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.