Ekeler
RB · WAS vs PHI
Kickoff Sun 8:20 PM ET
Projected points6.5ptsUsage estimate
Perine
RB · CIN vs TEN
Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET
Projected points6.7pts
Toss-up
Bench
Austin Ekeler or Samaje Perine: Who Should I Start in Week 8?
Toss-up. Need a safe week? Austin Ekeler. Swinging for a big week? Samaje Perine.
- 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 Perine
Ekeler has the safer floor (3.9 to 3.5); Perine has more upside (a ceiling of 12.5 to 10.1).
Flips if
Start Samaje Perine instead if you want more of the snaps (35% to 16%).
Risk
Ekeler has the safer floor (3.9 to 3.5); Perine has more upside (a ceiling of 12.5 to 10.1).
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.
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).
PerineFirst outRB · CIN vs TENUsually 6.3+0.4pts this week
Helps him
- 29.5team totalEdgeHis team is expected to score 29.5 points, a high scoring spot.
- TENvs RBsEdgeTEN is the 7th softest defense for running backs.
Hurts him
- 13%touchesHe handles only 13% of his team’s touches, so the work is shared.
- 3.5floorA quiet week could drop to about 3.5 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: 6.5Perine: 6.7 (best)
TD pointsof the projectionEkeler: Our estimatePerine: 2.2
Expected TDsthis weekEkeler: Our estimatePerine: 0.36
Projected team pointsEkeler: 23.0Perine: 29.5 (best)
Goal line carriesper gameEkeler: 0.0Perine: 0.2 (best)
Red zone carriesper gameEkeler: 0.7Perine: 1.5 (best)
Red zone targetsper gameEkeler: 0.3 (best)Perine: 0.2
Role
Snap shareEkeler: 16%Perine: 35% (best)
Usage worthptsEkeler: 4.0Perine: 5.5 (best)
Touch shareEkeler: 9%Perine: 13% (best)
Target shareEkeler: 5%Perine: 5%
Touches / gameEkeler: 4.0Perine: 6.3 (best)
Targets / gameEkeler: 1.7Perine: 1.7
Air yards shareEkeler: Behind the linePerine: 1%
Vacated touches this weekEkeler: 14.8 (best)Perine: 0.0
High value touches / gameEkeler: 1.3Perine: 1.7 (best)
Goal line carry shareEkeler: 0%Perine: 17% (best)
Red zone touches / gameEkeler: 1.0Perine: 1.7 (best)
Rush success rateEkeler: 38%Perine: 45% (best)
Breakaway rate (20+ yd runs)Ekeler: 0%Perine: 0%
Usage worth vs scoredEkeler: Earned by usage 4.0Scored 3.4Perine: Earned by usage 5.5Scored 6.3
Rush yards / gameEkeler: 10.3Perine: 21.0 (best)
Points from rushingEkeler: 31%Perine: 49%
WOPREkeler: 0.07Perine: 0.08 (best)
RZ target shareEkeler: 14% (best)Perine: 3%
Inside 10 target shareEkeler: 0%Perine: 6% (best)
Catch rateEkeler: 80% (best)Perine: 70%
Rushing points / gameEkeler: 1.0 pts / gamePerine: 3.1 pts / game (best)
Rushing floorEkeler: 1.0 pts / gamePerine: 2.1 pts / game (best)
Range
FloorEkeler: 3.9 (best)Perine: 3.5
CeilingEkeler: 10.1Perine: 12.5 (best)
Points from TDssteadier when lowerEkeler: 0%Perine: 32%
Big weeks (20+ pts)Ekeler: 3 gamesPerine: 0%
Dud weeks (under 8 pts)lower is betterEkeler: 3 gamesPerine: 62%
SteadinessEkeler: 3 gamesPerine: Up & down±5.2 pts
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmEkeler: C-Perine: B+ (best)
Game scriptEkeler: Expected to leadPerine: Expected to lead (best)
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterEkeler: 0.4 (best)Perine: 1.0
Defense funnelEkeler: NeutralPerine: Neutral
Opp rush yds allowedEkeler: 27th (soft) (best)Perine: 26th (soft)
Backfield roleEkeler: BackupPerine: Backup
Roof / surfaceEkeler: OpengrassPerine: Openturf
Rest / scheduleEkeler: Off a byePerine: Normal
Opp paceEkeler: 27th (slow) (best)Perine: 32nd (slow)
Opp stuff rateEkeler: 16% (best)22nd (soft)Perine: 19%13th (average)
Opp yards per carry allowedEkeler: 4.3 (best)21st (average)Perine: 4.112th (average)
Opp pass yds allowedEkeler: 24th (soft) (best)Perine: 23rd (soft)
Opp deep targets allowed / gameEkeler: 0.01st (tough)Perine: 0.1 (best)24th (soft)
Opp catch rate allowedEkeler: 72%9th (tough)Perine: 80% (best)18th (average)
Starting QBEkeler: Daniels (Active)Perine: Burrow (Active)
Form
Last 3 avgEkeler: 3.4Perine: 8.0 (best)
Last 5 avgEkeler: 3.4Perine: 5.9 (best)
vs seasonEkeler: CoolingPerine: +1.8 (Rising) (best)
Yards per carryEkeler: 3.9Perine: 4.1 (best)
Carries / gameEkeler: 2.7Perine: 5.2 (best)
Yards per route runEkeler: 2.31 (best)Perine: 1.05
Receiving aDOTEkeler: −2.4Perine: 1.3
Touch share trendEkeler: Left 2 games hurtPerine: Steady
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterEkeler: RB35Perine: RB33 (best)
Yards linerushingEkeler: Our estimatePerine: 22.5
Deciding on someone else?
Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.