Fantasy Football Takeaways From Week 5: Leads Utilization Report

5. Rhamondre Stevenson: Short-Term Fantasy Upgrade.

TreVeyon Henderson exited Week 5 with an ankle injury that already cost him one game this season. His return timeline is unknown, but Week 6 is certainly in jeopardy.

Stevenson has delivered back-to-back strong performances with 18.4 and 17.5 fantasy points, leading the backfield despite dealing with his own ankle injury.

In Week 1, with Henderson out, Stevenson got 85% of the snaps. Stevenson shared the backfield with Corey Kiner after Henderson's departure in Week 5. However, Stevenson entered the game with an injured ankle, and the team built a significant lead over the Raiders.

Kiner played 60% of snaps and accounted for 67% of fourth-quarter attempts. The Patriots led by between 21 and 28 points on those drives. On the first four drives after Henderson's injury, Stevenson had the backfield on lockdown:

• Snaps: 86%
• Attempts: 75%
• Routes: 60%

If Stevenson becomes the clear-cut RB1 in the coming weeks, he could post top-12 RB production. The Patriots offense has found its groove, averaging 37 PPG over the last two outings.

And the schedule is fantastic over the next four weeks, packed with plus matchups for RBs:

• Jets (+2.4 PPG to RB rooms)
• Bears (+2.1)
• Dolphins (+5.9)
• Packers (+3.4)

Stevenson is a borderline RB1 in games without Henderson.

6. Jaylen Waddle is Not Thriving in Sean Payton's offense.

There was hope that shifting play-calling duties from Davis Webb to Payton would cure Waddle's woes. But that didn't happen. Waddle's role stayed the same, with a sub-80% route share.

Historically, a team's WR1 with a talent profile like Waddle—who the team traded a Round 1 pick for—plays 88-92% of pass plays. From a fantasy football perspective, this is a maddening development for Waddle managers. This route participation is in WR3-WR4 territory.

Waddle's 21% target share aligns with WR3s, and his 1.50 YPRR is in WR4 territory. He and Bo Nix haven't found a strong connection yet. At this point, we have to wonder whether the Dolphins' heavy-motion, play-action attack boosted Waddle's production in a way that doesn't translate to Denver.

The Broncos rank 13th in play-action (27%) and 25th in motion at the snap in 2026, per TruMedia.

I noted this possibility in my preseason tiers, but I thought the tradeoff would be a higher route share. There is certainly always room for a strong talent profile like Waddle to rebound—he isn't suddenly a bad player—but he needs more playing time.

If the role doesn't change, the outlook is not good. Waddle's historical Utilization Score (56) comparisons have rarely notched difference-making fantasy seasons. The majority were WR3s or WR4s. 

Waddle DOWNGRADES to WR3 territory.

7. Vikings Defense: Don't start your fringe players vs. MIN.

I added a new section to this week's Utilization Report on defensive tendencies. You can find it at the bottom of this article.

The Vikings defense is one of the primary reasons I wanted to dig deeper into defensive schemes. Their unique scheme is causing absolute havoc across the board, which you can see at a high level in our Defense vs Position (DvP) tool that is opponent-adjusted:

• QB: -6.2 PPG boost (hardest matchup)
• RB: -6.4 PPG boost (hardest matchup)
• WR: -4.9 PPG boost (fifth-hardest matchup)
• TE: -3.8 PPG boost (eighth-hardest matchup)

Brian Flores' scheme creates chaos through a specific combination of characteristics.

1. Pressure Rate: 46% (1st)
2. Pass Blitz Rate: 66% (1st)
3. Zone Coverage: 77% (T-5th)

At a macro level, QBs are much worse when pressured vs. kept clean. That is widely known, so I won't spend much time on it, but it significantly impacts YPA and completion rates. The Vikings rank first in completion rate allowed (53%), seventh in YPA allowed (6.3)

Historically, RBs and TEs become the safety valves for high-pressure/high-zone defenses. But that hasn't been the case in 2026. Because Minnesota blitzes so often and has such a great pressure rate, teams are forced to use more heavy personnel and keep their TEs and RBs in to block.

