The Utilization Report. Everything you need for Fantasy Football in Week 15
Volume is king in fantasy football, and this report will help you understand which players are due more or less according to their roles. It is a great way to know who is overperforming (sell high) and underperforming (buy low) based on historical data tied to metrics we know drive volume.
- Overall offense: Which teams are enabling winning volume and efficiency across game scripts
- Quarterbacks: How involved is each QB in the running game, and who is unlocking upside for their weapons
- Running backs: Which backs are handling early downs, short-yardage and passing downs
- Tight ends: Who is running enough routes and meeting critical targets per route thresholds
- Receivers: Which receivers are in the most routes and operating broadly within the offense
For this season, Fantasy Life has partnered with PFF to collaborate on the Utilization Report.
Get access to the full Utilization Report, all the data tables, and team-by-team analysis by subscribing to PFF+
Week 14 Takeaways
Waiver Wire
To make the waiver wire section of this column, a player must be rostered less than 50% of the time in typical leagues like Yahoo! or ESPN. If players are trending upwards in utilization or performance and are over that threshold, they will be found under the upgrade or buy-low section.
WR – Elijah Moore
Moore registered a 74% route participation in Week 13, which was his highest since requesting a trade. He followed that up with an even stronger performance in Week 14, surging to 92% with Corey Davis knocked out of the game with a head injury.
Moore led the Jets with a 22% target share and has now hit that mark in two of the last four games.
His season-long TPRR (13%) and YPRR (0.96) are reasons to doubt a resurgence, but the 2021 second-round draft pick flashed elite upside last season, with marks of 24% and 1.75. He delivered WR36, WR26, WR1, WR27, WR3, WR42, and WR8 performances from Week 7 to Week 13 before injuries ended his season.
With Mike White or Joe Flacco under center, the Jets opt to pass on 63% of plays in neutral game scripts – above the NFL average of 60%. There is plenty of room for another fantasy-relevant WR in New York’s passing attack as long as Zach Wilson remains on the sidelines. Davis registered a whopping nine targets in Week 13 with White under center.
The second-year WR has a demonstrated upside and a path to earning a larger role in an offense that is willing to throw the ball. Many will snooze on Moore, but this is exactly the kind of profile we want to take a swing on.
Moore has WR2 upside and is available in over 70% of fantasy leagues.
- FAB: 20%+
WR – Richie James Jr.
James has taken over the Giants’ lead slot role since the injury to Wan’Dale Robinson. Historically, he isn’t a strong target earner, with a career-high of 14%. However, his TPRR is hovering in the WR5 range at 18% this season, and he has four 20%-plus target share outings.
The fourth-year WR has three top-24 performances in his last three outings. He doesn’t offer the same high-end upside as Elijah Moore, but he could be a solid floor WR3 option down the stretch, although he is currently in concussion protocol and questionable for this week.
- FAB: 15%+
TE – Chigoziem Okonkwo
Okonkwo’s route participation hit 50% or higher in consecutive games for the first time this season. He isn’t in a full-time role, but he has been extremely efficient. His 25% TPRR and 2.58 YPRR are marks that are on par with the best TEs in the NFL.
The Titans are moving the rookie around, with 52% of his snaps coming from the slot in Week 14. Okonkwo has big-play upside and could push for more playing time given how well he is performing.
Okonkwo moves into the high-end TE2 conversation after two top-eight finishes.
- FAB: 20%+
Upgrades
RB – Nick Chubb
You are probably wondering how in the world Chubb is an upgrade after RB24, RB8, RB37, and RB26 performances. And to be honest, I questioned myself about putting him here as well.
