Welcome to the Utilization Report, where Dwain McFarland highlights his top fantasy football usage takeaways heading into Week 9.

The Top 13 Fantasy Football Takeaways for Week 9

Let's follow the data to identify the top waiver wire options, trade targets, upgrades, and downgrades based on what we learned in Week 8.

Upgrades, Downgrades and Emerging Trends

1. The Browns receivers have life with Jameis Winston.

Deshaun Watson averaged a lackluster 170 yards per game in his six full games this season. Historically, that sort of passing production has made things extremely difficult on a receiving corps. Since 2011, there have only been 17 teams that averaged less than 175 yards per game, and they produced zero top-24 WRs in fantasy.

Enter Jameis Winston, who shredded the Ravens for 334 yards and three passing TDs. Was the matchup ideal? Yes. Can we expect Winston to throw for 300 yards every week? No. However, make no mistake: this is a massive upgrade for the Browns' passing attack that is here to stay. For his career, Winston has delivered 277 yards in games with at least 90% of the snaps.

Below is a table illustrating how often we get a WR1 (1 to 12), WR2 (13 to 24), WR3, or WR4 season finish based on a team's passing yards per game, based on data since 2011. With Watson, the Browns were sitting in the bottom bucket, where 0% of WRs enjoyed a WR1 or WR2 campaign. However, with Winston, the second and third buckets are reasonable targets for this attack.

With Winston at the helm, we could see a WR2 or better emerge from the Browns attack, so let's break down all the candidates based on the last two games without Amari Cooper.

Cedric Tillman

Tillman was the Browns' third-round pick out of Tennessee in 2023. Last week, he was one of the top waiver wire writeups, labeled as a WR3 with upside should Winston start. Tillman has posted 16.1 and 28.9 fantasy points in the last two games without Amari Cooper.

Over that span, he has a mouth-watering 8.9 Utilization Score. He is second on the team in route participation (87%) and targets (24%) while leading the team in air yards (35%) and end-zone targets (38%).

No other WR has climbed more in Utilization Score over the last four games, and his historical comps have been excellent.

  • WR1 to 12 finishes: 84%
  • WR13 to 24 finishes: 14%
  • WR25 to 36 finishes: 2%

We only have a two-game sample, so we want to be careful with the comps, but at a minimum, it tells us what his upside looks like, which is a WR1.

Tillman UPGRADES to low-end WR2 status and offers WR1 upside. He is available in 80% of Yahoo leagues and could be the WAIVER WIRE ADD OF THE YEAR. This is an all-in FAAB moment (50%-pus)–especially if you need WR help.

Elijah Moore

Moore has been a colossal disappointment in fantasy ever since teasing us with 18.9 points per game over a six-week stretch as a rookie in 2021. However, he has never played with a quality quarterback and leads the team with a 25% target share without Cooper. While his air yards (19%) and endzone targets (13%) aren't as strong as Tillman's, Moore has a rapport with Winston and has a strong Utilization Score of 7.0.

I am slightly more skeptical of Moore's comp group's high-end because we have a multi-year track record of underperformance. However, he did flash as a rookie and is young enough to keep an open mind.

  • WR1 to 12 finishes: 6%
  • WR13 to 24 finishes: 35%
  • WR25 to 36 finishes: 37%
  • WR37 to 48 finishes: 21%

Moore UPGRADES to high-end WR4 status, and WR3 upside isn't unrealistic. Moore is available in 99% of leagues. He is a viable add in medium-sized to deeper leagues (10-15% FAAB). 

Jerry Jeudy

Jeudy hasn't lived up to his first-round draft capital as an NFL WR, but he gets one more opportunity to rebound with Winston reviving the passing attack. The fifth-year WR leads the team in route participation (99%) since the departure of Cooper, but his target share is third (16%). Jeudy has a 5.7 Utilization Score, where his comps have struggled to find relevance, but there are some positive outliers.

  • WR 1 to 12 finishes: 0%
  • WR 13 to 24 finishes: 5%
  • WR 25 to 36 finishes: 15%
  • WR 37 to 48 finishes: 37%

There is a chance Jeudy will get more in the mix over the next few games, but his target shares with Winston closely mirror what we have seen for his career. Still, he is a young former first-round pick with playmaking ability when the ball is in his hands.

Jeudy UPGRADES to boom-bust WR4 territory and has an outside shot at WR3 production.

