Opportunity Knocks: Week 7 Usage Report and Recap

Opportunity is king in fantasy football. Tracking player volume and snaps each season helps managers get ahead of coaching trends while making advanced moves on the trade market and waiver wires. In this recurring weekly series, we will look at all 32 teams’ most notable market shares (percentage of team output) in targets, opportunities, and rushing/receiving production. Week 7 is officially in the books and we have some stunning usage data to recap, so let’s get right to it. For the complete report of opportunity data on every single player, download the FREE Fantasy Football by Broto App.

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Arizona Cardinals

• Emari Demercado saw increased usage as the Cardinals leading running back with 53 snaps (80.0% Snap Share) despite handling a limited role the week prior. 

• The undrafted rookie handled 13 rushing attempts (92.9% RB Rush Share/52.0% Team Rush Share) for a team-high 58 yards. Demercado was also the only Cardinals running back in Week 7 to receive a target. He caught four of his five targets (14.7% Target Share) for 17 yards.

• Marquise Brown once again led the team with seven targets (20.6% Target Share), catching three for 49 yards.

• Rondale Moore’s usage as a WR/RB gadget hybrid was a long-awaited dream for many who became fans of the shifty wideout during his collegiate days. Unfortunately, Moore’s usage as a rusher, albeit limited, has also hurt his utility as a pass-catcher as nearly all of his touches are designed near the line of scrimmage.

• Trey McBride continues to increase his role within the offense–this time seeing six targets (17.6% Target Share) on a 53.0% snap share (35 Snaps). McBride could provide massive value to fantasy rosters in the second half of the season with veteran tight end Zach Ertz set to hit injured reserve.

Atlanta Falcons

• Jonnu Smith (35 Snaps/54.0% Snap Share), played one more snap than Kyle Pitts (34 Snaps/52.0% Snap Share). Pitts saw four targets (16.0% Target Share) to Smith’s three (12.0% Target Share).

• Drake London led all members of the offense with a 28.0% target share (7 Targets) and 85.0% snap share (55 Snaps).

• Bijan Robinson (1 Carry/3.1% Rush Share) did not see a touch until late in the fourth quarter, citing migraine-like symptoms as the reason for his lack of usage.

Baltimore Ravens

• Lamar Jackson had a career day as a passer, completing 21/27 attempts for 357 yards and three touchdowns with no sacks and no turnovers. The Ravens dual-threat quarterback also added 36 rushing yards on nine attempts and one more touchdown.

• Gus Edwards' lone reception for 80 yards on his only target (3.6% Target Share) of the day was enough to lead the team in receiving yards.

• Edwards shouldered 14 rush attempts (77.8% Rush Share) for 64 yards and one touchdown despite playing the same amount of snaps as Justice Hill (30 Snaps/50.0% Snap Share)

• Odell Beckham Jr. surprisingly led the Ravens offense in targets, hauling in five of his team-high seven targets (25.0% Target Share) for 49 yards.

• Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews were targeted six times apiece (21.4% Target Share) while leading their respective positions in snap share.

• Andrews was on the receiving end of two of Jackson’s three touchdowns with the third going to Nelson Agholor who finished with one reception on one target (% Target Share) for 12 yards and the aforementioned score.

Buffalo Bills

• Stefon Diggs has recorded double-digit targets in all but one game this season. Diggs saw 12 targets (29.3% Target Share) in Week 7. The veteran wideout is commanding a 31.7% target share (78 Targets) on the season while playing an average of 87.7% of the team’s snaps.

• Diggs’ 678 yards through seven games account for 36.8% of Josh Allen’s total passing production this season.

Carolina Panthers

• *BYE WEEK*

Chicago Bears

• Undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent averaged 2.1 yards per target in his first full start, marking the lowest aDOT of any quarterback this season.

• D’Onta Foreman exploded in his second start of the season as the Bears leading back. Foreman handled 16 carries (53.3% Rush Share) for 89 yards, scoring twice on the ground while catching three of five targets (17.2% Target Share) for 31 yards and an additional score through the air.

