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. 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. Rashee Rice is finally on the verge of a full-time role.

Rice has been a top passing game option for the Chiefs all season — his 26% TPRR is one percentage point ahead of Travis Kelce. Yet, the coaching staff hasn’t shown a willingness to deploy the rookie full-time, keeping him in a rotation with lesser talents like Justin Watson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling and gadget options like Kadarius Toney.

However, things changed in Week 14 against the Bills. Rice registered his highest route participation of the season at 82%.

Rice averages 19.7 fantasy points per game over the last three contests, and if his recent ascension in route participation sticks, that could continue. The second-round NFL pick has a 68% route participation or higher since Week 12, demanding 9.7 targets and 36.7 air yards per contest.

Based on data since 2012, Rice’s comps averaged 16.6 points per game with a WR12 finish. Two of his closest comps were Chris Godwin (2022), with 15 points per game and Percy Harvin (2009), who averaged 18.1.

Outlook: Rice UPGRADES to mid-range WR2 territory and could challenge for WR1 status over the final weeks of the fantasy season.

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2. Odell Beckham Jr. is balling, but his role remains limited.

The 31-year-old WR delivered 19.7 points in Week 14 against the Rams — his finest outing of the 2023 campaign. Over the last five contests, OBJ has been a target magnet, leading the team with a 30% TPRR (targets per route run).

Despite playing almost half the reps of Zay Flowers, Beckham has been the most productive Ravens pass catcher with 14 points per contest. Thanks to his high-leverage opportunities, the veteran has overcome the route limitations — Beckham is Baltimore’s No. 1 downfield threat (17.4 aDOT) and end zone target (40%).

If the Ravens ever decide to remove Beckham’s route governor, he could be a significant factor in fantasy. Unfortunately, the Ravens have a long history of rotating skill position players, and Beckham is in a three-way split with Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor.

Outlook: Beckham is a high-end WR3 with high-end WR2 upside if the Ravens put him in an every-down role.

3. Dalton Kincaid’s role withstood the return of Dawson Knox.

After the loss of Knox in Week 7 to a wrist injury, Kincaid’s route participation surged. The rookie’s average climbed to 84% in six games without Knox — a 17 percentage-point increase over his 67% in the first six games. In our first data point with Knox back in the fold, Kincaid held his ground, posting an 88% route participation and a 19% target share.

Kincaid only totaled 7.1 fantasy points, but his seven targets aligned with his average of 7.6 in games without Knox. It was only Knox’s first game back, so this is a situation to monitor moving forward. However, Kincaid’s fantasy value appears intact as the No. 2 option in the Bills’ pass-first offense (plus 5% DBOE) behind Stefon Diggs.

Outlook: Kincaid remains a mid-range TE1.

4. Zay Jones is poised to make noise in the fantasy playoffs.

Jones has battled injuries all season, but his health is improving just in time to help fantasy managers when they need it most. With Christian Kirk on IR, Jones stepped into a 93% route participation and demanded a 31% target share with an astounding 14 looks in Week 14.

Ultimately, the 28-year-old was unable to parlay his big target total into many fantasy points (7.9), but he has a history with Trevor Lawrence. Last season, Jones averaged 12.3 points per game — including 25, 26, 22 and 35-point spike outings — finishing as the WR31 operating as a top-three option in the offense.

Lawrence only eclipsed 250 yards passing twice in the first seven games of 2023, but he has done it five of the last six contests, breathing new life into an underperforming receiving group. The third-year QB has multiple passing TDs in three of those outings.

Outlook: Jones is a mid-range WR3 with WR1 spike potential until Kirk returns.

5. Drake London would be a fantasy factor in a different offense.

London tallied his best fantasy performance of the season with 29.2 points on 10 receptions for 172 yards against the Buccaneers. The occasion marked only the fourth time this season that the Falcons didn’t have a negative dropback rate over expectation — a factor limiting London’s ability to produce fantasy points commensurate with his abilities.

The second-year WR has a 22% target share and has 20% in every game this season except Weeks 1 and 3. London has reached 25% in five of 12 contests.

However, that consistent target-earning has only produced 11.9 fantasy points per game.

Beyond the run-first nature of the Falcons’ offense, London also has to deal with an erratic QB and a coach that regularly finds ways to keep him under 90% route participation. Thanks, Arthur.

Dec 10, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) catches a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

When you add it all up, we have a WR2-level talent producing like a high-end WR4. Based on 12 years of data, the average finish for London’s comp group was WR24, with 14.4 points per game. But his blowup performance from Week 14 is a reminder of what the future could hold if the Falcons can upgrade their QB room in the offseason.

