A Few Key Takeaways for NFL Usage from Week 1

• Omarion Hampton remains a bit of an enigma within the Chargers offense. Despite not scoring a touchdown and gaining only 61 yards, he played 52 of the team’s 65 offensive snaps and handled 17 of the 19 running back opportunities.
• Emeka Egbuka proved to be quite dominant against the Falcons in Week 1. He lined up in the slot alongside Shepard and attracted double coverage with Evans, highlighting the significant threat he presents to opposing defenses moving forward.
• Harold Fannin Jr. had a strong outing in Week 1, leading the Browns with 9 targets and helping to compensate for the team’s limited depth at wide receiver. He totaled 7 catches for 63 yards. Fanin Jr. ran routes on 67% of plays, compared to 85% for Njoku.
• Kaleb Johnson disappointed with just 2 snaps and one touch. Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren seem to be the focus for the Steelers’ run game, both had strong usage. Warren was prioritized inside the five-yard line and seems to have the edge with more touchdown equity.
• Isiah Pacheco played for 48% of offensive snaps and shared 7 touches with Kareem Hunt. There seems to be no indication of lingering injury issues for Pacheco; this may be how the Chiefs intend to play both backs as the season continues.
• Breece Hall stays relevant for the Jets, playing 37 snaps compared to Braelon Allen‘s 20 and Isiah Davis’s 8. Hall also took the majority of goal line work.
• The Eagles lacked passing volume for DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, with only 23 total passing attempts compared to 38 rushing attempts. Smith and Brown combined for just 4 targets, while Dallas Goedert had seven.

Offensive NFL Usage Report – RB, WR, TE

Why is usage rate important? – Opportunities trump talent every time in the NFL. Snaps, targets, and carries help demonstrate which players possess the most opportunities to succeed on the field. When teams leverage opportunity with elite talent, you get explosive plays and higher fantasy production from players.

Consider usage rate as a metric to help guide roster construction and props betting from week to week.