
Dwain McFarland breaks down De'Von Achane, Chase Brown, and all of the other biggest upgrades and downgrades based on what we learned in Week 11.

Welcome to the Utilization Report, where Dwain McFarland highlights his top fantasy football takeaways heading into Week 12.
Let's follow the data to identify the top waiver wire options, trade targets, upgrades, and downgrades based on what we learned in Week 11.
Note: as you read through the Utilization Report, you'll notice the Utilization Score being used as a pillar of analysis. For more information on how to use the score and why it's more predictive than fantasy points per game, read here.
"I think I can, I think I can."
The primary concern around Achane this preseason was his workload, which many thought would be capped due to his size (188 pounds). However, history told us that backs as good as Achane typically find their way onto the field more, which is the story now unfolding in Miami.
Over the last four games, Achane has a 9.0 Utilization Score, averaging 22.4 points per game with RB2, RB2, RB24, and RB5 finishes. However, his workload got another bump over the last two games, hogging 66% of the snaps and 62% of the rushing attempts.
Mostert briefly left the game on Sunday, but his snaps have been equally dismal for two consecutive weeks at 15% and 14%. He is now splitting time with Jaylen Wright for the third of the pie Achane doesn't account for.
Achane UPGRADES to high-end RB1 territory and will challenge for the RB1 overall if his expanded role sticks.
Since the loss of Zack Moss, Brown has dominated the Bengals backfield with a sizzling Utilization Score of 9.9. He has handled 83% of snaps and 92% of attempts. He has also been highly active in the passing game, with a 66% route participation and 17% target share.
Over the three-game span, Brown has averaged 23.5 points per game on the back of 21 carries and seven targets per game. Averaging 28 opportunities in a high-quality offense is hard to top, putting Brown in elite company.
Since 2020, Browns' Utilization Score comps have dominated fantasy football, averaging 20.5 points. Every comp managed an RB1 finish, with 86% posting a top-six campaign. We could see the team expand Khalil Herbert's role as he acclimates, but at this point, Brown has plenty of room to give because his utilization is so strong.
Brown UPGRADES to high-end RB1 status.
Bowers is on pace to register the highest fantasy points per game for a rookie TE since 2000.
The record target share over that span was 23% (Jeremy Shockey, 2002), which Bowers is also on pace to beat at 26%. While it is hard to guarantee that Bowers will best that mark, he has been on another level in seven games without Davante Adams.
Over that span, he has a 9.4 Utilization Score, averaging 17.4 fantasy points. The rookie has notched a top-six finish in five of seven games. His Utilization Score comps have averaged 16.3 points per game with 100% tallying a top-three finish.
Bowers is a high-end TE1, and he is just a baby. Enjoy, dynasty managers.
The Rams' passing attack has been on an absolute tear since Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua returned to the lineup in Week 8.
Stafford has averaged 291 yards and 2.5 TDs through the air over the four-game stretch. Only Jameis Winston (321) and Joe Burrow (317) have averaged more yards per game. Stafford has QB6, QB16, QB22, and QB5 finishes with 20.1 fantasy points per game, nearly doubling his average over the first seven games (10.6).
The schedule gets more challenging with matchups against the Eagles, Saints, Bills, 49ers, and Jets. However, with Kupp and Nacua healthy, Stafford has the weapons to challenge better defenses.
Stafford UPGRADES to borderline QB1 territory and shouldn't be available in 43% of Yahoo leagues–especially with bye weeks looming for Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Jayden Daniels over the next two weeks.
We now have three full games with Kupp and Nacua in the lineup together (Nacua was ejected in Week 9 for throwing a punch). Below is how they have fared in those three contests.
Both receivers have been WR1-worthy over the three-game span, but the 23-year-old Nacua holds a 1.2-point lead over the 31-year-old Kupp in the Utilization Score.
Based on the last four years of data, Kupp's comps have finished as a WR1 38% of the time while landing in WR2 territory 53%. Nacua's comps have locked in a WR1 campaign 100% of the time, with 79% dialing up a top-six season.
Kupp is a borderline WR1, and Nacua is a high-end WR1.
Since the return of their starting WRs, the Rams' dropback rate over expected (DBOE) has risen from -5% to -1%. That has pushed their dropback rate from 58% to 61%, slightly deflating the available opportunities for Wiliams. However, Los Angeles remains a run-balanced unit, and Williams' underlying utilization has been elite over the past four games.
Historically, Williams' Utilization Score comps have fared much better than 13.7 points per game.
Your local Williams manager could feel down after RB28, RB15, and RB25 finishes, making him a player worth inquiring about.
Williams is HOLDING STEADY as a mid-range RB1.
If you are a returning reader of the Utilization Report, you are likely familiar with the names below. Each pass catcher has already received at least one upgrade in the last four weeks.
Since Russell Wilson took over as the starting quarterback, Pickens has soared to new heights. He has a 9.0 Utilization Score in four games with a 92% route participation and 31% target share. Over that span, he has averaged 17.7 fantasy points per game.
Pickens is averaging 7.5 more fantasy points per game with Wilson under center, and his Utilization Score comps have faired extremely well.
Pickens UPGRADES to borderline WR1 status.
Smith-Njigba returned to his pre-Metcalf injury role (Weeks 8 and 9) with fewer downfield targets (8.4 aDOT), but his high-end target share remained intact at 31%.
There is still some risk for regression with JSN. We saw this same sort of low-aDOT/high target share performance in Week 2, and he faltered afterward. However, Tyler Lockett is a shell of his former self, with a 15% target share on the season. The 32-year-old veteran has a 10% target share over the last three games, and the door is open for Seattle to condense their targets around Metcalf and JSN in a pass-first offense.