Nerd Note: I have seen a lot of talk about the upcoming schedule against the Chargers, Saints, Steelers, and Broncos as a reason for concern about these WRs. Don't let that push you off of them–especially Tillman. Regarding the schedule, we only care about outlier matchups (good and bad), and the Broncos are the only qualifiers on that list. The Chargers look good on paper but have faced one of the easiest schedules in the NFL (LV, CAR, PIT, KC, DEN, ARI, NO).

2. Ladd McConkey shines as the Chargers open things up.

Earlier this season, I opined that McConkey might be a WR1 in a different simulation, but the Chargers' run-heavy nature was a limiting factor. Well, that might be changing. The Bolts have thrown the ball more since the bye week based on dropback rate over expectation (DBOE).

  • Weeks 1 through 4: -5% DBOE, 49% dropback rate
  • Weeks 6 through 8: 4% DBOE, 60% dropback rate

McConkey leads the Chargers with a 24% target share and a 6.4 Utilization Score on the season. Since the bye week, he has a 7.1 Utilization Score after a 29.1 fantasy-point outburst in Week 8 and has demonstrated all the skills that translate to success in the NFL.

McConkey's historical Utilization Score comps:

  • WR1 to 12 finishes: 8%
  • WR13 to 24 finishes: 44%
  • WR25 to 36 finishes: 30%
  • WR37 to 48 finishes: 18%

We can't be confident that the Chargers will continue to throw the ball more. Much of this comes down to defensive fronts, matchups, and game script. However, we now know what McConkey's upside looks like when those things go right, and it makes sense that Jim Harbaugh & Co. would want the ball in Justin Herbert's hands more often.

McConkey UPGRADES to midrange WR3 status and offers WR2 upside. The young lad (sorry guys, just a dad at heart) is on the waiver wire in 38% of leagues.

3. What did we learn in the Bucs' first game without Chris Godwin?

With Godwin done for the season and Mike Evans out with a hamstring injury, Tampa Bay unveiled a new pecking order in Week 8.

Cade Otton

Cade Otton led the way with a massive 9.8 Utilization Score, leading the team with a 24% target share and 75% endzone target share. Otton was the second-highest scoring non-QB on the Week 8 slate, with a whopping 29.1 fantasy points.

While sustaining that sort of production isn't reasonable, the third-year TE has a career-high 19% target share on the season, so this breakout could be about more than just the absence of Evans and Godwin. With Baker Mayfield feeling it (274 yards per game) and the Bucs committed to passing with the fourth-highest DBOE (4.3%), Otton's rest-of-season outlook is strong.

Here are some Otton highlights for your viewing pleasure from Hayden Winks:

Otton UPGRADES to low-end TE1 status and offers midrange TE1 upside until Evans returns.

Jalen McMillan

McMillan didn't shine in the fantasy boxscore like Cade Otton, but he led all WRs with a 90% route participation and managed 9.2 points against the Falcons. Over the last two games, he has a 5.5 Utilization Score–well above his 3.6% for the season, thanks to an expanding role. His target share is up five percentage points from 11% to 16%, and he has 33% of the team's endzone targets.

While none of the numbers above scream breakout, he is only a rookie, and his increase in playing time should be our No. 1 takeaway from last weekend. Routes are more stable than target shares week over week, and the rookie could improve in his next start. The Bucs' offensive environment is top-notch, so don't move on from McMillan too quickly if you invested FAAB in him last week.

McMillan is HOLDING steady as a WR4 with upside and is still available in 51% of leagues.

4. De'Von Achane is back in the RB1 conversation.

We have a two-game sample with Achane and Raheem Mostert, both healthy since the bye week. Achane has an 8.4 Utilization Score and is averaging 18.7 fantasy points after a 26.7-point outburst in Week 8 with the return of Tua Tagovailoa.

 

While the second-year back is giving up rushing attempts with only a 42% share, he still leads the team in snaps (58%) and is the primary passing-down option with a robust 61% route participation.

Over the two-game stretch, Achane has 25 attempts and 10 targets, averaging 17.5 opportunities per game (attempts plus targets). In seven games where Achane has received between 12 and 21 opportunities with Tagovailoa, he has averaged 20.5 points per game, and 58% of his Utilization Score comps posted an RB1 finish.

Achane UPGRADES to low-end RB1 territory and offers weekly RB1 overall upside.

