Opportunity Knocks: Week 9 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 9 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

• Clayton Tune capped the upside and muddied the usage of every member within the Cardinals offense in his first start as a pro. The rookie quarterback completed 11/20 attempts for just 58 yards, tossing two interceptions while mounting zero scoring drives as the Cardinals were shut out in Week 9

• More than half of the Cardinals’ offensive plays netted zero (or negative) yards.

• With James Conner on injured reserve and rising rookie Emari Demercado ruled out before the contest the Cardinals tallied 41 rushing yards on 21 attempts (1.95 YPC).

• Tune led the team with 28 rushing yards on five carries (5.6 YPC) while Keaontay Ingram (9 Carries/8 Yards/0.9 YPC), Rondale Moore (4 Carries/3 Yards/0.8 YPC) and Tony Jones (3 Carries/2 Yards/0.7 YPC) chipped in with a combined 13 yards on 16 attempts (0.81 YPC).

Atlanta Falcons

• Taylor Heinicke received his first full start of the season, completing 21/28 attempts for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

• Tyler Allgeier managed just 3.3 YPC, rushing 12 times (50.0% Rush Share) for 39 yards with one touchdown but still outpaced Bijan Robinson in rushing opportunities.

• Robinson saw 11 carries (45.8% Rush Share) for 51 yards while also collecting two of four targets (10.5% Target Share) for eight receiving yards.

• Allgeier caught two of three targets (7.9% Target Share) for a net negative of nine yards.

• Jonnu Smith and Khadarel Hodge led the team with six targets each (15.8% Target Share) with Smith leading the way on five receptions for 100 yards and one touchdown, including a 60-yard scamper for six points.

• Hodge (46 Snaps/67.0% Snap Share) tallied three receptions for 60 yards as the team’s second-most productive pass-catcher while leading all wide receivers in total snaps and routes run.

• Kyle Pitts remains limited as a high-upside weapon, receiving fewer targets (5 Targets/13.2% Target Share) than Smith on an identical snap share (39 Snaps/57.0% Snap Share)

Baltimore Ravens

• Lamar Jackson completed 21/26 pass attempts for 187 yards, adding 60 yards on ten carries but failed to score a touchdown in the Ravens dominant blowout win over the Seahawks.

• Gus Edwards was the main provider of scoring for the Ravens offense for the second consecutive week. The veteran thumper rushed for two touchdowns, taking five carries (18.5% Rush Share) for 52 yards (10.4 YPC). Edwards has five touchdowns in the last two games.

• Undrafted rookie running back Keaton Mitchell accounted for 46.3% of the team’s total rushing yards on 21.9% of the team’s rushing attempts. Mitchell posted 138 yards on nine carries (15.3 YPC) with one touchdown in his first game.

• Justice Hill saw increased usage and playing time once the game was out of hand, taking a team-leading 48.1% rushing share (13 Carries) and 63.0% snap share (48 Snaps).

• Mark Andrews led the team with 10 targets (30.3% Target Share), catching nine for 80 yards and a team-high in receptions and receiving yardage.

• Odell Beckham Jr. ranked second in all receiving categories, catching five of seven targets (21.2% Target Share) for 56 yards and his first touchdown as a member of the Ravens.

• It was Tyler Huntley, not Lamar Jackson, who connected with Beckham for the team’s lone passing touchdown as the star quarterback received extra rest in the blowout.

Buffalo Bills

• Dalton Kincaid played a career-high 90.0% of the offensive snaps (52), leading the Bills with a career-best 11 targets (28.9% Target Share). The rookie first-round tight end caught 10 passes for 81 yards in the Bills loss to the Bengals in Week 9.

• Josh Allen led the team with 44 rushing yards on eight carries, adding one touchdown on the ground to go along with his 258 passing yards and a lone touchdown through the air.

• Stefon Diggs earned seven targets (18.4% Target Share), catching six for 86 yards and one touchdown while leading the Bills with a 95.0% snap share (55 Snaps).

Carolina Panthers

• Adam Thielen had recorded at least eight targets and seven receptions in six consecutive games, ultimately ending his streak of high-end PPR production in Week 9 as Bryce Young and the Panthers faltered against the Colts.

