Running backs vs the defense

Week 9, 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.

vs Seahawks

Holds them to 26 fewer rushing yards a game than the offenses it has faced usually gain.

Tyler Allgeier

36% of carries over his last four, 76 scrimmage yds a game.

When Opportunity Knocked, Tyler Allgeier Answered With Super(man) Performance Arizona Cardinals official site, 2 d ago

at Jaguars

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

Derrick Henry

62% of carries over his last four, 72 scrimmage yds a game.

Ravens reportedly tell Derrick Henry they have "no intention" of trading him ProFootballTalk (RSS), 1 d ago

at Buccaneers

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

D'Andre Swift

61% of carries over his last four, 78 scrimmage yds a game.

Kyle Monangai

37% of carries over his last four, 91 scrimmage yds a game.

Kyle Monangai back at practice, questionable for Buccaneers game | Injury Update Chicago Bears official site, 1 d ago

The other 24 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

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.

Christian McCaffrey

45% of carries over his last four, 93 scrimmage yds a game.

Christian McCaffrey returned to practice as limited participant ProFootballTalk (RSS), 2 d ago

at Cowboys

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

Jonathan Taylor

55% of carries over his last four, 98 scrimmage yds a game.

Belief around league circles is that Colts will keep Jonathan Taylor despite trade inquiries Stampede Blue, 3 h ago

at Giants

Allows 19 more 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

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.