Welcome to the Utilization Report, where Dwain McFarland highlights his top fantasy football usage takeaways heading into Week 7.

The Top 12 Fantasy Football Usage Takeaways for Week 7

Let's follow the data to identify the top waiver wire options, trade targets, upgrades, and downgrades based on what we learned in Week 6.

Note: as you read through the Utilization Report, you'll notice the Utilization Score being used as a pillar of analysis. For more information on how to use the score and why it's more predictive than fantasy points per game, read here.

Priority Waiver Wire Recommendations

1. Drake Maye is ascending toward low-end QB1 territory.

Maye infused a massive injection into the Patriots' offense in his first start with 243 yards and three TDs through the air. Under Jacoby Brissett, the best New England could muster was 168 yards and one TD.

The rookie also had his share of bad moments, with two interceptions and a lost fumble on a sack. However, he was a plus on the ground with five scrambles (12%) for 38 yards. While that might not seem like a lot, it is worth 3.8 points in fantasy. That can transform a 16-point-per-game passer (mid-range QB2) into a 20-point-per-game fantasy producer (mid-range QB1).

Maye UPGRADES to mid-range QB2 status but will find himself in borderline QB1 territory next week with another solid game on the ground. He is available in 99% of leagues with a great matchup against the Jaguars, who provide the No. 1 fantasy boost to QBs at 4.8 points per game.

2. Trey Benson should not be on waiver wires.

James Conner suffered an ankle injury and fumbled in the Cardinals' Week 6 thumping by the Packers. While we can't assume a Conner benching is coming, there is a chance injury opens the door, and the more games Arizona loses, the less incentive they have to feed the veteran.

In blowout conditions with Conner banged up, Emari Demercado handled 74% of the snaps thanks to a 72% route participation. If the team switches to Benson, we can't assume he will be a one-for-one replacement for Conner's workload, but we also shouldn't read too much into Demercado's utilization, given the game script.

If Conner misses time, expect the rookie back to handle 55 to 60% of the rushing attempts while Demercado handles the long-down-and-distance scenarios and the two-minute offense. However, Benson could take over some of those duties in the future.

Benson is available in 81% of Yahoo leagues and is a great long-term stash play with low-end RB2 upside in Week 7 if Conner is injured.

3. Deciphering the 49ers backfield if Jordan Mason is out.

In Week 6, Mason suffered a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the game's final six drives, and San Francisco turned to a committee approach.

  • Isaac Guerendo: 38% snaps, 43% attempts, 14% route participation, 0% targets
  • Patrick Taylor: 45% snaps, 36% attempts, 50% route participation, 7% targets

Guerendo scored 9.9 fantasy points thanks to a 76-yard gallop, during which he displayed the speed that made him a darling of the NFL Combine. However, he did not show the same feel for the 49ers' run scheme as Mason and Taylor siphoned passing-down reps.

If Mason misses the Week 7 matchup with a tough KC run defense, this backfield will project as a committee. Still, Guerendo may distance himself from Taylor if Mason misses multiple games and CMC remains on IR.

Guerendo is available in 96% of leagues and offers a boom-bust RB3 profile if Mason can't go this weekend. 

4. DeMario Douglas could add some POP to your lineup.

Pop Douglas got off to a slow start, but he owns a 6.5 Utilization Score over the last four games, largely thanks to a 25% target share. During that stretch, he averaged 13.1 points per game, including a season-high 21.2 points in Week 6 with Maye at QB.

DeMario Douglas UR

 

While we can't expect 20 points per game, Douglas has a shot at carving out a WR3-worthy fantasy role. His Utilization Score comps have finished in the WR3 range often.

  • Low-end WR2 finishes: 6%
  • High-end WR3 finishes: 23%
  • Low-end WR3 finishes: 31%
  • High-end WR4 finishes: 34%
  • Low-end WR4 finishes: 6%

One concern for Douglas is his reliance on three-WR sets, but the coaching staff indicated they would consider using him more in two-WR sets moving forward. That would boost the range of outcomes above.

Douglas UPGRADES to low-end WR3 territory and is available in 93% of leagues.

5. Not available in my league, pal!

These players aren't available in sicko leagues (I feel ya), but believe it or not, most of the Milky Way galaxy doesn't play in a sicko league. If available, please allow us sicko-leaguers to live vicariously through you and prioritize these options off the waiver wire.

JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | Chiefs (65% availability)

Smith-Schuster notched 20 fantasy points in Week 5 in an expanded role with Rashee Rice out and is only rostered in 35% of leagues thanks to a Week 6 bye. Smith-Schuster finished the game with a 66% route participation and a 24% target share, leading to an 8.1 Utilization Score.

On the one hand, I don't expect these types of outings from Smith-Schuster regularly because he had the same role in 2022 when the Chiefs desperately needed WR production. On the other hand, he averaged 12.5 points in games with over 65% route participation in 2022, making him a WR3.

Smith-Schuster won't benefit from a 50-plus yard reception thanks to a defender falling every week. Still, Andy Reid will create opportunities for the veteran WR to get lost in the shuffle by opposing defenses. 

Smith-Schuster UPGRADES to mid-range WR3 territory.

Christian Watson | WR | Packers (59% availability)

Dontayvion Wicks is week-to-week after suffering a shoulder injury. That injury opened the door for Watson, who notched his highest route participation (72%) and target share (14%) since Week 1. Watson finished the day with a 6.0 Utilization Score and 15.8 fantasy points thanks to a long TD.

Watson has the talent to score from anywhere on the field, which makes him an intriguing name off the waiver wire in a Packers offense averaging the fourth-most yards per game (401).

Outside of Jayden Reed, Watson offers the most upside of the Packers WRs while Wicks is sidelined. He is a boom-bust WR4.

Romeo Doubs | WR | Packers (65% availability)

Doubs scored 19.9 fantasy points thanks to two TDs. However, earning targets continue to challenge the third-year WR. Doubs' target share sits at 16% on the season, slightly lower than 2018 (18%).

Romeo Doubs UR

 

Based on his 5.5 Utilization Score, here are the season-long fantasy finish comps for Doubs:

  • Low-end WR3 finishes: 6%
  • High-end WR4 finishes: 12%
  • Low-end WR4 finishes: 19%
  • WR5 finishes: 55%
  • WR6 finishes: 6%

There is a chance the Packers' high-flying offense can help Doubs buck the trends above, but the odds tell us we shouldn't get over-excited about his Week 6 performance.

Doubs is WR5 with WR4 upside and is a low-priority waiver wire option.

Bonus: Sam Darnold is available in over half of leagues (56%) coming off a bye, and the Vikings have a juicy schedule over the next four games. They play the Lions, Colts, Rams, and Jaguars. Darnold might post a top-six QB finish over that stretch.

Note: Check out last week's options. Some players like Josh Downs and Tyrone Tracy are still available in over 40% of Yahoo leagues and continue to shine.

6. Stash plays: patience and foresight are required.

If you play in a sicko league, here are some names that are more likely to be available. They should not be sitting on the wire due to potential value in the future, but they won't be helping your fantasy squad next weekend.

Tyler Allgeier | RB | Falcons (70% available)

Allgeier tallied 17.8 fantasy points in Week 6 against the Panthers. For most of the game, the third-year back was in his typical role, but he handled 83% of the rushing attempts in the final quarter in a leading game script, leading to an additional ten carries for 67 yards and a TD.

Allgeier has a 3.7 Utilization Score, which means he won't be startable in most matchups, but his performance in Week 6 serves as a reminder that he is a quality player. If Bijan Robinson were to miss time, Allgeier would enter the RB1 rankings immediately.

Allgeier is one of the premier handcuff options in fantasy football and should be rostered more than 30%.

Kimani Vidal | RB | Chargers (89% available)

With Gus Edwards placed on IR, Vidal got the bye-week bump fantasy managers hoped for, catapulting the No. 2 RB for the Chargers in his first action of the season.

  • Fantasy points: 13.1
  • Snaps: 24%
  • Attempts: 11%
  • Routes: 26%
  • Targets: 7%

While those numbers don't make Vidal a viable option in fantasy lineups today, his role could grow thanks to his ability as a receiver out of the backfield, and J.K. Dobbins has a lengthy injury history.

Vidal is an RB5 with contingency RB1 upside. He UPGRADES to must-stash status.

Sean Tucker | RB | Buccaneers (99% available)

Tucker is technically the No. 3 back on the Buccaneers depth chart when Rachaad White is healthy. In Week 6, he was the clear-cut No. 2 behind Bucky Irving, who handled 70% of snaps before the final garbage-time drive where Tucker tacked on six attempts for 64 yards and a TD.