5. The Rams boom with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back.

With their two superstar wideouts back in the fold, Matthew Stafford threw for more TDs (four) than he had all season (three) before the matchup against the Vikings. Los Angeles finished with 279 yards via the air, their second-highest mark of the year, with Nacua (106) and Kup (51) accounting for 56% of the yardage.

Puka Nacua

Nacua was limited to a 65% route participation but didn't let that stop him by posting a career-high 41% TPRR on his way to an 8.1 Utilization Score. The second-year WR posted 18.1 fantasy points and has now reached 16 points or higher in 10 of 16 healthy games.

Over the last two seasons, when Nacua and Kupp have been on the field together, Nacua has a 29% target share with a 2.50 yards per route run (YPRR). So, don't worry too much about target competition here–this highly condensed offense revolves around Nacua and Kupp. 

Nacua UPGRADES to low-end WR1 territory.

Cooper Kupp

In his first game back, Kupp handled an 82% route participation rate and registered a 24% target share. He didn't look 100%, but a dud fantasy performance in the land of Cooper Kupp is 16.1 points, which is a thing of beauty. We just need Kupp to remain healthy, as the man has a tantalizing 33% target share for the season.

Kupp UPGRADES to midrange WR1 status.

Matthew Stafford

Stafford erupted for 25.8 fantasy points with 279 yards and four TDs passing. He carries a new weekly upside as long as he has Kupp and Nacua healthy.  

Stafford UPGRADES to high-end QB2 status and offers QB1 upside. He is available in 61% of leagues.

6. It is time to start talking about Bo Nix.

Nix notched his best passing performance of the year, lighting up the Panthers' defense for 284 yards and three TDs through the air. We shouldn't overreact to the rookie beating up on a bad Carolina group, but the rookie signal-caller has delivered three 20-plus fantasy performances over the last four games.

  • Week 5 vs. Raiders: 23.1
  • Week 6 vs. Chargers: 20.7
  • Week 7 vs. Saints: 14.2
  • Week 8 vs. Panthers: 29.8

During that stretch, Nix has added 155 yards and two TDs on the ground. For the season, he ranks seventh in designed rush attempt share (9%) and sixth in scramble rate (13%). The former Oregon Duck is on pace for 550 yards and 8.5 rushing TDs.

 

Even if we discount Nix's recent explosion in the passing game and focus on his 191 yards per game, he has a viable shot at posting a top-12 fantasy finish. Since 2011, eight QBs have averaged between 170 and 210 passing yards and 30 and 40 rushing yards per game. Four of them notched top-12 finishes and finished as the QB14 on average.

The Broncos face one of the worst secondaries in the NFL next weekend in the Ravens, and they don't have any bad outlier pass defensive matchups on the remaining schedule. Nix's biggest concern is his lack of weapons in the passing attack, which could limit his spike-week upside.

Nix UPGRADES to midrange QB2 territory and offers borderline QB1 upside. The rookie is available in 75% of leagues.

7. What to expect in Jacksonville with Christian Kirk out.

Kirk suffered a collarbone injury that will end his 2024 fantasy campaign. Unfortunately, the injury bug didn't stop there, with Brian Thomas and Gabe Davis leaving the contest.

Brian Thomas Jr.

Early reports pointed toward Thomas missing two to four games, but Doug Pederson later indicated that Thomas would be day to day with a chance to play in Week 9. If we have learned anything this season in fantasy football, injury expectations are fluid and not always easy to decipher. Coaches aren't incentivized to share too much about injuries, especially early in the week, so we must monitor this situation.

Thomas ranks second in Utilization Score for rookie WRs with a 6.6 mark on the season. However, that could climb quickly with more playing time. Thomas has a 20% target share but boasts a 23% TPRR. The Jaguars have held him under an 80% route participation in four of six healthy games, which should change with Kirk out.

We can use those numbers to estimate the impact of Kirk's absence by multiplying route participation times by the Jaguars' average dropbacks per game (36), which we can then multiply by Thomas' TPRR. Right now, Thomas averages 6.4 targets in healthy games.

  • 90% route participation with a 25% TPRR: 8.1 targets per game
  • 90% route participation with a 23% TPRR: 7.5 targets per game
  • 90% route participation with a 21% TPRR: 6.8 targets per game

While this is a simplified attempt at a range of outcomes (there are many other combinations), it is helpful. If Thomas sustains his current TPRR and bumps to 90% route participation, that would mean an extra target per game. While that might not sound like a lot, Thomas averages 2.5 fantasy points per target, which is significant for a WR already averaging 15.2 points per game.

