All season long, I’ll be looking back at the week to see how we can best leverage what took place on the field at the running back position to our advantage. This weekly article will hone in on weekly snap shares and highlight a few players who could benefit from their team putting them on the field more in the coming weeks.
Week 12 brought us disappointment from one rookie running back, while another surprised to lead his team with 15 touches on an elite 75 percent snap share. As the article’s title suggests, we are once again embarking on Zack Moss season, as the injury bug has bitten Jonathan Taylor, sidelining him for the foreseeable future.
Bye weeks hit hard this week, with six teams taking a mini vacation. Fantasy managers leaning on James Cook, Josh Jacobs, and Saquon Barkley will need to find other options. Fortunately, last week’s slate of games gave us a few options to lean into heading into this week.
I highlight a few of them in this week’s Snap Report.
As always, below are some players whose performances and situations stood out this past week, and at the end of the article is a table of every player to see 20 percent or more of their team’s snaps in Week 12.
Week 13 byes: BAL, BUF, CHI, LV, MIN, NYG
NOTE: Snaps and route data courtesy of FantasyPoints.com and PFF.com.
Zach Charbonnet (SEA)
Zach Charbonnet SZN fell well short of expectations on Thanksgiving night. Despite an elite 87 percent snap share and 38 percent opportunity share, Charbonnet mustered up only 9.8 fantasy points, finishing as the RB29 on the week. It was far from the high-end RB2 performance we hoped for.
It’s still early heading into Week 13, but Kenneth Walker continues to be sidelined in practice with an oblique injury. He was listed as a DNP on Monday and Tuesday’s injury reports, and barring a limited practice on Wednesday, he’ll be trending toward missing Thursday’s contest against the Cowboys.
Charbonnet totaled 58 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches last week against the 49ers. It wasn’t great, but that kind of volume in a week that features six teams on bye could be valuable in Week 13. Charbonnet nearly cracked the top 24 last week. He probably tops that this week if Walker is out.
Kyren Williams (LAR)
Things couldn’t have gone much better for Kyren Williams and his fantasy managers in Week 12.
The Rams’ bell-cow back returned from injured reserve and immediately stepped into a 63.6 percent snap share. Funny enough, Williams’ Week 12 snap share was the lowest of any game he appeared in this season, so perhaps things could have gone better.
Before landing on injured reserve with an ankle injury, Williams had seen a snap share of 80 percent or higher in four of his six games. A blowout of the Cardinals last week may have been the culprit for William’s “low” snap share, as 35 of his 42 snaps came in the first three quarters.
Still, he posted a triumphant 38.4 PPR points, finishing as the overall RB1. Williams has finished as a top-five fantasy back in four of seven games this season. He also has an RB9 finish to his name.
With the kind of volume he’s receiving, mentioning Williams’ efficiency on the season is little more than a footnote here, but here goes.
Among running backs with at least 100 rush attempts, he ranks second in YCO/ATT (3.61) and is 20th in missed tackles forced (23) despite missing four games. His 20.4 percent missed tackles forced rate ranks 12th amongst 35 running backs. Amongst running backs with 100 or more total touches, his 1.13 fantasy points per touch is good for third.
| PLAYER | TEAM | Touches | PPR/Touch |
| Raheem Mostert | MIA | 171 | 1.19 |
| Christian McCaffrey | SF | 241 | 1.15 |
| Kyren Williams | LAR | 132 | 1.13 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | 150 | 1.04 |
| Jaylen Warren | PIT | 130 | 1.03 |
| Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS | 182 | 0.97 |
| David Montgomery | DET | 141 | 0.96 |
| Gus Edwards | BAL | 151 | 0.94 |
| Bijan Robinson | ATL | 173 | 0.94 |
| Breece Hall | NYJ | 162 | 0.93 |
Kyren Williams is good. His snaps and opportunities are late. Hopefully, you didn’t miss out on him in Week 12 out of concern he’d be eased back into the rotation. The last thing the Rams appear interested in is taking it easy on their bell-cow back.