Still, it is hard to ignore that Tucker tallied 192 rushing and receiving yards with two TDs on his way to a 34.2-point fantasy eruption. The second-year back has a three-down skillset and handled a significant workload in college, making him an intriguing name to consider on waivers.

Things would be simpler if Tampa Bay relegated the inefficient White to a backup role, but the reality is that Tucker could turn this backfield into a three-headed monster.

Tucker moves into RB5 stash territory and offers massive upside should he surpass White on the depth chart.

Note: Read the Utilization Bytes section at the bottom of this column for more waiver wire options. It is loaded with nuggets from every team, including waiver wire tidbits.

P.S. Remember to revisit last week's stash plays. Ty Chandler and Blake Corum are high-priority stash plays heading into Week 7.

Navigating the Fantasy Football Trade Market

To truly set your fantasy football brain free, you must move away from polarizing takes around players. The truth is that every player has a potential range of outcomes, which means that any player could be a buy or sell candidate simultaneously!

This section of the Utilization Report aims to help you understand the range of outcomes on a handful of players so you can work your magic. Based on what I think is most likely achievable now, I may label players as sell-or-buy candidates, but remember, the real secret is in the outcome ranges so that you can adapt.

7.  Is Josh Jacobs a buy-low candidate?

Jacobs is the RB28, averaging only 12.3 fantasy points per game. However, his 7.1 Utilization Score suggests that he offers plenty of upside based on the finishes of his historical comparisons. 

  • RB1 finishes: 19%
  • High-end RB2 finishes: 20%
  • Low-end RB2 finishes: 32%
  • High-end RB3 finishes: 22%
  • Low-end RB3 finishes: 7%

If your local Jacobs manager is willing to move on from Jacobs at his current RB3 performance level, that would be a slam dunk. However, someone has little incentive to move on from a player like Jacobs at such a low value. That means we will likely have to pay an RB2 price tag, which is where it gets interesting.

I would buy if Jacobs is available at a low-end RB2 price tag. In that scenario, you break even 32% of the time and profit 39%. But to pay a high-end RB2 price tag, you must believe that the Packers' high-octane offense can unlock additional RB1 finishes.

That is a plausible outcome for the No. 4 ranked offense in the NFL with 401 yards per game and ranks ninth in drives converted into TDs (25%). If paying the high-end RB2 price, consider a two-for-two trade where you regain some value on the second player.

Jacobs is a fine trade target if you can acquire him as a low-end RB2.

Upgrades, Downgrades and Emerging Trends

8. J.K. Dobbins is pushing for RB1 status.

Dobbins tallied a whopping 25 rushing attempts in Week 6. Dobbins' utilization trend was already ascending, but with Gus Edwards placed on IR, there was little standing in his way besides the Broncos' defense. Dobbins reached season-highs in snaps share (73%), rush attempt share (68%), and Utilization Score (8.2).

 

While we want to avoid overreacting to a one-week sample, the absence of Edwards for the next three games opens the door for a boost for Dobbins. Backs with a Utilization Score in the range of his Week 6 performance have produced at a high level in fantasy.

  • High-end RB1 finishes: 7%
  • Low-end RB1 finishes: 43%
  • High-end RB2 finishes: 36%
  • Low-end RB2 finishes: 14%

The Chargers are the seventh-most run-heavy team (-4.1% DBOE), and Dobbins is their primary ball carrier.

Dobbins UPGRADES to borderline RB1 territory.

9. Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs thrive with Nico Collins out.

With Collins out due to a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined for another three games, Dell and Diggs stepped into more prominent roles in Houston. Dell led the team with a 91% route participation and a juicy 31% target share on his way to a season-high 8.3 Utilization Score. The second-year WR ended the day with 18.7 fantasy points.

Diggs garnered a 24% target share and led the team with a 38% air yards share, working deeper downfield than in previous weeks (14.6 aDOT). The veteran WR finished the day with an 8.6 Utilization Score and 19.7 fantasy points.

 

Over the last four years, 78% of WRs with a Utilization Score in the range of Dell and Diggs have posted WR1 numbers. In an offense ranked fifth in passing yards per game (256) it is wheels up for these two until Collins returns–especially in favorable matchups against the Packers and Colts over the next two games.

Diggs and Dell UPGRADE to borderline WR1 status until Collins returns.

