Fantasy Football Usage Report: Key metrics and trends about the utilization of NFL players for use in Week 15

When making adjustments to how we perceive players in fantasy, it’s important to consider how a player is utilized within their offense. Opportunity is what drives fantasy production after all. Talent can only carry a player so far.

No matter how gifted we believe a player is, if they’re playing a secondary role in the offense, they will have a hard time producing fantasy points. It sounds simple, but the players who are on the field and see more touches are set up best to contribute to your fantasy team. Monitoring usage trends will keep you informed on which players are (or will be) in the best position to accumulate fantasy points.

For most NFL fans and fantasy players, reviewing the data on player usage is far too difficult and time-consuming. But there’s no need to look any further. We’ve got you covered with the Sporting News Usage Report, where we’ll take you through some of the most significant trends regarding player usage and discuss how it will impact players’ fantasy values.

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Fantasy Football Week 14 Usage Report: Biggest running back utilization trends

De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

With Raheem Mostert sidelined, we saw De’Von Achane play an enormous role in the Miami offense. Playing the bulk of snaps is nothing out of the ordinary for Achane, but his 83-percent snap share in this one was a career-high. Achane also posted a route participation of 73 percent, a sharp uptick from the 50-60 percent we’ve often seen with Mostert in the lineup.

Achane’s usage as a receiver already made him one of fantasy’s most valuable running backs. It’s frankly scary to see that his receiving role can be further expanded. If Mostert is forced to miss any time during the fantasy playoffs, Achane can easily be one of the primary players on league-winning rosters.

Braelon Allen, New York Jets

With Breece Hall sidelined last week, many assumed that rookie Braelon Allen would be able to show what he could do in a featured role. That assumption proved to be wrong as this backfield was a pure committee last week against the Dolphins. Both Allen and Isaiah Davis, another rookie running back, cracked a 50-percent snap share. The division of opportunities (carries and targets) was perfectly split, with both backs seeing 16.

Is this an offense that can sustain multiple fantasy-relevant running backs? It seems unlikely. Could both of these backs deliver top-24 production in Week 15 against the Jaguars? Absolutely. Davis is a priority waiver pick-up this week in case Hall is forced to miss another game. Both backs were utilized on the ground and through the air and both could have respectable weeks in a premium matchup.

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James Cook, Buffalo Bills

As the season has worn on, the Bills have opted to mix in Ray Davis and Ty Johnson to a larger degree. As a result, James Cook has played fewer than 50 percent of snaps in three straight games. Neither Davis nor Johnson registered a carry last week, but they combined for double-digit carries in each of the two previous games.

The Bills are fully utilizing a three-man rotation at this point. This approach to the backfield, coupled with Josh Allen’s effectiveness at the goal line, makes it hard to get excited about James Cook’s future outlook. A running back who plays fewer than 50 percent of snaps and is regularly vultured in scoring situations is not a back you want to rely on in the fantasy playoffs. Cook will need to be incredibly efficient to be a weekly RB1 moving forward.

Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers

After 14 weeks, there are finally signs of Kimani Vidal taking over the Chargers’ backfield. For the first time in his career, Vidal played the majority of snaps in a game. While Gus Edwards saw more carries than Vidal, it’s clear that the Los Angeles coaching staff is comfortable giving Vidal the rock, trusting him with eight carries in this one for 33 percent of the team’s rush attempts. He was also the preferred back in passing situations, playing every snap in the two-minute drill and nearly every third down.

With J.K. Dobbins effectively done for the remainder of the fantasy season, Vidal could be an intriguing running back option down the stretch. He’s shown some burst at times and doesn’t exactly have the stiffest competition in Edwards. The Buccaneers and Patriots are on the Chargers’ upcoming schedule, so don’t be shocked if Vidal makes some noise to close out the year.

Fantasy Football Week 14 Usage Report: Biggest wide receiver and tight end utilization trends

Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

Puka Nacua went out and absolutely dominated once again. His 47-percent target share was the 3rd-highest mark from a receiver this season. After this impressive performance, Nacua has cleared a 30-percent target share in five consecutive games. Across the full season, Nacua is now the league-leader in targets per route run, drawing a target on 37 percent of his routes.

Nacua has somehow continued to build on his incredibly impressive rookie season. Nacua is a bonafide fantasy WR1 for the foreseeable future; the only question is, how high should he be ranked in “real life”? Discussing Nacua in the same light as Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb doesn’t seem ridiculous. Either way, those with Nacua on rosters should be very excited to see what he can do in the fantasy playoffs.

Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Somehow, Puka Nacua’s 41.8 points on Sunday were not enough for him to finish as the WR1 on the week. Ja’Marr Chase parlayed a 41-percent target share and 56-percent air yards share into 45.6 fantasy points on Monday night. After facing stiff target competition from Tee Higgins for weeks, Chase went full alpha against the Cowboys. His takeover is reflected by his usage; Chase’s 18 raw targets were a season high.

There’s no other way to put it, Chase is the most valuable player in fantasy this season. His weekly ceiling is unmatched, and he is in the perfect offensive environment to dominate in fantasy. The Bengals will continue to throw the ball at the highest rate in the league, and Chase will continue to make spectacular plays. The Triple Crown and Fantasy MVP are both within sight for Chase.

Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins

After a largely disappointing season, fantasy managers were treated to a “vintage” Tyreek Hill performance last week. He saw the ball thrown his way on 36 percent of his routes while accounting for a majority of the air yards. This was his first time cracking double-digit targets since late September.

Further digging into Hill’s production in this one, it came in the game where the Dolphins saw single high safety looks at the highest rate of the year. Hill has historically seen boosts to his target rate and production when facing single-high looks. If future opponents force the Dolphins to work against two high safeties, don’t be shocked if we see more dump-offs to De’Von Achane and Jonnu Smith.

Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Brian Thomas Jr. seems to improve each and every week. Last week, he set career highs in both target share and air yards share. In fact, his 75-percent air yards share was the 5th-highest single-game mark from a wide receiver this season. Thomas drew targets at a variety of depths and has become the clear focal point of the Jacksonville offense.

What’s not to love about Thomas? He’s not just a downfield burner; he’s shown glimpses of being a dominant route runner as well. He’s been able to translate this talent into a WR10 rank through 14 weeks. The 2024 rookie wide receiver class is in good hands, and Thomas will be a fixture of this class and the position as a whole for years to come.