The Utilization Report. Everything You Need For Fantasy Football In Week 13.

Volume is king in fantasy football, and this report will help you understand which players are due more or less according to their roles. Based on historical data tied to metrics we know drive volume, it is a great way to understand who is over-performing (sell high) and underperforming (buy low).

• 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 run (TPRR) thresholds
• Receivers: Which receivers are in the most routes and operating broadly within the offense

1. Kyren Williams returned with a boom.

Williams handled 16 rushing attempts and six targets in his first game since Week 6. The 22 opportunities were his second-highest of the season, and he delivered a season-high 38.4 fantasy points. Only Christian McCaffrey (24.6) averages more than Williams’ 21.4 points per game in 2023.

Technically, the Rams slightly lightened the workload for their do-it-all back with a season-low 61% snap share. He registered his second-lowest rush share (50%) and route participation (62%).

If the Rams keep Williams in those ranges moving forward, it could hinder his fantasy production in games where they don’t run as many plays. However, we could also see Williams’ role expand as he gets healthy or in more competitive games.

The second-year back checks the high-leverage utilization boxes thanks to his robust roles inside the five-yard line and in the two-minute offense. As strong as Williams’ utilization is – he is outperforming expectations based on the last 12 years of data. Backs in similar roles averaged 15.9 points per game with an RB11 finish. The top comp from the group was Aaron Jones in 2020, who averaged 20 points per game. 

The schedule tightens up over the next two weeks with matchups against the Browns and Ravens, so Williams is likely to come down from his high but will remain a must-start.

Outlook: Williams is a mid-range RB1.

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2. Rhamondre Stevenson got a post-bye utilization bump.

Stevenson has been a disappointment to fantasy managers this year. However, he has turned things around lately, averaging 16.3 points over his last four outings. In Week 12, he kept the positive vibes going by registering season-highs in snap share (78%) and rush share (68%).

While it isn’t easy to get excited about any piece of the Patriots' offense — only 13% of drives culminate in a TD — it’s hard to ignore Stevenson’s 24 and 26 opportunities over the last two weeks. If the third-year back can hang onto this utilization, he would offer similar value to Saquon Barkley as a high-volume back on a low-scoring offense.

Over the next five games, the Patriots have matchups against the Chargers, Steelers, Chiefs, Broncos and Bills. The game scripts could get dicey against the Chiefs and Bills, but none of the matchups are scary for Stevenson.

Outlook: Stevenson UPGRADES to mid-range RB2 status and offers RB1 spike-week upside.

3. Pat Freiermuth lit up the boxscore, but can we trust him?

In his second game back from IR, Freiermuth saw a much more significant role with a 68% route participation and a team-leading 35% target share against the Bengals. He delivered his best fantasy outing of the season with 21 fantasy points.

Freiermuth’s big performance coincided with the Steelers’ first game since firing Matt Canada. With former QB coach Mike Sullivan dialing up the plays, Kenny Pickett threw for a season-high 278 yards.

While the new playcaller could turn things around for Pittsburgh, Diontae Johnson and George Pickens will continue to demand targets. To support fantasy production from all of those pieces, Pickett must morph into a 250-plus-yard passer — a feat he has accomplished only once all season.

Nov 26, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) celebrates after a first down catch during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Freiermuth has pedigree as a target earner, so we don’t want to ignore his big performance, but this is still a run-first team (-7% dropback rate over expectation in Week 12), and he has reached an 80% route participation only once all year. When you add it all up, the third-year TE looks more like a high-end TE2 than a TE1 until we see another big yardage game from Pickett.

He is worth a stash to see if the Steelers can get their offense turned around, and he is worthy of streaming status in a week with six teams on bye. Freiermuth is available in over 50% of leagues.

FAAB recommendation: 10-20%

Outlook: Freiermuth UPGRADES to high-end TE2 status but needs Pickett to step forward to enter the TE1 group.

4. Austin Ekeler’s production is down, but his utilization remains strong.

After averaging 22.7 points from Week 8 to Week 10, Ekeler has hit a lull with nine and 10 points in his last two outings. However, his utilization hasn’t changed — Ekeler remains locked into a near-every-down role.

Based on the last 12 seasons of data, Ekeler’s comp group averaged 16.5 points with an RB10 finish. While he might not have the juice to defend his reigning RB1 crown, he still offers top-three upside.

