The Utilization Report: Conference Championship

Volume is king in fantasy football, and this report will help you understand which players are due more or less according to their roles. It is a great way to know who is overperforming (sell high) and underperforming (buy low) based on historical data tied to metrics we know drive volume.

Overall offense: Which teams are enabling winning volume and efficiency across game scripts
Quarterbacks: How involved is each QB in the running game, and who is unlocking upside for their weapons
Running backs: Which backs are handling early downs, short-yardage and passing downs
Tight ends: Who is running enough routes and meeting critical targets per route thresholds
Receivers: Which receivers are in the most routes and operating broadly within the offense

For this season, Fantasy Life has partnered with PFF to collaborate on the Utilization Report.

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Divisional Round Takeaways

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WR – DeVonta Smith

Smith pulled even with A.J. Brown in target share (28%) thanks to a dominant 43% outing against the Giants. He secured six of 10 targets for 61 yards and a TD in a game where the Eagles didn’t need to throw much.

Smith is a low-end WR1 with high-end WR1 upside.	WR – Kadarius Toney	Travis Kelce	Deebo Samuel	Justin Watson	For now, Toney is a boom-bust WR3 with WR2 upside.	TE – Hayden Hurst	Ja’Marr Chase	Tee Higgins	Tyler Boyd	Hurst has a low-end TE1 profile.
16	47%	25%	61%	12%	16%	0%	0%	78%	0%	12.8
17	48%	13%	43%	15%	32%	60%	0%	100%	100%	22.6
18	36%	8%	44%	13%	23%	40%	0%	80%	100%	8.6
DIV	65%	39%	50%	0%	0%	71%	50%	100%	0%	2.5
YTD	47%	20%	49%	11%	19%	49%	26%	90%	85%	11.0

The veteran RB might be the Chiefs’ preferred option in crunch time, but he didn’t have a target after averaging 5.2 since the Week 8 bye.

We could see Kansas City design more looks for McKinnon next weekend to help out a hobbled Mahomes. However, Mahomes’ inability to move around could allow the defense to play underneath coverage more aggressively.

RB – Elijah Mitchell

Mitchell handled 44% of the 49ers’ rushing attempts in the Divisional Round matchup against the Cowboys, tying his season-high mark. He has accounted for 30% of the team’s rushing attempts in games with Christian McCaffrey, averaging 10.3 per game.

The second-year back is hardly in a high-end utilization role, but San Francisco ranks fifth in rushing attempts in non-overtime, and runs the ball above the NFL average in trailing, close, and leading game scripts.

Trailing by four-plus points: 35% (+3)
Within three points: 44% (+3)
Leading by four-plus points: 55% (+4)

This commitment to the ground game and the 49ers’ ability to get into scoring position regularly boosts Mitchell’s outlook despite a limited role. San Francisco’s offense converts 44% of their drives into scores, the second-most in the NFL.

Mitchell is a boom-bust RB2.

RB – Eagles RBs

The Eagles smashed the Giants’ run defense for 268 yards and three TDs. Kenneth Gainwell accounted for a season-high 28% of the rushing attempts, but much of it came in the fourth quarter, where he handled 69% of the RB rushing attempts.

Miles Sanders remains the lead option, but his 49% rushing attempt average means he rarely has 20-touch upside.

TE – Dallas Goedert

Goedert delivered 16.8 fantasy points in his fourth game back from injury. He has target shares of 9%, 19%, 23%, and 22% since returning, and has bested an 85% route participation in each game.

WR – Zach Pascal

Pascal surpassed Quez Watkins in route participation (41%), which wasn’t due to blowout conditions. Pascal registered 44% in the first half, while Watkins was at 22%.

Get access to the full Utilization Report, all the data tables, and team-by-team analysis by subscribing to PFF+

Data notes and acronyms:

1st/2nd = First and second downs
LDD = long down and distance (third and fourth down with three or more yards to go)
SDD = short down and distance (second, third and fourth down with two or fewer yards to go)
i5 = inside the five-yard line
2MIN = two-minute offense (hurry-up offense)
Close = score within three points
Lead = leading by four points or more
Trail = trailing by four points or more
Plays = penalties included for utilization splits and rates
Pass Play = all dropbacks (i.e., attempts, sacks and scrambles)
ADOT = average depth of target
Air Yards = ADOT multiplied by targets
TTT = average time to throw
PA = play action
PA Targets = percentage of player's targets that came using play action
Fantasy finishes = through Sunday night game
YPRR = yards per route run
TPRR = targets per route run
EZ = end zone
TOP = Time of possession
Pass vs. Run Splits = based on the percentage of time a team throws or passes
FAB = Free agent budget (based on home leagues; adjust percentages in more competitive formats)