Snap To It: Week 8 Snap Count Review

Who are the players making big moves in snap counts? Is Kahale Warring finally cracking the squad? Let’s jump into the snap count report for week 8 of the 2021 fantasy football season. 

Movin’ On Up

• 2 weeks with his new team and Zach Ertz is up to 73% of the snaps.
• With no Dawson Knox, it was Tommy Sweeney who took 83% of the snaps at TE. My boy Kahale Warring had 3 snaps. 
• Joe Mixon was back to pre-injury snap rates in week 8 with 78%. 
• After dropping under 70% snaps in week 5, Ezekiel Elliott has been over 70% the last 2 games for Dallas.
• For the 4th consecutive week, Jonathan Taylor has seen his snap rate increase (53%, 65%, 70%, 74%). 
• Damien Harris saw his 2nd highest snap rate in week 8 at 54%. 
• Darius Slayton (88%) was the only NYG WR that saw over 60% of the snaps.
• Elijah Penny played on 95% of the snaps.
• Denzel Mims saw a season high, and week 8 team high, 72% of the snaps. 
• Quez Watkins led the Eagles in snaps in week 8 with 92%. 
• It was Jack Stoll, not Richard Rodgers, that was 2nd in TE snaps for the Eagles. 
• Pat Freiermuth saw a season high, 81% of the Steelers snaps in week 8. 
• Brandon Aiyuk lead the 49ers WRs in snaps last week. 
• Geoff Swaim led the Titans TEs in snaps for the 3rd week in a row.

Some Things Stay The Same

• The Panthers continue to split TE snaps: Ian Thomas (63%), Tommy Tremble (47%), Colin Thompson (30%), and Giovanni Ricci (22%). 
• The Bears are boring, but predictable. It’s Herbert (84%), Robinson (80%), Mooney (77%), and Kmet (90%). 
• With no OBJ for the foreseeable future, I’d look at Rashard Higgins (55%) and DPJ (if he’s healthy) as the primary beneficiaries.
• Melvin Gordon III (57%) is still getting more snaps than Javonte Williams (43%).
• D’Andre Swift has been in the 70%-80% range over the last 5 weeks. Without Jamaal Williams, Jermar Jefferson saw 18% of the snaps. 
• For consecutive weeks, Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and Van Jefferson were all within 2 snaps of each other. 
• Adam Thielen (98%) continues to lead the team in snaps at WR with Justin Jefferson posing a season low in week 8 at 71% (he did leave the game briefly due to injury). 
• Michael Carter has been in on over 70% of the snaps the last 2 weeks.

Injury/Trade Adjustments

• The expectations for David Johnson (18%) and Phillip Lindsay (13%), well, they still weren’t high, but we expected them to get the snaps. Instead, it was Rex Burkhead (50%) that played the majority of snaps with Scottie Philips (25%) coming in 2nd. 
• With James Robinson leaving this one early, it was 66% Carlos Hyde and 20% Dare Ogunbowale.
• Darrel Williams has 64% of the snaps in back to back weeks. Derrick Gore had 20% this week with Jerick McKinnon seeing 16%. 
• In his first action back from the IR, Jerry Jeudy played 72% of the snaps. Just a hunch, but I’d expect him to be 2nd this week and leading the team shortly. 
• With no Davante Adams, the Packers went with Equanimeous St. Brown (92%), Juwan Winfree (74%), Randall Cobb (68%), Amari Rodgers (22%), and Malik Taylor (7%). 
• Tajae Sharp was the biggest beneficiary from Calvin Ridley’s absence with 68% of the snaps in week 8. Russell Gage also had 68% and Olamide Zaccheaus was 3rd with 40%. 
• In his return from IR, DeVante Parker saw 93% of the snaps. 
• Dalvin Cook was back to his typical usage with 71% of the snaps. 
• Alvin Kamara saw a season low 68% of the Saints snaps with the addition of Mark Ingram (29%).
• 2 weeks after returning from injury, Gerald Everett (79%) is back to leading the Seahawks TEs in snaps.
• Whether he’s still recovering or part of the plan, Antonio Gibson played only 33% of the snaps in week 8 while J.D. McKissic played 46%.