Is Week 8 of the fantasy football season the week where we remember that tight end scoring went back to “normal?” Was all we really needed a fake National Tight End Day holiday to get them all going despite all the chaos of the first seven weeks? Week 8 gave us 17 tight end touchdowns heading into Monday Night football. The tight end resurgence and the return of several injured stars was welcome news for many fantasy football rosters.
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 8 usage!
NFL Week 6 Usage Trends
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Greg Dortch Phase Out
ATLANTA FALCONS
Maybe Pitts Just Needs Fewer Snaps?
Kyle Pitts scored a season-high two touchdowns with a season-high 91 yards, all on a season-low 48% of snaps. Is Kyle Pitts the Tony Pollard of tight ends, who only thrives as a part-time player?
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Mark Andrews is Back
That is now four touchdowns in the last three weeks for Mark Andrews as he has regained his place atop the tight end pecking order in Baltimore. Isaiah Likely is still playing 65% of snaps, but Andrews is now the one getting targets.
BUFFALO BILLS
Amari Cooper Ramp-Up
In his first week with the Buffalo Bills, Amari Cooper played 35% of snaps and had five targets. In Week 8, he played 50% of snaps and demanded two targets. The Bills are slow-playing here and making sure he is fully integrated by the playoffs.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Preparing for a Post-Diontae Johnson World
Diontae Johnson was hurt in this game, and the thought is he will be traded this week. If that’s the case, Xavier Legette (62% of snaps in Week 8), Jalen Coker (69%), and David Moore (82%) are your next men up in Carolina.
CHICAGO BEARS
Rome Crumbling to the Ground
With the Chicago Bears offense improving, Rome Odunze hasn’t quite come along for the ride. He played a season-low 75% of snaps this week and doesn’t have more than 41 receiving yards since his breakout game in Week 3.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Back-to-back Backfield Splits
That is now back-t0-back weeks where the backfield snaps and opportunity share for Zack Moss and Chase Brown has essentially been 50/50. However, Chase Brown has been the far superior player and scored again in Week 8.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Browns Target Tree Under Winston
With no Deshaun Watson and no Amari Cooper, here were the snap breakdowns for receivers: Jerry Jeudy (91%), Cedric Tillman (90%), and Elijah Moore (71%). David Njoku also played 84% and looks like a top option the rest of the way.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Two-Man Rodeo
If you’re not CeeDee Lamb or Jake Ferguson, I hope you enjoy your cardio workout with the Dallas Cowboys. Lamb and Ferguson saw 25 of the 36 total targets in the Sunday night game against San Francisco.
DENVER BRONCOS
Adam Trautman Emergence
Greg Dulcich is not the guy anymore in Denver, and that has allowed Adam Trautman (seven targets the last two games) to emerge. He had an amazing one-handed touchdown this week and we need to take notice considering how strong the Denver offense has been the last few weeks.
DETROIT LIONS
Receiver Shakeup with Jameson Williams Out
With no Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown expectedly led the way, but Tim Patrick (77% of snaps), Kalif Raymond (31%), and even Allen Robinson (44%) all played a big role on Sunday.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Jayden Reed Backseat
It was Jayden Reed’s turn to take a backseat among all the strong receivers in Green Bay. He played just 59% of snaps and saw just three targets. He will be back to his normal role by next week.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Dalton Schultz Finally Involved
With injuries now to their top two wide receivers, tight end Dalton Schultz is finally getting involved this season for Houston. He has 22 targets in the last four weeks and rarely leaves the field on offense.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Jonathan Taylor Back in the Saddle
No worries about bringing Jonathan Taylor back from the high ankle sprain in Week 8. He played more than 80% of snaps and touched the ball 21 times.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Who is Next Man Up at Wide Receiver?