However, this type of analysis is the essence of the Utilization Report. The focus is on the player’s role more than his fantasy performances. Something very significant has taken place in Chubb’s utilization over the last four games. For the first time in his career, he is playing significant snaps in the two-minute offense.
| Week | Snaps | Rush Att | Routes | Targets | TPRR | SDD Snaps | i5 Att | LDD Snaps | 2MIN Snaps | PPR |
| 1 | 53% | 59% | 28% | 3% | 8% | 33% | 0% | 17% | 29% | 15.3 |
| 2 | 54% | 50% | 45% | 11% | 20% | 80% | 100% | 11% | 0% | 32.3 |
| 3 | 63% | 61% | 41% | 3% | 7% | 45% | 33% | 20% | 0% | 17.3 |
| 4 | 55% | 58% | 38% | 7% | 13% | 50% | 100% | 20% | 0% | 20.7 |
| 5 | 52% | 59% | 39% | 3% | 7% | 40% | 67% | 20% | 0% | 25.4 |
| 6 | 44% | 67% | 33% | 2% | 6% | 20% | 0% | 6% | 18% | 8.0 |
| 7 | 57% | 73% | 42% | 8% | 13% | 20% | 50% | 0% | 24% | 18.7 |
| 8 | 52% | 51% | 27% | 5% | 14% | 33% | 50% | 20% | 0% | 23.4 |
| 10 | 48% | 52% | 30% | 12% | 29% | 71% | 0% | 8% | 22% | 17.1 |
| 11 | 55% | 61% | 38% | 8% | 15% | 50% | 0% | 8% | 70% | 9.7 |
| 12 | 59% | 79% | 37% | 3% | 6% | 50% | 100% | 6% | 50% | 20.2 |
| 13 | 51% | 44% | 42% | 5% | 10% | 60% | 0% | 17% | 0% | 8.0 |
| 14 | 63% | 67% | 49% | 8% | 12% | 67% | 0% | 20% | 50% | 8.4 |
| YTD | 54% | 59% | 38% | 6% | 13% | 48% | 69% | 13% | 26% | 17.3 |
Over the last four games, Chubb accounted for 47% of the two-minute offense and eclipsed 40% route participation twice. Additionally, he bested 60% of the rushing attempts in three of four games.
Chubb’s recent struggles have been more to do with his efficiency than his utilization. So, unless we believe he suddenly isn’t a good RB anymore, we should expect big days ahead for the fifth-year back.
Chubb is a mid-range RB1 with RB1 overall upside the rest of the way.
RB – Raheem Mostert
Mostert led the Dolphins backfield in Week 13 and took over every-down duties in Week 14 after a hip injury knocked Jeff Wilson Jr. out of the contest.
In games where Mostert eclipses 15 opportunities (attempts plus targets), the veteran RB averages 12.7 points per game this season. He currently hovers around the NFL average in missed tackles forced per attempt (0.18)
Mostert might not be the game-breaker he once was, but the Dolphins' offense converts 25% of drives into TDs (8th most in the NFL). The 30-year-old RB has significant TD upside.
Wilson avoided serious injury but is day-to-day, and the Dolphins play on Saturday against the Bills.
Mostert is a low-end RB2 with RB1 spike potential until Wilson returns.
WR – Keenan Allen
Allen is on a tear since rejoining the Chargers' starting lineup in Week 11. He has a 25% target share (10.5 per game) and a 1.82 YPRR.
| Week | Routes | TPRR | Targets | ADOT | Air Yards | EZ Tgts | 3rd/4th Down Targets | PA Targets | PPR |
| 11 | 74% | 29% | 29% | 13.5 | 42% | 33% | 60% | 25% | 14.4 |
| 12 | 93% | 14% | 16% | 8.9 | 33% | 60% | 29% | 29% | 15.9 |
| 13 | 98% | 25% | 29% | 14.8 | 48% | 33% | 42% | 8% | 21.8 |
| 14 | 93% | 25% | 28% | 4.2 | 20% | 25% | 31% | 38% | 21.2 |
| YTD | 34% | 22% | 9% | 10.0 | 13% | 17% | 11% | 28% | 14.5 |
The veteran is Justin Herbert’s most-trusted option in critical situations, with a 50% target share on 3rd and 4th downs, plus a 55% share of endzone looks.
