Strength in Numbers: Actionable Week 8 Stats

We’re going to get a lot of stuff wrong, but sifting through usage metrics can help us work through what matters and what doesn’t. That’s the goal of this article: to break down the most actionable takeaways from each week in a concise, numbers-filled format and work through what’s important. Let’s get right to it:

1. Aaron Jones out-snapped Ty Chandler 46-2, and no Vikings RB touched the ball besides Jones. A 92% snap share for any running back is ridiculous, much less one who turns 30 years old in December. Jones has a history of soft-tissue injuries, including one earlier this season, raising concerns about his ability to handle that workload. But as long as he remains healthy, he’s a surefire mid-level RB1.

2. Puka Nacua wasn’t even supposed to play in this game. He was still limited with a 57% snap share, but he led the Rams with seven catches for 106 yards on nine targets vs. Minnesota. It’s sensible to expect Nacua’s snap/route numbers to return to normal in the next game or two, vaulting him back into the WR1 range he was drafted in during the preseason. Cooper Kupp returned as expected and also had his snaps limited (58%), but he went 5/58/1 on eight targets. Sean McVay‘s postgame comments indicate Kupp will remain with the Rams. He also has legit fantasy WR1 appeal but carries higher risk than Nacua given his age and injury risk. Tutu Atwell, despite being productive without Kupp/Nacua, was the odd man out in this WR corps with just seven routes — McVay simply can’t have two run-blocking liabilities in Kupp and Tutu on the field at the same time.

3. With Tee Higgins sidelined, Jermaine Burton stepped into the WR3 role for the Bengals, but he still only ran 17 routes on 40 dropbacks. Both Mike Gesicki (24 routes, 7/73/0 on eight targets) and Erick All Jr. (15 routes but only two targets) played prominent roles, as the Bengals embraced 2-TE sets without Higgins. It is noteworthy that Gesicki out-routed All considering the rookie had the routes edge for the first time in Week 7. Gesicki is a pseudo WR, so it makes sense that the Bengals would use him heavily when lacking at WR, but it does put an annoying damper on All’s outlook (and the rookie had been so productive with 0.25 TPRR entering Week 8). If Higgins misses additional time, there’s no reason to expect anything different in Week 9 (especially since positive game script against LV bodes nicely for 2-TE formations).