NFL Usage Report for Week 17

Welcome to the Week 17 Usage Report. This piece is designed to give you a glimpse of both rushing shares and usage rates for running backs, wide receivers and occasionally tight ends. It will help you understand how often a player is involved in his team’s game plan and if those players are susceptible to being faded or emphasized during various game scripts.

(To see more, check out our Weekly Rushing Share and Usage by Situation pages.)

Definitions:

tgt_big_lead – Target share when team is leading by 14+ points

tgt_leading – Target share when team is leading by 9-13 points

tgt_one_score – Target share when team is in a one-score game

tgt_down – Target share when team is down by 9-13 points

tgt_down_big – Target share when team is down by 14+ points

Weekly Rushing Share

Tier 1 – Teams with Situations in Flux

Detroit Lions

The Lions were finally able to get back one of their top two running backs this week, as Jamaal Williams returned to the field. They are still without D’Andre Swift, who has not played since Week 12. Craig Reynolds has filled in admirably in recent weeks, and it remains to be seen if Swift will return in Week 17. If Swift’s absence has lowered his price at all, he’s a strong buy-high candidate in dynasty leagues.

For more information, check out the Weekly Rushing Share.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Unfortunately, James Robinson tore his Achilles this week and is out for the rest of the season. Carlos Hyde has already been ruled out for the remainder of the year with a concussion, which leaves Dare Ogunbowale as the starting option for the Jaguars. Ogunbowale has a tough matchup on the road against the Patriots on tap, but he should receive the bulk of the carries and some targets.

Philadelphia Eagles

Miles Sanders broke his hand in Week 16 and has already been ruled out for Week 17. However, the team does not plan to place him on injured reserve. Jordan Howard suffered a stinger, and his status remains in question heading into this week. Boston Scott would be the biggest beneficiary if Howard is unable to go. Rookie Kenneth Gainwell should also see an uptick in opportunities.

Tier 2 – Teams with Situations worth Monitoring

Arizona Cardinals

James Conner missed the Week 16 matchup with a heel injury. Chase Edmonds stepped up in a big way by setting season-high marks in rushing attempts (16), targets (9) and receptions (8). It sounds like Conner could be a game-time decision in Week 17, which means Edmonds could be in line for another significant workload.

Baltimore Ravens

Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray have both totaled 12 carries over the last two weeks. Neither has provided much value in the passing game, and Freeman has the lone touchdown between the two in that span. Lamar Jackson could return this week, but that remains to be seen. If Jackson cannot go, don’t expect either of these players to provide meaningful production.

Houston Texans

31-year-old Rex Burkhead is averaging more than 10 carries/game since Week 11. He erupted in Week 16 when he hung 22 carries, 149 yards and two scores on the Chargers. His larger body of work would suggest that this game was an outlier, but it likely pushed a few fantasy managers into the final week if they were brave (or desperate) enough to play him.

Kansas City Chiefs

Clyde Edwards-Helaire is considered week-to-week with a bruised shoulder. If he cannot go in Week 17, Darrel Williams immediately becomes fantasy relevant. When Edwards-Helaire missed five games earlier in the season, Williams was the RB4 from Weeks 6-10 and averaged more than 17 points/game. Derrick Gore would also see an increased role if Edwards-Helaire misses this week.

Los Angeles Chargers

Without Austin Ekeler due to COVID-19 protocols, Justin Jackson carried fantasy managers with his massive workload. He racked up 64 yards and a pair of scores on just 11 carries, and he reeled in eight of his nine targets for 98 yards. Ekeler has been activated, which means Jackson will revert back to his secondary role but could still make a splash with a handful of touches.

Los Angeles Rams

Darrell Henderson suffered an MCL sprain and has been placed on injured reserve. At the same time, Cam Akers has the potential to return this season after recovering from his Achilles injury. It seems unlikely that fantasy managers will benefit from Akers this year, which means Sony Michel will continue to serve as the lead back for the Rams. He has topped 90 rushing yards in three of his last four performances.

Miami Dolphins

A week after posting a career game, Duke Johnson split carries with Phillip Lindsay, as the Dolphins found their way to yet another victory. Myles Gaskin has taken a back seat in the running back room as he works his way back from the COVID-19 list, which means this team could soon have a three-way committee on their hands. This could make it difficult for fantasy managers to make the best choice.

Minnesota Vikings

Dalvin Cook missed the Week 16 contest due to COVID-19 protocols but was activated on Wednesday. Alexander Mattison disappointed relative to expectations without Cook this past weekend and now returns to his backup role. The Vikings face off against the Packers on Sunday Night Football in Week 17.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ronald Jones got the start with Leonard Fournette heading to injured reserve prior to Week 16. Jones totaled 65 yards and a score on 20 carries, while teammate Ke’Shawn Vaughn had a highlight-reel 55-yard touchdown run. Newcomer Le’Veon Bell also got in on the action with two carries. Jones figures to remain the starter this week with Vaughn mixing in.

