New
Week8 · 2026
Starting1
Scoring
New comparison
Lean

Ekeler

RB · WAS vs PHI

Kickoff Sun 8:20 PM ET

Projected points6.5ptsUsage estimate

First out

Spears

RB · TEN @ CIN

Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ETLatest report: DNP · Knee

Projected points2.4ptsUsage estimate

5.3 if he plays · 46% to play

Lean

Bench

Austin Ekeler or Tyjae Spears: Who Should I Start in Week 8?

Lean Austin Ekeler over Tyjae Spears.

Ahead by
+4.1pts
over Spears
Confidence
Moderate
Tyjae Spears may not play (about 46% to play)

Flips if

An injury tag on Austin Ekeler or a bigger role for Tyjae Spears.

Risk

Tyjae Spears missed practice (knee): check the inactives, posted about 90 minutes before kickoff. Tyjae Spears missed his last game (knee). The Week 8 injury report isn't out yet. As of Fri 2:00 PM ET

Highlights

Injuries as of Fri 2:00 PM ET
EkelerLeanRB · 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).
SpearsFirst outRB · TEN @ CINUsually 4.5−2.1pts this week

Helps him

  1. +1.6ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran above this year’s pace.

Hurts him

  1. −3.8ptsinjuryHis questionable tag takes 3.8 points off his projection.
  2. 14%touchesHe handles only 14% of his team’s touches, so the work is shared.
  3. 17.0team totalEdgeHis team is expected to score only 17.0 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)Spears: 2.4
Projected team pointsEkeler: 23.0 (best)Spears: 17.0
Goal line carriesper gameEkeler: 0.0Spears: 0.0
Red zone carriesper gameEkeler: 0.7 (best)Spears: 0.3
Red zone targetsper gameEkeler: 0.3 (best)Spears: 0.0
Role
Snap shareEkeler: 16%Spears: 41% (best)
Usage worthptsEkeler: 4.0Spears: 5.4 (best)
Touch shareEkeler: 9%Spears: 14% (best)
Target shareEkeler: 5%Spears: 10% (best)
Touches / gameEkeler: 4.0Spears: 5.5 (best)
Targets / gameEkeler: 1.7Spears: 2.8 (best)
Vacated touches this weekEkeler: 14.8 (best)Spears: 0.0
High value touches / gameEkeler: 1.3Spears: 2.5 (best)
Goal line carry shareEkeler: 0%Spears: 0%
Red zone touches / gameEkeler: 1.0 (best)Spears: 0.3
Rush success rateEkeler: 38% (best)Spears: 33%
Breakaway rate (20+ yd runs)Ekeler: 0%Spears: 5.6% (best)
Usage worth vs scoredEkeler: Earned by usage 4.0Scored 3.4Spears: Earned by usage 5.4Scored 4.5
Rush yards / gameEkeler: 10.3Spears: 11.0 (best)
Points from rushingEkeler: 31%Spears: 24%
WOPREkeler: 0.07Spears: 0.13 (best)
RZ target shareEkeler: 14% (best)Spears: 0%
Inside 10 target shareEkeler: 0%Spears: 0%
Catch rateEkeler: 80%Spears: 88% (best)
Rushing points / gameEkeler: 1.0 pts / gameSpears: 1.1 pts / game (best)
Rushing floorEkeler: 1.0 pts / gameSpears: 1.1 pts / game (best)
Range
FloorEkeler: 3.9 (best)Spears: 0.0
CeilingEkeler: 10.1 (best)Spears: 3.5
Points from TDssteadier when lowerEkeler: 0%Spears: 0%
Big weeks (20+ pts)Ekeler: 3 gamesSpears: 4%
Dud weeks (under 8 pts)lower is betterEkeler: 3 gamesSpears: 54%
SteadinessEkeler: 3 gamesSpears: Up & down±5.2 pts
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his positionEkeler: C-2026, 7 gmSpears: C (best)2026, 6 gm
Game scriptEkeler: Expected to lead (best)Spears: Expected to trail
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterEkeler: 0.4 (best)Spears: 1.5
Defense funnelEkeler: NeutralSpears: Neutral
Opp rush yds allowedEkeler: 27th (soft) (best)Spears: 19th (average)
Backfield roleEkeler: BackupSpears: Backup
Roof / surfaceEkeler: OpengrassSpears: Openturf
Rest / scheduleEkeler: Off a byeSpears: Normal
Opp paceEkeler: 27th (slow)Spears: 20th (average) (best)
Opp stuff rateEkeler: 16% (best)22nd (soft)Spears: 25%1st (tough)
Opp yards per carry allowedEkeler: 4.3 (best)21st (average)Spears: 4.112th (average)
Opp pass yds allowedEkeler: 24th (soft)Spears: 26th (soft) (best)
Opp deep targets allowed / game1st (tough)Ekeler: 0.0Spears: 0.0
Opp catch rate allowedEkeler: 72%9th (tough)Spears: 86% (best)27th (soft)
Starting QBEkeler: Daniels (Active)Spears: Ward (Active)
Form
Last 3 avgEkeler: 3.4Spears: 4.4 (best)
Last 5 avgEkeler: 3.4Spears: 4.5 (best)
vs seasonEkeler: Cooling (best)Spears: −0.1 (Steady)
Yards per carryEkeler: 3.9 (best)Spears: 3.7
Carries / gameEkeler: 2.7Spears: 3.0 (best)
Yards per route runEkeler: 2.31 (best)Spears: 0.99
Receiving aDOTEkeler: −2.4Spears: −2.7
Touch share trendEkeler: Left 2 games hurtSpears: Steady
Games since injuryEkeler: None recentlySpears: 0
Crowd
Nuvela position ranklower is betterEkeler: RB35 (best)Spears: RB67

Deciding on someone else?

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