By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each week, I will provide our loyal readers with a matchup chart for each NFL position. To start the season, I’ll be using last year’s stats, but will combine them and wean off of them as the season gets going.
Check out the other positions: Quarterback | Wide Receiver | Tight End
My method is to rank each defense in different categories and then average those rankings into a single ranking. So below, you will see how well defenses performed against quarterbacks based on completion percentage allowed, passing yards allowed, touchdown passes allowed and so on and so forth. Remember, the numbers are how they ranked in that category. The higher the ranking the worse the defense performed.
So as you can see in the chart, Indianapolis ranks the worst against running backs and Tennessee the best through one week.
The stats here are only for the first game of the season, so are extremely skewed, but as long as we go into it with that knowledge, I feel we can look at them with clear eyes, full hearts and our losing, it won’t happen.
C.J. Anderson can’t ask for a better matchup after pummeling the Panthers last Thursday. The Colts were thrashed by the Lions running backs, who gained 229 total yards and score four touchdowns, two by ground and two by air – and ground. Anderson ran and caught two touchdowns last week, and he should be used extensively in both avenues this week. He’s my No. 1 running back this week.
Miller saw 10 more touches last week than he’s ever had in a NFL game, so I think we can feel secure in his usage, while Kansas City is coming off a win against the Chargers, but not before giving up 177 total yards and three touchdowns to Melvin Gordon and Danny Woodhead. I expect the Chiefs to get better, but they could be on the decline, and Miller will test that notion this week. He’s a must-start of course, but he has Top-3 upside even against Kansas City.
Rashad Jennings touched the ball 19 times against the Cowboys last week in a game that Dallas slowed down considerably. This week, there won’t be much pumping of the breaks as these two teams matchup. The Saints allowed 202 total yards and three rushing touchdowns to the Raiders last week, and I expect Jennings to get himself a touchdown this week.
Ezekiel Elliott had a rough go of it against the Giants Week 1, but he also saw many stacked boxes as the Giants weren’t worrying about Dak Prescott beating them deep after his 37th check-down. DeAngelo Williams gashed Washington last Monday, and I expect Elliott to have a bit more room as they figure out how to get Dez Bryant the ball.
| DEP | Running Backs | Tm | Opp | R/G | RuY/G | YPC | RuTD/G | Re/G | ReY/G | ReTD/G | T/G | TotYd | FPPG | FP/look | TDs | FO | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB1 | C.J. Anderson | DEN | IND | 16 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 28.4 |
| RB2 | Devontae Booker | DEN | IND | 16 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 29 | 28.4 |
| RB1 | Lamar Miller | HOU | KC | 29 | 30 | 24 | 27 | 14 | 16 | 27 | 15 | 26 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 24.9 |
| RB2 | Tyler Ervin | HOU | KC | 29 | 30 | 24 | 27 | 14 | 16 | 27 | 15 | 26 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 24.9 |
| RB1 | Rashad Jennings | NYG | NO | 19 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 19 | 21 | 1 | 15 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 24.6 |
| RB2 | Shane Vereen | NYG | NO | 19 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 19 | 21 | 1 | 15 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 24.6 |
| RB1 | Carlos Hyde | SF | @CAR | 19 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 14 | 23 | 27 | 11 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 20 | 24.0 |
| RB2 | Shaun Draughn | SF | @CAR | 19 | 27 | 29 | 27 | 14 | 23 | 27 | 11 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 20 | 24.0 |
| RB1 | Ezekiel Elliott | DAL | @WAS | 28 | 31 | 26 | 27 | 19 | 14 | 1 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 23 | 26 | 32 | 23.5 |
| RB1 | Chris Ivory | JAX | @SD | 2 | 13 | 25 | 16 | 32 | 32 | 1 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 29 | 13 | 25 | 21.3 |
| RB2 | T.J. Yeldon | JAX | @SD | 2 | 13 | 25 | 16 | 32 | 32 | 1 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 29 | 13 | 25 | 21.3 |
| RB1 | DeAngelo Williams | PIT | CIN | 25 | 29 | 28 | 1 | 24 | 26 | 1 | 29 | 30 | 23 | 14 | 1 | 24 | 19.6 |
| RB1 | Arian Foster | MIA | @NE | 7 | 21 | 30 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 1 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 13 | 27 | 18.8 |
| RB2 | Damien Williams | MIA | @NE | 7 | 21 | 30 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 1 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 13 | 27 | 18.8 |
| RB1 | Jeremy Langford | CHI | PHI | 4 | 19 | 31 | 16 | 24 | 23 | 1 | 24 | 18 | 20 | 26 | 13 | 21 | 18.5 |
| RB2 | Ka’Deem Carey | CHI | PHI | 4 | 19 | 31 | 16 | 24 | 23 | 1 | 24 | 18 | 20 | 26 | 13 | 21 | 18.5 |
| RB1 | Thomas Rawls | SEA | @LA | 32 | 23 | 10 | 31 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 27 | 22 | 28 | 22 | 18.3 |
| RB2 | Christine Michael | SEA | @LA | 32 | 23 | 10 | 31 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 27 | 22 | 28 | 22 | 18.3 |
| RB1 | Latavius Murray | OAK | ATL | 17 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 13 | 11 | 17.2 |
| RB1 | Devonta Freeman | ATL | @OAK | 11 | 15 | 17 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 27 | 29 | 11 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 16.5 |
