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Hey fantasy managers!
Sal here - back with an important tip for today.
A lot just changed after 1 weekend of preseason football.
I’ve summarized the most important takeaways from all of the starting offenses snaps this past weekend.
It’s a longer email compared to usual - but it’s important.
Here’s what you need to know before you draft:
1. Tank Dell didn't start for the Texans.
It was Nico Collins & Stefon Diggs who played 100% of the starter snaps. If this usage continues it'll hurt Dell's upside in 2024...
2. The Titans rotated RBs Tony Pollard & Tyjae Spears:
• Pollard: 57% of the starter snaps & 6 opportunities
• Spears: 43% of the snaps & 4 opportunities
Expect a split backfield for the Titans in 2024...
3. The Bears showed us how they’ll use their WRs to start the year.
DJ Moore & Keenan Allen are the starters as they played 85% of 1st team snaps. And rookie Rome Odunze was the #3 WR playing 55% of the snaps. This usage could change but it's not great for Odunze right now...
4. The Jaguars starting WRs were Brian Thomas & Gabe Davis.
Christian Kirk only played in 3 WR sets out of the slot. This would limit Kirk's upside if this usage continues...
5. Zamir White played 78% of the Raiders 1st team snaps.
And he handled 100% of the backfield opportunities. White is a breakout candidate this season for fantasy...
6. The Bears RB usage was wild.
D’Andre Swift started but saw just 10% of the starter snaps while Khalil Herbert earned 70% of the snaps & 9 carries. Travis Homer was also involved with Roschon Johnson injured. Avoid this backfield right now in drafts...
7. Javonte Williams starts for the Broncos and plays 75% of the 1st team snaps.
Samaje Perine was rotated in for 25% of the snaps & appears to be the RB2 right now over rookie Audric Estime…
8. James Cook is the locked in RB1 for the Bills playing 100% of the starter snaps.
He earned every RB carry with the 1st team offense. And rookie WR Keon Coleman ran 100% of the 1st team routes. He's a great target in Round 10 of drafts...
9. Marquise Brown left after 1 snap with a shoulder injury.
The Chiefs starting WRs were Brown – Xavier Worthy & Rashee Rice. Worthy becomes a must draft player if Brown misses time...
10. Chase Brown plays 100% of the Bengals starter snaps with Zack Moss out.
This includes Brown playing in pass protection situations - which shows the coaches are trusting him more. Brown is a great pick in Round 10 of drafts...
11. Jaylen Warren & Najee Harris split snaps almost evenly.
Najee played 53% of the 1st team snaps while Warren played 47%. Warren is a great target as he goes 15 picks later than Najee in fantasy drafts...
12. The Packers starters played just 3 snaps.
It’s hard to gather much from this – but RB Josh Jacobs did play all 3 snaps. And Christian Watson – Romeo Doubs & Jayden Reed were the starting WRs...
13. RB Jerome Ford played 100% of the Browns 1st team offense snaps.
He should begin the season as the Browns RB1 with Nick Chubb not expected to be ready Week 1…
14. Isiah Pacheco plays 100% of the Chiefs starter snaps.
All the talk in Chiefs camp has been that he’s in store for a massive workload this season. Pacheco is a great pick in Round 2 or 3 of your drafts...
15. Patriots rookie WR Ja’Lynn Polk didn’t play any snaps with the starters.
This was a surprise as he appears to be behind KJ Osborn & Tyquan Thornton on the depth chart. Polk has had a great camp so this can always change moving forward…
16. TE Cole Kmet splits starter snaps & routes with Gerald Everett.
If this usage holds – neither guy is valuable in fantasy…
17. Brian Robinson & Austin Ekeler split the Commanders RB snaps.
They played 1 drive and split the snaps evenly with Robinson playing 55% while Ekeler earned 45%. Robinson is still the preferred target in drafts as the early down back...
18. The Broncos main WRs were Courtland Sutton – Tim Patrick & Josh Reynolds.
This was a surprise as camp reports had Marvin Mims ahead of Tim Patrick. Patrick played 92% of the 1st team snaps & appears to be a starter right now…
19. DJ Chark appears to be winning the Chargers WR3 job over Quentin Johnston.
Chark started the game while Johnston took over once Chark left. The Chargers starting WRs appear to be Ladd McConkey – Josh Palmer & Chark right now...
20. The Raiders 2 TEs were both on the field for 78%+ of the snaps.
But niether player ran more than 50% of the routes. This makes it difficult to trust either player to be a consistent fantasy option...
Bonus: Colby Parkinson appears to be the Rams starting TE.
He was rested for this preseason game with the rest of the Rams starters. Parkinson will start while Tyler Higbee is out. Higbee isn't expected to return until the middle of the season at best...
Bonus: The Steelers Top 2 WRs are currently George Pickens & Van Jefferson.
Both played 88% of the starter snaps. No other WR played more than 60%...
Bonus: Tyrone Tracy is the Giants clear RB2 behind Devin Singletary.
Singletary didn't play in this game - but Tracy saw 85% of the ‘starter’ snaps. He's a great target in deep leagues in Round 17...
That’s all for now - I’ll be in touch tomorrow with another tip.
Sal