Thomas UPGRADES to borderline WR1 status once healthy.

Evan Engram

Things are a little more straightforward with Engram because we saw the veteran TE dominate with Kirk out of the lineup last season. From Week 13 through 18 in 2023, Engram averaged 19.6 points per game with a 9.3 Utilization Score.

While we can't assume that Engram will repeat that performance, we can feel confident that this will mean an upgrade. Even if Thomas takes a step forward in the target-earning department, Engram cleared that hurdle last year. He posted a 27% target share, while Calvin Ridley notched a 25% share.

No other TE in the NFL has improved their Utilization Score more than Engram since Week 5 (+2.7), and he is set up for a monster role down the stretch.

Engram UPGRADES to borderline high-end TE1 territory.

Gabe Davis

We will have to wait for more news on Davis's shoulder injury. He doesn't get the same type of upgrade as Thomas and Engram because he has never proven to be a strong target-earner. This season he has a 15% share and a 17% TPRR, which are close to his career numbers. While we could get a few more boom games from David, I don't expect the injury to change his role or impact on the offense much.

Davis UPGRADES to low-end boom-bust WR4 territory. Davis is available in 84% of leagues but is only a medium-priority waiver option. Don't overspend.

8. Utilization Score: Four-week Risers.

Now that we have eight weeks of data, it is a great time to check in and see who some of our biggest Utilization Score risers have been over the last four weeks.

Running Backs

  • Tank Bigsby | Jaguars (+2.2): Bigsby has taken advantage of a two-game absence by Travis Etienne, handling 75% of the rushing attempts and posting a 7.7 Utilization Score. Before Etienne's injury, the second-year back had already bested Etienne for the lead rushing role in two of three games where both backs were healthy. Bigsby is HOLDING STEADY a borderline RB2. He is a positive-game-script-dependent early-down banger who might hang on to the role even when Etienne returns.
     
  • Alexander Mattison | Raiders (+1.7): Zamir White missed Weeks 5 and 6 with a groin injury, and Mattison seized the moment. He has handled 72% of the rushing attempts and has a 7.8 Utilization Score over the last four games–two of which White has been back for. Mattison hasn't been efficient, but he averages 20.5 opportunities, which keeps him relevant in fantasy. Mattison is a matchup-dependent borderline RB2.
     
  • Bucky Irving | Buccaneers (+1.0): Anyone with eyes can see that Irving moves differently than Rachaad White. While part of Irving's move up in Utilization Score (6.3) ties to White missing a game, his role has expanded over the last month, even when both backs have been available. In their last three games together, Irving has closed the gap in playing time with a 40% snap share and leads the team with a 41% rush share. Irving is locked in as a midrange RB3 with RB2 upside should his role expand further.

Wide Receivers

  • Cedric Tillman | Browns (+2.2): See No. 1.
     
  • Garrett Wilson | Jets (+1.7): Wilson's elite utilization finally translated to fantasy points in Weeks 5 and 6, which helped boost his score to 8.7 on the season. Additionally, Wilson has retained a massive target share (28%) and air yards share (55%) over the last two games despite the arrival of Davante Adams. While Adams should get going as the rapport with Rodgers builds, it might not be at the expense of Wilson. We could see a highly condensed offense like the one in LA. Wilson is a high-end WR2.
     
  • CeeDee Lamb | Cowboys (1.4): Lamb has Utilization Scores of 8.4, 6.6, 8.3, and 10.0 over the last four games. Over that stretch, he has a 31% target share, and the Cowboys made him a massive priority coming out of the bye week with a 46% share. Dallas may be flailing in real life, but in fantasy, Lamb is getting hot, averaging 22.7 points per game over the last month. Lamb is a high-end WR1.

Tight Ends

  • Evan Engram | Jaguars (+2.7): See No. 7.
     
  • David Njoku | Browns (+2.3): Njoku's Utilization Score has climbed from 4.9 to 7.2 over the last four games. He has a 9.0 Utilization Score in a full-time role with a 78% route participation and 25% target share over the last three games. Last year, we saw Njoku average 18.2 points per game with Joe Flacco at the helm, and he could go for a similar ride with Winston this year. Njoku UPGRADES to borderline high-end TE1 status.