• Thielen finished Week 9 with five receptions on six targets (15.4% Target Share) for a lowly 29 yards.

• Jonathan Mingo appears to be emerging as the number two receiver alongside Thielen. The Panthers rookie wideout posted a season-high 70 snaps (99.0%), merely one snap behind Thielen while earning four targets (10.3% Target Share).

Chicago Bears

• Tyson Bagent made his third full start of the 2023 season, completing 18/30 attempts for 220 yards with three interceptions, one lost fumble, and two touchdowns.

• Bagent also added 70 rushing yards on eight carries.

• D’Onta Foreman took hold of the leading duties in the backfield, shouldering 20 rushing attempts (87.0% Rush Share) for 83 yards while no other member of the Bears backfield, save for Bagent, saw more than two rushing attempts.

• Cole Kmet has now posted two consecutive week-winning performances for his managers. 

• In Week 8, the Bears tight end caught all ten of his targets (27.0% Target Share) for 79 yards and a 100.0% Catch Rating with Bagent favoring the big-bodied security blanket as the team’s top receiving weapon.

• Kmet was great again in Week 9 – this time against a stout Saints defense that has limited tight ends all season. The fourth-year tight end caught six of his team-high eight targets (26.7% Target Share) for 55 yards with two touchdowns.

• D.J. Moore received the shadow treatment from All-Pro lockdown cornerback Marshon Lattimore, limiting his opportunities to five targets (16.7% Target Share) and his production to three receptions for 44 yards.

• Darnell Mooney drew the weaker coverage assignment and took advantage of the Saints' inconsistent secondary, collecting five of six targets (20.0% Target Share) for 82 yards.

Cincinnati Bengals

• Since Week 5, the Bengals have led the NFL with a 4-0 record while Joe Burrow tops all quarterbacks with a 75.8% completion rating, ten passing touchdowns, and a 111.2 passer rating.

• Burrow chucked for 348 yards and two touchdowns on 31/44 attempts. The star quarterback surprisingly found his source of scoring via tight ends Irv Smith and Drew Sample for both players' first touchdown of the 2023 season.

• Sample and Smith had combined for just 13 receptions and 67 yards on 27 targets (7.25% Target Share) prior to Week 9.

Cleveland Browns

• Jerome Ford has begun to take the reigns as the undeniable workhorse in the Browns' backfield. In Week 9 the second-year running back saw 20 carries (54.1 Rush Share) and a team-high seven targets (23,3% Target Share). Ford managed just 77 yards (44 Rushing/33 Receiving) but led the team in rushing and was second behind only Amari Cooper in total receiving yards.

• Amari Cooper caught all five of his targets (16.7% Target Share) for 139 yards and one touchdown as the veteran wideout continues to establish himself as one of the best big-play wideouts in the NFL today.

Dallas Cowboys

• CeeDee Lamb had a career-best outing in Week 8, catching 12 of 14 targets (41.2% Target Share) for 158 yards and two touchdowns while adding 12 yards on one carry.

• Lamb’s 14 targets were a new personal best for the young receiver.

• Lamb accounted for 51.9% of Dak Prescott’s passing yards and 48.0% of the quarterback’s completions in Week 8, marking the highest single-game market share of Lamb’s four-year career.

• The crafty wideout followed up his sensational Week 8 outing with a stellar Week 9 performance against the Eagles but fell just short of leading his team to victory.

• Lamb set a new career-best with 16 targets (36.4%), collecting 11 receptions for a career-high 191 yards.

Denver Broncos

• *BYE WEEK*

Detroit Lions

• *BYE WEEK*

Green Bay Packers

• Week 9 marked the first game that Jordan Love has not committed a turnover since Week 3, although he did fumble once.

• Love completed 20/25 attempts for 228 yards with one touchdown, recording a season-high +6.5% Completion Percentage Over Expectation.

• Aaron Jones handled a workhorse opportunity share in Week 9, touting 20 carries (60.6% Rush Share) for 72 yards and one touchdown while catching four of his team-high six targets (23.1% Target Share) for 26 yards on 57.0% of the team’s snaps (41).

Houston Texans

• C.J. Stroud set a new NFL rookie record with 470 passing yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions while completing 30/42 attempts.