For example, the Saints have used 11 personnel as their primary personnel package in 2026, ranking 3rd (72%). But against Minnesota, they utilized 12 personnel on 42% of plays. And many of the TEs had significantly lower route shares than pass snap shares:

• Cade Otton: 93% pass snaps, 86% routes
• Colston Loveland: 85% pass snaps, 71% routes
• Juwan Johnson: 81% pass snaps, 65% routes
• Tucker Kraft: 59% pass snaps, 48% routes

Johnson is the only TE to notch a 20%-plus target share against the Vikings.

At RB, we see a similar trend.

• D'Andre Swift: 72% pass snaps, 45% routes
• Ollie Gordon: 68% pass snaps, 37% routes
• Chris Brooks: 65% pass snaps, 22% routes
• Kenny Gainwell: 63% pass snaps, 30% routes
• Alvin Kamara: 35% pass snaps, 8% routes

Minnesota is holding RB corps to -2.7 PPG in the receiving department. 

Simply put: Teams are more likely to play max-protection schemes, or at least keep an extra blocker in, against the Vikings.

We must lower our offensive expectations against this defense across the board—even at the positions that usually benefit from zone coverage with blitzing.

8. Utilization Score Underperformers

The Utilization Score is made up of the fantasy data points that have historically correlated the most strongly with future fantasy success. It is a similar but different concept compared to expected fantasy points. How it differs:

• Accounts for snaps and routes in addition to attempts and targets.
• Accounts for catchable targets and catchable air yards.
• The underlying role accounts for ~75% of a player's Utilization Score.
• Uses fantasy points per game (PPG) as a proxy for talent (i.e., has the player done something with their opportunities). Fantasy PPG is worth ~25% of a player's Utilization Score.

Jeremiyah Love | RB | Cardinals

The Utilization Score (59) isn't going to tell you that Love is a strong buy-low. But it doesn't understand the context: Great prospect + battling injuries.

My stance is simple: Love has scored 6.5 and 2.2 points in the last two weeks. He'll outperform that, and your local Love manager won't be able to help but feel queasy about his rest-of-season outlook. Recency bias is near-undefeated.

And you are getting additional help from the social media pile-on.

And we do have a strong three-week trend in the rushing share department: 78%, 58% (injured late), 71%. The team is trying to get Love more involved.

In Week 4, Love tweaked his ankle in the second quarter. Before that, his utilization mirrored his Week 3 breakout.

• Snaps: 75%
• Attempts: 67%
• Routes: 29%

In Week 5, with Love nursing a new ankle issue, they fell behind the Lions in a blowout. He played only 11% of fourth-quarter snaps while the team was down 24. In the first half, before the game was completely out of hand, Love was the RB1: 

• Snaps: 74%
• Attempts: 90%
• Routes: 42%

I am not saying Love is going to be a top-12 RB this season. The specter of a Carson Beck takeover looms, and he might not earn a high route share for the rest of the season, as the team prefers Tyler Allgeier. 

But there is also a world where both of those things break his way—he is a good receiving back with the size to block, and Beck might not take over soon OR could be okay. I am fairly certain that his play-making upside becomes more evident as his health improves.

Love is HOLDING STEADY as a low-end RB2 with borderline RB1 upside. He is a BUY-LOW target.

Schedule: The Cardinals face a tough RB matchup in Week 6 against the Rams (-7.9 PPG), but things improve after that against the Broncos (+2.1) and the Cowboys (+4.9). After that, things tighten up again against the Seahawks (-0.8) and the Rams. In the fantasy playoffs: Jets (+2.4), Saints (+4.8), Raiders (+1.7).

Note: For more buy-low options, check out the Utilization Bytes below.

