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Welcome to PFF’s NFL Usage and Production Report—your one-stop for the fantasy football utilization you actually need. This hub pulls together snap counts, routes run, targets per route run (TPRR), carry share, red-zone usage, alignment, ADOT, time to throw, situational splits, fantasy points and so much more, so you can quickly spot role changes and act before your league does. Use it for waiver wire decisions, buy-low/sell-high trades, rest-of-season (ROS) rankings context, dynasty stashes, DFS builds, and prop research.
Below you’ll find the top 10 most crucial usage and production takeaways. If you want more details on these top 10 players, or any other quarterback, running back, wide receiver or tight end in the league, you can jump into the interactive tool right below. It’s the most comprehensive fantasy tool, providing information on how a player is utilized, their performance, and how the defense responds to them. You can view by player, team or position, sort any column, filter by week and snaps, and switch between totals and percentages to see the full picture on anything you’re looking for. You’ll also find all of the information found in the usual recap articles.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers embrace an interchangeable backfield
Jaylen Warren has played more third downs recently, while Kenneth Gainwell has played more on early downs.
Warren and Gainwell have been the Steelers' top two running backs throughout the season. Warren has played 52.6% of the offensive snaps in games that he’s played, while Gainwell has played 47.3%. For most of the season, Warren has been the early-down back, similar to Najee Harris in recent seasons, while Gainwell has been the passing-down back and backup, similar to Warren in previous seasons.
For the second straight week, the roles of the two running backs have been blurred. Warren’s snap rate has fallen to 53.3% of the early-down snaps after consistently playing over 60%, but his snap rate on third downs has increased to 52.4% after consistently playing less than 25% of snaps in those situations. Gainwell played more this week because he took on the two-minute drill snaps, as he’s done most of the season.
Both running backs had great days. Warren ran 14 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns, while Gainwell caught five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown and ran for another 50 yards on nine carries.
Gainwell is a free agent after this season, but it wouldn’t be surprising if there is mutual interest in a return. That wouldn’t be great for Warren's fantasy value, or third-stringerKaleb Johnson, but that could be best for the Steelers.
2. The New Orleans Saints adjust without their top running backs
Alvin Kamara has missed the last month of the season, while Devin Neal landed on injured reserve earlier this week.
Kamara hasn’t practiced in the last month due to knee and ankle injuries. Kendre Miller tore his ACL in Week 7, and Neal suffered a hamstring injury last week, ending his season. The Saints slowly started adding new running backs after each loss. Audric Estime and Evan Hull most recently served as the backups. Last week, once Neal suffered his injury, Estime and Hull split offensive snaps 50-50. Hull was a little more involved in the run game, and Estime was more involved as a receiver.
This week, the team primarily turned to Estime in terms of playing time. He remained the passing-down back like last week but also doubled Hull’s playing time in early-down and short-yardage situations. However, the team primarily turned to Taysom Hill as their primary runner. Hill took 16 snaps lined up at running back, which was tied for his most snaps in his career. He ran the ball nine times while lined up at running back, which was his most runs from a running back position in his career.
Hill also took some snaps at quarterback, leading to 12 carries for 42 yards. Estime and Hull had five carries each. Hill added four carries for 36 yards and threw a 38-yard touchdown. The Saints play the Tennessee Titans next week. Hill would be a risky play because there is a chance the Saints will change strategies for that game. However, there is also a chance he remains equally involved and can add a rushing touchdown or two to his score.