Tier 3 – Teams with Stable Situations

Atlanta Falcons

Neither Mike Davis nor Cordarrelle Patterson have reached 10 fantasy points in the last two weeks. Patterson remains the viable fantasy option due to his ability to contribute in both the passing and rushing attack.

Buffalo Bills

While Matt Breida and Zack Moss continue to swap seats on the “healthy scratch” list, Devin Singletary has taken full control of this backfield. He has at least 10 carries in four of his last five games and has 14 targets in his last three.

Carolina Panthers

There is minimal value to be found in this backield. Chuba Hubbard hasn’t scored more than nine fantasy points since Week 8. Ameer Abdullah does have four straight games with at least four targets, which makes him nothing more than a desperate option in deeper formats.

Chicago Bears

David Montgomery has been very balanced with his production over the last month. He’s the primary option on the ground for the Bears and has at least six targets in each of his last four games. He’s a low-end RB2 who needs to find the end zone to really return value, but his involvement in the passing game has provided him with a safe floor.

Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon, one of the rare workhorse running backs in the league, has at least 17 rushing attempts in six straight games. He’s the RB3 on the year and locked into a critical role on an ascending, exciting offense led by Joe Burrow.

Cleveland Browns

Nick Chubb posted his best fantasy finish since Week 9 and now has at least 90 rushing yards and a score in consecutive weeks for the first time all season. He remains the focal point for this offense.

Dallas Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott saw just nine carries (his lowest since Week 12), but his pair of touchdowns helped both his fantasy managers and the Cowboys, as Dallas routed the Washington Football Team. Tony Pollard remains involved as the 1B but just doesn’t see the needed volume to provide consistent value.

Denver Broncos

Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams combined for eight rushing yards on 14 attempts in Week 16. The rookie managed to find the end zone, but it was a tough day for both. Better days are ahead, as the Broncos face the Chargers this week.

Green Bay Packers

Aaron Jones has reclaimed his role as the 1A over teammate A.J. Dillon over the last two weeks, but both running backs remain crucial to the success of this Packers’ offense that has its sights set on a deep playoff run.

Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Taylor had a “down game” for fantasy and still topped 100 rushing yards for the third straight week and ninth time in his last 12 games. However, Taylor does not have a reception in his last three games.

Las Vegas Raiders

In the wake of Kenyan Drake going down with a season-ending injury, Josh Jacobs has seen increased usage in the passing game. He has 58 targets, 48 receptions and 319 receiving yards this season which are all career-high marks.

New England Patriots

Damien Harris torched the Bills with three rushing scores and 103 rushing yards in Week 16. Teammate Rhamondre Stevenson did not play but returned to practice on Wednesday, which bodes well for his availability in Week 17.

New Orleans Saints

The Ian Book experiment did not go well for the Saints and their star running back. Alvin Kamara has not topped eight fantasy points in consecutive weeks and heads into a tough matchup against the Panthers. In his first matchup with Carolina, Kamara only mustered five rushing yards on eight attempts. Taysom Hill should be back in Week 17, but keep an eye on practice reports.

New York Giants

Saquon Barkley continues to manage his ankle injury and did not practice on Wednesday. He has received at least 10 carries in five straight games but just hasn’t looked like himself. He also has just one touchdown in that span. Devontae Booker has at least 10 touches in four straight games and has served to limit Barkley’s upside more than provide standalone value.

New York Jets

Michael Carter tied a season-high mark in carries (16) and set a new career-high in rushing yards (118) in Week 16. Tevin Coleman continues to stick around, as the veteran has at least 50 rushing yards in his last four games.

Pittsburgh Steelers

While this might be hard to watch, Najee Harris continues to get it done. The hulking rookie is now the RB4 on the season and remains the lone running back of note for the Steelers.

San Francisco 49ers

Elijah Mitchell has not played since Week 13 but has a chance to return for Week 17. In his stead, Jeff Wilson has totaled 48 carries, 211 rushing yards and two touchdowns in his last three weeks.

Seattle Seahawks

Rashaad Penny has 311 rushing yards and three scores in his last three games. It might have taken a few years, but his timing couldn’t be better for fantasy managers this season.

Tennessee Titans

All the Titans’ running backs took a backseat to AJ Brown in Week 16, but D’Onta Foreman remains the 1A over Dontrell Hilliard and Jeremy McNichols.

Washington Football Team

Antonio Gibson has three total touchdowns over his last four weeks but has not topped 36 rushing yards since Week 13. He’s reportedly dealing with a hip injury, which is something to keep an eye on heading into the last two weeks of the season.

For more information, check out the Weekly Rushing Share.

Usage by Situation