The Chargers throw the ball above the NFL average in every type of game script.
- Trailing by four-plus points: 79% (+11)
- Within three points: 68% (+8)
- Leading by four-plus points: 59% (+10)
The veteran slot WR is a high-end WR2 moving forward.
WR – JuJu Smith-Schuster
Smith-Schuster isn’t an elite target earner (19% TPRR), but he doesn’t have to be in the Chiefs’ offense. The veteran WR plays with an elite QB, and Kansas City throws the ball well above the NFL average in all situations.
- Leading by four-plus points: 73% (+5)
- Within three points: 71% (+11)
- Leading by four-plus points: 61% (+12)
Travis Kelce is the No. 1 option in the passing attack, but no one else is challenging for opportunities. The next-closest option behind Smith-Schuster is Marquez Valdes-Scantling and his lowly 12% target share.
Smith-Schuster averages 14.3 points per game in contests with a 60%-plus route participation. Using that same threshold, he has a top-eight finish in four of his last five games, averaging 19.1 points.
Smith-Schuster is a mid-range WR2 with WR1 upside.
WR – Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy came through with eight receptions, 73 yards, and three TDs on Sunday against the Chiefs. The former first-rounder leads the Broncos with a 22% TPRR and a 1.90 YPRR on the season.
The Broncos’ offense has been anemic, and Russell Wilson could miss Week 14 with a concussion, so it is hard to get overly excited about the third-year WR. However, he could be separating from the rest of the pack as the top option.
Courtland Sutton will challenge for targets when he returns from his hamstring injury, but he ranks behind Jeudy in TPRR (20%), YPRR (1.60), and PFF receiving grade.
Jeudy is a boom-bust WR3 the rest of the way.
Downgrades
RB – Joe Mixon
Mixon isn’t a true downgrade – yet. He returned after a two-week absence due to a concussion, and his role was slightly reduced. The veteran RB registered a 58% snap share – his lowest mark of the season outside of Week 11 when he was injured.
There is a chance Samaje Perine carved out a few extra snaps thanks to his performance while Mixon was sidelined. Both RBs could be involved more in the passing attack in the coming weeks, given the WR injuries to Tee Higgins (hamstring) and Tyler Boyd (finger).
Mixon remains a low-end RB1, but the situation is worth monitoring in Week 15.
WR – Gabriel Davis
Davis hasn’t been able to make the leap forward many hoped for before the season. He has sub-top-36 finishes in seven of 12 games.
Out of 82 WRs with at least 250 routes, the third-year WR ranks 61st in TPRR (15%), 46th in YPRR (1.45), and 63rd in PFF receiving grade (64.8).
Davis is a boom-bust WR4.
Get access to the full Utilization Report, all the data tables, and team-by-team analysis by subscribing to PFF+
Data notes and acronyms:
- 1st/2nd = First and second downs
- LDD = long down and distance (third and fourth down with three or more yards to go)
- SDD = short down and distance (second, third and fourth down with two or fewer yards to go)
- i5 = inside the five-yard line
- 2MIN = two-minute offense (hurry-up offense)
- Close = score within three points
- Lead = leading by four points or more
- Trail = trailing by four points or more
- Plays = penalties included for utilization splits and rates
- Pass Play = all dropbacks (i.e., attempts, sacks and scrambles)
- ADOT = average depth of target
- Air Yards = ADOT multiplied by targets
- TTT = average time to throw
- PA = play action
- PA Targets = percentage of player's targets that came using play action
- Fantasy finishes = through Sunday night game
- YPRR = yards per route run
- TPRR = targets per route run
- EZ = end zone
- TOP = Time of possession
- Pass vs. Run Splits = based on the percentage of time a team throws or passes
- FAB = Free agent budget (based on home leagues; adjust percentages in more competitive formats)
