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Running backs vs the defense

Week 12, 2020 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.

Kansas City Chiefs vsTampa Bay Buccaneers Buccaneers

Allowed 57 rushing yards a game last season.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

48% of carries over his last four, 51 scrimmage yds a game.

Denver Broncos atNew Orleans Saints Saints

Allowed 65 rushing yards a game last season.

Melvin Gordon

56% of carries over his last four, 51 scrimmage yds a game.

Phillip Lindsay

37% of carries over his last four, 48 scrimmage yds a game.

Miami Dolphins vsNew York Jets Jets

Allowed 66 rushing yards a game last season.

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

The other 26 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.

Minnesota Vikings atCarolina Panthers Panthers

Allowed 126 rushing yards a game last season.

Dalvin Cook

81% of carries over his last four, 188 scrimmage yds a game.

Dallas Cowboys atWashington Commanders Commanders

Allowed 123 rushing yards a game last season.

Ezekiel Elliott

56% of carries over his last four, 77 scrimmage yds a game.

Tony Pollard

37% of carries over his last four, 51 scrimmage yds a game.

Teams are interested in Titans RB Tony Pollard, but Tennessee isn't talking (yet) ProFootballTalk (RSS), 5 d ago

New York Jets atMiami Dolphins Dolphins

Allowed 119 rushing yards a game last season.

Frank Gore

41% of carries over his last four, 55 scrimmage yds a game.

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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