 

  • Mark Andrews | Ravens (+1.8): Andrews has pushed his Utilization Score from 3.9 to 5.7 in the last month. He still isn't in the high-end role we were used to, but he registered a season-high 74% route participation in Week 8 and has a 7.4 Utilization Score over the last four contests. He has a 20% TPRR during that stretch, approaching the 21% we saw last season. Andrews UPGRADES to low-end TE1 status.

9. Utilization Score: Four-week Fallers.

Running Backs

  • Zack Moss | Bengals (-1.3): Moss worked up to a Utilization Score of 7.7 over the first four games. However, Moss has fallen to a 6.5 after losing the starting job. Over the last four games, his Utilization Score is 5.1, thanks to handling only 32% of the team's rushing attempts and only 6.2 points per game. Moss is still the primary passing-down back and has handcuff appeal, but he shouldn't be near starting lineups. Moss DOWNGRADES to RB4 status.
     
  • Zamir White | Raiders (-1.3): White missed Weeks 5 and 6 with a groin injury and lost the starting job to Mattison. Over the last two games, White has a 1.0 Utilization Score. White shouldn't be on rosters.

Wide Receivers

  • DeVonta Smith | Eagles (-1.6): Smith pushed his Utilization Score to rare heights (9.0) while A.J. Brown was out. However, his score has fallen to 7.4 since Brown's return. Smith had an excellent rebound performance in Week 8 with an 8.9 score, but his two previous outings were 5.0 and 1.9. That gives him a Utilization Score of 6.1 and a 23% target share with 13 fantasy points per game in four contests with Brown. We should see Dallas Goedert return to the lineup soon. Smith is HOLDING STEADY as a borderline WR2.
     
  • Jayden Reed | Packers (-0.7): Reed doesn't play a full-time role (77%) route participation and isn't a high-end target earner (18% target share), which was holding his Utilization Score in check early in the year, despite his massive performances. His recent downward trend merely reflects his lack of fantasy points over the last two games (3.0 and 7.5). Reed is still a talented playmaker on a high-powered offense, but the reality of his profile is that he is more boom-bust than his early-season performances suggested. Reed DOWNGRADES to midrange WR2 territory but could look more like a WR1 or WR4 on any given weekend.

10. It's a Fugazi!!!

A few players pop up weekly in the fantasy boxscore, but they lack the underlying goods to back them up. They are best left for the next fantasy manager to worry about.

Donnie Brasco: "You should give it to somebody who doesn't know any better because that's a fugazi." 

  • Demarcus Robinson | Rams: Robinson popped for 17.5 fantasy points thanks to two receiving TDs while the Vikings' defense focused on Kupp and Nacua. While Robinson did something similar last season with the Rams, he is best left on the wire. He has a 13% target share and 28% target share on the season despite playing without Kupp or Nacua most of the year.
     
  • Michael Wilson | Cardinals: Wilson showed up in the boxscore with 14.1 fantasy points thanks to a TD reception in Week 8. However, he is the third wheel in an inconsistent passing attack. His 18% target share is well behind Marvin Harrison (24%) and Trey McBride (27%).
     
  • Adam Trautman | Broncos: Trautman scored 18.5 fantasy points in Week 8 but shouldn't be touched in fantasy. He had a 34% route participation and has a 4% target share on the season.

Waiver Wire Recommendations

11. Priority waiver options that are available in most leagues.

  • Cedric Tillman | WR | Browns (80% available): See No. 1.
     
  • Bo Nix | QB | Broncos (75% available): See No. 6.
     
  • Quentin Johnston | Chargers (85% available): Johnston had a team-leading 85% route participation and a 21% target share before a Week 6 ankle injury forced him out of action. With the Chargers throwing the ball more (See No. 3), the former first-round pick could carry additional upside upon his return.

12. 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.

  • Keon Coleman | WR | Bills (59% available): Coleman has a 6.0 Utilization Score over the last three games. We need more consistent playing time (78% route participation), but the rookie has made strides with a 21% target share and 31% endzone target share over that stretch. Amari Cooper will eventually acclimate to the offense, which could hurt, but it is hard to nitpick an offense with Josh Allen at the helm, and the Bills have 8% and 7% DBOE marks in the last two games. Coleman UPGRADES to borderline WR3 territory and offers WR2 upside.
     