9. Utilization Score Overperformers

Denzel Boston | WR | Browns

Boston is looking like a good draft pick for the Browns, proving he can stretch the vertical boundary and haul in high-value downfield looks. But from a fantasy perspective, now is the time to SELL HIGH.

The Round 2 NFL pick is averaging 13.8 PPG as the WR17 in fantasy. That will be an extremely hard mark to maintain in a passing attack averaging 202 yards (21st) and 1.4 TDs (20th).

Boston's ranks in key categories that signal future fantasy production:

• Targets per game: 5.6 (37th)
• Catchable targets per game: 3.6 (51st)
• aDOT: 17.5 (3rd for WRs with at least 100 routes)
• Average route depth: 11.0 (8th)
• Air yards per game: 98 (12th)
• Catchable air yards per game: 55.2 (21st) 

Boston is living on the air yards with a high target depth despite low target volume. That is a highly volatile combination and very likely to regress. Additionally, Boston is getting significant love on social media—and for good reasons—but public sentiment is overly positive. All of this stuff matters. It enters the psyche of your leaguemates.

Boston's Utilization Score (67) comparisons have rarely pulled off a WR2 season. They averaged 12.5 PPG, but only 16% secured WR2 campaigns.

• WR13-24: 16% (ceiling outcome)
• WR25-36: 46% (median outcome)
• WR37-48: 36% (low-median outcome)
• WR49-60: 2% (outlier floor outcome)

Boston is most likely a WR3 or WR4 by season's end. Again, that doesn't make him a bad player. It just means I am willing to SELL-HIGH if someone is ready to pay for him like he is a WR2 the rest of the way. I would even trade him away at a WR3 price tag if it helps my team at another position and I am deep at WR.

10. Waiver Wire Roundup

QB WAIVER WIRE OPTIONS FOR WEEK 5 IN FANTASY

• Aaron Rodgers | Steelers: The Steelers have shown impressive pliability in their game plans under Mike McCarthy. They attacked deep when it made sense and shifted to an underneath approach when it was viable—like Week 5 in bad weather. Available in 73% of leagues. Rodgers is averaging 17.4 PPG (18th), 247 yards (12th), and 2.0 TDs per game (T-7th). He is a mid-range QB2 with low-end QB1 upside. 
   
• Longview Players Your Leaguemates Could Cut: Kyler Murray (41%).

RB WAIVER WIRE OPTIONS FOR WEEK 5 IN FANTASY

• Woody Marks | Texans: I understand. Marks is not available in my league, pal! But he is available in 47% of Yahoo leagues, so he gets a callout here just in case, with David Montgomery (groin) week-to-week. In Week 5, Marks dominated the Texans' backfield with Monty exiting early. The second-year back notched an 84% snap share, totaling 15 attempts and four targets. Marks is a low-end RB2 while Montgomery is out and has a chance to take over the RB1 duties the rest of the way if he performs well. He is worthy of 10-20% of FAAB in small leagues. He will likely cost you 40%+ in larger formats if available (not likely).
   
• Raheim Sanders | Browns: Quinshon Judkins (ankle) is day-to-day after leaving the stadium in a walking boot. Dylan Sampson's (knee) practice window could open this week, but most reports point to a later return date. That means Raheim Sanders could have short-term value should Judkins be unavailable. Sanders would be a high-end RB3 without Judkins. He is available in 94% of leagues and is a 2-7% bid option in deeper formats unless we hear Judkins will miss extended time—that would bump him to 10-15% territory.
   
• Kendre Miller | Saints: Miller handled 59% of the rushing attempts for the Saints in Week 5 with Travis Etienne (hamstring) still on IR and Alvin Kamara battling injuries. We still saw a three-way split, which makes it hard to get too excited. Etienne is eligible to return in Week 9. Miller is available in 93% of leagues and would be a short-term rental as a high-end to mid-range RB3 if this workload holds even when Kamara is healthy. New Orleans has a plus RB matchup against the Giants (+2.3 PPG) before a harder matchup against Pittsburgh (-1.7) and then a bye.
   