10. Has Tyrone Tracy Jr. earned a larger role?

The honest answer to this question is that we have no clue because we can't predict how the Giants' coaching staff will handle this situation. However, that staff has empowered Tracy to 62% and 84% snap shares over the last two games. He earned an 8.7 Utilization Score during that span, averaging 18.4 fantasy points.

However, Tracy and Singletary have faired similarly across several metrics but Singletary has bested Tracy in yards after contact and missed tackles forced per attempt.

  • PFF Run Grade: 69.6 vs. 61.5
  • Average yards after contact: 2.7 vs. 3.2
  • Missed tackles forced per attempt: 9% vs. 36%
  • 10-plus-yard rushing attempts: 11% vs. 11%
  • Yards per route run: 1.13 vs. 1.01
  • Targets per route run: 15% vs. 16%

The rookie looked extremely comfortable in his second start as a player who had only played RB for one year of college football. When watching Tracy, it is hard to imagine a world where he doesn't have a more significant role than before the Singletary injury. However, coaches do some weird shit, man–let's just hope that it is an unexpected move in favor of Tracy.

Tracy morphs into a boom-bust RB3 when Devin Singletary returns, BUT the Giants coaching staff could surprise us. Don't drop Tracy until we see how this backfield plays out.

11. Joe Mixon and Evan Engram returned with a bang.

Mixon erupted for 27.2 fantasy points in Week 6. He hogged 69% of the team's rushing attempts and posted a 50% route participation over the first eight drives of the game before Houston was grinding the clock. In his two healthy games, Mixon has averaged 27 fantasy points.

Mixon is a mid-range RB1 the rest of the way.

Engram was the No. 4 TE last season in fantasy points per game (13.8), but managers have had to wait to get him into lineups thanks to a hamstring injury that sidelined the athletic TE for the previous four games. Thankfully, he didn't disappoint in his return to the lineup, leading the Jaguars with 10 targets (29%) on his way to a 9.1 Utilization Score and 20.2 fantasy points.

Engram is a mid-range TE1 the rest of the way.

12. Ladd McConkey might be a WR1 in an alternate simulation.

McConkey averages 10.6 points per game, and his Utilization Score (6.0) indicates we should expect slight regression, with his comps averaging 11.4. However, McConkey is doing his part. The rookie leads the Chargers with an impressive 26% target share and a 32% air yards share, which puts him in the zip code of players like Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The challenge for McConkey is the run-first nature (27th in dropbacks over expected) and slow pace (29th in plays per minute over expected). When you add it all up, you get the lowest pass plays per game (28) in the NFL, transforming his substantial target share into 6.2 targets per contest. If the Chargers were just league-average in passing attempts per game, we would be looking at a player with nine-plus targets per contest!

Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman are unlikely to undergo a dramatic philosophical shift. Still, McConkey's outlook would significantly improve even if this unit climbed to below-average status in attempts per game.

McConkey remains a WR4, but his talent profile offers borderline WR1 traits, making him a name to target in dynasty formats.

More Fantasy Football Usage Takeaways From Week 6

Quarterback Utilization Bytes

  • Caleb Williams: Williams threw for 226 yards and four TDs on his way to his best fantasy performance of the season (28.6). The number one overall pick has boosted his completion rate to 65%, and his YPA has continued moving in the right direction (6.6). Williams UPGRADES to high-end QB2 status.
     
  • Jordan Love: Love averages 21.5 points with 283 passing yards and three passing TDs per contest. Only Geno Smith averages more yards per contest. Love UPGRADES to mid-range QB1 status and has favorable matchups against the Texans, Jaguars, and Lions on the horizon.

Running Back Utilization Bytes

  • Alexander Mattison: Mattison posted season-highs in snaps (67%) and rush attempts (74%) on his way to 17.5 fantasy points and an 8.7 Utilization Score. Don't buy into Mattison. It's a Fugazi! We will soon get Zamir White back, and the Raiders backfield is a situation to avoid. Mattison is HOLDING STEADY as a borderline RB4.
     
  • Austin Ekeler: Ekeler handled a more prominent role with Brian Robinson out. He posted a healthy 7.5 Utilization Score despite only managing 10.8 fantasy points. The veteran back led the team in snaps (73%), attempts (69%), and route participation (60%). Ekeler remains an RB3 but offers high-end RB2 upside in games without Robinson.
     