• Darrynton Evans saw one more snap (34 Snaps/48.0% Snap Share) than Foreman (33 Snaps/46.0% Snap Share).

• D.J. Moore led the team in targets (9 Targets/24.9% Target Share) – a trend that has recurred in every game save for Week 1.

Cincinnati Bengals

• *BYE WEEK*

Cleveland Browns

• Deshaun Watson returned from injury but quickly found himself sidelined once again after taking a big hit early in the Browns Week 7 game against the Colts. Watson cleared concussion protocol but was unable to return to the game. He completed 1 of five pass attempts for five yards before exiting.

• Jerome Ford recorded a ball-carrier speed of 21.04 MPH on his 69-yard touchdown run, the fastest speed of any Browns ball-carrier this season.

• Unfortunately, Ford was forced to exit shortly thereafter with an ankle injury. He finished with 11 rush attempts (37.9% Rush Share) for 74 yards with four targets (10.8% Target Share), catching two for 20 yards.

• Kareem Hunt stepped up with two rushing touchdowns on 10 attempts (34.5% Rush Share) gaining 31 yards with his opportunities.

• Pierre Strong saw eight rush attempts (27.6% Rush Share) for 25 yards, all of which came following Ford’s departure.

• David Njoku led the squad in targets, catching five of nine (24.3% Target Share) for 54 yards.

• Amari Cooper was closely behind Njoku, earning eight targets (21.6% Target Share) but managed just two receptions for 22 yards.

Dallas Cowboys

• *BYE WEEK*

Denver Broncos

• Javonte Williams appears to be regaining health and subsequently his workhorse opportunity.

• Williams handled 15 carries (60.2% Rush Share) with four targets (13.8% Target Share) on 31 snaps (54.0% Snap Share).

• No other member of the Broncos backfield saw more than five rush attempts, three targets, or 15 snaps on the field.

• The remainder of the Broncos' usage data is depressingly uninspiring and average. Not bad, just average.

Detroit Lions

• Jahmyr Gibbs was thrust into the Lions’ RB1 role for the second time this season due to the absence of David Montgomery. Gibbs' first performance in the role left much to be desired but Week 7 provided managers with a long-awaited breakout for the star rookie running back.

• Gibbs played on 87.0% of the team’s snaps (65) corralling nine of 10 targets (18.9% Target Share) for 58 yards with 11 carries (78.6% Rush Share) for 68 yards and the first touchdown of his NFL career.

• Amon-Ra St. Brown saw a career-high 19 targets (35.8% Target Share), catching 13 for 102 yards as one of the Lions' only bright spots on offense.

• Sam LaPorta is providing the rarest of rookie tight end seasons for his managers, posting five top-10 positional outings in his first seven games. LaPorta earned seven targets (13.2% Target Share) catching six passes for 52 yards.

• The Lions offense as a whole struggled to find sustained momentum, scoring just six points in a lopsided loss to the Ravens.

Green Bay Packers

• Jordan Love has been one of the most wildly erratic quarterbacks in the NFL this season, completing just 57.5% of his total pass attempts (111 CMP/193 ATT) with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. 

• All of Love’s interceptions have occurred in the last four games.

• Aaron Jones (23 Snaps/36.0% Snap Share) made his return to the lineup but played a secondary role behind A.J. Dillon (36 Snaps/56.0% Snap Share).

• Dillon saw 15 carries (60.0% Rush Share) for 61 yards while Jones took eight carries (32.0% Rush Share) for 35 yards.

• Jones was the more frequented pass-catcher, hauling in three of five targets (15.6% Target Share) for 22 yards.

• Dillon, however, was the more efficient receiver, needing just two receptions on two targets (6.2% Target Share) to lead the Packers in receiving yards. Sadly, Dillon needed just 34 receiving yards to accomplish the lowly feat as the entire offense struggled against a cupcake-soft Broncos defense.

• Five different members of the Packers offense (Rome Doubs, Luke Musgrave, Christian Watson, Aaron Jones) had five targets (15.6% Target Share).