• Dameon Pierce | Eagles: Will Shipley (plantar fascia) could miss multiple games, and Saquon Barkley's status (hamstring) for Week 6 is in doubt. Pierce played 78% of snaps and handled 65% of the attempts in Week 5. The Eagles face a tough RB matchup in Week 6 against the Panthers (-7.8 PPG), but get a favorable Week 7 matchup against the Cowboys (+4.9). Pierce would be a high-end RB3 if Barkley is out in Week 6.
   
• Kimani Vidal | Chargers: Let's just zoom out for a second here. Can I interest you in an RB almost certainly locked into a committee behind a Round 1 pick in a terrible offense with massive o-line problems? No. Yes, the TD looked great. Yes, Vidal is underrated. No, we should not be bidding any sort of significant FAAB on him. Outlook: Low-end short- and long-term value. He is an RB4-5.
   
• Samaje Perine | Bengals: Bye in Week 6. But he is one of the most underrated handcuffs in fantasy football (15.8 points in Week 5). Perine also offers long-term viability if Chase Brown continues to struggle. He is available in 97% of leagues.
   
• Emmett Johnson | Chiefs: Available in 76% of leagues, coming off a bye. One of the top fantasy football handcuffs behind Kenneth Walker.
   
• Tier 1 Handcuffs: Brian Robinson (50%), Kaelon Black (67%), Tyler Allgeier (55%), Chris Rodriguez (65%),  
   
• Tier 2 Handcuffs: Ray Davis (93%), Mike Washington (58%), Tyler Goodson (99%), Justice Hill (97%), Seth McGowan (99%), Tyjae Spears (78%)
   
• SICKO STASHES: Roschon Johnson (99%)
   
• Longview Players Your Leaguemates Could Cut: Brian Robinson Jr. was the most-cut RB after Week 5 in early waiver wire action. Remains a Tier 1 handcuff.
   
• IR Stash: Jonathon Brooks (52%). Expected to return in early-to-mid November. Panthers' offense is much improved.

WR WAIVER WIRE OPTIONS FOR WEEK 5 IN FANTASY

• Germie Bernard | Steelers: With Michael Pittman Jr. on IR for at least three more games and Roman Wilson (finger) week to week, Bernard could become a focal point of the Pittsburgh passing attack in the coming weeks. He led the team with a 29% target share in Week 5 and scored 14.4 points with an 82 Utilization Score. The Round 3 draft is the perfect complement to DK Metcalf as an underneath YAC option (7.2 aDOT). The Round 3 pick UPGRADES to WR3 status while Pittman is out and could become the offense's permanent WR2 with strong performances. Bernard is a PRIORITY WAIVER WIRE TARGET in deep leagues. He is available in 99% of Yahoo leagues.
   
• Makai Lemon | Eagles: Fantasy managers are dropping Lemon. The Round 1 NFL Draft pick is available in 58% of leagues. While the Eagles offense doesn't look good, Lemon is getting plenty of snaps, and Dontayvion Wicks isn't a high-end WR2. We are still at the point in the year where we should stash players like Lemon to see what happens. He is a WR5 and is available in 58% of leagues.
   
• Ja'Kobi Lane | Ravens: Lane (wrist) has a chance to return from IR and play in Week 6. He had a strong camp, and Rashod Bateman hasn't capitalized on the WR2 reps he's been given. Lane is a WR6 with upside once Lamar Jackson is back under center.
   
• Jaylin Noel | Texans: Noel has flashed as the primary slot option, with 11.9 and 15.2-point performances. His low route share (53%) is challenging, and the addition of Harrison could further muddy the outlook, but he ranks 14th in YPRR (2.05) out of all WRs with at least 100 routes. There is a chance the Texans decide to play more 3-WR sets with the Year 2 WR performing well. Noel is a WR6 stash option and is available in 96% of leagues.
   
