Snap Counts: Devin Singletary, Carlos Hyde, Deebo Samuel among Week 2 fantasy pickups, sleepers

Billy Heyen

Snap Counts: Devin Singletary, Carlos Hyde, Deebo Samuel among Week 2 fantasy pickups, sleepers image

Fantasy football waiver wire rankings are often very reactionary to the raw totals that players put up each week. Rankings are slower to react, as we wait to see what trends are. But every trend starts somewhere, and one thing that might help us unearth Week 2 pickups and longer-term sleepers is something that's wildly underutilized by fantasy analysis: NFL snap counts. They tell us that Devin Singletary and Deebo Samuel are two rookies to be excited about, while Devonta Freeman could be a bust (and Carlos Hyde might actually not be bad).

Because the Internet has most of snap count data available within 24 hours of games being played, we can get you this info in time for your waiver wires and subsequent free agent additions. Snap counts obviously don't just affect sleepers, as they also might show you that a player you drafted with high hopes might need some tempered expectations.

WEEK 2 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Below, we break down four snap situations: Buffalo's RBs, Houston's RBs, Atlanta's RBs and San Francisco's WRs. They're four of the more interesting because of how they pit players who were drafted in most fantasy leagues against others who might be free agents. As you prepare for Week 2, take these specifics into account.

Check out our 32-team breakdown of Week 1 snap counts here

Bills Snap Counts: Devin Singletary vs. Frank Gore

The reports from the Buffalo beat writers suggested that this might not be Singletary's backfield right away after LeSean McCoy was cut. The 36-year-old Gore shaped up as at least having a time share with Singletary. And on the surface, Singletary didn't seem to grab hold of the job in Week 1, carrying the ball just four times (although for 70 yards).

Think again, though. Singletary played 48 snaps out of a possible 69 Buffalo offensive play. Frank Gore played just 19 (and T.J. Yeldon played two, so forget about him). There's no reason that split should move closer to the veteran Gore from the rookie Singletary. If anything, you'd expect the rookie to gain more playing time as the season went on.

Week 2 DFS: FD Cash | FD GPP | DK Cash | DK GPPY! Cash | Y! GPP

Considering it was Buffalo's desire to pass that led to so few carries for Singletary, it's big that he was targeted six times, catching five of them. That means that in games that Buffalo passes a lot, Singletary should be on the field a ton, but he won't be heading off to frequently on rushing downs either. It is notable that Frank Gore received 11 carries on his 19 snaps, so when he's on the field, he'll be running. 

You definitely want Singletary in this backfield. In shallow leagues where he's still available, pounce.

WEEK 2 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver Tight end

Falcons Snap Counts: Devonta Freeman vs. Ito Smith

While Ito Smith was always going to have a role in Atlanta, looking at the snap count here really surprised me: Freeman 39, Smith 39. There wasn't a huge passing or rushing skew here: Freeman was targeted four times and Smith was targeted just once. Freeman carried eight times and Smith carried six. They simply split up the backfield work evenly.

Freeman missed most of last season with an injury, so we're looking two years back to see if he can really be effective as more of a bellcow. Since it doesn't seem like he'll get the high majority of the touches, he'd have to be efficient on a play-to-play basis to be an every-week fantasy starter. His 2.4 yards per carry and 4.0 yards per catch in Week 1 don't suggest the sort of efficiency that'll get it done.

Smith, on the other hand, averaged 5.2 yards per carry in Week 1, but his YPC average in 2018 was a lowly 3.5. Could it be that neither of these RBs are efficient enough to thrive in limited opportunies? Freeman's 4.3 yards per carry average in his career is more encouraging, but even that isn't exciting on less than 40 snaps a game. He's worth holding to see how this shakes out, while Smith is also worth a roster spot, but this might be a frustrating breakdown all season. It will be more interesting to see how the work is divided when Atlanta doesn't fall behind big. 

WEEK 2 PICKUPS: Waiver wire list | FAAB planning | Trade values

Texans Snap Counts: Duke Johnson vs. Carlos Hyde

Two new faces in Houston mean that Week 1 probably can't teach us anything. Here are the raw totals: Johnson 42 snaps, Hyde 25. For anyone who thinks it matters, Hyde was on the field for the game's first snap. While it would seem Hyde would dominate the carries, he had 10 to Johnson's nine.

Both were effective on the ground: Hyde averaged 8.3 yards per carry, while Johnson put up 6.3. The threat of the pass in Houston created great running lanes for both even behind a poor offensive line, especially out of the shotgun. The biggest difference, as expected, is that Johnson received five targets to Hyde's one (and Johnson had another target wiped out by a penalty).

This is a classic split of PPR leagues versus standard formats. In PPR, Johnson should be the preferred running back on Houston. In a standard league, it seems like Hyde should be the choice, with more frequency on the ground as he gets more comfortable in the offense going along with more chances for TDs. Both should be owned in all but the shallowest of leagues.

Week 2 DFS: FD Cash | FD GPP | DK Cash | Y! Cash | Y! GPP

49ers Snap Counts: Deebo Samuel vs. Dante Pettis

Kyle Shanahan's preseason criticism of  Pettis was apparently warranted: The supposed No. 1 WR in San Francisco received just two snaps in the opener. Deebo Samuel, who was listed as a second-teamer on the Niners' depth chart last week, led the squad with 60 snaps (Marquise Goodwin received the rest of the "starter's" snaps, with 50). 

This is wildly concerning for Pettis, who was the highest (and sometimes only) 49ers receiver being drafted. While people were drafting him to be on their bench, it felt like he had upside as Jimmy Garopolo's top wideout. Instead, he's tempting to drop after one week. We'd hold him for at least another week as things shake themselves out.

Samuel, on the other hand, becomes a sneaky waiver-wire or free-agent target. He might not have someone claim him on waivers because despite the high snap total, he only had three catches for 17 yards. But he was a big-play threat through the air and on the ground in the preseason. If he keeps the snap count up, we could look back at the end of the season and call Week 1 one of his worst weeks. By Friday, Samuel should be rostered everywhere -- but not started yet -- in the hopes that he truly is going to be this heavily played by San Francisco.

For snap count reactions for every team, click here.

Billy Heyen