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 6 Usage Report
Running Backs
- Jaylen Warren (PIT): Snaps increased to 65% (up from 53% prior), with 20 touches signaling a three-down role recovery post-injury, positioning him as a reliable RB2.
- Quinshon Judkins (CLE): Hit season-high 65% snaps with 25 carries and three TDs against a weak run defense, establishing bell-cow potential in run-focused games.
- Chuba Hubbard & Rico Dowdle (CAR): Near-even split at 54% and 46% snaps with 17 and 19 touches, respectively, upon Hubbard’s return, capping both at flex value unless one outperforms.
- Jordan Mason (MIN): Rose to 77% snaps (season high) with 15+ opportunities and goal-line TDs in consecutive weeks, trending toward strong RB2 status.
- Rhamondre Stevenson (NE): Dominated as every-down back with 75% snaps and 20 touches, pushing TreVeyon Henderson to a minimal role and boosting Stevenson’s fantasy floor.
- Christian McCaffrey (SF): Exploded with 75% snaps and 32 touches (24 carries, 8 targets), reaffirming elite RB1 workload in his best outing since 2023.
- Blake Corum (LAR): Continued upward trend with 34% snaps and 13 touches for the third straight week, gaining ground as Kyren Williams’ usage dips.
- Bhayshul Tuten (JAC): Increased involvement with 29% snaps and 5 carries, outpacing Travis Etienne Jr. in efficiency and hinting at potential role expansion.
Wide Receivers
- Rashee Rice (KC): Returned from suspension with 41% snaps but 10 targets (25.7% share) and two TDs, quickly re-emerging as a red-zone favorite and WR2.
- Ja’Marr Chase (CIN): Dominated with 99% snaps and 23 targets (tied for third-most all-time in a game), solidifying WR1 status with record-tying production.
- Travis Hunter (JAC): Played 87% snaps with 14 targets, achieving career-high yards and first TD, confirming alpha role for consistent flex appeal.
- Tez Johnson (TB): Secured 68% snaps and 9 targets (nearly 20% share) amid injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, making him a must-roster waiver add.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA): Maintained 88% snaps with 14 targets and 100+ yards for the fifth time in seven games, establishing him as the top fantasy WR.
- CeeDee Lamb (DAL): Back from injury with 78% snaps, 100% routes, and 8 targets, including a TD, restoring elite WR1 volume.
- Alec Pierce (IND): Emerged with 87% snaps and 10 targets (98 yards), benefiting from absences and positioning as a volatile WR3 with deep-ball upside.
- Darnell Mooney (ATL): Returned to 83% snaps with 5 targets, but ranked as the fourth option behind Robinson, Pitts, and London, limiting to low-end flex.
Tight Ends
- Oronde Gadsden II (LAC): Snaps rose to 79% (from 34% debut) with 9 targets and 164 yards (rookie record), breaking out as a TE1 in a pass-heavy offense.
- Trey McBride (ARI): Led with 87% snaps and season-high 13 targets, scoring two TDs and tying his 2024 total in one game for top TE1 reliability.
- Cade Otton (TB): Commanded 97% snaps with 9 targets and 65 yards amid WR injuries, cementing must-start status with high-volume floor.
- Kyle Pitts Sr. (ATL): Held 82% snaps with 10 targets, showing improved usage as a primary option and TE1 potential in the offense.
- Tucker Kraft (GB): Maintained 89% snaps with 10 targets, delivering reliable production as a low-end TE1 with consistent involvement.
- Dalton Schultz (HOU): Posted 75% snaps and 10 targets, providing steady floor in pass-first scheme as a viable streamer.
- Theo Johnson (NYG): Dominated 88% snaps with 7 targets, emerging with red-zone focus for deeper-league upside.
- Hunter Henry (NE): Increased to 68% snaps with 5 targets under the new QB, enhancing TD equity as a low-end TE1.
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