  • Jerry Jeudy | WR | Browns (55% available): See No. 1.
     
  • Jalen McMillan | WR | Buccaneers (51% available): See No. 3.
     
  • Braelon Allen | RB | Jets (63% available): Allen was an afterthought in the first two games with Todd Downing as OC, but that changed against the Patriots. Allen lugged the rock on a season-high 43% of attempts and notched his third-best snap share (33%). Allen is one of the best handcuff options in fantasy football and could have enough stand-alone value to fill in with bye weeks on the horizon.
     
  • Zach Charbonnet | RB | Seahawks (49% available): Charbonnet has a 51% snap share and 43% route participation over the last two games. Walker is still the No. 1 option in Seattle, but Charbonnet might be regaining steam as the lead pass-down option. Like Allen, Charbonnet is a high-end handcuff option with potential stand-alone value heading into bye weeks.

13. 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 likely won't be helping your fantasy squad in Week 8.

  • Blake Corum | RB | Rams (85% available): Corum has operated as the No. 2 for three consecutive games. If something were to happen to Kyren Williams, Corum would be one of the hottest free agency adds of the 2024 season. Corum is a high-end RB6 handcuff.
     
  • Dalvin Cook | RB | Cowboys (77% available): The Cowboys elevated Cook from the practice squad and left Rico Dowdle inactive in Week 8. Cook handled 29% of snaps and 33% of the attempts. While that might not seem like much, the door is open for the veteran to capture a more significant role, with Dallas searching for answers on offense. Cook is an RB5 with a chance to expand, ala Kareem Hunt.
     
  • Miles Sanders | RB | Panthers (98% available): The Panthers could be sellers at the trade deadline, and Sanders might be on the trade block. Sanders isn't worth anything today, but that could change quickly if he gets traded to an RB-needy team like the Cowboys. Sanders is an upside RB5 stash play until the trade deadline passes.
     
  • Noah Brown | WR | Commanders (99% available): While most will know Brown for his hail-mary catch to cinch a victory over the Bears (sorry, Swing) in Week 8, his role has been improving for a few weeks. Over the last four games, Brown ranks second behind Terry McLaurin in route participation (69%) and third in target share (16%). Brown is a WR5 and would offer WR3 upside if his role continues to grow.
     
  • Jalen Coker | WR | Panthers (100% available): The undrafted rookie from Holy Cross tallied a 7.1 Utilization Score in Week 8. He posted an 80% route participation and 18% target share with Diontae Johnson out of the lineup. If the Panthers move Johnson before the trade deadline, Coker would forecast as a top-three WR for the team. While that might not be worth a lot in a Bryce Young-led offense, fantasy managers in deeper leagues are hurting for options due to the rash of injuries at WR. Coker is a WR6 stash play.
     
  • Parker Washington | WR | Jaguars (100% available): With Kirk out for the season and Thomas Jr. and Davis in doubt for Week 8, Washington could be forced into more playing time. Washington posted a season-high Utilization Score (4.7) with a 74% snap share and 15% target share. Washington is a WR5 option with WR4 upside if Thomas and Davis miss time.
     
  • Xavier Hutchinson & John Metchie | WR | Texans (99% available): With Nico Collins on IR and Stefon Diggs suffering a potential long-term injury on Sunday, Hutchinson could be in line for more snaps. Hutchinson has a 60% route participation rate since the Collins injury but only has a 1.8 Utilization Score due to a meager target share of 5%. Metchie hasn't been able to carve out playing time, but he might be the best fit to replace Diggs in the slot, and the third-year WR notched a 44% TPRR in Week 8. Hutchinson is the most likely to be on the field, but Metchie is the player I prefer if shooting for upside–both are WR5/6 stash options.

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. Jaylen Wright remains a priority stash play heading into Week 9.

More Fantasy Football Usage Takeaways

Quarterback Utilization Bytes

  • Baker Mayfield: Despite missing Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, Mayfield notched his fourth 300-plus yard passing day with 330 and three TDs. Mayfield is HOLDING STEADY as a high-end QB2 with midrange QB1 upside when Evans returns.
     
  • Caleb Williams: Williams found a nice groove ahead of the bye, throwing for 304 and 226 yards against the Panthers and Jaguars. Unfortunately, he came crashing back to earth with his worst performance since Week 1, with only 131 yards and zero TDs against the Commanders. Williams now has four games under 175 yards passing and two games over 300–making him a high-risk/high-reward type option. Williams DOWNGRADES to boom-bust QB2 status.
     