Zack Moss (IND)
A thumb injury to Jonathan Taylor is expected to sideline him for the next 2-3 weeks, potentially costing fantasy managers on the brink of a playoff berth a shot at fantasy glory.
Fortunately, fantasy managers who opted to stash Zack Moss despite his reduced role in recent weeks could have a near league-winner on their hands.
During Jonathan Taylor’s four-week absence, Moss proved to be more than a serviceable backup. The fourth-year back emerged to carry almost the entire workload for the Colts in Weeks 1 through 5, racking up 445 yards and three touchdowns on 89 carries (5.0 YPC) while adding another 8-72-1 through the air on 10 targets. Moss played 76 percent of the snaps or more in each contest while handling 40 percent of the team’s opportunities.
Interestingly, Moss was the only running back in the league over that span to have a snap share of 80 percent or higher and an opportunity share of 40 percent or higher. He was also the RB5 in fantasy points per game (21.4).
Despite taking a back seat to Jonathan Taylor in recent weeks, Moss enters Week 13 as the 10th leading rusher in the league. Among running backs with at least 100 rush attempts, Moss ranks seventh in YCO/ATT (3.15) and eighth in YPC (4.8).
According to the RotoViz Strength of Schedule Streaming app, the Colts have one of the more generous matchups for running backs in Weeks 13 through 15.
Fantasy managers stashing Moss have no choice but to roll him out in Week 13 against the Titans, who have allowed the 15th most fantasy points per game (21.2) to running backs over the last five weeks. His expected volume and overall efficient play put him in high-end RB2 territory.
Michael Carter (ARI)
Understanding Michael Carter’s 37.5 percent snap share requires a bit of context. Making his debut with the Cardinals in Week 12, Carter played the second-most snaps of any Cardinals running back (24) and had only two less snaps than James Conner (26). The raw numbers look great for Carter, who was drafted by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but as I mentioned earlier, last week’s matchup between the Rams and Cardinals turned into a blowout.
Of the 24 snaps Carter saw on the day, 21 came in the fourth quarter. He was semi-efficient with his opportunities, turning eight touches into 34 yards while catching all four of his targets, but Carter has the makings of an interesting stash for the season’s stretch run.
While we don’t fully know his role with the team, the Cardinals recently released backup Keaontay Ingram, and rookie Emari Demercado didn’t pop up on the radar until injuries to James Conner and Keaontay Ingram left the Cardinals with few options at the position.
Carter was a darling of the fantasy community back when the Jets drafted him. Despite sharing a backfield with Javonte Williams during his days at North Carolina, Carter still managed to catch 20 or more passes in three of his four seasons and averaged 6.6 yards per carry for his career. His 3.85 YCO/ATT at UNC ranked near the top amongst backs in his draft class, trailing only Jonathan Taylor, Javonte Williams, DeeJay Dallas, and Raymond Calais.
At 5-foot-8, 201 pounds, and boasting a 4.54 40-time, Carter is a bit undersized for a lead back and only carries a little explosiveness. However, fantasy managers who love a good PPR scam will love his ability in the passing game and the shiftiness he’s displayed across the collegiate and pro ranks and at the combine a few years back.
As a rookie, Carter totaled 964 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns, averaging an impressive 5.4 yards per touch. His pass-catching upside was on full display, as he finished the year with 36 receptions for 325 yards on 55 targets. If not for the decision to draft Breece Hall in 2022 and sign Dalvin Cook in 2023, it’s possible we’d be looking at Carter as the Jets’ current RB1. He certainly appeared capable of the role.
James Conner’s well-documented injury history and Demercado’s sub-par production make me think a lead role could be within reach for Carter if Conner ever misses time.
D’Ernest Johnson (JAC)
My dead 2022 best ball teams rejoiced last week when they saw D’Ernest Johnson rip off a 42-yard reception against the Texans. It was Johnson’s second reception of 30-plus yards in the last two weeks, as he’s now managed 115 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches over the span.
As far as volume goes, Johnson isn’t on the fantasy radar. As long as Travis Etienne remains healthy, that’s likely to remain the case, but as a potential handcuff to Etienne, Johnson looks like the clear choice.