• Rookie receiver Nathaniel “Tank” Dell helped propel Stroud to new historic heights in Week 9, collecting six of 11 targets (26.2% Target Share) for 114 yards and two touchdowns, marking the single-highest combined yardage total of a rookie quarterback and rookie wide receiver in NFL history. 

• Wide receiver Noah Brown excelled in an increased role, catching six of six targets (14.3 % Target Share) for a perfect 100.0% catcher rating with 153 yards and one touchdown.

• Dalton Schultz was an unstoppable force of tight end fantasy production, tying Dell with a team-high 11 targets (26.2% Target Share), catching 10 for 130 yards and one touchdown.

• Nico Collins broke his cold streak with three catches for 54 yards and one touchdown but remained well behind his teammates with just five targets (11.9% Target Share) – a disappointing low considering the onslaught of offensive production the Texans put up in the second half of Week 9.

• Devin Singletary saw a 75.0% Snap Share (54 Snaps), 92.9% Rushing Share (13 Carries), and two targets (4.8% Target Share) as the Texans leading back with Dameon Pierce sidelined.

Indianapolis Colts

• Michael Pittman remains a solid stream of fantasy production but heavily benefited from Josh Downs' absence in Week 9.

• Pittman caught eight of his team-high eight targets (30.8%) for 64 yards while playing 89.0% of the offensive snaps.

• Alec Pierce surprisingly led the Colts with a 100.0% snap share (61 Snaps) but earned just two targets (7.7%) despite his increased playing time.

• Jonathan Taylor saw significantly more work than Zack Moss for the first time this season, handling 18 rush attempts (72.0% Rush Share) for 47 yards with five targets (19.2% Target Share), catching all five for 22 yards and one touchdown.

• Comparatively, Moss had seven rush attempts (28.0% Rush Share) for 26 yards while earning zero targets.

• Taylor played 45 snaps (74.0% Snap Share) compared to Moss’ 13 snaps (21.0% Snap Share).

Jacksonville Jaguars

• *BYE WEEK*

Kansas City Chiefs

• Travis Kelce needed just 13 yards to surpass Tony Gonalez’s all-time receiving yards record for the Chiefs franchise. Kelce did so in an unexciting fashion, catching three passes on four targets (% Target Share) for 14 yards.

• Justin Watson needed just five targets (% Target Share) to top the Chiefs in air opportunities. Watson managed a mere 15 yards on two catches with his targets.

• Isaih Pacheco saw 41 snaps (68.0% Snap Share) with 16 rushing attempts (88.9% Rush Share), tallying 66 rushing yards.

Las Vegas Raiders 

• The Raiders franchise, and subsequently their offense, are in deep despair, firing their general manager and head coach and benching Jimmy Garoppolo following a disgusting loss to the Lions on Monday Night Football in Week 8.

• The team rallied under interim head coach Antonio Pierce and rookie quarterback Aiden O’Connell to best the Giants in a resounding 30-6 beatdown.

• Davante Adams saw a team-high seven targets (28.0% Target Share), catching four passes for 34 yards. 

• Eight different members of the Raiders offense recorded receptions in Week 9.

• Tre Tucker led the team with 52 receiving yards, catching two of three targets (12.0% Target Share).

• Josh Jacobs provided the main spark for the Raiders offense, tallying two touchdowns and 98 yards on 26 carries (81.2% Rush Share).

Los Angeles Chargers

• *Updated Following Monday Night Football*

Los Angeles Rams

• Brett Rypien got the start for an injured Matthew Stafford, completing 13/28 attempts for 130 yards with one interception and no touchdowns.

• Cooper Kupp has now recorded less than 50 receiving yards in three consecutive contests, marking the first time in his NFL career he has achieved such lows.

• Kupp managed just 48 yards on two receptions in Week 9 despite leading the Rams with seven targets (25.0% Target Share)

• Puka Nacua’s historic rookie start hit a minor speed bump in Week 9 with the first-year wideout tallying 32 yards and 3 receptions, tying Kupp with a team-high seven targets (25.0% Target Share).

• Royce Freeman (24 Snaps/41.0% Snap Share) and Darrell Henderson (34 Snaps/59.0% Snap Share) will continue to complement one another in a committee until Kyren Williams returns from injured reserve.

