Fantasy football performance occurs at the intersection of efficiency and opportunity. We can better understand a player's role by analyzing the drivers behind snap counts based on different game situations and coaching tendencies. As a result, we can harvest this information for actionable insights regarding waiver wire pickups, start-sit decisions and DFS roster construction. For Week 2, I broke down the utilization for each skill group for every team. In addition, each team summary includes upgrades, downgrades, buy-low and sell-high commentary.
We specifically want to know if running backs are on the field for early downs, passing downs and short yardage. Each of those opportunities provides a different amount of value.
We also want to know how often wide receivers and tight ends are in a route versus the number of team passing plays. Snaps don't matter as much; in fact, they can be misleading for tight ends, who may be blocking and have little opportunity to score fantasy points.
It is essential to understand which players come off of the field in different personnel groupings. For example, a third wide receiver on a team that uses 11 personnel (three wide receivers) on only 50% of neutral-script plays (within three points excluding plays in the last two minutes of each half) will be game-script dependent.
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Data notes and acronyms:
1st/2nd = First and second downs
LDD = long down and distance (third and fourth down with over six yards to go)
SDD = short down and distance (second, third and fourth down with two or fewer yards to go)
i5 = inside the five-yard line
2MIN = two-minute offense (hurry-up offense)
Close = score within three points
Lead = leading by four points or more
Trail = trailing by four points or more
Plays = penalties included for utilization splits and rates
Pass Play = all dropbacks (i.e., attempts, sacks and scrambles)
ADOT = average depth of target
Air Yards = ADOT multiplied by targets
TTT = average time to throw
PA = play action
PA Targets = percentage of player's targets that came using play action
Fantasy finishes = through Sunday night game
YPRR = yards per route run
TPRR = targets per route run
EZ = end zone
Week 0 = season data
JUMP TO A TEAM:
ARZ | ATL | BLT | BUF | CAR | CIN | CHI | CLE | DEN | DAL | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LVR | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WFT
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Overview
| Week | Plays | Plays per Minute | Pass | Run | Trail Play | Trail Pass | Close Play | Close Pass | Lead Play | Lead Pass |
| 1 | 69 | 2.07 | 54% | 46% | 0% | 0% | 16% | 73% | 84% | 50% |
| 2 | 61 | 1.91 | 69% | 31% | 56% | 62% | 44% | 78% | 0% | 0% |
| 0 | 130 | 1.99 | 61% | 39% | 26% | 62% | 29% | 76% | 45% | 50% |
The Cardinals have thrown the ball 76% of the time in close situations and rank eighth in time of possession.
Quarterbacks
| Week | Player | ADOT | Adjusted Comp % | TTT | YPA | Play Action | Designed Rush Att | Scrambles | Sacks | i5 Att | PPR Rank |
| 1 | Kyler Murray | 9.1 | 72% | 2.91 | 9.0 | 25% | 13% | 3% | 6% | 100% | 1 |
| 2 | Kyler Murray | 8.1 | 88% | 3.03 | 11.1 | 39% | 16% | 5% | 7% | 0% | 1 |
| 0 | Kyler Murray | 8.6 | 81% | 2.97 | 10.2 | 32% | 14% | 4% | 6% | 100% | 1 |
I was told I couldn't rank Murray ahead of Josh Allen in fantasy this preseason. Oh well…
Running backs
| Week | Player | Snaps | Rush Att | Routes | Targets | TPRR | SDD Snaps | i5 Att | LDD Snaps | 2MIN Snaps | PPR Rank |
| 1 | Chase Edmonds | 58% | 34% | 68% | 14% | 16% | 0% | 0% | 100% | 100% | 18 |
| 2 | Chase Edmonds | 64% | 42% | 62% | 15% | 19% | 40% | 0% | 100% | 100% | 18 |
| 0 | Chase Edmonds | 61% | 37% | 65% | 15% | 18% | 25% | 0% | 100% | 100% | 16 |
| 1 | James Conner | 49% | 50% | 24% | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 46 |
| 2 | James Conner | 39% | 42% | 26% | 0% | 0% | 60% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 54 |
| 0 | James Conner | 45% | 47% | 25% | 0% | 0% | 75% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 51 |
Edmonds continues to lead the backfield, and his 15% target share over two games is encouraging. He is a low-end RB2 with upside.
Receivers and tight ends
| Week | Player | Pos | Routes | Targets | TPRR | ADOT | Air Yards | EZ Tgts | 3rd/4th Down Targets | PA Targets | PPR Rank |
| 1 | DeAndre Hopkins | WR | 95% | 24% | 20% | 12.1 | 32% | 20% | 22% | 43% | 6 |
| 2 | DeAndre Hopkins | WR | 98% | 12% | 10% | 12.0 | 18% | 50% | 29% | 50% | 28 |
| 0 | DeAndre Hopkins | WR | 96% | 18% | 14% | 12.1 | 25% | 29% | 25% | 45% | 10 |
| 1 | A.J. Green | WR | 86% | 21% | 19% | 9.7 | 22% | 20% | 11% | 0% | 89 |
| 2 | A.J. Green | WR | 86% | 15% | 14% | 9.0 | 17% | 50% | 29% | 20% | 39 |
| 0 | A.J. Green | WR | 86% | 18% | 16% | 9.4 | 19% | 29% | 19% | 9% | 62 |
| 1 | Christian Kirk | WR | 62% | 17% | 22% | 13.2 | 25% | 40% | 33% | 0% | 10 |
| 2 | Christian Kirk | WR | 74% | 12% | 13% | 24.3 | 36% | 0% | 29% | 25% | 52 |
| 0 | Christian Kirk | WR | 68% | 15% | 17% | 18.1 | 31% | 29% | 31% | 11% | 24 |
| 1 | Rondale Moore | WR | 38% | 17% | 36% | 4.0 | 8% | 20% | 22% | 0% | 51 |
| 2 | Rondale Moore | WR | 57% | 24% | 33% | 3.9 | 12% | 0% | 0% | 50% | 5 |
| 0 | Rondale Moore | WR | 48% | 21% | 34% | 3.9 | 10% | 14% | 13% | 31% | 17 |
| 1 | Maxx Williams | TE | 59% | 3% | 5% | 24.0 | 9% | 0% | 0% | 100% | 89 |
| 2 | Maxx Williams | TE | 60% | 21% | 28% | 4.9 | 13% | 0% | 0% | 57% | 3 |
| 0 | Maxx Williams | TE | 59% | 13% | 17% | 7.3 | 11% | 0% | 0% | 63% | 16 |
Kirk saw a 12% bump in routes despite dropping out of the top-50 in scoring, but Moore also experienced an uptick in utilization.
Upgrade: Moore steamed his routes from 38% to 57% and led the team in targets-per-route again. He is as boom-bust as it comes, but his role could continue to grow. The rookie's current rostership sits under 70% across most home leagues. He is a WR5 with upside and belongs on a roster in all deeper formats.
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