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Running backs vs the defense

Week 8, 2017 last season's final profiles, while this season has fewer than three games

Every week, the defenses that have been hardest and easiest on running backs this season, after adjusting for who they have played, and the players who face them this week. What a defense has allowed is history, never a forecast.

The toughest matchups for running backs

From last season's final figures, until this season has three games.

Los Angeles Chargers vsNew England Patriots Patriots

Allowed 73 rushing yards a game last season.

Melvin Gordon

68% of carries over his last four, 97 scrimmage yds a game.

Washington Commanders atDallas Cowboys Cowboys

Allowed 75 rushing yards a game last season.

Samaje Perine

58% of carries over his last four, 49 scrimmage yds a game.

Rob Kelley

43% of carries over his last four, 40 scrimmage yds a game.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers atCarolina Panthers Panthers

Allowed 78 rushing yards a game last season.

Peyton Barber

58% of carries over his last four, 12 scrimmage yds a game.

The other 20 defenses on the field this week are on the full board, with the players who face each one.

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The softest matchups for running backs

From last season's final figures, until this season has three games.

Philadelphia Eagles atSan Francisco 49ers 49ers

Allowed 145 rushing yards a game last season.

LeGarrette Blount

39% of carries over his last four, 82 scrimmage yds a game.

Minnesota Vikings vsCleveland Browns Browns

Allowed 125 rushing yards a game last season.

Latavius Murray

56% of carries over his last four, 56 scrimmage yds a game.

Jerick McKinnon

35% of carries over his last four, 76 scrimmage yds a game.

Las Vegas Raiders vsBuffalo Bills Bills

Allowed 111 rushing yards a game last season.

No running back on the Raiders has a big enough share of the work to name.

Yards and targets allowed are from each defense's final games this season. Every rank is over usual: what the defense allowed each game against that offense's own average in its other games, 1st the biggest margin, over each row's games. Shares are of the team's carries or targets over the player's last four games. Data from nflverse (CC BY 4.0). The definitions and the record are on How we count.

Data and context only, never advice. By using Black Swan Stats you agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy. Not affiliated with the NFL or any team.

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