Outlook: London remains a low-end WR3 in 2023 but could offer WR2 value next season if QB play improves and the Falcons pass the ball more.

6. Chase Brown has taken over the RB2 role for Cincinnati.

Brown busted loose for 19.5 fantasy points in Week 14. Over the last two weeks, Brown has become the No. 2 option behind Joe Mixon, averaging 23% of snaps and 28% of rushing attempts. He didn’t do anything in the passing game in Week 13 but surged to a 30% route participation and 38% TPRR against the Colts.

The sample size on Brown is tiny, with only 19 attempts, but he has been impressive so far. The rookie averages 4.8 yards per tote, and 15.8% of his carries have gone for 10-plus yards. While regression is sure to find Brown, he might be a big-play threat — something Mixon is not.

While the Round 5 NFL draft pick isn’t likely to push Mixon to the side, he looks like the clear handcuff and has some flex appeal thanks to the Bengals' focus on targeting the RBs with Jake Browning (5.4 aDOT) under center.

Outlook: Brown is a low-end RB4 with RB2 upside if Mixon goes down.

Quarterback Utilization Bytes

• Jake Browning: Browning has averaged 25.7 fantasy points in the two games since Joe Burrow went down. However, it is hard to buy into his production, given his aDOTs of 3.9 and 4.7 yards in those two contests. In Week 14, 126 of his 275 passing yards came from passes to Mixon and Chase Brown. There will come a day soon when the opposing defense will take away the dink-and-dunk stuff underneath and force Browning to make throws downfield. Maybe he can pass that test — he has the weapons — but he reminds me of Mike White. Browning is a mid-range QB2 masquerading as a high-end QB1 and is a SELL-HIGH candidate in leagues where trades are still occurring.
   
• Justin Fields: Fields has averaged 20.1 fantasy points since returning to the lineup in Week 11. Over that span, he has averaged 74 yards rushing, accounting for 32% of the Bears' designed rushing attempts and boasting an elite 11% scramble rate. With that sort of involvement on the ground, it will be hard for Fields to fail in the fantasy box score. Fields UPGRADES to mid-range QB1 territory.
   
• Matthew Stafford: Stafford has three top-eight QB finishes over the last three games — averaging 23.7 points. In Week 14, he lit up the vaunted Ravens’ defense for 293 yards and three TDs. The veteran signal-caller has 10 passing TDs over the three-game stretch, and the Rams’ passing attack is vibing at just the right time for fantasy managers. Stafford UPGRADES to high-end QB2 status.
   
• Nick Mullens: Mullens replaced Joshua Dobbs late in the game and could take over the QB1 duties moving forward. Mullens has thrown for 250-plus yards in 65% of his NFL starts and could help stabilize the Vikings passing attack. Mullens is a low-end QB2 that could surprise if Justin Jefferson returns in Week 15.

Running Back Utilization Bytes

• Austin Ekeler: Reports surfaced Sunday morning that the Chargers would go with a hot-hand approach. However, that ultimately played out at the expense of Joshua Kelley, who split his normal workload with Isaiah Spiller. Ekeler notched one of his lower rushing attempt shares of the year (53%), but his snaps remained strong (72%), and his overall opportunities (17) were in line with his season average and better than the four previous games. However, the overall ceiling of the offense is due to take a hit as long as Justin Herbert remains sidelined. Ekeler remains a high-end RB2.
   
• Breece Hall: The Jets passing game has condensed around Garrett Wilson and Hall over the last four games. The second-year back averages 9.8 carries and a tantalizing 7.8 targets over that stretch. His 25% TPRR ranks No. 4 out of all backs with at least 200 snaps. The Jets aren’t a potent offense, so repeating his 27-point Week 14 performance won’t be easy, but Hall's utilization matches Austin Ekeler's in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Hall is a mid-range RB2 with RB1 upside.
   
• Chuba Hubbard: In two games since the exit of Frank Reich, Hubbard has been the primary back for the Panthers. The third-year back has 25 and 23 rushing attempts despite trailing game scripts. Over the last four games, Carolina has morphed into the most run-heavy team in the NFL with a minus-12% DBOE. The Panthers are trying to run out the clock on the 2023 season, and Hubbard is bogarting 70% of the rushing attempts — making him a viable fantasy option moving forward. Hubbard is a low-end RB2 with RB1 upside when he manages a score.
   
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire: With Isiah Pacheco out, the former first-round NFL draft pick posted 8.8 fantasy points. He compiled 15 opportunities with 11 attempts (65%) and four targets (11%). Edwards-Helaire is a low-end RB2 until Pacheco returns.
   