  • Bijan Robinson: Robinson's big fantasy day could have been a massive one, but Tyler Allgeier stole all the four-minute offense carries over the last two drives. Still, there is no need to freak out. Before the final two drives, Robinson was in the role we have seen all season, with a 69% snap share, 59% rush share, and 64% route participation. Robinson is HOLDING STEADY as a mid-range RB1.
     
  • Browns RBs: Cleveland's running back room is in flux. Jerome Ford is week-to-week with a hamstring injury, and Nick Chubb could return in Week 7. Pierre Strong and D'Onta Foreman will likely keep Chubb's workload light in the first game.
  • Bucky Irving: Irving notched a 7.5 Utilization Score without Rachaad White in the lineup. Before the final garbage-time drive, Irving bogarted a 70% snap share and notched 18.5 fantasy points. However, Sean Tucker played exceptionally well, and we could see a three-headed committee once White returns. Irving is HOLDING STEADY as a high-end RB4 but offers RB2 upside in games without White.
     
  • Chase Brown: Brown posted his second-strongest Utilization Score of the season (6.8) and notched his best snap share (62%) and route participation (57%). While it is hard to take too much away from a performance where he and Zack Moss were banged up coming into the game, Brown has led the Bengals in rushing attempts in three straight games and continued to show off home-run ability. He has a 6.6 Utilization Score over that stretch–Brown UPGRADES to mid-range RB3 status.
  • Chuba Hubbard: Hubbard is the RB5 in fantasy football, with 16.3 fantasy points per game. Hubbard has an 8.9 Utilization Score since taking over the full-time role in Week 2, where 85% of his comps were RB1s. Hubbard UPGRADES to low-end RB1 status until Jonathon Brooks returns.
     
  • D'Andre Swift: Swift has a compelling 9.2 Utilization Score over the last three games, pushing his season score to 7.9. The veteran back sports a 64% snap share, 59% rush share, and 13% target share heading into Week 7. His historical comps tallied a low-end RB1 finish 67% of the time. Swift UPGRADES to low-end RB1 territory.
     
  • Dallas RBs: We have a grotesque three-way split in Big D with Hunter Luepke taking over passing downs. Snaps with Dak Prescott in the game: Ezekiel Elliott (36%), Rico Dowdle (26%), Hunter Luepke (38%). Dowdle DOWNGRADES to RB4 territory. 
     
  • Dameon Pierce: Pierce returned to the lineup after missing the first five games with a hamstring injury. The third-year back operated as the No. 2 option behind Mixon, handling 30% of the rushing attempts, including a 54-yard TD run. Pierce UPGRADES to RB5 territory and is a PRIORITY stash option (available in 94% of leagues).
     
  • Derrick Henry: Henry has a league-leading 11 attempts inside the five-yard line and is on pace for 23 rushing TDs. Henry is a high-end RB1.
     
  • Devin Singletary: Singletary's extensive grasp over the RB1 duties could loosen after the strong performance of Tyrone Tracy. Singletary DOWNGRADES to high-end RB3 status.
     
  • Javonte Williams: Williams reached season-highs in snap share (68%) and route participation rate (63%). The fourth-year RB has a 7.4 Utilization Score since the injury to Tyler Badie. The Broncos offense leaves much to be desired, but Williams is due for some positive regression—Williams UPGRADES to borderline RB2 territory.
     
  • Jaylen Warren: Warren returned to the lineup after missing two games. He only plays 35% of the snaps this season with a lowly 16% rush share. While that means he doesn't have the stand-alone value we hoped for, he still has contingent upside as one of the most talented backups in the NFL. Warren DOWNGRADES to RB5 status but remains one of the better handcuff options and is available in 48% of leagues.
     
  • Kenneth Walker: Walker scored 20.9 fantasy points in another game where the Seahawks didn't run the ball often. His Utilization Score now sits at 9.1 for the season after a 9.4 outing in Week 6. Walker has become matchup-proof and UPGRADES to high-end RB1 status.
     
  • Najee Harris: Harris was due for regression based on his role and it came through in Week 6. The fourth-year RB averages 16 attempts and three targets per contest, which keeps him in play despite the shortcomings of the Steelers' offense and the lack of explosiveness in Harris's game. Harris is HOLDING STEADY as a low-end RB2, with 63% of his comps posting a low-end RB2 or high-end RB3 season. 
     
