After three weeks of fantasy football data and usage information, we can start to see trends develop. One or two weeks can be written off as outliers, but patterns emerging for three games can’t be ignored. As the season is now one-sixth of the way over, teams’ offensive game plans are starting to come into focus. And many players we thought were worthy of a roster spot might need to head to the waiver wire.
This weekly piece will look at an interesting usage note for each team during every NFL week. If you have interesting usage notes, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter/X (@CableBoxScore) and let me know. Let’s dive into the NFL Week 3 usage!
NFL Week 3 Usage Trends
ARIZONA CARDINALS
James Conner Brick Wall
ATLANTA FALCONS
Kyle Pitts Earns the Air Yards
Even though it may not be translating to the box score, Pitts is getting the air yards. He was second at the position with a 34.3% of his team’s air yards this weekend.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Mark Andrews Disappearing Act
It isn’t just the stone zero fantasy points that is concerning for Mark Andrews managers. He also played just 33% of snaps, by far his lowest of the season. Something is going on here, and it would be great if the Ravens told us what it is.
BUFFALO BILLS
Keon Coleman Crash and Burn
Keon Coleman was apparently benched for the start of the Monday Night Football game for being late this week. That led to just 11 routes run and one targets. Meanwhile, Khalil Shakir continued to impress with 72 yards and a touchdown.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Diontae Johnson Resurrection
Welcome back Red Rocket! Andy Dalton rejuvenated this Panthers’ offense and was able to find Diontae Johnson for his first big game as a Panther. Johnson’s 35% target share was second only to Jauan Jennings and Rashee Rice.
CHICAGO BEARS
Swift Losing Work Quickly
D’Andre Swift managers might need to start making other arrangements soon. Swift decreased his snap count for the third straight week and was down to just 53%. Meanwhile, Roschon Johnson returned and played almost 40% of the snaps.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Higgins’ Return Helps Chase
Ja’Marr Chase clearly benefits when there is another strong receiver on the field. Playing with Tee Higgins for the first time this season, Chase went for six catches, 118 yards, and two touchdowns. Before Monday he had 97 total yards and no scores.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Jerome Ford Bounce-Back
One week after dropping to 44% of snaps played, Jerome Ford was back at 79% this week. The Browns desperately need him to be active so they can take some throws away from inefficient Deshaun Watson.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Cut Ezekiel Elliott
Ezekiel Elliott only played 19% of snaps in a game Dallas that desperately needed points. If he is not going to play on passing downs, hurry-up offense, or in early down situations, why does he need to be on our fantasy rosters?
DENVER BRONCOS
Tyler Badie Out of the Shadows
Was the answer to Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin really Tyler Badie all along? Only superstars Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and Jonathan Taylor had more explosive yards than Badie’s 43 on Sunday.
DETROIT LIONS
Tim Patrick Emergence
Tim Patrick has surpassed Kalif Raymond in this Lions’ offense. On Sunday, he played 50% of snaps while Raymond played in 7% (and was 61% in Week 1).
