Fantasy Football Player Notes

Devin Neal will be the workhorse back for the Saints again this week. Over the last two weeks, he has averaged 18.5 touches and 76.5 total yards with a 76.9% snap rate as the RB36 and RB15 in weekly scoring. In those two games, Neal has had a decent 3% explosive run rate with a strong 15% missed tackle rate. He has a wonderful matchup this week as a strong RB2. Since Week 10, Carolina has allowed the eighth-most rushing yards per game, the fourth-highest missed tackle rate, and the seventh-most yards before contact per attempt.

Since Week 9, with Tyler Shough under center, Olave has been the WR22 in fantasy points per game with a 22.4% target share, 61.6 receiving yards per game, 1.95 yards per route run, and a 31.3% first-read share. In those five games, Olave has four end zone targets and ten deep targets. This week, he faces a Carolina pass defense that, since Week 8, has utilized single high at the seventh-highest rate (58.5%). Since Week 9, against single high, Olave has had a 26.5% first-read share with 2.19 yards per route run and a 31.3% first-read share. Olave is a strong WR1/2 again this week. Since Week 10, Carolina has allowed the seventh-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.

Since Week 9, with Tyler Shough under center, Juwan Johnson has been the TE8 in fantasy points per game with a 17.3% target share, 49.2 receiving yards per game, 1.94 yards per route run, and an 18.8% first-read share. In those five games, Johnson has had two red zone targets and one deep target. This week, he faces a Carolina pass defense that, since Week 8, has utilized single high at the seventh-highest rate (58.5%). Since Week 9, against single high, Johnson has had a 20.6% target share with 1.75 yards per route run and a 22.9% first-read share. Johnson could easily be a TE1 again this week. Carolina has allowed the sixth-most receiving yards per game and the tenth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.

Since Week 10, with Tyler Shough under center, Vele has had a 17.6% target share with 46.3 receiving yards per game, 1.35 yards per route run, and a 17.9% first-read share. In those four games, Vele has had two red zone targets and five deep targets. During that span, Vele has had one WR1 weekly finish (WR7) but sadly has been outside the top 45 wide receivers in weekly scoring in the other three games. This week, he faces a Carolina pass defense that, since Week 8, has utilized single high at the seventh-highest rate (58.5%). Since Week 10, against single high, Vele has had only a 15.1% target share with 0.89 yards per route run and an 11.1% first-read share. The market share and efficiency dips against single high drop Vele to low-end flex territory for Week 15. Since Week 10, Carolina has allowed the seventh-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.