personnel, while Rucci handled 17 of 24 snaps out of 21 personnel. The two shared the field for all two-tight end sets, with Herbert only seeing one snap on offense out of 13 personnel.
This left Gadsden running a route on a respectable 73.7% of pass plays, but he was only targeted on 7.1% of his routes. He didn’t catch any of his targets. While there is still time to turn things around, Kolar will likely return in the next two or three weeks. This was supposed to be an opportunity for Gadsden to prove he deserves more playing time over the rest of the season, and that didn’t happen in this game.
Ty Johnson makes his 2026 debut: The Bills’ third-down back missed the first two games due to injury.
The Bills spent the first two weeks without their receiving running back. Frank Gore Jr. was a practice squad call-up to take over the third-down and two-minute drill duties. However, Gore didn’t dominate passing-down opportunities in the same way Johnson did, and also didn’t cut into snaps as much on early downs. This led James Cook III to play 85.2% of early-down snaps over the first two weeks, and Ray Davis cut into the passing-down work. Only Jonathan Taylor dominated early snaps more than Cook over the first two weeks of the year.
While Johnson played the clear majority of passing situations and caught four passes, Cook played 81% of snaps on early downs. Part of that was the fact that the Bills were playing from behind for a lot of the game and needed a fourth-quarter comeback. It wouldn’t be surprising if Johnson takes a higher percentage of early-down snaps in games where the Bills have a big lead. Of course, if the Bills hold a major advantage, Cook likely would have played a large role in that, so his fantasy managers shouldn’t worry about his touches even with Johnson back.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Bills wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) and Keon Coleman (ankle) were both questionable for this game, but each ultimately ended up playing.
- The Bills signed wide receiver Greg Dortch off their own practice squad on Friday after making him a call-up for the first two weeks. Rookie Skyler Bell was a healthy inactive, signaling his third straight absence.
- Los Angeles wide receiver Ladd McConkey was a full participant in practice all week after playing on a limited basis due to a rib injury last week. His playing time was consistent with other games where he has been healthy, mostly losing out in single-wide receiver sets.
- Chargers rookie wide receiver Brenen Thompson was inactive with a quadriceps injury. He was their top backup over the first two weeks, playing 22 snaps. Gary Jennings was also released, while the team signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling off its practice squad to be the top outside backup receiver.
- Chargers backup quarterback Trey Lance was questionable with a groin injury. Los Angeles signed DJ Uiagalelei as a precaution, but he was ultimately the emergency third quarterback.
Carolina Panthers @ Cleveland Browns
Coming soon!
New York Jets @ Detroit Lions
Monitor Breece Hall’s health: The Jets' lead running back left in the fourth quarter with a thigh injury and didn’t return.
New York has only used two running backs all season in Hall and Braelon Allen. Hall has been the primary early-down back and Allen the primary third-down back. The two have pretty evenly split the two-minute drill, short-yardage situations and goal-line snaps over the first three weeks.
Hall held a clear lead over the first three quarters, with 24 snaps to 14 by Allen, including a big advantage in carries at 10 to one. Hall exited early in the fourth quarter, with Allen taking the rest of the snaps over the game. Allen would be the lead back if Hall misses any time, but Isaiah Davis would likely mix in as a receiving back.
Allen was already a solid waiver-wire target, given how much playing time he was receiving and his handcuff value. Now with Hall injured, Allen becomes one of the top waiver wire options of the week.
Jets adjust without most of their wide receivers: New York started the game without four of its top-six receivers and ended the game without five of six.
New York began the season with Adonai Mitchell as its X receiver, Garrett Wilson the Z and Omar Cooper Jr. as the slot in 11 personnel. Isaiah Williams, Tim Patrick and Arian Smith were the backups. Patrick landed on injured reserve before Week 1 and Cooper after Week 1. Smith is out for the season after tearing his ACL last week.
Mitchell was questionable for this game with a finger injury but was ultimately inactive, leaving New York only two of its top-six receivers. Malik McClain was signed to the 53-man roster on Wednesday, Jamaal Pritchett was added on Saturday and Sterling Shepard was a practice squad call-up.
