Fantasy Football Player Notes

Cam Skattebo started the season off with a solid showing as the RB18 in fantasy. He played 60.3% of the snaps, finishing with 18 rushing attempts and 81 rushing yards (one score). The human battering ram didn't garner a target, and he had a disappointing 30.3% route share. We'll have to see if this continues as we move through the season or if the Giants are simply easing him in. Among 33 qualifying rushers in Week 1, Skattebo ranked 15th in explosive run rate, 18th in yards after contact per attempt, and ninth-best in missed tackle rate. Skattebo should have another nice game in Week 2 against a run defense that allowed the ninth-highest explosive run rate, the highest rushing success rate, and the highest yards before contact per attempt in Week 1. The Giants were third-best in yards before contact per attempt in Week 1. This new-look offensive line should be able to open holes for Skattebo in Week 2.

In Week 1, after much speculation, Malik Nabers played and played well. He had only a 69.7% route share and 54.4% snap rate, but he turned that into a 31% target share and 36.4% first-read share. Nabers churned out 69 receiving yards and 3.0 yards per route run while drawing a red zone target. Nabers should see his playing time increase slightly in Week 2. With that bump in routes and his strong per-route efficiency, I wouldn't be shocked to see him produce as a WR2 this week. Last week, the Rams allowed the 12th-most yards per target and the fourth-most fantasy points per target to perimeter wide receivers.

Last week, Isaiah Likely was the TE1 in fantasy, amassing 27.8 PPR points. He played only 50% of the snaps, but he had a 69.7% route share with a 27.6% target share, 78 receiving yards (3.39 yards per route run), and a 31.8% first-read share. Likely two touchdowns and four red zone targets. If he keeps producing like this, he will have been this year's late-round tight end that everyone should have drafted (him or Dalton Kincaid). Likely has a tough on-paper matchup with the Rams this week. Last year, they allowed the third-fewest yards per target and the seventh-fewest fantasy points per opportunity to tight ends, but this year's defense fell on their face in Week 1. I'll take those last year numbers with a grain of salt at the moment. Even if this is a tough matchup, Likely is seeing top-shelf usage in this offense when he's on the field. Usage and volume could easily outkick a possibly bad matchup this week.