• Devin Singletary: Deciphering the Texans backfield is becoming an exercise in futility. However, in the latest version, Singletary regained the lead role with 68% of the rushing attempts and a 58% snap share. However, the Texans have decided Dare Ogunbowale needs passing-down reps, further muddying the path to significant utilization. Singletary is a mid-range RB3.
   
• D’Onta Foreman: Foreman returned from injury to reclaim the lead in the Bears backfield, notching a 56% snap share and 42% rush share with 11 totes. However, It’s hard to trust Foreman with Fields poaching carries and Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson still getting work. Foreman is a mid-range RB3.
   
• Ezekiel Elliott: The 28-year-old RB bogarted 22 attempts and eight targets with Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined against the Steelers. Without any competition to challenge for touches, Elliott isn’t susceptible to bad game scripts. However, we are still talking about one of the worst offenses in the NFL, which keeps Elliott out of the RB1 conversation. Elliott is a mid-range RB2 until Stevenson returns.
   
• James Cook: Cook isn’t garnering the route participation we saw earlier in the year, but the team makes him a priority when he is out there. The second-year back has a 31% TPRR in the three games with Joe Brady as offensive coordinator. It is a small sample, but things are looking up for Cook, who comps to backs that averaged 18.1 points with an RB6 finish despite his limited role inside the five-yard line. Cook UPGRADES to mid-range RB2 status and — as demonstrated — offers RB1 upside.
   
• Jerick McKinnon: McKinnon saw a slight uptick in rushing with a 24% attempt share, thanks to Pacheco missing the game. The 31-year-old back tallied 12.7 fantasy points on eight opportunities with four rushing attempts and four targets (11%). McKinnon is available in over 50% of leagues and UPGRADES to high-end RB3 territory until Pacheco returns.
   
• Keaton Mitchell: The Ravens' backfield remains crowded, but Mitchell led the team with a 50% rush share against the Rams in Week 14. The rookie speedster has settled into a role where we can expect around 10 opportunities per game. He has had 10, 5, 9, 11, and 10 since Week 9. Mitchell is an upside RB3 but could enter the RB2 conversation if the Ravens bump him to 14 to 15 opportunities per contest.
   
• Roschon Johnson: Johnson led the Bears backfield with a 75% snap share in Week 12 but fell back into a reserve role with the return of Foreman in Week 14. We witnessed some of Johnson’s worst utilization marks of the season. He only handled 4% of the rushing attempts and posted an 18% route participation. Johnson DOWNGRADES to RB5-stash status.
   
• Seahawks RBs: Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet shared the backfield almost evenly in Week 14. Walker totaled 13 opportunities on eight attempts and five targets, while Charbonnet tallied 10 with nine carries and one target. Walker handled the short-yardage work while Charbonnet played the LDD snaps. It was Walker’s first game after missing two contests, so the team might have been easing him back into the fold. Walker is a mid-range RB2 and Charbonnet is a mid-range RB3. 
   
• Ty Chandler: Alexander Mattison suffered what looked to be a high-ankle sprain that could force him to miss multiple weeks. Chandler handled 81% of the snaps and 64% of rushing attempts and notched a 71% route participation after Mattison left the game. Chandler UPGRADES to low-end RB2 status while Mattison, making him a priority waiver wire option.
   
• Zack Moss: Moss was a fantasy dud for the second consecutive game despite a role hand-crafted by the fantasy gods. The fourth-year RB registered an 83% snap share and bogarted 76% of the Colts’ rushing attempts. He was also active in the passing game with a 77% route participation and 21% target share. In all, he reached 21 opportunities after garnering 22 in Week 13. If Jonathan Taylor is out again in Week 15, we can’t be afraid to go back to Moss. Moss is a low-end RB1 as long as Taylor is out.
   
• Zamir White: White could be in line to handle most of the early-down rushing workload if Josh Jacobs (knee) misses any time. However, Ameer Abdullah might block the second-year back from a prominent role in the passing attack. White is available in most fantasy leagues and offers low-end RB2 potential if Jacobs is out.

Wide Receiver Utilization Bytes

• Amari Cooper: Cooper delivered 14.7 points on 13 targets in his first complete game with Joe Flacco. The 29-year-old veteran has 33% and 30% TPRRs with Flacco and could push for high-end WR2 status like we saw in 2022. With a QB capable of throwing for more than 250 yards in the fold, Cooper UPGRADES to low-end WR2 status.
   
• Cooper Kupp: Kupp notched a top-five finish in Week 14 with 25.5 points against a tough Ravens secondary. The veteran slot WR now has back-to-back top-18 finishes, and the Rams' passing attack is peaking just in time for the fantasy playoffs. Kupp is a high-end WR2.
   