With Christian Kirk now out for the season and Brian Thomas Jr. also potentially missing time, who will step up in Jacksonville? Parker Washington played on 74% of snaps and old friend Tim Jones got 47%.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
DeAndre Hopkins Integration
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Zamir White Disappearing Act
Nominally the starter to begin the year, running back Zamir White has basically disappeared as he played fewer than 5% of the snaps in Week 8. It’s almost fully the Alexander Mattison show now.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Will Dissly Deserves a Roster Spot
Will Dissly now has 23 targets over the last three weeks for the LA Chargers. All other tight ends on the roster have a total of five. With the target tree narrowing in on Ladd McConkey and Will Dissly, the tight end is worth picking up.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Kupp and Nacua Return
Neither Cooper Kupp nor Puka Nacua played more than 60% of snaps on Thursday night in their respective returns. But their presence was a massive boost to the offense that was able to knock off Minnesota.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Tua’s Return Boosts Ground Game Most
Tyreek Hill had average games in Tua Tagovailoa’s return in Week 8, but it was the running game that really excelled. Raheem Moster scored two touchdowns on his 10 touches. De’Von Achane had 147 yards and a touchdown on just 16 touches.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
We All Underestimated Aaron Jones
Congratulations if you had Aaron Jones playing 92% of snaps in Week 8 on your bingo card. I certainly did not and thought this would be would be a split backfield with Ty Chandler by now. Jones has emerged as one of the true bell-cow backs in the league.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Bourne Identity has Improved
Since returning from injury, Kendrick Bourne’s snap totals have risen from 27% in Week 5 to 78% in Week 8. He is now firmly one of the Patriots’ top two wide receivers and a preferred weapon of Drake Maye.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Saints’ Ineptitude Sidelining Alvin Kamara
The high-powered Saints of Weeks 1 and 2 are now long gone and they are getting blown out by the Chargers as was the case in Week 8. With this change, Alvin Kamara has now played fewer than 60% of snaps in two straight weeks. Kamara should now be considered an RB2 option at best.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Tyrone Tracy Takes Off
Tyrone Tracy touched the ball 22 times for 150 yards and a touchdown compared to just four touches for Devin Singletary. It’s safe to say we are past the point of no return where Singletary has any fantasy relevance. This is Tracy’s show now.
NEW YORK JETS
Braelon Allen Upswing?
After three straight weeks of being basically sidelined, Braelon Allen was resurrected with 31% of snaps plus 12 touches (and a touchdown) in Week 8. Breece Hall is still RB1 here, but the Jets could use Allen’s bruising style in the red zone.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Hurts and Barkley Red Zone Lockdown
The Eagles had 15 red zone opportunities in the red zone on Sunday, and Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley had 13 of them. It’s a good thing that A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith get their production on long passes because they are often shut out in the red zone.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Russell Wilson Spreads the Love
Russell Wilson is now 2-0 as the Steelers’ quarterback, but he is spreading the ball around and creating headaches for fantasy football managers. Five players saw between three and five targets with none of them gaining more than 74 yards.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Pearsall Trying to Replace Brandon Aiyuk
In the post-Brandon Aiyuk world, rookie Ricky Pearsall is looking to fill the void. He played 60% of snaps and saw four targets after he got five last week. If Deebo Samuel keeps missing time, the big games are going to come for Pearsall.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Backfield Convergence
What was once a clear Kenneth Walker backfield has now become a split workload over the last two weeks between Walker and Charbonnet. Walker had more touches in Week 8 but Charbonnet had the goal-line carry and the touchdown.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Wide Receiver New World Order
With no Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, here is how things shook out for Baker Mayfield and the Bucs: Jalen McMillan (81% of snaps, seven targets), Sterling Shepard (62%, five targets), and Trey Palmer (70%, two targets).
TENNESSEE TITANS
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Fantasy Relevant?
With no DeAndre Hopkins, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine looks good with Mason Rudolph under center. NWI was up to 92% of snaps this week and now has a touchdown in three straight games for Tennessee.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Brian Robinson Still Not 100%
Brian Robinson must not be 100% recovered from his injury as he only played 47% of snaps. He did touch the ball 17 times, but for just 76 yards with no scores.
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 9 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!