Houston Texans

• *BYE WEEK*

Indianapolis Colts

• The Week 7 breakout of Josh Downs deserves a look back through the recent past as we have highlighted the rookie’s inevitable breakout through the “Opportunity Knocks” series.

• Downs appeared to be the favorite target of Gardner Minshew from the jump as the rookie wideout was just one target shy from leading the team in Week 3 when Minshew started against the Ravens.

• In Week 5, with Minshew to close the game once again, Downs topped the Colts in receiving production with six receptions on six targets (23.1% Target Share) for 97 yards while once again falling one target shy of Michael Pittman Jr. for the team lead.

• Against the Jaguars in Week 6, the rookie faltered with his opportunity (8 Targets/14.6% Target Share) but managed to find the endzone for his first pro score, collecting five receptions for 21 yards and one touchdown.

• Week 7 marked what seemed inevitable as Downs led the Colts in all receiving categories, commanding six targets (26.1% Target Share) with five receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown.

• Michael Pittman remains atop the depth chart and should be considered the Colts' true WR1 but Downs is hot on his heels and has proven to perform admirably even with limited usage.

• Jonathan Taylor (35 Snaps/50.0% Snap Share) and Zack Moss (35 Snaps/50.0 % Snap Share) had nearly identical usage lines as rushers with both running backs handling 18 carries (50.0% Rush Share) for a dead even split of snaps and rushing attempts.

• Taylor provided utility above Moss as a receiver, catching three of his four targets (17.4% for 45 yards while also turning one of his 18 rush attempts into a touchdown.

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Travis Etienne has now scored two touchdowns in three consecutive contests, cementing himself as one of the best players at his position in fantasy. 

• Calvin Ridley feels lightyears behind Christian Kirk in terms of production and opportunity this season but the splits are closer than they seem.

• Ridley has played 83.6% of the Jaguars total snaps (398) this season, leading all receivers on the offense but has just 27 receptions on 48 targets (19.8% Target Share) for 368 yards. 

• Kirk, on the other hand, has secured a 22.6% target share (55 Targets) with 39 receptions for 474 yards and three touchdowns across seven games while playing 78.6% of the offensive snaps (374).

Kansas City Chiefs

• Rashee Rice’s linear increase in development, production, and opportunity share has to be the most intriguing of any player in this week’s edition of “Opportunity Knocks.”

• For a complete breakdown of Rice’s rising opportunity, check out our recent Buy Low and Sell High article. For the purpose of this section, we will keep it brief with some of the rookie's more impressive market shares.

• Amongst 55 wide receivers with more than 30 targets this season, Rice ranks 3rd in YAC/REC (7.5 YDS), 9th in Targets Per Route Run (0.27), 10th in Yards Per Route Run (2.64 YDS), and 4th in Red Zone Targets (9). 

• The rookie has increased his route percentages from 23.0% in Week 5 to 50.0% in Week 6 and a season-high 65.0% in Week 7. 

• He averages a target rate of 32.2% (WR4) on 87 total routes this season. 

• Rice also ranks second in Yards Per Route amongst all players from the slot position with 3.28 yards, trailing only Tyreek Hill (3.98 YDS) for the top spot. 

• Hill, Rice, and Ja’Marr Chase are the only players in the NFL to average more than 3.0 Yards Per Route from the slot this season. 

• Travis Kelce led the team with 13 targets (% Target Share) catching 12 for 179 yards and one touchdown as the team’s receiving leader in every category.

• Rice did, however, lead all Chiefs wide receivers with six targets (14.3% Target Share) and receptions (5), amassing 60 yards and his second touchdown in as many games.

Las Vegas Raiders 

• Jakobi Meyers has been a sensational asset for the Raiders offense this season. Meyers continues to fly under the radar as one of the most reliable producers in fantasy, catching seven of his team-high 13 targets (28.9% Target Share) for 50 yards and one touchdown, surpassing Davante Adams as the team’s top wideout in Week 7.

• Meyers has caught five touchdowns this season after failing to catch a touchdown for a record-breaking 35 straight games to begin his NFL career.

• Meyers has now earned more targets than Adams in four of his six healthy games this season.