• DJ Moore: Moore averages 22.7 points in full games with Justin Fields under center. He boasts an elite 2.81 yards per route run and a WR1-worthy 29% target share, averaging 8.3 per game. Moore UPGRADES to low-end WR1 status.
   
• Jameson Williams: In a trailing script where the Lions needed weapons to step up, Williams took a step back in route participation (49%) and only garnered a 6% target share. Williams has big-play upside, but with each passing week he looks like a player that may never fully integrate into the Lions offense. Khalif Raymond outproduced him in Week 14. Williams is dropable in most formats and is merely a WR6 stash option.
   
• JuJu Smith-Schuster: Smith-Schuster averages an 88% route participation over the last four games, but the team has been banged up at WR, making it difficult to tell if the role will stick. The veteran WR has one of the higher TPRRs on the Patriots (19%) and could offer some value in PPR formats if Bailey Zappe can get hot. Smith-Schuster is a WR5 but will upgrade to WR4 status if he holds onto his routes when Demario Douglas returns.
   
• Khalil Shakir: With the return of Knox to the lineup, the second-year WR saw his lowest route participation (65%) since Week 7. It was the Bills lowest 11 personnel utilization week (47%) since Week 3. On a positive note, Shakir carved out a more prominent role while Knox was out. Before the TE’s injury, Shakir was a sub-20% route participation player and rather. Shakir DOWNGRADES to WR5 status but could still have a large enough role to come through with a spike-week performance.
   
• Keenan Allen: Justin Herbert broke his right index finger and won’t play on Thursday night. There is a chance Herbert doesn’t return this year, leaving the Chargers in the hands of Easton Stick, who completed only 54% of attempts on Sunday. Allen will still be the No. 1 target, but Stick lowers the passing yardage ceiling of the offense. Allen DOWNGRADES to mid-range WR2 status until Herbert returns.
   
• Noah Brown: Brown hasn’t accounted for a single fantasy point since returning to the lineup two weeks ago — despite injuries to Tank Dell and Nico Collins. However, the Texans need him more than ever with Collins’ Week 15 status in question thanks to a calf injury. Brown has never been a high-end target earner, so it’s hard to imagine that suddenly changing, but he could be a 20% option, and that is worthy of rostering with C.J. Stroud playing QB. Brown is a WR4 with WR2 upside while Collins is out and is available in over half of fantasy leagues.
   
• Quentin Johnston: The rookie WR compiled a season-high 98% route participation but couldn’t get much going in the target department at only 10%. Joshua Palmer could return soon, and Herbert will miss at least one game — making it hard to get too excited about Johnston’s newfound playing time. Johnston remains a WR6 stash play.
   
• Xavier Hutchinson: The Texans Round 6 selection posted a season-high 70% route participation and a 12% target share, with Collins exiting the game due to injury. Hutchinson played a more significant role than John Metchie and could be the No. 3 WR. Hutchinson UPGRADES to WR6 stash status.

Tight End Utilization Bytes

• David Njoku: The seventh-year TE had his best outing of the 2023 campaign with six receptions for 91 yards and two TDs on eight targets (20%). Njoku’s underlying utilization data has mirrored previous more productive seasons, but the QB play dragged him down. With Flacco playing well, Njoku is a low-end TE1 with high-end TE1 upside.
   
• Davis Allen: Allen led the Rams TE group with a 60% route participation and 14% target share, with Hunter Long suffering an injury. Allen might not be able to repeat his 15-point Week 14 outing, but if Long and Tyler Higbee can’t play in Week 15, he will be in line for playing time. Allen becomes a viable desperation play as a mid-range TE2 if Long and Higbee are out.
   
• Evan Engram: In two games without Christian Kirk, Engram averages 10.5 targets and 27.9 fantasy points. His 22% TPRR is No. 1 on the team for the season, and the passing game is peaking just in time for the fantasy playoffs. Engram upgrades to mid-range TE1 territory with the Jaguars passing attack clicking.
   
• Isaiah Likely: Likely has averaged 13.5 fantasy points in two games without Mark Andrews. His 87% route participation is elite, but he remains behind Flowers and OBJ in the pecking order with a 16% target share. We are still dealing with a tiny sample, but his closest historical comps finished as the TE14 with 9.5 points per game. Likely UPGRADES to high-end TE2 status.
   
• Kyle Pitts: The third-year TE posted a 91% route participation in Week 14 — his second consecutive week to reach that mark. Pitts played second fiddle to London in this one but has a 28% and 32% target share outings in the last four games. Pitts UPGRADES to low-end TE1 status.
   
• Hunter Henry: Henry popped for 19 fantasy points with two TDs against the Steelers. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get an upgrade due to his 13% target share and 71% route participation in a poor offense. Henry remains a mid-range TE2 option.