His 42.6 percent snap share in last week’s win over the Texans set a new season-high for him and is part of a growing trend in the Jaguars’ backfield. Below is a look at how the Jags have split the snaps and touches for their running backs over the last three weeks.
| Player | Snaps | Snap Share | Touches |
| Travis Etienne | 151 | 63.4% | 56 |
| D’Ernest Johnson | 57 | 29.8% | 22 |
| Tank Bigsby | 19 | 9.9% | 14 |
When Etienne left briefly with an injury in Week 12, Johnson stepped into the lead role, not Tank Bigsby, as Bigsby continues to underwhelm in a disappointing rookie campaign. While I wouldn’t be moving to stash Johnson on my rosters, this recent stretch is something to keep in mind as we seek out potential stashes ahead of the fantasy playoffs.
Chuba Hubbard (CAR)
I’m not dying to start Panthers players where I don’t have to, but with several high-end backs out, Chuba Hubbard is worth considering as a streaming option. Hubbard’s 64.2 percent snap share was nearly double that of Miles Sanders (35.8 percent), and Hubbard out-touched Sanders 19 to 15.
Sanders managed one more rush attempt than Hubbard on the afternoon, but Hubbard saw five of the team’s six running back targets. He also out-gained Sanders 92 to 28 in terms of total yards, looking like the far more efficient player.
There’s nothing easy about the Panthers’ Week 13 matchup against the Buccaneers — especially with Frank Reich now gone and a coaching staff in flux. It also doesn’t help that the Buccaneers are one of the league’s premiere pass funnels and have stood up well against the run.
However, Hubbard has handled 14 or more rush attempts in four of his last six games and is averaging 16.8 opportunities per game during that stretch. Fantasy managers bitting by the injury/bye week bug could lean on Hubbard as a low-end streaming option as he (barely) looks like the better back in Carolina.
Antonio Gibson (WSH)
Week 12 was pretty for Antonio Gibson, or the Commanders as a whole, for that matter. But the Commander’s RB2 returned from his brief absence to see 10 opportunities and four targets in the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Cowboys.
His four targets were his fewest since Week 7, but Gibson has averaged five targets per game in his last four outings and has quietly been one of the more efficient backs on a per-touch basis. His 6.4 yards per touch ranks second amongst all qualified running backs (min. 50 touches).
The Commanders rank third in the league with a PROE of 7.2 percent. A Week 13 matchup against the Dolphins should only add to their pass-heavy ways, which should be enough to put Gibson on the PPR streaming radar. His recent involvement in the passing game has resulted in two top-24 finishes in his last four games.
Roschon Johnson (CHI)
I spent a decent portion of last week’s article praising Khalil Herbert and his elite efficiency over the previous two seasons. The prospects of Herbert returning to a lead role after his return from injured reserve were enticing, especially in Week 12 against the Vikings.
Then, the unexpected happened.
Rather than feature Herbert as the Bears’ RB1 last week, head coach Matt Eberflus opted to roll with rookie Roschon Johnson, who totaled 75 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches to lead Chicago’s backfield.
In some ways, Johnson’s emergence was a big win for me; I loved him as a prospect coming out of college. However, as far as predicting usage goes, Herbert was a giant swing and a miss. He managed just eight touches for 38 total yards and had his lowest snap share of the season.
The return of D’Onta Foreman after the Bears’ Week 13 bye could further muddy the waters, but Johnson is an interesting player to target down the stretch. As Kyle Dvorchak pointed out in his 32 Fantasy Stats article, Johnson saw an elite role with the Bears in last week’s win. As a dual threat out of the backfield, Johnson is primed to handle snaps on any down and distance and was reportedly the best pass blocker on the team earlier this summer.
Chicago faces the 10th easiest schedule for running backs in Weeks 14 through 17, which could give Johnson some league-winning upside if he continues to play at the rate we saw against the Vikings.
