Quarterback and wide receiver scoring came back in a huge way in Week 4. After three weeks of lackluster offense, way too many field goal attempts, and turnover after turnover, offenses finally got their revenge. With this surge in scoring, did anything substantially change for teams in usage? Did new players get different opportunities, leading to the scoring? That’s what we will seek to answer in this week’s usage piece as we dissect the games here.
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 4 usage!
NFL Week 4 Usage Trends
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Conner a Lot With a Little
ATLANTA FALCONS
Running Back Controversy?
Why did Bijan Robinson see his snaps plummet to 64% in Week 4 while Tyler Allgeier’s shot up to 38%? Apparently coach Raheem Morris doesn’t think stats are important, but their best player being off the field 35% of the time is concerning.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
RIP Fantasy-Relevant Mark Andrews
That is now back-to-back weeks with zero catches and zero points for Mark Andrews. With how well the Ravens are running the ball right now, it’s tough to see how Andrews is going to get back to a relevant role soon. He once again was out-snapped by Isaiah Likely.
BUFFALO BILLS
Coleman Back in Good Graces
After a punishment in Week 3, Keon Coleman was back over 73% of the snaps in Week 4 and it would have been higher if Buffalo was not getting blown out. He was able to secure three catches for 51 receiving yards.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Chuba Chuba Bell Cow
Chuba Hubbard jumped from a snap count in the 54%-58% range to over 74% in Week 4. With that extra work, he rushed for 104 yards, caught 17 yards, and rushed for a touchdown. WIth Andy Dalton opening up the offense, Chuba Hubbard is all of a sudden a workhorse back that has significant value in fantasy football.
CHICAGO BEARS
Swift Swiftly Rebounds
One week after dropping to just about half of his team’s snaps, D’Andre Swift was back over 63% which allowed him to produce 165 total yards and a touchdown. He was likely on many fantasy benches, but it’s a positive sign the Bears are still committed to Swift as the pass game begins to open up.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
What Brown Can Do For You
Both Cincinnati Bengals running backs had excellent games in Week 4. Zack Moss had 78 total yards and a touchdown while Chase Brown had 92 total yards and two scores. What was surprising was that in a close game, Brown got 40% of the team’s snaps, far and away his highest this season.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Receiver Red Zone Woes
With Deshaun Watson’s struggles materializing every week, he is dragging the wide receivers down with him. That group has three total red zone targets in the last three weeks and Amari Cooper is the only receiver to score a touchdown in that span.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Ezekiel Elliott Dead To US
Write the eulogy. Hold the funeral procession. In a game that was tight, close, and physical, Ezekial Elliott played 18% of snaps and had 24 total yards. Rico Dowdle and Hunter Luepke basically split the work, and those are your primary backs looking forward.
DENVER BRONCOS
Cut All Receivers That Don’t Have Sutton on Their Jersey
Courtland Sutton had nine targets on Sunday from Bo Nix. That was more than half of the targets of the entire pass-catcher group. Sutton’s 36 total targets are also more than double any other player on the Denver roster.
DETROIT LIONS
Two Top Ten Running Backs Incoming
Last season, David Montgomery and D’Andre Swift were 11th and 12th in half-PPR formats in running back fantasy points per game. This is the year they both end up in the top ten. The Lions’ offense is so efficient that even if they both have under 15 carries (like on Monday night), they can both smash with that usage.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Here Comes Dontayvion Wicks
With Christian Watson out, it was the Dontayvion Wicks show. He had 13 targets and finished the game with five catches for 78 yards and two scores. If he is on your waiver wire ahead of this week, be prepared to spend up to secure his services. Wicks played 76% of snaps after Watson left the game Sunday.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Dare to Pick Up Dare Ogunbowale?
