The CeeDee Lamb Trap, Adding Tre Tucker and More from the Guillotine Leagues™ Mailbag

I’ll be here once per week answering questions from you, the readers. If you have a specific Guillotine-related question you want answered in this column, shoot me a tweet @jakenagy98 on the former Twitter.

How can I apply the Week 3 Utilization Report to my Guillotine League?

If you want the full utilization breakdown, check out Dwain’s musings over at the Utilization Report. In my opinion, it’s the best mid-week breakdown in fantasy football. We’re focused on how to apply Dwain’s points to our Guillotine Leagues.

Last week, we collectively panicked over the slow starts we’d seen from several rookies. Well, it took all of one week for a handful of players to start showing signs of life:

• Najee Harris’ season-ending achilles injury opens the door to a massive workload for Omarion Hampton. Last week, Hampton posted a 96 Utilization Score with Harris out, good for second highest on the week. Although the Chargers have been passing much more than expected, Hampton is still a top-24 starting option moving forward, with room to climb.
• On Sunday Night Football, we saw yet another injury derail an incumbent starter, forcing the Giants to give Cam Skattebo all of Tyrone Tracy’s work. Skattebo may not post a weekly 84 Utilization Score with Devin Singletary in the mix, but he should be a lineup fixture while Guillotine options are slim. We’ll see how Jaxson Dart impacts the week-to-week outlook for the Giants offense. It can’t get much worse, can it?
• Quinshon Judkins didn’t need an injury to any of his backfield mates to post a nice Utilization Score of 69 in Week 3, enough to immediately vault him into comfortable starter territory moving forward. Fellow rookie Dylan Sampson downgrades to a low-end stash option.
• In Week 3, Tetairoa McMillan posted his first game under 10 fantasy points, but it’s hard not to be encouraged by his season-long Utilization Score of 74, good for 18th among wideouts. I’m comfortable starting McMillan, but remain wary of Bryce Young’s dud games.
• You likely don’t have a choice but to start Ashton Jeanty, but as Ian Hartitz often says, “sheesh.”
• Emeka Egbuka and Tyler Warren are set it and forget it starters. Egbuka could upgrade in the wake of Mike Evans’ leave (any Gang of Youths fans?).
• My beautiful prince Elic Ayomanor deserves to be started while Guillotine remains a deeper format.

We’re leaving all other rookies on the bench this week. I’m encouraged by Matthew Golden’s Week 3 utilization, but want to see more. Treveyon Henderson and RJ Harvey need to show me something before I risk my neck on them. The remainder are nothing but spike week dart throws.

As for players with at least one NFL season under their belt, here’s a couple lesser-owned players you can feel comfortable starting in Week 4 based upon their Week 3 utilization:

• Trey Benson: Duh. James Conner’s season-ending injury creates an opportunity for Benson to seize a workhorse role in Arizona.
• Tre Tucker: You’ve heard of run, not walk, but I’m telling you to walk, not run to pick up Tre Tucker. He’s not going to score three touchdowns every week, but for now, he’s emerging as a top target for Geno Smith while Brock Bowers continues his midseason knee rehab.
• Tyquan Thornton: I like Tyquan Thornton a little more than Tucker. Last week, he led all Chiefs wideouts in each Utilization Score input except for catchable target rate. Xavier Worthy is expected back soon, but Thornton can be started in a pinch until Rashee Rice returns.

Here are some players that were likely in Week 3 starting lineups that should be benched in Week 4 based upon their utilization last week:

• Isiah Pacheco: JJ Zachariason pointed out a stat I truly could not believe in his weekly stat dump: Pacheco has not scored 10+ PPR points in a game since Week 2 of last season. His Utilization Score ranks last amongst runners that have registered at least 50% of their team’s snaps.
• Travis Hunter: Over the first three weeks, Hunter’s Utilization Score has halved each week, culminating in a brutal 20 last week. That will get you chopped quickly.
• Stefon Diggs: Among wideouts that have run at least half of their team’s routes, Diggs boasts the 19th-lowest Utilization Score (44). He is healthy enough to be out there, but not enough to produce in your lineup.

Q: What are your thoughts on Week 3’s most chopped players?

The most chopped players in Week 3 were:

1. CeeDee Lamb
2. Jayden Daniels
3. Tee Higgins
4. Malik Nabers
5. Alvin Kamara
6. Saquon Barkley
7. Zay Flowers
8. Travis Kelce
9. Chase Brown
10. Ladd McConkey

If I had to put money down, I’d bet Jayden Daniels sits out this week as well. I would not sweat it if you didn’t get him.

Alvin Kamara and Chase Brown play behind brutally woeful offensive lines with passing games that don’t keep opposing defenses honest. Their weekly floors will be compromised until their situation improves. Brown, at least, sees great Utilization as the only ticket in town. Kamara doesn’t cede snaps often, but isn’t being used in the passing game like he has been throughout his career, further cratering his floor. Nothing has changed for Saquon Barkley. He needs to score from 3+ yards out or he’s getting vultured.

The poor play of Jake Browning tanks Tee Higgins’ value much more than Brown’s. Higgins should be treated with care until we see better from Browning. Along those same lines, I need to see something from Jaxson Dart before I go crazy trying to acquire Malik Nabers. The Week 14 bye is tantalizing, though. Zay Flowers and Ladd McConkey don’t have the same quarterback concerns, but have seen spotty utilization through three weeks. I like McConkey as a buy low before his inevitable boom game.

Travis Kelce can be serviceable in the early stages of the season, but his value will tank even further when Rashee Rice returns. Kelce is hamstrung by a low aDoT, poor offensive environment, and atypical lapses in play.

Let your leaguemates waste their FAAB on CeeDee Lamb, who’s guaranteed to give you three or four consecutive zeros on your bench. The odds are good that you’ll have at least one more opportunity to acquire him before he recovers from his ankle injury.