  • Jameis Winston: Winston has averaged 277 passing yards per game in games with 90% or higher snaps. He cooked the Ravens for 334 and three TDs in Week 8. Winston doesn't have an elite WR room, but he has four quality options, which is enough. Winston UPGRADES to midrange QB2 territory and could be the Baker Mayfield of the second half of the season. He is available in 94% of leagues.
     
  • Justin Herbert: With the Chargers showing some willingness to pass more, Herbert has new life. It will still be hard to trust him because matchups and game scripts could determine how the Bolts attack each week. Herbert is HOLDING STEADY as a low-end QB2, but that could change quickly.

Running Back Utilization Bytes

  • Breece Hall: Hall saw his every-down role take a hit in the third game of the Todd Downing experience. He still dominated snaps (74%), but his 83% rush attempt share fell to 59%. He still has an elite Utilization Score (9.4) in three games with Downing, so he is HOLDING STEADY, but this is a situation we must monitor.
     
  • Brian Robinson: The Commanders rank fifth in TD drive percentage (30%), and Robinson returned to his pre-injury rushing workload (64%) in Week 8. He didn't come through in the fantasy box score (8.6). Robinson is a BUY-LOW candidate who could offer David Montgomery-esque upside in an ascending offense.
     
  • Chuba Hubbard: The wheels are coming off again in Carolina, hurting Hubbard's value. They rank 26th in TD drive rate (16%), and the team could be big sellers by the deadline. Despite his poor fantasy outings over the last two games, his Utilization Score is hanging in there, thanks to a 78% snap and 80% rush share. Still, his offensive environment could get even worse if they trade away Diontae Johnson. Hubbard DOWNGRADES to low-end RB2 territory.
     
  • Josh Jacobs: Jacobs has erupted for 22.9 fantasy points per game over the last two weeks. He has an 8.8 Utilization Score, primarily due to the uptick in production, not a change in role. He was due for positive regression in the fantasy points department, and those who were patient or traded for him are reaping the rewards. Jacobs is HOLDING STEADY as a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside in one of the best offenses in the NFL.
     
  • Kenneth Walker: Walker's Utilization Score is 8.7 on the season, but it is at 7.1 over the last two games. His grip on the backfield could be loosening based on a 50% snap share and 37% route participation during that stretch. Walker is HOLDING STEADY as a midrange RB1, but this is a situation we will monitor.

Wide Receiver Utilization Bytes

  • Amari Cooper: Cooper saw his route participation improve to 63% in his second game in Buffalo, but fantasy managers were disappointed with a 1.3-point dud. Integrating into a new offense takes time, so Cooper managers shouldn't panic. He is a proven WR2 performer, and the Bills passing game might be hitting its stride just in time for a breakout performance. Cooper is HOLDING STEADY as a midrange WR2 rest-of-season outlook but is best thought of as a WR3 until we see a full-time role. Cooper is a BUY-LOW candidate if you have time to let the long game play out.
     
  • Calvin Ridley: Ridley notched his second-best fantasy performance of the season with 23.6 points. He registered a season-high target share (38%) with Mason Rudolph under center for a second game. However, given the Titans' quarterback issues, it is hard to get excited about a passing attack. Rudolph is a journeyman, and Will Levis should return soon. Levis has averaged 169 yards passing–a number that no WR since 2011 has parlayed into anything better than a WR3 finish, and only 12% accomplished those heights. Ridley is a SELL-HIGH candidate with all the WR injuries. You might be surprised by what you can get.
     
  • Chris Olave: Olave delivered a 36% target share and 57% air yards share in his first game without Rashid Shaheed. Unlike Ridley, Olave has demonstrated a high-end target-earning profile over his first three years in the NFL, and he should soon get Derek Carr back. Despite playing with backup QBs, the third-year WR managed a 9.7 Utilization Score in Week 8. Olave UPGRADES to borderline WR2 territory once Carr returns.
     
  • Davante Adams: Adams hasn't delivered a big fantasy performance yet as a Jet, but his underlying data is impressive, considering he hasn't had long to acclimate. Adams demanded a 28% target share in Week 8, and better days should arrive soon. Adams is HOLDING STEADY as a midrange WR2 and is worthy of trying to BUY LOW.
     