Williams, who typically only plays in the slot, became a full-time starter for New York. Shepard was the primary player to join in three-receiver sets. McClain also rotated in significantly in 11 personnel. This meant Williams played much more Z receiver than usual, including in 11 personnel, where Shepard generally played in the slot. This also meant Wilson lined up more at X receiver than he had earlier this season.
Wilson was the only Jets wide receiver with multiple receptions, catching 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. However, he stayed down after a hit at the end of the game, but was able to walk off under his own power. The game was over shortly after the injury, so it is difficult to know the current extent of the injury.
Even if Wilson misses time, Wilson and Mitchell are the only Jets wide receivers to seriously consider off the waiver wire.
Kenyon Sadiq breaks out for New York: The rookie tight end received an increased role with Mason Taylor out.
The Jets have used a heavy four-man rotation at tight end this season between Mason, Sadiq, Jeremy Ruckert and Jelani Woods. All four have played at least 10% of snaps in 11 personnel on early downs and on third downs. Likewise, all four have played at least 40% in 12 personnel. Taylor suffered a thumb injury last week, giving the Jets' first-round rookie an opportunity to prove he deserves more playing time going forward.
New York continued deploying a three-man rotation. It was primarily Sadiq in 11 personnel and Ruckert and Woods in 12 personnel. However, Sadiq still played 47.6% of 12 personnel snaps, but also missed out on 11 personnel snaps. He only ran a route on 58.1% of pass plays, which is less than ideal, but was able to play so well thanks to a 32.0% target rate.
There are a lot of variables that will impact Sadiq's fantasy value going forward. If he stays in this role, his target rate will likely decline slightly, making it hard to rely on him for fantasy value. However, even if Taylor returns next week, New York might decide to unleash Sadiq with more playing time because he performed so admirably. The injuries at wide receiver will also factor into Sadiq’s playing time.
Ultimately, Sadiq is worth picking up in leagues where he is available, as he could be one of the top two or three target earners for the Jets going forward.
Lions wide receivers see a dip in playing time: Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown both fell under an 82% snap rate.
In the first two games, St. Brown and Williams played 100% of 11 and 12 personnel snaps. The two only lost time in 13 personnel, giving both wide receivers over a 90% snap rate over the first two weeks. Isaac TeSlaa was the only other Lions wide receiver to see a snap over the first two weeks, consistently playing in 11 personnel and taking some snaps in 13 personnel.
This week, TeSlaa received snaps in 12 personnel for the first time this season, and Tay Martin garnered his first offensive snaps of the season. Detroit tight end Tyler Conklin was a healthy inactive after suiting up the last two weeks. This left Jackson Meeks as the Lions third tight end. Meeks is a hybrid wide receiver, so there were plays with Meeks as part of 13 personnel where he could be used like a receiver.
This left both wide receivers at an 80.6% route participation rate. St. Brown was at 95.3% heading into the week, and Williams 91.8%. Neither wide receiver had their best game from a fantasy perspective. It will be worth monitoring if Detroit continues to play around with 13 personnel, as that would impact the playing time of its top receivers.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Jets fourth-string running back and returner Kene Nwangwu was inactive for a third straight game with a back injury.
- New York elevated Jason Sanders from the practice squad for the third straight week. If the Jets want to stick with Sanders, they will need to sign him to their 53-man roster. Blake Grupe was a healthy inactive for a second straight week.
- The Jets signed quarterback Will Levis to the practice squad on Tuesday.
- Lions third-string running back Jacob Saylors played his first two offensive snaps of the season, although Sione Vaki remains the clear backup to Jahmyr Gibbs.
Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts
Coming soon!
New England Patriots @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Coming soon!
Kansas City Chiefs @ Miami Dolphins
Coming soon!
Tennessee Titans @ New York Giants
Coming soon!
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Coming soon!
Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Commanders
Coming soon!
Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers
Coming soon!
Minnesota Vikings @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Coming soon!
Las Vegas Raiders @ New Orleans Saints
Coming soon!
Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys
Coming soon!
Los Angeles Rams @ Denver Broncos
Coming soon!
Table Notes
- Snaps include plays called back due to penalties, including 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.
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