We’re back for the Week 5 installment of running back advanced stats. Each week, I’ll use the Advanced Stats Explorer to examine the underlying metrics of notable rushers. Is it possible to replace Javonte Williams [insert tears here]?
Metrics like yards before and after contact, evasion rate, stuff rate, and designed gap rate tell us how a running back is using his blockers, how effective that blocking is, and how effective that RB is at making would-be tacklers miss — all skills that translate into future production. In this way, the advanced RB stats can help us find waiver wire gems and trade targets before the rest of our league mates.
Stuff Rate
Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell remain the only two backs with a 0% stuff rate amongst players with at least 10 carries. Interestingly, Warren has been hit at the line of scrimmage 14.3% of the time, with Gainwell at 46.7%. Gainwell also boasts the fourth-highest designed gap rate at 80%. In receiving, Gainwell edges Miles Sanders in routes (47 to 44), though near-identical in targets (8 to 9). Unfortunately for Gainwell, Sanders has dominated the opportunities with a 47% team rush share versus Gainwell at 10%.
After Warren and Gainwell, the running backs with the lowest stuff rates include Darrell Henderson, Damien Harris, and Tyler Allgeier. Cam Akers has taken over the early down work, with Henderson running eight routes in Week 4 on third down. Unfortunately, Henderson and Akers haven’t garnered a consistent workload to have confidence in starting either each week.
In last week’s installment of the running back advanced stats, I examined the Patriots duo of Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. In Week 4, Harris recorded a season-high 18 carries and 86 rushing yards. Meanwhile, Stevenson rushed for a season-high 14 carries with 66 rushing yards.
Harris edges Stevenson in hit-at-the-line and stuff rate, with their designed gap rates closely aligned. On the other hand, Stevenson bests Harris in yards after contact and evasion rate (18.6% versus 5.7%). The above visual shows Stevenson also crushes Harris in routes per game (15.2 versus 8.2). However, they have identical yards per route run at 0.9 (No. 41) amongst backs with five targets.
