Running backs vs the defense

Week 11, 2026 2026 through week 8

QB RB WR TE

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

Backs with a real workload have gained 84% of their recent average against defenses like that since 2016, and beaten it in 33% of games. Against the middle of the league, 42% have.

at Steelers

Holds them to 25 fewer rushing yards a game than the offenses it has faced usually gain.

Saquon Barkley

40% of carries over his last four, 54 scrimmage yds a game.

Eagles up 8-6 after Saquon Barkley TD ProFootballTalk (RSS), 1 h ago

at Jaguars

Holds them to 22 fewer rushing yards a game than the offenses it has faced usually gain.

Cam Skattebo

56% of carries over his last four, 90 scrimmage yds a game.

Giants-Eagles inactives: Cam Skattebo out for New York Big Blue View, 3 h ago

at Buccaneers

Holds them to 21 fewer rushing yards a game than the offenses it has faced usually gain.

Jahmyr Gibbs

83% of carries over his last four, 149 scrimmage yds a game.

Sione Vaki emerges as Lions' change-of-pace back to pair with Jahmyr Gibbs ProFootballTalk (RSS), 4 d ago

The other 20 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

Backs with a real workload have gained 106% of their recent average against defenses like that since 2016, and beaten it in 50% of games. Against the middle of the league, 42% have.

at Raiders

Allows 37 more rushing yards a game than the offenses it has faced usually gain.

J.K. Dobbins

45% of carries over his last four, 39 scrimmage yds a game.

Sean Payton says J.K. Dobbins remains "a huge part of what we're doing" ProFootballTalk (RSS), 3 d ago

Jonah Coleman

42% of carries over his last four, 58 scrimmage yds a game.

Jonah Coleman continues to turn heads with the Broncos Mile High Report, 2 d ago

vs Cowboys

Allows 32 more rushing yards a game than the offenses it has faced usually gain.

Tony Pollard

81% of carries over his last four, 105 scrimmage yds a game.

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

vs Eagles

Allows 22 more rushing yards a game than the offenses it has faced usually gain.

Jaylen Warren

64% of carries over his last four, 137 scrimmage yds a game.

Ben Roethlisberger says Steelers RB Jaylen Warren belongs in MVP conversation Behind the Steel Curtain, 2 d ago

Rico Dowdle

35% of carries over his last four, 59 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.