When it comes to NFL fantasy football, understanding how players are utilized within their offenses is crucial. Opportunity drives fantasy production, and while talent is important, it can only take a player so far. If a player is in a secondary role, their potential to rack up fantasy points diminishes significantly. It may seem straightforward, but players who see more touches and are on the field more often are the ones who can truly help your fantasy team thrive. By keeping an eye on usage trends, you can identify which players are primed to accumulate valuable fantasy points.
For many fans and fantasy players, diving into the data on player usage can feel overwhelming. But fear not! We’re here to break it down for you. Our Sporting News Usage Report will highlight significant trends in player utilization and how these shifts can affect fantasy values.
Week 14 fantasy football rankings
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers
Fantasy football week 13 usage report: biggest running back utilization trends
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
| Los Angeles Rams: Week 13 Utilization | ||||||||
| Name | Team | Snap Share | Rush Attempt Share | Route Participation | Target Share | Goal Line Rush Share | 3rd Down Snap Share | 2 Minute Drill Snap Share |
| Kyren Williams | LAR | 67% | 52% | 35% | 4% | 100% | 89% | 100% |
| Blake Corum | LAR | 33% | 28% | 8% | 0% | 0% | 11% | 0% |
If you’ve been following the NFL recently, you’ve likely noticed Kyren Williams dominating the Rams’ backfield. His near-complete control has made him a valuable asset in fantasy football. However, in Week 13, we saw a slight shift as Williams’ snap share dipped below 70% for the first time this season. Blake Corum took on a bit more work, but make no mistake—this is still Williams’ backfield. He remains the primary option, handling most routes and goal-line carries, solidifying his status as a weekly RB1.
Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Week 13 Utilization | ||||||||
| Name | Team | Snap Share | Rush Attempt Share | Route Participation | Target Share | Goal Line Rush Share | 3rd Down Snap Share | 2 Minute Drill Snap Share |
| Bucky Irving | TB | 53% | 64% | 31% | 9% | 50% | 0% | 0% |
| Rachaad White | TB | 52% | 28% | 36% | 3% | 50% | 100% | 100% |
The Tampa Bay backfield has been a hot topic all season, and as we approach the fantasy playoffs, clarity is finally emerging. Bucky Irving has taken the reins as the primary rusher, out-carrying Rachaad White 37 to 23 over the last two weeks. However, their snap shares and goal-line usage remain comparable. While Irving is the back to roster, White still plays a significant role, particularly in the passing game, which could lead to some frustration for fantasy managers.
Isaiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
| Kansas City Chiefs: Week 13 Utilization | ||||||||
| Name | Team | Snap Share | Rush Attempt Share | Route Participation | Target Share | Goal Line Rush Share | 3rd Down Snap Share | 2 Minute Drill Snap Share |
| Isiah Pacheco | KC | 33% | 44% | 21% | 2% | 0% | 19% | 0% |
| Kareem Hunt | KC | 42% | 44% | 37% | 7% | 0% | 13% | 0% |
| Samaje Perine | KC | 25% | 0% | 23% | 2% | 0% | 69% | 100% |
Isiah Pacheco made his return in Week 13, but his snap share was limited to just one-third of the total. He still handled a decent share of the Chiefs’ rush attempts, but with Kareem Hunt out-snapping him, it’s clear that Pacheco isn’t back to a bell cow role just yet. For fantasy managers relying on him, this is a tough pill to swallow, especially with the playoffs looming. You’ll want to see a more significant workload before inserting him back into your lineup.
Fantasy football week 13 usage report: biggest wide receiver and tight end utilization trends
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
| Las Vegas Raiders: Week 13 Utilization | |||||||||||
| Name | Team | Position | Route Participation | Target Share | Targets per Route Run | aDOT | Air Yards Share | Endzone Targets | Wide Rate | Slot Rate | Inline Rate |
| Tre Tucker | LV | WR | 92% | 3% | 0.03 | 40 | 14% | 0 | 71% | 29% | 0% |
| Jakobi Meyers | LV | WR | 87% | 29% | 0.3 | 13.3 | 48% | 0 | 70% | 30% | 0% |
| Brock Bowers | LV | TE | 92% | 37% | 0.37 | 8.8 | 41% | 0 | 9% | 51% | 40% |
Brock Bowers is making waves in the NFL! This rookie tight end has been nothing short of spectacular, commanding a whopping 37% of the targets in Week 13. He’s now notched two 30-point performances in just three weeks. With a target rate that ranks among the best in the league, Bowers is a must-start option moving forward, especially with limited competition for targets in Las Vegas.
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Week 13 Utilization | |||||||||||
| Name | Team | Position | Route Participation | Target Share | Targets per Route Run | aDOT | Air Yards Share | Endzone Targets | Wide Rate | Slot Rate | Inline Rate |
| Mike Evans | TB | WR | 77% | 35% | 0.4 | 12 | 63% | 1 | 70% | 30% | 0% |
| Sterling Shepard | TB | WR | 67% | 21% | 0.27 | 6.3 | 19% | 1 | 35% | 65% | 0% |
| Jalen McMillan | TB | WR | 77% | 9% | 0.1 | 9.3 | 12% | 0 | 80% | 20% | 0% |
| Cade Otton | TB | TE | 74% | 21% | 0.24 | 1.3 | 4% | 1 | 14% | 35% | 52% |
Mike Evans is back, and he’s making a statement! In his second game back from injury, he dominated the passing attack with a 35% target share and 63% air yards share. His spectacular one-handed touchdown catch was just icing on the cake. With the lack of depth in Tampa Bay’s receiving corps, Evans is set to be a strong WR1 for the remainder of the season.
Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
| Los Angeles Rams: Week 13 Utilization | |||||||||||
| Name | Team | Position | Route Participation | Target Share | Targets per Route Run | aDOT | Air Yards Share | Endzone Targets | Wide Rate | Slot Rate | Inline Rate |
| Puka Nacua | LAR | WR | 81% | 33% | 0.38 | 5.9 | 25% | 0 | 67% | 33% | 0% |
| Cooper Kupp | LAR | WR | 77% | 21% | 0.25 | 9.6 | 26% | 1 | 50% | 50% | 0% |
| Demarcus Robinson | LAR | WR | 73% | 13% | 0.16 | 15 | 24% | 1 | 53% | 47% | 0% |
| Colby Parkinson | LAR | TE | 23% | 4% | 0.17 | 3 | 2% | 0 | 0% | 33% | 67% |
Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are creating a dynamic duo in Los Angeles! Together, they’ve accounted for over 50% of the targets in their last three games. Nacua has emerged as the top option, consistently outperforming Kupp in various metrics. However, Kupp is still delivering solid production, averaging 17.8 PPG since returning. Both players are poised for big performances as the season progresses.
As we gear up for the final weeks of the fantasy season, keep a close eye on these usage trends. They can make all the difference in your playoff push!