We have seen Cooper Kupp and Amon-Ra St. Brown climb to astronomical heights in similar roles. Smith-Njigba has an 8.8 Utilization Score over the last four outings.
Smith-Njigba UPGRADES to mid-range WR2 territory.
In two healthy games without Brandon Aiyuk, Jennings has dominated with a 36% target share and 40% air yards share. He has a 9.5 Utilization Score, averaging 20.7 points.
The 49ers were without George Kittle in Week 11, so we must temper our expectations. However, we can no longer consider Jennings as the third or fourth option behind the other weapons in this offense–he is in the mix to be the 49ers' top target earner the rest of the way.
Jennings UPGRADES to low-end WR2 status.
With Justin Herbert healthy, the Chargers have posted a positive DBOE in four of six games since their bye. Before the bye, they were one of the most run-heavy offenses in the NFL, with a 49% dropback rate. That number has climbed to 58% in games since the bye.
That development has opened the door for McConkey, who upgraded to mid-range WR3 status in the Week 9 Utilization Report and is due for another bump with the Chargers sustaining their pass-friendly leanings. Over the last four games, he has had a 7.3 Utilization Score, putting him in solid comp territory.
McConkey UPGRADES to high-end WR3 territory.
This section will highlight some of the biggest Utilization Score movers over the last four games each week.
Note: Sometimes, the players are the same as the previous week, and in those cases, I might highlight a different player to cover more players. Be sure to check out last week's risers and fallers.
A few players pop up weekly in the fantasy boxscore but lack the underlying goods to back them up. They are best left for the next fantasy manager to worry about.
Donnie Brasco: “You should give it to somebody who doesn't know any better because that's a fugazi.”
Johnson stepped into a more prominent role in the first game with Thomas Brown as offensive coordinator. He registered season-highs in snaps (44%) and rushing attempts (34%), closing the gap between himself and D'Andre Swift.
Notably, Johnson took over the two-minute offense and bested Swift inside the five-yard line. Those are two of the most prolific roles for RBs on a per-opportunity basis. We only have a one-game sample, but Johnson is worth a pickup to see if this trend continues.
Johnson UPGRADES to mid-range RB3 territory and would offer high-end RB2 upside if Swift missed time.
Since Jameis Winston became the starter in Cleveland, Moore has averaged 13.6 points per game with a 7.0 Utilization Score. Over that span, he is tied with Cedric Tillman in target share (22%), which has been enough, with Winston averaging 321 yards and 2 TDs passing.
If the Browns ever pull the plug on the Winston experiment, it will hurt the receiving corps, but Moore is a high-end WR4 with WR2 upside for now.
Dissly has served as the team's No. 1 tight end over the last five games. Over that stretch, he has a 7.4 Utilization Score with 10.8 fantasy points per game.
With the Chargers willing to throw the ball more, the veteran offers low-end TE1 upside.
Dissly UPGRADES to high-end TE2 status and gets a juicy matchup against the Ravens in Week 12. He is a strong fill-in option if Evan Engram, Kyle Pitts, or Mike Gesicki have been your starter (on bye in Week 12).
These players aren't available in sicko leagues (I feel ya), but believe it or not, most of the Milky Way galaxy doesn't play in a sicko league. If available, please allow us sicko-leaguers to live vicariously through you and prioritize these options off the waiver wire.
Nix has averaged 257 yards and 2.3 TDs through the air over the last four games. When you pair that with his 12% designed rush rate (7th) and 8% scramble rate (8th), you have the makings of a QB with a solid weekly floor and an astronomical ceiling–precisely what we have seen over the last four games from Nix.
Nix UPGRADES to low-end QB1 status and gets juicy matchups against the Raiders and Browns (who Derek Carr roasted without any weapons) over the next two games.
Jeudy erupted for 26.2 points in Week 11 and has WR31, WR23, and WR5 finishes since Winston took over as the starting QB. He has an 8.1 Utilization Score over the last three games.
With Winston averaging 321 yards and 2 TDs passing, all of Cleveland's pass catchers offer big-boom upside. Jeudy's Utilization Score comps have posted some impressive fantasy finishes.
While these numbers feel high, Jeudy's 19% TPRR aligns with his three-year average of 21%. Jeudy is the same player he has always been. However, that is enough for significant fantasy production when Winston is under center.
Jeudy UPGRADES to high-end WR3 status (yes, I am still taking this slow).
Everything we discussed about the Chargers offense under Ladd McConkey also goes for Johnston. Additionally, the second-year WR has a 6.2 Utilization Score since returning from injury in Week 9. Over that span, he is tied for second on the team in target share (21%) and leads the squad with 33% of the air yards.
Utilization Score Comps:
Johnston UPGRADES to boom-bust WR4 territory.
The Packers WR corps is a challenging riddle to unravel. However, Jordan Love ranks fifth in passing yards per game (260), making it a situation we want exposure to on our bench.
Over the last three games, Watson has the second-highest route participation on the team (70%) behind Romeo Doubs. Over that stretch, he leads the team in target share (22%) and air yards (44%).
Ultimately, the team will likely continue to rotate their receivers, but Watson has entered the range where he offers boom-bust potential. We saw this in Week 11 when he notched 19 fantasy points on a team-leading 25% target share.
Watson UPGRADES to boom-bust WR5 status but offers WR2 upside if his role grows.
See Utilization Upgrades above.
If you play in a sicko league, here are some names that are more likely to be available. They should not be sitting on the wire due to potential value in the future, but they likely won't be helping your fantasy squad next weekend.
Akers makes this column section again this week because he remains available in too many leagues. He has notched 33% of the team's attempts as the clear-cut No. 2 behind Aaron Jones in consecutive games.
Akers is a high-end RB5 handcuff and would offer mid-range RB2 upside in the Vikings' high-quality offense should Jones miss time.