  • Tank Bigsby: Travis Etienne is week-to-week with a hamstring injury. Bigsby didn't benefit from Etienne's from the field due to blowout game conditions against the Bears. D'Ernest Johnson took on the passing-down duties. However, the Jaguars should face a more favorable game script against the Patriots in Week 7. Bigsby UPGRADES to borderline RB2 status until Etienne returns.
     
  • Tony Pollard: Tyjae Spears is week-to-week with an ankle injury. That injury led to a season-high 75% snap share and 60% route participation rate for Pollard. The veteran now sports an 8.1 Utilization Score (8th) for the season. Pollard UPGRADES to borderline RB1 status until Spears returns.
     
  • Trey Sermon: Sermon is still the RB2 on paper behind Jonathan Taylor, but he was a massive flop in Week 6 despite his generous workload (18 attempts). Sermon has a 6.6 Utilization Score in two games without Taylor. He is a borderline RB2 until Taylor returns.

Wide Receiver Utilization Bytes

  • A.J. Brown: Brown has a 9.0 Utilization Score on the season and was in ALPHA mode in his first game back with a 38% target share and 60% air yards share. Brown is a mid-range WR1.
     
  • Brian Thomas: Thomas registered his second-lowest target share of the season (17%) in Evan Engram's first game back. Thomas dropped a TD pass that could have saved fantasy managers from a 5.7 dud in the box score, so we don't want to overreact to one game. Thomas is HOLDING STEADY as a high-end WR3 with WR2 upside.
     
  • Bub Means: Means stepped in for Chris Olave (first-quarter concussion) with a 71% route participation and a team-high 23% target share. The rookie might have some built-in chemistry with fellow rookie Spencer Rattler. Means UPGRADES to WR6 territory if Olave misses Week 7.
     
  • Calvin Ridley: Ridley had a performance for the ages, but not the good kind. The Titans newly acquired free agent posted a 24% target share and 53% air yards share but registered only 0.9 fantasy points thanks to a nine-yard rush. Ridley now sits at a 5.0 Utilization Score for the season, making him a boom-bust WR5 until this passing attack shows signs of life.
     
  • Christian Kirk: Kirk's route participation (80%) must climb higher to support consistent fantasy production. His 20% target share is respectable considering the competition for targets, but Kirk is in a tough spot in a below-average passing attack with another mouth to feed (Engram). Kirk's 5.9 Utilization Score is in a range where 46% of comps were WR3s and 38% were WR4s. Kirk DOWNGRADES to borderline WR3 territory.
     
  • Darius Slayton: Slayton has 35% and 32% target shares in two games without Nabers. It is nice to see Slayton getting used more like Nabers all over the formation rather than lining up outside every play and running off the coverage. Slayton's long-term history still tells us not to get carried away, but his two-week 9.3 Utilization Score is impressive. Slayton UPGRADES to WR5 status but offers WR2 upside in games without Nabers.
     
  • Darnell Mooney: Mooney might get dropped in many leagues because fantasy managers love a good knee-jerk reaction. However, his 6.8 Utilization Score comps have boosted a WR3 season or better 65% of the time. Mooney is a mid-range WR3.
     
  • DeAndre Hopkins: Hopkins had a season-high 70% route participation, and his TPRR was 30% over the last three games. Hopkins is getting healthy, but Will Levis caps his ceiling. Hopkins is a WR5 stash play.
     
  • Devaughn Vele: With Josh Reynolds on IR, Level stepped into a larger role with a 71% route participation rate. Vele is a deep-league stash play.
     
  • DeVonta Smith: Smith was overshadowed by the return of Brown in Week 6 but the young WR continued to hold his own. Smith has averaged 15.4 points with a 23% target share in two games with Brown. Still, his 6.7 Utilization Score in two contests with Brown points toward a potential downturn–his comps have finished as WR2s only 21% of the time. Smith is HOLDING STEADY as a low-end WR2 and is a SELL-HIGH candidate.
     
  • DK Metcalf: Metcalf is right around his career average in target share (23%), but he is on pace for a career-high in targets per game at nine. Metcalf is the opposite of McConkey. The Seahawks rank No. 1 in DBOE (9%) and PPMOE (21%), fueling a league-leading 46 pass plays per game and a 7.8 Utilization Score. Metcalf is UPGRADES to high-end WR2 status.
     
  • Drake London: London was called out in this column as someone about to break out after Week 4. Since then, he has averaged 26.4 fantasy points per game and now sits at an 8.3 Utilization Score for the season. London UPGRADES to low-end WR1 status.
     