  • DeAndre Hopkins: Hopkins only played 33% of the pass plays in his first game with the Chiefs, which is to be expected. In the press conference after Kansas City acquired Hopkins, Andy Reid said he would play the same role as Rashee Rice, opening up upside in his range of outcomes. Even if Hopkins isn't what he once was, he could see a significant target boost playing inside–similar to how Larry Fitzgerald pro-longed his career. He isn't a YAC specialist, but Hopkins could shine on the inside. Unfortunately, we didn't see that role in the first game, with only 9% of snaps coming from the slot. Hopkins UPGRADES to midrange WR3 territory but offers WR2 upside if he plays inside.
     
  • Jakobi Meyers: Meyers returned to the lineup and notched a 7.5 Utilization Score in Week 8. In three games without Davante Adams, he has a 7.8 Utilization Score with a 30% target share. He has averaged 13.4 fantasy points in those contests. Meyers UPGRADES to low-end WR3 status and shouldn't be available in 41% of leagues.
     
  • Khalil Shakir: Shakir totaled 19.9 fantasy points in Week 8. Over his last four games, he averaged 11.9 points with a 5.3 Utilization Score. That score puts Shakir in the WR4 territory, but his 23% TPRR tells us he could climb quickly with more playing time–his 72% route participation is the primary issue. Shakir is HOLDING STEADY as a WR4 with upside if his playing time improves.
     
  • Tank Dell: Dell would get a significant downgrade after another poor performance if Stefon Diggs didn't suffer an injury. The second-year WR has a lackluster 17% target share in almost four games without Nico Collins, and his Utilization Score is 5.5 over that stretch. That is WR4 territory, not a borderline WR2 like we have been treating him. Dell DOWNGRADES to high-end WR3 territory due to the potential Diggs injury but would fall to low-end WR3 status if Diggs is okay. 

Tight End Utilization Bytes

  • George Kittle: Kittle leads all TEs in Utilization Score (9.5) and fantasy points per game (18), and his role is as locked in as ever after the loss of Brandon Aiyuk. In Week 8, he posted his second-highest target share (29%) and his highest air yards (41%) of the season. Kittle is THE TE1 the rest of the way.
     
  • Jonnu Smith: Smith has a 74% route participation rate in two games since the Dolphins bye week. Over that span, he has an 8.4 Utilization Score with a 22% target share and is averaging 14.3 points per game. Smith's Utilization Score has improved by 1.8 points since Week 4, the fifth-most of all TEs. While Mike McDaniel has a history of pulling the rug out from under us in the TE utilization department, Smith deserves to move up—Smith UPGRADES to high-end TE2 territory.
     
  • Kyle Pitts: Pitts' Utilization Score (7.0) has climbed 1.5 points since Week 4. Over the last four games has an 8.4 Utilization Score, averaging 16.1 points per game. While he hasn't become a monster target earner (19%), Pitts has an 80% route participation and has notched TE6, TE13, TE10, and TE2 finishes over that span. Pitts UPGRADES to borderline midrange TE1 territory.
     
  • Sam LaPorta: With Jameson Williams out of the lineup, LaPorta collected his best fantasy outing of the season with 16.8 points. It was also a season-high Utilization Score (7.9) and target share (33%) day for the second-year TE. We will have to see if LaPorta can keep things rolling once Williams returns, but this could kickstart his season–Williams was fading before the two-game suspension. LaPorta is HOLDING STEADY as a borderline TE1 but is a midrange TE1 option until Williams returns.
     
  • Tucker Kraft: No TE is more due for negative regression than Kraft. He continues to get wide-open looks that shouldn't last much longer as defenses decide to pay more attention. His 14% target share and 7% air yards share are not even in low-end TE1 territory. There is no doubting Kraft's playmaking ability, and he is a viable boom-bust option for a high-powered Packers offense. However, much like his teammate Jayden Reed, regression eventually comes for everyone. Kraft is HOLDING STEADY as a low-end TE1.
     
  • Zach Ertz: Ertz was due for positive regression, and it has come over the last two games with 14.0 and 14.7 fantasy points. He ranks eighth in Utilization Score (7.2) and resides inside a dynamic offense. Last weekend, he notched a season-high target share (33%) and ranks second on the team behind Terry McLaurin for the season. Ertz is HOLDING STEADY as a low-end TE1.