• Freeman (12 RSH/32 YDS) and Henderson (10 RSH/19 YDS) combined for a mere 51 yards on 22 attempts (2.3 YPC) in Week 9.

Miami Dolphins

• Tyreek Hill was pacing toward the single-season receiving yard record but fell well below his needed averages with just 62 yards on eight receptions and a team-high 10 targets (29.4% Target Share) against his former team.

Minnesota Vikings

• Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles in the Vikings win over the Packers in Week 8, effectively ending the veteran’s 2023 season while putting the remainder of his career in question as well.

• The team immediately traded for Cardinals’ journeyman Josh Dobbs to replace their veteran signal-caller but elected to start rookie quarterback Jaren Hall in Week 9 with Dobbs having just four days to learn the playbook.

• Hall was forced to exit with a concussion, leaving the Vikings with no other option other than to call on Dobbs as their emergency quarterback.

• The castaway quarterback carefully dissected the Falcons' defense, throwing for two touchdowns on 20/30 attempts for 158 yards while leading the team with 66 rushing yards with his third touchdown on just seven rushing attempts.

• Dobbs became the first quarterback in NFL history to post three touchdowns in consecutive starts for two different franchises in the same season.

• T.J. Hockenson saw a team-high 12 targets (33.3% Target Share), catching seven for 69 yards while playing 84.0% of the offensive snaps (63).

• Jordan Addison continues to develop into a superstar receiver, collecting five of seven targets (19.4% Target Share) for 52 yards while leading the team with 73 snaps (97.0% Snap Share) against a sturdy Falcons secondary.

New England Patriots

• Rookie wideout Demario Douglas finished with a team-high seven targets (15.9% Target Share), 53 snaps (83.0% Snap Share), and 55 receiving yards as the Patriots top pass-catcher, sans Kendrick Bourne.

• Juju Smith-Schuster (6 Receptions/51 Yards) and Hunter Henry (4 Receptions/39 Yards/1 Touchdown) both tied Douglas with seven targets (15.9% Target Share).

• Rhamondre Stevenson hauled in four receptions, receiving six targets (13.6% Target Share) with 42 receiving yards while leading the team with 87 rushing yards and one touchdown on nine carries (60.0% Rush Share).

• Jalen Reagor undeservedly saw six targets (13.6% Target Share), catching one for 11 yards.

New Orleans Saints

• Taysom Hill led the Saints with 52 rush yards (59.7% Rush Yards Share), posting one passing touchdown and one receiving touchdown in Week 9. The Saints' do-it-all gadget man is one of just six players in NFL history to lead their team in rushing yards while also posting at least one passing touchdown and one receiving touchdown in the same game (Christian McCaffrey, Cam Newton, Josh Allen, LaDainian Tomlinson x2, and Curtis Martin).

• Hill also led the Saints with 11 rushing attempts (40.7% Rush Share) the first time this season in which the hybrid flex has topped the team in opportunities this season.

New York Giants

• Saquon Barkley continues to be utilized as the main cog within the Giants' offense. Barkley saw 16 rush attempts (84.2% Rush Share) in Week 9, tallying 90 yards (73.1% Rush Yards Share) with four targets (13.8% Target Share) and three receptions for 23 yards.

• With Darren Waller on injured reserve, Darius Slayton led the team with seven targets (24.1%) and 51 snaps (81.0% Snap Share), catching four balls for a team-high 59 yards.

New York Jets

• *Updated Following Monday Night Football*

Philadelphia Eagles

• A.J. Brown’s historic run of games with 125(+) receiving yards ended in Week 9 as the star receiver hauled in seven of his team-high nine targets (39.1% Target Share) for 66 yards and one touchdown.

• DeVonta Smith found relevance for the second consecutive game after a three-game cold streak. Smith hauled in his second score in as many games, catching all three of his targets (13.0% Target Share) for 51 yards.

• Jalen Hurts converted three touchdown drives of 11 (or more) plays against the vaunted Cowboys defense. Hurts finished the game completing 17/23 pass attempts for 207 yards with two touchdowns, adding 36 yards and another touchdown on 10 carries.

