Ekeler
RB · WAS vs PHI
Kickoff Sun 8:20 PM ET
Projected points6.5ptsUsage estimate
Vidal
RB · LAC @ LA
Kickoff Sun 4:05 PM ET
Projected points5.7pts
Toss-up
Bench
Austin Ekeler or Kimani Vidal: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Austin Ekeler gets the nod over Kimani Vidal.
- Ahead by
- +0.8pts
- over Vidal
- Confidence
- Lower
- The two projections come from different sources; one is a Nuvela estimate
Ekeler's number is our own estimate because his prop lines aren't posted yet, so this call is less sure than the gap looks.
Case for Vidal
The case for Vidal is more of the snaps (26% to 16%) and a faster paced opponent.
Flips if
Start Kimani Vidal instead if you want more of the snaps (26% to 16%).
Risk
The risk: Ekeler has been held under 8 points in 3 straight games.
Highlights
EkelerToss-upRB · WAS vs PHIUsually 6.2+0.3pts this week
Helps him
- +4.1ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran above this year’s pace.
- −6.0spreadEdgeHis team is expected to lead, which tends to mean more carries late.
Hurts him
- −2.3ptsgames left hurtHis projection still counts the games he left hurt, which his usual week leaves out.
- −1.2ptsrecent workHis work has dropped off in his last few games.
- 9%touchesHe handles only 9% of his team’s touches, so the work is shared.
- 2nd toughestper carryEdgePHI allows plenty of RB chances because teams run on them a lot; per carry or target they’re tough (0.72 pts, 2nd toughest).
VidalFirst outRB · LAC @ LAUsually 5.7+0.0pts this week
Helps him
- +0.5ptsrush yardsHis lines put him at 23.5 rushing yards, above his usual 18.2.
- +4.7last 3 vs avgHis last three games run 4.7 points above his season average.
Hurts him
- −0.9ptstouchdownsHis lines put him at 0.18 touchdowns, below his usual 0.33.
- 19.3team totalEdgeHis team is expected to score only 19.3 points.
Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.
Stat comparison
Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.
Stat
Scoring
ProjectionEkeler: 6.5 (best)Vidal: 5.7
TD pointsof the projectionEkeler: Our estimateVidal: 1.1
Expected TDsthis weekEkeler: Our estimateVidal: 0.18
Projected team pointsEkeler: 23.0 (best)Vidal: 19.3
Goal line carriesper gameEkeler: 0.0Vidal: 0.0
Red zone carriesper gameEkeler: 0.7 (best)Vidal: 0.3
Red zone targetsper gameEkeler: 0.3Vidal: 0.3
Role
Snap shareEkeler: 16%Vidal: 26% (best)
Usage worthptsEkeler: 4.0Vidal: 5.0 (best)
Touch shareEkeler: 9%Vidal: 10% (best)
Target shareEkeler: 5%Vidal: 7% (best)
Touches / gameEkeler: 4.0Vidal: 4.7 (best)
Targets / gameEkeler: 1.7Vidal: 2.0 (best)
Air yards shareEkeler: Behind the lineVidal: 0.4%
Vacated touches this weekEkeler: 14.8 (best)Vidal: 0.0
High value touches / gameEkeler: 1.3 (best)Vidal: 1.2
Goal line carry shareEkeler: 0%Vidal: 0%
Red zone touches / gameEkeler: 1.0 (best)Vidal: 0.7
Rush success rateEkeler: 38% (best)Vidal: 33%
Breakaway rate (20+ yd runs)Ekeler: 0%Vidal: 4.8% (best)
Usage worth vs scoredEkeler: Earned by usage 4.0Scored 3.4Vidal: Earned by usage 5.0Scored 5.7
Rush yards / gameEkeler: 10.3Vidal: 18.2 (best)
Points from rushingEkeler: 31%Vidal: 49%
WOPREkeler: 0.07Vidal: 0.10 (best)
RZ target shareEkeler: 14% (best)Vidal: 9%
Inside 10 target shareEkeler: 0%Vidal: 8% (best)
Catch rateEkeler: 80% (best)Vidal: 58%
Rushing points / gameEkeler: 1.0 pts / gameVidal: 2.8 pts / game (best)
Rushing floorEkeler: 1.0 pts / gameVidal: 1.6 pts / game (best)
Range
FloorEkeler: 3.9 (best)Vidal: 3.7
CeilingEkeler: 10.1 (best)Vidal: 8.6
Points from TDssteadier when lowerEkeler: 0%Vidal: 35%
Big weeks (20+ pts)Ekeler: 3 gamesVidal: 0%
Dud weeks (under 8 pts)lower is betterEkeler: 3 gamesVidal: 50%
SteadinessEkeler: 3 gamesVidal: Steady±4.4 pts · 4 games
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmEkeler: C- (best)Vidal: D+
Game scriptEkeler: Expected to lead (best)Vidal: Expected to trail
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterEkeler: 0.4 (best)Vidal: 0.9
Defense funnelEkeler: NeutralVidal: Neutral
Opp rush yds allowedEkeler: 27th (soft) (best)Vidal: 18th (average)
Backfield roleEkeler: BackupVidal: Backup
Opp defender outEkeler: None listedVidal: Garrett (LB)
Roof / surfaceEkeler: OpengrassVidal: Dometurf
Rest / scheduleEkeler: Off a byeVidal: Off a bye
Opp paceEkeler: 27th (slow)Vidal: 3rd (fast) (best)
Opp stuff rateEkeler: 16% (best)22nd (soft)Vidal: 19%14th (average)
Opp yards per carry allowedEkeler: 4.3 (best)21st (average)Vidal: 3.88th (tough)
Opp pass yds allowedEkeler: 24th (soft) (best)Vidal: 4th (tough)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameEkeler: 0.01st (tough)Vidal: 0.1 (best)24th (soft)
Opp catch rate allowedEkeler: 72%9th (tough)Vidal: 78% (best)16th (average)
Starting QBEkeler: Daniels (Active)Vidal: Herbert (Active)
Form
Last 3 avgEkeler: 3.4Vidal: 10.4 (best)
Last 5 avgEkeler: 3.4Vidal: 6.8 (best)
vs seasonEkeler: CoolingVidal: +4.7 (Rising) (best)
Yards per carryEkeler: 3.9Vidal: 5.2 (best)
Carries / gameEkeler: 2.7Vidal: 3.5 (best)
Yards per route runEkeler: 2.31 (best)Vidal: 0.88
Receiving aDOTEkeler: −2.4Vidal: 0.4
Touch share trendEkeler: Left 2 games hurtVidal: Rising
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterEkeler: RB35 (best)Vidal: RB42
Yards linerushingEkeler: Our estimateVidal: 23.5
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.