Each week of the 2025 NFL season delivers critical usage shifts that can make or break your fantasy football lineup, with snap counts, touches, and targets revealing emerging stars and changing roles. From running backs seizing workhorse duties to wide receivers and tight ends capitalizing on new opportunities, we break down 6-8 notable risers per position to guide your roster decisions and waiver wire moves.
Check out last week’s report: Week 7 Usage Report
Running Backs
- Samaje Perine (CIN): Led Bengals in rushing (94 yards, TD on 9 carries) with 42% snaps (29.3% early downs, up significantly), emerging as top handcuff behind Brown in soft schedule.
- Rico Dowdle (CAR): Outgained Hubbard again (higher YPC) despite 36% snaps and backup rotation, buy-low with 50%+ snaps guaranteed and starter potential with Dave Canales’ comments.
- TreVeyon Henderson (NE): Shone with 75 yards on 10 carries (21% snaps), doubling career-high despite low volume, stash for role expansion.
- Devin Neal (NO): Stepped up post-Miller with 46% snaps (primary 3rd-down), catching 3 passes as a deep-league add with Kamara trade risk.
- Chase Brown (CIN): Rebounded to 54% snaps with 15 touches (7.3 YPT, 25.5 PPR), low-end RB2 despite decreased snap share due to his favorable upcoming schedule.
- Kimani Vidal (LAC): Dominated 74% snaps with 25 touches (23 carries), lead-back RB2 viability with Omarion Hampton out.
- Woody Marks (HOU): Elite usage when on the field, finishing with over a 40 usage rating despite a 40% snap share. Great upside paired with his receiving floor.
- Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason (MIN): Both players finished under a 21 usage rating, with Jones seeing 53% of snaps and Mason seeing 37% of snaps. Both players are matchup-dependent RB3s
Wide Receivers
- Chimere Dike (TEN): Exploded to 89% snaps (90.7% routes, 22.9% targets) with 7-93, top waiver priority even if Ridley returns this week.
- Quentin Johnston (LAC): High variance with 80% snaps but 0% targets (post-injury cold), boom/bust WR3 the rest of the season.
- Jayden Higgins (HOU): Filled Collins’ void with 82.5% snaps (17.9% targets, 13.4 PPR), stash if absences persist.
- Jaylin Noel (HOU): Slot rotation 39% snaps (15.4% targets, 11.3 PPR), starter potential, and higher upside than Christian Kirk.
- Christian Watson (GB): Debuted strong (4-85) on 3-WR snaps, risky add with Wicks/Reed eventual returns.
- Troy Franklin (DEN): Ascended to 63% snaps (18.2% season targets, 11.6 PPR PPG), becoming a consistent flex option.
- Rashee Rice (KC): Snap share increased this week and finished with 9 catches for 93 yards. WR1 the rest of the season
Tight Ends
- Oronde Gadsden II (LAC): Grew to 77% snaps (routes on nearly every pass), must-start TE1 with trade leverage.
- Dalton Kincaid (BUF): Limited to 22% snaps (14 total) in blowout, script-dependent streamer.
- George Kittle (SF): Ramped back up to 90% snaps (91.9% routes, 14.3 PPR), TE1 floor rebounding.
- Kyle Pitts Sr. (ATL): Rose to 92% snaps with 9 targets. Pitts is finally becoming a safe option.
- Juwan Johnson (NO): Increased to 76% snaps with 8 targets, flex appeal depending on the matchup
- Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE): Climbed to 74% snaps with 9 touches (8 targets), continues to be the most valuable TE in Cleveland
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