Los Angeles Chargers

• Austin Ekeler made his long-awaited return to the Chargers lineup and immediately saw more snaps (40 Snaps/63.0% Snap Share) and carries (14 Carries/66.7% Rush Share) than Josh Kelley but only totaled two targets (6.7% Target Share).

• Josh Kelley shouldered the majority of rushing production, tallying seven carries (33.3% Rush Share) for 75 yards and one touchdown on a 37.0% snap share (23 Snaps) compared to Ekeler's 46 combined scrimmage yards (45 Rushing Yards/1 Receiving Yard) on 15 touches (14 Carries/1 Reception).

• Josh Palmer has grown into his role as the Chargers top pass-catcher since the departure of Mike Williams. Keenan Allen remains a major factor as Herbert's favorite target but Palmer has led the team in receiving production in two of his three starts this season.

Los Angeles Rams

• Puka Nacua is, without exaggeration, off to the greatest start to a wide receiver’s career in NFL history. Nacua now has 58 receptions for 752 yards on 82 targets (32.0% Target Share), averaging 107.4 Yards Per Game in his first seven games.

• Nacua finished Week 7 with 12 targets (41.4% Target Share) with eight receptions for 154 yards accounting for 66.6% of Matthew Stafford’s total passing output.

• Cooper Kupp has played 98.3% of the team’s snaps since returning from injured reserve and boasts a 31.1% target share (28 Targets) in his first three games.

• Darrell Henderson was signed less than one week prior to playing for the Rams. Henderson saw 39 snaps (57.0% Snap Share) and 18 carries (60.0% Rush Share) with two targets (6.9% Target Share) leading the Rams backfield in all categories.

Miami Dolphins

• Tyreek Hill is pacing towards setting the single-season receiving yards record. The speedy veteran has 902 receiving yards in the first seven games of the season, averaging 128.9 yards per game while accounting for 43.1% of Tua Tagovailoa’s total passing yardage, 32.5% of the team’s receptions and 23.3% of the team’s total offensive touchdowns.

Minnesota Vikings

• Jordan Addison had the best game of his young career in Week 7, catching seven of 10 targets (22.2% Target Share) for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Addison is a star in the making and a must-start player for the remainder of the season.

• T.J. Hockenson led the team with 12 targets (26.6% Target Share), catching 11 for 86 yards.

• Cam Akers and Alexander Mattison shared work in a committee – one that appears to be favoring Akers as the season progresses.

• Akers handled 10 carries (47.6% Rush Share) for 31 yards, catching two of three targets (6.6% Target Share) for 30 yards while Mattison saw eight rush attempts (38.1% Rush Share) for 39 yards, gaining only three yards on two receptions despite matching his teammate with three targets (6.6% Target Share).

New England Patriots

• Mac Jones completed 25/30 attempts for 272 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers and only one sack in a much-needed bounce-back performance that saw the Patriots overcome the heavily favored Bills.

• Kendrick Bourne saw a team-high seven targets (23.3%) with six receptions for 63 yards and one touchdown. Bourne has led the Patriots in targets in four of seven games this season.

New Orleans Saints

• Alvin Kamara led the Saints with 12 receptions and 91 receiving yards on 14 targets (25.5% Target Share) while handling 17 carries (77.3% Rush Share) for a team-high 62 yards.

• Kamara has seen 14 targets and tallied at least 12 receptions in two of his four games this season. 

• The veteran running back is maintaining an uber-elite 22.8% target share (39 Targets) since returning from suspension.

• Chris Olave saw a season-high 15 targets (27.3% Target Share) but managed just 57 yards on seven receptions. Olave’s relationship with Derek Carr appears to be one of dysfunction as the two teammates were caught in a verbal argument on Thursday Night Football where Carr was visibly screaming at his wideout to “keep running” at the end of his routes.

New York Giants

• Darren Waller has finally grown into his defacto-WR1 role for the Giants as the star tight end led the team with eight targets (27.5% Target share) seven receptions (38.8% Reception Share) and 98 receiving yards (35.1% Receiving Yards Share) in Week 7.