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Diontae Johnson’s return to the lineup has drastically affected the role of George Pickens as the younger wideout cedes the top spot to his veteran teammate.

• Johnson caught seven of his team-high nine targets (30.0% Target Share) for 85 yards and his first touchdown since the 2021 season. Johnson played 88.0% of the team’s snaps (57) in his third game back from injured reserve.

• Pickens saw an 89.0% snap share (58 Snaps), hauling in two of his five targets (16.7% Target Share) for a negative (-) one yard.

San Francisco 49ers

• *BYE WEEK*

Seattle Seahawks

• Geno Smith and the Seahawks offense were smothered by a resounding Ravens defense, accumulating just 151 total yards (123 Passing/28 Rushing).

• Kenneth Walker averaged just 1.8 YPC, marking the single-lowest average of his young NFL career. 

• Walker (24 Snaps/49.0% Snap Share) gained just 16 yards on nine attempts (69.2%% Rush Share) but saw fewer snaps than Zach Charbonnet (27 Snaps/55.0% Snap Share).

• Tyler Lockett led the Seahawks offense with eight targets (28.6% Target Share) and a 90.0% snap share (44 Snaps), catching three of his opportunities for 32 yards.

• D.K. Metcalf earned four targets (14.3% Target Share), catching one ball for a 50-yard gain. Metcalf appears to be continuously laboring through the hip/oblique injury that forced him to miss the first game of his NFL career in Week 7.

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to rise in his rookie development, leading the Seahawks offense with six receptions and 63 yards on seven targets (25.0% Target Share) as the team’s only viable fantasy producer in Week 9.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Rachaad White is finally emerging as a league-winning producer. The second-year running back had a career-best rushing performance, taking 20 carries (74.1% Rush Share) for 72 yards and two rushing touchdowns while continuing to flash his elite pass-catching prowess with four receptions for 46 yards on four targets (13.3% Target Share).

• Second-year tight end Cade Otton continues to rise the ladder as a viable pass-catching weapon for the Buccaneers. Otton saw a team-high nine targets (30.0% Target Share) against the Texans while playing 100.0% of the offensive snaps (66).

• Otton finished the day catching six passes for two touchdowns as he led the Buccaneers receivers in production.

Tennessee Titans

• Will Levis made his debut as the Titans starter in Week 8, throwing for 238 yards and a historic four touchdowns with no interceptions on 19/29 pass attempts.

• A shortened week and another start in Week 9 on Thursday Night Football did not fare so well for the young gunslinger.

• Levis completed 22/39 attempts for 262 yards with no touchdowns and one interception against the Steelers in Week 9.

• Derrick Henry handled a monstrous 77.3% Rush Share (17 Carries) for 75 yards with one rushing touchdown while hauling in three of four targets (10.3% Target Share) for an additional 27 yards receiving.

• The veteran running back still conceded snaps to Tyjae Spears as the rookie saw 44 snaps (59.0% Snap Share) to Henry’s 36 snaps (49.0% Snap Share) while also earning six targets (15.4% Target Share) and five carries (22.7% Rush Share).

• Kyle Phillips tied DeAndre Hopkins for a team-high four receptions but outpaced his veteran teammate with 68 receiving yards.

• Philips played just 30.0% of the offensive snaps, earning four targets (12.8% Target Share).

• Hopkins led the team with a 69.0% snap share (51 Snaps) catching four of his team-high 11 targets (29.2% Target Share) for a very inefficient 60 yards.

Washington Commanders

• Sam Howell continues to pass at a frenetic pace despite disparaging results in the win-loss column. Howell has recorded at least 40 pass attempts in five of his last six games.

• Howell completed 29/45 attempts for 325 yards with one touchdown and one interception in Week 9 against the Patriots.

• The second-year quarterback has established himself as a top-12 fantasy quarterback this season but continues to struggle mightily with limiting sacks and turnover-worthy throws.

• Terry McLaurin (7 Targets/15.6% Target Share) and Jahan Dotson (8 Targets/17.8% Target Share) worked in tandem as the team’s top pass-catchers with the second-year wideout enjoying a much-needed breakout performance alongside his veteran teammate.

• Dotson tallied four receptions for 69 (nice!) yards and one touchdown while McLuarin tallied five receptions for 73 yards.

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