Week 10 NFL Snap Count Report For Fantasy Football: Worry About Quinshon Judkins' Role?

Week 9 saw the return of a top-tier running back, as well as the emergence of a new lead RB in New Orleans. Let’s take a look at what else stood out from around the league in Week 9, and how we can apply it to Week 10 and beyond.

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NFL Snap Count Report for Week 10

Concern For Quinshon Judkins?

For the most part, you know what you’re going to get from Quinshon Judkins each week. If Cleveland keeps a game close, Judkins will flirt with 20 total touches and project as a much better fantasy option. And when the Browns fall behind, you won't see as much Judkins. This past Sunday’s game against the Saints was tight all the way through, the perfect game environment for Judkins.

It didn’t matter.

Dylan Sampson led Cleveland’s backfield in snaps a week ago, but that was in a blowout so no need to overreact. But in a close game against the Saints on Sunday, Sampson once again led the team with 64% of the snaps to just 34% for Judkins. Sampson mixed in more than normal on early downs in this game, while unsurprisingly dominating the snaps on both third down and the two-minute drill. Judkins still led the team in carries (15), but Sampson had 8 of his own. Since Sampson returned in Week 7, Judkins’ pass-game usage has virtually disappeared, averaging just 1.3 targets per game during that span. And during that span, Sampson leads this backfield with 56% of the snaps and 56% of the routes, while Judkins’ route rate has dropped by 10%.

Given Cleveland’s surprise recorde above .500, Judkins has found himself in way more positive game scripts than originally anticipated. And going forward, there aren’t many games where I’d guarantee the Browns are chasing points, outside of two meetings with the Bengals. So theoretically, Judkins should find plenty of opportunities to see strong volume. But if Sampson continues to mix in on early downs, it will be a serious roadblock for Judkins to post weekly RB2 production.

Breece Hall’s Return

The New York Jets have two very good running backs who would start on a bunch of teams in the league. It's terrific for the Jets.

It could be a headache for fantasy football players.

During Breece Hall’s five-game absence, Braelon Allen was very good. So good, in fact, that his emergence had many questioning whether the Jets would trade Hall before the deadline. Across five starts, Allen averaged 18.6 carries, 2.6 receptions, 21.2 touches and 16.5 PPR PPG. During that span, Allen operated as the clear workhorse, logging 84% of the snaps and 82% of the rush attempts. Allen propelled many fantasy teams needing running back help, but with Hall set to return in Week 9, the Jets backfield usage became one of the talking points in fantasy.

On Sunday, Hall returned to a starting role, handling 63% of the rush attempts and 18 touches. His 44% snap share was his lowest mark of the season, but it’s also entirely possible that the Jets limited his playing time a bit following a five-game absence. Allen, meanwhile, logged 58% of the snaps, but his rush share fell to 33%, while seeing 10 touches. Hall operated in the two-minute drill and saw more work on short down and distances. His Week 9 usage wasn’t terribly different from the first two weeks of the season when he was healthy, with the key difference being the drop in snap share.

Despite hearing talk of a 50/50 split all week, Hall’s usage in his return has to be viewed as a positive. Allen has earned a role larger than his Weeks 1-2 suggests—35% snaps, 26% rush attempts, 8 touches per game—but it’s clear that the Jets still firmly view Hall as their RB1. Of course, the usage can change on a weekly basis, especially if Allen continues to play well and this becomes a hot-hand situation. But for now, Hall remains a rock-solid fantasy RB2.

There’s A New RB1 In New Orleans … For Now

When the Saints released Kendre Miller last week, an opportunity presented itself for someone to help awaken a dormant Saints rushing attack. Miller couldn’t do it, Alvin Kamara couldn’t do it and CJ Donaldson is a pass-protecting running back.

So the Saints turned to a familiar face.

New Orleans reunited with Audric Estime this week and immediately gave him the keys to the backfield. Estime played 49% of the snaps and handled 60% of the rush attempts, carrying the ball 15 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. Estime’s 72 yards were the most by a Saints running back in any game this season, giving this run game a much-needed boost. With Donaldson out in this game, the Saints backfield came down to just Estime and Kamara, who saw a pretty sizable drop in playing time, logging 49% of the snaps, 24% of the rush attempts and 59% of the routes.

Estime is one of the top waiver wire adds of the week, though you shouldn’t expect a long-term fix at running back. Travis Etienne will return at some point, though his 21-day practice window hasn’t even been opened yet, making it very possible he remains sidelined for Week 10. If that’s the case, Estime will project as a viable FLEX play against a Carolina Panthers defense surrendering the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing backfields this season.