| RB2 | Tevin Coleman | ATL | @OAK | 11 | 15 | 17 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 27 | 29 | 11 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 16.5 |
| RB1 | Justin Forsett | BAL | @CLE | 31 | 28 | 20 | 16 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 13 | 19 | 16.4 |
| RB2 | Terrance West | BAL | @CLE | 31 | 28 | 20 | 16 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 24 | 24 | 17 | 13 | 19 | 16.4 |
| RB1 | Eddie Lacy | GB | @MIN | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 28 | 31 | 24 | 14 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 1 | 16.4 |
| RB2 | James Starks | GB | @MIN | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 28 | 31 | 24 | 14 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 1 | 16.4 |
| RB1 | LeGarrette Blount | NE | MIA | 27 | 22 | 14 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 1 | 20 | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 13.6 |
| RB2 | James White | NE | MIA | 27 | 22 | 14 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 1 | 20 | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 13.6 |
| RB1 | Doug Martin | TB | @ARI | 19 | 17 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 13.4 |
| RB2 | Charles Sims | TB | @ARI | 19 | 17 | 11 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 13.4 |
| RB1 | DeMarco Murray | TEN | @DET | 6 | 10 | 18 | 1 | 28 | 25 | 1 | 27 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 23 | 13.1 |
| RB1 | Matt Jones | WAS | DAL | 19 | 25 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 21 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 18 | 13.0 |
| RB2 | Chris Thompson | WAS | DAL | 19 | 25 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 21 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 18 | 13.0 |
| RB1 | David Johnson | ARI | TB | 11 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 29 | 25 | 18 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 12.9 |
| RB1 | Mark Ingram | NO | @NYG | 26 | 20 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 12.0 |
| RB2 | C.J. Spiller | NO | @NYG | 26 | 20 | 8 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 12.0 |
| RB1 | Jeremy Hill | CIN | @PIT | 1 | 4 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 13 | 26 | 11.4 |
| RB2 | Giovani Bernard | CIN | @PIT | 1 | 4 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 13 | 26 | 11.4 |
| RB1 | Matt Forte | NYJ | @BUF | 18 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 24 | 18 | 1 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 11.1 |
| RB2 | Bilal Powell | NYJ | @BUF | 18 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 24 | 18 | 1 | 20 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 11.1 |
| RB1 | Ryan Mathews | PHI | @CHI | 30 | 26 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 11.1 |
| RB2 | Darren Sproles | PHI | @CHI | 30 | 26 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 11.1 |
| RB1 | Todd Gurley | LA | SEA | 4 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 29 | 1 | 15 | 20 | 13 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 9.8 |
| RB1 | Adrian Peterson | MIN | GB | 19 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 10 | 15 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 9.5 |
| RB2 | Jerick McKinnon | MIN | GB | 19 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 10 | 15 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 9.5 |
| RB1 | Jamaal Charles | KC | @HOU | 8 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 9.1 |
| RB2 | Spencer Ware | KC | @HOU | 8 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 9.1 |
| RB1 | Isaiah Crowell | CLE | BAL | 11 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 8.6 |
| RB2 | Duke Johnson | CLE | BAL | 11 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 5 | 8.6 |
| RB1 | LeSean McCoy | BUF | NYJ | 2 | 9 | 19 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 21 | 13 | 14 | 8.5 |
| RB2 | Mike Gillislee | BUF | NYJ | 2 | 9 | 19 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 21 | 13 | 14 | 8.5 |
| RB1 | Frank Gore | IND | @DEN | 15 | 18 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 28 | 8.2 |
| RB1 | Melvin Gordon | SD | JAX | 8 | 12 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 6.5 |
| RB2 | Danny Woodhead | SD | JAX | 8 | 12 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 6.5 |
| RB1 | Jonathan Stewart | CAR | SF | 11 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4.8 |
| RB1 | Ameer Abdullah | DET | TEN | 19 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3.2 |
| RB2 | Theo Riddick | DET | TEN | 19 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3.2 |
| RB3 | Zach Zenner | DET | TEN | 19 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3.2 |
Key
R/G: Rushing attempts allowed per game to running backs
RuY/G: Rushing yards allowed per game to running backs
YPC: Yards per rushing attempt allowed to running backs
RuTD/G: Rushing touchdowns allowed per game to running backs
Re/G: Receptions allowed per game to running backs
ReY/G: Receiving yards allowed per game to running backs
ReTD/G: Receiving touchdowns allowed per game to running backs
T/G: Receiving targets allowed to running backs per game
TotYd: Total yards (rushing+receiving) allowed to running backs per game
FPPG: Fantasy points allowed per game to running backs
FP/Look: Fantasy points allowed per look (target+rush attempt)
TotTD: Total combinded receiving/rushing touchdowns
FO: Football Outsiders ranking for rush defense
Avg: Average of listed rankings
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