• Not Interested: These players could be one-week flyers if you are facing bye-week challenges but should not be priority FAAB bids due to role or talent limitations. They are min-bid options:
  • Darius Cooper | Eagles
  • Kendrick Bourne | Cardinals
  • Demario Douglas | Patriots
     
• NFL Trade Candidates: The NFL Trade Deadline is November 10th (Tuesday after Week 9). Multiple teams have good QBs who could look to bolster their WR corps, like the Chiefs. The names below are widely available on waivers and could offer more season-long upside if traded than the options listed after them, depending on the landing spot.
  • Jerry Jeudy | Browns: 96% available
  • Calvin Ridley | Titans: 99% available
     
• Candidates to return from IR:
  • Christian Kirk | 49ers: Week 6-7; Deebo Samuel (hamstring) will miss at least two weeks
  • Omar Cooper | Jets: Week 6-8
     
• SICKO STASHES: Cyrus Allen (98%), Jalen Royals (99%), Antonio Williams (91%), Kyle Williams (99%)
   
• Longview Players Your Leaguemates Could Cut: Jakobi Meyers (50%), KC Concepcion (32%), Tre Tucker (74%)
   
• IR Stashes: Jordyn Tyson (51%), Alec Pierce (44%), Adonai Mitchell

TE WAIVER WIRE OPTIONS FOR WEEK 5 IN FANTASY

• Brenton Strange | Jaguars: The Jaguars are embracing more heavy TE personnel, creating advantageous situations for Strange. That takes a WR like Brian Thomas off the field for Nate Boerkircher—who is not a strong target earner. Strange has a 20% target share on a 75% route participation rate. He is averaging 10.1 PPG with a 71 Utilization Score. Strange UPGRADES to high-end TE2 territory and is available in 68% of leagues. If the team moves BTJ, confidence in him finishing top-12 improves.
   
• Pat Freiermuth | Steelers: Freiermuth's role is volatile and seems to be game-plan specific. In some games, he clears a 70% route participation rate; in others, he is in the low 60s. But with Pittman and Wilson hurt, the team needs pass-catchers. His season-long 15% target share is in line with his career, so don't expect massive fireworks. But Freiermuth could push toward high-end TE2 territory until the WRs are healthy. He is available in 85% of leagues.
   
• Longview Players Your Leaguemates Could Cut: Kenyon Sadiq (59%)
   
• IR Stash: Terrance Ferguson (85%)

Utilization Bytes

Quarterbacks

• Drake Maye | Patriots: After consecutive strong outings with 27.2 and 39.5 points, Maye is back on the map. He even added a designed rushing TD in Week 5 against the Raiders, whom he carved up for 374 yards and four TDs via the air. With A.J. Brown returning as soon as Week 6, Maye UPGRADES to mid-range QB1 status and offers high-end QB1 territory.
   
• Kyler Murray | Vikings: Murray had his best game of the year against the Saints, scoring 18.3 points. He added 54 yards on the ground on seven (18%) scrambles. After the Week 6 bye, Murray has the second-best ROS schedule. And it is super juicy in the near-term: IND (+3.1), DET (+9.6), BUF (+0.0). Fantasy playoffs: DET (+9.6), WAS (+8.3), NYJ (-3.3). Murray is a BUY-LOW option with low-end QB1 upside.
   
• Jayden Daniels | Commanders: I faded Daniels in Week 5 because of the weather, re-injury risk, limited involvement in the designed run game, and a banged-up WR group. That ended up being drastically wrong. While the passing yards only reached 200 yards without a passing score, including overtime, Daniels scrambled for 103 yards and two TDs against the man-heavy Giants defense. He only handled one designed attempt. The Year 3 QB still clearly carries high-end QB1 upside in any given game. But I still have long-term health concerns behind a troublesome offensive line (38% pressure rate), and he has schedule challenges. Short-term: SF (-0.8 PPG), BYE, PHI (+3.0), Rams (-7.0). Fantasy playoffs: Falcons (+0.1), Vikings (-6.2), Jaguars (-1.4). If someone thinks Daniels is a high-end QB1 after his 32.3-point outburst, I am willing to SELL HIGH.
   