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Here Comes Emmanuel Wilson
With Marshawn Lloyd still out and the Packers not wanting to run Josh Jacobs into an early football grave, they turned to Emmanuel Wilson on Sunday. He played 41% of snaps, and ended with 14 touches, 85 total yards, and a touchdown.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Dalton Schultz a Little with a Lot
Dalton Schultz played a whopping 96% of snaps against Minnesota but continued a trend by only getting two catches for less than 25 yards. That marks the third time Schultz has three or fewer catches, and all are below 35 yards.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Hello Downs, Goodbye Mitchell
Back from a two-week injury, Josh Downs played in 57% of snaps, forcing Adonai Mitchell back down to 13%. Downs also saw five targets in this game, so all we need now is for Anthony Richardson to find some accuracy.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Thomas and Kirk Dominate Targets
Of the 44 targets that Jacksonville players saw on Monday night, Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Kirk saw 19 of them. Players like the tight ends and Gabe Davis now seem to be afterthoughts thanks to the emergence of these two.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Rashee Rice and the YAC
No wide receiver had more than Rashee Rice’s 73 yards after contact in Week 3. For the game, Rice averaged six yards after contact per reception against Atlanta. With that skill combined with 10+ targets per week? He is a first-round value player.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Tre Tucker Emerges
Last week it was Brock Bowers, this week it was Tre Tucker’s turn for a breakout. Tucker played 81% of snaps and put up seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Quentin Johnston Learned to Catch
With Joshua Palmer sidelined, Quentin Johnston pulled down his third touchdown in two games. But strangely, Johnston only saw two targets in the game. His sporadic usage is tough to trust right now, especially if Justin Herbert has to miss any games.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Johnson and Whittington Take a Back Seat
The revamped Rams wide receiver room seems to feature Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell after one game. Both Jordan Whittington and Tyler Johnson played less than 50% of snaps, but only Atwell saw more than 32 receiving yards out of the group.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Achane Plays More, Does Less
Achane played a season and career-high 74% of snaps. However, that only turned into 58 total yards and no touchdowns because the Seahawks could stack the box against him because of Skylar Thompson playing quarterback.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Aaron Jones Avoiding the Tackles
Aaron Jones put up another strong game with 102 total yards and a touchdown. But most important was how fresh he looks. He was third among running backs with 74 yards after contact, and his score came from the air as well.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Drake Maye Sighting
Not much at all went right for the Patriots on Thursday Night Football, but we did get our first glance at Drake Maye. In 30% of snaps, he threw for 22 yards and ran for 12. It’s the right first move to get a rookie acclimated and comfortable that he can make plays at this level.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Kamara’s Bell Cow Era
With Taysom Hill out for this game, Alvin Kamara was a full-blown workhorse against the Eagles. Kamara played on 86% of the offensive snaps and touched the ball 29 times for 127 yards. While it didn’t result in a touchdown, his usgae is proving Kamara was one of the best possible fantasy picks that could have been made this summer.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Malik Nabers the NY King
Once again, Malik Nabers is doing things rarely seen before from a rookie. On Sunday, he commanded a 34% target share and almost 63% of the Giants’ total air yards. He is the league leader in both categories through three games.
NEW YORK JETS
Garrett Wilson Production Coming
Garrett Wilson was able to pile up five catches for 33 yards and a score on Thursday night, but even bigger days might be ahead. He is playing more than 90% of snaps and has 10 more targets than any wide receiver or tight end on the roster.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Dallas Goedert Dominates Touches and Yards
With A.J. Brown out of the game, DeVonta Smith was the presumed heir apparent. Smith had a great game, but Dallas Goedert went for 11 catches and 170 yards. Much of that was on busted plays and runs after the catch, but Goedert led all tight ends in those categories as well as yards after the catch.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Bye Bye Jaylen Warren
It’s clear now that this Steelers team has two running backs: Najee Harris and Justin Fields. Jaylen Warren has been sidelined (literally) with just 34% of the plays going to him last week, and he might be sidelined medically with some kind of arm injury that was receiving tests on Monday and Tuesday.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Juaun Jennings Career Game
With all of the 49ers missing skill players, we all thought it would be the Brandon Aiyuk legendary game? Wrong. It was the Jauan Jennings career game with 11 catches, 175 yards, and three touchdowns. Those three scores represent more than Jennings had in the last two years combined.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
JSN Overtakes Lockett Officially
Tyler Lockett played just 56% of snaps in this game against Miami, ceding work to Jaxon Smith-Njigba who played 88% (highest on the team). They had similar stat lines on Sunday, but JSN is on the rise, while Lockett looks to be in a fall.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
It’s Bucky Time
The running back takeover may be about on the verge of happening. Rachaad White still played on 74% of snaps while Bucky Irving was in on 32%. But Irving touched the ball 12 times for 84 yards while White gave us 11 touches for just 35 total yards. White might be taking a backseat to the rookie sometime very soon.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Hopkins On The Way Back
Clearly his best game of the season, DeAndre Hopkins had 73 yards and a touchdown while playing on 46% of snaps. If Tennessee can get him up around 60%-70%, this could wind up being one of the best possible additions to an offense that desperately needs playmakers.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Ekeler Injury Gives Robinson New Role
Data Sources: Pro Football Focus, NFL Next Gen Stats, Football Guys Snap Summary, FTN Air Yards, Pro Football Reference, Team Rankings, Fantasy Points Data Suite
Make sure to check out all of our Week 4 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!