Between the Lines: Week 8 Snap Count Analysis
AFC South
Houston Texans - I Could Have Told You, Vyncint
Quarterback: Deshaun Watson (100%)
Running Backs: Tyler Ervin (57%), Lamar Miller (56%), Alfred Blue (48%)
Wide Receivers: DeAndre Hopkins (97%), Will Fuller (72%), Vyncint Smith (13%)
Tight Ends: Jordan Thomas (89%), Jordan Akins (56%)
I has something written on Vyncint Smith here, as Fuller (knee) is done for the season. Of course, after that was all types up, the Texans traded for Denver Broncos wideout Demaryius Thomas, who should start right away. Keke Coutee immediately loses value here when he's back, and Smith going back to being waiver-wire fodder.
Indianapolis Colts - A Disappearing Act
Quarterback: Andrew Luck (100%)
Running Backs: Marlon Mack (63%), Nyheim Hines (36%) Jordan Wilkins (4%)
Wide Receivers: T.Y. Hilton (82%), Dontrelle Inman (74%), Chester Rogers (50%), Zach Pascal (36%)
Tight Ends: Jack Doyle (73%), Mo Alie-Cox (32%), Ryan Hewitt (27%), Eric Ebron (22%)
Andrew Luck likes reading, board games, and throwing to Jack Doyle at tight end. Doyle hadn't played since Week 2, but he stepped in and played on 73% of the Colts' snaps this week. That meant someone else's time would suffer, and that player ended up being Eric Ebron. Though he caught a touchdown (he leads all tight ends and is tied for ninth in the league with seven), he saw the field for only 22% of the team's snaps, his smallest playing time this season. In a weak year for TE, Ebron is still worth using for his touchdown potential, but just know that he's going to be very hit or miss as long as Doyle is on the field.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Chark Attack
Quarterback: Blake Bortles (100%)
Running Back: T.J. Yeldon (58%), Carlos Hyde (44%)
Wide Receivers: Dede Westbrook (91%), Donte Moncrief (88%), D.J. Chark (75%), Keelan Cole (23%)
Tight Ends: David Grinnage (46%), Blake Bell (32%)
Chark! Keelan Cole saw seven targets in Week 7, but he was able to only haul in two of those passes. While that could be a symptom of poor quarterback play (looking at you, Bortles), he's caught just 29 of 49 targets this season and is averaging 4.9 fewer yards per catch than he did last year. It looks like the Jags were fed up. They played him on on only 23% of the snaps this week, while the WR3 workload instead went to D.J. Chark. Chark saw three-fourths of the team's snaps this week, catching 4 of his 5 targets for 41 yards. While you're always taking a bit of a risk with the Jags' receivers in fantasy, Chark is worth a pickup in deeper leagues and could be used as a low-end option when a good matchup arises.
Tennessee Titans - Bye Week
