New
Week8 · 2026
Starting1
Scoring
New comparison
Toss-up

Washington

RB · LV @ NYJ

Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET

Projected points6.6pts

First out

Ekeler

RB · WAS vs PHI

Kickoff Sun 8:20 PM ET

Projected points6.5ptsUsage estimate

Toss-up

Bench

Austin Ekeler or Mike Washington Jr.: Who Should I Start in Week 8?

Toss-up. Mike Washington Jr. gets the nod over Austin Ekeler.

Ahead by
+0.1pts
over Ekeler
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 Ekeler

The case for Ekeler is an offense expected to score more (23.0 points to 22.0).

Flips if

Start Austin Ekeler instead if you want an offense expected to score more (23.0 points to 22.0).

Risk

The risk: Washington has been held under 8 points in 4 straight games.

Highlights

Injuries as of Fri 2:00 PM ET
WashingtonToss-upRB · LV @ NYJUsually 4.2+2.4pts this week

Helps him

  1. +0.8ptstouchdownsHis lines put him at 0.27 touchdowns, above his usual 0.14.

Hurts him

  1. 13%touchesHe handles only 13% of his team’s touches, so the work is shared.
  2. 6th toughestper carryEdgeNYJ allows plenty of RB chances because teams run on them a lot; per carry or target they’re tough (0.79 pts, 6th toughest).
EkelerFirst outRB · WAS vs PHIUsually 6.2+0.3pts this week

Helps him

  1. +4.1ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran above this year’s pace.
  2. −6.0spreadEdgeHis team is expected to lead, which tends to mean more carries late.

Hurts him

  1. −2.3ptsgames left hurtHis projection still counts the games he left hurt, which his usual week leaves out.
  2. −1.2ptsrecent workHis work has dropped off in his last few games.
  3. 9%touchesHe handles only 9% of his team’s touches, so the work is shared.
  4. 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).

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
ProjectionWashington: 6.6 (best)Ekeler: 6.5
TD pointsof the projectionWashington: 1.6Ekeler: Our estimate
Expected TDsthis weekWashington: 0.27Ekeler: Our estimate
Projected team pointsWashington: 22.0Ekeler: 23.0 (best)
Goal line carriesper gameWashington: 0.1 (best)Ekeler: 0.0
Red zone carriesper gameWashington: 1.1 (best)Ekeler: 0.7
Red zone targetsper gameWashington: 0.0Ekeler: 0.3 (best)
Role
Snap shareWashington: 21% (best)Ekeler: 16%
Usage worthptsWashington: 4.4 (best)Ekeler: 4.0
Touch shareWashington: 13% (best)Ekeler: 9%
Target shareWashington: 2%Ekeler: 5% (best)
Touches / gameWashington: 6.1 (best)Ekeler: 4.0
Targets / gameWashington: 0.9Ekeler: 1.7 (best)
Air yards shareWashington: 0.2%Ekeler: Behind the line
Vacated touches this weekWashington: 0.0Ekeler: 14.8 (best)
High value touches / gameWashington: 0.7Ekeler: 1.3 (best)
Goal line carry shareWashington: 9% (best)Ekeler: 0%
Red zone touches / gameWashington: 1.1 (best)Ekeler: 1.0
Rush success rateWashington: 30%Ekeler: 38% (best)
Breakaway rate (20+ yd runs)Washington: 5.0% (best)Ekeler: 0%
Usage worth vs scoredWashington: Earned by usage 4.4Scored 4.2Ekeler: Earned by usage 4.0Scored 3.4
Rush yards / gameWashington: 27.9 (best)Ekeler: 10.3
Points from rushingWashington: 86%Ekeler: 31%
WOPRWashington: 0.03Ekeler: 0.07 (best)
RZ target shareWashington: 0%Ekeler: 14% (best)
Inside 10 target shareWashington: 0%Ekeler: 0%
Catch rateWashington: 50%Ekeler: 80% (best)
Rushing points / gameWashington: 3.6 pts / game (best)Ekeler: 1.0 pts / game
Rushing floorWashington: 2.8 pts / game (best)Ekeler: 1.0 pts / game
Range
FloorWashington: 4.0 (best)Ekeler: 3.9
CeilingWashington: 10.2 (best)Ekeler: 10.1
Points from TDssteadier when lowerWashington: 20%Ekeler: 0%
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmWashington: B (best)Ekeler: C-
Game scriptWashington: Expected to trailEkeler: Expected to lead (best)
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterWashington: 1.1Ekeler: 0.4 (best)
Defense funnelWashington: NeutralEkeler: Neutral
Opp rush yds allowedWashington: 24th (soft)Ekeler: 27th (soft) (best)
Backfield roleWashington: BackupEkeler: Backup
Roof / surfaceWashington: OpenturfEkeler: Opengrass
Rest / scheduleWashington: NormalEkeler: Off a bye
Opp paceWashington: 28th (slow)Ekeler: 27th (slow) (best)
Opp stuff rateWashington: 14% (best)27th (soft)Ekeler: 16%22nd (soft)
Opp yards per carry allowedWashington: 4.112th (average)Ekeler: 4.3 (best)21st (average)
Opp pass yds allowedWashington: 5th (tough)Ekeler: 24th (soft) (best)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameWashington: 0.1 (best)24th (soft)Ekeler: 0.01st (tough)
Opp catch rate allowedWashington: 71%7th (tough)Ekeler: 72% (best)9th (tough)
Starting QBWashington: Cousins (Active)Ekeler: Daniels (Active)
Form
Last 3 avgWashington: 3.6 (best)Ekeler: 3.4
Last 5 avgWashington: 5.0 (best)Ekeler: 3.4
vs seasonWashington: −0.7 (Cooling)Ekeler: Cooling (best)
Yards per carryWashington: 4.9 (best)Ekeler: 3.9
Carries / gameWashington: 5.7 (best)Ekeler: 2.7
Yards per route runWashington: 0.34Ekeler: 2.31 (best)
Receiving aDOTWashington: 0.7Ekeler: −2.4
Touch share trendWashington: SteadyEkeler: Left 2 games hurt
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterWashington: RB34 (best)Ekeler: RB35
Yards linerushingWashington: 31.5Ekeler: Our estimate

Deciding on someone else?

Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.

Sit or start?