Fantasy football workhorses workhorsed with polarizing results in Week 15. Twelve backs saw 20-plus utilizations, and while a seven were the strongest fantasy performers at running back, those seven rushers accounted for nearly 88% of the top fantasy outputs at the position.
However, there was a wealth of backs with midtier utilization figures that went nowhere. Twenty-three running backs were utilized at least 10 times and failed to break 10 points, and 13 RB1s failed to get into double-digit status in reception-rewarding stylings.
For the most part, the names you’d expect to see atop the list of high-end fantasy receivers didn’t disappoint. Tight end, though, was a scattershot of prominent names, players on the upswing, and totally unheralded options.
TEs David Njoku and Trey McBride continue to thrive, although Marquise Brown‘s injury absence factored in for the latter seeing the most targets sent his way (11) since Week 8’s season-high 14. This week, a bevy of midrange target tallies required touchdowns to matter in fantasy and fill up the bulk of the TE1 slots. Players like Gerald Everett, Tanner Hudson and Tyler Conklin have been the epitome of moderate utilization shares resulting in almost nothing useful in recent weeks.
A few minor running back situations to keep tabs on: Arizona may be trending toward a timeshare, we could be on the cusp of watching Tennessee lean more on rookie Tyjae Spears at Derrick Henry‘s expense, and what the heck is going on with Atlanta’s backfield?! Bijan Robinson fumbled late in the game, and he wasn’t utilized during the final drive with the game on the line. It could have been merely punishment, but Arthur Smith has a reputation for shenanigans.
As we work through the home stretch of the fantasy season, most pecking orders have stabilized, although we’ll see a handful of transitions toward the youth movement as teams fall out of the playoff race. That means fewer notable situations arise, and some of the inclusions will be a rehashing of developing roles.
8
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
RB Isiah Pacheco (shoulder) returns this week, which will limit Edwards-Helaire’s opportunities after seeing 17 plays directed his way vs. New England. That said, there’s still room for the potential to reach roughly 10 total utilizations if Andy Reid looks to ease Pacheco back in, but it also will be a three-headed attack in that scenario. The Raiders present a fine matchup to exploit … whether there will be enough touches to go around is the issue. In all likelihood, the answer is no.
7
Chicago Bears running backs
This backfield is a mess for prognosticative purposes, but the safest bet among three risky gambles is rookie Roschon Johnson in PPR leagues. He has been the only one to maintain any sense of a consistent role in the passing game, but the rookie has seen radical swings in his utilization share in relation to D’Onta Foreman and Khalil Herbert. He led the trio in Week 12, was dead last the next game after the Week 13 bye, and then nearly doubled the pair in Week 15. Aside from DFS action, gamers should feel comfortable entirely avoiding this group.
6
Indianapolis Colts running backs
This one is purely based on what happens with Zack Moss (arm) and Jonathan Taylor (thumb). Both could be available this week. Moss suffered a fractured arm in training camp and then exited early in Week 15 due to being unable to grip the ball, but it doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue. There’s a pretty good chance we see Taylor for the first time in a month. If not, Trey Sermon (17-88-0) and possibly even perhaps even Tyler Goodson (13 utilizations) should be heavily involved. Sermon is the preferred choice for a TD, but the matchup vs. Atlanta is among the worst, so relegate him to flier status.
5
RB Zamir White, Las Vegas Raiders
White’s role is mostly as a two-downer and is wholly dependent upon whether Josh Jacobs (quad) is good to go. It’s always difficult to ignore any running back with the opportunity to touch the ball as much as he did in Week 15 (17 rushes, 4 targets), but no one should get too hyped over this matchup with KC. Sure, the Raiders will try to keep Patrick Mahomes sidelined, and an RB1 workload is intriguing, but White’s lack of a strong role in the passing game makes him entirely too reliant on scoring a rushing touchdown — something that has happened just six times in 2023 vs. the Chiefs.
4
TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
In an offense that has struggled to muster much of anything in the way of fantasy offerings this season, Henry has provided a small spark of late by logging TDs in consecutive games. He has hauled in three total scores from quarterback Bailey Zappe in those outings, and the banged-up receiving corps has factored into Henry’s recent success. The target disparity in those games was drastic — three vs. nine — which cannot go unnoticed and neither can facing Denver’s feeble defense of the position in Week 16.
3
TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
This is one of the more intriguing situations at a weak position. The Packers have two injuries at receiver in Christian Watson (hamstring) and Jayden Reed (toe) that will directly impact Kraft’s target share. He has at least four looks in each of the last three games and topped out last week with six targets, four catches, and 11.7 PPR points. He’s a viable option should both of those receivers miss the Week 16 meeting with Carolina, a defense that has allowed half of its season-long TE score count in the last five weeks. As a quick piggyback on the two injured receivers, rookie Dontayvion Wicks, who landed six of seven throws for 97 yards in Week 15, and he’d be a viable option for deep-league gamers should those receivers miss this contest.
2
WR Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders
Last few weeks, Samuel’s role has increased at the expense of Jahan Dotson, garnering nearly nine targets a game since Week 11 ended. Sam Howell was benched in Week 15’s disappointing showing but tossed a TD to the veteran receiver, and Jacoby Brissett threw one to Samuel, too. Howell will return as the starter, and in the two prior games, he sent 17 total passes toward the former Carolina Panther, who produced 29.5 PPR points combined in those outings. With two showings north of 19 points in that three-game stretch, Samuel warrants no less than a flex spot vs. the New York Jets as Terry McLaurin is likely to be blanketed.
1
RB Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings
Alexander Mattison (ankle) may have lost his job following the explosive Week 15 showing by Chandler. Minnesota is fighting for its playoff life each and every week the rest of the way, and having a big-play threat to help take some down-and-distance pressure off the shoulder of quarterback Nick Mullens is a massive boost. While it won’t be easy with Detroit as the upcoming opponent, Chandler belongs in playoff lineups if he’s poised to see 15-plus touches. Looking ahead, Minnesota faces Green Bay’s sieve of a run D in what is typically the fantasy championship round.