Over the season's final five weeks, Ekeler has one of the best schedules with two matchups against the Broncos plus games against the Raiders and Bills. If you are in a league where the trade deadline hasn’t passed, now is a great time to make an offer.

Outlook: Ekeler is a mid-range RB1 with top-three upside.

5. Rashee Rice remains in a rotation despite his blowup performance.

Rice scored a whopping 24.7 points with Kadarius Toney (ankle), Mecole Hardman (IR) and Jerick McKinnon (groin) out of the lineup against the Raiders. He led the team with a 31% target share and saw a season-high 71% route participation.

While this is encouraging for the rookie, why the Chiefs won’t give him a full-time role remains a mystery. His 25% TPRR ranks second only to Travis Kelce (27%) on an offense in need of playmakers

He continues to do most of his work around the line of scrimmage with a 5.5 aDOT and a 6.2 average route depth per PFF. So, there is a possibility that the team still sees him as a gadget player who requires designed looks rather than someone they can fully integrate into the offense. However, his Week 12 performance is another step in the right direction, and it could open the door to more playing time, considering how bad the WR room looks in Kansas City.

Outlook: Rice is an upside WR4 with WR2 upside if the Chiefs’ other low-aDOT options (McKinnon and Toney) continue to miss time.

Quarterback Utilization Bytes

• Jordan Love: Love has a 65% or higher completion rate in four of six games and averages 253 yards and 1.8 TDs passing per game during that stretch. Love UPGRADES to high-end QB2 status.
   
• Kenny Pickett: Pickett delivered a season-high 278 passing yards and should have had a TD pass to Diontae Johnson, who had three feet down in the end zone. It was Pickett’s first game with Mike Sullivan taking over the OC role for Matt Canada, so there could be something to the performance. However, the Steelers remained run-heavy with a -7% DBOE in their victory over the Joe Burrow-less Bengals. Pickett remains a low-end QB2 but could upgrade with another strong performance.

Running Back Utilization Bytes

• Bijan Robinson: Robinson scored a season-high 27.3 points against the Saints, but the near-every-down role we saw in Week 10 evaporated. The rookie first-rounder handled only 42% of the Falcons' rushing attempts, with Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson combining for 47%. However, there is a chance the Falcons are aiming for opportunity totals rather than a percentage of plays for Robinson. Over the last two weeks, he has had 24 and 22 opportunities — his two highest totals of the year. Robinson remains a high-end RB2 profile but offers high-end RB1 upside.
   
• Devin Singletary: Dameon Pierce returned to the lineup in Week 12, but Singletary dominated playing time with an 81% snap share and scored 13.2 points. He rarely left the field on passing downs with a 76% route participation, but his rushing attempt share fell to 50%, with Pierce stealing 42% of the opportunities. The Texans might have been easing Pierce back into action, so this could change. However, Singletary could offer mid-range RB2 value if this utilization sticks.
   
• D’Andre Swift: Swift only has one top-12 finish in his last four outings, averaging 13 points per contest. While his utilization hasn’t dipped, his 45% rush share inside the five-yard line is challenging. Since 2011, RBs with similar profiles have averaged 13.3 points per game and an RB18 finish. Swift DOWNGRADES to mid-range RB2 status.
   
• Isiah Pacheco: Pacheco handled the passing-down duties, registering a season-high 71% route participation with Jerick McKinnon out with a groin injury. The second-year RB made the most of his role expansion, accounting for 16% of the Chiefs' targets and scoring a season-best 25.9 points. Pacheco UPGRADES to mid-range RB1 status in games without McKinnon.
   
• James Conner: The Cardinals' backfield devolved into a three-way rotation, with Michael Carter joining the fray in Week 12. Conner handled 43% of the rushing attempts but only played 39% of the snaps, with Emari Demercado and Carter playing most of the passing downs in a trailing script. Conner didn’t see the field in LDD or two-minute situations and only scored 7.2 fantasy points. Conner DOWNGRADES to high-end RB3 status and will fall further with a similar outing in Week 13.
   
• Jeff Wilson Jr.: With De’von Achane out and Salvon Ahmed placed on IR, Wilson stepped into the No. 2 role behind Raheem Mostert against the Jets. Mostert and Achane have a shaky injury history, making Wilson a priority stash option. Wilson UPGRADES to RB5 territory and should be rostered in medium-sized and larger leagues.
   