Week 12 Snap Share
| Name | Team | Snaps | TM Snaps | Snap % |
| Rachaad White | TB | 50 | 56 | 89.3% |
| Zach Charbonnet | SEA | 47 | 54 | 87.0% |
| Saquon Barkley | NYG | 42 | 50 | 84.0% |
| Devin Singletary | HST | 47 | 58 | 81.0% |
| Austin Ekeler | LAC | 53 | 66 | 80.3% |
| Isiah Pacheco | KC | 46 | 58 | 79.3% |
| Tony Pollard | DAL | 39 | 50 | 78.0% |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | 53 | 68 | 77.9% |
| Christian McCaffrey | SF | 50 | 65 | 76.9% |
| Josh Jacobs | LV | 44 | 58 | 75.9% |
| Roschon Johnson | CHI | 51 | 68 | 75.0% |
| Javonte Williams | DEN | 44 | 62 | 71.0% |
| Jerome Ford | CLV | 49 | 70 | 70.0% |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | 54 | 78 | 69.2% |
| Joe Mixon | CIN | 27 | 41 | 65.9% |
| Alvin Kamara | NO | 44 | 67 | 65.7% |
| D’Andre Swift | PHI | 42 | 65 | 64.6% |
| Chuba Hubbard | CAR | 43 | 67 | 64.2% |
| Derrick Henry | TEN | 34 | 53 | 64.2% |
| Kyren Williams | LA | 42 | 66 | 63.6% |
| Breece Hall | NYJ | 35 | 55 | 63.6% |
| Bijan Robinson | ATL | 39 | 62 | 62.9% |
| Travis Etienne | JAX | 41 | 68 | 60.3% |
| Raheem Mostert | MIA | 41 | 69 | 59.4% |
| Alexander Mattison | MIN | 30 | 51 | 58.8% |
| Jonathan Taylor | IND | 41 | 70 | 58.6% |
| Najee Harris | PIT | 36 | 68 | 52.9% |
| A.J. Dillon | GB | 28 | 54 | 51.9% |
| Jaylen Warren | PIT | 33 | 68 | 48.5% |
| Patrick Taylor | GB | 26 | 54 | 48.1% |
| Keaton Mitchell | BLT | 32 | 69 | 46.4% |
| Antonio Gibson | WAS | 34 | 75 | 45.3% |
| Brian Robinson | WAS | 34 | 75 | 45.3% |
| James Cook | BUF | 41 | 92 | 44.6% |
| Latavius Murray | BUF | 40 | 92 | 43.5% |
| D’Ernest Johnson | JAX | 29 | 68 | 42.6% |
| James Conner | ARZ | 26 | 64 | 40.6% |
| Zack Moss | IND | 28 | 70 | 40.0% |
| Tyjae Spears | TEN | 21 | 53 | 39.6% |
| Michael Carter | ARZ | 24 | 64 | 37.5% |
| Miles Sanders | CAR | 24 | 67 | 35.8% |
| Dalvin Cook | NYJ | 19 | 55 | 34.5% |
| Kenneth Gainwell | PHI | 22 | 65 | 33.8% |
| Jeffery Wilson | MIA | 23 | 69 | 33.3% |
| Royce Freeman | LA | 21 | 66 | 31.8% |
| Ty Chandler | MIN | 16 | 51 | 31.4% |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | ATL | 19 | 62 | 30.6% |
| Tyler Allgeier | ATL | 18 | 62 | 29.0% |
| Justice Hill | BLT | 20 | 69 | 29.0% |
| David Montgomery | DET | 22 | 78 | 28.2% |
| Jamaal Williams | NO | 18 | 67 | 26.9% |
| Elijah Mitchell | SF | 17 | 65 | 26.2% |
| Gus Edwards | BLT | 18 | 69 | 26.1% |
| Samaje Perine | DEN | 16 | 62 | 25.8% |
| Kareem Hunt | CLV | 18 | 70 | 25.7% |
| Khalil Herbert | CHI | 15 | 68 | 22.1% |
| Ezekiel Elliott | NE | 15 | 68 | 22.1% |
| Emari Demercado | ARZ | 14 | 64 | 21.9% |
| Ameer Abdullah | LV | 12 | 58 | 20.7% |
