Statistics are the engine that makes fantasy soccer go. Each week, we’re stats to try to achieve a bonus over our opponents. Diving deeper, we will uncover nuggets of data by means of stats which can be intriguing, permitting us to make sound fantasy soccer choices. Under are 10 totally different numbers from Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season which can be each eye-opening and will go neglected.
The yards earlier than contact per rush by Jahmyr Gibbs on Sunday. David Montgomery was not significantly better with 0.18. The Lions misplaced extra than simply Ben Johnson calling performs this offseason, as 2024 Professional Bowl offensive linemen Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler left Detroit following the top of final yr. Behind among the finest offensive strains within the NFL in 2024, Gibbs recorded 2.31 yards earlier than contact per try, third to solely Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry (who each benefitted by having dashing quarterbacks).
Sure, Inexperienced Bay has an excellent protection, but when Detroits offensive line cant full a 180 underneath new playcaller John Morton, every part else crumbles with it. Morton was beforehand on the Lions teaching workers in 2022 and was not anticipated to make any wholesale modifications to the offense. Nevertheless, when you cant run the ball the best way Ben Johnson did, you cant run play motion like he did both, or get weapons in open area to steer the NFL in YAC/reception once more.
The fantasy alternatives (carries + targets) that Dylan Sampson earned in Week 1. Solely seven operating backs have extra to this point, all seven being drafted contained in the top-20 fantasy RBs. Sampson was drafted because the RB53.
Much more intriguing is that 18 of the 20 got here after the primary quarter. After seeing 40% of the RB touches within the opening quarter, he acquired 72% the remainder of the sport. The offense isnt nice, however Sampsons receiving quantity makes him attention-grabbing with the Browns unsure operating again state of affairs.
The variety of screens Marvin Harrison Jr. caught in Week 1. That quantity was zero in 2024. One of some small modifications in the best path. Though he solely noticed six targets, he caught 5 of them, additional essential for a WR who ranked final in catch charge amongst wideouts with over 100 targets final season.
The alignment was very related (78% of routes outdoors), and targets have been on the low finish. Outdoors of that, the excessive route share and air yards paired with a once-rare crossing route on the aim line bode properly for his Week 1 manufacturing persevering with.
Talking of air yards, the quantity DK Metcalf obtained to start the yr. In 2024, Metcalf ranked tenth amongst wideouts with 1,540 air yards (the variety of supposed yards downfield a WR is focused). Though Metcalf turned his targets into nice manufacturing resulting from his playmaking versus the New York Jets, the indicators of Arthur Smith and Aaron Rodgers can nonetheless be noticed.
Metcalf ran 94% of his routes from the surface, sticking to a really one-dimensional function to begin. Rodgers performed lights out, however in an Arthur Smith offense that doesnt concentrate on quantity for high expertise, Metcalf noticed one downfield goal of 10+ air yards to Calvin Austins 5. A number of screens are a plus that DK took benefit of, however its laborious to belief a Steelers pass-catcher if the quantity doesnt enhance.
Routes run by David Njoku, the second-most by a TE in Week 1. Stunning stat when you knew that he was out-targeted by rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. The third-round NFL Draft choice from Bowling Inexperienced ran 32 routes on Sunday, seeing 9 of the 15 targets at tight finish.
Nevertheless, solely 51% of Fannin’s snaps got here as a real tight finish, typically lining up within the slot or out extensive as a WR. He’s one other weapon Njoku has to compete with, notably when it comes to designed targets and red-zone work, however not a demise sentence as a menace to take over at TE. I nonetheless advocate continuing with warning after Fannins a number of screens in Week 1, a 28% goal share per route, and a foolish 125 yards per recreation again in school.
Kyle Pitts snap share versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Why am I citing snap shares? In Michael Penix Jr.s three begins final season, Pitts snap share was a mere 45.2%. You cant rating fantasy factors on the bench.
The concern is weve seen this trick earlier than. The Bucs protection could also be rostering Pitts in fantasy as properly, as hes now scored 17.9 PPR PPG vs. Tampa Bay since 2024 and 6.0 vs. each different workforce.
The proportion of Spencer Rattlers throws to Alvin Kamara. Virtually half (50.6%) of Kamaras 2024 fantasy factors got here from receiving. So sure, for a 29-year-old RB on a poor offense, who led all backs in targets per recreation final yr, this raises alarms.
He’s not and has by no means been a participant who dominates the carries. So 61% of RB makes an attempt wont be sufficient to maintain Kamara in 2025. In a world the place he didn’t rating his 18-yard dashing TD, the Saints star wouldve ended up with 5.9 fantasy factors resulting from his lack of passing-game utilization. This wouldnt be the primary time his targets dropped with Rattler, as within the younger quarterbacks three 2024 begins, Kamaras share fell from 20.9% to 12.0%.
The time remaining within the third quarter when Tank Bigsby had his first contact of the sport. Within the first half, earlier than the rating was 20-3, Travis Etienne Jr. dealt with 71.4% of the RB touches. Liam Coens operating backs in Tampa Bay noticed this excessive of an quantity one time in 2024 in 17 video games.
Rachaad White and Bucky Irving mixed for 26.9 fantasy PPG in 2024. Of that quantity, 71.4% could be 19.2. Etienne scored 18.6 fantasy factors Sunday, whereas giving Bigsby an opportunity to play within the second half. Just a few enjoyable math.
Cooper Kupps route share from his pure slot place. In 2024 with the Rams, the previous triple crown winner ran 63.2% of routes out of the slot. Throw in a brand new offensive coordinator and Jaxon Smith-Njigba and that quantity abruptly drops.
In Week 1, Kupp ran 12 routes out extensive. He had zero targets. Smith-Njigba ran 22 routes in complete and had an earth-shattering 59% goal share.
The proportion of routes run by Tucker Kraft. Is that this my third TE snap/route stat? Oh properly, its essential. This was not solely the very best of any Packer however wouldve ranked second behind solely Trey McBride in 2024. Inexperienced Bay solely threw the ball 22 instances in a blowout recreation script, however for a proficient TE who’s seemingly quantity away from fantasy stardom, leaping from tenth in route charge to second is an enormous deal.
George Kittle had 7.1 YAC/Rec in 2024. He all the time appeared to steer the place. Till Kraft put up a monstrous 9.6 YAC/Rec to high him. If he can get even near the quantity of different top-10 tight ends, hell be harmful.
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