Dare Ogunbowale scored the game-winning touchdown for Houston on Sunday and had his biggest role of the season (40%) snaps. Joe Mixon is likely back soon, but with Ogunbowale having a connection with C.J. Stroud, there could be more passing and goal-line work in his future.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Downs Is Up
Josh Downs jumped to 62% of snaps and tied with Michael Pittman for the team lead with nine targets on Sunday. Josh Downs might secretly hope to have more Joe Flacco in the future as their styles perfectly complement each other. Downs is a player to grab as he ascends in this Colts passing game.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Cut Gabe Davis
Despite playing more than 75% of snaps in every game, Gabriel Davis is not a player we need to have on our rosters. The target tree is very narrow around Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr. Davis has three catches for 20 yards in the last two games.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Post-Rice Receiver Breakdown
With Rashee Rice leaving very early in the game, here is how the wide receivers were deployed in terms of snap rate: Xavier Worthy – 73%, Justin Wilson – 69%, JuJu Smith-Schuster – 52%, and Skyy Moore – 21%.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Zamir White Back to “A” Role
Zamir White jumped back up from 22% of snaps to 59% of snaps in Week 4. Alexander Mattison went down slightly, but Zamir White still wasn’t as efficient as he could be with just 50 rushing yards on 17 attempts.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
McConkey Steals the Spotlight
The past couple of weeks we were all over Quentin Johnston, but in Week 4 it was all Ladd McConkey and his 77% snaps, 67 receiving yards, and an acrobatic touchdown. McConkey passed Johnston this week in targets and now has the most of anyone on the team this year.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
See You Later Tyler Johnson
Even with no Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, Tyler Johnson seems to be the odd man out in this passing offense. Johnson has seen his snaps drop three straight weeks, and he was only in on 16% this week.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Achane Struggling in the Box
De’Von Achane had 10 carries and three targets on Monday night, but it’s clear he is suffering from the absence of Tua Tagovailoa. Achane only had 29 total, scoreless yards, and teams are loading up in the box against him. Achane has more trouble the more defenders are in the box, and teams know to go there with the lack of viable quarterback options.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Chandler and Nailor Find the Bench
With Aaron Jones playing well and Jordan Addison back in action, Ty Chandler and Jalen Nailor found themselves out of the game much of the day on Sunday. Chandler played just 12% of snaps while Nailor saw just 21%.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Ja’Lynn Polk Gets a Promotion
Rookie Ja’Lynn Polk seemed to get a promotion over Demario Douglas on Sunday. Polk leaped up to 83% of snaps after just 50% in Week 3. It gave him three catches for 30 yards, but after essentially nothing the first three games, this was a good start.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Simplest Usage Chart in the NFL
Of the Saints’ 98 total targets available in the 2024 season, Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed have 69 total targets or more than 70% of the team’s throws on the year.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Nabers Historic Target Share
New York Giants’ wide receivers have 108 total targets so far in 2024. Malik Nabers has 52 of those, or 48% of them. He already leads the league in target share just four games into his rookie season and should be considered the favorite considering the other options on his team.
NEW YORK JETS
Braelon Allen Creeping Up
Breece Hall did not play well on Sunday and that allowed rookie Braelon Allen to creep into the playing time. Allen played a season-high 36% of snaps while Hall was at a season-low 69%.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Interesting Saquon Usage in Loss
Yes, the Eagles were down big and fast in this past week’s game against Tampa Bay, but that means they didn’t want to turn to Saquon, even as they tried to play catch up. Barkley saw 56% of snaps, while pass-catching specialist Kenneth Gainwell saw 44%.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Here Comes George Pickens
With the emergence of Justin Fields, George Pickens is reaping the benefits. Pickens had 11 targets in this game and now has 29 on the season. That led to his best game of the season with seven catches for 113 yards. Justin Fields running the ball should open up the passing game more.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Juaun Jennings Usage Drops, Still Dominates
After his masterclass in Week 3, it made sense that Jennings would not be as involved with Deebo Samuel and George Kittle back in action. However, Jennings turned six targets into three catches for 88 yards, leading the team. He may be the option to play going forward over Brandon Aiyuk.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Kenneth Walker Returns With an Explosion
A two-game injury absence for Kenneth Walker? No problem. After three touchdowns on just 12 carries, it is clear Walker is back and he dominated what was a very tough rush defense by the Lions.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Bucky Bump
As expected, Bucky Irving got a bump-up in playing time on Sunday. Irving was at a season-high 42% of snaps while Rachaad White was at 58%, a season-low. Both backs rushed 10 times for 49 yards, but Irving got the call near the end zone and scored a touchdown.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Receivers Unusable Without Levis?
If Will Levis is out for any time with his shoulder injury and the Titans have to turn to Mason Rudolph or someone off the street, it may be time to close the books on their pass-catchers. Eight players saw at least one target in the Monday night game, but none saw more than four.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Robinson Plays Less, Still Rolls
Likely because of the blowout, Brian Robinson Jr. only played 63% of snaps (he played more than that every game Austin Ekeler was active), but he still played well. Robinson rushed for over 100 yards and scored a touchdown in what is becoming one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses.
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 5 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!