New York Jets

• *BYE WEEK*

Philadelphia Eagles

• A.J. Brown is on a mission to completely remove DeVonta Smith from the conversation of who is the Eagles' true WR1.

• Brown caught six of his eight targets (21.0% Target Share) for 127 yards while Smith managed just one reception for six yards on five targets (13.1% Target Share).

• Since audibly displaying his disposition on the sidelines for all to see in Week 2, A.J. Brown has averaged 8.2 receptions, 11.8 targets, 140.2 yards, and 25.8 points per game with four touchdowns in his last five outings.

Pittsburgh Steelers

• George Pickens has established himself as a true Alpha wideout for the Steelers offense, finishing Week 7 with a team-high eight targets (32.0% Target Share), catching five for 107 yards (46.0% Receiving Yards Share) while leading the team in snap percentage (53 Snaps/90.0% Snap Percentage).

• Diontae Johnson’s return did little to stem Pickens' role but the veteran wideout did find immediate production and usage upon his insertion into the lineup.

• Johnson caught five of six targets (24.0% Target Share) for 79 yards playing 66.0% of the team’s snaps (39) in his first game back from injured reserve.

San Francisco 49ers

• Christian McCaffrey is an unstoppable fantasy football cheat code for week-winning production in every single outing. The 49ers star running back now holds the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown from scrimmage (16 Games).

• Brock Purdy led the 49ers to 15 consecutive regular season wins but has now dropped two matches to beatable opponents as the heavily favored 49ers find themselves on a two-game losing skid.

Seattle Seahawks

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba utilized the absence of D.K. Metcalf as a jumping-off point for his 2023 rookie breakout. Smith-Njigba played a season-high 38 snaps (63.0% Snap Share) earning a career-best and team-high seven targets (29.2% Target Share) with new personal highs in receiving yards (63) while catching his first NFL touchdown.

• Fellow rookie wideout Jake Bobo was a major factor in the passing game as well. Bobo played a team-high 45 snaps (75.0% Snap Share) as the big-bodied Metcalf lookalike, earning five targets (20.8% Target Share) with four catches for 61 yards and a highlight-worthy touchdown grab that will surely make the catch-of-the-year shortlist.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Baker Mayfield has been surprisingly efficient and effective this season but failed to capitalize on several drives against the Falcons in Week 7. Mayfield completed 27/42 attempts for 275 yards with one touchdown and one interception while adding 32 rushing yards on three carries.

• Rachaad White continues to be a major disappointment when considering his current production compared to his workhorse opportunity share. White managed just two more rushing yards than Mayfield, needing 13 carries (76.5% Rush Share) to tally 34 yards (2.6 YPC). 

• White did, however, flash his promise as a pass-catcher by grabbing all six of his targets (14.3% Target Share) for 65 yards.

• Mike Evans led the Buccaneers wideouts with a 78.0% snap share, collecting six of eight targets (19.0% Target Share) for a team-high 82 yards with one touchdown.

• Chris Godwin topped all members of the Buccaneers offense with 12 targets (28.6% Target Share) despite seeing the field on just 70.0% (51 Snaps) of the total offensive plays. He also managed just six receptions for 66 yards despite his increased usage.

Tennessee Titans

• *BYE WEEK*

Washington Commanders

• Sam Howell continues to pass at a frenetic pace despite disparaging results. Howell has recorded at least 40 pass attempts in three of his last four games.

• Terry McLaurin (9 Targets/21.4% Target Share) Logan Thomas (6 Targets/14.3% Target Share), Jahan Dotson (8 Targets/19.0% Target Share), and Curtis Samuel (8 Targets/19.0% Target Share) were the only members of the Commanders offense to see more than two targets.

• Antonio Gibson (2 Targets/4.8% Target Share) and Byron Pringle (1 Target/2.4% Target Share) made up the remainder of Howell’s pass attempts.

Much respect, thank you for reading. If you have any continued thoughts and would like to share, I am always available for an open conversation on Twitter: @PsychWardFF or Instagram: @psychwardff.

You can find my other works as the Lead Writer and DOC at Broto Fantasy Football.

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By Matt Ward