Fantasy Football Player Notes

Last week, with Kimani Vidal injured, Omarion Hampton saw his snap rate increase to 53.2% with a 33% route share and a 6.9% target share. Hampton finished with 17 touches and 95 total yards. Since his Week 14 return, Hampton has averaged 16 touches and 75.6 total yards. Since Week 14, Hampton has generated a wonderful 9.1% explosive run rate, but he has only had a 14% missed tackle rate and 1.50 yards after contact per attempt. With many runs, unless he can find daylight, he's simply getting what is blocked. Hampton could produce as a solid RB2 this week despite the tough matchup with his volume and touchdown equity in the offense. Since Week 12, Houston has allowed the 14th-fewest rushing yards per game, the eighth-lowest explosive run rate, and the fourth-lowest missed tackle rate.

Ladd McConkey is the WR32 in fantasy points per game. Since Week 8, he has had four top 24 weekly finishes. Since Week 12, Houston has utilized single high at the second-highest rate (63%). Since Week 8, against single high, McConkey has led the team with a 20.8% target share with 1.94 yards per route run and a 15.9% first-read share. McConkey will have a tough time this week against Jalen Pitre in the slot. Since his Week 13 return, Pitre has allowed only a 45.5% catch rate and 26.3 passer rating in slot coverage. Since Week 13, Houston has allowed the 14th-fewest fantasy points per game to slot receivers. McConkey is a WR3/flex this week.

Quentin Johnston ripped Dallas apart last week as the WR11 in weekly scoring with 104 receiving yards and a score. Overall, Johnston is the WR29 in fantasy points per game with six top 24 weekly scoring finishes. Since Week 12, Houston has utilized single high at the second-highest rate (63%). Against single high, Johnston has ranked third on the team with an 18.6% target share, tied for first on the team with 1.73 yards per route run, and had a 22.8% first-read share (second on the team). Johnston should fight with Keenan Allen for the team lead in targets this week. The horrible matchup makes him only a flex play this week, though. Since Week 10, Houston has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game and the fifth-fewest receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.

Keenan Allen's production has fallen off the table since Week 7. He hasn't had more than 9.3 PPR points or 53 receiving yards in any game since. Since Week 12, Houston has utilized single high at the second-highest rate (63%). Since Week 8, against single high, Allen has had only a 16.8% target share with 1.53 yards per route run and a team-leading 23.2% first-read share. Justin Herbert could look his way early and often in this game, but it's fair to question how effective Allen will be. Allen is a low-end flex play only. Since Week 10, Houston has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game and the fifth-fewest receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.

After seeing his route share dip in Week 15, last week, Oronde Gadsden saw his route share sit at 69.7%. Since Week 6, Gadsden has been the TE17 in fantasy points per game with a 15.8% target share, 53.3 receiving yards per game, 1.98 yards per route run, and a 17.7% first-read share. In those ten games, he has ten red zone targets, two touchdowns, and eight deep targets. Gadsden is back on the streaming radar this week. Since Week 10, Houston has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points per game to tight ends while ranking 17th in yards per target.