• Panthers RBs: Miles Sanders handled half the rushing attempts for the second consecutive game. However, he was unable to do anything with his opportunities, only scoring 2.8 fantasy points. Chuba Hubbard took 48% of the rushing attempts, continued handling most of the passing down work (68% route participation), and rewarded fantasy managers with 20.2 points. Sanders is a low-end RB4, and Hubbard is a mid-range RB3.

Wide Receiver Utiliation Bytes

• Brandin Cooks: Cooks has eclipsed 80% route participation in three of the last four contests. Unfortunately, his 16% TPRR over that period isn’t strong — making him highly dependent on long plays and TDs. Cooks is a boom-bust WR4.
   
• Christian Watson: Watson scored a season-high 20.4 points against the Lions on Thanksgiving Day on the back of a 25% target share and 51% air yard share. Watson has struggled to get going this year, but Jordan Love might be finding his groove with a 64% completion rate over the last six games. Watson remains a boom-bust WR4 but could re-enter the WR3 conversation soon.
   
• Cooper Kupp: Kupp hasn’t eclipsed seven fantasy points over the last five games. However, the veteran WR has battled a litany of challenges in that span. Matthew Stafford was knocked out of the Week 8 game and missed Week 9. In Week 11, Kupp left the game early with an ankle injury that lingered into Week 12, limiting his target share to 16%. While we can’t blindly rank Kupp inside the top 12 moving forward, his underlying target share data before the injury was robust (23%, 30%, 24%). The next two games against the Browns and Ravens will be challenging, but Kupp could quickly return to high-end WR1 status once healthy — especially if Stafford plays like he did in Week 12. Kupp DOWNGRADES to high-end WR2 status.
   
• Deebo Samuel: Samuel averages 15.7 points since his return from injury in Week 10. He averages 5.7 targets and 2.7 rushing attempts during that span — including two scores. The 49ers are a highly diversified offense, but with Brock Purdy reaching 250-plus passing yards in seven of 11 contests, the pie is as large as ever. Samuel UPGRADES to high-end WR3 status.
   
• Garrett Wilson: Wilson is a top-three fantasy WR in a different simulation with better QB play. Over the last 12 seasons, his comp group averaged 21.1 points per contest and nine out of 13 finished inside the top three WRs. Wilson remains a low-end WR2 for the remainder of 2023, but his dynasty outlook is much brighter if Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy. 
   
• Jalin Hyatt: Hyatt delivered his best fantasy performance of the season with 15.9 points in Week 12 against the Patriots. He also registered a season-high 70% route participation, 26% target share and 65% air yards share. The Giants' passing attack remains one of the worst in the NFL, but their season is over, and they need an extended look at their rookie. Hyatt UPGRADES to boom-bust WR5 territory.
   
• Josh Downs: Downs battled a knee injury in Weeks 9 and 10 but returned to form in Week 12 with a whopping 12 targets (33%). In healthy games, Downs averages 7.2 targets and is the clear No. 2 behind Michael Pittman in Indianapolis. Since 2011, Downs’ rookie comp group averaged 13 points and a WR30 finish. Downs UPGRADES to mid-range WR3 status.

Tight End Utilization Bytes

• Dalton Schultz: Schultz saw his lowest target share of the season (6%), and his 48% route participation was a massive divergence from his 82% average over the last four contests. It is unclear if this dip in playing time was performance or injury-related. Schultz DOWNGRADES to low-end TE1 status for now but would drop into TE2 territory with another week in a rotation.
   
• Isaiah Likely: Likely garnered an 83% route participation and 14% target share with Mark Andrews out of the lineup. The second-year TE flashed late last year when Andrews missed time, but the target competition is much higher in 2023. Likely finished behind Zay Flowers (25%), Odell Beckham (18%) and Rashod Bateman (18%) in Week 12. Likely remains a high-end TE2.
   
• Juwan Johnson: Johnson registered a season-high seven targets on a 19% target share and 85% route participation with Michael Thomas (IR) out and Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (quad) leaving the game with injuries. Johnson offers low-end TE1 potential while the receiving corps is on the mend and is a viable streaming option with six teams on bye.
   
• Tucker Kraft: Kraft garnered an 88% route participation and 7% target share, with Luke Musgrave placed on IR and Josiah Deguara out in Week 12. Kraft must do more in the target earning department in a relatively crowded receiving corps. The rookie is a mid-range TE2 until Musgrave returns.