2026
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Outlined = current league week
Sign in Sign up

Running backs vs the defense

Week 2, 2018 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.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers atPhiladelphia Eagles Eagles

Allowed 59 rushing yards a game last season.

Peyton Barber

74% of carries over his last four, 69 scrimmage yds a game.

Green Bay Packers atMinnesota Vikings Vikings

Allowed 67 rushing yards a game last season.

Jamaal Williams

54% of carries over his last four, 47 scrimmage yds a game.

Los Angeles Rams atArizona Cardinals Cardinals

Allowed 71 rushing yards a game last season.

Todd Gurley

43% of carries over his last four, 147 scrimmage yds a game.

The other 26 defenses on the field this week are on the full board, with the players who face each one.

Create a free account No card, no plan: an email opens it.

The softest matchups for running backs

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

Los Angeles Chargers vsBuffalo Bills Bills

Allowed 112 rushing yards a game last season.

Melvin Gordon

63% of carries over his last four, 166 scrimmage yds a game.

Buffalo Bills atLos Angeles Chargers Chargers

Allowed 116 rushing yards a game last season.

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

Indianapolis Colts vsWashington Commanders Commanders

Allowed 112 rushing yards a game last season.

No running back on the Colts 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.

Read them