First-Team Preseason Snaps: 10 Important Observations

When it comes to the analysis of preseason action, it's more about the usage and less about the execution.

I've studied and analyzed each club's first-team player usage through two full weeks of preseason games. I learned a lot about each team's 2014 plans, but the following 10 fantasy-relevant observations stood out from the rest:

1. Patterson becoming a safe breakout?

In Minnesota’s second preseason game, second-year wideout Cordarrelle Patterson played all 31 snaps with Matt Cassel and the team’s starters. He’s now been on the field for 51 of 53 starter snaps over two preseason games. Similarly, veteran Greg Jennings has worked 49 of 53. Patterson was expected to be the club’s No. 2 wide receiver, and it was expected he’d lose some offensive snaps as a product of still being a bit raw and due to his special teams contributions. At this point, however, it’s not far-fetched to think he leads Minnesota in targets this season. He’s a great back-end WR2 target and certainly has WR1 upside.

2. Scary snap totals for emerging tight ends

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 Follow Mike Clay on Twitter: @MikeClayNFL