NFL

5 Fantasy Football Splits That Matter for Week 5

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Jordan Howard Is More Useful Than You Think

Jordan Howard has quietly played in 57.1% of offensive snaps for the Chicago Bears over the last two weeks. That may not be the 71.2% snap rate he recorded during Week 3 of last season, but it's a slight uptick from the 52.6% share he averaged alongside Tarik Cohen in Weeks 1 and 2.

Cohen, of course, still leads the team in target share and targets (as shown in the chart below).


Howard has out-touched Cohen 48-26 over the last two weeks, demonstrating both backs have stand-alone value moving forward.

Chicago also currently owns the league's highest run rate (58%) when within one score of its opponent. That bodes well for Howard in neutral game scripts seeing as how he's the back who's received 61.1% of the Bears' total carries this season.

As for Week 5, note that the Bears' Monday night opponent, the Minnesota Vikings, are the 17th-ranked unit in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP per play (0.08). Since receiving is clearly Cohen's forte, it could be another week in which both Chicago backs prosper.