Team Trends To Monitor Ahead Of Week 6 Fantasy Football

With five weeks of data for most teams, it's a good time to examine team-level trends that affect fantasy production. You can find the data across all 32 NFL teams in the Team Styles tab of the Utilization Report tools.

• Redzone Drive Rate vs. Touchdown Drive Rate: Percentage of drives that reach the red zone versus how often the team is scoring a touchdown per drive. Large deltas indicate room for positive or negative regression.
  • Titans: 15% (28% vs 13%)
  • Bears: 15% (41% vs 26%)
  • Texans: 13% (13% vs 20%)
  • Cardinals: 11% (32% vs 21%
• Dropback Over Expected (DBOE): How often teams pass the ball compared to their peers when considering the score differential over the last five weeks:
  • Panthers: 8%
  • Packers: 8%
  • Bengals: 6%
  • Cowboys: 6%
  • Steelers: 5%
    ___
  • Seahawks: -5%
  • Giants: -5%
  • Bears: -5%
  • Chargers: -6%
  • Ravens: -6%
  • Dolphins: -9%
  • Falcons: -12%
• Neutral Playclock: Teams that are leaving more or less time on the play clock when the score is within three points (neutral situations) over the last five weeks. The NFL average is 8.3 seconds.
  • Browns: 11.54
  • Cowboys: 11.25
  • Chiefs: 10.65
  • Chargers: 10.60
  • Falcons: 10.52
  • Bears: 10.22
    ___
  • Dolphins: 6.66
  • Commanders: 6.63
  • Titans: 6.37
  • Giants: 6.33
• Play action pass rate: Teams that are utilizing play action the most per dropback over the last five weeks, which adds value to WRs and TEs on a per-route basis in fantasy:
  • Bills: 39% (Pre MNF)
  • Chiefs: 34%
  • Seahawks: 34%
  • Lions: 33%
  • Panthers: 31%
  • Bears: 31%
    ___
  • Cardinals: 20%
  • Steelers: 20%
  • Saints: 18%
  • Bengals: 18%
  • Eagles: 16%

Personnel: When teams deploy more heavy personnel, with extra TEs and RBs on the field, the pass-catchers who remain on the field face less target competition. For example: WRs saw a 29% boost in PPR points per route with two WRs on the field vs. three WRs over the last three seasons. This is year-to-date data until Week 6, when we flip to the last five. Game scripts can impact this data over small samples.

21 Personnel (2 RB, 1 TE, 2 WR) – large boost

• 49ers: 33%
• Chargers: 29%
• Dolphins: 26%

22 Personnel (2 RB, 2 TE, 1 WR) – large boost

• Giants: 19% (21 + 22 = 33%)
• Raiders: 17% (21 + 22 = 36%)
• Vikings: 9% (21 + 22 = 25%)

11 Personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR) – negative boost

• Eagles: 76%
• Titans: 74%
• Buccaneers: 71%
• Cowboys: 71%
• Saints: 70%

12 Personnel (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR) – small boost

• Bengals: 46%
• Raiders: 40%
• Bears: 33%
• Colts: 32%
• Falcons: 32%

13 Personnel (1 RB, 3 TE, 1 WR) – large boost

• Rams: 31% (Pre MNF)
• Bills: 28% (Pre MNF)
• Cardinals: 23% 

Offensive Lines: Pressure rates are huge for QBs. Most signal callers who are constantly harassed will struggle to find consistent fantasy value. QBs partially own pressures, so it isn't all an offensive line issue. The NFL average pressure rate is 36% over the last three seasons.

