The New Reality No.217: Player Utilization

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With one week of utilization data, player usage offers opportunities on the dynasty landscape. Here is an early look (expect multiple check-ins throughout the season) at the key players on each NFL team and their usage.

Running Back Utilization

Pittsburgh: Najee Harris is a big winner after Week 1 with his 77% rushing share of the backfield, and Harris and Jaylen Warren were nearly even in routes. The confidence in starting Harris and benching Warren is higher for Week 2. There is no committee here.

Tennessee: Tony Pollard is a big winner with the lead role in Week 1. Pollard's 77% rushing market share is an overt positive. Tyjae Spears had an edge in routes, but Pollard still ran 38%, which is good enough to be a strong RB2 with upside.

San Francisco: Christian McCaffrey was a massive curveball on Monday evening with his inactive status. The 49ers used Deebo Samuel as their RB2, but among traditional running backs, Jordan Mason surged to 100% rushing and 70% route share, plus a monster game of production. McCaffrey is unlikely to play in Week 2 by mid-week reports.

Cincinnati: Zack Moss was the clear starter with 75% rushing and 50% route shares. Chase Brown is an injury-away option only until further notice.

Baltimore: Derrick Henry saw 100% of the rushing market share, but the negative game script brought Justice Hill into focus with a 55% route share and six targets. Hill will be a flex option if Baltimore is predicted to be in a competitive or comeback mode game script.

Carolina: In addition to looking horrific on offense overall, Chuba Hubbard was a weak starter with 38% rushing and 45% route share. Despite being the starter, Hubbard is not a quality fantasy option until Carolina looks more functional on offense.

Miami: Raheem Mostert will miss Week 2, and De'Von Achane had a higher rushing and route share than Mostert in Week 1. Achane has strong RB1 upside even if possessing half of the backfield, like Week 1. Jeff Wilson and Jaylen Wright are strong pickup-and-hold options until Mostert returns.

Jacksonville: Travis Etienne Jr. was a workhorse last season but far from it in Week 1. Tank Bigsby took 50% of the rushing market share, and Etienne's 61% of routes were also on the low side versus expectations.

Chargers: J.K. Dobbins is rising with more than triple the routes of Gus Edwards and a 43% rushing market share. Edwards was already a flimsy start and even more so now.

Cleveland: Jerome Ford was a significant starter with 88% and 67% rushing and route market share figures. Ford is tough to keep out of lineups until Nick Chubb is back.

LA Rams: For all the hand-wringing and conjecture Kyren Williams would be in a committee with Blake Corum, the Week 1 result was the opposite. Corum did not see an offensive snap, and Williams' market share was 90% rushing and 75% of routes. 2024 looks a lot like 2023 through one week.

Dallas: Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle was the most competitive committee split in the NFL last week. Both were 45-50% in rushing share and 27-32% in route share. Neither is a good start without a better advantage. Dalvin Cook remains a darkhorse to be Dallas' best option in a future week.