  • Jalen Coker: Coker surpassed Jonathan Mingo for the WR3 role in Week 6 with a 65% route participation. The rookie is a deep-league stash play.
     
  • Jalen Tolbert: Tolbert came up small in the fantasy boxscore with only 8.3 points in a smash spot against a poor Lions' secondary with a pass-first game script. Tolbert must improve as a target-earner (14%) to find consistency in the fantasy box score. His 5.8 Utilization Score points toward a boom-bust WR5.
     
  • Jerry Jeudy: Jeudy has a mediocre target share (19%) in a bewildered offense, leading to a 5.8 Utilization Score. He DOWNGRADES to boom-bust WR5 territory.
     
  • Josh Downs: Downs is a target magnet (29%), and his Utilization Score now sits at 7.4. However, it is tough to upgrade him due to Anthony Richardson's pending return. When that happens, the dropback rate will decrease, more dropbacks will turn into scrambles, and the completion percentage will dip. Downs is a WR2 with Joe Flacco but transforms into a borderline WR3 with Richardson.
     
  • Keenan Allen: Allen registered 21.1 fantasy points thanks to two receiving TDs. However, the veteran is sitting at a 5.8 Utilization Score. In a crowded Bears offense, he has yet to be able to climb to the target-share heights we need from an aging slot option. The Bears' offense is ascending, which is a positive, but if someone is willing to pay a WR3 price, now is an ideal time to trade him. Only 19% of his comps posted a WR3 or better finish–Allen needs an injury to a teammate to unlock WR2 upside. Allen is a SELL-HIGH candidate.
     
  • Terry McLaurin: McLaurin has a 7.7 Utilization Score and is on pace for a career-high in target share (27%) and air yards share (52%). His comps produced a WR18 or better finish in 64% of the cases. McLaurin UPGRADES to mid-range WR2 status.
     
  • Xavier Legette: In two healthy games without Adam Thielen, Legette has 88% and 80% route participation rates. His 17% TPRR hasn't been great, but Legette has a 6.9 Utilization Score in two games in a full-time role. Legette is HOLDING STEADY as a boom-bust WR4.

Tight End Utilization Bytes

  • Cole Kmet: Kemet has an 8.5 Utilization Score over the last four games since Shane Waldron moved on from the Gerald Everett experiment. Over that stretch, Kmet has 77% route participation and 19% target share while averaging 16.2 fantasy points per contest. While keeping up that pace won't be easy in a crowded attack, Kmet earns an UPGRADE to mid-range TE1 status.
     
  • Dalton Schultz: With Nico Collins out, Schultz registered a season-high 28% target share and 7.1 Utilization Score. Over the last two games, he has a 7.0 score. Schultz UPGRADES to low-end TE1 status until Collins returns.
     
  • David Njoku: Njoku posted a massive target share (32%), but it wasn't worth much (8.1 points) in a Deshaun Watson-led attack. Njoku is a borderline low-end TE1.
     
  • Ja'Tavion Sanders: Sanders enjoyed starter snaps with Tommy Tremble (concussion) out and Ian Thomas returning from IR. Sanders is a deep-league stash option.
     
  • Lucas Krull: Krull led the Broncos TEs in route participation (73%) and might be the new TE1 in Denver. He isn't a high-end target earner, and the Broncos passing attack isn't strong, so keep expectations in check. Krull is a deep-league stash play.
     
  • Mark Andrews: Andrews posted his first top-six TE finish of the season with 15.6 fantasy points. His route participation reached its highest mark since Week 2 (60%), but it is hard to know if this is the beginning of a trend or a blip on the radar. Andrews is HOLDING STEADY as a high-end TE2.
     
  • Sam LaPorta: LaPorta has a 10% target share in five games. While we know he has the talent to return to our good graces, he has become the forgotten man in a crowded Lions attack. LaPorta has a 5.1 Utilization Score, putting his comps in (gulp) low-end TE2 territory. The second-year TE is too good for me to push him that low, but he DOWNGRADES to borderline TE1 status.
     
  • Trey McBride: McBride ranks third in Utilization Score (8.3), first in target share (26%), and second in air yards share (23%) out of all TEs. This man is an ALPHA, and more big days like his 17.6-point outing in Week 6 are on the horizon. McBride is HOLDING STEADY as a top-three TE and remains a solid buy-high target.