Fantasy Football Player Notes

Since Week 5, Nico Collins' stranglehold on the top chair in the receiving room has slipped. In his last four games, he has had a 14.3% target share with 1.69 YPRR, two red zone targets, three deep targets, and only a 20.7% first-read share. Collins has been the WR45 in fantasy points per game during this span. He's no longer a weekly must-start option. This week, he'll face a Browns' secondary that has the highest single-high rate in the NFL (73.6%). Since Week 5, against single-high, Collins has had only an 18% TPRR against single high but he has also produced 2.13 YPRR. Collins could be in trouble this week. Over their last five games, Cleveland has allowed the tenth-fewest yards per attempt and the second-fewest fantasy points per opportunity to perimeter wide receivers.

Woody Marks has been posting hollow bell cow volume. Since Week 6, he has had a 76.5% snap rate, 66.7% of the rushing work, and a 54.3% route share (7.1% target share). During that span, he has averaged 18.6 touches with 78.7 total yards as the RB39 in fantasy points per game. The big problem continues to be his lack of touchdowns, as he has zero during that stretch. Among 45 qualifying rushers, he is 20th in explosive run rate and 23rd in missed tackle rate. Is this the Woody Marks breakout week? We shall see, but he has a wonderful matchup this week. Over their last five games, the Browns' run defense continues to stink, allowing the second-highest explosive run rate, the fifth-most yards after contact per attempt, and the second-highest missed tackle rate.

Last week, Tank Dell blew up as the WR8 for the week. Dell had a 47% snap rate and 55% route share while seeing a wonderful 24.3% target share and 39.1% first-read share. Dell produced 105 receiving yards (4.77 YPRR) while seeing one red zone target and four deep targets. This week, I expect his snap count to grow some, but he has a tough matchup incoming. This week, he'll face a Browns' secondary that has the highest single-high rate in the NFL (73.6%). In his two games of action against single-high, he has had a 55% TPRR and 3.55 YPRR, but it's only an 11-route sample, so take it with a grain of salt. Dell could produce this week, but it's not an easy matchup. Over their last five games, Cleveland has allowed the tenth-fewest yards per attempt and the second-fewest fantasy points per opportunity to perimeter wide receivers. He's a dice-roll flex play this week.

Dalton Schultz has become a part-time player in the Houston offense. Last week, he had only a 45.5% snap rate and 50% route share. He only managed an 8.1% target share and two receptions. Schultz is a sit until his role changes.

Last week, Xavier Hutchinson became Houston's starting slot receiver, running 65.6% of his routes from the slot. Hutchinson had an 80% route share (led the team) with a 13.5% target share, 0.91 YPRR, 29 receiving yards, one red zone target, a deep target, and a 21.7% first-read share (second on the team). Hutchinson is a sit this week. Over their last five games, Cleveland has allowed the 12th-fewest yards per target and the fourth-fewest fantasy points per opportunity to slot receivers.

Last week, Marvin Harrison remained a part-time player. He had only a 47% snap rate, a 35% route share, and an 8.1% target share. The Texans went with a trio of Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, and Tank Dell as their main receiving options. Harrison remains a weekly sit until his role changes in this offense.