Yards before contact matters for RBs. Backs who get better blocking have a better chance to thrive in fantasy. The NFL average yards before contact on RB attempts is 1.29 over the last three years. It is important to remove QBs since scrambles often come with defenders' backs turned and can inflate these numbers.

Pressure Rate Allowed:

• Falcons: 27%
• Cardinals: 27%
• Bengals: 30%
• Jaguars: 32%
• 49ers: 33%
• Buccaneers: 33%
• Cowboys: 33%

—-

• Patriots: 42%
• Browns: 43%
• Dolphins: 45%
• Eagles: 46%
• Chargers: 47%
• Panthers: 48%
   

Average Yards Before Contact Rushing

• Bills: 3.03 (Pre MNF)
• Rams: 2.14 (Pre MNF)
• Panthers: 1.74
• Chiefs: 1.72
• Lions: 1.72
• 49ers: 1.66

—

• Eagles: 0.81
• Giants: 0.81
• Raiders: 0.75
• Seahawks: 0.69
• Texans: 0.68
• Browns: 0.68
• Jaguars: 0.61
   

Defensive Tendencies

Pressure Rate: Defenses with high pressure rates can dramatically impact QB performance. Under pressure, QB statistics become much more unstable and decline at the macro level.

• NFL Average in 2026: 36%
   
• Vikings: 46%
• Seahawks: 45%
• Falcons: 44%

—

• Colts: 29%
• Buccaneers: 27%
• Titans: 27%
• Giants: 26%
   

Pass Blitz Rate: Defenses that blitz often can impact how often TEs and RBs run routes. Against heavy blitz teams, they can remain in to block more often.

• Vikings: 66%
• Commanders: 43%
• Buccaneers: 41% (low pressure rate = big plays available)
• Jets: 40%

—

• Falcons: 21% (high pressure rate = tough pass defense)
• Raiders: 21%
• Colts: 21% (low pressure rate = dice'em up however you want)
• Seahawks: 20% (high pressure rate = tough pass defense)
• Texans: 18% (strong pressure rate of 39% = tough pass defense)
• Bengals: 17% (strong pressure rate of 39% = tough pass defense)

Man Coverage: Targets skew toward the top WR options against man coverage, while TE and RB opportunities decline at the macro level. Of course, there are exceptions for elite TEs. Also, many teams that utilize man concepts have a shut-down corner, which can be problematic for WRs—especially if the CB shadows.

Scrambling QBs also benefit from man coverage. When defenders turn their backs, QBs can tuck the ball and run. And it can take defenders longer to realize it is happening (i.e., Jayden Daniels vs. the Giants in Week 5).

• NFL Average in 2026: 23%
• Browns: 41% (Denzel Ward. Doesn't always shadow.)
  • WR units: +2.9 PPG boost
• Giants: 35%
• Lions: 31% (Bad corners + man = great for opposing WRs)
  • WR units: +7.1 PPG boost
• Jets: 30%
• Patriots: 30% (Christian Gonzalez. Will shadow.)
• Steelers: 30%
   

Zone Coverage: Targets spread out against heavy zone teams. RBs and TEs get more involved, while WR targets tend to take a bit of a hit. There are exceptions. Underneath, WRs can benefit from zone.

• NFL Average in 2026: 71%
   
• Seahawks: 81%
  • Adding up the tendencies: High pressure, low blitz, heavy zone →
  • RBs: +2.2 boost to receiving PPG
  • WRs: -4.5 boost
• Panthers: 81%
• Saints: 80%
• Packers: 78%
• Titans: 77%
• Raiders: 77%
• Vikings: 77%
  • Adding up the tendencies: High pressure, high blitz, high zone →
  • RBs: -6.4 boost overall; -2.7 receiving boost (staying into block + zone bad for RB targets)
  • WRs: -4.9 boost
• Falcons: 74%
  • Adding up the tendencies: High pressure, low blitz, high zone →
  • RBs: +1.8 boost to receiving PPG