When it comes to fantasy football, understanding player utilization is crucial. After all, opportunity drives fantasy production. You can have all the talent in the world, but if a player is stuck in a secondary role within their offense, producing fantasy points will be a tough task. It may sound simple, but the players who are consistently on the field and receiving touches are the ones most likely to help your fantasy team thrive. Keeping an eye on usage trends can keep you ahead of the game, helping you identify which players are in the best positions to score big.
For many NFL fans and fantasy enthusiasts, diving into player usage data can feel overwhelming and time-consuming. But fear not! We’re here to simplify things with the Sporting News Usage Report. This report will highlight significant trends in player usage and discuss how these trends impact their fantasy values. Ready to dive in? Let’s go!
Fantasy Football Week 12 Usage Report: Biggest running back utilization trends
Chuba Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers
| Carolina Panthers: Week 12 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 |
| Chuba Hubbard | CAR | 88% | 76% | 63% | 11% | 100% | 85% | 100% |
| Jonathon Brooks | CAR | 9% | 10% | 5% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
The much-anticipated debut of rookie running back Jonathon Brooks finally happened in Week 12. For those who stashed Brooks in their IR slot since August, the result was a modest 9-percent snap share in his first NFL outing. Given that it was his first time on the field after major knee surgery, it’s not shocking to see him limited.
Concerns about Chuba Hubbard’s fantasy value with Brooks back in the lineup seem to have been overblown. The Panthers have shown caution regarding Brooks’ recovery, and if they maintain a 70-30 split between Hubbard and Brooks, the former is likely to remain a fantasy starter for the rest of the season.
Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Week 12 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 | 55% | 38% | 56% | 20% | 0% | 9% | 22% |
| Rachaad White | TB | 47% | 38% | 31% | 3% | 33% | 73% | 78% |
The Tampa Bay backfield has been a near 50-50 split all season, but Week 12 was pivotal. For the first time, Bucky Irving out-snapped Rachaad White. Even more encouraging for Irving’s fantasy managers, he ran more routes than White. This shift suggests that the coaching staff is starting to trust Irving more in passing situations.
However, it’s worth noting that this usage came during a game where the Buccaneers led by 23 points at halftime. As the season progresses, keep an eye on how this split evolves in closer matchups. Regardless, this is promising for Irving’s value as we head into the final weeks of the fantasy season.
Fantasy Football Week 12 Usage Report: Biggest wide receiver and tight end utilization trends
Nico Collins, Houston Texans
| Houston Texans: Week 12 Utilization | |||||||||||
| Name | Team | Position | Route Participation | Target Share | Targets per Route Run | aDOT | Air Yards Share | Endzone Targets | Wide Rate | Slot Rate | Inline Rate |
| Nico Collins | HST | WR | 83% | 27% | 0.27 | 12.8 | 41% | 1 | 73% | 27% | 0% |
| Tank Dell | HST | WR | 80% | 15% | 0.16 | 20.8 | 37% | 0 | 72% | 28% | 0% |
Nico Collins is back in full swing! After a brief ramp-up period, he led the Texans in routes and saw elite usage. With a 27 percent target rate and a 40 percent air yards share, Collins is proving to be a key player. Could he be the WR1 for the remainder of the season? It’s a strong argument, especially with Stefon Diggs out of the picture.
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Week 12 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 | 56% | 20% | 0.33 | 11.2 | 33% | 0 | 72% | 28% | 0% |
Mike Evans returned to action in Week 12 after a hamstring injury kept him sidelined. He ran routes on 56 percent of dropbacks, but when he was on the field, he commanded targets at an impressive rate. His 33 percent target rate was his best of the season. With a lack of talent around him in Tampa Bay, expect Evans to be heavily targeted moving forward.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
| New England Patriots: Week 12 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 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | 40% | 38% | 30% | 5% | 0% | 43% | 0% |
| Antonio Gibson | NE | 46% | 29% | 33% | 5% | 0% | 43% | 20% |
Rhamondre Stevenson’s snap share took a hit in Week 12, as Antonio Gibson saw a 46 percent share in a game where Stevenson was healthy. This was a significant shift, as Stevenson had been playing over 70 percent of snaps in recent weeks. With the Patriots facing a tough game script, this change could indicate a shift in the coaching staff’s approach. Fantasy managers should adjust their expectations accordingly.
As we dive deeper into the fantasy season, these player utilization trends are essential to monitor. The right adjustments can make all the difference in your lineup. So keep your eyes peeled and stay ahead of the game!
